Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Back in the day
Oi!
I am glad to see you are still reading this! o.o This last week was a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. Elder Bybee and myself worke really hard and were able to baptize two people on Sunday with several more plans for the next two weeks. We mae it our goal to get all of the mission standards of excellence, and we did! It was amazing to see what a little running and a lot of focus can do! Elder Bybee will be leaving for the airport to go home tomorrow and I am sad to see him go. We have learned so much together and he is such a great missionary that I feel honored to have worked with him. I have a good while a hea of me and I only can hope to get to where he is. As he is leaving and I am not, I will be recievin a new companion tomorrow and I just found out who he is. Because Elder Bybee´s group has a strange departure date, I will only be with him for two weeks. I will be the senior companion because he is 18 and preparing for a mission! This should be interesting! I am excited and looking forwar to yet another challenge.
This week was not all work and no fun however. We had dinner last Wednesday and I asked the host what were his best memories or something to that effect, and he said his children and then he talked about his drinking days before the Church. I din´t quite mean for the lesson to go that way... :)
Also, while I was walking back with the people from my house after a meeting, I was walking in the gutter and a car came by adn the guy kinda hit me with his arm. I was more suprised then anything. I laugh about it now. I can only imagine his thought process. ´´Driving along. Punch missionary. Unnecessarily yell at him. Continue as normal.´´ :P
I hope everyone who is reading this has a Merry Little Christmas and tries to remember that the true spirit of Christmas is giving and remembering our Lord. I love you.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
I am glad to see you are still reading this! o.o This last week was a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. Elder Bybee and myself worke really hard and were able to baptize two people on Sunday with several more plans for the next two weeks. We mae it our goal to get all of the mission standards of excellence, and we did! It was amazing to see what a little running and a lot of focus can do! Elder Bybee will be leaving for the airport to go home tomorrow and I am sad to see him go. We have learned so much together and he is such a great missionary that I feel honored to have worked with him. I have a good while a hea of me and I only can hope to get to where he is. As he is leaving and I am not, I will be recievin a new companion tomorrow and I just found out who he is. Because Elder Bybee´s group has a strange departure date, I will only be with him for two weeks. I will be the senior companion because he is 18 and preparing for a mission! This should be interesting! I am excited and looking forwar to yet another challenge.
This week was not all work and no fun however. We had dinner last Wednesday and I asked the host what were his best memories or something to that effect, and he said his children and then he talked about his drinking days before the Church. I din´t quite mean for the lesson to go that way... :)
Also, while I was walking back with the people from my house after a meeting, I was walking in the gutter and a car came by adn the guy kinda hit me with his arm. I was more suprised then anything. I laugh about it now. I can only imagine his thought process. ´´Driving along. Punch missionary. Unnecessarily yell at him. Continue as normal.´´ :P
I hope everyone who is reading this has a Merry Little Christmas and tries to remember that the true spirit of Christmas is giving and remembering our Lord. I love you.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Dont Stop 'til ya drop
Drum roll please! ... (drum roll) ... HI!
I just wanted to get you excited. I hope you have had a great week because I know I have. I am getting better and better at the language, better and better at teaching, and better and better at losing myself and going to work. Time already seems to be flying by for me out here. Early this week, for example, I just passed the 4 month mark. How crazy is that? That means I only have like 20 more to go! :P Last Wednesday felt like yesterday, and days are already starting to blur together. Elder Bybee, my companion, trainer, and friend, is going home one week from today so this will be our last full week working together. I am really said to see him go because we have learned so much together. He truly is a great missionary and a great man. We have had such good times together. It is weird for me that as I finish my training, he finishes his service. But we just feel as if the lord is blessing him so much for his service. We have two promised and three possible baptisms this week and almost all of them were just kind of dumped in our lap. Fernando, one of our investigators, stopped us on the street and asked to talk with us, found our home when he was late to the meeting to reschedule, has read Jesus the Christ, the Book of Mormon, the Teachings of Joseph F. Smith, and Principles of the Gospel, and has already been to church with his daughter who also wants to be baptized. Any question he had, he quickly accepted our response, and his only problem was with drinking of coffee. I talked about how we could talk about how it is addictive, not a cure of headaches, but a cause, its ill effects for the heart, but none of this is truly important. What we need to know for ourselves is whether Joseph Smith really was a prophet when he received this revelation or not. If he was, and I testify that he truly was called of God, then this is a commandment and we must keep it. He said that he would stop without problem and I look forward to seeing him on Sunday.
Another of our investigators was so funny when we talked about marking the baptism for this Sunday. We explained to her that each week we report on who might be baptized. She slammed her fist into her hand and said ´´Promised!´´ and told us to tell our zone that. So we did to everyone´s amusement :) Another investigator that we reported this week posed a problem because we forgot her name. So in the meeting we called her Neighbora because she was a member´s neighbor. This brought endless amusement to the Americans and confusion to the Brazilians. We´re so funny :).
For one of lunches this week we went to a churrascaria with the First Counselor of the ward. Now for those of you who do not know what that is, imagine a Brazilian steak house with an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet where fancy waiters walk around bringing you different kinds of meat to sample and there is a dessert table with cinnamon pineapple. I know right? This divine present needless to say did not go un-wasted. I believe I ate more meat then than at any other time in my life. It hurt so good. The problem was that we literally felt sick for the next two days and we could barely walk. I wrote in my notebook ´´I never want to feel this way again.´´ Close quote.
We were at the house of the family that we baptized last week for dinner when the mother said ´´Fatty.´´ We didn’t know what she was referring to so Elder Bybee asked if she was talking to him :( Then Paulo, her son, said that they should name the cat after Elder Bybee. We were all laughing so hard. And then when we were waiting for the bus to return home, Paulo thought it would be a good idea to fence with umbrellas and Elder Bybee eventually responded after being poked several times. They went back and forth for a bit when Elder Bybee tossed his umbrella in the air to distract Paulo and just charged him. Paulo ended up on the ground with Elder Bybee´s knee on his stomach. The results replaced the air around them with something of a smellier variety. They both ran away laughing. Thought you guys would enjoy that one.
At the start of the mission I was constantly fighting between what I wanted to do and what I should be doing. I would think of home, of sports, of video games, of pretty much everything but the MTC. As I have turned more and more of myself over to the work, I feel my character being replaced with attributes and talents I never expected. As I serve and learn more and more, I feel myself becoming a tool that the Lord can actually use to bring about his purposes. I just had to decide whether I constantly wanted to think in opposition ot what I was doing or if I wanted my actions and thoughts to be unified. As I line my will with that of what I am expected to do, I find myself happier and more successful. I decided that this where I want and need to be so I needed to change my wants and needs to match. If you are finding yourself ´´out-of-synch´´ with your surroundings I invite you to look inside and find out why. Either change your environment to match what is inside or change what is inside to match your environment. It is the only way to be at peace and happy with what is around you and what is happening. Prevent this constant struggle because it is the only intelligent thing to do. I just wanted to express my extreme thanks for every person who has sent me a card or package. I have tried to keep every written word and you are in my hearts and in my prayers.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
I just wanted to get you excited. I hope you have had a great week because I know I have. I am getting better and better at the language, better and better at teaching, and better and better at losing myself and going to work. Time already seems to be flying by for me out here. Early this week, for example, I just passed the 4 month mark. How crazy is that? That means I only have like 20 more to go! :P Last Wednesday felt like yesterday, and days are already starting to blur together. Elder Bybee, my companion, trainer, and friend, is going home one week from today so this will be our last full week working together. I am really said to see him go because we have learned so much together. He truly is a great missionary and a great man. We have had such good times together. It is weird for me that as I finish my training, he finishes his service. But we just feel as if the lord is blessing him so much for his service. We have two promised and three possible baptisms this week and almost all of them were just kind of dumped in our lap. Fernando, one of our investigators, stopped us on the street and asked to talk with us, found our home when he was late to the meeting to reschedule, has read Jesus the Christ, the Book of Mormon, the Teachings of Joseph F. Smith, and Principles of the Gospel, and has already been to church with his daughter who also wants to be baptized. Any question he had, he quickly accepted our response, and his only problem was with drinking of coffee. I talked about how we could talk about how it is addictive, not a cure of headaches, but a cause, its ill effects for the heart, but none of this is truly important. What we need to know for ourselves is whether Joseph Smith really was a prophet when he received this revelation or not. If he was, and I testify that he truly was called of God, then this is a commandment and we must keep it. He said that he would stop without problem and I look forward to seeing him on Sunday.
Another of our investigators was so funny when we talked about marking the baptism for this Sunday. We explained to her that each week we report on who might be baptized. She slammed her fist into her hand and said ´´Promised!´´ and told us to tell our zone that. So we did to everyone´s amusement :) Another investigator that we reported this week posed a problem because we forgot her name. So in the meeting we called her Neighbora because she was a member´s neighbor. This brought endless amusement to the Americans and confusion to the Brazilians. We´re so funny :).
For one of lunches this week we went to a churrascaria with the First Counselor of the ward. Now for those of you who do not know what that is, imagine a Brazilian steak house with an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet where fancy waiters walk around bringing you different kinds of meat to sample and there is a dessert table with cinnamon pineapple. I know right? This divine present needless to say did not go un-wasted. I believe I ate more meat then than at any other time in my life. It hurt so good. The problem was that we literally felt sick for the next two days and we could barely walk. I wrote in my notebook ´´I never want to feel this way again.´´ Close quote.
We were at the house of the family that we baptized last week for dinner when the mother said ´´Fatty.´´ We didn’t know what she was referring to so Elder Bybee asked if she was talking to him :( Then Paulo, her son, said that they should name the cat after Elder Bybee. We were all laughing so hard. And then when we were waiting for the bus to return home, Paulo thought it would be a good idea to fence with umbrellas and Elder Bybee eventually responded after being poked several times. They went back and forth for a bit when Elder Bybee tossed his umbrella in the air to distract Paulo and just charged him. Paulo ended up on the ground with Elder Bybee´s knee on his stomach. The results replaced the air around them with something of a smellier variety. They both ran away laughing. Thought you guys would enjoy that one.
At the start of the mission I was constantly fighting between what I wanted to do and what I should be doing. I would think of home, of sports, of video games, of pretty much everything but the MTC. As I have turned more and more of myself over to the work, I feel my character being replaced with attributes and talents I never expected. As I serve and learn more and more, I feel myself becoming a tool that the Lord can actually use to bring about his purposes. I just had to decide whether I constantly wanted to think in opposition ot what I was doing or if I wanted my actions and thoughts to be unified. As I line my will with that of what I am expected to do, I find myself happier and more successful. I decided that this where I want and need to be so I needed to change my wants and needs to match. If you are finding yourself ´´out-of-synch´´ with your surroundings I invite you to look inside and find out why. Either change your environment to match what is inside or change what is inside to match your environment. It is the only way to be at peace and happy with what is around you and what is happening. Prevent this constant struggle because it is the only intelligent thing to do. I just wanted to express my extreme thanks for every person who has sent me a card or package. I have tried to keep every written word and you are in my hearts and in my prayers.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Brazilian Thanksgiving
HELLO!
I am super excited to write all of you this week! I hope your week has been wonderful! I just took a 90 minute nap so I am still a little out of it, but I will try to do my best.
As you all know, last week was Thanksgiving so my companion and I tried to do it American Style. We were having Zone interviews with the President that day so two of the districts were going to be in our chapel already. To prepare for this grand feast we got carrots, corn, beans, potatoes, gravy and stuffing (thanks Mom), chicken (because turkey is super expensive and takes forever to cook), and Elder Bybee, Elder Duffy and I made a pie. I was in charge of the crust and I have to say it turned out quite nicely. I learned how to cut butter into flour which was fun. They were in charge of the filling. After it was all put together, Elder Duffy and I decided to paint the top with egg yolk and milk to make it look all fancy. When it was done, Elder Duffy tried to take it out of the oven with his hand. I don’t know if the skin flavoring was really needed :). Sister Tanner, the president´s wife, sad she wasn’t worried about us eating well after that.
One day this week, I was pretty sure we were in for a second flood. There was literally a river in front of our house that we had to wade across in our garbage bag ponchos. I was swimming in my leather shoes! In the morning all the trash on the street had moved down stream and ended up in front of our house.
