June 11, 2012

Sorry, fotos aren't working.  Better internet = no photos??

So, yes indeed, its been a week. So during the baptism in English that I conducted, my companion stayed there, with the other Brazilians that watched, and they understood all that they could. And as for Elder Cacchiotti, he is from Moses Lake Washington. He is a great guy. I got the Paxman Times, which was awesome. I love looking at the pictures and getting a good laugh through all the updates and things. So this week, we had a Mission Counsel with President and all the other Zone leaders. That went excellent. Also, the Wards, from our ward, gave us some Mac N Cheese, which was delicious. That was a great taste that I hadn't had for quite some time. Sister Ward went to the states for the summer now, and there are a bunch of people that are going to the states throughout the year. It is freezing here by the way ...  well for Brazil ... and after you're use to the heat. There is a family here, Familia Fusco, which they are always helping out us missionaries. They have an amazing spirit of missionary work. They brought us all snacks when there were a bunch of us stuck at the church without Almoço. (lunch, kind of, ha). We were able to watch the dedication of the Manaos Temple. The cultural part was pretty cool and enjoyable. Ha. We watched all three sessions of the dedication, and it was cool. We saw another side of President Deiter F. Uchtdorf when they went to put the mortar on the temple. He is a funny guy. It was a cool experience though. So, this week the work is pretty normal, we taught a couple that are interested, they were a reference of the Fusco's. There names are Gisele, and Marcello, and they are pretty cool. We are still working with a couple people, and area always praying for more. The scripture that I would like to share with you all today, is Moroni 1: 2-4. I am always amazed at his testimony, and we all should be standing up for the right and for Christ. And he also shows his love for his brethren. The very people that were trying to kill him, he wanted them to be able to have the joy of the gospel. Let us all strive to be better people, and better livers of the gospel in everyday. I love you all, and hope that you all have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

PS: As for showers and bathrooms and things; our shower caught on fire while my companion was taking a shower. They are electric, and I guess the connection was bad. He came running out holding his towel, and I looked in the bathroom and there was a bunch of smoke. Nothing big though. It didn't even burn long, just melted the wires where they connected. We fixed it the same day though, so it was all good. I connected them a lot better this time. I hope, ha.

June 4, 2012

Oranges! Yay! They were real good right off the tree. 

I'm gonna eat that Orange! Well ... maybe it was just for a foto, but oh well. I did eat other ones. Ha.

I am yet again surprised at how fast a week can go. Can you believe it? It took one week to pass. Ha. But it was indeed fast for me. This past week was a good week. We had a division where I stayed in my area with Elder Cacchiotti. He is from Washington actually, and he is pretty awesome.  We had a good time. We also had a surprise meeting called by president which went well really well. He truly is an inspired man. A member here in our ward has his dad´s autobiography, and I got to read a little about President Martins there too. Also, this week was our stake conference, which actually was a regional conference that was broadcast from Salt Lake City. We got to hear from the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and also Elder Neil L. Anderson who spoke to us in Portuguese. There also was a seventy, and Sister Elaine S. Dalton. It was a really great meeting. And afterwards, on Sunday afternoon, there was a baptism of a boy, Payton, who just turned 8. He is from the Rodgerson Family, who are from the states. Several other American families were there as well, and they asked me to conduct the baptismal service in English. That was super crazy. Its really weird to speak English, but cool too. We taught a daughter of a recent convert, her name is Juliana, and she seems to be truly interested. She went to church as well, and enjoyed it. She is part of the Family of Vera, whose son in Gabriel, who was baptised recently as well. And as for Vanda, she didn't end up coming to church, and we will go there and talk to her this week. When we are on the right path, Satan always tries to draw us away. It may be in attractions, difficulties, or many ways, but always remember that the Lord will help us, for he loves us all. In Alma 57:26-27, it talks of the stripling warriors, and how they were preserved by the Lord. We should build our Faith in the Lord, and don't doubt. Yet again, we need to trust Him. The Lord knows what is best, and he will help us to conquer our "enemies" and be preserved. I love you all and have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

PS: As for where we live, normally we live in a house, or an appartment. Normally there is only one companionship in each house, though there are rare exceptions. Right now, I live in an appartment with my companion, right next to a smelly river (supposedly the smelliest river in Brazil). It's good though. As for Holidays, the Girlfriend/Boyfriend day (our Valentines Day), is coming up on the 12th of June, and afterwards it is Festa Junina - the June festival which I went to last year as well.

