So I left 28 days ago today. It's so unbelievably true that "the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days."
Christmas is in one week. The following are some reasons why this stinks:
1. My p-day is on Christmas. Everyone whose p-day is not on Christmas gets a "free" p-day, if you will, meaning that they get Christmas and their regular p-day. We do not. I will not be able to email you because we can't leave on Christmas, and nothing would be open anyway.
2. The next Tuesday is New Years. Again, nothing open. No p-day.
3. I will be stuck inside the CTM for 3 straight weeks starting at the end of today. We're attempting a united front but it's not looking good. President Carden's response was "that's the way the cookie crumbles." Clearly overly sympathetic.
4. I'm not home with y'all.
I will now share with you some anecdotes from this past week, despite the fact they I wrote them in the letter I just mailed home.
On Friday my district went proselyting for the first of three times. It was the best day that I've had here so far. Someone who had already gone had told us to talk to the first person we see when they drop us off because the longer you wait to talk to someone the scarier and more difficult it gets. This is especially true knowing myself as I do. So when we got out of the taxi-bus Elder Markowski and I started down the street and saw a man sitting against a wall just kinda hanging out. So we approached. We stood in front of him and I went to town; everything we had been learning for the past 3 weeks just started coming out. I was about halfway through when I stopped, looked at him, and realized he hadn't even acknowledged us. This is because he was a blind, homeless man. Possibly deaf as well.
Aside from that though our 2 hours of proselyting were a huge success. We gave out 3 Books of Mormon and about 15 pass-along cards. Everyone we talked to was nice and interested and even the people who didn't listen to us weren't mean about it. A lot of people dismissed us with a wave and said "sou catolico/a," "I'm Catholic." I'd better get used to that. I'm so glad I'm not in the US though. It was so much fun to just talk to people and have them listen and be able to understand them and feel the spirit as we shared our message. Especially with those people to whom we gave out the BoMs.
It's hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit here because, well... even though the CTM is all decked out in lights, aside from that the only thing that reminds me of Christmas is the white snowflake and construction paper Christmas tree my companion has hanging from his bed.
On Christmas Day WE GET TO SLEEP IN!!!!!! As late as we want! I can't wait. It's the only time during my whole mission that this will happen-- unless I catch a terrible disease. But it's the only time where I can sleep in, and be healthy at the same time. I will savor it. Then we get to eat food, watch The Other Side of Heaven (I think that's what it's called... about that missionary in Tonga or wherever? He's actually in Elder Markowski's ward in Bountiful. He lives like 2 houses down from the guy) and they hung out.
I have some missionary council for you all: read Preach My Gospel. It's the best. Bust it out and study a principle a night or at family home evening or whatever. It's scripture. It was compiled by the prophets. It's... amazing.
Love you all,
-Elder Sisco
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
One of our district goals is to read the Book of Mormon before we leave. It's about 10 pages a day. I just started Mosiah and had an incredible discussion with this kid in my district who is basically an history buff. I know all the stories and names in the Book of Mormon just from growing up in the church but when I was reading it I was a little confused and he filled me in about the historical aspect. I had no idea that the Jaredites traveled eastward like, 1400 years before Nephi, right after the tower of babel incident. How come you never told me that?? And I never knew about the Mulekites in the land of Zarahemla. I always that it was just Nephi and everything started there. There were three separate civilizations. I had no idea. I also had always pictured Nephi and his family traveling westward across the Atlantic and landing near Central America. Apparently they traveled east across the Pacific. Dunno how I missed that one.
My companion and I blessed the sacrament on Sunday, which was interesting. Not only have I not done it in like 2 years, I've never done it in Portuguese. Our meetings are in English but all the prayers are in Portuguese. I did the bread and it went fine, but I forgot to turn the card over so when he went to do the water, since its Portuguese and we don't really think about what we're saying, he just started reading and didn't stop till about halfway through when he hit the word pão (bread), then he froze. Oops.
On Friday our district gets to go proselyting for the first of 3 times. They drop us off near this subway/bus station and just let us go for about 3 1/2 hours. We have our "street contact" in Portuguese pretty much ready to go, the only problem is that the people that we talk to might talk back. That's when we get into trouble. So next week's correspondence should be a lot more interesting than this one.
