eu sou a lenda [I am Legend]
All I have to say is this:
2nd John 1:12
"Having many things to write unto you, I would not awrite with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full."
tchau [Bye]
já era [it was]
Elder Manis
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Why
"Why go to a far away place where you eat fish and rice all day?"
1. Because it's a commandment from God. Yes, comandments like the 10 comandments that God gave to Moses.
2. Because I wanted to. I knew that serving a mission would bless me in many ways.
3. Because I knew that I had no future in football. There was no way on God's green earth that Zack Manis would be an NFL star. Ya it would have been free school but what does that have to do with the fact that I would have a broken body for the rest of my life. I wanna be able to play ball with my kids not just watch them play.
4. Because I have a testimony. Maybe that's something others don't have, but all you have to do to get one is "want one".
5. Because there has been no greater joy than serving a mission, learning a new language that I plan to use in my professional life, and there is no greater joy than being with and around and helping people come to know that this is the true church of God.
There is no way physicaly, or not that I can deny these feelings. It's just like Joseph Smith said;
I know it, and I know that God knows that I know it, and I cannot deny it.
Jamilson was baptised this past week. I have never taught someone who just didn't want to know. Just asked questions, liked to doubt and things, but he lost [the fight] and he came to realize that what he was doing was wrong. He repented and was baptised. I baptised him and after the baptism, still in the water, he gave me a huge hug and thanked me and again asked for forgivness.
You can't deny the truth. Maybe you can't handle the truth. Only you and God know what you are capible of.
The mission has changed my life. I hope you know that,it has been the best thing I have and maybe ever will have achieved.
The Church is true, and there are no if's and's or but's about it.
This is why I walk all day in the sun, getting rejected and even spit upon. This is why I eat fish and rice every day, and do it with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes knowing that here in 2 weeks it's all over. I do it because I love it and that's that.
I love you and I want you to get the big picture. The Church is true.
Love,
Elder Manis
1. Because it's a commandment from God. Yes, comandments like the 10 comandments that God gave to Moses.
2. Because I wanted to. I knew that serving a mission would bless me in many ways.
3. Because I knew that I had no future in football. There was no way on God's green earth that Zack Manis would be an NFL star. Ya it would have been free school but what does that have to do with the fact that I would have a broken body for the rest of my life. I wanna be able to play ball with my kids not just watch them play.
4. Because I have a testimony. Maybe that's something others don't have, but all you have to do to get one is "want one".
5. Because there has been no greater joy than serving a mission, learning a new language that I plan to use in my professional life, and there is no greater joy than being with and around and helping people come to know that this is the true church of God.
There is no way physicaly, or not that I can deny these feelings. It's just like Joseph Smith said;
I know it, and I know that God knows that I know it, and I cannot deny it.
Jamilson was baptised this past week. I have never taught someone who just didn't want to know. Just asked questions, liked to doubt and things, but he lost [the fight] and he came to realize that what he was doing was wrong. He repented and was baptised. I baptised him and after the baptism, still in the water, he gave me a huge hug and thanked me and again asked for forgivness.
You can't deny the truth. Maybe you can't handle the truth. Only you and God know what you are capible of.
The mission has changed my life. I hope you know that,it has been the best thing I have and maybe ever will have achieved.
The Church is true, and there are no if's and's or but's about it.
This is why I walk all day in the sun, getting rejected and even spit upon. This is why I eat fish and rice every day, and do it with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes knowing that here in 2 weeks it's all over. I do it because I love it and that's that.
I love you and I want you to get the big picture. The Church is true.
Love,
Elder Manis
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Happy Easter
Só nos milagradas do Pai [Only in the miracles of the Father]
One more great week has come and gone. This week was amazing. I'm not sure if it's Heavenly Father showing me that He is accepting my mission or just prayers being answered, but so many amazing things are happening in the area.
Let's start off with Camilla. She is not a lady she is a Moça [girl] of a young lady. She is 15 years old, and it was amazing to baptize her this week. Elder Pinhiero baptised her and was so nervous that his hands were trembling and he said the prayer wrong so the ordinance had to be done twice. haha But still, it was so amazing to see her transformation. She is studying the scriptures like crazy and is loving every minute of being a member if the Church.
OK OK... now for the miracles.
A few weeks ago we baptized Cirlandia. Actually the plan was to baptise her and her husband Jamilson as well. But he got cold feet and just started to be all lame and reject our visits. He stopped hearing our lessons. But this last week, I think it was Wednesday, we finally got the chance to talk to him and really invited him to pay good attention and count the blessings of the Lord in his life. To just focus on receiving an answer as part of the whole deal. Then Friday we stopped by just to see how things where going and he starts to cry. This is a big guy like Dad, and he basically told us how he had received an answer that the Church is true. Then after that he screamed "I'm gonna be baptized!!!" It took both me and Elder Pinhiero by surprise, but he gave us both a huge hug and lifted us both up. Then he said, "So, can I baptized on the first?" I was like, "Uhhhh ya!!!!" It was just amazing. It was just like Camilla, we just left him in the Lord's hands. Also, Valeria, she will be baptized on the first as well. She is the most elect person ever. You teach it, she obeys it. She lived in Andre Carloni when I was there but I didn't find her there. Now she moved here and now I found her, haha The Lord works in many mysterious ways. :)
I love you guys,
Elder Manis
PS-Mother's Day is coming up and I'll call home using Skype OK? So invite the people. :)
You said that you got my traveling arrangements. What are they?
One more great week has come and gone. This week was amazing. I'm not sure if it's Heavenly Father showing me that He is accepting my mission or just prayers being answered, but so many amazing things are happening in the area.
Let's start off with Camilla. She is not a lady she is a Moça [girl] of a young lady. She is 15 years old, and it was amazing to baptize her this week. Elder Pinhiero baptised her and was so nervous that his hands were trembling and he said the prayer wrong so the ordinance had to be done twice. haha But still, it was so amazing to see her transformation. She is studying the scriptures like crazy and is loving every minute of being a member if the Church.
OK OK... now for the miracles.
A few weeks ago we baptized Cirlandia. Actually the plan was to baptise her and her husband Jamilson as well. But he got cold feet and just started to be all lame and reject our visits. He stopped hearing our lessons. But this last week, I think it was Wednesday, we finally got the chance to talk to him and really invited him to pay good attention and count the blessings of the Lord in his life. To just focus on receiving an answer as part of the whole deal. Then Friday we stopped by just to see how things where going and he starts to cry. This is a big guy like Dad, and he basically told us how he had received an answer that the Church is true. Then after that he screamed "I'm gonna be baptized!!!" It took both me and Elder Pinhiero by surprise, but he gave us both a huge hug and lifted us both up. Then he said, "So, can I baptized on the first?" I was like, "Uhhhh ya!!!!" It was just amazing. It was just like Camilla, we just left him in the Lord's hands. Also, Valeria, she will be baptized on the first as well. She is the most elect person ever. You teach it, she obeys it. She lived in Andre Carloni when I was there but I didn't find her there. Now she moved here and now I found her, haha The Lord works in many mysterious ways. :)
I love you guys,
Elder Manis
PS-Mother's Day is coming up and I'll call home using Skype OK? So invite the people. :)
You said that you got my traveling arrangements. What are they?
