Bazinga!
Random Thought: I have a blanket!
Transfers: Out of the 4 missionaries here I will be the only one staying. I will receive my new companion at 2 in the morning and two more missionaries will come tomorrow and Wednesday.
So this week was not very rushed at all. Monday was a normal P-day but this time I was happy because we cleaned the house! I REALLY like a clean house. Wednesday my companion was sick so we went home for him to rest and get better. At the end of the day we went to a few appointments that we had already marked and ended the day well.
Friday we had the baptismal interviews of Iara, Iago and Igor! All three passed perfectly and were super excited to see how ready they were to be baptized. Saturday came and we spent the day cleaning the baptismal font and getting everything ready for the baptism at 5:00pm. When they arrived at the church we were super excited to see them! Then Neusa (their mom) pulled us to the side and said,"Hey, we have a problem. Igor said he doesn't want to be baptized." So we pulled him into a different room and talked with him about baptism, the Holy Spirit and a few other things and he accepted to be baptized. So we went ahead with the meeting. They were baptized and onSunday received the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
Yesterday was great! It was the end of day light savings here...and we forgot. We were supposed to go to the church at 07:30 but we got there at 06:30 instead and we were wondering why no one was there. The branch president walked in at 07:30 and said,"Forgot about day light savings Elders?" Then it hit us.
After church a couple in the branch came up to us. Brother Nelson and Sister Rosana (they use first names here). They take care of the houses of the other Elders. They said,"Elders. I have a question. Is your house as bad as those other houses?" My companion has been there already and said,"Absolutely not. I even told them to clean before you went there!" She went on to tell us about how she was shocked and disappointed with them and how she is going to stay on top of them now. Brother Nelson just said,"It was really bad. It will take 2 p-days to clean it! It just made me wanna.......eat lunch!" Ha, he is a really funny guy.
The mission has now assigned couples to help take care of the houses of the missionaries. Really that means that all the houses will stay clean now! WOO!
That's all folks!
Moses 1 :39
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Monday, February 17, 2014
Week #83
Bazinga!
Random Thought: Se pedir truco, É 6!!!!
So this week was full! Lots of great stuff. Not much happened other than teaching this week but we had some GREAT spiritual experiences. There are three main investigators right now and each one has a story.
I will start with Raisa. She is 18 and very into a different religion. BUT she is extremely nice and receptive. One of the things I asked her to do in the first visit is to keep her heart open to what we would teach. So we have taught her three times now and we still aren't sure what to think.
She prayed about the Book of Mormon and received an answer that it's true. So we explained that with that knowledge all other aspects of our messages are true. But then we invited her to be baptized and she said,"But I was already baptized." So we explained more about authority and invited her again! She gave the same answer. So my companion and I looked at each other and he said,"Alright, let me be a little more direct because I think that you still aren't quite understanding. You were baptized, but the man who baptized you doesn't have authority." She stopped and with a confused look on her face said,"What do you mean?" Ha my companion was a bit frustrated so I cut in and explained.
I said, "Look at my companion's tie. What color is it?'
She said, "Green."
I replied, "Ok, now is there another truth? Is there any other true answer than green?"
She said, "No."
I said, "Is this truth different to me or to you or to any other person?"
She said, "No to everyone it is green."
I responded with , "So automatically any other answer is not truth?"
She answered, "Yes."
My final response was, "It is the same with the gospel and with authority from the Lord. There is one gospel, one authority, and one truth. You just said that you believe The Book of Mormon to be true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. If you believe that then you have to believe that Jesus Christ restored authority through Joseph. Which means there is ONE true authority, and ONE church where it is found."
She understood but is still having a very hard time accepting, but in that moment I felt the Spirit talking through me.
Second there is Igor (15), Iago(14), and Iara (11). We found them a few weeks ago just clapping at their gate. THEY ARE ELECT! They have accepted everything we have taught and are really into it. Iara is just a young girl but has started studying The Book of Mormon like I have never seen! Igor and Iago are accepting and living all the commandments! On Sunday they were in the young men's class and the branch president asked,"What do you most want?" He went from boy to boy and Iago said,"To be baptized." Igor said,"To learn more about the gospel." We are super happy with them and their progress.
Third are Rogerio and Maria. They are a couple that isn't married but are VERY interested. When we first showed up at their house Rogerio had a lot of doubts about other churches and authority and such. We taught the first lesson. The next day we went back and they both said that they want to be baptized! He said that while he was thinking about what we had taught he said a silent prayer and asked for a personal answer. That night he had a dream and saw white and heard a voice that said,"My son, this is the truth that was lost." He was excited to share this with us! I just smiled when I heard it.
