Week 15 November 23, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Kind of bummed that we are not going to celebrate it here, but whatever. Gosh it’s good to here from you all!! Thanks for everything; all your letters and stuff have been so awesome to read! I'm so grateful for the best family in the world! So ya thanks for everything!!

So where to start! This week has been a crazy, interesting, growing, frustrating, hard.... think of any word and this is how my week was... I don’t even know where to start!!

So I’ll start by reminding you that this was my last week with my first companion, he went home one transfer early cause of his knee, so this week we did a lot of saying goodbye and not that much teaching which was difficult... So I did a lot of sitting and taking pictures ha... so like I said we said goodbye, walked SO freaking much, and to be quite honest it was hard cause he was saying that he will be home for Natal and I will be here and just stiff like that which was hard but that’s ok he is gone now, sad but good thing.

I will continue with talking about my new companion... I didn’t have to go to Santa Maria cause another Elder hurt his foot too and is being transfered to Santa Maria, so they went together, and honestly I am happy cause its a 6 hour and 30 minute bus ride which is horrible ha-ha... so that’s good and I have been staying with Elder Lee for yesterday and today which has been fun! This morning I found out that my new companion is going to be Elder Teixeira! I have only heard good things about him!! I don’t know him but I here that he is SO funny and he is an amazing missionary!! He will be the new district leader here and he turned district leader 5 months into the mission and so he has been a district leader in different areas for also 8 months now.... so the Pres loves him!! Kind of scared though... I guess he doesn’t speak ANY English at all, which is gong to be really, really hard!! But this is a good time to grow I think... it will be a good challenge (I hope) ha-ha! So ya he will get here with 8 other missionaries tomorrow night!! Me and my best buddy in the mission elder Burnham who is the zone leader are the only ones staying here in this area, the rest are new... anyway it’s going to be pretty cool!! We are also receiving 4 sisters!!!!!!!! Which I am super excited about, (I here they always bring food to the meetings we have together hahaha) no but I'm really excited to meet everyone!!

So ya this week has been kind of crazy!! We had divisions so I was with Elder Burnham, the zone leader, for 3 days that was SO fun!! We ordered ´pizza from Uruguay sooo freaking good!! While we were together we got to watch a movie (Charlie) don’t worry the Pres said it’s ok... but its so sad!!! Try and find it family!! It’s the most amazing movie ever!! Made me a little homesick, but it was good!! And this week something else happen that was hard... I had my first date fall... So we were scheduled to baptize this girl on Saturday but she decided not to!! She felt like she wasn’t ready... she felt like she was doing it cause Elder Gil was pressuring her to do it!! And quite honestly I'm happy that she didn’t go threw with it! I know it’s only time that she will be baptized but if she wasn’t fully ready yet that means that we have work to do still!! She will be soon!! We will go talk to her this week and there is no doubt in my mind that in the next couple weeks she will be! So ya that was the hard thing!!

I have officially had the chance to go to every missionary house in my area now.... and let me tell you everyone’s but mine is like a freaking mansion They are all like 4 times as big as mine, and two have badays (the thing that you clean your rear after you dump) ya so just thought I would tell you its kind of sucks but I look at it this way.... it can only go up from here.

Dad--- it’s crazy, I met someone here, a Brazilian that speaks English and I asked him where he learned and he said on his mission in Kentucky, Louisville mission!! Same mission as you crazy huh!! I thought it was.

Anyway my time is up for writing!! I love you guy’s SO much!! Have a fabulous week!! Be safe and I will tell you everything about my new comp next week!! Gosh I love you guys!! Have a good week and talk to you later!! Love ya!!!

Elder Wiscomb XOXOXO

Week 14 November 16, 2009

This week was crazy I don’t even know where to start!!

To start off, I forgot to mention last week that I have challenged myself, and I think that it has been helping. I challenged my self to put away ALL my English stuff!! I only have my “Jesus the Christ” which I read rarely, when I have a couple minutes... but its kind of crazy... I am constantly looking in the dictionary for words but I think that searching and at least trying to think about the word as I'm finding it has help... so just thought I would tell you. So because of that, it has been kind of a frustrating week, because I haven’t had like any time to study... well I never do because we always have interviews for baptisms, or this week I was at the zone leaders house and we had to do service in the morning, which they didn’t tell me about and I had to practically play in the mud in my church close which kind of sucked ha-ha but it was fun!! I love doing service!!

