Week 68 November 26, 2010

Hello family! How is everyone doing on this fabulous day! It sounds like it’s been quite a week. A weather warning about the biggest storm in the history of Utah or something like that... ha-ha... everyone running crazy to supply the 72 hour kits... pretty crazy! I'm just glad that it didn’t turn out as bad as everyone thought that it was going to be! It sounded like all of you guys had a great Thanksgiving, pretty calm but good! I’m just happy that all of you guys are doing just fabulous!

As for me… first of all let’s just talk about Thanksgiving. Ha-ha nothing went down. Well nothing out of the ordinary. It consisted of a lot of lessons, which was good and walking. But that’s just about it. A life of a missionary usually doesn’t change… its just the same thing. Especially when you’re in a county that doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving ha-ha. Something pretty fun though… is at night we called our ward mission leader who is a 24 returned missionary that is waiting for is girlfriend to back from her mission. He came over and brought a pretty good desert and we ordered pizza and we sat there talking… until 10:30 that is. Then we had to go to bed ha-ha!

So that was my Thanksgiving nothing to special!

So lets start from the beginning…. Last Sunday it was pretty crazy. This whole last week we were with a missionary that, because of something that he did… he was transferred missions from the Brazil Londrina mission… so he was with us working which was pretty cool… anyway us three headed out to start working on Sunday… for those who have served here in brazil I don’t know if it’s the same everywhere, but all parts of Brazil but Sundays are days that are usually pretty difficult to teach, especially when there is a soccer game passing on the TV… ya everyone is in a house, the families are together… but no one wants to accept two, let alone 3 missionaries in their house… but the work just keeps going right haha…

So anyway it was a rough day. Pretty hot, we got in about 3 housed the entire day and we visited some less actives real fast too. But then, close to the end of the night we are walking up by the mountains in our area… super, super far from everything ha… and we see a road that leads up to something, a road that we have always seen but never gone up. So we said lets just go up it…

Up at the top, was this old farm that was really, really cool! Oh man it was awesome! With a huge entrance. We sit there for a little bit thinking if we should go in, our hit our hands from there so we decided to stay there and just hit our hands…. Ha-ha. And you guys will never imagine what happens next hahaha… about 10 dogs come running at us… hahaha ya it freaked me out… I'm not even going to lie, I ran hahahaha, (5 days before I was bit by a dog so I was just fed up with these dogs haha) and then we are a little bit down the road and we decide lets go back so we go back and we hit our hands again and this time the man with his dogs coming and we wait for literally about 3 minutes for him to get to us… we talk with him and he is awesome old man oh he is so cool! He invites us to come in and we sit outside on this beautiful land and teach the first lesson through the Apostasy and we stop!! And planed to go back in 3 days…

So the three days come around and guess who we invite to go with us… ya the one and only… President Ribeiro … so that was it…. We though this family is super cool we need someone to help us!!! We invited him to come and then we gets there and we are soooooooooooooooooooooooooo scared hahaha… teaching with the president is scary. He just said to teach until we wanted to stop, and then he would take over. So were like ok. Haha. So the whole car ride up there, I'm pretty much shaking… my whole body hahaha… and we get into the house and I just say a little pray to calm me down and it was like president wasn’t even in the room…we taught for about 35 minutes. What he wanted us to do..… And then we are like. Alright baleza, lets just throw it to president now… so we did he said 3 words and threw it back at us, I was like huh… what’s going on… ha-ha I guess he wanted to see what we do under pressure…ya well the message was good… and they understood…. But they are super strong in the Catholic religion. So it’s going to be a process and maybe a long one. But a good one at that too!!

The other families that we are teaching are going good too we are hoping that they will all go to church this weekend! It will be amazing if they all come! Something always happens that makes it so they can't come. Which is difficult… but we are praying that this one goes right!!

So family, that was the experience of the week… the work is going! It’s moving forward, which it always will do! I am so grateful for you all and all your love! For the chance that I have to be here on the mission, and to learn and grow!! I can’t believe that it’s already entering into December! Its crazy! In one month I will be here your voice! How crazy is that!

Family always know I am here for all of you if you need anything! Ok?

Love you all with all my heart, the church is true, and I know we are an eternal family, the thing I am most grateful for! Something, which is only made possible through the gospel that we all love!

Love you all!

Love your missionary, son, bother, and grandson.

Elder Wiscomb

Christmas is upon us!

