PS for Feb. 4 2008
PS.....Ohhhh, this week is my first Carnaval!!! It's ridiculous. Everyone in Brazil goes crazy with drinking and dancing a having _ _ _. It's worse in Rio and Salvador but it's still pretty rough here. Not an easy time for teaching. Also, everything is closed. It's a big deal here. Second only to the World Cup--which, if it was happening during my mission we would be allowed to watch. The only hours of TV that missionaries in Brazil are allowed. Ha. Lex, you should have gone to San Diego in M Green for Carnaval. It's probably fun American style. We should go when I get back. Alright guys that is allllll. Jordan
February 4, 2008
When is the last time one brother wins the super bowl one year, and the other wins the super bowl the next year? I think never, right? Good. I'm happy for the Giants. Tom Brady has enough rings. Not to mention that asterik that Don Shula mentioned I think put a hex on their fate. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to watch President Hinckley's funeral. They did have broadcasts around Brasilia but nowhere very near my area. I wish I could have seen it. Was it on TV or did you have to go to a church building to watch it? It was at the churches here, but not at ours. We have a small branch here so we don't get many privileges like that. If you can, send me the new Ensign with the article about President Hinckley. I learned this week what exactly the process is when the president of the church dies. I always thought the senior apostle just automatically became the president (short of being sustained at conference) but it's not exactly that. If this is old news to everyone forgive me, but I thought it was interesting. When the prophet dies, the First Presidency is automatically dissolved and the head of the Church then becomes the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The two counselors go back to being part of the Twelve, technically making it fourteen. They then have a meeting, lead by the president of the Quorum (or the senior apostle, who in this case is Thomas S. Monson) and they have two options: they can decide either to remain as the governing body of the church (which explains why we sustain the Twelve as prophets, seers and revelators), or reorganize the First Presidency. Apparently the meeting is left open to the inspiration of the people there, and if anyone feels impressed that they should go one way or the other, they say so. The vote has to be unanimous. Other than the three years following the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith before Brigham Young was sustained as president, I don't know of any time in Church history that the Twelve have decided to remain as the head of he Church. So when they ultimately decide to reorganize, each of the apostles places a hand on the head of the senior apostle and they ordain him the president of the Church. Each of the apostles has to be present in order for all of the keys to be conferred, because no one of them hold all of the keys, but together as one quorum they hold them all. Imagine being there for that ordination? I really can't imagine. That must be incredible. President Aidukaitis told me that Richard G. Scott explained this process to him, and that there are some other very special, spiritual things that happen during these meetings. So that's all very interesting. I got all three packages. I got one on transfer day and the other two at zone conference last week. And just in time too, it just happened to be freezing here the day I got the package with the sweaters so that was a lifesaver. Thank you! I must say though that it would be perfectly alright with me if I were sent no more pajama pants. I have four or five pairs now, including the ones I came with. Same thing with tee-shirts, for awhile anyway. As much as I appreciate and love everything I get and I love all of you for thinking of me. I just don't have the opportunity to use all of it and I have to give things away because I don't have room in my bags at transfer time. When I start to run out of things I will let you know. Momma and G parents thanks so much for always keeping me in mind and sending me stuff when I ask. I really do appreciate it. Always. If I ask for something small, like the Ensign, and you need stuff to fill the rest of the box, just send FOOOOOOOOOD! I love getting food and candy and anything American to eat. All I want for now are letters and pictures and food. We lived without a refrigerator for my first week here. I don't know how we did it. It was awful. But now we have an AMAZING fridge! I'm SO phased. All Kiger and I do is eat. It's great. We love our fridge so much we put it in the LIVING ROOM instead of the kitchen. Send cereal, candy, whatever. If you've looked at my Wells Fargo account lately you'll see I took 130 Reais out (which should be like 65 dollars I think). That was to fix my bike that was broken and to pay for a bus to pick up investigators to take to church and to buy groceries. I also had to pay a bill in Aguas Lindas just before coming here and that took most of my money from the mission account. It sucks being poor, I hope I'm rich in real life. Well I hope you all have a happy week and happy SUPER TUESDAY you lucky ducks. That's so sad about Rudy. Where do I go now? Everyone give me your dissertations on who I should vote for on my absentee ballot that I'm looking forward to ever so much. Also send Gma & Gpa's my love. I got their letters. Thank you!!!! And tell me more about this baby doll of Grandpa D's.