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The 400 Yard Sprint
Have you ever run the 400? Well, if you have you know that in the last 35 to 45 meters it's pure guts. Your body doesn't have much to offer but you just keep running. That's exactly how I feel every night. This week was an amazing week full of tears. Yep, tears. I cried. It's just amazing to see the miracles of God in these last 4 weeks that I have.
It's not that I'm spiritually drained this week, but I'm physically tired. Seriously, like the last 35 yards of the 400 yard sprint. I'm just giving everyday my everything and its paying off. I don't think my feet, knees, back and even my shoulders have ever hurt so much, but I don't think that I have ever had a bigger smile on my face than I do now. I love being a missionary. :)
Next week we will have the baptism of Camilla. She is a special story. When my companion and I first got here in the area, we met her. She is a daughter of a recent convert. So we started to teach her and we wanted to baptise her but she basically didn't want anything to do at all with the Gospel. She basically called us stupid and said that the Church is false and that we are going to hell. So we pumped the breaks and let her do her thing. Well... Heavenly Father works his magic. Come to find out that she watched General Conference with her dad on the computer at home. She basically took a round house kick from the Spirit and became humble. She showed up at church and so we went back to see her and asked her how she was doing. She basically broke down in tears and was asking us for forgiveness to have thought that the Gospel was false. She has had some really marked spiritual experiences in the last week. She explained that she prayed to God and the Spirit responded to her and said here take this, this is all you need. So while she was explaining all this she said, "Yes, yes, I will be baptised and I'll be baptised on the 24th." So we said, OK. She is all ready to be baptised. After the lesson, Dean, her dad came to me and said; "Thank you, thank you sooo much for you work." Man, I just love being a missionary. I love helping these people out, all day, every day. It's amazing.
We also found a lady, Valeria, clapping doors. We taught her one of the most "authoritative" lessons ever. I don't know if that makes sense. But basically I just taught with authority, and she had no way to escape. She accepted a baptismal date for the 1st of May. Happy birthday Robbie. I'll give you and the Lord a baptism.
I just want to thank you all for sticking with me during my mission.
I love you all. :)
I'll try to bring some Brazilian stuff home. Some original stuff. Not just the tourist junk. haha :)
I love you guys so much.
Know that the Church is true.
Elder Manis
It's not that I'm spiritually drained this week, but I'm physically tired. Seriously, like the last 35 yards of the 400 yard sprint. I'm just giving everyday my everything and its paying off. I don't think my feet, knees, back and even my shoulders have ever hurt so much, but I don't think that I have ever had a bigger smile on my face than I do now. I love being a missionary. :)
Next week we will have the baptism of Camilla. She is a special story. When my companion and I first got here in the area, we met her. She is a daughter of a recent convert. So we started to teach her and we wanted to baptise her but she basically didn't want anything to do at all with the Gospel. She basically called us stupid and said that the Church is false and that we are going to hell. So we pumped the breaks and let her do her thing. Well... Heavenly Father works his magic. Come to find out that she watched General Conference with her dad on the computer at home. She basically took a round house kick from the Spirit and became humble. She showed up at church and so we went back to see her and asked her how she was doing. She basically broke down in tears and was asking us for forgiveness to have thought that the Gospel was false. She has had some really marked spiritual experiences in the last week. She explained that she prayed to God and the Spirit responded to her and said here take this, this is all you need. So while she was explaining all this she said, "Yes, yes, I will be baptised and I'll be baptised on the 24th." So we said, OK. She is all ready to be baptised. After the lesson, Dean, her dad came to me and said; "Thank you, thank you sooo much for you work." Man, I just love being a missionary. I love helping these people out, all day, every day. It's amazing.
We also found a lady, Valeria, clapping doors. We taught her one of the most "authoritative" lessons ever. I don't know if that makes sense. But basically I just taught with authority, and she had no way to escape. She accepted a baptismal date for the 1st of May. Happy birthday Robbie. I'll give you and the Lord a baptism.
I just want to thank you all for sticking with me during my mission.
I love you all. :)
I'll try to bring some Brazilian stuff home. Some original stuff. Not just the tourist junk. haha :)
I love you guys so much.
Know that the Church is true.
Elder Manis
Friday, April 15, 2011
Away From Me Satan
Aaste de mim Satanás (Away from me Satan)
Man, this week was a brutal week. Just in every way possible. It was a good that we had the baptism of Sirlandia. She has had some problems in the past few weeks, in deciding whether or not to be baptized. Her husband got cold feet too, but seeing the baptism of his wife opened his eyes. So I think we are going to baptize him the 24th. It's was amazing to see Sirlandia make the decision to be baptized. Basically we just left it all in the hands of the Lord and trusted that everything would work out and it did. :)
As a missionary one of the things that we tell people in the last week before baptism is that Satan is going to try and do everything he can to break you so you won't be able to be baptized. We say that "you're going on the most wanted list of Satan."
Along with that, I can say the same thing about the last 5 weeks of a missionary's mission. I've got Satan and all of his demons on my back. It's not that I'm being tempted or anything like that, but I can just see him working so hard on the people we teach. Even those we talk to in the street. I have never gotten home this spiritually and physically drained in my life. Man, like last night I just slept in my get up. Shirt, tie, everything, even my shoes. I didn't wake up until this morning. But it's good to see that Satan will always lose. It's amazing to see the miracles that are happening in our work too. People just showing up at church and asking to be taught. Elder Manis doesn't clap doors anymore. I'm just being guided by the Spirit. haha We have an amazingly large number of good things that are happening, so Satan is working extra hard. But everything is good with me.
I found out this morning that another one of my baptisms is getting their papers filled out to serve a mission. She is Tamara from Andre Carloni. It's the most bestest feeling in the world to know that you actually helped the church grow. :) She will baptize the world.
Family, I'm sorry but I'm mega tired. I think this p-day I'll just sleep. But know that I love you and I'll see you guys in 5 weeks.
Love ya,
Elder Manis
General Conference
Oi Familia,
This week was a good but stressful week. A lot of good things are happening but a lot of other things are happening as well. I didn't get transferred and neither did Elder Pinhiero. So yup, this is going to be my last area and this is going to be my last companion. I have done a lot of thinking this week because I have had a lot of mixed feelings about all the stuff that will be happening soon. But I decided to lay everything down on the line and give it everything I've got. That's why Heavenly Father calls it "enduring to the end" It's not skip and sing to the end, it's give it all you've got. Lay your life down and give it all you've got.
I can easily say that I think that God will judge me on behalf of this last transfer, so I am going to give it all I can. The last transfer of a mission shows you what kind of a missionary you are. So I'm giving it all I have, and all I can offer too. I can go so far as to say I want to fulfill all that I'm sent to do so I can "return to God's presence after this life."
I guess if you want, we can talk about what's going to happen because it's going to happen. But just know that I'm trying to give it my all.
