"The 'Big House' where I have been living"

"My desk"

"My room"

"Our Zone"

"Let's go fly a kite up to the highest height."

"Meet John Baptista Hahahahahah"

"The dog just licked my face!"

Week 59, September 26, 2010

Hello family! How is everyone doing on this fabulous day? I hope all is well. You guys all sound so great in your emails and thanks so much for every one of them! So about my week

What a crazy week. So the week started off amazing. Sunday morning we got up and we were on the bus on our way to church, and a family enters the bus. We were thinking that they were less actives that just decided to come back. We get to church and we were told that it’s a family that is getting to know the church for the first time. The Lord just placed a family in our hands! We have talked to them and there are some things that need to get done first. But they loved church and in the future they are going to get baptized! Maybe it’s not is in my time here, but soon enough they will be!!

Also in church I had an amazing experience… sitting there during sacrament meeting when they are releasing and calling new calling, I am just listening there and all of a sudden they call Silvio and Nueza!!!!! I looked at them as they stand (all smiling and proud and happy) and then the following words come. That Silvio was found worthy to receive the Aaronic priesthood, and that Nueza is the new counselor in the relief society!! Ahh I was so happy and grateful to my Heavenly Father for them that I’ll be quite honest, I couldn’t hold the tears of joy from running down my face. What a great surprise! They said they wanted to surprise me and they sure did!

And in this sacrament we had another surprise… President and Sister decided to come to our sacrament meeting and we have about 4 to 6 investigators about ever week but this one we just happened to have 10 investigators! President was really impressed with our work for the little time that we have in the field! The Lord is really blessing us and it’s been amazing to see!

Besides that, this Monday was the day of gauchos!! It would have been the last day of gauchos that I would have seen here in the Sul of brazil… but it wasn’t my p-day, so we ended up spending the day here in the office working and I didn’t see it but whatever…. Got to do what you got to do.

Also we got an elder from a different mission. His name is elder Weiss and he is Brazilian. And lives pretty dang close to our mission. He was in the mission Fortaleza or something like that. And he was actually comps with an elder Parker Stocking hahaha funny huh. So we had some good stories to tell!

So anyway the work here in the office is going normal, and in the field is going ok too. We have a lot of investigators but because of the new rule of no baptizing anyone individual under the age of 18 without a family, and with the family that we have (but they have to marry first) we have a lot of people that love church but its going to be a long process for everyone! The future missionaries in this area are going to love these amazing families.

It’s amazing how the Lord puts people in our road, and helps us know how to teach them and stuff. I had a great experience the other day. We have been teaching a mom and a daughter ever since I got together with Felipe, and they have gone to church ever since the first visit. They love the church and say they can’t find one flaw… (Well weird huh. because there isn’t one… it’s absolutely perfect, because its not a church created by men, it’s the church of the Lord). The only thing that she doesn’t understand is that she needs to be baptized again…. She can’t accept that her baptism that she had wasn’t valid in the eyes of the Lord; she was baptized in some little church, and by a woman of all things hahahahahahahaha… (Sorry but when she told me this I started to laugh hahahaha, I haven’t ever heard of this before… good thing that we have already met and made a friendship and I don’t think she saw me laugh which was good)… But she just doesn’t get the whole priesthood and authority of God aspect. Actually she knows it but I just think she doesn’t want to accept it…

So anyway we are out of ideas to try and help her so I did a little prayer and a fast for help. And the Lord answered the very next day it was amazing!! He just didn’t show me but he showed Felipe too. We studied the same thing, Alma 5, and decided that that’s what she needed to hear. So anyway, we ended up teaching and we marked her date for the 9^th !!! So I am hoping that everything will go great and will continue! But once again the Lord has answered my prayers!!! It’s incredible!

The Lord with never leave us alone, never. Whenever we need his help he is there. The only thing we have to do is allow him to have part of our life and He will guide us.

