Full Week and the Kitchen Sink!

"Oi! Tudo Otimo!

Ok, this week has been super full. Let me start out with last Wednesday. After I emailed you, we went to the chapel and I practiced the piano and helped Elder Hillam learn how to play "All of Me" by Jon Schmidt. That night we caught the bus to Campinas and then to Piracicaba. YAY... I love Piracicaba! We slept over at Elder Rossi's house and we did a division with them the next day. Thursday I worked with Elder Gomes, Elder Rossi's companion. A year ago I worked in Piracicaba 8 and did a few divisions in that ward so I know the area. We passed by the chapel, where our ward met with their ward. The chapel has been completely remodeled and expanded. It's hardly recognizable.

About a year ago, just before I was transferred from Piracicaba, in a division in that area, I participated in a family night with a family that would be baptized that week. I was transferred and I heard from someone that they never got baptized. So Thursday, I had the strongest feeling that we should visit them. I had only been to their house once, but I could perfectly remember the way there. We went there and found out that the wife hadn't gone to church for a long time, and that the day before, some pastor confronted her about the church and gave her a big long list of doctrinal questions. We taught her and the spirit was really strong. That day we (all four of us) found 13 new investigators and marked 9 baptisms.

The next day we went to a small town outside of Piracicaba called Capivari. there we worked with Elder Griffiths and Elder Damasio. That was a good division. It wasn't too productive numberwise, but I think it was productive because those elders were very unconfident and timid and I think we left them better off.

Saturday we're planning on going back to Elder Rossi's ward, but Rio Claro 2 (ah! another one of me wards!!) called and told us that their 3 marked baptisms for that week were in jeopardy. We woke up early and caught the bus from Capivari to Piracicaba and then to Rio Claro. Elder Hillam interviewd the husband and I interviewed the wife. Turns out that the man never wanted to be baptized and nearly kicked Elder Hillam out of the house when he found out that we don't accept reincarnation. The woman passed the interview, but even with all I could do wouldn't be baptized without her husband. She was very afraid of him. While he and I interviewed this couple, Elder Correa and his companion taught their daughter who accepted baptism! From there we went to the third interview, but the investigator, an elderly woman fell in the shower the day before, broke her shoulder, will never again be able to move her arm and was hospitalized. The adversary was working overtime in that ward.

That same day we returned to Piracicaba and slept in the vacant house in the 4th ward. It's been vacant for a year and a few weeks ago, someone broke in and stole everything, even the kitchen sink! We only had one mattress and two blankets. I used the mattress and Elder Hillam used the blankets. We were there half to guard the house and half because we need to attend church in the 4th ward to see if they were capable of getting a companionship again. that ward was very excited and friendly. We didn't have lunch so we asked around and a couple eagerly volunteered. That lunch gave me diaherria! That night we went to the 8th ward sacrament meeting. I saw everyone that I love and knew a year ago! That was wonderful! Everyone is still excited and will move back to their old chapel this June after remodeling.

Monday we spent the whole day in the office. Tuesday we went back to Rio Claro to attend their district meeting and here we are today! Wow, it's been a full week.

I included a photo of Elders Hillam, Nunes, Hahne, Pacheco, and Rhodes and myself at a churrascaria today after the leadership meeting. It was delicious! (churrascaria = Rodizio Grill type restaurant).

This week won't be as full, but it will be just as good!

I love you all and know that this church is true!

Tchau!
Elder Christian Larsen

No Change for Me, Big Change for Elder Brewer!

"OI !

I got what I was hoping for, Elder Hillam and I stayed together! I am loving what we do so much! We are going to change a little bit though. We are going to completely cut the strings that bind us to this area, Jd Amanda, and divide much more with the zones in our third of the mission.

Transfers were yesterday and some interesting things happened. Most interesting was that Elder Brewer was made a new district leader and trainer! When the president announced the transfer, each missionary stands up. Elder Brewer stood up. The president said, "Elder Brewer will stay in the area and is being called to be a district leader...! Elder Brewer almost fell into the pew! His mouth fell open and his shoulders fell back as though the entire weight of the call fell on him all at once. Everybody laughed! Presidente, laughing, said "Oh, aren't you suprised? Let's add to it then. In addition to being a district leader, Elder Brewer, you're going to train!" That was enough. He sat down.

Monday, I divided with Elder Brewer. His companion ended his mission and was going home, so he didn't have a companion. So, because I was also in the office, I grabbed him and another missionary and took them to Jd Amanda. I worked with Elder Brewer that whole day. It was a wonderful division and a chance to catch up on a lot. Now that I think about it, he is the only elder from my group with whom I've worked. He and I marked two baptisms together and talked about a lot of doctrine in between contacts. Elder Brewer has become really meek and calm. We think everyone has changed since the MTC. Sorry, I was about to take pictures but my camera was dead. This week we are planning on going to Piracicaba, so maybe I'll get to divide with him there! Let's hope so.

Yesterday I went with another elder to an area called Monte Mor to shut the area. We had to finish up a few things and get his bags. This elder will work with another one of the assistants.