A family that we have been working with for almost two months now was just baptized. It was a wonderful experience. Every time we had talked about how the mom was feeling about baptism, she would always reply ´´I don’t know´´ so we decided to proceed as if she going to be baptized on that Sunday. The last time we asked her how she was feeling, she said ´´At peace.´´ The baptism itself is definitely note worthy. When we were prepping the font we realized that we did not have the baptismal clothes because the other ward had just used them. So we had to use the white clothes from the house and leftovers from the other Elders´ ward. The mother ended up in one two times to big and blew up like a puffer fish in the water. My pants, on the other hand, were from a Brazilian Elder who is about 5´6´´ and 150. Needless to say they were a little tight. To the point that the ladies of the ward thought I was gonna rip them. After we exited the font it was even worse. Fun times! The gospel has really changed this family for the better and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it. We are still trying to help the father keep the Sabbath so that he might be baptized, but he has work that is very hard to leave. He has such a strong desire to be baptized that I know it will work out.
We have one investigator we are preparing to be baptized this Sunday whose English teacher is a member of our ward. She always has really in depth and deep questions that are at times difficult to answer. What has been a true testimony builder for me is that every question she has had, one of just studied within the last two weeks. She had one question about agency that I had struggled with for a long time that I had literally resolved a couple days earlier. I feel as if a hand is guiding my study so that I study what will help others the most. I had another instance of this last Sunday when the teacher asked me if I knew where a scripture was. I had never studied that scripture before in my entire life until that weekend and was able to help him just when we needed it.
This week I have been studying the Christ like Attributes and I was especially touched about the importance of hope. We always need to be hoping for a better world, always believing that people can improve. When we have the expectation that when we do our part we will receive, we will receive. When we have hope, we have confidence and faith in what we are doing. Doubt and fear are traitors that stop us from achieving what we could if only we believed that we could. Always believe that things can change for the good, work to realize that good, and then it will happen. What we want is what we receive. I love you all so much and you are in my prayers. I hope that you “hope” this week and for the rest of your lives.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
More Pictures!:)
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Que Cool
Bom Dia!
Como voce esta hoje? Voce esta animado! Perfeito! Yes, it is Elder Healy writing all you beautiful people once again to give you a peek into my exciting life as a missionary! Ok, well my life as a missionary. This last week was a little slow and a little discouraging, but we have high hopes for this next one.
So some funny things happened this week. Some background, when we teach the restoration we talk about how the primitive church of Jesus Christ was founded on three pillars: 1 prophet, 12 apostles, and authority. We also talk about a pillar of light in the Joseph Smith story.
We asked an investigator to recount this week what happened to Joseph Smith when he prayed, and she thought that he found one of the pillars in the grass, but what we had really said was that he kneeled in the grass... anyways it was really funny in the moment.
One of my days was a pretty clutsy day. When we asked for a cup of water, I spilled all down my front and Elder Bybee and the investigator were on the verge of laughing. Another time, a bee landed on my face and I did a 360 spin dodge move, but it was in the middle of the street and my companion was doing a contact so I looked like an idiot. We walked by a man who was painting his truck with white paint. Elder Bybee asked if he would paint me, lol. The guy said, ´´No no, he’s too white already.´´ I can´t say he is wrong.
Another funny thing is that little kids always ask us what time it is because they want to hear us butcher the language. We just show them our watches. Take that! Just kidding!
I learned this week that Bible comes from the word library because it is a compilation of multiple books.
I read that for everything we suffer in the service we will be repaid 100 fold. We don’t have fabric softener so I am expecting some pretty soft robes later on. :)
I learned that a leader is internal and that the title is only the recognition of what is already there.
I learned that every situation has something to learn from.
Love you guys.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Como voce esta hoje? Voce esta animado! Perfeito! Yes, it is Elder Healy writing all you beautiful people once again to give you a peek into my exciting life as a missionary! Ok, well my life as a missionary. This last week was a little slow and a little discouraging, but we have high hopes for this next one.
So some funny things happened this week. Some background, when we teach the restoration we talk about how the primitive church of Jesus Christ was founded on three pillars: 1 prophet, 12 apostles, and authority. We also talk about a pillar of light in the Joseph Smith story.
We asked an investigator to recount this week what happened to Joseph Smith when he prayed, and she thought that he found one of the pillars in the grass, but what we had really said was that he kneeled in the grass... anyways it was really funny in the moment.
One of my days was a pretty clutsy day. When we asked for a cup of water, I spilled all down my front and Elder Bybee and the investigator were on the verge of laughing. Another time, a bee landed on my face and I did a 360 spin dodge move, but it was in the middle of the street and my companion was doing a contact so I looked like an idiot. We walked by a man who was painting his truck with white paint. Elder Bybee asked if he would paint me, lol. The guy said, ´´No no, he’s too white already.´´ I can´t say he is wrong.
Another funny thing is that little kids always ask us what time it is because they want to hear us butcher the language. We just show them our watches. Take that! Just kidding!
I learned this week that Bible comes from the word library because it is a compilation of multiple books.
I read that for everything we suffer in the service we will be repaid 100 fold. We don’t have fabric softener so I am expecting some pretty soft robes later on. :)
I learned that a leader is internal and that the title is only the recognition of what is already there.
I learned that every situation has something to learn from.
Love you guys.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Let the Rain Fall Down
Derp Derpity Derp,
It is really strange to be sitting in an internet cafe in a foreign country expressing your feelings while people around you are playing Farmville and looking at YouTube soccer reels. It’s that whole in the world, but not of the world thing going on right now.
Anyways... this week was pretty wet as my title is hinting at. Literally we had to walk up several streets of where our appointment was to find a spot to ford the river. It was pretty ridiculous. One day after I took off my leather shoes I realized that the black socks and black leather had lost some coloring and had dyed my feet black. I scrubbed in the shower that night for quite a while to no avail. They are still a little tinted even today. I also realized that having only one or two pairs of pants that are machine washable means that I only have one or two pairs to wear when it rains. The problem lies in the fact that the rain here is pretty scattered and come quite unexpectedly so I don’t know when to bring an umbrella and the proper pants or not. For example, we were walking down the road and everyone was just sitting calmly outside their houses enjoying a beautiful day. Then terror spread like a flood across their faces preshadowing what was to come. Everyone ran from the street as if from the plague, everyone except us. We just turned to look at each other and the only thought that crossed my mind was ´´What the Heck?´´ And then it began. It was as if the heavens themselves had opened and we were looking forward to emersion without an ark for safety. By the time we had gotten our umbrellas open we were soaked and laughing. And within five minutes it had stopped. Good times.
It is really interesting to see how some people are so prepared to accept the message and others are so resistant. We just met this one man this week who set up an appointment from just a street contact. When we invited him to be baptized he accepted and said he will prepare himself. What an elect! Even when we explained to him the Word of Wisdom he did not seem to be put off even though there were empty beer cans on the counter. :) We taught another person the same day who when invited to be baptized could not understand why he needed to be baptized again even though we explained it to him several times. The contrast was night and day.
Some exciting news is that two missionaries from my district in Provo just arrived to the field. DRUM ROLL PLEASE! Elder Duffy and Elder Hielner! Yeah! AND, they are in my zone! I am so excited for next meeting to find out what I missed and what is going on with them. I can´t wait to swap stories about our experiences so far. They are both going to be leaders, I am sure of it. I’m so excited!
Some of you have been asking me if you are allowed to send me pictures via email. I have not read or heard anything to the contrary so feel free! Also, my siblings are allowed to send me emails and I am going to ask about more extended family. So I am expecting an email Nate! Also, the secretaries called me and said that I had a package sent to the Sao Paulo MTC and it would cost me $76 to retrieve. The problem is I am a missionary so do not have much spending money, and I do not live in Sao Paulo. In the future please try to send it to the Mission Home for the Campinas Brazil Mission and also please see my previous letters to learn how to prevent charges and theft of packages. Thanks!
One person in our house was transferred this week and he was really sad, so we bought him a dessert pizza. I found out that this means just pizza dough, chocolate, cheese, and crème. The problem was that I had just eaten dinner two hours before and after eating the pizza I felt quite ill. But he felt better! What I sacrifice for my fellow Elders, lol.
I hope you guys have a truly marvelous week and try to improve every day. If you ever have any questions that I can answer, just let me know. Until we meet again. d-(O.O)z
Come on really,
Elder Healy
It is really strange to be sitting in an internet cafe in a foreign country expressing your feelings while people around you are playing Farmville and looking at YouTube soccer reels. It’s that whole in the world, but not of the world thing going on right now.
Anyways... this week was pretty wet as my title is hinting at. Literally we had to walk up several streets of where our appointment was to find a spot to ford the river. It was pretty ridiculous. One day after I took off my leather shoes I realized that the black socks and black leather had lost some coloring and had dyed my feet black. I scrubbed in the shower that night for quite a while to no avail. They are still a little tinted even today. I also realized that having only one or two pairs of pants that are machine washable means that I only have one or two pairs to wear when it rains. The problem lies in the fact that the rain here is pretty scattered and come quite unexpectedly so I don’t know when to bring an umbrella and the proper pants or not. For example, we were walking down the road and everyone was just sitting calmly outside their houses enjoying a beautiful day. Then terror spread like a flood across their faces preshadowing what was to come. Everyone ran from the street as if from the plague, everyone except us. We just turned to look at each other and the only thought that crossed my mind was ´´What the Heck?´´ And then it began. It was as if the heavens themselves had opened and we were looking forward to emersion without an ark for safety. By the time we had gotten our umbrellas open we were soaked and laughing. And within five minutes it had stopped. Good times.
It is really interesting to see how some people are so prepared to accept the message and others are so resistant. We just met this one man this week who set up an appointment from just a street contact. When we invited him to be baptized he accepted and said he will prepare himself. What an elect! Even when we explained to him the Word of Wisdom he did not seem to be put off even though there were empty beer cans on the counter. :) We taught another person the same day who when invited to be baptized could not understand why he needed to be baptized again even though we explained it to him several times. The contrast was night and day.
Some exciting news is that two missionaries from my district in Provo just arrived to the field. DRUM ROLL PLEASE! Elder Duffy and Elder Hielner! Yeah! AND, they are in my zone! I am so excited for next meeting to find out what I missed and what is going on with them. I can´t wait to swap stories about our experiences so far. They are both going to be leaders, I am sure of it. I’m so excited!
Some of you have been asking me if you are allowed to send me pictures via email. I have not read or heard anything to the contrary so feel free! Also, my siblings are allowed to send me emails and I am going to ask about more extended family. So I am expecting an email Nate! Also, the secretaries called me and said that I had a package sent to the Sao Paulo MTC and it would cost me $76 to retrieve. The problem is I am a missionary so do not have much spending money, and I do not live in Sao Paulo. In the future please try to send it to the Mission Home for the Campinas Brazil Mission and also please see my previous letters to learn how to prevent charges and theft of packages. Thanks!
One person in our house was transferred this week and he was really sad, so we bought him a dessert pizza. I found out that this means just pizza dough, chocolate, cheese, and crème. The problem was that I had just eaten dinner two hours before and after eating the pizza I felt quite ill. But he felt better! What I sacrifice for my fellow Elders, lol.
I hope you guys have a truly marvelous week and try to improve every day. If you ever have any questions that I can answer, just let me know. Until we meet again. d-(O.O)z
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Count your many Blessings
How you doing?
I hope you all have had a wonderful week and learned something new. I know I have. I just wanted to let you guys know that I always pray for you and am so appreciative of the letters, packages, and emails I receive from you. There really is nothing like hearing about what is going on with you guys or getting some sour patch kids. It just feels great.
I really enjoyed writing my last how to guide so I think I am going to try and write them as much as I can.
Elder Healy´s Guide to Contacting (Disclaimer: I am pretty bad at contacting so take my advice with a grain of salt :P)
1. Call to them from about 3-4 meters away so that you don’t stiff arm them when you go for a hand shake.
2. Offer your hand to function as an anchor and have your companion move into wall formation. This makes escape near impossible.]