The president of the São Paulo North Mission came and spoke at our Sunday devotional, and I think it was the best devotional yet. He talked about our shoes and everywhere they would take us and all the things that we would do in them. That sounds kind of silly now that I read it, but it was really quite good. I don't have my notes with me so I cannot expound any more, I'm afraid.
I got a letter from Jason at the Provo MTC and he talked all about how they get to see general authorities all the time and how awesome it is. I was pretty jealous, I'll admit. We're getting lessons from the clerk of the branch down the street and he gets to see M. Russel Ballard. Awesome.
I've been playing basketball 3 times a week with my district. Somehow, I actually manage to enjoy it. My companion was like the Josh Jones of Bountiful High (in UT) so playing with him is intimidating, but I'm usually on his team so we win. Always. At least, I think we do. Keeping score is against the rules because it breeds contention. So I guess I just assume that we always win. I have gotten better than I was in 8th grade.
I think my English is getting worse.
love,
Elder Sisco
My companion and I blessed the sacrament on Sunday, which was interesting. Not only have I not done it in like 2 years, I've never done it in Portuguese. Our meetings are in English but all the prayers are in Portuguese. I did the bread and it went fine, but I forgot to turn the card over so when he went to do the water, since its Portuguese and we don't really think about what we're saying, he just started reading and didn't stop till about halfway through when he hit the word pão (bread), then he froze. Oops.
On Friday our district gets to go proselyting for the first of 3 times. They drop us off near this subway/bus station and just let us go for about 3 1/2 hours. We have our "street contact" in Portuguese pretty much ready to go, the only problem is that the people that we talk to might talk back. That's when we get into trouble. So next week's correspondence should be a lot more interesting than this one.
The president of the São Paulo North Mission came and spoke at our Sunday devotional, and I think it was the best devotional yet. He talked about our shoes and everywhere they would take us and all the things that we would do in them. That sounds kind of silly now that I read it, but it was really quite good. I don't have my notes with me so I cannot expound any more, I'm afraid.
I got a letter from Jason at the Provo MTC and he talked all about how they get to see general authorities all the time and how awesome it is. I was pretty jealous, I'll admit. We're getting lessons from the clerk of the branch down the street and he gets to see M. Russel Ballard. Awesome.
I've been playing basketball 3 times a week with my district. Somehow, I actually manage to enjoy it. My companion was like the Josh Jones of Bountiful High (in UT) so playing with him is intimidating, but I'm usually on his team so we win. Always. At least, I think we do. Keeping score is against the rules because it breeds contention. So I guess I just assume that we always win. I have gotten better than I was in 8th grade.
I think my English is getting worse.
love,
Elder Sisco
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Pictures!
District 47A
My companion Elder Markowski, Elder Schmidt, and me
The view from our room.
Gym time
Comps
My companion Elder Markowski, Elder Schmidt, and me
The view from our room.
Gym time
Comps
Update from the CTM
It costs .50 per page to print stuff out and since you all were so loving and sent me so many emails I decided not to take Sister Barker's advice about printing everything to read later and I read everything you sent before I started to write. Now I don't have that much time to write.
I sent out letters today. One to the family, one to Amy and one to my friend Craig in Provo.
That's excellent about the St. George house (Amy's note: see www.revivingthegilchresthouse.blogspot.com)and the snow and everything. Sounds like you guys are having a good time. The letter I wrote on the bus was 3 little pages front and back so you'll have to wait for that, I don't have much to add in this email. Sorry...
Last night we had a ceremonial lighting of the MTC thing where everyone got to take pictures and everything. So at night now the CTM (Centro de Treinamento de Missionarios (sp?)) looks awesome. They had people working on the lights for like a week.
My Portuguese sucks, but it is improving. Again, the Spanish thing has helped immensely. I can almost sort of communicate with people, but it's hard. There are a lot of weird rules that make it difficult to transition from Spanish like j's are pronounced like the g in "geez" and r's are pronounced like "hs" and rr sounds like "rh" and... I don't know. It gets confusing.
I hope you're saving my letters for my posterity. The emails aren't as important. My goal is to write a real letter every week though.
There have been lots of great talks and devotionals since I've been here. The best one so far was actually by my mission president, President Santos. He served in Brazil but speaks great English. He's amazing.
Every Tuesday and Sunday night devotional is either translated into English or Portuguese, depending on the speaker, so it takes twice as long for the message to get across. It's great for note taking, but it gets tedious and sometimes I zone. When I understand Portuguese better I bet it'll actually help a ton to really listen to the translations.