Lots of Love, Jordan
Lots of Love, Jordan
January 28, 2008
As always, when I first got here on Tuesday night I was really uncomfortable and quiet and stupid. But, as always, I've slowly acclimatized and I'm doing well now. I've noticed in all my areas (and in the CTM) that things get better after the first Sunday. My companion is great. He is a very relaxed Brazilian. He is rich and not needy. He is from a really nice part of Rio de Janeiro. He always talks about how great it is. He is adamant about Rio being the best place in Brazil for anything. So I think I've decided that if I came back to Brazil to live (and I have a potential plan for that) I would live there. Elder C Nunes is a great missionary. I've learned a lot from him already. In teaching, he is very calm but also very powerful. Convincing, but not coersively. Full of love. I sort of envy him, but I've learned something very important about our companionship--the less I speak in the lessons, the better things turn out. I'm convinced of this. I've spent all this time in the mission talking and trying to teach people, but that doesn't really work. We baptized five people yesterday!! I'm good for making small talk with people here and there. Answering questions people have about the States or how you say this or that in English. It's great. I know my place here, I have no problem with it. And all the while I'm learning. So, it's a good thing. Our apartment is great. We live above a pizzaria so it always smells like pizza in our apartment. The guy who runs the pizzaria (and owns the building we live in) is named Tokinho. To-KEEN-yo. He's awesome. He picked us up from the bus station in Brasilia and brought us here. He's not a member of the Church yet, but whenever anyone asks him if he is, he says "not yet" so that's a good sign. We live with one other dupla. Elder Kiger and Elder Santos. Elder Kiger is a big jock from Palo Alto, California who played football at MCC in Mesa. He is always loud and happy. I love him. We've become fast friends. In part because I'm the first person he's been able to speak English with in months. It's great hearing a great big "HOOOOOOOOON!!" when I come home at the end of the day. Steve Young is in his ward. Elder Santos is a nice guy too. He's so Brazilian that if he doesn't eat rice and beans everyday he gets weak and has to lie down. That is amazing. The two of them both have five months left in the mission and won't stop talking about home. So you can rest easy (momma) knowing I'm comfortable and enjoying my time here in Planaltina. Elder Jardel Leite will be in Aguas Lindas at least until the end of this transfer. Probably longer. But, yeah, if you have a package for him, send it to the mission office. You shouldn't need his full name for that but I don't know maybe you do. The office can separate packages just from "Elder So and So". I heard about President Hinckley this morning at a meeting we had. I was sad at first. Hearing that definitely took the wind out of my sails. But I soon got happy because I know he probably wanted to go. I miss him already. I'll miss him a lot come conference time, but I'm also completely willing and ready to sustain President Monson. He will be a great leader for us. Who will be the new counselor in the First Presidency? I say Russell M. Nelson. What do you guys think? Dad, can we start a family pool on this one with a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card for the winner? $50 gift card for whoever can guess the new apostle! Have a wonderful week. I love you guys so much and miss you more all the time. ps: go Patriots? I guess? Jordan
January 22, 2008
Well, I am in fact leaving Aguas Lindas today. Four months here. I'm way bummed. I love the people here. They are my friends. I'll miss them dearly. I'm not able to say goodbye to anyone. I hope they don't hate me. I'll be moving to a city called Planaltina and my companion will be Elder C Nunes. Another Brazilian. I know him kind of. If you'd like to look on a map, Planaltina is north of the Distrito Federal. It's poor there like here, so I don't imagine much will change except the faces. I'm kind of excited. I hope you guys sent the last box to the mission home address, otherwise Elder Leite will have to eat all the ranch and barbeque sauce. Which is fine because he's in love with ranch dressing and wants you guys to keep sending him more. Feel free to do that, he'll be here a while. I'm a little surprised I'm being transferred. I only spent three transfers here. Most missionaries who come here stay four. Meh. Planaltina should be a good time. The zone there baptizes more consistently than any other zone in the mission. NUMBERS! Here are some pictures of me being phased by McDonald's in Asa Norte and Elders Valentine and Day. Our new stainless steel pots and pans. Oh baby! Christmas and Elder Leite's birthday party to. I haven't gotten those three boxes yet but I'm sure they've arrived at the mission office. I'll get them today at the transfer or in a week or so at zone conference. I did get the new debit card and letter from Momma and pictures. Thank you, thank you! It all came very quickly. Ever since I gave you guys the address for the apartment I've gotten three letters! Sooo much better. I'll give you my new address next week. I must go. I'm sorry I have to be brief this week. I love you guys and miss you more than ever. Enjoy the pictures! Jordan
January 14, 20008
I have indeed received a few letters from people in the ward. I got a Christmas card from the Peterson's and from the Forrest's and a letter from Bishop Boyer. His letter was nice, I liked it. Tell him thank you very, very much. I was particularly happy that he committed the last paragraph to only talking about the Suns. When I wrote my acceptance letter I committed to have my mind focused 100% on the Lord for the next two years. Little did I know how hard such a prospect would be. So, it's always nice to talk about something else every once in a while. And regarding letters, sending directly to the apartment is amazingly fast. I got dad's letter on last Friday, the 11th. Eight days from the postmark! Amazing!! Let's just cross our fingers that I don't get transferred in a week at the end of this transfer. I probably won't. I should have one more and then leave here end of February/beginning of March.