3. Ask them how their day is going. This breaks the ice.
4. Introduce yourself, ask for their name to make it more personal and not a verbal assault, and ask if they have spoken with missionaries before.
5. If they respond yes, see if they have been visited before.
6. If yes to line 5, ask if we can visit them again. React accordingly to response.
7. If no to line 5, ask if we can share a message with them. React accordingly to response.
8. If no to line 4, explain that we are here to share a very special message. Our message is about:
1. Jesus Christ (Default)
2. The love our Heavenly Father has for us (if they seem discouraged)
3. Families can live together forever (if they have kids with them)
4. The true church (if they are adamant about all Churches are equal)
9. If they say they have their religion, explain that our message is independent of religion and is going to bless them.
10. Get their address and promise to visit in the future.
*These guides are just my personal guidelines that I use unless otherwise directed by the Spirit. They are not to be taken out of context.
Also, in case you are wondering what my diet is going to be every day.
1 liter milk
2 eggs
2 pieces of whole wheat bread
2 bananas
1 apple
1 kiwi
1 carrot
1 Popsicle
1 cup of yogurt
1 cup of juice
3 spoons of protein powder
1 multi vitamin
Lots of water
Rice
Beans
Beef
1 treat
1 bowl of oatmeal
This week was stellar and jammed full of spiritual experiences. It solidified for me where I need to improve and why I need to be here. We worked really hard and taught a lot of lessons and helped a lot of people. I am improving in my teaching skills tremendously and have started reading Preach My Gospel out loud in Portuguese to improve my accent and learn new words while reviewing important topics. This week, we have been challenged to have 100% obedience which I realize we haven’t been doing. Sometimes we have gone to bed at 10:40 instead of 10:30 and started study at 8:05 instead of 8:00 and we have been disobedient by doing so. I have just rationalized, ´´What’s ten minutes going to do?´´ and besides the fact that you will feel the spirit less, 10 mins/ day x ~720 days on the mission is 120 hours. That’s a whole week if you sleep less than 7 hours per day. In other words, a lot of time. I am striving to obey with exactness every rule to try and improve even faster. Sorry for the math...
One experience I had this week that was special for me happenened on Sunday. We were going to eat at a member’s house, but she didn´t know we were coming so we agreed to return in about 90 minutes for lunch to give her time to prepare. We were in the church van dropping off investigators and members at their respective houses and we just decided to randomly get off in a neighborhood we had never worked in and work our way back to the member´s house by contacting (see about ^.^) Within a couple of minutes of getting out of the van, a random guy biked over to us and asked if we would visit him! We said we would be delighted to and started making our way to his house. Apparently missionaries had talked to him before and he was really interested to hear our message. When we got to his house, the roof had sprung a leak so his whole floor was covered with water. He quickly squigeed a path for us and we sat down on his slightly damp bed. As we began the lesson, he asked if we were Americans and we said we were. He then started talking to us in English! He had apparently studied English for several years and was pretty dang good at it. We taught the lesson in on and off Portuguese and English and I was able to bear my testimony in English. It was so good feeling. We had a second lesson where he said he had only read a little, but what he meant was that he had read what he had marked for them and other random parts of the book too. He is now preparing for baptism and will go to Church for his first time on Sunday.
Something interesting I have noticed is that my companion often gives thanks for this moment in prayers, and I have been thinking about this quite a bit. ´´Thank you for this moment´´ is such a beautiful phrase. We need to give thanks for the time we have, for our joys and our pains, for the opportunity to learn and grow. I remember hearing once that each moment is a choice. We can continue with what we were doing before or do any of a million different things. We don’t have to continue doing things that don’t bring us happiness or that aren’t for our benefit; we can choose to change right now. I remember a riddle that I used to love to say when I was younger. ´´What is always coming, but never gets here?´´ ... Tomorrow. This riddles implications are far more reaching than when originally looked at. Tomorrow never arrives, so the day to change is today. We need to always seek to improve. So this week try and give thanks for this moment and remember that every moment is a choice.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
I hope you all have had a wonderful week and learned something new. I know I have. I just wanted to let you guys know that I always pray for you and am so appreciative of the letters, packages, and emails I receive from you. There really is nothing like hearing about what is going on with you guys or getting some sour patch kids. It just feels great.
I really enjoyed writing my last how to guide so I think I am going to try and write them as much as I can.
Elder Healy´s Guide to Contacting (Disclaimer: I am pretty bad at contacting so take my advice with a grain of salt :P)
1. Call to them from about 3-4 meters away so that you don’t stiff arm them when you go for a hand shake.
2. Offer your hand to function as an anchor and have your companion move into wall formation. This makes escape near impossible.]
3. Ask them how their day is going. This breaks the ice.
4. Introduce yourself, ask for their name to make it more personal and not a verbal assault, and ask if they have spoken with missionaries before.
5. If they respond yes, see if they have been visited before.
6. If yes to line 5, ask if we can visit them again. React accordingly to response.
7. If no to line 5, ask if we can share a message with them. React accordingly to response.
8. If no to line 4, explain that we are here to share a very special message. Our message is about:
1. Jesus Christ (Default)
2. The love our Heavenly Father has for us (if they seem discouraged)
3. Families can live together forever (if they have kids with them)
4. The true church (if they are adamant about all Churches are equal)
9. If they say they have their religion, explain that our message is independent of religion and is going to bless them.
10. Get their address and promise to visit in the future.
*These guides are just my personal guidelines that I use unless otherwise directed by the Spirit. They are not to be taken out of context.
Also, in case you are wondering what my diet is going to be every day.
1 liter milk
2 eggs
2 pieces of whole wheat bread
2 bananas
1 apple
1 kiwi
1 carrot
1 Popsicle
1 cup of yogurt
1 cup of juice
3 spoons of protein powder
1 multi vitamin
Lots of water
Rice
Beans
Beef
1 treat
1 bowl of oatmeal
This week was stellar and jammed full of spiritual experiences. It solidified for me where I need to improve and why I need to be here. We worked really hard and taught a lot of lessons and helped a lot of people. I am improving in my teaching skills tremendously and have started reading Preach My Gospel out loud in Portuguese to improve my accent and learn new words while reviewing important topics. This week, we have been challenged to have 100% obedience which I realize we haven’t been doing. Sometimes we have gone to bed at 10:40 instead of 10:30 and started study at 8:05 instead of 8:00 and we have been disobedient by doing so. I have just rationalized, ´´What’s ten minutes going to do?´´ and besides the fact that you will feel the spirit less, 10 mins/ day x ~720 days on the mission is 120 hours. That’s a whole week if you sleep less than 7 hours per day. In other words, a lot of time. I am striving to obey with exactness every rule to try and improve even faster. Sorry for the math...
One experience I had this week that was special for me happenened on Sunday. We were going to eat at a member’s house, but she didn´t know we were coming so we agreed to return in about 90 minutes for lunch to give her time to prepare. We were in the church van dropping off investigators and members at their respective houses and we just decided to randomly get off in a neighborhood we had never worked in and work our way back to the member´s house by contacting (see about ^.^) Within a couple of minutes of getting out of the van, a random guy biked over to us and asked if we would visit him! We said we would be delighted to and started making our way to his house. Apparently missionaries had talked to him before and he was really interested to hear our message. When we got to his house, the roof had sprung a leak so his whole floor was covered with water. He quickly squigeed a path for us and we sat down on his slightly damp bed. As we began the lesson, he asked if we were Americans and we said we were. He then started talking to us in English! He had apparently studied English for several years and was pretty dang good at it. We taught the lesson in on and off Portuguese and English and I was able to bear my testimony in English. It was so good feeling. We had a second lesson where he said he had only read a little, but what he meant was that he had read what he had marked for them and other random parts of the book too. He is now preparing for baptism and will go to Church for his first time on Sunday.
Something interesting I have noticed is that my companion often gives thanks for this moment in prayers, and I have been thinking about this quite a bit. ´´Thank you for this moment´´ is such a beautiful phrase. We need to give thanks for the time we have, for our joys and our pains, for the opportunity to learn and grow. I remember hearing once that each moment is a choice. We can continue with what we were doing before or do any of a million different things. We don’t have to continue doing things that don’t bring us happiness or that aren’t for our benefit; we can choose to change right now. I remember a riddle that I used to love to say when I was younger. ´´What is always coming, but never gets here?´´ ... Tomorrow. This riddles implications are far more reaching than when originally looked at. Tomorrow never arrives, so the day to change is today. We need to always seek to improve. So this week try and give thanks for this moment and remember that every moment is a choice.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The German
Ladies and Gentleman,
I would like to apologize for my sad excuse for a letter last week. The internet went down and we were a little rushed. This week I will try to do better. But before I dive into the minute details of my life I would first just like to give a general lay out of my day, and a fun how to guide.
Elder Healy´s Normal Schedule:
5:50 Hit Snooze Button
5:55 Try to roll out of bed and then realize we made bunk beds last week. Find shoes.
6:00 Run to gym
6:05 Workout
7:00 Stop workout
7:05 Run home
7:10 Make a protein shake and drink it, eat some eggs, and make a fruit shake and put it in the freezer.
7:15 Do pushups and reaffirm that the ARMY is not for you. Try to use the bathroom. Someone is taking a shower.
7:20 Complain that our roommates take too long of showers
7:30 Personal grooming and change into missionary clothes. Use white tie for study because its zip-up.
8:00 Pray and begin study of the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel.
9:00 Break while we wait for Zone Conference Call. Retrieve fruit shake and pour a bowl of cereal. Consume previously mentioned items.
9:10 Attempt to hear the Companionship of the Day sing and pray.
9:15 Discuss what we have learned from our personal study and read the Missionary Manual.
9:20 Read and discuss the topic of the week.
10:00 Practice a lesson and give feedback. This usually results in self frustration followed by progress :)
11:00 Language study/pack food for later snacking/review plans
12:00 Eat Lunch
1:00 Share Message
1:30 Head to Bus Stop
2:00 Arrive at destination and go to appointments, contact as prompted, teach lessons, and essentially try our best to spread the gospel to the people of our Area.
5:30 Snack break. Often involves the purchase of pastries.
9:00 Realize that we are supposed to be home and rush to finish contacts for the day.
9:15 arrive home and begin planning.
9:45 Change to normal clothes, relax, make un-funny missionary jokes, and try to clean up the house again. There are A LOT of dirty Tupperware and we just got leftover furniture from another house that is covered in dust.
10:15 Brush teeth, scrub face, and try to write in journal.
10:30 Pray, talk, and go to bed.
Repeat 700 more times :)
I just wanted to write about something that I have devoted some thought too. My friend Rachel said that she thought I was going to gain about 20 lbs on my mission do to how well the members feed us and my own lack of self control when it comes to sweets. So I decided to write this guide on how to eat lunch in a reasonable time, and not overstuff yourself.
Preparation:
You should never eat a large breakfast before going to lunch. You will just feel sick and they worked really hard to cook for you. You should eat early in the morning so that you have an appetite when you go to lunch.
Right before going inside, however, take a swig of your water bottle to prevent thirst during the meal.
Game Plan:
Explain to the member at the beginning that you have a commitment and so can’t stay all day.
Offer to help with preparation to provide assistance and get people to the table faster.
Cordially ask if there will be dessert. You can better plan this way.
When plating, make a thin bed of rice rather than clumping it. This makes it appear as if you have more.
Your first plate should be small. More small plates are better than one big one because it looks as if you have eaten more.
Get lots of salad. It’s healthy and it makes you and the members feel good.
Spend a lot of time cutting meat. This shows that you are interested in getting every morsel.
Don’t ever let your plate get empty. This will automatically prompt a ´´Eat more´´ comment.
Talk and learn about the member. This is more enjoyable, you eat less, and everyone feels the spirit better.
Fill your glass with soda. Drink slowly to half way. Don’t drink anymore until end of meal.
Scrape plate clean when you see everyone else has finished.
Try a little of everything. It is all good, and shows that you care.
Remind them that you have a timeline.
Use your discretion about dessert.
That´s all I got. I just thought it was interesting to think about because I really don’t want to change from a wrestler to the sumo variety :)
So what do you do on your P-days?