BBQ

Week 67 November 19, 2010

Hello family how is everyone doing on this wonderful Friday afternoon! I hope that all is well and that you guys are staying worm ha-ha. I hear that its starting to get pretty cold there, quite the opposite of here. Here its starting to get hotter than ever and it's not even summer yet... here in Santa Maria it's one of the hottest places in our mission because its like a hole... we are surrounded by mountains.... and here it truly is starting to look, not feel, but look like Christmas... the decorations are going up. In the center and in the shopping and everywhere the Christmas trees are raising ha-ha! It’s getting pretty cool! When it gets all ready, I will take some pictures and send them to you!

Well this week, can you believe that another week passed by! First of all thanks so much for the emails of you guys! Ever week I feel so blessed to have such an amazing family! But thinking back on this week so much has happened it’s been pretty cool!

So this last Saturday we had another amazing lesson! We are teaching this family of 4, its a dad, his wife and 2 daughters. They are really good investigators and they like our messages and they have gone to church a couple times the mom and one of the daughters... but its been pretty difficult to take the dad to church... so we decided that we needed to teach the restoration again and pass the film... so we did and the spirit was sooo strong! The dad liked it so much and during the film he started to cry and said that he believes... well he believed but that next Sunday he already had some work arranged that he had to do. He is like the handyman. He is a workaholic ha-ha.

This last week we have been helping a little bit... with some service projects. We helped him build a patio. Lay cement and stuff which was pretty fun but we didn’t really get a chance to teach him because it took so much time. Well after we helped him 2 days ago we were talking to him and he said this weekend I'm not going to nothing, I am going to just relax and go to church!!!! I thought that we weren’t going to have any progress with him because we didn’t teach but then the thought popped into my head "God helps those who help"... "Deus ajuda aqueles quem ajudem" it's so true! Through our love and help that we showed him, he felt the spirit and the love we have for them. Maybe that was the difference, maybe that is what he needed to show that we truly carry the message that can change people’s lives!

Also something pretty crazy happened this week... it feels like everything that we ask our Heavenly Father he blesses us with it! The other day we were sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo far away from everything... we had to go to an investigators house that was about and hour away from everything we were so far that we didn’t even have service on our phones and we always get service... well anyway we had another appointment at 7:30 and it was 7:10 and we were so far away... and we started to practically run back... and I was thinking I will just say a pray that a member or someone we know for some chance would drive by here and give us ride.. Well I said a prayer and not 1 minute later there was car that was coming strait at us and Elder Felipe said jokingly "olha... não parece o carro de João o careca" (look, doesn’t that look like bald headed John?) and then the car started to come strait at us like it was going to hit us. And who was it.... it was bald headed John in our ward... I truly didn't believe it!!!!!! The Lord is blessing us in every way even a prayer for a ride!!!

I am so grateful for everything that I have in my life! For you all at home, my family, for this work, for the gospel, for the chance we all have to return and live with our Heavenly Father again, for my friends, the friendships I have made in the mission, for the chance to see changes, for repentance and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I could go on listing everything that I am grateful for but this email would probably turn into a book! I hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! It's going to be a special day and don’t forget to thank our Heavenly Father for everything that you have!

I love you all so much and you guys have a great week!!!

This church is true!

Elder Wiscomb

Getting ready for Christmas

The Wedding Celebration

The Baptism

Week 66 November 12, 2010

Hey family!!! So how is everyone doing on this wonderful Friday afternoon! I hear that it's starting to get a little colder, starting to maybe look a little bit like Christmas or Thanksgiving hahah. I also hear that this was a pretty rough week for the football. The Utes and east. It’s a bummer that it sounds like neither of them showed up ready to play… but there's always next year ha-ha. It’s not the end of the world…

Well family this week was a great week! Saturday we had some more baptisms!! It was such a special day! I will never forget the reactions of Claudio and Juliana. I will never forget the way they looked at us with such great fullness and love in their eyes. It was such a great treat to be able to see one of the people that I had the opportunity to baptize, baptize someone else. It was truly something that I will always carry with me.

This week was also pretty crazy! It was the council of the leaders so everyone was sleeping at my house… this one was with all the LZ and the LD so we had about 35 people in our house it was crazy and so awesome to see all my buddies and then going to the council with them!

So the things that were taught there… we practiced the lesson… talked about the mission and how poorly it is doing… me and Elder Felipe found out that we are in the top 3 companionships of baptizing… President used us as an example because we have about 3 to 4 hours on the road every day and we are baptizing more than everyone in the mission… it just shows how much the Lord has blessed an individual or a companionship when you are doing right things, and just working…. Also we talked about secret combinations… and president referred it back to the work in our days… it was amazing

But other than that, we have been working super hard! Something pretty cool that happened this week is this….

So there is a road that has sooooooo many members on it and to be honest it's like a street of families where some are members and the members always say that the work can't go on that street and what not because it's already been worked on or whatever… so yesterday some stuff fell, and we were like "let's just knock on the doors there"… so we went to that street and started knocking. We played dumb. Like we did't know who lived there and we were excepted to enter… so we enter and taught the first part of the restoration and the loved it!!! We are going to go back there on Monday so I hope that goes good! I think it will be!