This week was kind of cool!!! A little different because it has been raining SO much and since our house is SO dang far away from everything, some days we didn’t take our rain stuff because its a pure blue sky in the morning and by like 3 its a monsoon ha-ha so some days we had spend like 2 hours in a house of members just talking with their friends who aren’t members... (Well my comp talks ha-ha I usually just listen, well, try to at that hahaha) but its been kind of fun!! We showed them how to make American pancakes, and dad your cake (which they always ask for now) and their favorite is Jell-O with soda and fruit!! They thought it was SO weird when I told them about it for the first time but when they tried it they were like “wow what the heck is this ahahahha” and now everyone makes it all the time its pretty funny!!

Something that was also funny; we are teaching this lady, probably like 30 years old, and honestly she is kind of crazy, but I love her. For work she makes these necklaces, which are honestly REALLY, REALLY UGLY HAHA!! They look like she just tied thread together and called it a necklace but anyway. When she was showing us them, she asked me if I liked them. What am I going to say to that? I’m going to say, “Oh ya, I love them so much” hahaha! I mean we can’t be mean right? So the next visit she made one especially for me to give to you mom hahaha!! I felt bad because I didn’t want to take it because you are probably not going to get it because I am not going to spend the money to send it home and I will probably not hold onto it for two years but she insisted that I take it for you... so I did. I took a picture of it so when I send this card home you will see what I'm talking about, but it was pretty funny!!

So we received word yesterday that my companion will be going home because of his knee... he will go home a transfer early which ends in a week, and my president talked to me and said that I will be staying here in this area and will show my new companion this area, which is a really, really scary thought!!! I DON'T KNOW THIS AREA!!! I don’t know how to talk to people very well and honestly the hardest thing in the world is putting names with faces hahaha!!! But my President is confident that I am able to do this so I guess I will!!! He said that he doesn’t usually allow a new missionary to stay in an area and show an older one where to go but we will figure it out!! I know now more then ever that my Heavenly Father will guide where to go, and whom I need to talk to!! So, next week I will probably have a new companion which means I don’t know if I will be able to write much in the email. The only reason why I have so much time right now to use the Internet is because my companion has a lot to do on the Internet for the zone/district, so he said I could have a little bit more time!! So maybe next week there will be just one fast, big email!! But know that I love all your letters!!

Today we were going to go to the club to play soccer and tennis but its raining so all the missionaries (ten of us) gathered in the stake center and just hug out and played soccer in the rain, on a cement court, and had lunch it was really, really fun!!

This week is going to be a crazy week. There will probably be a lot of saying goodbyes... and this week I will once again live at the house of the zone leaders for 3 days cause we have division!! Which should be fun!! I might not be able to write till after next week because I might be going to Santa Maria..... for transfers... we will see, if I don’t write on Monday this is why!!

So we are starting a new adventure in a couple days, ha-ha it will be great!! Its crazy to think that I will be starting only my second transfer and Jake is on his last!! Ahhh his time seemed like it went by so fast but at the same time it seams like my time is SO long, which honestly is a bitter/sweet thing at this moment but I am making the best of every second here! Everything is just amazing in Livramento! I love my time here, I love the people, and I love this work!! The Church of Jesus Christ is true!! I know with all my heart and I'm so grateful for this opportunity to share it with the people here in Brazil!!!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

Elder Wiscomb

D&C 108:9

Week 13 November 9, 2009

Hello family!! Well I don't really know where to start because this week has been just absolutely amazing! So much happened!! I want to start by saying thanks for all of your emails!! I love reading them and knowing that everything is going just fabulous back home! Thanks for your thoughts and your words!

So to start off I will say that this week had been just a week of rain!! But that’s not necessarily a bad thing! I love walking in the rain and the wind. Its kind of fun! We had so much rain that we would just watch the motorcyclist try and ride in the rain. They were going through these puddles where they (bike and their entire body) would be fully submerged in the water, it was sooo funny!! So ya it has literally rained all day, every day, for about seven days!! Today is sunny and blue skies though, and it’s started to become a little bit warmer, which is nice... I don’t know what I like more!! It’s either freezing or hot!! And when I'm freezing it stinks and when you are hot and sweating your miserable so either way it stinks, oh well...

