October 4, 2010- 4 months!

This week had many firsts. I had my first Conference on Friday and it was wonderful. After the meeting, I was able to talk with those who presented the training that we had and I really enjoyed it. We learned about how to use members more in the work and we were introduced to a program about receiving references. The singing was really fun too, I had one leg propped up on a chair to rest my guitar and my other leg was shaking like crazy during my singing. I tried to go up on to my toe, and all sorts of things but it was still shaking like crazy. It went really well though.

I received many many letters and that was so so good too. I love all of the letters from the missionaries, you can absolutely keep sending them. I have so many and I'm going to read one a night. After conference we came home and marked a date with Aguenauldo. He is this awesome man about 30 years old who has this little girl we know (her sister was baptized) stay at his home because her mom is not very stable. She calls him grandpa. He also takes care of his mother who is very sick. He is so so kind. He went to church but had to leave early to go home to take care of his mother. I love talking with him and we're going to go to his home after we finish emailing.

Saturday and Sunday was conference! I watched it in Portuguese, but it was still very good. I will be honest, I was so emotional the first hour of the first session I don't even know what happened. There was a constant stream of tears for an hour as I could hear the English words muffled in the back ground by the louder Portuguese, and thinking of the ears of all of my loved ones hearing the same things. After an hour of sentimental thinking I settled down. I couldn't sup really deep out of all of the talks, because I learned a lot. I look forward to reading them in the Ensign. I loved the music. I think it was the last song or second to last song of the last session that just really touched me. I loved it.

My favorite moment of all of conference was in the Priesthood session (we went and watched it in Sorocaba). I forgot who it was but the first speaker asked all of the missionaries and mission presidents to stand up. In our chapel in Sorocaba the 8 missionaries who were there stood up. I imagined all of the missionaries all around the world standing up at this time. There is such a strength that comes in thinking of the others that are serving with you.

I read a letter from Travy today and I love reading about him and all that's happening. I'd love to have his address. The closing hymn of the Priesthood session was ” Called to Serve” and I felt the Spirit so strong. I saw Creighton Hardy, a friend who lived on the same floor at BYU, like 8 times during the singing. It was awesome to see him. Oh and I loved seeing Mary! Our family doesn't even know her that well, but I just love her and I loved seeing her. My favorite talk was President Uchtdorf's and Dad that is definitely the first one that I want to read. My Bishop is going to download conference in English and put it on my ipod.

We weren't able to teach a ton this week because of 3 days of conference but what we could teach went really well. We are teaching Jamil and Sueli, a couple that we were walking by their home and just starting talking. I was walking close to this wall and rounding the corner and all of a sudden it wasn't a wall but a little front gate and she was standing there so a conversation started and now her husband has received an answer and knows The Book of Mormon is true. We were also walking past the work of a past investigator who called us in and said she wants us to come teach her again. She got engaged and stopped coming to church but I we are going to teach her again and try to teach her fiance as well.

Things are going really well here. I have so much that I want to improve. I am learning how wonderful small and simple things are. I have a few things I do every day, that just take diligence. Looking back, I can see how much those little things have added up to and it's really wonderful.

I was reading The Book of Mormon this morning in English and I learned a wonderful lesson of diligence from Nephi. 1 Nephi 3:7,15 are wonderful. When Elder Bavender's Uncle came, he called verse 7 the principle of anything, and verse 15 the principle of everything. Do everything you have to in order to complete a commandment of God. Nephi demonstrates his faith so well. The first plan, Laman goes in and it fails. His brothers were already ready to quit! How often do we do this? I think sometimes, maybe we were supposed to come here just to learn a principle of diligence. To show we are willing to go where the Lord guides. But no, Nephi understood the principle was not to simply travel, but to accomplish. He comes up with a wonderful idea to make a trade. They return to Laban with most, if not all of the worldly possessions. They were willing to trade it all for faith in a wise purpose of the Lord. Nephi didn't even know the wise purpose, but he trusted in the Lord. What happens? His plan fails. It failed miserably, they lost all of the possessions and Laban tried to kill them all. Imagine how Nephi felt at this time. Do you think he thought this plan was going to fail? No. I imagine he went to the Lord with this plan and believed it would be successful. But it failed. His brothers beat him. An Angel came. Nephi valiantly states that they need to go back again. They return and he continues on alone and all works out. The commandment was not try. The commandment was do. His words were not, I will go and try. His words were I will go and do.