This P-Day we just played soccer with some kids from the ward and I learned that I have very little hand-foot coordination. But, I am pretty good at goalie which is good. Last P-Day we ate ribs with the wards awesome first counselor and watched the R.M. (Return Missionary) I feel as if this is meant to be an instructional video about the do´s and don’ts of a missionary´s homecoming. It was pretty funny. On P-Day we also buy our groceries, sleep, clean, and read. Super exciting I know.
Do you ever cook yourself?
I boil eggs, I fry eggs, I scramble eggs, I make toast, I make shakes, I make chocolate milk, I make cereal, I make ramen, I watch Elder Iverson make chicken stew. So yeah, I am pretty much a master chef.
What do you miss most from the U.S.?
You guys mainly. I miss you guys a lot. And candy and pie. But this Brazilian food is really good so I am too torn up about that.
Do you get to go to the temple in your mission?
Yes, but only if I am in one of the three zones near the temple. They get to go once every three months.
What's your favorite food/meal in Brazil?
I really like the Brazilian sausage they have here. It’s spicy and wonderful. I also really like the tarts they have here. And I like the barbeques they have here. I also like the rice. I like a lot of things.
Did you get the cards we sent?
Yes, thank you soo much! I love hearing from you, and I am going to try and write more hand written letters. You guys are great.
How was your week?
Wonderful. We taught a lot of lessons contacted a bunch of people and are currently preparing about six people for baptism which is great. I feel so much better now that I am finally getting a handle on the language and people understand me. We did a split this week in which we I worked with a Brazilian missionary and I complimented me and said how I had improved from the first time I had given my testimony. I felt so good when he did that. One funny thing that happened during the split is that I was called ´´German´´ like a bazillion times. I guess it’s because of the blond hair and blue eyes. Also, we have had to cut a couple investigators because they were being a little snakey. (A ´´Snake´´ is a female you tries to tempt a missionary to do wrong). After being called German, people call me pretty I think because of my blues eyes. It’s really kind of awkward. We just met with some of our investigators that we are preparing for marriage, and they were so happy when we met with them. Their change and progress was so apparent it is hard to describe. It was really a testament to me of how the gospel blesses life. I am going to sign out now. Good week and good luck.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
I would like to apologize for my sad excuse for a letter last week. The internet went down and we were a little rushed. This week I will try to do better. But before I dive into the minute details of my life I would first just like to give a general lay out of my day, and a fun how to guide.
Elder Healy´s Normal Schedule:
5:50 Hit Snooze Button
5:55 Try to roll out of bed and then realize we made bunk beds last week. Find shoes.
6:00 Run to gym
6:05 Workout
7:00 Stop workout
7:05 Run home
7:10 Make a protein shake and drink it, eat some eggs, and make a fruit shake and put it in the freezer.
7:15 Do pushups and reaffirm that the ARMY is not for you. Try to use the bathroom. Someone is taking a shower.
7:20 Complain that our roommates take too long of showers
7:30 Personal grooming and change into missionary clothes. Use white tie for study because its zip-up.
8:00 Pray and begin study of the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel.
9:00 Break while we wait for Zone Conference Call. Retrieve fruit shake and pour a bowl of cereal. Consume previously mentioned items.
9:10 Attempt to hear the Companionship of the Day sing and pray.
9:15 Discuss what we have learned from our personal study and read the Missionary Manual.
9:20 Read and discuss the topic of the week.
10:00 Practice a lesson and give feedback. This usually results in self frustration followed by progress :)
11:00 Language study/pack food for later snacking/review plans
12:00 Eat Lunch
1:00 Share Message
1:30 Head to Bus Stop
2:00 Arrive at destination and go to appointments, contact as prompted, teach lessons, and essentially try our best to spread the gospel to the people of our Area.
5:30 Snack break. Often involves the purchase of pastries.
9:00 Realize that we are supposed to be home and rush to finish contacts for the day.
9:15 arrive home and begin planning.
9:45 Change to normal clothes, relax, make un-funny missionary jokes, and try to clean up the house again. There are A LOT of dirty Tupperware and we just got leftover furniture from another house that is covered in dust.
10:15 Brush teeth, scrub face, and try to write in journal.
10:30 Pray, talk, and go to bed.
Repeat 700 more times :)
I just wanted to write about something that I have devoted some thought too. My friend Rachel said that she thought I was going to gain about 20 lbs on my mission do to how well the members feed us and my own lack of self control when it comes to sweets. So I decided to write this guide on how to eat lunch in a reasonable time, and not overstuff yourself.
Preparation:
You should never eat a large breakfast before going to lunch. You will just feel sick and they worked really hard to cook for you. You should eat early in the morning so that you have an appetite when you go to lunch.
Right before going inside, however, take a swig of your water bottle to prevent thirst during the meal.
Game Plan:
Explain to the member at the beginning that you have a commitment and so can’t stay all day.
Offer to help with preparation to provide assistance and get people to the table faster.
Cordially ask if there will be dessert. You can better plan this way.
When plating, make a thin bed of rice rather than clumping it. This makes it appear as if you have more.
Your first plate should be small. More small plates are better than one big one because it looks as if you have eaten more.
Get lots of salad. It’s healthy and it makes you and the members feel good.
Spend a lot of time cutting meat. This shows that you are interested in getting every morsel.
Don’t ever let your plate get empty. This will automatically prompt a ´´Eat more´´ comment.
Talk and learn about the member. This is more enjoyable, you eat less, and everyone feels the spirit better.
Fill your glass with soda. Drink slowly to half way. Don’t drink anymore until end of meal.
Scrape plate clean when you see everyone else has finished.
Try a little of everything. It is all good, and shows that you care.
Remind them that you have a timeline.
Use your discretion about dessert.
That´s all I got. I just thought it was interesting to think about because I really don’t want to change from a wrestler to the sumo variety :)
So what do you do on your P-days?
This P-Day we just played soccer with some kids from the ward and I learned that I have very little hand-foot coordination. But, I am pretty good at goalie which is good. Last P-Day we ate ribs with the wards awesome first counselor and watched the R.M. (Return Missionary) I feel as if this is meant to be an instructional video about the do´s and don’ts of a missionary´s homecoming. It was pretty funny. On P-Day we also buy our groceries, sleep, clean, and read. Super exciting I know.
Do you ever cook yourself?
I boil eggs, I fry eggs, I scramble eggs, I make toast, I make shakes, I make chocolate milk, I make cereal, I make ramen, I watch Elder Iverson make chicken stew. So yeah, I am pretty much a master chef.
What do you miss most from the U.S.?
You guys mainly. I miss you guys a lot. And candy and pie. But this Brazilian food is really good so I am too torn up about that.
Do you get to go to the temple in your mission?
Yes, but only if I am in one of the three zones near the temple. They get to go once every three months.
What's your favorite food/meal in Brazil?
I really like the Brazilian sausage they have here. It’s spicy and wonderful. I also really like the tarts they have here. And I like the barbeques they have here. I also like the rice. I like a lot of things.
Did you get the cards we sent?
Yes, thank you soo much! I love hearing from you, and I am going to try and write more hand written letters. You guys are great.
How was your week?
Wonderful. We taught a lot of lessons contacted a bunch of people and are currently preparing about six people for baptism which is great. I feel so much better now that I am finally getting a handle on the language and people understand me. We did a split this week in which we I worked with a Brazilian missionary and I complimented me and said how I had improved from the first time I had given my testimony. I felt so good when he did that. One funny thing that happened during the split is that I was called ´´German´´ like a bazillion times. I guess it’s because of the blond hair and blue eyes. Also, we have had to cut a couple investigators because they were being a little snakey. (A ´´Snake´´ is a female you tries to tempt a missionary to do wrong). After being called German, people call me pretty I think because of my blues eyes. It’s really kind of awkward. We just met with some of our investigators that we are preparing for marriage, and they were so happy when we met with them. Their change and progress was so apparent it is hard to describe. It was really a testament to me of how the gospel blesses life. I am going to sign out now. Good week and good luck.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understand
Hello People Who Know My First Name,
Its Elder Healy´s super exciting weekly report! I hoped your as pumped as I am! This week, as every other to date, was jam packed with things to learn and even more things to do. This letter is gonna be a bit short because the picture dowload took longer than I thought. I am doing great, settling down, and trying my best. We has two baptisms this last weekend. It was really touching. We were worried that one of them was going to fall through because the girl had a fight with her Dad and said she did not want to baptized in the interview, but she prayed that night and felt that it was the right thing for her so we ended up having to inverview her only thirty minutes before the baptism!
One thing I am gettign a little tired of is being bible bashed in another language because when people get excited they talk fast and it is a little hard to keep up. So I usually end up just testifying that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that we believe that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are both scripture. Then I invite them to learn for them selves by reading, pondering, and praying. I have learned that I am not here to convince anyone, but to let the spirit testify of our messages truthfulness. So when a Jehovah Witness pulls some Bible Kung Fu on me, I just have to reply that we need to have faith and try for ourselves. I always hope that their hearts will be softened, but I know they have agency and can decide for themselves.
I just sat here for about 30 min trying to reopen my email. Sorry...
An investigator loaned me a violin to practice today because I said I was interested in relearning. I am really terrible, but its fun. I dont have time to answer all your questions this week, so I will try to next week. Thank you so much for all the cards and notes you have sent me! They mean so much to me and I save everyone.
I will see you later. Ill make up for this next week.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Its Elder Healy´s super exciting weekly report! I hoped your as pumped as I am! This week, as every other to date, was jam packed with things to learn and even more things to do. This letter is gonna be a bit short because the picture dowload took longer than I thought. I am doing great, settling down, and trying my best. We has two baptisms this last weekend. It was really touching. We were worried that one of them was going to fall through because the girl had a fight with her Dad and said she did not want to baptized in the interview, but she prayed that night and felt that it was the right thing for her so we ended up having to inverview her only thirty minutes before the baptism!
One thing I am gettign a little tired of is being bible bashed in another language because when people get excited they talk fast and it is a little hard to keep up. So I usually end up just testifying that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that we believe that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are both scripture. Then I invite them to learn for them selves by reading, pondering, and praying. I have learned that I am not here to convince anyone, but to let the spirit testify of our messages truthfulness. So when a Jehovah Witness pulls some Bible Kung Fu on me, I just have to reply that we need to have faith and try for ourselves. I always hope that their hearts will be softened, but I know they have agency and can decide for themselves.
I just sat here for about 30 min trying to reopen my email. Sorry...
An investigator loaned me a violin to practice today because I said I was interested in relearning. I am really terrible, but its fun. I dont have time to answer all your questions this week, so I will try to next week. Thank you so much for all the cards and notes you have sent me! They mean so much to me and I save everyone.
I will see you later. Ill make up for this next week.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Gotta Step Up to the Plate
Como Vai?
It’s that time of the week again. These last seven days were especially good and I am starting to get into the swing of things. Our baptisms that were originally scheduled for last Sunday were moved up to this Sunday because they wanted their family and friends to come. There´s nothing we could really do about that. The two sisters grew up with one foot in the church and one foot in the world because their Dad was active while their mom was Catholic. The mother and father split up several years ago and the dad did not want the girls to get baptized without the mother´s approval, and I am not sure we could anyways. But the mom miraculously changed her mind so we have been able to teach them all the lessons. It was not too hard considering that they had already been attending church on and off for five years. I am really looking forward to this baptism as I feel more confident with the language and understand more when people are talking around me. Sometimes people will just go on a rant or a long speech and I will literally understand none of it. But I keep trying and I keep getting better.
On Monday this week, I think we had the best day of work we have ever had. We now have twelve more marked for baptism and have three super elect families. One sixteen year old we met on the bus asked us during the lesson ´´So how do I prepare to be baptized on the 30th?´´ I mean wow! I felt the spirit so strongly with that family. His dad studied religion for six months in Jerusalem and accepted everything we said without question. I am so excited to work with them again! Another person literally asked us if we could visit him without our prompting. Contacting just got a lot easier. He wasn´t there at the time we scheduled though which made me kind of sad. But we have his phone number so we will call him later this week. People can understand me now which is two thumbs up, and I keep getting encouragement and congratulations from members and missionaries alike. I am only afraid that this praise might go to my head and slow my progress. ´´Pride is a personal commitment between excellence and mediocrity.´´ I know I have so much more to learn and will never know all I would like. The important thing is not to only remember where you have come from, but focus on where you want to go. I have truly felt the blessings of obedience and diligence as I try harder each week and realize I can still do more.