As for that family I told you about last week. We will be going back today… so hopefully that they will be going to church this week!

Always family I just want you all to know that I love you guys so much! This work is so important and the Gospel is true! It Is truly what brings us such happiness! I am so grateful for the Gospel of Christ in my life! I’m so grateful for the love of Christ in my life! And I'm so grateful for you guys! Thank for everything! Have a great week

Elder Wiscomb

P.S. Oh I almost forgot… I was sitting here working yesterday, and President walked out of his office and just stated to talk to us normally, then he looked to me and said… Elder Wiscomb, I know that you we said you would like leave after this transfer… but sister Ribeiro said that she will not allow me to let you go before Christmas… so what do you think. Can you handle one more here in the office…” oh man………………………………………………… so ya…. That’s what’s gong to happen I guess I am going to be here for Christmas too………………… you want to know how much time that is going to be in this area…. Almost 8 months. Oh my gosh hahahahahaha but that’s all right I love this place….

Love you guy

It's Official and the baptism is tomorrow!

Marriage of Claudio and Juliano

Marriage of Claudio and Juliano

Some Sight Seeing

Subway! YUM

Our path at night

Pretty cool rainbow

Week 65, November 5, 2010

Hello family how is everything and everyone doing? Thanks so much for all of your emails and the updates! You all sound so happy! It sounds likes this weekend and week will be a big one their in the Utah area!

So family so this week was super crazy! So, it was the week of renewing the visas for some Americans and also on Tuesday it was a holiday here… the day of the dead. So I called some people in from the different cities to do it (renew visa’s) and who would have known the federal police station was going to be closed on Monday too…. So that was just the start of a long week… because of that, we had 5 elders here with us for about 3 days. So we did a bunch of divisions and stuff, which was fun!

Then when we went back Wednesday we just walked in and the people like freaked out at us… saying “ah no, we are without time to do you guys today… there are a bunch of Brazilians here and they have priority before you guys… you guys need to come back in the tarde.” So ya… know what, I’m not going to lie I was kind of frustrated I wanted to say some stuff to them because they seriously were soooooooo rude to us their… I don’t know why… its got to be the church or something, or maybe its because we are Americans but whatever… that’s alright… so I went back and president saw I was pretty frustrated and he called me in and was like what happen… I talked to him and he said that he wanted to go with us later that day… so he came and they were totally different people it was unbelievable…. Huh… I was thinking. Maybe I should wear my suit or something, look more official if you know what I mean ha-ha. Who knows maybe it would help.

So we got that all figured out which was a blessing! And with the work this week it’s been pretty good too!! As you guys have seen we had another casamento (marriage) today! What a blessing this one was! Claudio and Juliano, it’s a long story with them! We found them about 6 and ½ months ago. When we found them he was just stopping to use drugs and alcohol and Juliana smoked about 2 packs of cigarettes a week! So many times we thought that it was going to be a lost cause, that they just liked our presence in their life and in their house… but the Lord really worked a miracle in their lives!! We taught and taught and re-taught all the messages and they sunk deep into their hearts! They are sooo strong it is amazing! I love these two with all my heart and tomorrows going to be one of the best days in my mission for sure!!

Tomorrow there is going to be their baptism! I am going to see someone that I baptized, baptize his best friend! Have you thought about that!! Oh my gosh!! How amazing is that! I can’t wait, it’s going to be something to remember!

We are also planning on bringing a family that we have been working with for a little bit to the baptism as well! A family of 4, which is awesome! I hope it all goes great.

The work here in Ala Centro is going so well! Besides all of this the families that we are working with and stuff, I had a great experience this week. During one of the division we were doing this week, we were going to some meetings that we had marked… well long story short they fell…. Everything… WELCOME TO MISSIONARY WORK EVERYONE hahahahaha… we have these days sometimes but you just have to laugh and keep going… well anyway, I remember a street in our area. Is the only street in the entire area that I haven’t knocked? I don’t know why I didn’t have the chance to knock it but we always just passed in front of it running between meetings… so I thought lets go there.

