Well, this week we had the baptism of Janice's two sons. The one, Cesar, is 20 years old and the poor guy not know how to read. He is also the size of a grizzly bear. When Elder Franklin baptized him, he didn't plug his nose adequately and went into the water with his mouth open, so it didn't take the first time because he came out of the water yelling and thrashing, and clinging to the glass on the wall, trying not to drown. I wasn't fortunate enough to witness the event, but I heard his gruesome screams from the hallway where I was waiting with his brother. The second time went a lot smoother.
The water heater in the baptismal font is broken, so after Cesar, when I went to get in the water with Claudio, Janice's 19 year old son, he put his right foot in, pulled it out very quickly, and decided that salvation just wasn't worth it. He fled from the font to the bathroom, and I had to chase after him and calm him down, and then lure him back to the water. Once he got in, it was fine.
On Sunday we had ten investigators at church. I want you all to just take a moment and reflect on that. TEN! It was excellent. We even made the "Extraordinary Accomplishments" section of President Frei's weekly email. We invited this one 15 year old kid that we're teaching named Elton, and told him that if he went to church, he would be blessed. He went, and loved it. The next day, the police raided his house and found cocaine in his dresser and arrested him for trafficing drugs. I feel kind of bad about that, but I guess these promises don't apply to people who are breaking the law.
Next week is transfers, and Elder Franklin will be going home. It looks like our area is going to stay open, so I'll be at least one more transfer in Belo Horizonte, living in the center. I admit I wont be terribly upset when I finally do get transfered. Two transfers is a long time to be working in the ghetto. And three is certainly sufficient.
Elder Franklin and I have made a companionship goal to try every flavor of Ice Cream at this little shop in our area. To date, I've tried 16 of the 28.
Tchau,
Elder Sisco
Monday, June 30, 2008
June 18th, 2008 Pictures
Here's us at lunch with the APs. The guy is a security guard at a prison, and he let us play with his hand cuffs. The blue pants is a 72 year old woman who is a black belt and was helping me try to get out of them. they were taking off my shoes in this picture.
This one is the official staff house picture. The guy in the back left is Elder Pruitt, the AP, who's going home at the end of this transfer. Next to him is Elder Franklin, my comp, who is also going home this transfer. Next to Franklin is Elder Grahl who went home on Monday so that he could be home in time for his wedding. The guy to my right is the other AP Elder Hill, and the other three guys are the secretaries.
These two here are of me at the top of the big hill in our area, then one of me in the main part of our area where we work (notice the HUGE set of stairs- you can't even see how high up they go).
The lady that got baptized the Sunday before last: Janice- The Lady Who Died.
This one is the official staff house picture. The guy in the back left is Elder Pruitt, the AP, who's going home at the end of this transfer. Next to him is Elder Franklin, my comp, who is also going home this transfer. Next to Franklin is Elder Grahl who went home on Monday so that he could be home in time for his wedding. The guy to my right is the other AP Elder Hill, and the other three guys are the secretaries.
These two here are of me at the top of the big hill in our area, then one of me in the main part of our area where we work (notice the HUGE set of stairs- you can't even see how high up they go).
The lady that got baptized the Sunday before last: Janice- The Lady Who Died.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday June 11th, 2008
It is P-Day once again! Thanks for all the emails, I got tons this week. You guys did well. This last Sunday Janice got baptized. She's the woman who died and came back. She's one of the weirdest people I've ever met, but cool. At her baptism after the Bishop and Relief Society President gave the boas vindas (welcoming?) she was like "can I give my message?" and everyone was kind of like "uh... sure... go for it," (complete with weird looks and sideglances). So she got up and crossed her arms, bowed her head and started her message/prayer. It wasn't as bad as we anticipated- she just sort of rambled about the importance of love and the love the Savior has for us, which is great, just that she did it in a really weird, offbeat way. But whatever, she's cool.
Because of Stake Conference this Sunday we got permission to confirm her at the baptism instead of waiting two weeks, and she asked me if I would do it (ah!!). But I did, for the first time, with Elder Franklin and our Bishop and it was suh-weet! I was way nervous that I'd mess something up and like, accidentally condemn her or something, but it turned out really well. Everyone said it was really good. As for her two sons, well, they're goons. One's 19 and the other's 20. Neither of them know how to read, so she reads the Book of Mormon to them which we really appreciate. The problem is that she's only been a member for like, 3 days so she tries to explain things to them and then starts to create her own little personal apostasy. I wish we could be there all the time to help out. The other problem is that they're complete idiots. It took three weeks before the 20 year old would say "bom dia" to us. The OTHER problem is that the 19 year old son is in love with one of the members. We're really trying to get it across that he shouldn't get baptized because he thinks that what she wants him to, but that he should do it because he knows that it's the right thing to do.
Last Friday I did a division with Elder Wilson, my Trainer/Current Zone Leader in his area, and that was really fun to teach with him again. That night we had to go back to the church for an interview and while he and I were waiting around for it to get done this guy walked into the church and called us over to the door where he was standing. He wanted R$2.50 for a bus. As missionaries, we're not allowed to give out money, and we explained that to him, but I told him I would go upstairs and see if there was anyone that could help him out. There was a lady parked in the parking lot and he kept telling us to go ask her to give him a ride, but like we're going to put some crazy homeless guy in a car with an old woman and have her drive him home. Anyway, I went upstairs and looked around a bit and then came back down and informed him that there was, unfortunately no one up there. Not 30 seconds later, the Stake President and Bishop walked down the stairs and out the door past us. Luckily I think he was too drunk to notice that I completely lied to his face, and so he just kept talking to us. But because we insisted that we couldnt give him money, he started to get a little angry: "If Jesus Christ was here right now, would you deny him?" Well, first of all I don't think Jesus would come to the church just to ask for a couple bucks, but we just told him "no, of course not." To which he responded, "well guess what- you just did. I am Jesus!" It was very dramatic.
But he wouldn't leave. He just kept standing in the doorway talking to us. Then his story started to change. He informed us that he was the last prophet of the Jehova's Witnesses ("they just don't know me yet") and then he started to prophesy: "One day, a bottle of wine will fall from the sky and will land right here!" as he points to the floor, "and wine will be everywhere! And then everyone will know..." He didn't mention what it was that everyone will know, but he made it quite clear that we will definitely know it."And then the walls of this church will fall!" Excellent, thank you. I'll keep an eye out for that bottle. He also prophesied that one day two JWs will knock on Elder Wilson's door, and that Wilson will remember him and let them in and that he will be converted. Elder Wilson will then return to this ward in Brazil and convert every single one of them to the Jehova's Witnesses. I hope there aren't crazy, drunk people that go around talking about the Mormons like that. That's pretty much it. Peace out 'til next week.
-Elder Sisco
Because of Stake Conference this Sunday we got permission to confirm her at the baptism instead of waiting two weeks, and she asked me if I would do it (ah!!). But I did, for the first time, with Elder Franklin and our Bishop and it was suh-weet! I was way nervous that I'd mess something up and like, accidentally condemn her or something, but it turned out really well. Everyone said it was really good. As for her two sons, well, they're goons. One's 19 and the other's 20. Neither of them know how to read, so she reads the Book of Mormon to them which we really appreciate. The problem is that she's only been a member for like, 3 days so she tries to explain things to them and then starts to create her own little personal apostasy. I wish we could be there all the time to help out. The other problem is that they're complete idiots. It took three weeks before the 20 year old would say "bom dia" to us. The OTHER problem is that the 19 year old son is in love with one of the members. We're really trying to get it across that he shouldn't get baptized because he thinks that what she wants him to, but that he should do it because he knows that it's the right thing to do.
Last Friday I did a division with Elder Wilson, my Trainer/Current Zone Leader in his area, and that was really fun to teach with him again. That night we had to go back to the church for an interview and while he and I were waiting around for it to get done this guy walked into the church and called us over to the door where he was standing. He wanted R$2.50 for a bus. As missionaries, we're not allowed to give out money, and we explained that to him, but I told him I would go upstairs and see if there was anyone that could help him out. There was a lady parked in the parking lot and he kept telling us to go ask her to give him a ride, but like we're going to put some crazy homeless guy in a car with an old woman and have her drive him home. Anyway, I went upstairs and looked around a bit and then came back down and informed him that there was, unfortunately no one up there. Not 30 seconds later, the Stake President and Bishop walked down the stairs and out the door past us. Luckily I think he was too drunk to notice that I completely lied to his face, and so he just kept talking to us. But because we insisted that we couldnt give him money, he started to get a little angry: "If Jesus Christ was here right now, would you deny him?" Well, first of all I don't think Jesus would come to the church just to ask for a couple bucks, but we just told him "no, of course not." To which he responded, "well guess what- you just did. I am Jesus!" It was very dramatic.