This week was good. We had some good people at General Conference and that always helps people realize that we have a living prophet. Sirlandia and Jamilson where interviewed and passed so we can and should have baptisms coming up here in a little bit, hopefully this Saturday.
I loved General Conference. I especially loved David A. Bednar's talk about revelation. Any talk that helps you realize how to better receive communication from the Lord is worth listening to. I have learned a lot about revelation on my mission, but always it's good to know how things work. They also talked a lot about love in the family and tithing, so we can see that it is really important that we live ALL the commandments and not just a few.
It's like you said, things are short and sweet this week.
I love you guys and I want you to know that this is the true church of God.
Elder Manis
This week was a good but stressful week. A lot of good things are happening but a lot of other things are happening as well. I didn't get transferred and neither did Elder Pinhiero. So yup, this is going to be my last area and this is going to be my last companion. I have done a lot of thinking this week because I have had a lot of mixed feelings about all the stuff that will be happening soon. But I decided to lay everything down on the line and give it everything I've got. That's why Heavenly Father calls it "enduring to the end" It's not skip and sing to the end, it's give it all you've got. Lay your life down and give it all you've got.
I can easily say that I think that God will judge me on behalf of this last transfer, so I am going to give it all I can. The last transfer of a mission shows you what kind of a missionary you are. So I'm giving it all I have, and all I can offer too. I can go so far as to say I want to fulfill all that I'm sent to do so I can "return to God's presence after this life."
I guess if you want, we can talk about what's going to happen because it's going to happen. But just know that I'm trying to give it my all.
This week was good. We had some good people at General Conference and that always helps people realize that we have a living prophet. Sirlandia and Jamilson where interviewed and passed so we can and should have baptisms coming up here in a little bit, hopefully this Saturday.
I loved General Conference. I especially loved David A. Bednar's talk about revelation. Any talk that helps you realize how to better receive communication from the Lord is worth listening to. I have learned a lot about revelation on my mission, but always it's good to know how things work. They also talked a lot about love in the family and tithing, so we can see that it is really important that we live ALL the commandments and not just a few.
It's like you said, things are short and sweet this week.
I love you guys and I want you to know that this is the true church of God.
Elder Manis
Cassia
Oi Familia,
Well, this week was a good week. We had the baptism of Cássia and that was amazing to get Elder Pinhiero off on a good start baptizing. :)
Cássia is one of the best people I have ever taught in my life, and she was certainly prepared by God. She is an amazing youth. She is 15 years old but she is amazing and helps my testimony grow. She memorized D&C 4 all by herself within the week of her baptism. :) So ya, she is basically amazing. The baptismal service was the best ever too. I love this ward because they took all the stress of my shoulders and prepared the service for me too. It was great, with a special musical number that was really pretty. Then I came in with a tear jerking talk. ha ha I made everyone cry. We had all our progressing investigators there, so that will help in their progress.
We are teaching Jamilson and Sirlandia, along with 5 other people. We have baptisms dated for the 10th of April. So my son is going to be O BATIZADOR (The Baptist) here soon. Basically, I'm just gaining the confidence of the members and working with there references and it's 100% better than clapping doors. Jamilson and Sirlandia are a couple that are really good. I have said this many times in my e-mails, but it's amazing to see how the Gospel changes someone for the better and it's amazing to become a part of this change.
This week something strange happened to me. Many people say that towards the end of an elder's mission he gets trunkey or homesick. But this week it was a little different for me. We where walking down the street and I saw a girl that looked familiar. She had her 2 sons with her that looked to be 9 and 6 years old. I had to look twice, then the the kids came running over to me screaming "ELDER MANNNIS! ELDER MAANNISS!!!" I had no clue who it was, but the then I realized who it was. I almost cried because it was a family from Ándre Carlone. They are members but they are basically like family to me. I didn't think about home, but I thought about Andre Carloni and all the good times that I had there. It's just strange that someone in a white shirt and tie can become so loved. I just love the Brazilian people and I am really glad to have made some eternal friends here. I love my mission and I thank all of you that helped me be here.
General Conference is coming up this week!!! Yeah! So get ready to get round housed by the Spirit playa.
Last week we went to the chocolate factory of Garoto, that was fun but I got a little belly ache from all the chocolate. :)
Love you all,
ELDER MANIS
Well, this week was a good week. We had the baptism of Cássia and that was amazing to get Elder Pinhiero off on a good start baptizing. :)
Cássia is one of the best people I have ever taught in my life, and she was certainly prepared by God. She is an amazing youth. She is 15 years old but she is amazing and helps my testimony grow. She memorized D&C 4 all by herself within the week of her baptism. :) So ya, she is basically amazing. The baptismal service was the best ever too. I love this ward because they took all the stress of my shoulders and prepared the service for me too. It was great, with a special musical number that was really pretty. Then I came in with a tear jerking talk. ha ha I made everyone cry. We had all our progressing investigators there, so that will help in their progress.
We are teaching Jamilson and Sirlandia, along with 5 other people. We have baptisms dated for the 10th of April. So my son is going to be O BATIZADOR (The Baptist) here soon. Basically, I'm just gaining the confidence of the members and working with there references and it's 100% better than clapping doors. Jamilson and Sirlandia are a couple that are really good. I have said this many times in my e-mails, but it's amazing to see how the Gospel changes someone for the better and it's amazing to become a part of this change.
This week something strange happened to me. Many people say that towards the end of an elder's mission he gets trunkey or homesick. But this week it was a little different for me. We where walking down the street and I saw a girl that looked familiar. She had her 2 sons with her that looked to be 9 and 6 years old. I had to look twice, then the the kids came running over to me screaming "ELDER MANNNIS! ELDER MAANNISS!!!" I had no clue who it was, but the then I realized who it was. I almost cried because it was a family from Ándre Carlone. They are members but they are basically like family to me. I didn't think about home, but I thought about Andre Carloni and all the good times that I had there. It's just strange that someone in a white shirt and tie can become so loved. I just love the Brazilian people and I am really glad to have made some eternal friends here. I love my mission and I thank all of you that helped me be here.
General Conference is coming up this week!!! Yeah! So get ready to get round housed by the Spirit playa.
Last week we went to the chocolate factory of Garoto, that was fun but I got a little belly ache from all the chocolate. :)
Love you all,
ELDER MANIS
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Birthday 21
Well, this week was just a normal week.
For my birthday a member threw a little party for me. It was just 4 members and us missionaries with a little cake. It's crazy to think that I'm 21. Dang, I'm getting old. The members know that usually when an American elder makes 21 years old he is about to go home. So I have been getting a lot of the question, "So how much time do you have left on the mission?" and "When do you go home?" I just say "A year and a few months." or something like that, or my companion will just respond "Yup, he is going home next month." haha But it's all good. I'm glad I have a newby, he keeps me working hard and focused on the mission and helping others.