This week was also pretty fun too. We ate lunch with a member who kept saying how ´´beautiful´´ I was. It would have been really uncomfortable if I had understood what she had been saying in the moment. My companion said that she was wondering if it would be acceptable for a light and dark to be together. HaHa awkward. Also, people really like my eyes here and my street name is German.
My companion starts a diet every day and then fails by going to an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet and says the ´´Diet Starts Tomorrow! ´´
(He´s looking over my shoulder) My companion is the most awesomist man in the whole world.
We are trying to get the Pattern of Excellence this week, but only two companionships have gotten it since the qualifications have become more difficult. But I know we can do it if we just put out trust in the Lord, and try our absolute best.
We just had a multi-zone conference this last week and all the new missionaries and all the missionaries leaving were asked to bear their testimonies. I do not think it would be possible not to feel the spirit in that room. The more senior missionaries went first who were all trainers or leaders. It was wonderful to hear their stories of growth and their inspiring words to take advantage of every minute because the minutes are too few. And then the new Brazilian missionaries went. Most of them had not been members of the church long so it was truly touching to hear about some of their conversions and decisions to serve a mission after only having been a member for as few as two years. One larger Elder started crying as he talked about how thankful he was for the church and for his trainer. I only hope that I can be that good of an example for another missionary someday. And then it was my turn. All throughout the other missionaries testimonies I was anxiously looking at my verb card and asking about vocab from my roommates because I felt so unprepared to get across the complex ideas that I wanted to. Last week we had been focusing on teaching the first lesson with the spirit and as simply as possible so that I might be understood with my rudimentary skills and so that the more simple investigators might understand. And so that is what I tried to do. I would like to bear my testimony to all those who are reading this that I know the Church is true. I know it. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that through its passages a person can feel more peace and have more happiness than through any other means. I know that I am doing the most important thing I will ever do in my entire life . I am helping people down the path to know what I have come to. I know that each and every one of us is loved and cared about by more people than we can begin to count. I know that this life can be tough at times, but I also know that it will never be tough, never more than we can handle despite what we may think. And I want you all to know how thankful I am for each and every one of you and all of your kind words, your encouragement, and your prayers. I hope your weeks are wonderful and that trials are brief.
And Morgan, Elder Bybee and Elder Iverson would be happy to write you. They want more photos ^.^ (You´re taller than Elder Bybee but he has a perfectly sculpted masterpiece that some people call a body, but I call it a window to heaven. (Double parenthesis, he looks like Buddha) :P) Elder Iverson cut out the British guy´s face and put on his. Just kidding... He used to model. He also runs an eighteen for the 5k. I know right? Hug Mom and Dad for me ok?
Maddie, don´t worry. We are making the cake for movie day!
Nate, stay great.
And Tyler, play some games for the both of us alright?
Come on really,
Elder Healy
I don´t really know what you guys want to hear about so I just write what I feel and what I remember. Please, please, please ask me if you have any burning question or if anything I wrote is unclear. I sometimes kind of feel like I am writing in journal so please add some human interaction to this. One-way is no fun. Also, if you are sending something use US Postal service snail mail and put Jesus or Mary stickers on it and send it to my mission home. If you ever send anything valuable, I heard that it has a high probability of getting stolen so I have been advised that you just write on the box like candy, cereal, and like socks and then you hide whatever it is in a box of Cap´n Crunch. Also, if you do mark things down as like $250 for bed sheets, I think I have to pay about a 60% import tax so be careful. And thank you so much for the birthday cards, the sweet notes, and the candy and presents! My roommates were really happy to hear from you :) Love you!
It’s that time of the week again. These last seven days were especially good and I am starting to get into the swing of things. Our baptisms that were originally scheduled for last Sunday were moved up to this Sunday because they wanted their family and friends to come. There´s nothing we could really do about that. The two sisters grew up with one foot in the church and one foot in the world because their Dad was active while their mom was Catholic. The mother and father split up several years ago and the dad did not want the girls to get baptized without the mother´s approval, and I am not sure we could anyways. But the mom miraculously changed her mind so we have been able to teach them all the lessons. It was not too hard considering that they had already been attending church on and off for five years. I am really looking forward to this baptism as I feel more confident with the language and understand more when people are talking around me. Sometimes people will just go on a rant or a long speech and I will literally understand none of it. But I keep trying and I keep getting better.
On Monday this week, I think we had the best day of work we have ever had. We now have twelve more marked for baptism and have three super elect families. One sixteen year old we met on the bus asked us during the lesson ´´So how do I prepare to be baptized on the 30th?´´ I mean wow! I felt the spirit so strongly with that family. His dad studied religion for six months in Jerusalem and accepted everything we said without question. I am so excited to work with them again! Another person literally asked us if we could visit him without our prompting. Contacting just got a lot easier. He wasn´t there at the time we scheduled though which made me kind of sad. But we have his phone number so we will call him later this week. People can understand me now which is two thumbs up, and I keep getting encouragement and congratulations from members and missionaries alike. I am only afraid that this praise might go to my head and slow my progress. ´´Pride is a personal commitment between excellence and mediocrity.´´ I know I have so much more to learn and will never know all I would like. The important thing is not to only remember where you have come from, but focus on where you want to go. I have truly felt the blessings of obedience and diligence as I try harder each week and realize I can still do more.
This week was also pretty fun too. We ate lunch with a member who kept saying how ´´beautiful´´ I was. It would have been really uncomfortable if I had understood what she had been saying in the moment. My companion said that she was wondering if it would be acceptable for a light and dark to be together. HaHa awkward. Also, people really like my eyes here and my street name is German.
My companion starts a diet every day and then fails by going to an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet and says the ´´Diet Starts Tomorrow! ´´
(He´s looking over my shoulder) My companion is the most awesomist man in the whole world.
We are trying to get the Pattern of Excellence this week, but only two companionships have gotten it since the qualifications have become more difficult. But I know we can do it if we just put out trust in the Lord, and try our absolute best.
We just had a multi-zone conference this last week and all the new missionaries and all the missionaries leaving were asked to bear their testimonies. I do not think it would be possible not to feel the spirit in that room. The more senior missionaries went first who were all trainers or leaders. It was wonderful to hear their stories of growth and their inspiring words to take advantage of every minute because the minutes are too few. And then the new Brazilian missionaries went. Most of them had not been members of the church long so it was truly touching to hear about some of their conversions and decisions to serve a mission after only having been a member for as few as two years. One larger Elder started crying as he talked about how thankful he was for the church and for his trainer. I only hope that I can be that good of an example for another missionary someday. And then it was my turn. All throughout the other missionaries testimonies I was anxiously looking at my verb card and asking about vocab from my roommates because I felt so unprepared to get across the complex ideas that I wanted to. Last week we had been focusing on teaching the first lesson with the spirit and as simply as possible so that I might be understood with my rudimentary skills and so that the more simple investigators might understand. And so that is what I tried to do. I would like to bear my testimony to all those who are reading this that I know the Church is true. I know it. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that through its passages a person can feel more peace and have more happiness than through any other means. I know that I am doing the most important thing I will ever do in my entire life . I am helping people down the path to know what I have come to. I know that each and every one of us is loved and cared about by more people than we can begin to count. I know that this life can be tough at times, but I also know that it will never be tough, never more than we can handle despite what we may think. And I want you all to know how thankful I am for each and every one of you and all of your kind words, your encouragement, and your prayers. I hope your weeks are wonderful and that trials are brief.
And Morgan, Elder Bybee and Elder Iverson would be happy to write you. They want more photos ^.^ (You´re taller than Elder Bybee but he has a perfectly sculpted masterpiece that some people call a body, but I call it a window to heaven. (Double parenthesis, he looks like Buddha) :P) Elder Iverson cut out the British guy´s face and put on his. Just kidding... He used to model. He also runs an eighteen for the 5k. I know right? Hug Mom and Dad for me ok?
Maddie, don´t worry. We are making the cake for movie day!
Nate, stay great.
And Tyler, play some games for the both of us alright?
Come on really,
Elder Healy
I don´t really know what you guys want to hear about so I just write what I feel and what I remember. Please, please, please ask me if you have any burning question or if anything I wrote is unclear. I sometimes kind of feel like I am writing in journal so please add some human interaction to this. One-way is no fun. Also, if you are sending something use US Postal service snail mail and put Jesus or Mary stickers on it and send it to my mission home. If you ever send anything valuable, I heard that it has a high probability of getting stolen so I have been advised that you just write on the box like candy, cereal, and like socks and then you hide whatever it is in a box of Cap´n Crunch. Also, if you do mark things down as like $250 for bed sheets, I think I have to pay about a 60% import tax so be careful. And thank you so much for the birthday cards, the sweet notes, and the candy and presents! My roommates were really happy to hear from you :) Love you!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
My First Week, A Sneak Peak
HI,
I am officially through my first week in the field, and what a week it was. I performed my first baptism, I got my first blister, I attended my first BBQ, I had my first Birthday, I said my first invitation, I received my first cake, and I had my first joke played on me. Just a bunch of first’s.
My mom asked the following questions that I will respond to at this time. d-(O.O)z (That’s supposed to be a guy giving a thumbs up).
How are your sweets?
Wonderful, the other Elders and I enjoyed them so much. Thanks for getting my favorites!
Everything new and different?
Yep, pretty much everything is different. Milk here, for example, has preservatives which means they store it at room temperature in a paper carton. Cookies come in tubes and are delicious as expected. If you don’t eat all your food at an All-You-Can-Eat, you might end up paying extra. All the stores close by about 8pm because everyone retires to their houses. The members are really nice! One of them made me cake for my birthday, and I have some of the best meals ever here. They say that they want only the best for missionaries! I love it here.
Food?
A lot of fruit, meat, rice, beans, salad, and Coca-Cola which is good with me.
Housing..Cold? Hot?
Just right.
Showers?
Best shower ever, but the bathroom always smells like an outhouse. Nothings perfect :)
Is there toilet paper?
Yes, but you take sheets individually like a tissue or napkin.
Do you live alone or with a family?
We live in a big house with two other missionaries. We have a drier and a clothes line, one bathroom, and four couches for some reason.
Tracting? In a good area? Are you opening a new area?
Yes, I am opening an area. I baptized my first person on Sunday. He had been having some doubts that we helped him resolve. I was really nervous leading up to the baptism, but I prayed right before going into the font and just felt a calm come over me. I spoke slowly and clearly and then performed the ordinance. Afterwards, the members said it was the most beautiful baptism they had ever seen. I heard ´´Not a splash´´ several times. My companion, our investigator, and I felt so happy. It was wonderful. It was only then that I realized I had remembered dry garments, but no towel. Drip drying was fun.
Companion...Is he hard working? Nice? Fun?
My companion is wonderful. He always pushes me to improve. He encourages me to speak in Portuguese and calls me out when I am doing something wrong. He really cares about me and the members. On my birthday, all of the Elders in the house woke me up screaming. I don’t remember it at all, but apparently they have video so it must be true.
If you guys have specific questions in the future, I think you can just shoot my parents in an email, and I’d be happy to respond. On a side note, the post office went on strike again, so I have been receiving packages, but not letters. If you sent me a letter, I am sorry I haven’t responded, but please forgive me. I only visit headquarters about once a week so I will try to respond to you as best I can.
I now realize that I have a lot more to learn before I become the missionary I want to be, whether it is improving my vocab, teaching skills, or personality, its going to take a while. As I have tried to more exactly follow the schedules and the rules, I have really seen the blessing. I learn more, I feel better, and I work harder.
I know this letter is kind of scattered, I’m sorry. I just wanted to give you a quick medical update. I now officially have four blisters, a rash, and a removed wart. But besides that I am feeling great. Just a little moleskin, athletic tape, and some ointment and I am good to go.
So we were contacting in the park this week, and this family actually called us over to talk. They wanted to learn and have us over for lunch and they seemed the elect of the elect. But when we went to the house, and called the number, it was someone totally different. We got pranked by some random stranger! But we ended up teaching the actual family that lived there and we will probably return for a second visit. The work works in mysterious ways.
The one thing I have really struggled with more than anything else this week is patience. I found myself getting frustrated when appointments and lunches fell through and when no contacts wanted to hear us. I did not like waiting for the bus or having to walk two miles to get to someone’s house. Investigators fear and failure to do what we asked made me upset just made me discouraged. But my companion talked to me about how one of his friends in the mission was always happy regardless of what happened. I have been thinking about that a lot recently. I have come to the realization that as we struggle through hard times and bear our afflictions with patience, we will be blessed for it. People have the ability to choose, and as long as I am doing my part, I should not let the choices of others bring me down. I need to try and be sad when they reject the gospel, but never let any incident take away my desire to keep going. You just have to keep your individual self worth separate from what you are doing. Just because something doesn’t go right, doesn’t mean you aren’t doing right. Bad things can happen to good people, but as long as we take these trials and try and learn and grow from them, they won’t get us down but make us stronger.
A famous author (whose name currently eludes me and whose quote I am currently going to butcher) once said that his favorite times of his life were during his trials because he could remember them the best and it was during them that he grew. We must always try new things and although they might be hard, it is when we are reaching and doing our best that we grow. I hope you guys have a great week and try not to get to down on yourselves when things don’t go your way.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
I am officially through my first week in the field, and what a week it was. I performed my first baptism, I got my first blister, I attended my first BBQ, I had my first Birthday, I said my first invitation, I received my first cake, and I had my first joke played on me. Just a bunch of first’s.
My mom asked the following questions that I will respond to at this time. d-(O.O)z (That’s supposed to be a guy giving a thumbs up).
How are your sweets?
Wonderful, the other Elders and I enjoyed them so much. Thanks for getting my favorites!
Everything new and different?
Yep, pretty much everything is different. Milk here, for example, has preservatives which means they store it at room temperature in a paper carton. Cookies come in tubes and are delicious as expected. If you don’t eat all your food at an All-You-Can-Eat, you might end up paying extra. All the stores close by about 8pm because everyone retires to their houses. The members are really nice! One of them made me cake for my birthday, and I have some of the best meals ever here. They say that they want only the best for missionaries! I love it here.
Food?
A lot of fruit, meat, rice, beans, salad, and Coca-Cola which is good with me.
Housing..Cold? Hot?
Just right.
Showers?
Best shower ever, but the bathroom always smells like an outhouse. Nothings perfect :)
Is there toilet paper?
Yes, but you take sheets individually like a tissue or napkin.
Do you live alone or with a family?
We live in a big house with two other missionaries. We have a drier and a clothes line, one bathroom, and four couches for some reason.
Tracting? In a good area? Are you opening a new area?
Yes, I am opening an area. I baptized my first person on Sunday. He had been having some doubts that we helped him resolve. I was really nervous leading up to the baptism, but I prayed right before going into the font and just felt a calm come over me. I spoke slowly and clearly and then performed the ordinance. Afterwards, the members said it was the most beautiful baptism they had ever seen. I heard ´´Not a splash´´ several times. My companion, our investigator, and I felt so happy. It was wonderful. It was only then that I realized I had remembered dry garments, but no towel. Drip drying was fun.
Companion...Is he hard working? Nice? Fun?
My companion is wonderful. He always pushes me to improve. He encourages me to speak in Portuguese and calls me out when I am doing something wrong. He really cares about me and the members. On my birthday, all of the Elders in the house woke me up screaming. I don’t remember it at all, but apparently they have video so it must be true.
If you guys have specific questions in the future, I think you can just shoot my parents in an email, and I’d be happy to respond. On a side note, the post office went on strike again, so I have been receiving packages, but not letters. If you sent me a letter, I am sorry I haven’t responded, but please forgive me. I only visit headquarters about once a week so I will try to respond to you as best I can.
I now realize that I have a lot more to learn before I become the missionary I want to be, whether it is improving my vocab, teaching skills, or personality, its going to take a while. As I have tried to more exactly follow the schedules and the rules, I have really seen the blessing. I learn more, I feel better, and I work harder.
I know this letter is kind of scattered, I’m sorry. I just wanted to give you a quick medical update. I now officially have four blisters, a rash, and a removed wart. But besides that I am feeling great. Just a little moleskin, athletic tape, and some ointment and I am good to go.
So we were contacting in the park this week, and this family actually called us over to talk. They wanted to learn and have us over for lunch and they seemed the elect of the elect. But when we went to the house, and called the number, it was someone totally different. We got pranked by some random stranger! But we ended up teaching the actual family that lived there and we will probably return for a second visit. The work works in mysterious ways.
The one thing I have really struggled with more than anything else this week is patience. I found myself getting frustrated when appointments and lunches fell through and when no contacts wanted to hear us. I did not like waiting for the bus or having to walk two miles to get to someone’s house. Investigators fear and failure to do what we asked made me upset just made me discouraged. But my companion talked to me about how one of his friends in the mission was always happy regardless of what happened. I have been thinking about that a lot recently. I have come to the realization that as we struggle through hard times and bear our afflictions with patience, we will be blessed for it. People have the ability to choose, and as long as I am doing my part, I should not let the choices of others bring me down. I need to try and be sad when they reject the gospel, but never let any incident take away my desire to keep going. You just have to keep your individual self worth separate from what you are doing. Just because something doesn’t go right, doesn’t mean you aren’t doing right. Bad things can happen to good people, but as long as we take these trials and try and learn and grow from them, they won’t get us down but make us stronger.
A famous author (whose name currently eludes me and whose quote I am currently going to butcher) once said that his favorite times of his life were during his trials because he could remember them the best and it was during them that he grew. We must always try new things and although they might be hard, it is when we are reaching and doing our best that we grow. I hope you guys have a great week and try not to get to down on yourselves when things don’t go your way.
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Thursday, October 6, 2011
I'm in the Campo, It's Intense!
Hello People Who Are Allowed to Chew Gum in Public,
I mean if you can’t make fun of yourself, who can you make fun of? I am finally in the Mission Field!!! So much happened last week I don’t even know where to begin. OK, maybe I do. I first and foremost wanted to say thank you to everyone who has supported me by reading this weekly check in. I know I am not the most engaging writer, but I do what I can. Second, I want to thank everyone who has sent me letters or packages so far. Those words and gifts truly brighten my day and give me the strength to give it my all. I am trying to respond to everyone who writes me, and I am really sorry if I somehow skip over you. I love all of you!
The last week at the MTC seemed to really fly by. On Monday, we went to pass out Books of Mormon. It’s was great, except we had to travel 30 min by bus and another 30 by foot to get to the more Japanese part of Sao Paolo because that is where the sisters were going to serve. So we had only 30 minutes to give out seven books. We gave out two on the bus, one on the way there and one on the way back, and the other five about six minutes apart. After this, everyone in my district wrote each other a letter to be read on ´´Hump Day´´ about what we think they will be like and to encourage them. I really enjoyed writing to my future self and to my other district members as well. It was like expecting to accomplish goals I had not even set yet. One of my good friends at the MTC gave me a picture of two cats, one with his paw over the other and explained that people can be friends, even over great distances. In the words of the Bard, ´´We don’t have to change friends if we realize that friends change.´´ I want to grow closer to all of you that are reading this even though we are probably farther apart than we have ever been. Both you and I will change over these next two years, and I can only hope that it is always for the better and that we understand and love each other more because of it.
The departure day was really lonely. I had to say goodbye to my two companions as we went to different missions. I also had to say goodbye to the Japanese sisters which was really sad and a little awkward because you can only give hand hugs. Then I was all by myself in the cafeteria because I was the last to leave. Feeling forgotten but excited, I slowly packed in my room for two hours to the sounds of Beethoven. It was relaxing really relaxing and just took my mind off things. Then it was time to go. I slept the whole ride :). The Mission President is really legal. (Legal means cool).He thinks that I speak well and we seem to get along.
We went to the Mission Office and just kind of sat around until our companions showed up. I think I got the best one. He´s from Utah and only has three months left on his mission so I will be his last trainee. He has already been a District Leader, Zone Leader, and Assistant to the President. We already hit it off. We both like wrestling so P-Day should be fun. He is also is a thespian, but he didn´t know it. (He does musical productions and theatre). We rode together on the bus for an hour and a half and we opened a new area. The records are kind of scattered, and our house is big but old so we should have some work to do. One of the counselors in the ward picked us up and said he had a non-member friend he wanted us to meet. We all started walking to the Church and he asked us why all of our first names were `Elder.´ I am still a little linguistically challenged so my companion answered him. When we arrived at the church we went into the bishop´s office to wait for him. My companion, Elder Bybee, saw a picture on the desk, and it was the non-member! The bishop had just been messing with us the whole time. We then got pizza to welcome us to the area. He should be fun to work with.
Today, we had lunch at a member´s house. The member had 23 cats and 3 dogs however, and my allergies were acting up. It was an interesting first lunch, but good none the less. The brother had been on TV for being able to memorize numbers and had written two books about it. What a pro! The only thing I would change was the cat hair I pulled out of my mouth from breathing a couple times, but other than that it was really fun and the food was good.
In my personal study today I read in D and C 88 verse 67. It talks about as we keep our eye single to god we will be filled with light and strength. This is now one of my new favorite scriptures. As we focus on the work, our countenance will change and we will become a means to do good. I hope you all have a great week and just try to do a little good in the world. Thank you for reading this week’s edition of the ´Life and Times of Elder Healy´
Come on really,
Elder Healy
Here is a video of me getting my first Companion
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/c4dd348c539c43578921c7b098a818fd/video/114583721
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Its The Final Countdown... Da Da Doo Doo, Da Da Dah Da Doo
My Beloved Family and Friends,
My time at the MTC is quickly coming to an end. This time next week I will have a new companion, a new home, a new bed, and a million new things to experience. I am so excited and so nervous at the same time. I feel like there is still so much more gospel for me to learn and so much Portuguese to practice before I can really give a lesson that an earnest investigator deserves. But, there is no point in dwelling on my inadequacies for my calling when the day to do is quickly approaching. I do not mean to scare you or worry you, I am ready. I would just prefer to be MORE ready. But, I will probably feel that way for the rest of my mission and the rest of my life.
This last week was wonderful and stressful. I had so many great experiences and have again learned so much about myself and about others. I have continued to set goals for me to reach. Sometimes I am successful and sometimes I am not. And it is from the lack of success and strive for the best that brings me the stress. But as one of the many books that we have been given here at the MTC says, Stress + Rest = Growth. This week as I said before, was wonderful. Last Tuesday night I had a pizza party courtesy of my parents back at home and me and my companions just hung out in our room and got to know each other better. It was very therapeutic and delicious. Thank you so much. On Wednesday, I forgot my name tag on my other shirt and so we had to go up and down four flights of stairs to retrieve it. I felt so bad! On Thursday, our teaching practice was canceled and the computer labs were closed so I got to study for three hours straight. It was a nice change of pace. Also, we talked about teaching about Adam and Eve and I got really frustrated because I could not figure out why the story had to happen the way it did. I eventually had to be content with Gods ways are higher than your ways, but I will probably revisit that topic this week to see if I can bring peace of mind. On Friday, I had a long argument at dinner why I though Cyclops was a silly super hero and about whether Wolverine could beat him :). On Saturday, I realized that reading the D&C goes much faster than reading the Book of Mormon because the pages have lest words and verses are often repeated between sections. On Sunday, we heard from President Tanner, the president of the Sao Paulo Mission. His wife is the President of the whole Young Women Organization, power couple right? Anyways, during his speech, he was not content with how the translator was translating so he decided he would translate himself. This led him to repeat several things, and get confused and it was kind of funny. He finally let the translator do it again, but would accidentally do it without thinking. After the talk, we had snack and when I put on my coat, the collar almost always automatically pops. I didn’t notice until the Sisters pointed it out as they were laughing at me. So we decided to all pop our collars and we looked like fools while we were eating our late night cake :D. On Monday, we had our first opportunity to proselyte. I was really nervous at the start and did not want to talk to anyone. But we saw a teacher and practiced on him to break the ice. The first Book of Mormon we placed was in English because the man was a professional. He had a friend who also used to be a missionary. We ended up placing all six Book of Mormons in about one and a half hours.
If any of you reading this are questioning your testimony or do not have a testimony, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and o Moroni’s advice and pray and ask god for an answer. You too can receive the witness that I did, that this truly is the true church and this work really can change people. I love you all so much and can´t wait to begin serving. I do not know when I will be able to write again.
Love,
Elder Healy
My time at the MTC is quickly coming to an end. This time next week I will have a new companion, a new home, a new bed, and a million new things to experience. I am so excited and so nervous at the same time. I feel like there is still so much more gospel for me to learn and so much Portuguese to practice before I can really give a lesson that an earnest investigator deserves. But, there is no point in dwelling on my inadequacies for my calling when the day to do is quickly approaching. I do not mean to scare you or worry you, I am ready. I would just prefer to be MORE ready. But, I will probably feel that way for the rest of my mission and the rest of my life.
This last week was wonderful and stressful. I had so many great experiences and have again learned so much about myself and about others. I have continued to set goals for me to reach. Sometimes I am successful and sometimes I am not. And it is from the lack of success and strive for the best that brings me the stress. But as one of the many books that we have been given here at the MTC says, Stress + Rest = Growth. This week as I said before, was wonderful. Last Tuesday night I had a pizza party courtesy of my parents back at home and me and my companions just hung out in our room and got to know each other better. It was very therapeutic and delicious. Thank you so much. On Wednesday, I forgot my name tag on my other shirt and so we had to go up and down four flights of stairs to retrieve it. I felt so bad! On Thursday, our teaching practice was canceled and the computer labs were closed so I got to study for three hours straight. It was a nice change of pace. Also, we talked about teaching about Adam and Eve and I got really frustrated because I could not figure out why the story had to happen the way it did. I eventually had to be content with Gods ways are higher than your ways, but I will probably revisit that topic this week to see if I can bring peace of mind. On Friday, I had a long argument at dinner why I though Cyclops was a silly super hero and about whether Wolverine could beat him :). On Saturday, I realized that reading the D&C goes much faster than reading the Book of Mormon because the pages have lest words and verses are often repeated between sections. On Sunday, we heard from President Tanner, the president of the Sao Paulo Mission. His wife is the President of the whole Young Women Organization, power couple right? Anyways, during his speech, he was not content with how the translator was translating so he decided he would translate himself. This led him to repeat several things, and get confused and it was kind of funny. He finally let the translator do it again, but would accidentally do it without thinking. After the talk, we had snack and when I put on my coat, the collar almost always automatically pops. I didn’t notice until the Sisters pointed it out as they were laughing at me. So we decided to all pop our collars and we looked like fools while we were eating our late night cake :D. On Monday, we had our first opportunity to proselyte. I was really nervous at the start and did not want to talk to anyone. But we saw a teacher and practiced on him to break the ice. The first Book of Mormon we placed was in English because the man was a professional. He had a friend who also used to be a missionary. We ended up placing all six Book of Mormons in about one and a half hours.
If any of you reading this are questioning your testimony or do not have a testimony, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and o Moroni’s advice and pray and ask god for an answer. You too can receive the witness that I did, that this truly is the true church and this work really can change people. I love you all so much and can´t wait to begin serving. I do not know when I will be able to write again.
Love,
Elder Healy
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Thou Shalt Love
Hello again my faithful readers,
This week went by quickly as well. Days just seem to blend together, but they are still as great as ever. I memorized the first vision in about 20 minutes which surprised everyone including myself. My language learning is really taking off as I focus on specific areas and just memorize. The problem I am having is recalling what I learn in lessons and in conversation. I know it, but I am finding trouble using it. So there is only two weeks left which is really scaring me. I mean less than fourteen days before I will be in my first area with my first companion. I am really so scared I can´t believe it. I am doing everything I can to be ready, and I wonder if I am not trying enough. I am trying to find the balance between always ´´be anxiously engaged in a good cause´´ and ´´do not run faster than you are able.´´ It’s a marathon, not a sprint and I wonder sometimes if I am not pacing myself well. I am still working on finding a balance between learning about the language, the gospel, the district, and myself.
Here is a quick recap of some things of note this week. Today, we went to an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steak house and I went pass its name. I feel absolutely stuffed right now, but I just had two pieces of bread so I feel it is more balanced. Which reminds me, thank you so much to everyone who has sent me packages and presents. I am so thankful. I would recommend not sending anything else because it probably won’t get here in time. Just send it to my new address when I get into the field. You guys are so nice and it really brightens my day when I get something. Which reminds me, can I send letters through missionary ties? Also one of the missionaries can only jump about 3 inches, but can somehow do a back flip. I know right.
This week I decided to study more about our savior, and read the story about when the Pharisee asked Jesus what the greatest commandment in the law. Jesus replied, ´´Thou shalt love thy lord thy god... and thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself.´´ The phrase that is repeated from the two great commandments is thou shalt love. I have tried to show my love with my companions by helping them, hugging, them, and sharing with them and I know I can do more. I invite you to try and serve those around you. Faith without works is dead, and love without actions is unknown. Show your love for those around you by doing the little things. Make their bed, compliment their clothes, or just say I love you. As you do this, both parties will receive the benefit. I love you so much. Please write me! Until next time... Viva Brasil!
Elder Healy
This week went by quickly as well. Days just seem to blend together, but they are still as great as ever. I memorized the first vision in about 20 minutes which surprised everyone including myself. My language learning is really taking off as I focus on specific areas and just memorize. The problem I am having is recalling what I learn in lessons and in conversation. I know it, but I am finding trouble using it. So there is only two weeks left which is really scaring me. I mean less than fourteen days before I will be in my first area with my first companion. I am really so scared I can´t believe it. I am doing everything I can to be ready, and I wonder if I am not trying enough. I am trying to find the balance between always ´´be anxiously engaged in a good cause´´ and ´´do not run faster than you are able.´´ It’s a marathon, not a sprint and I wonder sometimes if I am not pacing myself well. I am still working on finding a balance between learning about the language, the gospel, the district, and myself.
Here is a quick recap of some things of note this week. Today, we went to an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steak house and I went pass its name. I feel absolutely stuffed right now, but I just had two pieces of bread so I feel it is more balanced. Which reminds me, thank you so much to everyone who has sent me packages and presents. I am so thankful. I would recommend not sending anything else because it probably won’t get here in time. Just send it to my new address when I get into the field. You guys are so nice and it really brightens my day when I get something. Which reminds me, can I send letters through missionary ties? Also one of the missionaries can only jump about 3 inches, but can somehow do a back flip. I know right.
This week I decided to study more about our savior, and read the story about when the Pharisee asked Jesus what the greatest commandment in the law. Jesus replied, ´´Thou shalt love thy lord thy god... and thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself.´´ The phrase that is repeated from the two great commandments is thou shalt love. I have tried to show my love with my companions by helping them, hugging, them, and sharing with them and I know I can do more. I invite you to try and serve those around you. Faith without works is dead, and love without actions is unknown. Show your love for those around you by doing the little things. Make their bed, compliment their clothes, or just say I love you. As you do this, both parties will receive the benefit. I love you so much. Please write me! Until next time... Viva Brasil!
Elder Healy
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Taking Care of Business
Boa Tarde,
This week seemed to fly by as I put my head down and simply went to work. I have started making my weekly personal goals more and more challenging to make me have to work harder and harder to accomplish them. At the beginning of September I set the goal to finish the triple by the time that Ieave the MTC. I´ve planned out exactly where I need to be at the end of each day to accomplish this. It is about 30 pages per day. That doesnt sound that bad, but I am also highlighting taking notes, cross refencing and making a study journal which all take a lot of time. That combined with studying grammar, vocab, PMG, and for my three investigators really fills up my day. I am also trying to write significant passages in my journal every day and am trying to start a dream journal (weird I know, but I have been having some really strange dreams recently and I don't want to forget the entertaining ones :] ) I now am trying to be more efficient in how I dress, shower, pack, and even excercise so that I can get the most out of each day. I do not want the picture that I am slowly killing myself under the load, because I do still mix in a little fun and some jokes.
So here are three really bad food jokes I thought of today... What did the peanut tell to the pepper shaker? Tell your friend to stop a-salting me! Why did the tomatoe turn red? It saw the salad dressing! What do you call a french fry that detests Edgar Allen? A Poe-Hate-o. That last one's a stretch. Hope you enjoyed them.
Although I have made it a goal to work harder and learn more, my district and I still have a good time. Last night for example, we had our second lesson with an ´´investigator´´. My companion Elder Nielson was offering the prayer to begin the lesson when the investigator (our teacher) said ``Praise Jesus´´ in Potuguese. The prayer stopped and we were all sitting there for about 10 seconds in silence. I feel bad about this now, but I could not take it anymore so I peeked to see why my companion had stopped. His jaw had dropped and he was looking at our teacher with the funniest ``are you being serious right now`` expression I have ever seen in my entire life. I immediately been hyper ventilating as some of you know I do when I am trying not to laugh. My whole body was trying to hold it in. I began kind of salvivating and crying and then it just burst out of me. My teacher and other companion also started cracking p to and then the Japonese sisters started laughing because we were laughing. It took about 3 min before we had calme down enought to begin again. What you have to understand about Elder Nielson is that he did´nt know what the teacher said so he was checking if he did anything wrong.
My grandparents pointed out to me that I have not discussed the weather yet. It is very weird. It is winter/spring here right now so two days ago there was heavy fog and it was really cold and then today it was probably about 90. and its always humid. My shirts usually come out of the drier kind of wrinkly and I just hang them up on the window seal and they look ironed by the time I need them.
I read from 1 Nephi to Alma this last week and the section that stuck most with me was King Benjamin´s speech. It talks about how those who lead really serve. I Used chapter two and three on Sunday to give a 30 min lesson on how it applies to missionary work. I invite all you guys to read about the first 7 chapters of Alma this week. I love you so much and pray for you every day. The first commanment is love God, the second is love your neighbor as yourself. The great commandment is to love. Love each other, love yourself, love god.
Sincerely, Elder Healy
This week seemed to fly by as I put my head down and simply went to work. I have started making my weekly personal goals more and more challenging to make me have to work harder and harder to accomplish them. At the beginning of September I set the goal to finish the triple by the time that Ieave the MTC. I´ve planned out exactly where I need to be at the end of each day to accomplish this. It is about 30 pages per day. That doesnt sound that bad, but I am also highlighting taking notes, cross refencing and making a study journal which all take a lot of time. That combined with studying grammar, vocab, PMG, and for my three investigators really fills up my day. I am also trying to write significant passages in my journal every day and am trying to start a dream journal (weird I know, but I have been having some really strange dreams recently and I don't want to forget the entertaining ones :] ) I now am trying to be more efficient in how I dress, shower, pack, and even excercise so that I can get the most out of each day. I do not want the picture that I am slowly killing myself under the load, because I do still mix in a little fun and some jokes.
So here are three really bad food jokes I thought of today... What did the peanut tell to the pepper shaker? Tell your friend to stop a-salting me! Why did the tomatoe turn red? It saw the salad dressing! What do you call a french fry that detests Edgar Allen? A Poe-Hate-o. That last one's a stretch. Hope you enjoyed them.
Although I have made it a goal to work harder and learn more, my district and I still have a good time. Last night for example, we had our second lesson with an ´´investigator´´. My companion Elder Nielson was offering the prayer to begin the lesson when the investigator (our teacher) said ``Praise Jesus´´ in Potuguese. The prayer stopped and we were all sitting there for about 10 seconds in silence. I feel bad about this now, but I could not take it anymore so I peeked to see why my companion had stopped. His jaw had dropped and he was looking at our teacher with the funniest ``are you being serious right now`` expression I have ever seen in my entire life. I immediately been hyper ventilating as some of you know I do when I am trying not to laugh. My whole body was trying to hold it in. I began kind of salvivating and crying and then it just burst out of me. My teacher and other companion also started cracking p to and then the Japonese sisters started laughing because we were laughing. It took about 3 min before we had calme down enought to begin again. What you have to understand about Elder Nielson is that he did´nt know what the teacher said so he was checking if he did anything wrong.
My grandparents pointed out to me that I have not discussed the weather yet. It is very weird. It is winter/spring here right now so two days ago there was heavy fog and it was really cold and then today it was probably about 90. and its always humid. My shirts usually come out of the drier kind of wrinkly and I just hang them up on the window seal and they look ironed by the time I need them.
I read from 1 Nephi to Alma this last week and the section that stuck most with me was King Benjamin´s speech. It talks about how those who lead really serve. I Used chapter two and three on Sunday to give a 30 min lesson on how it applies to missionary work. I invite all you guys to read about the first 7 chapters of Alma this week. I love you so much and pray for you every day. The first commanment is love God, the second is love your neighbor as yourself. The great commandment is to love. Love each other, love yourself, love god.
Sincerely, Elder Healy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Week two
Hello People Who Still Read This!
Just kidding! I love you guys so much and miss all of you. I hope you know that you are in my prayers and I pray for your welfare everyday. I reread my last letter and I would like to formally apologize to everyone. I sounded like a spoiled American (which is probably true) and I did not give my experience here justice. My first week was very rough due to many factors, but the main reason came from my inability to be humble and appreciate what I have been given. I´m sleeping much better now, I love the food (still shy of the desserts :] ) I am best friends with one of my teachers, and I have two wonderful companions. I have found that trying to change the behaviors of my ´´investigators`` I have actually begun to change my own. As I have truly studied as I have never before, I find myself applying what I learn to my own life and love the difference it has made. I am not saying that I am a changed man, I am merely in the process of trying to change.
This week has been full of new experiences. We had the opportunity to teach a family of five who were all members pretending to be investigators. They offered us invisble coffee and so we had to discuss why we didn´t want any and about the word of wisdom. I forgot what ´wisdom´ is in portuguese and the little girl filled it in for me (sabedoria). It was really funny because the parents had to silence her and pretended that they didn't know what she was talking about and had never heard about it before.
I got to try Acai berry juice for the first time this week and it is delicious. I cant wait to try the ice cream today. We went to the temple this morning and I was filled with a desire to see and serve, whatever that means. I really want to get out in the field, but I also know that I am not ready.
My companions names are Elder Knudson and Elder Nielson. Elder Knudson wants to be an engineer, loves sports, and is one of a small group that has someone waiting for him back at home. Elder Nielson loves to draw and is teaching me as well. He once won a dorm wide Super Smash Bros competition. They both were in Provo for four weeks before coming here. They seem to be doing what I was doign my first week and searching for all the possible faults here. I have learned that comparison does nothing except show inadequacies and doesn't ever bring true joy. The only person I now try to compare myself to is the savior and each time I do I find myself lacking no matter how I progress. But I will keep progressing and keep reachign for the unreachable. C S Lewis once said (prepare for me to butcher this quote) ´´The proud dont find pleasure in having something. They only find pleasure in having more than someone else.´´ Feel free to edit! I now know why Bishop Keller was so worried about my lack of humility. I could not understand why he thought I was so proud. I did not feel as if I boasted or bragged or walked with a swagger, although I very well may have doen those things. The problem was in the fact that I honestly would look at my talents and gifts and would think that they were so much greater than those around me. And because of this I gave off an air of unearned superiority. But as I see my fellow missionaries struggle and excel and read about Jesus Christ, I realize how wrong I was.
Please look in to MissionTies. I can scan letters home instead of the month long back and forth. Could you maybe email Elder Duffy for my districts addresses again because I think I lost the sheet they gave me. I am out of time and I can´t wait for your responses. I am goign to try to send out more personal letters, but I really am rushed for time all the time.
Humbled,
Elder Healy
Just kidding! I love you guys so much and miss all of you. I hope you know that you are in my prayers and I pray for your welfare everyday. I reread my last letter and I would like to formally apologize to everyone. I sounded like a spoiled American (which is probably true) and I did not give my experience here justice. My first week was very rough due to many factors, but the main reason came from my inability to be humble and appreciate what I have been given. I´m sleeping much better now, I love the food (still shy of the desserts :] ) I am best friends with one of my teachers, and I have two wonderful companions. I have found that trying to change the behaviors of my ´´investigators`` I have actually begun to change my own. As I have truly studied as I have never before, I find myself applying what I learn to my own life and love the difference it has made. I am not saying that I am a changed man, I am merely in the process of trying to change.
This week has been full of new experiences. We had the opportunity to teach a family of five who were all members pretending to be investigators. They offered us invisble coffee and so we had to discuss why we didn´t want any and about the word of wisdom. I forgot what ´wisdom´ is in portuguese and the little girl filled it in for me (sabedoria). It was really funny because the parents had to silence her and pretended that they didn't know what she was talking about and had never heard about it before.
I got to try Acai berry juice for the first time this week and it is delicious. I cant wait to try the ice cream today. We went to the temple this morning and I was filled with a desire to see and serve, whatever that means. I really want to get out in the field, but I also know that I am not ready.
My companions names are Elder Knudson and Elder Nielson. Elder Knudson wants to be an engineer, loves sports, and is one of a small group that has someone waiting for him back at home. Elder Nielson loves to draw and is teaching me as well. He once won a dorm wide Super Smash Bros competition. They both were in Provo for four weeks before coming here. They seem to be doing what I was doign my first week and searching for all the possible faults here. I have learned that comparison does nothing except show inadequacies and doesn't ever bring true joy. The only person I now try to compare myself to is the savior and each time I do I find myself lacking no matter how I progress. But I will keep progressing and keep reachign for the unreachable. C S Lewis once said (prepare for me to butcher this quote) ´´The proud dont find pleasure in having something. They only find pleasure in having more than someone else.´´ Feel free to edit! I now know why Bishop Keller was so worried about my lack of humility. I could not understand why he thought I was so proud. I did not feel as if I boasted or bragged or walked with a swagger, although I very well may have doen those things. The problem was in the fact that I honestly would look at my talents and gifts and would think that they were so much greater than those around me. And because of this I gave off an air of unearned superiority. But as I see my fellow missionaries struggle and excel and read about Jesus Christ, I realize how wrong I was.
Please look in to MissionTies. I can scan letters home instead of the month long back and forth. Could you maybe email Elder Duffy for my districts addresses again because I think I lost the sheet they gave me. I am out of time and I can´t wait for your responses. I am goign to try to send out more personal letters, but I really am rushed for time all the time.
Humbled,
Elder Healy
Friday, September 2, 2011
Best Companion!!
Here is a letter (and pictures!!!)sent home from Weston's former companion in the Provo MTC...
"Dear Healy Family,
I Told Elder Healy (your son) that I would send you guys some pictures so here they are! Elder Healy is so Great! He has helped me grow so much both spiritually and and everywhere else. He is an amazing example of patience. Everyday he would stop by and take the time to help me with the language. So don't worry abouyt him, he is an exceptional missionary. Well I should probably go. I don't want to seem like a creep. Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Love, Elder Duffy
ROOMATES- Elder Duffy, Elder Healy, Elder Willits, Elder Heilner
COMPANIONS AT THE TEMPLE- Elder Healy and Elder Duffy
DISTRICT AT THE TEMPLE- (Elders) Willits, Duffy, Heliner, Healy, Worthington, Haywood, Kolb, Norton, Mccord, Stibork, Clingman
FELL ASLEEP DURING CHOIR
DISTRICT WITH OUR LANGUAGE TEACHER- Mccord, Brother Teadner Messais, Kolb, Haywood, Stibork, Willits, Clingman, Heilner, Duffy, Healy, Norton, Worthington
AT TEMPLE WITH BRAZILIAN FLAG
LEAVING THE MTC FOR BRAZIL-Elder Healy and Elder Duffy
"Dear Healy Family,
I Told Elder Healy (your son) that I would send you guys some pictures so here they are! Elder Healy is so Great! He has helped me grow so much both spiritually and and everywhere else. He is an amazing example of patience. Everyday he would stop by and take the time to help me with the language. So don't worry abouyt him, he is an exceptional missionary. Well I should probably go. I don't want to seem like a creep. Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Love, Elder Duffy
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Brazil
Hello everyone!
This last week has been a little different from what I am used to. The Provo MTC to Brazil MTC is like night and day. As I mentioned in my quick letter home, I have no companion still and am a district of me and two Japanese sisters. I was appointed DL against the stiff competition. I have been promised not one but two companions on Thursday and my current room only has one empty bed so we will see how that goes!
I started a study journal this week and it has really been a blessing. It’s great to look back on my thoughts on scriptures and to organize them in related groups. I´ve foung some great treasures as i search for scriptures for my investigators. I also just began Search for Happiness which is absolutely wonderful. It clearly explains what we believe and why we believe it. I am only about 40 pgs. in, but the story about Elder Ballard´s grandfather and the vision he had while on his mission was really touching. The book breaks down the gospel simply so that everyone can understand it, but still covers all important points.
The Japanese sisters are really funny. They went to BYU Hawaii last year after studying English in Provo. So they are having to learn their third language (Portuguese) in their second language (English). They still have trouble pronouncing something in English but none in Portuguese because apparently a lot of the sounds are similar to that of Japanese. One of the sisters, Irma Wada was trying to ask if I wanted to go to the post office with them and it sounded like Pasta Fest which brought me ceaseless amusement. Also they can’t tell apart Walk and Work.
I love you all so much and I can’t wait to hear from you. They said not to send packages here because I might be gone, but you guys can risk it if you like. I’ve truly come to rely on the power of prayer this week as I have had to ask for strength from the lord and I hope you know you are all in mine.
Tchao,
Elder Healy
This last week has been a little different from what I am used to. The Provo MTC to Brazil MTC is like night and day. As I mentioned in my quick letter home, I have no companion still and am a district of me and two Japanese sisters. I was appointed DL against the stiff competition. I have been promised not one but two companions on Thursday and my current room only has one empty bed so we will see how that goes!
I started a study journal this week and it has really been a blessing. It’s great to look back on my thoughts on scriptures and to organize them in related groups. I´ve foung some great treasures as i search for scriptures for my investigators. I also just began Search for Happiness which is absolutely wonderful. It clearly explains what we believe and why we believe it. I am only about 40 pgs. in, but the story about Elder Ballard´s grandfather and the vision he had while on his mission was really touching. The book breaks down the gospel simply so that everyone can understand it, but still covers all important points.
The Japanese sisters are really funny. They went to BYU Hawaii last year after studying English in Provo. So they are having to learn their third language (Portuguese) in their second language (English). They still have trouble pronouncing something in English but none in Portuguese because apparently a lot of the sounds are similar to that of Japanese. One of the sisters, Irma Wada was trying to ask if I wanted to go to the post office with them and it sounded like Pasta Fest which brought me ceaseless amusement. Also they can’t tell apart Walk and Work.
I love you all so much and I can’t wait to hear from you. They said not to send packages here because I might be gone, but you guys can risk it if you like. I’ve truly come to rely on the power of prayer this week as I have had to ask for strength from the lord and I hope you know you are all in mine.
Tchao,
Elder Healy
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Message From the Best Missionary in the MTC-Brazil
Hey Everyone,
I am trying Mission Ties (missionties.com email service) for the first time. I love you all so much. There aren't enough American missionaries so I don't have a companion. My district is just me and two Japanese sisters. Should be fun! Lots of shish kabobs and rice so far. There are only about 130 missionaries right now. My new P-Day is Tuesday so I will write more then.
Elder Healy
I am trying Mission Ties (missionties.com email service) for the first time. I love you all so much. There aren't enough American missionaries so I don't have a companion. My district is just me and two Japanese sisters. Should be fun! Lots of shish kabobs and rice so far. There are only about 130 missionaries right now. My new P-Day is Tuesday so I will write more then.
Elder Healy
I have Arrived!!
Wed Aug 24th
Here is a letter sent to the parents from the Mission President ............
Dear Parents,
We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time. We promise to take good care of your missionary.
They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.
The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.
Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”
Please accept our love,
President Donald L Clark and Sister Zaza Clark
Here is a letter sent to the parents from the Mission President ............
We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time. We promise to take good care of your missionary.
They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.
The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.
Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”
Please accept our love,
President Donald L Clark and Sister Zaza Clark
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)