Elder Day is a legit guy. He was in my group at the CTM. I love him. He speaks better Portuguese than me and was actually just called as a district leader this transfer. Which means he has a cell phone and has to interview people for baptisms and has to conduct weekly district meetings. He's living in Cruzeiro right now so I'm a little bit jealous. Is his mom awesome? Probably.
Have I really been out for 223 days??? I can't believe that.
I loved dad's letter about John Wycliffe and the history of the Catholic Church. Very interesting stuff. And let me tell you something that has been firm in my belief for some time, and stories like this only reaffirm that...for me, it's this church or nothing. If this church suddenly went corrupt or was somehow proven wrong, I wouldn't go looking for another faith. It's all or nothing in my opinion. If this church isn't true then there is no gospel. Does anyone else feel this way?
My only resolution for this year was to write in my journal every day. That ended January 2nd. Oh well. Next year. What are everyone else's broken resolutions? I'm sorry I have no pictures, I just haven't taken any recently. Just baptism pictures and those are kind of boring. I will try to put myself in some picturesque moments but this is a rare occurrence in the Brazil. I am an hungered so I must go. Tchau, familia. I think there is probably something I forgot to mention but I will try to remember throughout the week. And I hope it's a good week for you all. I love you.
Oh, ps: Leite wants more ranch dressing. He SO phased. And I want barbeque sauce. KC Masterpiece Brown Sugar. Is this OK? I need to show it to some of the sisters in the branch. Jordan
Elder Day is a legit guy. He was in my group at the CTM. I love him. He speaks better Portuguese than me and was actually just called as a district leader this transfer. Which means he has a cell phone and has to interview people for baptisms and has to conduct weekly district meetings. He's living in Cruzeiro right now so I'm a little bit jealous. Is his mom awesome? Probably.
Have I really been out for 223 days??? I can't believe that.
I loved dad's letter about John Wycliffe and the history of the Catholic Church. Very interesting stuff. And let me tell you something that has been firm in my belief for some time, and stories like this only reaffirm that...for me, it's this church or nothing. If this church suddenly went corrupt or was somehow proven wrong, I wouldn't go looking for another faith. It's all or nothing in my opinion. If this church isn't true then there is no gospel. Does anyone else feel this way?
My only resolution for this year was to write in my journal every day. That ended January 2nd. Oh well. Next year. What are everyone else's broken resolutions? I'm sorry I have no pictures, I just haven't taken any recently. Just baptism pictures and those are kind of boring. I will try to put myself in some picturesque moments but this is a rare occurrence in the Brazil. I am an hungered so I must go. Tchau, familia. I think there is probably something I forgot to mention but I will try to remember throughout the week. And I hope it's a good week for you all. I love you.