I've been studying like mad. I wrote in the letter that it feels like there's not enough time in the day to do all the studying and reading and everything that I want to do, even in a 16 hour day.
I have been waking up at 6:15 every day, because my roommates are ridiculous. So actually 16.25 hour days. Reason #457 why Elder Markowski and I are perfect together: he also hates waking up any earlier than we have to.
Today our roommates woke up at 5:40 to get to the bus by 6:30 for our P-day temple trip. Needless to say, there was some contention. Everyone was ready to go at 6:10. This will not happen next week.
Every Monday night before an American district leaves, they stand in the center of the CTM outside (it's built like a U, 6 stories high so everyone on the inside can look out their window and see into the courtyard and everyone on the other side can look out and see the city. We have the courtyard view. If you look straight the view is of a gray wall. I'll send pictures if I can. It's great. The other side of the hall has a view of the 2nd largest city in the world and we get a gray wall. Anyway.) and they sing hymns in English. The spirit is strong even 4 stories away.. I can't wait until that's us! My district is amazing. Have a mentioned this?
We went to the candy store today and I bought crackers and tried to buy chocolate covered cherries and the cashier pointed to them and said "não, elder" because on the box it says "licor." I laughed and thanked her and then my companion walked over and said his first complete Portuguese sentence; "óbrigado por ajuder meu companheiro." Thanks for helping my companion. It was brilliant.
Okay, I think my internet time might be up.
I love you all
-Elder Sisco
I sent out letters today. One to the family, one to Amy and one to my friend Craig in Provo.
That's excellent about the St. George house (Amy's note: see www.revivingthegilchresthouse.blogspot.com)and the snow and everything. Sounds like you guys are having a good time. The letter I wrote on the bus was 3 little pages front and back so you'll have to wait for that, I don't have much to add in this email. Sorry...
Last night we had a ceremonial lighting of the MTC thing where everyone got to take pictures and everything. So at night now the CTM (Centro de Treinamento de Missionarios (sp?)) looks awesome. They had people working on the lights for like a week.
My Portuguese sucks, but it is improving. Again, the Spanish thing has helped immensely. I can almost sort of communicate with people, but it's hard. There are a lot of weird rules that make it difficult to transition from Spanish like j's are pronounced like the g in "geez" and r's are pronounced like "hs" and rr sounds like "rh" and... I don't know. It gets confusing.
I hope you're saving my letters for my posterity. The emails aren't as important. My goal is to write a real letter every week though.
There have been lots of great talks and devotionals since I've been here. The best one so far was actually by my mission president, President Santos. He served in Brazil but speaks great English. He's amazing.
Every Tuesday and Sunday night devotional is either translated into English or Portuguese, depending on the speaker, so it takes twice as long for the message to get across. It's great for note taking, but it gets tedious and sometimes I zone. When I understand Portuguese better I bet it'll actually help a ton to really listen to the translations.
I've been studying like mad. I wrote in the letter that it feels like there's not enough time in the day to do all the studying and reading and everything that I want to do, even in a 16 hour day.
I have been waking up at 6:15 every day, because my roommates are ridiculous. So actually 16.25 hour days. Reason #457 why Elder Markowski and I are perfect together: he also hates waking up any earlier than we have to.
Today our roommates woke up at 5:40 to get to the bus by 6:30 for our P-day temple trip. Needless to say, there was some contention. Everyone was ready to go at 6:10. This will not happen next week.
Every Monday night before an American district leaves, they stand in the center of the CTM outside (it's built like a U, 6 stories high so everyone on the inside can look out their window and see into the courtyard and everyone on the other side can look out and see the city. We have the courtyard view. If you look straight the view is of a gray wall. I'll send pictures if I can. It's great. The other side of the hall has a view of the 2nd largest city in the world and we get a gray wall. Anyway.) and they sing hymns in English. The spirit is strong even 4 stories away.. I can't wait until that's us! My district is amazing. Have a mentioned this?
We went to the candy store today and I bought crackers and tried to buy chocolate covered cherries and the cashier pointed to them and said "não, elder" because on the box it says "licor." I laughed and thanked her and then my companion walked over and said his first complete Portuguese sentence; "óbrigado por ajuder meu companheiro." Thanks for helping my companion. It was brilliant.