Other than that just little adventures! I ate cow stomach and last week I ate liver! pictures to come!
Proverbs 25:28
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Random Thought: Se pedir truco, É 6!!!!
So this week was full! Lots of great stuff. Not much happened other than teaching this week but we had some GREAT spiritual experiences. There are three main investigators right now and each one has a story.
I will start with Raisa. She is 18 and very into a different religion. BUT she is extremely nice and receptive. One of the things I asked her to do in the first visit is to keep her heart open to what we would teach. So we have taught her three times now and we still aren't sure what to think.
She prayed about the Book of Mormon and received an answer that it's true. So we explained that with that knowledge all other aspects of our messages are true. But then we invited her to be baptized and she said,"But I was already baptized." So we explained more about authority and invited her again! She gave the same answer. So my companion and I looked at each other and he said,"Alright, let me be a little more direct because I think that you still aren't quite understanding. You were baptized, but the man who baptized you doesn't have authority." She stopped and with a confused look on her face said,"What do you mean?" Ha my companion was a bit frustrated so I cut in and explained.
I said, "Look at my companion's tie. What color is it?'
She said, "Green."
I replied, "Ok, now is there another truth? Is there any other true answer than green?"
She said, "No."
I said, "Is this truth different to me or to you or to any other person?"
She said, "No to everyone it is green."
I responded with , "So automatically any other answer is not truth?"
She answered, "Yes."
My final response was, "It is the same with the gospel and with authority from the Lord. There is one gospel, one authority, and one truth. You just said that you believe The Book of Mormon to be true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. If you believe that then you have to believe that Jesus Christ restored authority through Joseph. Which means there is ONE true authority, and ONE church where it is found."
She understood but is still having a very hard time accepting, but in that moment I felt the Spirit talking through me.
Second there is Igor (15), Iago(14), and Iara (11). We found them a few weeks ago just clapping at their gate. THEY ARE ELECT! They have accepted everything we have taught and are really into it. Iara is just a young girl but has started studying The Book of Mormon like I have never seen! Igor and Iago are accepting and living all the commandments! On Sunday they were in the young men's class and the branch president asked,"What do you most want?" He went from boy to boy and Iago said,"To be baptized." Igor said,"To learn more about the gospel." We are super happy with them and their progress.
Third are Rogerio and Maria. They are a couple that isn't married but are VERY interested. When we first showed up at their house Rogerio had a lot of doubts about other churches and authority and such. We taught the first lesson. The next day we went back and they both said that they want to be baptized! He said that while he was thinking about what we had taught he said a silent prayer and asked for a personal answer. That night he had a dream and saw white and heard a voice that said,"My son, this is the truth that was lost." He was excited to share this with us! I just smiled when I heard it.
Other than that just little adventures! I ate cow stomach and last week I ate liver! pictures to come!
Proverbs 25:28
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Week #81 - (Jan 27th - sorry it's out of order)
Bazinga!!
Random Thought: I ate an entire melon by myself last night.
This week was a bit rushed! But that is my life now. Tuesday was a great day, Just a lot of work and contacts and lessons and normal missionary stuff.
Wednesday we got on a bus at 1:30pm to go to Cuiabá for yet another conference! Due to a bunch of unforeseen complications we didn't get there until 2:00am! Then we walked to the secretaries house to sleep the night there. The next day we went to the conference and it was great! President Reber always has a new change in the mission that he introduces at these conferences.
This time he talked a lot about how we are treating each other. He received a lot of letter from the greenies talking about how the other missionaries were giving them flak for stuff they say or do. Example: President received a letter that said when a missionary got into his first area the other missionaries in the house asked,"Are you a righteous missionary? Or are you chill and like to have fun?" So we talked a lot about this.Then we got on a bus at 6:00pm and didn't get home until 3:00am. It was very tiring, the travel, but it was fun!
Friday we worked as normal and Saturday we did divisions with the members! Let me explain. The members here have gone through a lot. The area hit rock bottom before I got here and now it is starting to get better. After the visits we all went back to the church to do a little feedback session. I was so happy to see how it effected them. Then on Sunday because of our efforts we had 20ish more people in the church. We were very blessed.
Saturday I poured a bucket of ice water on my companion in the shower (we don't even have hot water in the shower). So Sunday night while I was using the bathroom Elder Pinheiro poor a bucket on me. It was so cold but way funny.
D&C 121
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Random Thought: I ate an entire melon by myself last night.
This week was a bit rushed! But that is my life now. Tuesday was a great day, Just a lot of work and contacts and lessons and normal missionary stuff.
Wednesday we got on a bus at 1:30pm to go to Cuiabá for yet another conference! Due to a bunch of unforeseen complications we didn't get there until 2:00am! Then we walked to the secretaries house to sleep the night there. The next day we went to the conference and it was great! President Reber always has a new change in the mission that he introduces at these conferences.
This time he talked a lot about how we are treating each other. He received a lot of letter from the greenies talking about how the other missionaries were giving them flak for stuff they say or do. Example: President received a letter that said when a missionary got into his first area the other missionaries in the house asked,"Are you a righteous missionary? Or are you chill and like to have fun?" So we talked a lot about this.Then we got on a bus at 6:00pm and didn't get home until 3:00am. It was very tiring, the travel, but it was fun!
Friday we worked as normal and Saturday we did divisions with the members! Let me explain. The members here have gone through a lot. The area hit rock bottom before I got here and now it is starting to get better. After the visits we all went back to the church to do a little feedback session. I was so happy to see how it effected them. Then on Sunday because of our efforts we had 20ish more people in the church. We were very blessed.
Saturday I poured a bucket of ice water on my companion in the shower (we don't even have hot water in the shower). So Sunday night while I was using the bathroom Elder Pinheiro poor a bucket on me. It was so cold but way funny.
D&C 121
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Monday, February 3, 2014
Week #82
Bazinga!
Random Thought: Miracles are happening.
Well this week was another exhausting week but that's a good thing. So on Monday we talked with the assistants and they wanted to do divisions in their area on Wednesday. So we planned everything and got all our bus passage marked. OnTuesday, as we were getting on the bus, the assistants called and said that we couldn't do divisions because President called a meeting at the last second, BUT that we were still to go to Cuiabá to attend the meeting so that we wouldn't waste the money paid on our passage. So all of Tuesday we were on the bus. We got to Cuiabá and walked to the office and then went with the assistants to eat pizza and then to their house where we slept the night.
Wednesday we got up and went through the normal routine and went to lunch. One of the assistants, Elder Rolim, wasn't feeling well so he didn't eat. It was a good lunch and we left a message and then left to catch a bus to go to the mission office for our meeting. When we got to the bus stop, Elder Rolim didn't sit down and wait for the bus but went over to a trash can. Our bus arrived but as we were going to get on Elder Rolim started throwing up! So we had to wait about another 10-15 minutes and help him (I gave him tic tacs). Then we waited for the next bus and went.
The meeting was about learning English! Ha it only lasted about an hour! Since the assistants couldn't do divisions because of Elder Rolim we had permission from President to stay in the office until we left. So we went and got McDonalds and waited there until l hour bus came.
Our bus left at 10:00pm and we were traveling to a city called Lucas do Rio Verde. That's where the sisters in our zone work and we were going there to have our district meeting. The bus was supposed to get there at about 6:00am and we would just have to walk to the church and wait. Well the bus decided to be faster this time and got there at 3:30am!! So we decided to do this. Got to the sisters house and grab the keys to the church, go back to the bus station and shower, then go to the church and sleep there. So we did!! When we got to the church we lined up chairs to make a bed and slept there. That afternoon we finally came back to Sorriso and got to work again.
Sunday was the best! We have a family that we are teaching that are awesome! Unfortunately on two of them could go to church. It was great and we had 64 people at church! (Normal was 35). Then as we were taking these kids back home, the member that was giving a ride asked if they were baptized. They said no. He then asked if they wanted to and they said yes!!! BEST WORDS EVER!!!!!!! The branch is really getting into the rhythm of the work and we are all excited and ready to go!
3 Nephi 19:35-36
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Well this week was another exhausting week but that's a good thing. So on Monday we talked with the assistants and they wanted to do divisions in their area on Wednesday. So we planned everything and got all our bus passage marked. OnTuesday, as we were getting on the bus, the assistants called and said that we couldn't do divisions because President called a meeting at the last second, BUT that we were still to go to Cuiabá to attend the meeting so that we wouldn't waste the money paid on our passage. So all of Tuesday we were on the bus. We got to Cuiabá and walked to the office and then went with the assistants to eat pizza and then to their house where we slept the night.
Wednesday we got up and went through the normal routine and went to lunch. One of the assistants, Elder Rolim, wasn't feeling well so he didn't eat. It was a good lunch and we left a message and then left to catch a bus to go to the mission office for our meeting. When we got to the bus stop, Elder Rolim didn't sit down and wait for the bus but went over to a trash can. Our bus arrived but as we were going to get on Elder Rolim started throwing up! So we had to wait about another 10-15 minutes and help him (I gave him tic tacs). Then we waited for the next bus and went.
The meeting was about learning English! Ha it only lasted about an hour! Since the assistants couldn't do divisions because of Elder Rolim we had permission from President to stay in the office until we left. So we went and got McDonalds and waited there until l hour bus came.
Our bus left at 10:00pm and we were traveling to a city called Lucas do Rio Verde. That's where the sisters in our zone work and we were going there to have our district meeting. The bus was supposed to get there at about 6:00am and we would just have to walk to the church and wait. Well the bus decided to be faster this time and got there at 3:30am!! So we decided to do this. Got to the sisters house and grab the keys to the church, go back to the bus station and shower, then go to the church and sleep there. So we did!! When we got to the church we lined up chairs to make a bed and slept there. That afternoon we finally came back to Sorriso and got to work again.
Sunday was the best! We have a family that we are teaching that are awesome! Unfortunately on two of them could go to church. It was great and we had 64 people at church! (Normal was 35). Then as we were taking these kids back home, the member that was giving a ride asked if they were baptized. They said no. He then asked if they wanted to and they said yes!!! BEST WORDS EVER!!!!!!! The branch is really getting into the rhythm of the work and we are all excited and ready to go!
3 Nephi 19:35-36
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Week #80
Bazinga!!
Random Thought: I hate it when I eat beans.
So it was a fantastic week! On Monday after getting off the computer we went to the grocery store and got a bunch of food and left. As we were leaving it started raining and then after about five minutes it started pouring! So we ran to the nearest building which happened to be the court house. We waited inside for about 20 min until the rain stopped and then kept going. I was already soaked though. Tuesday was a decision day! I decided to run everyday for at least half an hour. So far I have been doing it and I'm super excited.
Wednesday we had our zone meeting! The Elders and Sisters have to come from two other cities to get here. We focused a lot on not getting discouraged because the areas in this zone are a bit hard on the missionaries. We have four branches in three cities and because the missionaries are isolated they tend to look at the situation of the branch and get dicouraged. So we are trying to help with that.
We also had another wonderful adventure with the power in our house this week! I was studying in the morning and the power company showed up at our house. I looked at my companion and said,"I think they are going to shut off the power!" He got up and went to talk to them and it turns out that the October bill was never paid. So we went two days without power before it got paid and turned on. We planned in candle light and showered in candle light. It was fun except no fans at night, so it was hard to sleep.
On Saturday we went to have lunch at a less active family's house and I accidentally ate beans. So I spent the whole day at home on my bed and in the bathroom. This time I didn't throw up but I think it might have been worse. I wish I had just got them out of my stomach faster!
Sunday was fantastic! I gave a talk! I love to give talks now. We EVEN had a family of investigators go to church! I was so happy! The members were really great too! They were all over the family when they arrived and really made them feel welcome. We were really excited.
That's all for this week! I love you SO much and more than that!
2 Nephi 4:15
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Random Thought: I hate it when I eat beans.
So it was a fantastic week! On Monday after getting off the computer we went to the grocery store and got a bunch of food and left. As we were leaving it started raining and then after about five minutes it started pouring! So we ran to the nearest building which happened to be the court house. We waited inside for about 20 min until the rain stopped and then kept going. I was already soaked though. Tuesday was a decision day! I decided to run everyday for at least half an hour. So far I have been doing it and I'm super excited.
Wednesday we had our zone meeting! The Elders and Sisters have to come from two other cities to get here. We focused a lot on not getting discouraged because the areas in this zone are a bit hard on the missionaries. We have four branches in three cities and because the missionaries are isolated they tend to look at the situation of the branch and get dicouraged. So we are trying to help with that.
We also had another wonderful adventure with the power in our house this week! I was studying in the morning and the power company showed up at our house. I looked at my companion and said,"I think they are going to shut off the power!" He got up and went to talk to them and it turns out that the October bill was never paid. So we went two days without power before it got paid and turned on. We planned in candle light and showered in candle light. It was fun except no fans at night, so it was hard to sleep.
On Saturday we went to have lunch at a less active family's house and I accidentally ate beans. So I spent the whole day at home on my bed and in the bathroom. This time I didn't throw up but I think it might have been worse. I wish I had just got them out of my stomach faster!
Sunday was fantastic! I gave a talk! I love to give talks now. We EVEN had a family of investigators go to church! I was so happy! The members were really great too! They were all over the family when they arrived and really made them feel welcome. We were really excited.