The area I'm in is Gloria. It is where the factory of chocolate is. The mark of chocolate is called GAROTO. It's pretty good. Today we are going to do a tour in the factory to see how everything is made. Yup, it's right next to us. And basically it's a 5 or 10 min walk and then we are on the beach. The ward has a lot of beach bums (in the membership) haha It's cool, they are all good members. It's just funny when the 1st Counselor has dreadlocks and goes to church in a suit and flip flops. haha So ya, basically I'm on the beach again. The ward is the best ward I have been in so far on the mission. The ward is really focused on the work and that is always good because it takes a little stress off my shoulders. We will have a baptism coming up next week. It is of Cássia, she is a girl of 15 years old and is an amazing little girl. She basically marked her own date (for baptism) and so she will be baptised on Saturday. I'm excited because I'm hoping that this will help my comp' really see how the mission is and that baptisms are normal and they really bring joy. We also have a hand full of people that are progressing, so we should be baptising weekly here in a little.
It's crazy to see that spring break has already come and gone. My companion is counting the days for me, and I think I'm down to like 7 weeks or something like that. I kind of had a little bit of a hard time yesterday when the member who gave us lunch asked me what I'm gonna do when I go home. I have so many ideas but I just need to relax. haha
Other than that, the week was a normal week with a lot of teaching and a lot of sweat. The rain comes and goes so you can never tell when it's going to rain.
All is well with me.
Just know that the Church is true and that Heavenly Father loves us. :)
Elder Manis
For my birthday a member threw a little party for me. It was just 4 members and us missionaries with a little cake. It's crazy to think that I'm 21. Dang, I'm getting old. The members know that usually when an American elder makes 21 years old he is about to go home. So I have been getting a lot of the question, "So how much time do you have left on the mission?" and "When do you go home?" I just say "A year and a few months." or something like that, or my companion will just respond "Yup, he is going home next month." haha But it's all good. I'm glad I have a newby, he keeps me working hard and focused on the mission and helping others.
The area I'm in is Gloria. It is where the factory of chocolate is. The mark of chocolate is called GAROTO. It's pretty good. Today we are going to do a tour in the factory to see how everything is made. Yup, it's right next to us. And basically it's a 5 or 10 min walk and then we are on the beach. The ward has a lot of beach bums (in the membership) haha It's cool, they are all good members. It's just funny when the 1st Counselor has dreadlocks and goes to church in a suit and flip flops. haha So ya, basically I'm on the beach again. The ward is the best ward I have been in so far on the mission. The ward is really focused on the work and that is always good because it takes a little stress off my shoulders. We will have a baptism coming up next week. It is of Cássia, she is a girl of 15 years old and is an amazing little girl. She basically marked her own date (for baptism) and so she will be baptised on Saturday. I'm excited because I'm hoping that this will help my comp' really see how the mission is and that baptisms are normal and they really bring joy. We also have a hand full of people that are progressing, so we should be baptising weekly here in a little.
It's crazy to see that spring break has already come and gone. My companion is counting the days for me, and I think I'm down to like 7 weeks or something like that. I kind of had a little bit of a hard time yesterday when the member who gave us lunch asked me what I'm gonna do when I go home. I have so many ideas but I just need to relax. haha
Other than that, the week was a normal week with a lot of teaching and a lot of sweat. The rain comes and goes so you can never tell when it's going to rain.
All is well with me.
Just know that the Church is true and that Heavenly Father loves us. :)
Elder Manis
D&C 135:3
O velho??
Yup, this week I make 21 years old. Not gonna lie, I feel the same and nothing special. I think if anything, this year (my birthday) it will be just like last year with a bowl or cereal with candles in it. But what can I do? I'm a poor missionary and have work to do. The members are wanting to throw a party, but we will see about that. I didn't have one last year so maybe I'll let them have one for me this year.
Meu filho (my son) is doing well. He has gotten a lot better. I let him write his letters and stuff at night because I'm thinking; "if I go all commando on him, the whole "DO THIS DO THAT" thing, I'm gonna make him hate the mission." I remember how it was to have a pooey companion. But he is getting a lot better, he is a lot more outgoing. "Coming out of his shell" you can say. He has a fiancé or however you say that. So he talks about marriage a lot. I just laugh and say, "If you're getting excited now for your marriage, your mission is going to go by so slow." haha He is pretty crazy about her. He was wanting to go out today and buy a dress for her and send it home. When he told me I couldn't believe it. I basically put my foot down on that one and just said forget it. Let's baptize 4 people and then we can talk. haha
This week has been pretty crazy. We have had some pretty bad tropical storms. Typhoon like weather so there has been a lot of flooding and that always slows the work down. I don't think that I have ever seen so much rain and water. Sometimes it's a little scary because all of the poo rivers overflow and get everyone sick and polluted and stuff. So we have been having to walk around a lot because half of our area is under poo water. But it's all good. The rain has got to stop sometime.
Today I was studying and I came across D&C 135:3. Before you guys go and read this I want you to ask yourself "Who is Joseph Smith?" Bam! This scripture will blow your mind. It's basically the most powerful scripture that talks about Joseph Smith that I have ever seen or found, it's amazing.
I just want to let all you guys know that I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. Just as Jesus Christ did, he shed his innocent blood in defense of the truth.
Love you all,
Elder Manis
Yup, this week I make 21 years old. Not gonna lie, I feel the same and nothing special. I think if anything, this year (my birthday) it will be just like last year with a bowl or cereal with candles in it. But what can I do? I'm a poor missionary and have work to do. The members are wanting to throw a party, but we will see about that. I didn't have one last year so maybe I'll let them have one for me this year.
Meu filho (my son) is doing well. He has gotten a lot better. I let him write his letters and stuff at night because I'm thinking; "if I go all commando on him, the whole "DO THIS DO THAT" thing, I'm gonna make him hate the mission." I remember how it was to have a pooey companion. But he is getting a lot better, he is a lot more outgoing. "Coming out of his shell" you can say. He has a fiancé or however you say that. So he talks about marriage a lot. I just laugh and say, "If you're getting excited now for your marriage, your mission is going to go by so slow." haha He is pretty crazy about her. He was wanting to go out today and buy a dress for her and send it home. When he told me I couldn't believe it. I basically put my foot down on that one and just said forget it. Let's baptize 4 people and then we can talk. haha
This week has been pretty crazy. We have had some pretty bad tropical storms. Typhoon like weather so there has been a lot of flooding and that always slows the work down. I don't think that I have ever seen so much rain and water. Sometimes it's a little scary because all of the poo rivers overflow and get everyone sick and polluted and stuff. So we have been having to walk around a lot because half of our area is under poo water. But it's all good. The rain has got to stop sometime.
Today I was studying and I came across D&C 135:3. Before you guys go and read this I want you to ask yourself "Who is Joseph Smith?" Bam! This scripture will blow your mind. It's basically the most powerful scripture that talks about Joseph Smith that I have ever seen or found, it's amazing.
I just want to let all you guys know that I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. Just as Jesus Christ did, he shed his innocent blood in defense of the truth.