There are many things in our lives that we know we are to do. I am praying to know what is my role to do here in Salta de Pirapora at this time. What is there for me to do? There is something for all of us to do in all times during our lives. Mosiah 8:18 says that "Thus God has provided means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles. Therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." God has provided the means. Man has to provide the obedience and diligence.

Love, Elder Spencer Calvert

And More pictures- Yeah!

Sitting eating Breakfast- Watching the Rain.

Calendars that Spencer Made!

Practicing Today!

September 27, 2010

Hello!

It's amazing how fast time goes here. I am emailing today with 2 other elders from my district. They came to Salta de Pirapora because Elder Lew and I are going to sing at our Zone Conference this Saturday and we needed to practice. We're singing Dream Big and he will play piano and I will play guitar. It will be really fun.

This past week was really good. Serving a mission is so much bigger and grander than I am. I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord and bearing me up. Tuesday morning I got to listen to the EFY CD that Emma sent me. I was so excited to listen to the new songs and feel a little boost of Spiritual energy. The song “Walking in Sunlight” came on and it is my new theme song. I love it. It lifted me in a way that was a gift from our Father. That day it just poured down rain, and we were sharing an umbrella but it was kind of squished so I just walked in the rain and there was an uncontrollably large smile on my face. I was singing the first line of that song over and over "It's a beautiful day, even though it's dark out there". I have listened to that song so many times and every single time it brightens my day. Thank you so much Emma for sending that to me.

This week was pretty normal over all. We're still adjusting to the new transfer, but I feel confident. I study every morning and am reassured by the promises of our Lord in the scriptures to take care of us when we trust in Him. I wanted to share a little story about Sunday night. I was lying in bed and I woke up to what sounded like a bomb. It was a HUGE explosion and it sounded like it was really close. About 2 seconds later I heard what sounded like ashes falling on our rooftop. I got up and realized that it was rain and thunder and lightening. The lightening was every few seconds. It was raining so hard that I really thought it was going to flood, so I had my head lamp in my hands as I was laying there, in case of an emergency. It was kind of funny the next morning, but I was ready if something happened! It's been raining so much but I really do love it. It reminds me of home.

My companion gave me some pictures that he had on his camera so I have a little bit more to talk about.

So this one with me holding the rooster is at an investigators house, Luiz Carlos. He will be baptized when he marks a date to be married and I am holding his rooster Michael Jackson.

This picture with the field in the background, was at an American Football game that we watched a few minutes. It was the first time in his life that my companion had seen Football and it was so so funny to hear all of the Brazilians watching- ohh and ahh and be so confused.

This last one with 3d glasses was because Sueli, the grandma of Samira wanted me to take a picture with them. Okay!

September 20, 2010

Hello! It is so good to read your emails and hear what is going on. I love emails so much. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to talk to you once a week. Well this week was full of new things. My new companions name is Elder Cavalcante. He is from Fortaleza. I really like him, but there are always going to be different adjustments to living with a new person.

When I got back to our house, I was so caught up in the newness of a transfer that I think I emotionally forgot Elder Schoen was leaving. I felt a similar ache that I felt in my heart when I said bye to you all in June, it was nuts but I feel better now.) It has been such an awesome experience having this switch though. It's been a potentially painful learning curve but it's been awesome. I have never made so much progress in one week than this last week. My ability in all things is improving. I have so, so much I want to get better at, and I hate the idea of doing something wrong but so much of missionary work you have to learn from experience. Elder Schoen taught me so much, and I'm so, so grateful for his example.

I have already learned from Elder Cavalcante as well. He is a great teacher. So we have knocked 4 doors together, taught 3 first lessons, marked 2 return visits, and challenged 2 people to baptism. The other work has been appointments we planned on but that will just give you an idea of how much the Lord really is guiding our efforts. The thing with the work here is it is relatively slow. I think it is really easy to get selfish and desire to reap the fruits of the work yourself(baptizing) and in doing this you can disregard those that need your help progressing (maybe baptized in 2 transfers). I just love love- love this work. Truthfully I'm not always giddy with excitement about it, but I have moments everyday where I just want to shout "I'm doing it!"

