Week 4- June 30, 2010

This last week has gone so fast; time really is flying by here. It will be a month on Friday and all of the things about the days being long and the weeks flying by are so true. I love it here in the CTM and in Brazil. I do have gym time dad! I have it for 50 minutes 5 days a week and I usually lift some muscle group, run, abs/play volleyball because I have a very athletic district and it makes it so fun. It’s kind of like ''no rules, just right'' (funny because there actually is an Outback Steakhouse here) when it comes to volleyball in Brazil, but its great. The food is wonderful. I love rice and beans and all of the fruit. I have probably had 4 gallons of gaurana zero since I’ve been here. We call it "gaur-zer" in my district and the slogan we made up is "less than half the calories, more than twice the taste”. I had an avocado milkshake last p-day- it was so good!

Yesterday we had a testimony meeting in Portuguese in our district to practice. I was writing down some thoughts and making sure I knew all the words I needed to know when all of a sudden I stopped, and thought, "I want to speak with the Holy Ghost a lot more than I want to speak in Portuguese." I closed my books and when it was my turn to share my testimony, I was speaking faster and recalling all sorts of words that I had learned, conveying my feelings and thoughts, and most importantly the Spirit for about 3 minutes. It was such a humbling, motivating experience for 2 main reasons. First, I couldn’t have done it without listening to the Holy Ghost, and second, all of my hard work is really paying off. I’m far from where I want to be, but there is so much joy in working towards my goal. There is so much joy in hard work. I love being a missionary. I love the gospel, all I want to do is read the scriptures, and study Portuguese, and talk with the other Elders in my district!

Elder Calvert and Elder Knoblauch

This morning driving in the front seat of a van to the Temple with Elder Knoblauch by my side, watching cars miss us by inches and motorcycles fly by, I felt comfortable. I didn’t even flinch. I am at home for the next 2 years and I love it. I really love the United States as well. What a blessed land we live in and often take for granted. Happy 4th of July and lets really be grateful for the blessing we have to live in such a wonderful county. I love you all. Elder Calvert

The View of Sao Paulo from the CTM

From a hand written letter, June 23, 2010
Right now I’m sitting in Mr. Cheney’s, but 2 hours ago I was grabbing my things for P-day and I thought I should bring an O Libro de Mormon. I was at the Post office an hour later standing next to a woman, and I felt it should talk to her about the church. I asked about my stamps to initiate Portuguese conversation. She said she wasn’t sure, but we talked for a bit about me being in Brazil and how I like it. I said I love Brazilians and how loving they are. I asked her if she had a religion and if she knows the missionaries, and she said she’s Catholic, and she doesn’t know the missionaries. She was friendly but I lack the ability to communicate in Portuguese, and quickly she was being served at Post office. I was helped and as I was leaving I thought I wanted to give her the Book of Mormon. She was still being helped and the other Elder’s were ready to leave. I voiced what I wanted to do and they all said, “We do it in two weeks, just wait until then.” Referring to our proselyting in 2 weeks. We were going to leave, but I could not get out of my hear, “When God speaks, and man listens, that man is always right.” I told my companion to come walk with me and we went back. She walked out and I said, in broken Portuguese, “Miss, I speak little Portuguese, but I know this book is true. This book is why I’m here. It is another testament of Jesus Christ, of prophets in ancient America. I prayed, and felt in my heart, You Read?” She told me, but I didn’t even understand at the time, that she knows God is her maker and has felt the same things in her heart. She hugged me and kissed me on the cheek, and took the Book of Mormon. (She kissed my companion as well.) It was awesome. I didn’t feel that strong until I was standing next to her and I just had the impression, “Talk to her about the church.” I don’t speak Portuguese!” I thought, but I just did it. The Gospel is so real. It is amazing to me, and I’m overcome by the Spirit as I write this. I love you, Spencer

What Spencer sees above him every night as he climbs into be.

This is the view underneath the top bunk.