That's all for this week! I love you SO much and more than that!
2 Nephi 4:15
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Week #79
Bazinga!
Random Thought: My bathroom is VERY clean.
Transfers: I am now in a city called Sorriso with Elder Pinheiro.
So I didn't DO much this week but there is a long story to tell.
I left my last city, Ponta Porã, last Monday at 2:30pm and arrived in Campo Grande at 9:00pm (6.5 hours). When we got to Campo Grande I went to get my passage for the next bus and he said,"I'm sorry it was booked for 8:30pm, you've missed your bus." So I called the office and had my passage rebooked for 2:00pm the next day! I stayed in a nearby missionary house that night.
The next day I got on the bus at 2:00pm and had a long bus ride to Cuiabá! I arrived there at 2:00am on Wednesday. Yes it took 12 hours!When I arrived the Taxi driver had no idea how to get to the mission home where I was going, so during the drive we had to call the secretaries and ask. Even after asking it was a struggle to get there. When I got out of the Taxi I handed the driver 17 reais (6 dollars) which was the price we agreed on and he said,"No this was a big struggle for me, you have to pay 30 reais (14 dollars). Lame. So I paid but I got re-imbursed later.
President Reber scheduled a meeting for all the Zone leaders on Friday so the secretaries told me that I would be staying in Cuiabá all of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, because it didn't make sense to pay to send me up to my area, 10 hours away and then back to Cuiaba again. So I spent Wednesday with the assistants and Thursday with President Reber. I helped them as much as I could but still ended up doing a whole lot of nothing. Okay, I guess I got to observe and learn. I just don't like being too idle. Then on Friday we finally had our meeting and then we left to go to our area. We left at 4:00pm and didn't get here until 2:00am on Saturday morning.
We spent Saturday teaching and meeting members and then Sunday was church! Also Sunday night we had a fireside done by the missionaries. President Reber had already told me a lot about the area so I knew what I should say in my part. After the fireside a brother came up to me and said,"Elder thank you for being direct. We need that here." He really liked the meeting and the spirit was strong.
Today I woke up and cleaned the bathroom in my new apartment, so well I think I even heard it say,"Thank you, I haven't been this clean...ever." My eyes are still burning from the bleach. (a little lesson I learned from Nelli's mission)
3 Nephi 27:27
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
Random Thought: My bathroom is VERY clean.
Transfers: I am now in a city called Sorriso with Elder Pinheiro.
So I didn't DO much this week but there is a long story to tell.
I left my last city, Ponta Porã, last Monday at 2:30pm and arrived in Campo Grande at 9:00pm (6.5 hours). When we got to Campo Grande I went to get my passage for the next bus and he said,"I'm sorry it was booked for 8:30pm, you've missed your bus." So I called the office and had my passage rebooked for 2:00pm the next day! I stayed in a nearby missionary house that night.
The next day I got on the bus at 2:00pm and had a long bus ride to Cuiabá! I arrived there at 2:00am on Wednesday. Yes it took 12 hours!When I arrived the Taxi driver had no idea how to get to the mission home where I was going, so during the drive we had to call the secretaries and ask. Even after asking it was a struggle to get there. When I got out of the Taxi I handed the driver 17 reais (6 dollars) which was the price we agreed on and he said,"No this was a big struggle for me, you have to pay 30 reais (14 dollars). Lame. So I paid but I got re-imbursed later.
President Reber scheduled a meeting for all the Zone leaders on Friday so the secretaries told me that I would be staying in Cuiabá all of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, because it didn't make sense to pay to send me up to my area, 10 hours away and then back to Cuiaba again. So I spent Wednesday with the assistants and Thursday with President Reber. I helped them as much as I could but still ended up doing a whole lot of nothing. Okay, I guess I got to observe and learn. I just don't like being too idle. Then on Friday we finally had our meeting and then we left to go to our area. We left at 4:00pm and didn't get here until 2:00am on Saturday morning.
We spent Saturday teaching and meeting members and then Sunday was church! Also Sunday night we had a fireside done by the missionaries. President Reber had already told me a lot about the area so I knew what I should say in my part. After the fireside a brother came up to me and said,"Elder thank you for being direct. We need that here." He really liked the meeting and the spirit was strong.
Today I woke up and cleaned the bathroom in my new apartment, so well I think I even heard it say,"Thank you, I haven't been this clean...ever." My eyes are still burning from the bleach. (a little lesson I learned from Nelli's mission)
3 Nephi 27:27
Com muito amor,
Elder Roman Laws
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