I had one of the greatest days of my mission yesterday. I will share the full details because it was so, so special. Yesterday morning I had severe case of "missionary morning sickness" as we discussed earlier where I just really miss you guys, and I was just getting exhausted by this feeling. I have it often, and I'm trying to just disregard it because I know it will go away eventually but it's so, so consuming when I feel bummed about it. So in church our Gospel Principles Teacher wasn't there we started teaching but there were lots of words I hadn't used. Basically I spoke in a lot of Portuguese circles for a while. It was really frustrating. (thunder just cracked so loud here, it was sweeeeeet). Then a sister asked us to give her grandchild a blessing and I stumbled over the words. So then, we were sitting in Sacrament Meeting, I was writing down a few thoughts, when I got a note from the Bishop and he asked me to sing a hymn and check "yes" or "sim" (meaning yes in Portuguese) after the Sacrament. I talked to him after and he said he just felt like he needed to ask me. I sang Grandioso Es Tu or How Great Thou Art and I just loved it. I felt really really strong singing it, and it lifted me so much.

After we went to Luis Carlos' house for lunch, and him (30 years old or so) and his cousins were singing and clapping and dancing and doing these Brazilian things and I didn't want to at first but then I went for it and it was wonderful. I'm learning things I really can't type, but Dad you once wrote to me about those who go through the motions in the gym. So many people really do that in life as well. All of us do it in aspects of ours lives. But oh how much better life is if you really go for things.

I have felt so so much love from the investigators this week. I was sharing a spiritual thought on Thursday after Elder Schoen left at a members house, and got emotional during it. After the father of the house said quietly to me that if I never need anything that I can always talk to him. We ended up going back that night to eat dessert with them after they had come with us to an investigators house. Another Irmao in the ward took me aside and said he is always there for me too. Goodness gracious I really am a "blue" when it comes to the “color code”. I am loving my ward here so much, and I'm really excited to work with the members more. In my mind, I thought this week was a little rough, but truthfully it was wonderful. It had a lot of challenges, a LOT, but I feel really good looking back at it. I am excited for this next week, and the work that we will do here in Salto de Pirapora.

I will be able to watch general conference in English! I cannot wait, I'm so so excited to hear the prophets words. I love you all so much. I pray for you everyday. Pray for me as well.

Love, Elder Spencer Wade Calvert

September 13, 2010

This last week was really wonderful. Thursday I had my first real division. I was with Elder Dornelles, and it was such a great experience. I have a much better ability to understand and communicate then I think, but I do this thing in my mind where I start thinking about something that they say and stop listening in that moment in the conversation, but it's okay because I know I can rely on Elder Schoen. With a Brazilian, I had to stay engaged the whole time, and when I do it I can understand and communicate and everything is great. It was kind of funny, a couple times during the day I was so excited that I could understand, that I would think "Oh my goodness I'm doing it!" and then I would miss something and be a little lost again. But all is well! We gave a blessing while knocking some doors in a neighborhood we teach a lot, and we marked a date for baptism that day.

The next day, Friday, was one of my most favorite days of my mission. Pilar do Sul is an area in my district that opened up in the middle of the transfer. It had been closed for like 4 months and the missionaries there are having a hard time getting it going so Elder Schoen and I went to have 4 missionaries there that day. I was talking to Elder Schoen and it worked out so Elder Otterstrom and I, us combined with 4 months on our mission when out together. So it was two americans going out and teaching and it was so good! We said a prayer that we could find the people that the Lord has prepared for us, and it was truly a miracle. We saw an older woman and a little boy moving a piece of furniture into their house, and we asked if we could help. We talked for a bit outside and we were asked to come in and share a message. They accepted. We began teaching the older woman and her neighbor who was there as well. We challenged her to baptism and she accepted. She suggested going to church! She was like "I'll make a visit this week!" Then as we were talking her daughter walked into the home. She asked for a Book of Mormon and said she had already read lots of it. I was doing the baptismal commitment to her and said "when you pray and receive and answer..." and she said "I already know it is true." She will be baptized. She didn't accept a date, because she is waiting for her husband to soften his heart. She said "it would be so much more beautiful for 2 people to be baptized."

Saturday Samira was baptized and it was really nice. The Spirit was very strong. I sang Sim, eu te seguirei, Lord I will follow thee I think is the name in English. I love love love singing here in Brazil. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to sing in Men's Chorus. (Mommy can you find the address of Sister Hall at BYU so I can write her a letter? Did Jen make Concert Choir/try out for BYU Singer?? Did Zackary or Chase try out for Men's Chorus?)