May 28, 2012

 My old Zone!  Yay!

 I'm on a rock ...  that's cool.

Us and the Assistants.  One of them is already home now.  Weird eh?

 

So another week passes in our lives. Its crazy that its here, and its gone, just like that. If that didn't make sense ...  I'm sorry. Ha. So this past week, yesterday in truth, we had the confirmation of Gabriel. I performed the ordinance, and that was pretty crazy, since it was my first time, but it went well. Gabriel is rebellious, but hopefully the church really helps him too. He is a good kid. Also, today, we had an activity of our Zone today. That was cool. We played basketball, which is a rare opportunity here in Brazil. Also, we played other sports too. Turns out that Elder Vincet (an Elder in my Zone) played ultimate Frisbee for college. He is really good. He's legit. Ha. So also, this week we are still working with Vanda, some things came up and she couldn't go to church, but we are hoping all continues to go well. Your prayers are always welcome for all of our investigators, and for all our brothers and sisters. This week was transfers as well, and my companion and I both stayed here. We'll see how this transfer goes, and we are excited for the two missionaries that came to our zone. So this week, I want to send home Alma 38:5. Truly I think one of the most important things that we can do, is trust in the Lord. If we trust in the Lord, we therefore will do His will, and keep his commandments, because we know he knows best. The Lord will deliver us from all our hardships and problems that we encounter if we just trust in Him and do our part. I love you all, and hope that you all have a great week this week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

May 21, 2012

Gabriel ("Elder Santana") and I! 

He said this was the
"Baptism of Gabriel"   ...  I think he sent us the wrong picture ....  ?? 

Another Baptism foto with Gabriel and his family (not all of his family were there)

Holy cow this computer is super slow, so I only have 10 minutes. So, Stuart (Elder Barrett) said he is doing great in the mission, and that all is well. And my visa will last until March 30th of 2013, so it'll be good until the end. We can't go back and visit old areas here normally, so for baptising we would have to ask special permission to go back, and I don't think it would be granted. As for Elder Candland, I see him every once and a while, and that always awesome. So this week was great, we had a baptism of Gabriel, which went well, it was after church, so we had a good crowd too. Elder Santana baptised, and he will be confirmed next week. We also had another great investigator that went to church and we taught her, and she is excited to learn, and wants to be baptised. Her name is Vanda. As for the jungle, there are some people here that live in the back jungle, that truly is a huge Forest. Its pretty cool. The family we will redo their house isn't the family of Gabriel. The scripture that I would like to pass this week is Alma 37:44-46. We have a compass in today's day, and we should always be focused on doing whats right, and always have the temple in sight. Truly the way is prepared for us. I love you all and have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

May 14, 2012

Yay for mothers Day! That was awesome! It was so good to talk to my Family! Until Christmas then! But time is passing super fast here. Its crazy. As for the temple the other day, it was the first time I went in Portuguese, and that was pretty cool. So, before I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRYSON! Someone tell him I said that please. He, and the rest of them, are getting huge. Craziness to the max. Also, I heard that Naide, from my last area, was baptised. That's way good news. This week was crazy, we had a Conselho Da Missão, which was amazing. President Martins truly is an inspired man, and is amazing. He was called of God, and I am glad that I am able to serve with him now. We also have other great leaders in our mission, as we had a division with the Assistants, Elder Hillam, and Elder Gonçalves. That went good, and we had a good time. But that's not all, we also went to the Federal Police to renew our visas. I got to see Elder Barrett there, and other friends from the CTM. We also went and ate at Subway the other day, which was awesome. Rather expensive, but its good stuff. We are still working on finding new people, as that will truly be our focus. We are working with Gabriel, who is scheduled to be baptised this Sunday. He is 11 years old, and his Mom and sister were recently baptised. They are a cool family, that lives in the jungle part. They are great people. I am really enjoying this Area, and the people are awesome. I would like to pass the scripture Alma 13:24. Truly angels are here helping us and all men in this world. The savior is on our side. The Lord loves us, and will help us with His work. Have a great week. I love you all.

