Franca week 2

Good week. I feel like we were teaching a lot better and that the people we are teaching are progressing. We went to a really pretty waterfall last pday with our zone. That was a lot of fun and really pretty. My companion and I have really different views on missionary work and how to teach, but we are getting along really well. We passed a family that was loading up a moving truck the other day and we stopped to help them. It felt so good to serve with my hands. This was my first service project in 6 months. Generally people dont let us serve them because our clothes are nice or they dont want to bother us. Im used to cutting firewood for the widows in my home ward, so its been weird not serving others with my hands. Sorry this is short, but so is my time, and I honestly am drawing a blank of what to write. Hope everyone is doing well. Tchau!

Elder Siemers

Franca!

This was an interesting week. The first time in a new area, so It was weird being dependent on my companion because I didnt know the area or the people her. We found a few really good people last week, so I have high hopes for this transfer.

I stepped into Wal - Mart the other day. That was weird. Never thought I would do that in Brazil. It was pretty much the same. I dont think I will bring myself to eat at McDonalds though. Maybe one time to see if it tastes the same, but I really dont have much of a desire to go there.

When I arrived here, I seperated my white shirts, to make sure I use the same ones, so I can use them up and keep some others nice to use later. This way I always have nice white shirts, and free up a little space in my suitcase instead of having lots of creme colored shirts and no space in my suitcase. I was washing my frequently used shirts so I used a shirt that I have not used very much. I walked past a tree that had a nail sticking out of it that I didnt see and snagged my shirt. Riiiiiiipp! So much for keeping some shirts nicer than others. At least I have a little more room in my suitcase now.

Yesterday it was raining. I left my umbrella outside of the church because I didnt put it with all the other umbrellas, just in case there was a mix up. I didnt want somebody to walk off with it on accident. My companion told me not to keep my umbrella outside so I grabbed it and put it inside with the others. At the end of church I found it. Then I went to grab some thing and two minutes later somebody had grabbed it by accident! Luckily it did not rain much yesterday.

Well, that was pretty much my week. I am excited for this area. I think it will be a really good city to work in.

Elder Siemers

September 23 - October 17

October 17: Lots of changes

It was a pretty good week. Thursday night we received a phone call that I would be transferred this next transfer, so we worked extra hard at getting everything ready for Elder Sousa and his new companion.

Saturday night was the time change for us so I am now another hour or two ahead of home.

Sunday we passed by a few people's houses to bring them to church with us. They said we could pass by but I think they were still sleeping because of the time change. But when we got to church we had 2 investigators there, and a third showed up during the 2nd class. It was awesome. I think Elder S will be able to help quite a few people this next transfer. After church all the members came up to me and wished me luck, along with one of our investigators. It was very touching and I might have shed a few tears when L said goodbye to me. He bought me a Book of Mormon in Spanish and told me I have to learn Spanish next. I will miss everyone in Poços de Caldas. We even have a lot of friends in lots of the stores. The bakery, the paperstore, I took pictures with a lot of people.

Yesterday I took a bus to Ribeirão Preto and stayed the night in the Office Staff's home. Today I took a bus to Pinhares, Franca area, my new area! Im excited. Everyone says its a really good area and the members help out a lot. My new companion is Elder Vitor, another missionary from my group in the MTC. My house is twice the size of my last house, and so is my table I use to study. This will be a good area. It will be cool to experience a new city.

The weather is definitely gettting warmer. And its been raining so its been humid also. I washed almost all my clothes before the transfer but hardly any of them dried in the 2 or 3 days on the line, so I had to pack them all up while they were still wet. I will rewash everything today.

I'm excited for my new area, not so excited about the heat, but things are going well. Até mais.

Elder Siemers

October 10: Not too much this week

Pretty uneventful week. It was Elder S's birthday so we went up to the Christ statue to celebrate. And because we had reached all our goals the previous month, President let us watch Disney films this month. So after going up to the Christ we got to watch a Disney movie. It was the first movie I have seen that wasnt a church film in 6 months. We watched it with other missionaries and one of them hadnt seen a movie in over a year.

This week is the end of the transfer so we are running to get as much done as possible. We have interviews with President this weekend so that should be good. I wont find out until Saturday if I am staying or going to another city. So who knows, maybe my next email will be from another area.

Fique firme!

Elder Siemers

October 3: Lots of Walking

This week was super busy. We wanted to invite everyone to watch General Conference, so that what we did. I have never walked so much in my entire life. This was also a week of firsts for me. We swung by a man's house this week to invite him to conference. We have taught him many times and he is always super friendly. As I was inviting him to conference, he cut me off then said we are part of a cult. That was a surprise. We also taught another lesson this week with a young woman and her brother. She didnt like they manner I was teaching so she was not receptive after that and doesnt want anything to do with us now. I felt horrible. I didnt like the fact of my mistakes interfering with another person's learning.

But life is good. Conference was awesome and very uplifting. I learned a lot and I want to print out a few talks for our investigators. It's Elder S's birthday today so we are heading to downtown to buy him a tie and celebrate. A lot of bad things happened this last week, but I don't feel discouraged. In fact just the opposite. I feel like working harder. The mission is crazy, but really amazing.

Elder Siemers

September 26: Ups and downs

This week was crazy, with lots of ups and downs. It was hard finding people home to teach them, but when we did we had really good lessons. We had a mission conference, which takes away a day of work, but was really good. We watched an amazing video that had Elder Holland speaking with scenes of the Savior's sacrifice playing. He was talking about how hard missionary work is. But he said that one far greater than us, and a long time before us, wanted an easier way, but there wasnt one. Salvation never came cheaply. Our salvation was paid for at an extremely high price. It was one of the most inspiring videos I have ever seen. Every time things get tough I will remember that video and the words of Elder Holland.

We baptized G last night! It was awesome. He has come so far and overcome a lot to be where he is at. Since General Conference is next week we confirmed him last night so he didnt have to wait 2 weeks for his confirmation and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He picked me to confirm him. It was my first confirmation, in English or Portguese. I was super nervous, but I was so grateful for the opportunity. It was awesome and I definitely had help from the spirit.

This week was a little tough at times but I learned a lot. I will work harder this week and get more accomplished.

Elder Siemers