Week 3, June 23, 2010

Hello family! Time is going very fast here in the CTM. So much happens in every week that it’s difficult to share everything but I’ll try to recall some great moments. First, Thursday devotional with Elder Andersen was awesome. It was so great to be able to shake the hand and look into the eyes of one of the Lords chosen servants here on earth. His wife spoke and she is an amazing woman. We see lots of couples here in the CTM and I’m always so impressed by how strong the wives are of the men that come and speak to us. The wives always speak as well and sometimes I want them to just keep going. Their closeness with the Spirit, and their tender love is evident in their speaking. Jacob, President Ellis was here on Thursday with his wife. I shook his hand after and he immediately remembered you. Also there is a teacher here named Irmao Peçanha and he remembers you serving in his ward 11 years ago. It was very inspiring to hear that, so know your work here has not been forgotten and I feel so blessed to be able to serve in the same part of the world as you.
Right now I feel like I’m learning a lot more about the gospel than I am Portuguese but I feel good about Portuguese as well. Really it’s just a constant act of faith, I set goals for each day of what I can do, and then I accomplish. What a joyous way to live. If anyone who is reading this feels like they lack happiness or direction, first, read The Book of Mormon or your happiness with be cut off far short of its potential but after you have done that set goals each and everyday that you are going to accomplish. Don’t let these goals minimize promptings from the Spirit or inhibit you from being charitable and helping others, but just know that no matter what, you have to complete your goals for the day. (Mother do not delete this next part, it's important) Every morning when my alarm goes off, I feel a little sad. My emotions are heightened by my tired mind and body, and those first few moments of the day are discouraging. The first few days I was here, I would let those emotions overcome me, and think, oh no I’m not doing any better. It wasn’t about the early morning, it was about the reality of being on a mission. The truth is, each day was a little easier, that sad moment was shorter and shorter through repetition, but it still takes faith to jump out of bed and be on my knees while the clock is still on 6:30. I know with all of the my heart because I have felt the fruits, that the Lord makes my day wonderful from then on. It is like the adversary wants me to stay in bed that morning, so no longer do I acknowledge that "Spiritual morning sickness" and its great because now I don’t even feel it. I had the thought last week; I really like being Elder Calvert. I have been praying and having the most incredible experiences of my life. Countless times we read, ask and ye shall receive. The Lord, in His omniscience will always give when you ask, but in my experience it is not in the exact package you expect to receive it in, but he end result is the exact same.
I was reading in the book of Enos yesterday, and I had a powerful scripture study. The Lord answered my questions through this wonderful story of prayer, and the purity of The Book of Mormon was made evident to me once again. It is more pure than any book on earth. It is the most correct. I love this book. I open it up and read of my friends, I feel the peace of the Holy Ghost, and I am comforted in my struggles. The stories are powerful, and they are true. Read the story of Jesus Christ in his youth in Jesus the Christ. I read a paragraph from that book, and few passages have hit me so hard. I thank President Burnham for his inspired advice in telling me to read that book. It alludes to the growing Savior seeing all of the things he used to teach His parables. Seeing the hen gathering its chicks under her to protect them. From this, and in my time here, I have learned to look around. Look in the profound beauty in something as simple as a growing tree. Look into your past at experiences, and you will see that God has put profound experiences in your life that are your own personal scripture. I am in awe at the omniscience of our Creator, to make our lives answers so simple. The answer is coming unto Christ. I love you all. Thank you so much for your letters. I feel near you, and I’m so grateful to the Lord. 3000 miles away, I feel peace and near you. That is amazing to me. I love you all. Love, Spencer

Week 2- June 16, 2010
A short part of his letter.
Hey family! Well this last week has been great. We’re allowed to go outside for 3 hours on our p-day after going to the Temple and it’s so fun to be with the people. It’s so fun to try to talk to the people. We end up saying “oi” and” tudo bem” over and over and over but it seriously does not get old to see them smile and say it back. The people here are so friendly, and being out with them gave me so much drive to learn the language. Prayers of many are being answered and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for his mercy to me. I’m so thankful for love in my heart, for a family where I learned how to love so tenderly, and for the fullness it brings to my heart when I genuinely care about those around me in Brazil. The COOLEST part is that it doesn’t mean I have to love anyone else less. My capacity to love is increased. After this I am going to go out in the city again, and I am pumped. My time is winding down to write, but I know I am supposed to be here. I know it will not be smooth sailing, but I trust in the Lord with all my heart, I really do. He will provide for me. I love Him so much, and I feel filled with the Spirit as I write this. Love, Spencer

This is the view Spencer sees above him as he climbs into his bed. This is the bottom of the upper bunk.

Week 1- June 9, 2010

Hello Family! Boy Brazil is different than the United States! It didn’t sink in that I was going on a mission until we landed in Brazil. I started feeling supppppper emotional which wasn’t too surprising for me. We got to the MTC, were greeted by the MTC president and his wife(they honestly remind me of grandma and Grandma Calvert), I hug sister Clark every time I see her.) Then we were assigned companions and went through orientation stuff. My companion is Elder Bavender, he is from Denver and he is a really good guy. (He’s the blonde missionary in the picture. I didn’t realize quite how difficult a mission would be. I didn’t feel ready when I was unpacking and wanted to cry/weep/sleep/be in America. Luckily, that feeling went away kind of quick. Over all, the spirit is so present. I need the Holy Ghost now more than I ever have in my life. My district is awesome; they are really, really good elders and sisters in it. We had a mission conference on Sunday morning and I felt the spirit so strong, probably the strongest in my life. Sometimes it is difficult to have faith, but when I am in a class and feeling the spirit, all is well. Portuguese is really pretty and it’s difficult. Today I went to the temple and it was wonderful. As I was struggling to speak, the temple worker was very patient with me while not understanding anything I said. He gave me a squeeze of the hand and a loving pat on the back and it felt so good to feel love for a man who I couldn’t converse with in speaking, but we definitely communicated in that little moment. In closing I’ll give you a few of my favorite moments from the week. 1. Sister Clark asked me in her Czech accent how are you so buff? 2. the Brazilians always call me forte, which means strong. One thought I played in the NFL. 3. The letters and notes in my suitcases. I love you all, I can´t wait to hear from you again. When I get letters I feel close to you. I love you, I pray for you love, Spence

This is our first picture of Spencer in Brazil. We received it by email on Wednesday June 1st, at about noon. It was so exciting, I screamed when I saw him in the picture. He is still wearing the same clothes that he was wearing when we said good-by to him just 24 hours before. It was a long day and night of traveling. This is a picture of his district in the MTC. His companion is the one just in front of him, slightly to the left- I think. President and Sister Clark are the MTC President and his wife. Spencer loves them and gets a hug from Sister Clark as often as he can. I love her too, for loving my precious son. It makes his day!

Spencer leaving Seattle

On Tuesday June 1st, at 11 am. Elder Spencer Wade Calvert left Seattle to fly to Sao Paulo Brazil to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here are a few pictures from at the airport and his setting apart. I was able to put his missionary name tag on him after he was set apart as a missionary, by President Jeffrey Burnham on Monday night.