I'm out of time but I love you all so much and thanks for everything!! Big hug and kiss to all

Love you all

Elder Wiscomb

Picnic on the hike

The view from the top

The beginning to the hiking

Week 58 September 18, 2010

Hello family!!! How is everything doing on this Sunday afternoon? So sorry, I realize that I am writing again on Saturday but my comp had to do his training this time yesterday ha-ha which stinks for him ha, but it looks like this next week we are going to have p-day on Friday so just remember. Sorry this is super confusing for us too. Ha

But this morning was super awesome! We (me and Feleipe) we decided to do something different and we wanted to climb a mountain or something, so we always heard of people going up to the big antanas and there is an awesome view. So we just decided to walk there and see what we find. So we end up going and we walk and walk and ask for directions and we walk more and more and we start get to a fence that says "do not enter" ha-ha. We ask the neighbor if that was the way. And he said yes so we just keep going. Decide to jump the fence and start walking on this abandoned trail, going to the top of a mountain hahaha. Well we walk and walk and then we start to have to really climb and stuff ha, well it was quite the hour and a half clime up the mountain but it was worth it… the whole trip took about 5 hours… and then we get to the top…

When we got to the top we saw anther road it looked like it was a road for the care and about 15 minutes later a man on a bike comes up with a bike and we asked if a car would make it up and he said for sure. So we decided to call President and see if he and sister would like to come up and see this amazing view. President said as much as he would like to he had to run to an emergency meeting but sister wasn’t doing anything so she came up and we did a little picnic up at the top and then we messed around a bit! It was quite the day!!!

So that was today but because of this last week we have been getting really behind in the work in the field. The office work and figuring some things out their, really is hurting us in the field and we had a good teaching pool but we did a huge cut with our investigators because non were progressing they just love the presence of us in their house. This is kind of frustrating. But this last week we ended up working really hard and we taught 19 lessons which is way good for only having 2 or 3 hours in the field every night…. The most lesson that have ever been taught in this area is 20, and we made a goal to break that week after week.

We actually had some cool experiences these last couple days. Silvo, the man that we taught and baptized gave us a ride home one night from a lesson and he said something that I will never forget. He looks at us with tears in his eyes and he says, “I regret getting baptized….” And we get a little scared like. What going on… but then her further says? “I regret getting baptized so late. Now I don’t have a way to serve a mission, I feel it's my responsibility to spread the gospel know.” well we ended up teaching him about missions for married couples and he said that it's something he plans to do in the future if he has the means… which is amazing!!

Also the other night we were knocking on some street where I have never been it's sooooooo far away from everything ha-ha. Actually I think it's in the areas of some other elders but they wouldn’t ever go their because it s so far up I the mountains. And we found a boy and a dad that were really interested in our first message about Christ… long story short we ended up teaching and he said that he would always be in the house at night so we didn’t even mark another night to go back we just left it at that….

So 2 nights ago we were up in that area again and we just decided to pass by to see if we could share with them the 2 lesson. It's so far so we aren’t ever there and when we passed by it looked like they had visitors in their house so we were just …" lets just pass the house and not interrupt this." But then we passed and we looked at each other and we said both at the same time were like "actually lets go back"… anyway we ended up teaching and it was a lesson that was a little difficult. We had people standing up and sitting down and leaving and coming and it just wasn’t the right atmosphere to teach the lesson… but the wife of this man and this young boy got home right at the end of the lesson when we were talking about Joseph Smith and she heard everything and understood that the Church of Christ was restored and we have it in our day. And she asked us when church was, and we told her and invited her to come and promised that it would be the best decision that she would ever make in her life, and before we could say anything else she said. “I'll go!! I don’t know about anyone else but I'll go, you guys will come and get me”

So we are going to go to here house here in a little bit and see what happens be praying!!

So family I love you so much I just want to say that this Church is true! Thanks for everything that you guys do for me! And for all the updates and it really calms my soul to know that all is well back home!!! Love you all with all my heart and thanks again!! Big hug and kiss for everyone and always know that I am here for you all!!!

Elder Wiscomb

Baptism of Silvio

Baptism of Silvio

Week 57 September 10, 2010

Hello family!! So this week I really have zero time to write, oh man! But first off thanks so much for the wonderful emails! I'm so happy to hear from all you and that everything is just great!