Okay, I think my internet time might be up.
I love you all
-Elder Sisco
Saturday, December 1, 2007
First Letter Home from Dan!
What's up-
This is my first P-day so I can go out to Cheney's cookies across the street and email.
So the rice and beans thing is true. Other than that though, every thing is pretty swell. My companion, Elder Markowski from Bountiful is our district leader which makes me the ADL. Pretty cool... but all I've done so far is go to a couple extra meetings. Shouldn't be more than we can handle.
On Sunday we had a testimony meeting with our district 47A and the district that has been here 9 weeks. They all actually left for their missions this morning. I've never felt the spirit stronger than I did during that testimony meeting. And yes, I did bear mine. Thank you.
In Portuguese, Sisco means eye booger. This is not a joke. Every time I meet a Brasilero they say, "ah! Sisco! Do you know what Sisco is?"
"No, no I don't. Please... tell me."
Lovely.
Already I can bear my testimony and pray in Portuguese. I'm so glad that I learned Spanish before coming here. It has helped sooo much.
I need mail. Please write.
Christmas is almost upon us and I can feel an inkling of homesickness approaching. We'll see how that goes.
I need everyone to write to me and tell me how things are going. I can't check blogs and can't write in mine; the rules here are hardcore. We can't even use cameras except from 12-5 on p-days. So don't expect anything good until late January when I actually get in the field. So write write write and tell me what's going on. And send me pictures from the St. George house please and ... yeah. Please.
Traveling here was terrible, by the way. The airline didn't send my luggage with our flight. It was still in Dallas when we landed in Sao Paulo. I didn't get it until the next day. The theme for my first day in the MTC was Bad Luck. The airline forgot my luggage, my little bag thing they gave me broke, I stepped in gum, etc. But all is well now. Things are looking up.
I'm way stoked to be here and to learn the gospel and learn Portuguese. Our branch pres is the best here. I'm looking forward to learning so much from him.
My companion Elder Markowski is amazing. I've already learned a ton from him... I think our companionship was an inspired decision. We're awesome.
So yes, send pictures, send info, do Mr. Cheney's cookies (by the way his cookies are almost as good as Mom's. Almost.) And.... that's it.
I love you all and miss you a little.
-Elder Sisco
This is my first P-day so I can go out to Cheney's cookies across the street and email.
So the rice and beans thing is true. Other than that though, every thing is pretty swell. My companion, Elder Markowski from Bountiful is our district leader which makes me the ADL. Pretty cool... but all I've done so far is go to a couple extra meetings. Shouldn't be more than we can handle.
On Sunday we had a testimony meeting with our district 47A and the district that has been here 9 weeks. They all actually left for their missions this morning. I've never felt the spirit stronger than I did during that testimony meeting. And yes, I did bear mine. Thank you.
In Portuguese, Sisco means eye booger. This is not a joke. Every time I meet a Brasilero they say, "ah! Sisco! Do you know what Sisco is?"
"No, no I don't. Please... tell me."
Lovely.
Already I can bear my testimony and pray in Portuguese. I'm so glad that I learned Spanish before coming here. It has helped sooo much.
I need mail. Please write.
Christmas is almost upon us and I can feel an inkling of homesickness approaching. We'll see how that goes.
I need everyone to write to me and tell me how things are going. I can't check blogs and can't write in mine; the rules here are hardcore. We can't even use cameras except from 12-5 on p-days. So don't expect anything good until late January when I actually get in the field. So write write write and tell me what's going on. And send me pictures from the St. George house please and ... yeah. Please.
Traveling here was terrible, by the way. The airline didn't send my luggage with our flight. It was still in Dallas when we landed in Sao Paulo. I didn't get it until the next day. The theme for my first day in the MTC was Bad Luck. The airline forgot my luggage, my little bag thing they gave me broke, I stepped in gum, etc. But all is well now. Things are looking up.
I'm way stoked to be here and to learn the gospel and learn Portuguese. Our branch pres is the best here. I'm looking forward to learning so much from him.
My companion Elder Markowski is amazing. I've already learned a ton from him... I think our companionship was an inspired decision. We're awesome.
So yes, send pictures, send info, do Mr. Cheney's cookies (by the way his cookies are almost as good as Mom's. Almost.) And.... that's it.
I love you all and miss you a little.
-Elder Sisco
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