Oh! Here's something that pleased me. You know how I like to organize stuff. So last night, when I got back to the office, Elder Nunes, one of the other assistants, came up to me and said he had something that he wanted me to do. I told him that I had something that I wanted to do. He asked what it was & I told him that it was to help rearrange the president's board. He about jumped in the air, because that was exactly what he wanted me to do! It was revelation! It's really bothersome to arrange that board, because there are so many little magnets, so many numbers. Nobody likes to do it, but I wanted to do it and loved it! It's still not done, but I hope I can finish it.

That was our week. I'm sure that this coming week will be very eventful. The office elders are thankful that I'm with Elder Hillam now because everyone gets to eat the goodies in my packages. I gave almost an entire package to the departing group...Elder Clark, Elder Santana, Sister Pierce and others. So everyone thanks you!

I love you and know this church is true.

Ate mais!
Elder Christian Larsen

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

"Oi!

It was wonderful to talk to you guys on Sunday. I can't believe that we're already talking about me coming home. But I've got plenty of time left.

First off, this week is going to be cool! Here's the breakdown:
Campinas mission: 75 marked baptisms
Hortolandia region: 34 marked baptisms (our 1/3 of the mission)
Hortolandia zone: 25 marked baptisms and 9 possible baptisms

Our goals this week are:
Campinas Mission: Over 81
Horlandia Region: 50
Hortolandia Zone: 30
Jd Amanda Area: 12

That means that three records would fall: 1. most baptisms in the mission in one week; 2. most baptisms in one zone in one week and, 3. most baptisms in one area in one week.

Another cool thing I've noticed is that ever since the multi-zone conference, I've marked a baptism in almost every single lesson I've taught (and I don't think it's all Elder Hillam...I haven't taught many lessons with him). That was surprising to me.

These past two days I've spent helping in the office with whatever I can. I'm excited to go back to our area tonight, sleep in our own house, and keep teaching. Ever since the transfer, I've been to nine different areas and I've slept in five different houses. It's really busy! But, its really cool!

We had two baptisms this past weekend! Two girls, Jennifer and Larisse and will have a bunch more in the coming weeks.

This mission will pass through a thorough phase of refinement. Our teachng will be examined and critiqued and honed. I feel like I teach well, but I'm excited to see how I can improve. This mission is going to improve substantially. I'm excited and I hope that I stick with Elder Hillam for this next transfer. The transfer in this coming Tuesday (19/5/09).

I love you all and am happy. I know this is the work of the Lord and it's amazing.

Ate mais, Elder Christian Larsen

P.S. Elder Brewer was able to talk to this mom just fine. After your call I called his zone leaders and checked with them and everything is fine.

P.P.S. I saw a flyer for the Star Trek movie on the ground the other day and avoided it. That was a surprisingly huge temptation, but it looked cool and I'm excited to watch it when I come home.

Mother's Day Call

Our call to Christian was limited to thirty minutes. He could only talk to his parents. Each mission president sets his own rules and his were pretty strict.

His new assignment means that he travels during the week with his companion and they have four zones to direct. Monday through Friday they do divisions with other companionships and on the weekend they are in their own area which they share with another set of elders. They travel by bus and next week they will be in the most remote part of the mission which is a four hour bus ride. His companion is Elder Hillam from Idaho Falls and is one of three AP's. He said that since they are not home during the week, they sleep on mattresses on the floor of the apartment of the elders with whom they work that day.

We learned that because of a short transfer (5 weeks instead of 6) earlier in the year that his release date is now moved up to Nov. 3, one week earlier than expected. This past transfer was unexpected because 6 missionaries went home early. The next regularly scheduled transfer is the 19th of this month.

He sounded really happy and excited about the work that he's doing.

I opened an email from Elder Brewer's (one of Christian's MTC group) mother just a few minutes before we called Christian. They apparently hadn't heard from their son this week and didn't know where to call him. Christian gave us the phone # of the mission home which I forwarded on to the Brewer family. In the interim, they had found a phone # which turned out to be the mission president's home phone. I'll bet that started the ball rolling.

What an eventful Mother's Day!!!

Emergency Transfer!!!!

"Well, I was transferred!!!

No, I'm not joking, there was a large emergency transfer because in the past two weeks 6 missionaries returned home early...three because of sickness, and three because of disobedience. One of those was Elder McEwen. He was the companion of one of the three assistants to the president. I took his place. Elder Hilliam is my companion and we spend every week traveling the mission doing divisions with everyone. This week I'll be returning to Rio Claro and do divisions there.

This past Tuesday in my interviews the President told me that when he opened up the assistant's callings to have a companion he wanted me to be that companion, but for some reason or another called someone else. But, now, because of these transfers, he put me with the assistant. I'm very excited to be even more involved in the work here than I was. Dividing with the missionaries in our mission will be an excellent experience. Aside from looking after our part of the mission, we have a proselyting area. My new area is called Jardim Amanda and is recognized as the best area in the mission. We live with another companionship, Elder Shattuck and...guess who...Elder Santana (my old companion from Rio Claro!) who also work in Jardim Amanda! We have baptisms there every week.

What's cool, though, was that my last week in Nova Venza, I was able to mark 8 baptisms for this month and get 10 investigators to church! That was our best week there, and certainly Elder Damasceno will baptize all of these people.

I'll leave it at that, because I'll talk to you guys, for the last time in the field, this Sunday. You can call the chapel. All four of us will be there and I'm scheduled for 5 pm Brazil time.

I love you and am excited to talk to you....until Sunday.

Tchau! Elder Christian Larsen