So what happen here in the mission this week! We entered into the water again! It was amazing a night to remember!!! The spirit and the happiness, that was in the chapel that night was incredible! Seriously! And after, something amazing happened... Silvio pulled me over to the side and started to cry, thanking me for helping him find the road of Christ. What an experience. To be honest I was shocked and a little without words but I just told him that as missionaries we just present the information, it was him that found the road and him that decided to accept it... and I further said to never forget these feelings and this happiness that he is feeling right now! But what a great day!!

Other than that, we had transfers and mission tour, which I am soooooooo happy its over... we didn’t have much time to work the field and it did disappoint me a little because sometimes here in the office I don’t feel much like a missionary... which is super, super difficult... but we have a great mission tour. We talked about disobedience and the rules. One of my favorite subjects ha-ha. It was great!

Other than that, to be honest the week passed by sooooo fast I don’t even know where it went...

An experience last night is that we were teaching this mom and daughter and there just happened to be a women that was there that night just because she thought that she should be there... we invited her to listen to the message as well and we were practically done with the message. We decided to teach about the ministry of Christ again. So by the end she was crying and she further said that she was a member and has been for a long time. That she was married in the temple and has her partial blessing and everything and she didn’t know why she needed to be at that house that night but when we showed up she figured out why. We taught and she accepted to go to church this week!! Something big happened that made her go inactive but she is going to come back! How awesome is that!! It was amazing!

Ahhh to be honest I'm out of time. Sorry this is so short but I just want to know that love you all! This church is true and it is never too late to come to know Christ or to return partake of the blessing again!! The only thing you need to remember is that the lord is always saying, "Come unto me".

Love you all so much!

Thanks again!!

Love

Elder Wiscomb

Bachelorette Party

Week 56 September 3, 2010

Hello family! Happy Memorial Day (I think that’s what it is ha-ha). But it sounds like everyone is just great and the big old Utes had a great opening starter ha-ha. I realize that I'm writing once again on Saturday but something came up again yesterday and we had to go to the office and work again... sorry but next week I will be writing on FRIDAY. Well that is what we are planning... I don’t think that things will get in the way this time.... but who knows

So you guys are all going up to Sun Valley how awesome is that going to be! I love going up there, it’s always the best! Especially during the car show and everything. I hope that you guys have a great trip up and back! Drive safely ok!

So this week starting out has been pretty crazy. We have been dong a lot of stuff. So this next week some things are going to happen. We are going to have the mission tour where a member of the presidency of the area is going to be here which should be pretty cool. Also its transfers. (Which I find out that I will be here again, and I'm not even training yet… mixed feelings about it but whatever), also we have to prepare for the people leaving and the American’s and Brazilian’s that are coming. So our plate has been pretty fun this last week.

I swear that the weeks are flying. I’m not even seeing the time anymore… here in a week or so I will already have a year and one month in the mission I cant believe it. It something super sad!

So anyway this week in the office I didn’t even see the time, and also in the field. But we had something awesome happen! The marriage of Silvo and Nueza. It was such a wonderful day and they were so happy! The night before, the women in our ward threw like a little a party for them, it was suppose to be like a bachelorette party but us missionaries went ha-ha which was pretty funny… but they liked it because they dressed us up like clowns, which was pretty funny. So, yes I did go to my first and probably only bachelorette party here in Brazil and it was quite fun ha-ha.

Tonight will be the big baptism! I’m hoping that we are going to get some investigators there to watch it because it will be a night that is super special! Next week you guys will get all the pics and stuff!

The Church is true!! I know it is and it is a life changing decision! I know with all my heart that it is the true Church of Christ! I love this work and I love you all thanks for everything! Until next week!

Elder Wiscomb

Matthew 16:25-26

Week 55 August 28, 2010

Hello family!! How is everyone doing on this fabulous Saturday! I hope all is well! So just quick I know that I am writing on Saturday again this week, I will have p -day on Friday but we had representatives of the church that came and did a training with the president because of the trade and we had to be there also so it was an all day thing and then we just decided to finish off the day working yesterday and do p-day this today. But next week will be p-day on Friday so don’t forget.