But he wouldn't leave. He just kept standing in the doorway talking to us. Then his story started to change. He informed us that he was the last prophet of the Jehova's Witnesses ("they just don't know me yet") and then he started to prophesy: "One day, a bottle of wine will fall from the sky and will land right here!" as he points to the floor, "and wine will be everywhere! And then everyone will know..." He didn't mention what it was that everyone will know, but he made it quite clear that we will definitely know it."And then the walls of this church will fall!" Excellent, thank you. I'll keep an eye out for that bottle. He also prophesied that one day two JWs will knock on Elder Wilson's door, and that Wilson will remember him and let them in and that he will be converted. Elder Wilson will then return to this ward in Brazil and convert every single one of them to the Jehova's Witnesses. I hope there aren't crazy, drunk people that go around talking about the Mormons like that. That's pretty much it. Peace out 'til next week.
-Elder Sisco
Wednesday June 4th, 2008
Hello!
I'm praying for Sam and everyone all the time. I don't like to imagine him being in the situation that he is; I imagine it's a little more difficult actually being there, but all will work out in the end. We have to suffer through these trials in order to grow. President Frei said yesterday at zone conference that sacrifice is just preperation for receiving more blessings, and I liked that. Pay your tithing. Study the scriptures EVERY DAY without fail. Pay fast offerings. Have family prayer. Go to church. Love it! There is no greater blessing than being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the only true and living church on the face of the earth. There are 6 BILLION people in the world and only 13 million are members. I don't even know how many people I've met already who think they're saved just because their pastor said so, and I feel bad for them because they're not willing to open their hearts and ask Heavenly Father for guidance. It makes getting rejected and treated badly easier to handle though. BUT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE BLESSINGS WE CAN GET FROM KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS!! Think of how lucky we are to know the truth! How selfish is it to be disobedient to the God who has been kind enough to show us the way to return back to him?
Yesterday at zone conference President Frei also talked about how we can obligate God to bless us when we do what he asks of us. There will be times when we can kneel down and say "ok, Heavenly Father, I've done my part, it's your turn now." And he will be completely obligated to pour blessings upon our heads. If we don't pay our tithing, we're screwing ourselves out of blessings. We're taking our ticket to the kingdom of heaven and tearing it to shreds. Just as an example. Anyway, that's all.
Today my LZs, the APs and another companionship in our zone went to President Frei's back yard and played some basketball and some volleyball. And I ate at Subway again. It was amazing. My Dad, Elder Wilson, is my LZ, so that's cool. He's going home this transfer.The work is going very well. Janice, the woman who died and ressuscitated, is getting interviewed tonight and baptized on Sunday. This past Sunday she got up and bore her testimony, and it was AWESOME. I was so proud, I told everyone around me "that's my investigator!" We're also teaching the rest of her family, and they all have dates for next Sunday.The past Sunday morning, instead of regular church, everyone went to our chapel and watched the satellite broadcast of the Curitiba Temple dedication. I sat in a group of 8 missionaries (6 Americans), and the whole time they were doing the part where President Monson and a bunch of other people go up and put mortar on the wall, we were the only ones laughing because President Monson kept making hilarious side comments, but the translator didn't translate any of the comments that he made- only when he addressed the crowd. But it was a great experience. There are now 5 working temples in Brazil; soon to be 6 when the one in Manaus is finished. We had a testimony meeting later that afternoon.
Elder Franklin, from Alaska, is great. He's going home this transfer, too. He's a great missionary- I've already learned a lot from him.