We started knocking… we knock and knock and the road started off normal. Getting rejected door after door hahaha. Then we get about 3/4ths of the road and this women comes out smiles and invites us in… a little after about 5 minutes her husband gets home, and a little bit after that their son gets home… I was with Elder Witt another American and I not going to lie. It wasn't the prettiest of lessons…. It was hot and we had walked for about 3 hours and to be honest my mind was tired… but we taught and got our point across and they understood and loved it…

Anyway the Spirit of the Lord was really, really working that day… after the lesson the husband looked at me and said “how did you get here, who sent you guys here?” and I said that I have always wanted to knock on this street and I just hadn’t had the chance yet… and he said “I don’t believe that you guys came here just to come, I believe that you guys came for a reason” it was like that family was waiting!!! What a blessing it is to have the Lord on our side working threw us!! The Lord is the best teacher in the world! He knows all! Knows His Gospel of course better then anyone else… knows how to teach, He knows his children (us), He knows where they are at all times and who is prepared and is waiting for the truth in their life…. He knows in what ways His children are going to need to be taught by the Holy Ghost. He knows show to show His children that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church on Earth! It’s a blessing to have Him on our team! We are going back to that family in about 5 hours so it should be good!

I love you all so much and I know that God has the power and is just waiting to show whatever type of person that what we do is true. He is waiting to show everyone were to find happiness and eternal life! That is the blessing that we as missionaries carry with us. It’s why we leave for two years and embark in the amazing work with the Lord!

Fam, I love you all so much! You guys are the best! Always remember I'm praying for you guys always! Have an awesome week!

Elder Wiscomb

"Haha, I went to the back room for a little bit and this is what I found my comp doing hahahahaha.. Molly you are famous here in the mission hahaha love ya"

Week 64, October 29, 2010

Hello everyone!!! How is everyone doing on this wonderful October afternoon! So first off Happy Halloween!!! I’m sure it’s going to be a fabulous day! Here, we didn’t end up getting something going because we have been so busy but that’s ok… so what has happened this week…

So first off we have been working so hard, and its so crazy because I am trying to figure out what I can tell you and it's all a blur in the moment because this week flew by all so fast. It’s kind of crazy! But I had a pretty cool story to tell you guys that happened this last week!

We are teaching the son of a recent convert and he has a problem with drinking and smoking and stuff and he finally decided to let those both go… so we went there and we decided to teach the restoration… we started teaching and I had the idea to teach in a different style… we practically acted out the message of the restoration hahaha it is so much fun to do and the people love it…

So this is how we did it. We start teaching normal. We talk about God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost… about how though pray, God gives us a way to keep this connection with Him. We talked about the importance of families (which was really cool because in this lesson we had about 20 people and they were all family so that was awesome) and we talked about the benefits of the family, or the reason why God has given a family to everyone that has come to this Earth. After that we talk about Christ and His examples, baptism, and the Church of God that Christ organized when He was here on Earth with a prophet, 12 apostles and the authority of God.

Know it starts to get fun… we started to talk about when Christ organized the church of God here on Earth, the church was the source of the light of God here on Earth, then when we talked about the great dark ages or the “apostasy” that the bible talks about, when Christ was crucified and the people killed the 12 Apostles… this is a part super important for anyone to understand. When this happened it was if the light of God or truth was taken from the world… the world fell into the “dark ages” and in this moment we turned off all the lights (we were right by the light switch, and it was night) so it was pitch black in the house… we started to explain the promise that is in Acts 3, and how God would call another prophet in our days. How God wouldn’t leave the world in this darkness!!

So my comp was talking about Joseph Smith, his history and he was going to pass it to me for the first vision and the rest of Joseph Smith… and that night we were in a threesome with Elder Abraham who was here to take out his wisdom teeth the next day… and I told him to grab my phone and when “shine” it on me for the first vision…. So when my comp was ready to pass it to me I got on my knees and as if I was Joseph and I said what he said with of our phone (which is practically a flash light) as the “pillow of light”…. I know what you guys are thinking. It's cheesy, maybe some are thinking that we shouldn’t do that but it truly is such an amazing way to teach the restoration. The people love it and they understand it better because you draw their attention!!!

Anyway the message was amazing and Tiago said that he wants to get baptized but not till next year… he’s a character… hahahaha… but we will just have to talk to him…

Anyway something really cool happened after. It truly was a message where the sprit was so strong and during the closing pray a little girl in the family that has 5 years, came up and gave me the cheek and whispered in my ear “Obrigada Elder Smile, te-amo” I'm not going lie I left that house feeling so good!!!! An experience that will never forget!!!

Well this next week we should have a great day on the 5 and 6. We will see what happens I'll give you the updates the next week!!! I hope it all goes according to plan hahaha!

But family I want you all to know that I love this work and I'm so happy to be a missionary of our Heavenly Father!! It’s a great pleasure to serve Him and to spread His gospel and love! I’m so grateful for you all! For your love that you all show me.

My time is up. I used it all telling that story hahaha I hope it made sense!!

But I love you all with all my heart and thanks again! You guys all have a great week and a Happy Halloween!!!! Boo!! Ha-ha

Elder Wiscomb