Love you all,
Elder Manis
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Garoto Chocolate
Hey Mom and Family,
Well yup, my filho (son) Elder Pinhiero got here on Tuesday. Let me tell you, the man is homesick. haha I mean, I was homesick when I got into the field, but this man is amazingly homesick. He is from Sao Paulo and has a year and 7 months in the church. He doesn't know much about doctrine and stuff, so I'm helping him out with all that. He is a good kid but all he talks about is Mother's Day and the post office. Like I said, I was homesick, but this man takes the cake. I'm helping him with it so it actually has gotten a lot better. He is a hard worker and I love him to death. He really has the will to be a good missionary. We are in Vilia Velhia Gloria to be exact. We live right next to the biggest chocolate factory in Brazil. It's the GAROTO chocolate factory. Look it up on-line. We smell chocolate all the time and mint and all that jazz. The members here are really loving and they treat us like there own
children. The ward is amazing with a frequency of 150 people, and last week I had the best lunch I have ever had in Brazil. It was just simply amazing.
Sorry, I'm typing so fast because I don't have much time left. But all is well and all is going great. We already have a baptism coming up, so I'm really excited to get this kid on his feet and baptising fast, so he knows what it's like.
All is well, I love you guys and sorry for the short e-mail I'll try to come back and write more later. :)
Love you,
Elder Manis
Well yup, my filho (son) Elder Pinhiero got here on Tuesday. Let me tell you, the man is homesick. haha I mean, I was homesick when I got into the field, but this man is amazingly homesick. He is from Sao Paulo and has a year and 7 months in the church. He doesn't know much about doctrine and stuff, so I'm helping him out with all that. He is a good kid but all he talks about is Mother's Day and the post office. Like I said, I was homesick, but this man takes the cake. I'm helping him with it so it actually has gotten a lot better. He is a hard worker and I love him to death. He really has the will to be a good missionary. We are in Vilia Velhia Gloria to be exact. We live right next to the biggest chocolate factory in Brazil. It's the GAROTO chocolate factory. Look it up on-line. We smell chocolate all the time and mint and all that jazz. The members here are really loving and they treat us like there own
children. The ward is amazing with a frequency of 150 people, and last week I had the best lunch I have ever had in Brazil. It was just simply amazing.
Sorry, I'm typing so fast because I don't have much time left. But all is well and all is going great. We already have a baptism coming up, so I'm really excited to get this kid on his feet and baptising fast, so he knows what it's like.
All is well, I love you guys and sorry for the short e-mail I'll try to come back and write more later. :)
Love you,
Elder Manis
Make the Days Count
Oi.. Alguma coisa nova? [Hi.. something new?]
I'll start be responding to all the questions you asked. The zone is going great and we are baptising a lot. I think that we are just running around and after these Elders to get them ready. Our investigators are doing great. We have 7 baptisms lined up for the month of March. So they are going great.
This week was a really fun hard working week. To be honest, I didn't really know what we should do. But for some reason I kept thinking about some old investigators(that we had dropped). They kept popping up in my head, so I was like, "What the heck, let's just go visit them." Just to get it off my mind. Well it turns out that the Lord had been preparing them in between the last time that we had seen them. They are the baptisms that we have planned for March. It's funny how the Lord can guide you and you don't really know that your being guided until that you receive a witness or an answer to what you have been looking for. We have all these baptisms lined up, but guess who got transferred? Yup, I did. And I'm going to be training a Brazilian. I don't know him yet, but I'm excited to see what's going to happen.
This is what President wrote:
"As you now know, you will be training a new elder. I am extremely excited to see the two of you as a dupla. I believe you will be awesome!! Though I have not met this new elder, through inspiration, I know that you are going to have an incredible influence on this great young man!! Congratulations. This is the highest calling in any mission."
I'm really excited to see how things are going to be. I'm really excited to see what's going to happen and where I'm going to go. I had the feeling that I was going to get released as a zone leader. I can't count the blessings and the things I have learned from being a zone leader. I can say that they were the best 9 months of my mission. But now I have a new calling and a new job to do. I'm going to do the same thing that Elder Hale did to me. He made me love the mission and just love being a missionary. :) I'm really excited to have a new adventure. I'll probably be going to my "COFFIN" as they call it. It will be my last area. It's kinda crazy to think about how my mission is coming quickly to an end, so I try not to think about it.
I came up with a little phrase that has helped me, it's "DON'T COUNT THE DAYS...MAKE THE DAYS COUNT!!!"
I thank my Heavenly Father for every second I still have here because I just love my mission and I love Brazil :) I'm soaking it all up and making every last moment count. :)
It's crazy to hear how cold it is there. I wish that that was the same here. It is so hot and sticky, getting all the sticky sea salt off of my face is what I have gotten tired of over the past years. haha But it's all good.
As for Wyatt, he is a good kid, he has always liked to be a little on his own. If you want him to get a spiritual experience send him out with the missionaries or have him teach dad. :)
Gotta grow up some day.
Love you guys,
Elder Manis
I'll start be responding to all the questions you asked. The zone is going great and we are baptising a lot. I think that we are just running around and after these Elders to get them ready. Our investigators are doing great. We have 7 baptisms lined up for the month of March. So they are going great.
This week was a really fun hard working week. To be honest, I didn't really know what we should do. But for some reason I kept thinking about some old investigators(that we had dropped). They kept popping up in my head, so I was like, "What the heck, let's just go visit them." Just to get it off my mind. Well it turns out that the Lord had been preparing them in between the last time that we had seen them. They are the baptisms that we have planned for March. It's funny how the Lord can guide you and you don't really know that your being guided until that you receive a witness or an answer to what you have been looking for. We have all these baptisms lined up, but guess who got transferred? Yup, I did. And I'm going to be training a Brazilian. I don't know him yet, but I'm excited to see what's going to happen.
This is what President wrote:
"As you now know, you will be training a new elder. I am extremely excited to see the two of you as a dupla. I believe you will be awesome!! Though I have not met this new elder, through inspiration, I know that you are going to have an incredible influence on this great young man!! Congratulations. This is the highest calling in any mission."
I'm really excited to see how things are going to be. I'm really excited to see what's going to happen and where I'm going to go. I had the feeling that I was going to get released as a zone leader. I can't count the blessings and the things I have learned from being a zone leader. I can say that they were the best 9 months of my mission. But now I have a new calling and a new job to do. I'm going to do the same thing that Elder Hale did to me. He made me love the mission and just love being a missionary. :) I'm really excited to have a new adventure. I'll probably be going to my "COFFIN" as they call it. It will be my last area. It's kinda crazy to think about how my mission is coming quickly to an end, so I try not to think about it.
I came up with a little phrase that has helped me, it's "DON'T COUNT THE DAYS...MAKE THE DAYS COUNT!!!"
I thank my Heavenly Father for every second I still have here because I just love my mission and I love Brazil :) I'm soaking it all up and making every last moment count. :)
It's crazy to hear how cold it is there. I wish that that was the same here. It is so hot and sticky, getting all the sticky sea salt off of my face is what I have gotten tired of over the past years. haha But it's all good.
As for Wyatt, he is a good kid, he has always liked to be a little on his own. If you want him to get a spiritual experience send him out with the missionaries or have him teach dad. :)
Gotta grow up some day.