So, this week has been good, like I mentioned and I will tell you why later.... but a couple thoughts have come to my mind while I've been sitting here... something that I find super hard on the mission and another something is a desire that I have.... first the thing that’s hard for me to understand.... its hard for me to be denied on the mission... I don’t know why, but if people would just step back from the world and think what us (as missionaries) are really doing... we believe and know this work to be true, so we, as young men and sisters of the world, leave everything we have and dedicate two years or a year and half to sharing this Gospel with the world!! We have been teaching this investigator and she is sooo strong, but for some reason she is hesitant to progress ... I was sitting there and thinking WHY?! If you know this is true why are you scared!! So I was thinking of something to say. We just finished the discussion about the Book of Mormon, for the 2nd time, just to emphasize the importance of reading and it was silent for about 2 minutes, but a good silence, if that makes sense... anyway, long story short I said something and I don’t know where it came from but it just flowed out of my mouth and it went like this. I looked at her strait in the eyes and I said “why, why are you scared or hesitant to continue progressing in something that you know is true?” then I said “If I didn’t know that this is true, I wouldn’t be here!” and then I did something that was not expecting to do and my companion was shocked too... I asked her if I could give her a challenge and she said yes... then I said “I want to challenge you by giving you a date for your baptism this night... the date is the 28 of this month, will you continue to prepare to be baptized on this date?” and she looked at me, long story short, she said yes!! Gosh what an amazing experience!!

And know for my desire!! My greatest desire is to show how much I love you mom and dad!! I have been trying to think of a way to show my appreciation for everything that you guys have done and taught me in my life and I just don’t know how I will ever do it!! Being here on the mission I have gained an amazing testimony of families and the importance of them!! I don’t even know how to explain myself but I wish that someday I will be able to figure out a way to show this!! And Elissa I'm so sorry of making fun of you when you got home from you mission about always wanting to do family home evening!! Here in the mission, they are the best nights of the week and I have really come to know how important it is to do something with your family throughout the week!! So ya sorry for making fun of you!! ha-ha

K I was going to wait for later in the letter but I will say it now!! I had my first baptism this week on Saturday her name is Elenara!! Aww it was amazing!! And I didn’t even mess up the words hahaha!! But it’s amazing to see the results of our work!! It sure gives you an extra boost or a jump-start again!! I think I have finally settled in, which is nice!!! Its was kind of cool though because she had to get married for her husband first, so we had the weeding Friday night and then we baptized her on Saturday!! The guy is already a member but is inactive, so they are coming to church now and it’s amazing!!

So the box!! I think that everyone loves you!! Pretty much the candy is almost gone already and it’s only been 2 days but everyone loved it!! I think I'm addicted to candy ha-ha gosh there is nothing better than a Butterfinger!! And then for the other stuff!! I think I have enough floss and toothbrushes for the mission!! But remember mom; I'm in a civil place ha-ha!! I'm able to buy everything here, there is a ‘BIG’ which is pretty much a ‘Wal-Mart’ which is nice but thanks so much and thanks for the hankies love them soooo much they are already in use! Thanks for everyone!! You’re the best!!

So tonight I will be spending the night, and I think tomorrow night as well, with the zone leaders!! Which I am really exited for! My companion is going to Santa Maria to the doctors for his knee and chances are I will probably be getting a new companion next transfer which is in 2 weeks which is scary because I will be the one that knows where to go, and quite frankly I don’t know anything hahahah. So that should be interesting I will keep you updated.

So to answer your question mom about taking a taxi home during the rain. Gosh you know me... I don’t like to spend money on things that I don’t need to... we are perfectly capable of walking, even though its was horrible but it gives me time to think... which I don’t know is a good or bad thing ha-ha but I love to think. So ya. Oh I almost forgot today!!! We went to Uruguay and played soccer with the 20+missionaries over there!! It was so much fun!! And guess what, I met the cousins of the Strongs his name is Calvin Lloyd!! So just let them know that I met him or something!! It was nice to meet some new guys!! And I never mentioned that I saw Richie the first night sorry!! It was nice to see him and give him a big hug

So everything is going pretty well here!! Loving the work and the people!! It’s so nice to be getting close to the members now!! And is funny how many of them listen to songs in English like during lunch the other days we listen to the Coors which was cool other stuff!! But mom I hope its fine but I have a mission mom know!! Don’t worry she will NEVER take your place but its nice to have someone that I can always got to if I need help!! It’s funny because she calls be her “filho Americano” ha-ha it’s kind of funny!! Well I hope all is good but all his well here!! Loving everything and everyone!! Hope everything is amazing there!! Have a good week

Elder Wiscomb

P.S. I forgot to talk to you about zone conference.........quick. It was amazing seeing the President and his wife. We talked about studying, establishing goals before planning, the area book, and many other things... I got to see two people that I came here with which was fun!! And for money mom we get 90 bucks every two weeks, which is about 40 dollars. But it goes by fast I don’t know where it goes ha-ha!! So ya, sorry that was quick but it was good!!

Week 12 November 3, 2009

Family!! Gosh how is everyone going!! I’ll get right to the point!!! But first, I just want to say thanks for all of your letters!! I love hearing about everything and hearing that you are all doing well!! So thanks so much!

So this week started with the AP’s coming to our city! They were here for 4 days! So one day I got to go on splits with a zone leader Elder Silva!! He is amazing!! The Assistant was with my companion. So we walked all over and he didn’t know how to speak English so I was talking in Portuguese all day and it helped so much! I noticed that I know a little more then I give myself credit for… so that was a good way to start out the week!!

We had a family home evening this week too, which was SO much fun!! We just hung out, played games, ate pizza and cake, AH, it was fun and I gave the lesson, which was pretty cool! Kind of hard, but cool!

So the weather here has officially changed!! Well at least I thought it had until today… earlier this week it was 104 degrees and we were all just dying!! It’s been SO hot!! I’m getting pretty freaking dark though… I’m almost as dark as the Brazilians ha-ha! Oh and to top it off. Remember how our washer is broken; well we have to take our clothing to a member’s house. The house is at the top of that huge hill! It’s a 50-minute walk in the heat… kind of hard… but whatever, it’s worth having clean clothes!

So this week I finished D &C gosh I love it!! The scriptures are amazing!! Seriously!! And this week was fast and testimony meeting and I tried to bear my very simple testimony, which went all right…

It’s been so nice because I am starting to get really close to the a couple families here, which has been fun! I’m close to probably 3 families and although I’m not able to speak with them, and can show them my gratitude for being with them, I show them my love in different ways, usually by making a fool out of myself, but that’s alright!

So I have officially had my first encounter with a dog… gosh I hate dogs now… only Willy and Ben are the ones I love… SO we were walking up this street and out of nowhere this huge dog starts freaking out and running strait at us! I kicked it sooo hard. I feel bad, but it was a reactions and worth it. I didn’t want to get bitten.

Funny story for the week.. So we are at this families house that we are really close with… it’s a family of girls and one always goes with us to teach… she is a returned missionary. And she is an amazing teacher. There are twines in that family too, and one day I asked one of the twins, who are 16, for a cup of water, cause I was dying of thirst, and she looked at me and said “1 heal”… which is money. I just ducked my head, messing around with here, and she grabbed my cheek, like old grandmas do, and said something along the lines of “ohhh don’t worry I’ll get you a cup of water.” it was just funny cause after I was thinking… ‘That was the first time a girl has touched me in almost 3 months other then a handshake… AHHHHH” I was just laughing SO hard in my seat. I hope you find that funny cause it was.

And then today… p day… it has been an interesting day! We got up at 5 a.m., cause we were supposed to go to Santa Maria for a doctor’s appointment for my comps knee, so we got up then and it was a Monsoon; it was raining and windy like crazy. We get bus station, tired and wet, and got our tickets and they told us the wrong bus! So we missed it, and then we had to walk back, an hour and a half, in the rain. We got to take a taxi there, but we didn’t have enough money to take one back… it has been a long day and it hasn’t stopped raining. Dad and mom, thank so much for making me bring the raincoat and pants!! I have already used them so much!! Thanks!!!

Oh, and I almost forgot, The Day of the Dead, it’s kind of like Memorial Day. We went to the cemetery and proselyte about families and the plan of salvation/happiness, and sang and stuff, it was fun!! Then we all went to the border of Uruguay and Brazil and got a foot-long hotdog and juice shakes. It was pretty fun!!

So ya I hope I answered some questions you had, and I didn’t forget anything. I’m sure I have… but this week is zone conference, which should be good!! I’m super stoked for it!!! I’ll tell you how it goes next week! Thanks for everything!! I love you all so much!!! I hope that you guys all have a fantastic week! Love you all!! Bye

P.S. answers to most questions-

Blankets haven’t been washed… its not cold anymore.. It’s super hot!!

My health is pretty good

Things are going a little better with the companion

Food this week was horrible…. We had some bad lunches and stuff so I have made a lot of grilled cheeses! Ha-ha

I have some really good friends in this area!! Actually one really close, Elder Bernham!! I get to see him once a week and it’s really nice!!! He is the 2^nd zone leader

Language is still the same

I’m safe, don’t worry

Pinky is alright… still hurts

And my feet are killing me! I have so many blisters, which reminds me. In a letter do you want to ´put some “moleskins” for blisters!

So ya I thinks that’s all!!! Love you all so much!! Have good week!!

Elder Wiscomb!!