I'm Learning Portuguese

Transfer Day

"Hey mom, I washed my winter hat!"

Training my new companion Elder Marques!

This week I welcomed into the world a brand new missionary. However, unlike most of his newborn comrades, he speaks Portuguese, Italian, English and now Spanish. Raised in Italy and Brazil, his accolades as a member of the professional Brazilian Volleyball team and others surpass anything I've ever accomplished and learning English in less than a year and Spanish in 6 weeks, he has won the hearts on basically everyone we have come in contact with in the past 4 days. Needless to say, I am now learning a bit of them all and my English is getting worse and worse everyday.

     As a welcoming gift we were invited by a kind Hispanic man to his church. We haven't spoken with him much but we accepted the offer and he said he would try to attend our services as well. Saturday came and we headed to the church. The large building was a school at one point but now the auditorium is being used as a church every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. Cars filled the parking lot and the building was alive with music. We walked toward it and knew it was not the same kind of church we attended.

     Now, I will try to explain this, but I don't mean any offense with my explanation. All are permitted to worship in the way they please in this country and I don't mean to judge the use of their agency. The way we worship is just as different to them as it was for my Brazilian companion and myself. The corridor before the auditorium was lined with tables of food and behind two doors on either side of the hall was the service. We glanced through the blurry window of the doors and saw the room packed with men, women and children on their feet clapping and singing. We watched them enjoy the music, and the doors were opened by our friend who let us in and guided us to our seats. A woman in front of us couldn't stand was being supported by her two neighbors and they were all singing. During the songs she suddenly fainted. A woman to our right shouted hallelujah with the band, and the preacher at the front sang away. They all sang and many came and welcomed us with hugs and handshakes and English welcomes regardless of they multilingual capabilities. It was like a Christian concert in Spanish and I was pretty lost. It was quite the experience. 

     When the worship band came to a close, the preacher welcomed all the new people in attendance. They all stood and the audience clapped. Then as my mind veered thinking about the food outside, a hand landed on my shoulder. I notice everyone was looking at us and the preacher had welcomed us. We stood and everyone welcomed us with applause. After the welcoming was over, a man came to the front and told his conversion story. It was much different than a testimony meeting I have seen. A lot more clapping and shouts of praise. And after he concluded his energetic testimony we decided it was best we left and went to our next appointment. We told the preacher and our friend thank you and the band began to play as we left.

     We walked away and discussed how the feeling there was familiar but not familiar in our church meetings. We left to go teach Evelyn.

     Evelyn has been taught for a while but this week she fasted. We fasted with her to help her know if this was all right. That night after the church we discussed her fasting experience. After introducing my new companion and a prayer she told us her answer. She said she got it and it is the same she received before. It is true and she needs to be baptized. The Spirit we felt there was the Spirit we had felt before in Primary and Sacrament Meetings and learned to follow. She is going to be baptized on December 5th.

Saying good-bye to my companion....

     The next night, after two hours of not finding anyone available to teach we stopped by Cecilia and she informed us that she had read all of 1 Nephi and had questions about Nephi being counseled by an angel to not write the things John the Beloved would write. Although she had doubts, we were happy. In the words of the member who came with us, 'Doubts can be overcome. Passiveness, [which many Hispanics have while reading] is much more difficult.' Her motivation and faithfulness left us with the same Spirit.

     I love being able to have the Spirit with me as a missionary and loving being able to see it work in the lives of others.

Thank you for the prayers and support, I love you all!

Adios

Elder Thomas       

My Claim to Fame

The days out here in Missouri are riddled with experiences that will be more fitting to share around a campfire in the some future day. For today, I will be explaining my claim to fame.

      The setting, a Stake Center in Monett Missouri. The occasion, a Stake Conference. The General Authority that was presided at the Conference was the newly called presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé. He was very kind, tall, and apparently spoke a handful of languages. He was giving a talk about the Sabbath Day and explaining his upbringing in the early church. 

     In France at that time, the church was young and the handful of members had a lot of responsibility. At one point in his preteen years, he even became the Sunday School President. It was very interesting. Then in explaining the history of Sabbath day observance in this dispensation, he attempted to show us the video of President Kimball announcing the combination of all Sunday meetings in one 'block'. Among the what appeared to be flawless planning for the arrival of a General Authority, someone was not assigned as the light man. There were ushers, people to pass a microphone around for testimonies, and the ever common tech man for videos. All the jobs were covered except one. The light man. 

     He began to play the video and everyone expected the lights to be extinguished. In most Mormon gatherings, that base is covered. But that night there was a moment to impress and I took it. I leaped from my seat and ran to the light box, knocking over a couple elderly attendees. Then I jumped for the lights and the job was well done. And that is my moment of fame at the Monett Stake Conference.

     Before leaving I saw in the crowd a group of familiar faces. I got closer and I recognized their voices and knew who they were. They were all from Aurora Missouri. They welcomed me with hugs and hand shakes and asked how I was doing. They were all my good friends and I had spent nearly 8 months with them and had been away from them for less than that. They are family and always will be. The joy I felt seeing faces long gone is something describable. When I was getting in the car to leave with the other missionaries I reached my arm up to wave to one of the elderly men I knew and he told me to keep him posted. I drove away feeling happier than I have in a long time. I laughed about old jokes and related stories forgotten. I thought abut how when we see those we have lost we will have a similar reunion. On those celestial shores we will hug and laugh with those we love. It made me happy to know that my family is eternal and we can joke together for the eternities.

