Heading to Ribeirão – 2/20/12
I was transferred this week. I will be heading to Ribeirão Preto tonight. I will also be training a brand new missionary! Crazyness. Time for more stress. =) Time is flying fast but things are going well.
We had a really awesome week. A little bit on the emotional side also. We had a lady who has been studying with us for months tell us she isnt interested anymore. We were crushed. Thats always a tough situation.
But life is good. Paula, our baptism a couple weeks ago is thriving in the church. She started studying again also, so she is having a wonderful time. She said some of the sweetest things when I said goodbye to her last night. She said I was always patience and explained things clearly to her. Thats one of the best compliments someone can give a missionary. We were all pretty misty eyed.
Dyego's family threw me a small birthday party. It was really touching. The only problem was that Elder Batista told Giovanna (Dyego's sister) that I love coconut cake and didnt explain afterward that he was joking and I dont like coconut at all. So, she made a coconut cake. It was made with love though and was delicious. Its amazing how attached you get to people. The mission is awesome.
Well, my next email will be from my next area. Até a proxima vez!
Elder Siemers
Long week – 2/13/12
We had lots to do this last week. We helped plan two activities, one for everyone, and a campout for the young men. We also had interviews with President Prieto and a multi zone conference. President Prieto has been bringing every missionary house in the mission a microwave. He wanted to make sure that they were clean and see if they need anything. He and Sister Prieto were quite impressed with our full fridge. I dont think a lot of missionaries buy a lot of food, so they were pretty happy.
Our multizone conference was really good. The focus was on improving our desires and our work through goals and planning. It was Elder Davis'(my trainer) last conference. That was weird. He only had one year when I arrived in the field, and he is going to leave in the next couple months. Im getting old on the mission. =)
The activities were good. The wednesday night activity was to help us be more united. We played games that helped us work together and get to know one another. Friday night, the young men had a campout. I showed them how to make tin foil dinners just like we learned in scouts. I shared a message while dinner was cooking in the coals about how we need to gather ourselves in one place spiritually. This place is the Gospel. I shared 3 Nephi 3:25 and encouraged them to do things to help them stay in the gospel. It was a good night.
The week was long and we didnt teach as much as we wanted, but we are very free this coming week, so we should be able to make up for it. I hope everyone is doing well. Until next week.
Elder Siemers
O mesmo – 2/6/12
Well, this week will probably be another lame email. Not much to report. We have lots of people to teach but not many are wanting to do much. We have been preparing for some activities in the church this week and this month. We are working hard at strengthening the church here and its members with a theme of more unity. We are trying to set up a system of activities and coordination between the missionaries and members that will continue after we leave the area and new missionaries come in. Its important that the ward is actively involved and doesnt need the missionaries to do anything but teach.
Its been really hot this week. Carnaval(Brazilian Mardi Gras) is coming up here soon so we are not looking forward to the lack of sleep we will have. The activities arent very far from our house so we will be able to hear all the shows and people in the street coming and going.
I hope everyone is doing well. Tchau!
Elder Siemers
Changes – 1/30/12
This week wasnt as good as the last week. We had a baptism scheduled but it fell through, so we were all disappointed about that. We had lots of people in church though. We did have a very good training from the assistants. They have been making lots of changes and focusing on improving our teaching. I really like the changes they have been making and things are moving more towards my beliefs and ideas of teaching. The mission should have lots more success in the near future with helping others. Well, thats pretty much it. Until next week.
Elder Siemers
Woot Woot – 1/23/12
We had an awesome week last week. We worked hard and had lots of good results including 7 people at church. We baptized a woman who we`ve been working with for the past 2 months or so. There werent tons of people there, but it was really nice and the spirit was strong there. Elder Siemers himself had the honor of baptizing her. It was a really awesome experience.
We also had a conference with Elder M. Russell Balllard, Elder Neil Anderson, Elder Jensen of the presidency of the 70, and Elder Costa the area president of Brazil. It was an awesome conference and we all got to shake the hands of each church leader who came. The conference was very uplifting and helpful. The focus was on working with church members and working more effectively. I learned a lot and am more commited to work harder.
Elder Siemers