Abraço

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

May 7, 2012

A jungle Road !

A jungle road with hidden houses.

"Thank You!"  Wow, English ...  this must be Alphaville.  Ha.



Here is our really big and tall church building.  It's sweet!

 Lego Missionaries!  Yay!

Oppa! This computer is super slow ... but time isn't for sure. Holy cow times flying, I guess it wasn't truly a week since the last email, but it still was fast. So first of all, I already had used Mosiah 2:17 from last week, so change that to Mathew 25:40. Ha. Man I'm super bad with the scriptures of the week. Ha. So I am super excited for Mothers Day this week! Yay! And as for last week, yes the perfume he gave us would be about $150 or so. But that's an estimate. As for the stake president here, we still haven't had an official meeting, but we've talked to him a few times since he is in our ward. He was a mission president, and is experienced in the church. Our Church here is classes first and sacrament last, which is weird for me, but that's how a lot of wards are here. This ward is awesome, everyone is super willing to help. We went and visited two American families yesterday, and its weird to speak English. Especially when a kid is speaking English. As for divisions, we can do divisions with anyone in the zone when its needed. We will mostly do them when a baptismal interview needs to be done. So this week has been a normal week, not much time has passed. We are looking for new people, and we did mark a date with Gabriel. He is a young boy, and his mom and sister were recently baptised, but at the time he didn't want to. Hopefully all goes well with that. Otherwise, we have also been meeting members and getting to know them. This ward is great, and I love this area. I wanted to pass a scripture in Alma 34:41. We need to have patience in our trials, with a hope for a better world. Truly if we are faithful, and we bear our afflictions, no matter how large they seem to be, we can know that they are for our good, and that one day we will have rest from all afflictions in the Kingdom of God. I love you all, and have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

May 2, 2012

So, sorry for the delay, but our P-Day changed because we went to the Temple today. You have no idea how much I love the temple. It was 10 months since the last time, and I'm so glad we went. It was glorious! I didn't want to leave. So we are both new here in the area, but the day we got here was the day the others left, so it didn't really get closed. So I don't know why the Outback steakhouse looks like its out of our mission, because it is definitely in our area. I want to eat there so bad! Ha. Our area includes three bairros (neighborhoods) that are humongous. Including Alphaville, Aldeia Da Serra, and Ingay. Two super rich areas, and one jungle area. Its pretty cool. Oh, and an update, Leonardo, from my last area, was baptised. Yay! So, I accidentally passed the wrong scripture last week, it really was supposed to be Mosiah 3:13. I was off, ha. So this last week has been kind of Crazy. We have been doing lots of contacts, and we found some elects, just for other areas though, and not ours. Most the people that work here, live in other areas. We were walking in an area, don't know if I already told you this (all the weeks mix together like crazy), and this guy waves at us as we are walking by. Then He gets out of the car and waves us over. Then we get to talking and he accepted us to visit him, and he asked if our church accepts donations. When we asked for hi s address, he said wait a sec, and came back and then gave us "perfume."(In Brazil, cologne and perfume are the same). He gave us two little bottles each. I'm pretty sure its somewhere around a $300,00 reais (yes the comma was on purpose), value that he just handed on over. Craziness. We don't have any really solid investigators, but we have two people that are parts of families recently baptised. We are working and trying to think up some good ideas that will work here. So this week I would like to pass the scripture in Mosiah 2:17. It is well known, and I hope well lived. It is amazing how some people here live this law. I am impressed greatly by several members that help other people. Truly some of them are dedicated to serve. They not only help us, but help out others as well. Truly we all should look to help others out of the love of our hearts, and always be willing to serve. I love you all, and hope you all have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman