August 8, 2011

The first picture was a model shot on accident haha!

I am so excited that Adam and Emma are moving to Boston. Boston has quite a large population of Brazilians, and I will be really excited to go visit him. I have been thinking more and more and I am almost a hundred percent positive I will do something with Portuguese in business. I absolutely love this language.

Well this week was very busy. I have never had seen so many problems in one week in my life. There were many problems with missionaries and members in our zone, and I lost quite a bit of sleep thinking about all of it. Because of this, there was more tension between my companion and I, but it strengthened my testimony of the Lord, and the importance of scripture study.

I am studying The Book of Mormon, and I read almost the whole pday. I am touched by the importance of this book. While teaching a man very strong in another faith, my companion gave the following analogy: Imagine you have a single point on a sheet of paper. How many lines can you draw that will cross through that point? It's limitless. He then drew another line and said how many lines can you draw that will cross through both of these points? He compared this to the role of the Book of Mormon and clarifying Bible teachings. It is full of eternal truths, but the purity has been lost through time, translations, and intentional acts of removal. The Book of Mormon leads us to the pure doctrine, clarifying the truth, and confounding the false doctrine. I have thoroughly enjoyed this in depth study, and it has strengthened my testimony about the power of daily reading. What is our family scripture study like right now? Where are you reading? How consistent is it? I urge our family to study everyday. I read out loud with my companion today and we could talk and clarify our doubts(mostly mine). Together we can learn so much. I remember one night at home, we had read chapters in the Book of Mormon in seminary, my personal study, and for family study. I remember thinking "goodness I think this is a little much" but I learned things in that family study that I didn't the other times. My application was different, because my cirmcumstances were different. The scriptures are wonderful because they apply to us through out our lives.

At mission counsel, and Elder asked a question about the interpretation of a scripture. President Martins said, that is certainly A interpretation, but I wouldn't say THE interpretation. He didn't discredit it, but he didn't support it as the only truth. The scriptures are full of answers for every question we have. If any of us lack of wisdom, lets ask of God. The scriptures are full of His words. History is wonderful. I am so grateful that I have two years where I am counseled to only read books that hold the source of eternal truth. I remember thinking that I was missing 2 years of education, but I feel like I am richly feeding upon the words of eternal life. I don't feel like aspects of my mind are being neglected. I know that this is the greatest decision I have made to go on a mission. Please study your scriptures. I know they will help you in your life.

I know that God lives. I trust in His plan and although my mind can't comprehend how, I know we will live with our love ones again. Hold on to that faith you have been raised with and that you have in your heart.

Love, Elder Calvert

August 1, 2011

This last week was great. It is amazing how fast time is going isn't it? I got a letter from Dane and I appreciate him writing so much. Thinking of him has helped me so much on my mission. He has a way of being so funny and making even the worse situation humorous. I am glad he is home and served honorably. Thank you buddy, I love you. I too am excited to be together with all of you boys again soon. Until then, I am trying to do my best here in Brazil.

This past week we prepared Camila to be baptized. Her baptism yesterday was extremely spiritual. I got to sing that primary song that says "Whenever I feel, the rain on my face....". After, Mariana's daughter who is 7 came up to me with this really bashful face, fingers interlocked at with her hands at her waist, and her shoulders raised and thanked me for singing. She told me I have a beautiful voice. Then she started to walk away and ran back and jumped into my arms. Then she said "I thank thee" in a way in Portuguese that is very formal. A few more times, as we were greeting others and congratulating Camila, she continued to thank me. It was so darling.

Friday we did a division with the assistants. I was a good day with my buddy Elder Warner and we were able to help a lot of people. We went to this less actives house and got to know her. She was in the process of moving and very stressed. We felt the Spirit together and gave her a blessing. I saw in her eyes that she was lifted while leaving. We offered to help her move the next day, and she said she would call if she needed help. I was so impressed by the power of the calling we have, to instill enough trust in someone to call a complete stranger and ask for help. I am so grateful she called and as she took our hands and thanked us, I could really feel her gratitude.

Pray for me that I can be better at planning. There is so much work to be done, and I want to do more. Planning has been a weakness of mine.

Today we are in another area in our zone and we did a zone activity. We played, ate pancakes with real syrup and played soccer!!!! We can play now play soccer in our mission, and I scored 4 goals. Also I learned how to do a front handspring. Yesterday I drank a mug rootbeer. Life is seriously good here in Brazil.

I love you all very much. I will continue to pray for Grandpa. Mommy thank you for all that you do for me. Wednesday I will be heading to the office for mission counsel so I will get letters!

July 26, 2011

I just have a few minutes to write. Sorry I didn't write yesterday, I was in São Paulo the whole day. We had an extra hour so we went to this really fancy sushi buffet with all sorts of Japanese dishes. It was incredible. I ate over R$100 in salmon I am sure. The ginger here is even better than in the states.

This past week was wonderful. My companion and I are working so well together, and it is such a blast. I have never appreciated knowledge so much in my life. My companion truly is brilliant, and searching to gain knowledge is so exciting. I feel it in my heart.

We had a baptism on Saturday of the niece of a member of the ward. Her inactive uncle went to church after not going in a long time and he is such a great man. Missionary work is so, so wonderful. I was looking in the mirror and tying my tie on Sunday and thinking about all that would happen that day. I thought of missionaries that went home the last transfer. After 3 or 4 weeks, home is starting to feel a little normal again, and the mission is over and in the past. I believe my mind was opened and I was able to imagine the void that this work will cause in my mind and my heart when it is not such a large part of my everyday. I feel so blessed to be able to serve a mission, to strive to live a daily pattern that begets strong testimonies. My "job description" is to live the gospel, and I have 2 years to saturate my life with attributes and habits, that I can take into the rest of my life.

The conference addresses are scripture. Their messages are perfect for helping others. If we search them, we will be able to help others. All of us, lets strive to be better friends. Loyal friends. Let’s share with others the things we know to be true, not to push our beliefs onto others, but to teach them the principles that they are unaware of. Regardless of knowledge of the word of wisdom, human beings are dying because of health consequences. Beyond this, they are forfeiting blessings from the Lord that would be theirs if they would just live these principles. I believe with all of my heart, that there is peace in righteous doing. I am happy and healthy and alive. This world is tremendously beautiful. Read a good book this week.

Love, Elder Calvert

July 18, 2011

This last week was very busy again but wonderful. We had interviews with President Martins. He is a wonderful man. He talked to my companion and I first, and we talked about the inconsistency in baptisms that we've been having. He went on to instruct us to just forget about numbers. Forget about numbers and just focus on the people, and the numbers will come. I was so happy to hear that. I expressed to him that I don't like pressuring people to do things by "burning" them because I don't believe it works, and he agreed with me. It was just a really supporting interview that made me feel very confident. I did a division with an Elder named Elder Hoshimoto on Friday. He is from the same city as my companion and we spoke in English almost the whole time so he could practice. He taught me some Japanese words too, and it's interesting because it is really similar to Portuguese.

Saturday, we went to an investigators house and I had organized earlier for them to make a birthday cake to celebrate for my companion 7 months and 10 days just to joke around because he said he had never had a party that was for him on his mission. While I had planned that, the same family talked to my companion and said they were going to do a surprise birthday for me. Right before going I had him wait by the entrance of this little store so I could buy something. I said that, "I was embarrassed for him to see", two pens. When we walked in, there was a cake with both of our names on a little notecard saying Happy Birthday. It was a fun visit.

This family is so awesome and so different! Adriana, the woman in the picture loves lifting weights and UFC, as you can see by her replica belt. She has a ton of tattoo's including her “No pain, No gain” tattoo on her forearm to show her love for weightlifting. She is 42. Her daughter is 18 and she is a professional belly dancer. She too is full of tattoos and they are both members of the church that were reactivated recently. Adriana will get married to Luis, who is 26! He fixes electronics and he is absolutely hilarious. We always have a great time together. Adriana punches Luis really hard all of the time, and they all love rock music.

I am doing very well and I had more energy this week. I am learning a lot about organizing and utilizing my time even more right now. I am so grateful to be on my mission. I love all of you at home. Thank you for the prayers. Grandpa I love you.

Love, Elder Calvert

July 12, 2011- Happy Birthday Dad

I am going to write a lot to Dad for his Birthday, but I wanted to let you know that I am doing great here, and loving my companion. This last week was really, really busy, but wonderful. I went to my first mission council on Wednesday, and the power that President Martins communicated through his testimony was fantastic. He has an incredible vision of the work. He doesn’t want many kids to be baptized, and he said he prefers to wait 2 or 3 months and have the whole family baptized then have just one child baptized right now. I respect him a lot because I think it would be very natural for a new mission president to want to baptize a ton of people right now, because he wants to hit the ground running.

On Saturday night, Mariana, our baptismal date said she wasn't sure if she wants to be baptized. We prayed with her and spoke about the opposition that came before the first vision, and everything went smoothly for her baptism on Sunday. The water was really cold and the font had a smell of gas really strong, but it was a peaceful meeting. I have been so tired this last week, so I continue to ask for your prayers of energy.

July 4th

Happy 4th of July! I remembered it today as I was walking to catch a bus with my companion and I broke out in song and sang the entire National Anthem. I remember last year and feeling so much pride, but so much hurt in my heart as well being away from all of you. Honestly, I don't feel pain today. I know that sounds rough, but I can truthfully say I don't want to be anywhere else.

I love Santana and I love doing this work. I love my companion Elder Galvão. We are both equal in our responsibilities. There is no senior or junior zone leader. He is definitely teaching me what to do. Today we had a zone activity where we played volleyball, ate hot dogs, and ate açaí. Açaí is one of the greatest creations ever. My bowl of açaí was huge, and with the hot dogs, it felt 4th of Julyish. Some of the other Sister missionaries in the interior came to our activity as well as another set of elders, so it was a blast with a lot of people. I was able to strengthen and create some new friendships, and that makes me so happy. I think what I love about missionary life is the simplicity. I was talking to Elder Galvão about what is it that makes us the happiest, and it's such little things. We bought TONS of fruit and vegetables, and have been making smoothies everyday for breakfast and it just makes me so happy eating natural foods. Friendships and smiles are a reason to be happy, but in our normal daily routine, sometimes these producers of joy pass us by without us realizing it.

This last week of work was great. I love my companion so much. Our conversations are so rich. We talk about things that are so important, we have religious subjects and questions in our hearts that we discuss and trade ideas. It's so great. The area is coming along, and we will have a baptism this next Sunday. The other Elders that were working here had some people progressing so we are trying to keep this work going. The work is a little bit more exhausting right now, so I really need prayers that I can receive physical strength from the Lord. Saturday I fell asleep and slept for 3 hours on my knees. I believe it was Thursday and my companion and I were walking in the street, and I felt a little tired. I didn't want to open my mouth, and I wasn't being super effective. I reflecting on this emotion the following days, and I thought a lot. I pray I can express this thought to those who read this, because it means a lot to me. Many times in my life, I don't live life to the fullest. I am doing one thing, but thinking about another. I am doing exercises, but thinking about scriptures. I am reading my scriptures, but thinking about leaving the house. I am walking in the street, and thinking about how excited I am to lay on my bed and talk to Elder Galvão and rest. But during my day, and all of our days, we have our daily routine. I have time to do my exercises, study my scriptures, work, and do all of these things, and every night I will return and talk to Elder Galvão resting at night time. All of these things will happen. Independent of where my mind is, I will do exercises, study my scriptures, work, and do all of these things. I have had days where my body was doing these things, but my mind was off thinking about a million other things. I studied scriptures without have anything really enter my heart. Taught a lesson without truly loving the person. I believe that the men who made a great difference in the world, were men who were very involved. They were very involved in all they did, including those ideas and desires they sacrificed to bring about.

In church yesterday, I listened to a talk yesterday of a man named Daurt. I could feel what he said. He was saying all of the right things, but I know he could feel them as well. I felt it in the words he said. He was without guile and the scriptures might describe him. His testimony was powerful, and the Holy Ghost touched my heart as I saw tears in his sincere eyes. I left with a great desire to be better. After lunch, I read in The Book of Mormon for a few minutes and I felt such a desire to share the gospel. I felt the desire to smile at all I saw, for I was happy. My heart killed me when people didn't understand. I wanted to correct them and make them understand, but I swallowed that passion, and tried to make a friend for the church.

We met with President and Sister Martins on Friday and I love them. He jokes around a lot, and has an incredible knowledge of the scriptures. I was so amazing by his knowledge. Sister Martins is a powerful woman, who is great in front of people, and used a private conversation with me to teach my true principles. They are very sharp people. Their daughter, Christina, is here in Brasil as well and is going to start her Junior year of high school online. My President taught us some awesome things about the devotion and faith he learned from his father when they were members of the Catholic church. He told us that we can't make a convert out of everyone we talk to, but you can at least make a friend for the church. He said the church needs more friends. He put to words things that I believe but haven't known exactly how to say. He and his wife communicated a lot of love to us. Sister Martins is like a sweet grandmother. I will see them at mission counsel on Wednesday.

Well I hope you all have a wonderful week. I have been praying for all of you in the struggles I am aware of. I hope that the surgery with Grandpa goes well, and I will be praying for him. I love you all. I'm grateful for our wonderful country. I'm proud to be an American. God bless the USA.

June 27, 2011- Elder Galvao

I don't have tons of time. My email to the President was a little bit longer because President Cooley leaves tomorrow and President Martins will take over. I am very sad to see President and Sister Cooley leave, but I am very very excited about President Martins. I feel very lucky to serve at this time in São Paulo North.

My new companion is named Elder Galvão! He is from the capital of Brasil, Brasilia and I absolutely love him. Before his mission, he worked for the government making sure that school computer labs are up to date and everything is functioning correctly. The same time he was studying at one of the best known universities in Brasil. We have already opened up and connecting very much and we have a very similar point of view about how to do the work. He loves reading and is very smart. He is extremely professional as well, and very, very obedient. He has a powerful testimony about the gospel, and he makes me want to be such a great missionary. I received a testimony in our first few hours together that we are serving together because the Lord wants us to serve together.

I am in a different zone, but in Sorocaba again. My area is awesome and so peaceful. We live on the second floor of this really big house, in this really quiet neighborhood. Studying in the morning we have the window open, sliding doors open to our deck, and I can hear birds chirping and a comfortable wind. It's paradise. We cleaned our whole house today, so I took a shower barefoot without sandals and it felt so, so good. There are a few people that are ready to be baptized here in the next week weeks, but the other areas here need some work. Tonight we are going to bake brownies for the Elders and Sisters tomorrow.

At church on Sunday, as we were walking out of the Sacrament Meeting (first hour) the Elder’s Quorum President came up to us and began talking about divisions he was already planning for us each night this week. Bishop Cruz called us in to talk to us and then we went to Principles of the Gospel class, it was a really organized class. This ward is awesome and really REALLY strong. The attendance is almost 200 on average!

Well we need to go work! On Friday we have a conference to get to know President Martins and it might be at our chapel here in Santana. I love you so much!

Love, Elder Calvert