Oh, ps: Leite wants more ranch dressing. He SO phased. And I want barbeque sauce. KC Masterpiece Brown Sugar. Is this OK? I need to show it to some of the sisters in the branch. Jordan
January 7, 2008
We didn't get a toaster but we did get this thing called Walita that grills sandwiches. It' nice. Makes our dinners a little fancier. I'm not sure why the mission bought them for us, it seems a little extravagant. Especially considering I didn't ask for it. I only asked for a washing machine and a new fan. I asked a few months ago. I think they gave some out but not to us here in Aguas Lindas as of yet. Did you know there are no dryers in Brazil? None whatsoever. It's the strangest thing. They don't know this exists. There's a setting on the washing machines that spins the clothes really fast and that gets most of the water out but everyone still uses clotheslines. Thank you Momma for doing all you could to find me nice shirts. They will work just fine I'm sure. The forearm strengthener torture devices too. I'm excited! I'm especially looking forward to some fresh white shirts. Did I tell you about how at church a few weeks ago there were 17 sisters that asked us if we wanted them to wash our clothes for us? 17. I counted. Aguas Lindas is a dirty place. I'm looking forward to the three boxes. Even if they had nothing in them. Getting packages aways ticks other missionaries off. I love it.
We had a special conference on Wednesday with not one, not two, or three...but FIVE Aidukaitis'!!! It was madness! Presidente's older brothers were there and their wives. I shook one of their hands and all he said was "your hand is your pocket". I baptized a little girl on Saturday, it was nice. I felt like I was going to die of an anxiety attack, but it was nice once she was baptized. We had lots of cake and hot dogs and soda. It was also the baptism of a little boy named Andre' who just turned eight. His dad is in the Branch Presidency and his wife speaks very good English. They are rich so we had a party. This branch is all about parties. We should be more like that at home. With the little girl (Juliana) and her sister being baptized, that completed their whole family. Six more people in the Church. The parents were inactive but started going back two weeks ago after we started coming by their house. All four of their kids are now baptized. If they go inactive again I will shoot myself.
I love the football news. Keep me updated on it, Faja. I hope for the best for Brett Farve too. He's a legit guy, he deserves the trophy. New England sounds like the tightest though so I don't know. My prediction is New England and Green Bay in the Super Bowl. I'll be phased either way but I can't help but kind of root for Green Bay. Right? My partially-educated prediction for the NBA Finals this season is Suns vs. Celtics. Am I right about this or what? I think so. If it's San Antonio and Detroit again the ratings are going to start going way down for basketball. San Antonio and anyone for that matter.
Spench Legs and LEXA!!??!!??!!??!! I will write you lovely ladies more next week, I promise. I have to go right now because Elder Leite takes very little time on the computer and is sitting here waiting for me and I feel bad. I caught a glimpse of B. Spears on TV being taken away in an ambulance and a bunch of paparatzi chasing after the ambulance. It was so funny. I thought of home. I love you guys.
Receive this bag, Jordan
We had a special conference on Wednesday with not one, not two, or three...but FIVE Aidukaitis'!!! It was madness! Presidente's older brothers were there and their wives. I shook one of their hands and all he said was "your hand is your pocket". I baptized a little girl on Saturday, it was nice. I felt like I was going to die of an anxiety attack, but it was nice once she was baptized. We had lots of cake and hot dogs and soda. It was also the baptism of a little boy named Andre' who just turned eight. His dad is in the Branch Presidency and his wife speaks very good English. They are rich so we had a party. This branch is all about parties. We should be more like that at home. With the little girl (Juliana) and her sister being baptized, that completed their whole family. Six more people in the Church. The parents were inactive but started going back two weeks ago after we started coming by their house. All four of their kids are now baptized. If they go inactive again I will shoot myself.
I love the football news. Keep me updated on it, Faja. I hope for the best for Brett Farve too. He's a legit guy, he deserves the trophy. New England sounds like the tightest though so I don't know. My prediction is New England and Green Bay in the Super Bowl. I'll be phased either way but I can't help but kind of root for Green Bay. Right? My partially-educated prediction for the NBA Finals this season is Suns vs. Celtics. Am I right about this or what? I think so. If it's San Antonio and Detroit again the ratings are going to start going way down for basketball. San Antonio and anyone for that matter.
Spench Legs and LEXA!!??!!??!!??!! I will write you lovely ladies more next week, I promise. I have to go right now because Elder Leite takes very little time on the computer and is sitting here waiting for me and I feel bad. I caught a glimpse of B. Spears on TV being taken away in an ambulance and a bunch of paparatzi chasing after the ambulance. It was so funny. I thought of home. I love you guys.
Receive this bag, Jordan
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