If we can tap into the Lord's will, we will have so much success. How many people are there like Rosa, who had already read The Book of Mormon in Salta de Pirapora, that just need to be found. Elder Schoen and I have been thinking and pondering and praying about our finding efforts. I know that each of us has a specific calling to do in our lives. I think that often we feel very overwhelmed with how much there is before us to do, but what a blessing it is to have the ambition and the desire to accomplish these things. Imagine how boring our lives would be without the direction and drive we feel to improve ourselves. I am so grateful for this transfer and all I've learned from Elder Schoen. I love him so much. We are expecting a call in the next little bit about transfers, and I really can't believe how fast this first transfer went. I am expecting him to leave as there will be a lot of vacancies in mission leadership and he would be wonderful. I will let you know what happens next week! I love you all so so much! Thank you for your letters! I received mission ties letters from Jenny and addresses from you Mommy. Jen thanks for those letters and the pictures! I love them. I think a coupel letters are in the mail for you. I love you all so so so much. Keep me in your prayers. I pray for you!

We just got called, Elder Schoen is getting transferred! I feel good and peaceful but please pray for this next transition.

September 6

This last week was so, so, so good. Elder Schoen had training from Tuesday until Friday so everyday I went on a division with 2 other Elder. All together we had 9 months on our mission so we were all very new and I just loved it. Elder Schoen has taught me so so much and I need him everyday, but I can do a little more than I thought! I loved it. Elder Soares, the brazilian elder had me sing at every single house. I probably "sang" 20 lessons, where I would sing a hymn and we would talk about it. I love it so, so much. At first I was nervous but now I just love it. I had a wonderful experience praying for the ability to sing with the Spirit, and it was felt so strongly in the homes. It is so interesting the way the Lord works.

I have been thinking about BYU starting this week, and it was been a little tough. I heard BYU won and I was so pumped! Please give me updates each week. I really want to hear what is going on with BYU football. I've especially thought of Men's Chorus and hearing Sister Hall's sweet voice say something kind of sassy to us, but I am still in the Men's Chorus, I'm just singing in Brazil! The power of music is so wonderful, I really do love it. Music is such a universal thing, and there are not many people in the world who don't like music, so it's wonderful.

We also rode the bus a lot this last week going into Sorocaba for the training, I had a lot of opportunities to talk to people on the bus. Some mornings I really wouldn't feel like it because it's scary to just initiate a conversation when I'm not super super comfortable with Portuguese but I would pray to have a good experience and every single time I did! One of them came to church this Sunday and we're going to teach him after. He believes in God, not the Bible, and not in Jesus Christ. His dad passed away a few years ago and we're going to teach The Plan of Salvation today so I'm really excited. I think it will be really powerful.

Transfers are next week! Already a transfer is gone! I really, really hope I can stay with Elder Schoen another transfer. We get along really, really, really, really well. I love him. Sunday we had an awesome miracle happen. Saturday we went to a ward activity which as a lunch to start a fast all together, and then after we taught a few lessons and then had to go to Sorocaba so Elder Schoen could do an interview. We got kind of lost and ended up coming back really late so we couldn't contact all of the people we were hoping to for church on Sunday. We got to church and had 5 investigators there, but we both were a little bummed. Then right before Sacrament Meeting (last hour here) we were shaking hands and found out that because of a baby blessing we had 14 non members at church. Our goal for that week was 14, and it was an awesome tender mercy from the Lord in helping us.

I learned an amazing lesson about burdens this week. Mosiah 23 I think talks about how the Lord can make our burdens light. This means we won't be able to feel them, but it doesn't mean that the burden is gone. The last few verses in that chapter talk about the Lord taking the burden away. The peace is the same in both circumstances, but one is because the Lord is making it light, the other is because the burden is gone. The burden being light is sometimes a little uncomfortable and scary because the situation is still the same. We are still "in" the trial although we cannot feel it but the wonderful thing is we know how dependent we are on the Lord. It shows us our proper relationship with the Lord. It is when the burden is gone, that we risk being prideful and falling into sin. I am learning how to walk with the Lord. In Isaiah it speaks of the Lord walking with us by the hand. I am doing that everyday. I love you all so, so much. I pray for you everyday. I will send some pictures in another email so this one isn't deleted. I love you all! Love, Elder Calvert