     I love you all and I hope all is well. I pray for you all!

Elder Thomas  

How to Eat at a Member's Home: Lesson 43

The kind members in the area feed us often and well. Some have even taken the liberty of taking on the unconquerable task of fattening Elder Thomas. With many attempts and ward help, the task has never been accomplished. But this family we ate with feed us one of my favorites. Authentic tacos. I pounded probably 6 and then nearly passed out from all the salsa burning my insides and possibly causing internal damage. Now it might have been the tacos' fault or mine but this is what I said. The wife said that their daughter was going to BYU. Members here love that place. Without much thinking and with 20 years of hearing neighbors, associates and others insult the establishment I said with the hopes of getting a few chuckles, "My parents told me if I went there they'd disown me!" Needless to say, there weren't many laughs. The lesson learned: when eating with members do not insult their favorite college football team.

We taught the paper airplanes kids' Mom again. This time they were all jacked up on sugar and the 8 o'clock energy rush that comes to children usually before the crash. We struggled our way through the Plan of Salvation with the occasional little kids crying or screaming or throwing things at the other infant. I gained a much greater appreciation for those who serve in the Nursery. We wrapped up the lesson and finished the prayer we began to leave, exhausted to say the least. Just as we walked out the door the grandma ran towards us at full sprint and said, 'Don't leave! I made you all food!" Even though she didn't listen she made us all deep fried chicken, rice and beans. They were so very nice to us.

We taught a little woman and right in the middle of the lesson her little boy bolted out of the door and hugged the legs of my companion and I and then took off to do something else. I didn't understand but I think it was his way of approving us to talk to his mom. 

 

This week we got haircuts from a member. My fellow district members got theirs first and then as the joke usually goes someone asks, "Elder Thomas, why are you here you don't need a haircut, you're bald!" We joked about it for a while and after the husband of the family inspected my scalp he said, "Oh, it isn't that bad," but the wife spoke the truth: "Just accept it". They were a kind family and knew how to laugh. Just before we left, the husband left the joking realm and told me I was a good sport and that I was very kind and then said, "Some people think nice guys finish last. Nice guys don't finish last. They finish happy". 

Everyone has been so nice to me out here no matter the language they speak and all of you back at home and afar have as well. Thank you for all of your prayers and for being so nice to me. I know that as you are all examples to me of kindness you will all be happy. I love you all and pray for you! 

adios

Elder Thomas

Surprise Mom, Happy Birthday!  Thanks to the sweet people of his ward in Carthage!

        

Diabeetus

     



     

Time out for meditation...

Choco flan from Lupita!

It was another Monday. We went to Walmart and I got the usual. Milk, cereal, cheese, Triscuits and other fruits. But this day I also needed some medicine. For the past week, I had a dry mouth and asked the pharmacist if there was a medicine to suit such an issue. The woman dismounted her high seat and lead us to an aisle. She asked if I had any other symptoms and and when I said headaches, she lead me back over to the counter and explained to her boss the issue. I only heard a couple of words. "Probably diabetes". Immediate shock, confusion and concerns about my future consumption of pizza flooded my mind. Then it occurred to me that the Walmart Pharmacy in the backwoods of Missouri is not a reliable source for medical advice. Long story short, the mouthwash they gave me cured the dry mouth and I'm fine now. No diabetes.

     In between sessions of General Conference, we visited an investigator to invite them to watch it too. It was an incredible Conference and we wanted as many people to see it as we could. We drove to one investigator but felt prompted to visit another. After arriving and several tries on the door, we figured he wasn't home. I felt that if the Lord had prompted both of us to stop there was something we needed to do. We went to the neighbor, also an investigator, only to find a group of wobble Hispanics carrying a box of beers. The man told us, "Sorry that we can't talk today. We are all drunk." At least he was honest.

     So we sped off but I still felt pulled back. My thoughts wouldn't leave the area, yet we drove on as I dismissed it as my own thoughts. But it came again, and I dismissed it again. Finally, it was too much. With no warning I turned around and went back. When we made it back I remember an older member that lived nearby. Having no idea what to say, we knocked on the door. His older son who lived with them answered and called for his dad. We told him that we were in the area and were wondering if he was going to the Priesthood session later that evening. He said probably not, he had some things to do. We asked if we could help with anything. He pointed to the couch on his porch. We helped him put it in the back of his truck. 

     Had the Lord really prompted us both to only lift a couch in the back of someone's car? At the level I felt the Spirit I was expecting a life threatening event or a miracle or something absolutely nuts. But I believe that sometimes the Spirit calls us to do the little things and that is what will help people more than we can know. Although he still couldn't make it to the session, I left with a good feeling knowing I had done what the Lord needed me to do.

     I love you all! Thanks for the birthday wishes! 

Adios

elder thomas 

A cliff hanger....