Here's a funny missionary story that happened to an Elder here recently. He was teaching a woman who was very receptive to the 1st lesson, but had heard a lot of bad things about the church, especially in regards to the temples. She kept mentioning that she heard the church was a cult or sect and that sort of weirdness that people spread around. The Elder decided to leave the lesson, quickly explaining to her that the Lord wants us to keep his commandments, and that he will provide a way for us to keep every one of them, and he left 1 Nephi 3:7 for her to read. Or rather, he thought he did. What he actually left was 3 Nephi 3:7, the part that talks about the bad secret combinations and says: "Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance." Oops.
The other night I got my first haircut from a missionary- or, 3. It took 3 Elders an hour and a half to cut my hair because none of them had ever done it before, and I wouldn't let them just buzz it. They had to use scissors. It turned out surprisingly well. I'll send pictures next week.
Anyway, that's all I've got for this week. Pictures to come next week, I hope.
Love,
Elder Sisco
I'm praying for Sam and everyone all the time. I don't like to imagine him being in the situation that he is; I imagine it's a little more difficult actually being there, but all will work out in the end. We have to suffer through these trials in order to grow. President Frei said yesterday at zone conference that sacrifice is just preperation for receiving more blessings, and I liked that. Pay your tithing. Study the scriptures EVERY DAY without fail. Pay fast offerings. Have family prayer. Go to church. Love it! There is no greater blessing than being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the only true and living church on the face of the earth. There are 6 BILLION people in the world and only 13 million are members. I don't even know how many people I've met already who think they're saved just because their pastor said so, and I feel bad for them because they're not willing to open their hearts and ask Heavenly Father for guidance. It makes getting rejected and treated badly easier to handle though. BUT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE BLESSINGS WE CAN GET FROM KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS!! Think of how lucky we are to know the truth! How selfish is it to be disobedient to the God who has been kind enough to show us the way to return back to him?
Yesterday at zone conference President Frei also talked about how we can obligate God to bless us when we do what he asks of us. There will be times when we can kneel down and say "ok, Heavenly Father, I've done my part, it's your turn now." And he will be completely obligated to pour blessings upon our heads. If we don't pay our tithing, we're screwing ourselves out of blessings. We're taking our ticket to the kingdom of heaven and tearing it to shreds. Just as an example. Anyway, that's all.
Today my LZs, the APs and another companionship in our zone went to President Frei's back yard and played some basketball and some volleyball. And I ate at Subway again. It was amazing. My Dad, Elder Wilson, is my LZ, so that's cool. He's going home this transfer.The work is going very well. Janice, the woman who died and ressuscitated, is getting interviewed tonight and baptized on Sunday. This past Sunday she got up and bore her testimony, and it was AWESOME. I was so proud, I told everyone around me "that's my investigator!" We're also teaching the rest of her family, and they all have dates for next Sunday.The past Sunday morning, instead of regular church, everyone went to our chapel and watched the satellite broadcast of the Curitiba Temple dedication. I sat in a group of 8 missionaries (6 Americans), and the whole time they were doing the part where President Monson and a bunch of other people go up and put mortar on the wall, we were the only ones laughing because President Monson kept making hilarious side comments, but the translator didn't translate any of the comments that he made- only when he addressed the crowd. But it was a great experience. There are now 5 working temples in Brazil; soon to be 6 when the one in Manaus is finished. We had a testimony meeting later that afternoon.
Elder Franklin, from Alaska, is great. He's going home this transfer, too. He's a great missionary- I've already learned a lot from him.
Here's a funny missionary story that happened to an Elder here recently. He was teaching a woman who was very receptive to the 1st lesson, but had heard a lot of bad things about the church, especially in regards to the temples. She kept mentioning that she heard the church was a cult or sect and that sort of weirdness that people spread around. The Elder decided to leave the lesson, quickly explaining to her that the Lord wants us to keep his commandments, and that he will provide a way for us to keep every one of them, and he left 1 Nephi 3:7 for her to read. Or rather, he thought he did. What he actually left was 3 Nephi 3:7, the part that talks about the bad secret combinations and says: "Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance." Oops.
The other night I got my first haircut from a missionary- or, 3. It took 3 Elders an hour and a half to cut my hair because none of them had ever done it before, and I wouldn't let them just buzz it. They had to use scissors. It turned out surprisingly well. I'll send pictures next week.
Anyway, that's all I've got for this week. Pictures to come next week, I hope.
Love,
Elder Sisco
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