Love you guys,
Elder Manis
I Want Letters
It's good to hear that all is going well with you guys. It's good to see that Dad is giving the missionaries some dinner. Man, I would kill for a pizza! In Brazil it's crazy what they do with pizza. THEY THROW STUFF LIKE TUNA FISH AND CHICKEN AND PEAS and corn and stuff on top. It's pretty nasty. But the one thing I have learned to love is pizza with mayo spread on it. That's what they do here. You can get a fatty pizza with some mayo to go on top. It's probably not good for your heart but oh well.
Well, in less than a month it's going to be my birthday. Scary thought that I'll be 21. It's like I'm growing up. Ha ha, scary huh?
This week was a crazy fast week with a lot of zone meetings and divisions. This week I only worked 2 days in my actual area. Zone Conference was sweet, but as usual for Elder Manis, "no letters". Man, I'm getting famous for being known as the forgotten Elder. The the last letter I got was in November. But it's good to know that I should have some letters coming soon.
Well, for the little time that I worked in my area things are going great. We had a good 6 people at church and they are all progressing towards baptism.
I'm still having a little trouble getting over that wall like I was telling you earlier. But I feel like I'm almost over it. It's a little rough, but it's all smiles. :) Me and Elder Araújo are doing great. He could easily be one of my favorite comp's. He is a really hard worker and looks for results in the end and not just baptisms, just as I do. Things are going great between us except he thinks he is a good basketball player. But I destroy him every p-day. haha I destroy him at soccer as well. haha I just say, "Just stick to reading Conference talks on P-day Elder". But he just laughs. We found out who will be the Presidente of the Missão after President Pickett leaves. It will be President Araújo. He isn't related to my Comp' and I don't know much about him, so I guess you guys can look him up when you get the chance.
This week I have been studying Alma. You know what that means. "WAR" man. It's a lot of war, but it's amazing to see how the Nephite generals taught about everything. Everything that could possibly happen and all the little details. It's amazing that through all the trials, they trusted in the Savior that everything would work out. And then everything did work out. It's amazing how the Savior protects the righteous and destroys the wicked, and its amazing to see how the Lord loves perfection. It's cool to see how the generals looked for and sought after the will of God. If we were all like the generals of the Nephite armies, that as Alma says, "Satan would not have power over us."
It's amazing to soak up every moment on my mission. I love my mission and I love how it is helping me be a better son of God. :)
I love you guys and I hope to get some letters soon. :) Love ya :)
Elder Manis
Well, in less than a month it's going to be my birthday. Scary thought that I'll be 21. It's like I'm growing up. Ha ha, scary huh?
This week was a crazy fast week with a lot of zone meetings and divisions. This week I only worked 2 days in my actual area. Zone Conference was sweet, but as usual for Elder Manis, "no letters". Man, I'm getting famous for being known as the forgotten Elder. The the last letter I got was in November. But it's good to know that I should have some letters coming soon.
Well, for the little time that I worked in my area things are going great. We had a good 6 people at church and they are all progressing towards baptism.
I'm still having a little trouble getting over that wall like I was telling you earlier. But I feel like I'm almost over it. It's a little rough, but it's all smiles. :) Me and Elder Araújo are doing great. He could easily be one of my favorite comp's. He is a really hard worker and looks for results in the end and not just baptisms, just as I do. Things are going great between us except he thinks he is a good basketball player. But I destroy him every p-day. haha I destroy him at soccer as well. haha I just say, "Just stick to reading Conference talks on P-day Elder". But he just laughs. We found out who will be the Presidente of the Missão after President Pickett leaves. It will be President Araújo. He isn't related to my Comp' and I don't know much about him, so I guess you guys can look him up when you get the chance.
This week I have been studying Alma. You know what that means. "WAR" man. It's a lot of war, but it's amazing to see how the Nephite generals taught about everything. Everything that could possibly happen and all the little details. It's amazing that through all the trials, they trusted in the Savior that everything would work out. And then everything did work out. It's amazing how the Savior protects the righteous and destroys the wicked, and its amazing to see how the Lord loves perfection. It's cool to see how the generals looked for and sought after the will of God. If we were all like the generals of the Nephite armies, that as Alma says, "Satan would not have power over us."
It's amazing to soak up every moment on my mission. I love my mission and I love how it is helping me be a better son of God. :)
I love you guys and I hope to get some letters soon. :) Love ya :)
Elder Manis
Friday, February 18, 2011
Parabens
Hey Mamas,
I'm attaching some pictures that we took a while back, it's of when the city water failed for a week. Basically, we went a week with out taking a bath or anything. But one night the Lord blessed us with a rainstorm so we ran out in the street at night to take some quick rain shower baths. haha Yup, just a bunch of hippies. That was funny. In the pictures you can really see my farmers tan and how bad it is, and ya, you can see how skinny I'm getting.
I think this week was Dad's birthday and today is Hannah's, so
PARABENS for you guys. (Happy Birthday) So what does that make dad? He is like 40 [50] is years old and Hannah is like 16 [14] now or something. I think that Valentine's Day is coming up as well, but I can't remember what day it is.
This week went by so fast and slow at the same time. Monday and Tuesday we had trainings so that took up the whole day. I had the chance to get some letters but I got nothing. Everyone says that when you get to this stage on your mission that everyone forgets about you. The last letter I got was on the first week of November... so whats up?? Get to writing! P resident changed up a lot of rules so I can't e-mail my friends. But hey, I still have some time on the mission so keep cards comin'!!
During the week we had the opportunity to put in practice what we had learned in training, and it really payed off. In the end we were able to find a lot of promising people. People that went to church and are progressing well. We have a family of 5 that are going to be baptised on the 20th, so we are running after them and getting them taught. :) They are a really humble family they live in a one room house that has dirt floor. It's amazing to see how the gospel blesses the lives of many. They don't have much, and not even much to eat, but they have the Gospel and that's enough for any man to be eternally happy. I love this Gospel.
This week my companion did the counting and I have something like 13 or 14 weeks left. It's scary, but I'm sucking in every last moment of my mission. I seriously love it. It's amazing how much I have grown to love this people and care about them and will do anything to help them to be happy. Because they are part of my family now.
I love Brazil :)
In my studies I'm reading Jesus the Christ and I'm studying about the atonement.
I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the things he has done for me. I love Him. :) It's amazing how He helps us.
I'm going to send this e mail off because people are saying that they are having problems with the site. :)
Love ya,
Elder Manis
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Endure to the end
Hey Mom,
Ya, I'm pretty much in tears right now. Reading the e-mail you sent me. Ya, I miss London too. It's amazing to see how Heavenly Father blesses us when we do what he asks. (which usually requires sacrifice) Through our sacrifices we can be blessed. No, we will be blessed. It's just like you said Mom. There are times that we just can't take it anymore, but that's when Heavenly Father pulls us up and finishes the race with us. He is on our side with his angles in front and behind us, and it is in these times that the miracles happen. Be it what you expected or not.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple;
1 Faith
2 Repentance
3 Baptism
4 Holy Ghost
and 5- Enduring to the end
One thing I tell everyone of the people I teach is that enduring to the end isn't walking or skipping to the end, it straight up fighting until the end. Fighting against everything that is of the world.
