July 18, 2011

Talk about News, Holy cow, lots is going on in the life of my wonderful family. And its all so exciting. The changes in Trek sound like they would be awesome. And congrats Autumn! As for the weather here, Im keeping plenty warm with my sweater, I actually only have used it three times, you know me I like the cold. And the rain hasn't been too bad here, a few days, but I only needed to use my rain coat one or two days, winter is the drier season here, so we'll see when the summer comes. Ha. And I don't think I really need anything specific out here. All is well, Tudo Bem. (Ha, in English the hymn says All is Well, All is well, and in Portuguese it says Tudo Bem, Tudo Bem. Which is funny for some reason. Ha.) Anyways, the weeks are really starting to fly by again. Its crazy out here, sometimes the days last forever, but then its the next week. Ha. Time is weird, and always will be. So this week I revisited the place where I first was trained, the CTM. Well, I was on a division in the area with Elder Nobre, we didn't actually go inside. The division went really well though, I enjoyed a little change in scenery, though I am glad to be back in my "birthplace." Ha. By the way, the juice here is really good, you wont find big apple juice jugs, but you'll find tons of flavors of juices. So our ward here had a big "Festa Junina" that we were able to attend. And yes, I know its July, not June, dont ask me why it was held in July. Ha. Anyways its a festible with food and all sorts of games for the kids to play, like an electronic bull, and there also is music and dancing. It was really fun there. As a missionary we cant do all the stuff, but we got to talk to the members and several non-members showed up to. So Im standing there and I got some food, looking for a spoon, and my companion comes over, and says something really fast. I then look over, and he says "Presidente, Presidente está aqui." I was confused at first, thinking which president is here, and I look over, and there is President Martins talking to our Bishop. We went and talked to him, and he told me all about Festa Junina. President Martins is awesome. Another awesome thing happened today. We went Bowling! It was sweet, and even cooler because none of the Brazilians had ever bowled before. It was a great time, great activity for our P-Day. Also, in our zone meeting last week they brought up scriptures and we are all trying to make ourselves better missionaries. I really liked one that they brought up, and it is Doctrine and Covenants 112:10. Its about humbling ourselves, and really each and everyone of us can humble ourselves more. We can never truly overcome pride, we can be humble, but we need to keep being humble. Pride is a destroyer, pride is a comparison, when truly the comparisons don't make sense. And the promise in this verse is amazing, if we humble ourselves, then God will answer our prayers, and He will lead us "by the Hand." Who better to help us in our lives and lead help tell us where to go than our Heavenly Father himself. He loves us all and wants to help us, if we are prideful, then we think we don't need God, and we need to humble ourselves. I know that God exists and that He loves us. I know He will help us when we are humble. I love you all, and wish you a great week.
-Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

July 11, 2011

Então, This week seemed to truly fly by. Strange. Hmmm. Ha. Time is weird, and that's that. As for the Mother of the Twins, she was baptized Saturday, and it went really well. They twins and Bruno took tons of pictures. (Bruno is a young man about to go on a mission, who Baptized Estela). The Dad says he has a testimony, but he is still waiting for his truck first. I thought it was really cool, because he knows that the church is true because of the Love of the Missionaries and members. He said that the humility is also what makes us true, because everyone is equal in the church. I am so happy for the example of the members here, and remember that you always have an impact, whether you know it or not. And, yes, they are the ones with the bird. The fathers name is Vanderlei. As for Portuguese, I'm still progressing little by little, and day by day, but I can understand more and more. I am excited for the day when I truly can speak normally in Portuguese, and I know with the Lords Help, It can happen. As for the hands part, I guess its gotta come naturally, Ha. I read The Book of Mormon and Livro de Mormon side by side pretty much everyday. I love the Book of Mormon, and I know its really helping me. So, this week I had the amazing experience of doing a division. Elder Macfarlane joined me in Cerqueira César. He is awesome, we talked a lot, and shared stories. He is half Canadian too! And he goes to Waterton every other year. His Moms maiden name was Mercer, and he goes to visit the Knowlton families. Do we know him? Ha. He was really awesome, and I enjoyed it, in fact one of the best days of the mission so far. So I saw Herby the other day, just driving along in São Paulo. Crazy eh? ha. And its actually been cold here, well for here. Ha. Its been 10 C here, which is 50 F. And the humidity makes it feel even colder. In fact, we were sitting waiting for a member to return home for lunch, and an old lady came out of the building. She exclaimed "Nossa!" and turned around so fast I wouldn't even think it was possible, and she about ran over her other friend trying to get back inside. Ha. Also, A man came up to me when we were walking on Pulista, and says (In Portuguese) "Trainer? What are guys called again. Mormons, uhh..." And my companion says "Elders" and then the guy says " oh yeah, my nephews an Elder" He said his name and area, which is a different mission, and then said, "do you know him?" We  said no, and he said its probably because there is a lot of you. Then he said the words he knew in English, because I'm North American. And sadly the only words he knew were profanity. I don't know why I shared this experience, it seemed funnier before I actually wrote it down. Ha. I think he was drunk too. Anyways, this week has been a good week, and I decided to choose 2 Nephi 25:23 as the scripture of this week. We are saved by grace after all we can do. We need to do our part, and do all we can to follow Christ, and I know, even though we aren't perfect, that Christ will help us out with the rest. Without Christ we wouldn't be able to be saved, but we still need to do our part. I love you all, and always remember that Christ lives and loves you.

eating ketchep

I went on exchanges with Elder McFarlene

baptism

-Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

July 4, 2011

Happy Fourth of July! America! Another week passes by. Honestly that is such a weird thing, time. hmm. Well, my singing went, well just that, it went. Ha. I dunno, but they said I did good, even though I sang solo, and thats not me normally, ha. Who knows, I may come back a singer. Ha. And even after my singing, the Mom has accepted, and she is supposed to get baptised this Saturday. That's really cool. We are still working with the dad. He is crazy. And we were at their house the other day, and my companion stuck a waffer in his mouth cheek to cheek, and I went to try, and as I was trying it broke, and we all started laughing, and Im sure I turned super red, and its not from embarrassment, I don't know why I fica red so easy. And, mind you, this was while the bishop was talking to the Dad. The twins are 14 years old. As for Roberta, sadly she cancelled her interview and disappeared. Apparently they went out of town, but we are going to visit them soon. Otherwise, things have been going good.I got Grandma's Package! Yay! Ha. Also, we had a really cool trust activity with our zone, which consisted of running blinded wearing baptismal clothes and a blindfold, and also falling off a table.  One huge thing that happened this past week, was the change in Presidency. President Martins did an introduction presentation thing. He is really awesome, and seems like he will make an excellent president. Today was also fun, as we got together with most our zone and played games. Including a version of soccer, since we cant play real "futebol." Today, I want to reemphasize (SP, and many other words too) the importance of the Book Of Mormon. If we look in 1 Nephi 6:6, it says that everything in the Book of Mormon is of use to us. We need to take advantage of this book, and read from it everyday. I love the Book of Mormon, and challenge all people to read it day by day, and I promise that it will improve your lives, and help you in all that you do. I know that the Book Of Mormon is true, and contains the words of God. I love you all. 

-Elder Tanner Ross Paxman