So this week, it had many ups and downs. I will start from the beginning. Saturday last week after I finished writing we decided to do something super awesome. We went paintballing! It was so much fun oh man, ya it was expensive but it was worth it ha-ha. Just for the record too we kicked butt ha-ha. I hope that you guys like the photos.

Also Sunday was amazing too. We had stake conference and we managed to take 9 investigations to that. We were sitting by them and then it was starting to get super, super full and we were right by the entrance, and we were asked to go sit up on the pulpit so we did. Sitting up there was kind of cool, because we got to watch the reactions of our investigators during the talks. All 9 of them absolutely loved the stake conference, and a women that we are teaching, Sellett, at one point during the talk about missionary work and the spirit, she was touched so hard that she started to cry.

We have such a great teaching pool right now. Our Heavenly Father is blessing us so much. The only thing that is a little difficult now is trying to find time to teach them all. But we have some dates marked which is good, we would have had some this week (tomorrow) but this old women isn’t able to let go of coffee, it’s something that she has drunk her entire life and it’s just a little difficult. But I have no doubt that the Lord will help her this week to let it go and be baptized on the 4^th. It’s something so simple, it just requires a little force and will that’s all. So we are helping her!

We are also going to have another marriage here too, on the 30! Monday! . Silva and Neuza, those people that I have talked about so much are going to get married, then on Saturday the 4^th they are going to get baptized!! It’s going to be awesome! Aw I’m so happy for them! They are so ready! These people are the most prepared that I have seen here in the mission field! I would like to tell you about him a little bit!

This man Silvio he is about 40 years old now, from the age of 24-33 he was a Jehovah Witness, ya good start huh ha-ha, but then he had a huge fall and became a drug addict… he was addicted to all types… cigarettes, marijuana, pills, crack, coke, and many, many other types, but I believe during this time he was still doing the work for the Jehovah Witnesses. He received missionaries many, many times just to fight with them (and a long story short) the powerful witness of the spirit in the work of us missionaries, and him being willing after many, many visits to open his heart just a little bit and feel the testifying of the spirit to him was all too strong to neglect! Have you ever heard about an investigator that carries around passing cards… that’s calls us to go on visits with us, that hands out reverences like none other, that has such a strong testimony that the wants to tell everyone about it, that already pays tithing and goes to priesthood meeting alone! And many other things! His baptism is going to be something sooooo important for him! It’s going to be an amazing day!

So the work is going just great! But this week I did something kind of stupid!

So for this past year I have been sending you guy’s sooo many photos…. Every week I send you most of the photos that I take throughout the week (some things I didn’t because I wanted to wait after the 2 years to sit down with you guys and explain what’s going on)… well know I know why I felt like I should send most of the pictures… the other day I was messing with my camera and I erased about 800 photos that I have taken here in Santa Maria… yaaaaaaaa I’m super, super sad. I called a bishop that works with these stuff to see if there is any way to save it and he said that their could be a way but it would cost about 80-200 reis so about a hundred dollars…. Anyway I'm super sad but I'm not going to pay for it… I figure that they are just photos, ill only have them for this life anyway. And you guys have some so I hope that you guys are saving everything as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So that was the down point of the week, but whatever I’m already over it!

But ya what a great week! Getting ready for the mission tour also along with transfers not next week but the next and we are going to have the president of the area of Brazil come here who actually was the mission president here some 8 years ago or something like that. So it should be a hectic 14 days which means they will pass by even faster... kind of sad!

But the mission what a great, great gift that we have in our life! We as young men and women have this wonderful chance to serve the Lord our God! But where does it all start. Why and how do we gain this desire to do so!! I think it all starts if we believe in Christ and our Heavenly Father, and then we have to gain a testimony about the restoration of the only true church here on the face of the Earth through the prophet Joseph Smith that is stated in the fist section of D and C! Then we will understand that it’s something that we don’t have to do nothing is that we have to do it its we should and in all we need to do it if we REALLY understand the importance of all this! I'm so grateful for everything! I'm so great for my eternal family and for this work and for the love of God in our life!

Love you all so much!! Have a great week and know that you all are always in my prayers!

Elder Wiscomb

P.S. usually I have a scripture but this week I will send a song... it’s my favorite song in the world. Just listen and that’s how I think too...