But what does Christ bless us with when we do these things? Eternal life. What greater gift than eternal life in happiness and joy forever and ever. There is no greater gift than this from God. It has been his plan from the beginning, that "all men can return unto me." That is why we have the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. If it wasn't for Him, nothing eternal could ever happen. He suffered for every person that ever lived or will live, for this He knows us. He knows what we are going through and what we need to keep up the good fight. The Gospel is simple, it's "SALVATION" through Jesus Christ.
I am so grateful for this Gospel and for the little things that I learn everyday that help me along in that fight.
This week was a good one... Well, frustrating as well, but I'm only going to talk about the good stuff. My division with President was good. He likes the way we teach and he likes the way we are working. He also loves the way we worry about the salvation of everyone we teach. It was really good.
This week we got invited to eat AÇAÌ at a members restaurant. Açaí is really good. It's like ice cream but kinda like a slurpy too. sei lá haha Anyway, a member dared me to eat 2 leters of it and.... yup, I did. haha So I went home saturday night with a barriga (belly) full of 2 liters of açaí. Yummmmmmm
Here are some pictures of it. My comp' is the guy giving a thumbs up. haha The big bowl is only 1 liter.
Things are going great. Just running after the zone and getting some baptisms in there.
We found another good family of 4, so we are really excited to progress with them. :)
Love ya guys,
Elder Manis
PS: Lookin' tan huh? haha
The Things That Matter Most
Hey Mom, I'm really sorry but I have almost no time to pass e-mail today.
The weather is getting a lot better and no more people are dieing. There is only about 2 young men it my ward, and no, they don't do anything cool like a break-the-fast. Even if they did, no one would come...Brazilians are lazy.
The zone is going great we are having a lot of success. My new companion is Elder Araujo from São Paulo. I love the kid. He is an amazing Elder. He has always been a good mission friend so it's really good to be companions with him. He skated like I did growing up, and he loves basketball, so we get along great and never have that awkward silence while we are walking in the street.
I'm really bummed out though, because I wanted to send you guys a really good spiritual e-mail but the e-mails of President and all the trainings we are going to have took up a lot of time. So basically I have no time and I'm really bummed.
President has had his garments up in a wad lately. Man, let's just say he is like a bomb waiting to go off. He will be going home a transfer after me so he only has 5 months left. He is trying to get the mission all in order and is almost turning into a crazy man. Making up some crazy rules, and stuff like that. I went and looked at a new house with him (a house bigger for us 4 missionaries) and he was just like a business man to me. He basically didn't put any frosting on what he thought of me and what I could do to be better. I just sat and took it because well...let's face it, he is correct. But man. He is coming to do a division with us tomorrow. So we will see how that goes.
I'm seriously taking it all in for experience. Because I know that the real world is going to be like that, and the mission is to prepare you for your whole life.
I have been reading the Liahona lately. The conference talks have been helping out a lot. I love Elder Ukdorf's talk "The Things that Matter Most" (as coisas que mais importam)
The talk had just made me realize what are the most important things in my life.
1. Family
2. The Gospel
3. My testimony of Jesus Christ
It also talks about seeing how things get all crazy in life and the one thing we need to do is just stop and look at the basics. There is a cool quote that he uses "there is more to life than increasing it's speed". Just take a chill pill and look at the things that really matter and then run after them. haha Let's just say that I have been doing that lately.
My mission is ending and I feel that Satan is working harder than ever to get me to just give up and rationalize my work. We are always in the constant fight. But I love how my testimony grows through the trials.
I Love you all.
Look at the things that mean most.
Zack
The weather is getting a lot better and no more people are dieing. There is only about 2 young men it my ward, and no, they don't do anything cool like a break-the-fast. Even if they did, no one would come...Brazilians are lazy.
The zone is going great we are having a lot of success. My new companion is Elder Araujo from São Paulo. I love the kid. He is an amazing Elder. He has always been a good mission friend so it's really good to be companions with him. He skated like I did growing up, and he loves basketball, so we get along great and never have that awkward silence while we are walking in the street.
I'm really bummed out though, because I wanted to send you guys a really good spiritual e-mail but the e-mails of President and all the trainings we are going to have took up a lot of time. So basically I have no time and I'm really bummed.
President has had his garments up in a wad lately. Man, let's just say he is like a bomb waiting to go off. He will be going home a transfer after me so he only has 5 months left. He is trying to get the mission all in order and is almost turning into a crazy man. Making up some crazy rules, and stuff like that. I went and looked at a new house with him (a house bigger for us 4 missionaries) and he was just like a business man to me. He basically didn't put any frosting on what he thought of me and what I could do to be better. I just sat and took it because well...let's face it, he is correct. But man. He is coming to do a division with us tomorrow. So we will see how that goes.
I'm seriously taking it all in for experience. Because I know that the real world is going to be like that, and the mission is to prepare you for your whole life.
I have been reading the Liahona lately. The conference talks have been helping out a lot. I love Elder Ukdorf's talk "The Things that Matter Most" (as coisas que mais importam)
The talk had just made me realize what are the most important things in my life.
1. Family
2. The Gospel
3. My testimony of Jesus Christ
It also talks about seeing how things get all crazy in life and the one thing we need to do is just stop and look at the basics. There is a cool quote that he uses "there is more to life than increasing it's speed". Just take a chill pill and look at the things that really matter and then run after them. haha Let's just say that I have been doing that lately.
My mission is ending and I feel that Satan is working harder than ever to get me to just give up and rationalize my work. We are always in the constant fight. But I love how my testimony grows through the trials.
I Love you all.
Look at the things that mean most.
Zack
Monday, January 17, 2011
Mudslides
Can you say "Death"?
It's just like you said. Here in Rio and in Espirito Santo there have been some pretty sad things that have been happening. They aren't floods that are happening, they are mudslides in the mountain regions. Here in Brazil the cities are built on the side of the mountain or in the valley. And last week there was a mega amount of rain. So that weekend the soil just gave way and basically a whole city was swallowed up by the mudslide. There was a family if 15 people that all died. It's pretty scary because we live at the foot of the tallest mountain in Espirito Santo. Everyone is always looking at the mountain and talking about what's going on, and what will happen next. It's mega sad. Basically a mountain swallowing up a whole entire city the size of down town Mesa. Like from the temple to Nana's house, all gone and everyone dead. Scary huh? But don't worry, I'm OK. It's all good.
Mom, you asked a lot about the zone. Well, this week was an OK week. Some baptisms fell through unfortunately, but for the 30th the zone has 27 baptisms planned. So let's cross our fingers and pray that everything will work out. This week we found a family of 11 people and 8 of them accepted the challenge to be baptised on the 30th. So I'm doing all I can to run after these people. This would help out so much with my mission goal of baptisms. It's a huge family that we found on Friday. It's sad because I don't know much about them, because I have been to their house all of 3 times. But they want to be baptised so I'm running after them and doing all I can to prepare these people. :) It was a lot of hard work that payed off with the finding of that family.
This week I found out that my Companion "STITCH" (Elder Costa) is getting transferred. I'm a little bummed about that. I think I will continue as a zone leader. But who knows? I do know that I will stay in the same area, so ya, there was a lot of changes in the mission this transfer.
Also, I'm trying to get us a new house. It's the coolest house on the mission. It's so amazing. It's a member's house and she wants to rent it out to us. Guess what? It has a MICROWAVE and a COUCH!! Man oh man, I'm running after this house as well. I have a busy week planned out. Ha Ha
Mom you mentioned about reading Jesus the Christ. I tried reading it, but it was so hard. The English is like reading Master Yoda. So I got a copy in Portuguese and it's a lot easier to understand.
Love you guys, have a good week, and pray for me and the zone. :)
Elder Manis
Lucia
Hi,
I got one more package from you guys. I got the one that was full of toys. :) Thanks. Ha Ha, it was funny to open all of the little toys and see the retarded looks of the Brazilians. They were like, where is the food that I can steal from you? Ha Ha! But it was good.
This week was a good week for us. It was successful in the sense that we had a baptism. But unsuccessful in the sense that we didn't find hardly anyone to baptise for next week.
The baptism was amazing, it was of Lucia. She is an older lady of 54 years. But she was more than happy and willing to be baptised. This week we taught her the Book of Mormon, I think it was on Tuesday, and then we went back on Wednesday at night to see how she was doing. She had read all the way to 4th Nephi! I basically stared at her with my mouth open. She was like "Ya, I love this book. It tells me everything that I need to know." She went on and on telling us about Ammon and how he cut the arms off of the bad guys, and how Alma the Younger got stricken dumb. All stuff like that. It was just amazing. So when Saturday came around she was way ready to be baptised. Fabio the convert of about 2 months baptised her which was amazing! It was seriously one of the most awesome baptisms of my mission.
Until now it wasn't that I did this of that. It was just that the Spirit was so strong that I will never forget this baptism. Lucia is already a missionary too. She is taking us to all of her friend's houses to teach them. She basically tells them that they need to be baptised in the true church of God. :) What a blessing! Hopefully we should be having some baptisms coming up because of her. :)
Other than that, this week was just a normal week of missionary work. Clapping doors, running after members to teach with us, etc. The zone is doing MMMMMUUUUCCCHHH better. We had 7 baptisms this past week and 12 coming up this next week so the zone is doing amazingly better.
I officially love my mission and I love learning a boat load about the Gospel so I can help the people of Brazil. :)
I count my blessings everyday and thank my Heavenly Father for the chance I have to be here. :)
Love you all,
Remember, the Church is true. :)
XXooXoXoooxXX
Elder Manis
and then they died. (nacho voice)
Happy New Year
Hey Family,
Well, this week was a goodish week. I say "ish" because I know it could have turned out a little better. But as for me and my comp' I know we did our part. This week was New Year's so you could imagine that everyone was drinking and partying all week long. Ya, it was a little rough. Brazilians basically have no rules, so it seemed as if they were basically blowing up blocks of c4 for fireworks. The fireworks shook the house and woke every one up. It's so crazy to see that 2010 is over. Man, it went by so fast.
We closed December out for the mission and it was the worst month for the mission. President wasn't too happy with that. I had an interview with him this past week and man let me tell you, he crucified me. I have never felt more horrible on the mission. I closed the month out with 3 baptisms but I felt that I needed to baptize 30 people to make him happy. It was a rough interview. I have never seen President so mad. But it wasn't just with me, it was with the whole mission, but as the Zone Leader of the biggest zone of the mission, I got the short end of the stick.
On the bright side, we are going to have a baptism this week. Irmã Lucia, she is about 54 years old and is so accepting all of the things we teach her. She loves the Church and can't wait 'till she is baptised. This Saturday, she frequented another church "DEUS È AMOR" pretty much the church of Satan. They just make the people feel like poo. They told her that she couldn't be baptised because she is divorced. But as soon as we explained that that doesn't matter she has been crazy to be baptised.
That's about all that happened to me this week. I have been sleeping really good these days. I have been coming home dead tired, so it's been good to sleep well because I just pass out.
Mommy, it's like you said, looking back on 2010 you see how much you have been blessed. I was kinda bummed out because I came up 1 baptism short of my goals for 2010. But now I'm in high gear working hard to get my goal for the rest of my mission.
Love you guys, :)
Elder Manis
Oh, PS - Jandira and Rosangela, 2 of my baptisms went to the temple this week and received callings in the ward. :)
Well, this week was a goodish week. I say "ish" because I know it could have turned out a little better. But as for me and my comp' I know we did our part. This week was New Year's so you could imagine that everyone was drinking and partying all week long. Ya, it was a little rough. Brazilians basically have no rules, so it seemed as if they were basically blowing up blocks of c4 for fireworks. The fireworks shook the house and woke every one up. It's so crazy to see that 2010 is over. Man, it went by so fast.
We closed December out for the mission and it was the worst month for the mission. President wasn't too happy with that. I had an interview with him this past week and man let me tell you, he crucified me. I have never felt more horrible on the mission. I closed the month out with 3 baptisms but I felt that I needed to baptize 30 people to make him happy. It was a rough interview. I have never seen President so mad. But it wasn't just with me, it was with the whole mission, but as the Zone Leader of the biggest zone of the mission, I got the short end of the stick.
On the bright side, we are going to have a baptism this week. Irmã Lucia, she is about 54 years old and is so accepting all of the things we teach her. She loves the Church and can't wait 'till she is baptised. This Saturday, she frequented another church "DEUS È AMOR" pretty much the church of Satan. They just make the people feel like poo. They told her that she couldn't be baptised because she is divorced. But as soon as we explained that that doesn't matter she has been crazy to be baptised.
That's about all that happened to me this week. I have been sleeping really good these days. I have been coming home dead tired, so it's been good to sleep well because I just pass out.
Mommy, it's like you said, looking back on 2010 you see how much you have been blessed. I was kinda bummed out because I came up 1 baptism short of my goals for 2010. But now I'm in high gear working hard to get my goal for the rest of my mission.
Love you guys, :)
Elder Manis
Oh, PS - Jandira and Rosangela, 2 of my baptisms went to the temple this week and received callings in the ward. :)
After Christmas
Hey Mom,
It's good to hear the whole side of the story about Dad and all the stuff he has gone through. But it's good to know that all is getting taken care of. I'm praying a lot for him and all of you guys. Well, just like you I have almost nothing to say because I just talked to you the other day. But know that God lives and He loves us.
I love you guys, :)
Zack
PS Happy Birthday Mom
It's good to hear the whole side of the story about Dad and all the stuff he has gone through. But it's good to know that all is getting taken care of. I'm praying a lot for him and all of you guys. Well, just like you I have almost nothing to say because I just talked to you the other day. But know that God lives and He loves us.
I love you guys, :)
Zack
PS Happy Birthday Mom
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