Week 37

Okay, so just a quick note before I start. I didn't reply to all your emails (I got them) because the president has made a new rule about only sending one email per person so I will try to do that.

Anyway, this week was fun. It was the last week of the transfer and aside form the usual work, not much happened. They did transfers differently this time; we received a call this morning and I learned that I will be the only one staying in this area!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhh!!!!! But I have faith. We are also moving houses today to an apartment right in front of the church. I will try to send you pictures next week. 

Also I had another podiatrist appointment where they did some more nail work-the painful kind-so that is fun. But other than that, it was just work trying to get some new people, so we will just have to see how that goes. As far as the Book of Mormon goes, I have made a goal to read the whole thing in Portuguese this transfer (which will only be five weeks) so I will keep you informed.

Love you all and I hope you all have a great week.

Love you!!!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Week 36

 This week was good; just a few highlights (not exactly in order):

• I watched 4/5 sessions of General Conference (missed Priesthood session because it started at 9, but I will watch it soon).
• ate one lunch with a member. Due to his work at a drink factory, he offered us a drink that is made there. So he poured us a cup of an energy drink called Power Bull and due to the fact that the other two didn't drink it I (to be polite) drank all of it. And when we left, he offered us a bunch of drinks and these little Spiderman figures ,so naturally we took advantage (that and the energy drink).  And when I got home, with all the energy of the caffeine and my excitement to cheer up my down companion and try to motivate him, I commenced in using the figures and my Nerf guns to illustrate that, at times, we have to talk with and teach a lot of moles (people who don't want anything to do with us) to get our baptisms. It was great, especially because I went crazy and started talking like a preacher. Ya, I should never drink an energy drink again.
• Sunday, we had lunch at a member's house with two sweet kids and a dog named Chewbacca.

So, that was basically my week and that should explain the photos below.

It is awesome to see how your weeks were and I hope that all of you will apply what you learned in conference.

Really quickly to answer you questions:

• NO, we didn't have any investigators with us to watch conference, but we invited a few.
• My companion an I are getting along fine and we are excited to move to our new apartment we are working on buying.

Well, you guys have a great week and keep sending me pictures and telling me how things are going.

Love and pray for you all!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Week 35

Well, this week was interesting. Here are just a few things that happened:

• our water got shut off due to a $1500 real (about $480) debt that we didn't know we had. We hope to receive more water tomorrow.
• we had zone conference about using our time wisely which was great; I always love opportunities to talk with President Hill.
• I about had a mental spiritual breakdown due to our lack of success, but after spilling it all out to my companion and a few inspired talks and study and advice, I am all good now. That is one thing about the mission; at times, it is difficult to know how you are successful, especially when you have all zeroes after working your butt off. It gets difficult to see how the Lord is blessing or helping you, but it is all good now.
• We didn't have any people at church although we did find some new people with promise this week who we will visit tomorrow and the rest of this week.

So, that about sums up my week. Not a whole lot is happening. It is getting a bit colder, but I think it will be like the winters in Eugene so no real problems. 

Well, it is always good to hear how your weeks are.

I love you all and have a great week.

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Elder Jardine with a puppy.

I have no idea what's going on here, but apparently,
there's a whole gang of stray dogs in Brazil...

Elder Jardine out to lunch with his district.

1 year for Elder A Santos

Week 34

This week was okay. We received 12 references last week and we devoted the majority of our time trying to find them. We literally walked my entire area trying to contact these people and the majority of the time it was raining, so that was fun. But in the end, about 5 or 6 were the wrong address or just didn't exist; 3 didn't want to hear what we had to say, but 3 or 4 were interested. So we will teach them this week, so that is exciting. 

As for baptisms, we aren't even having people come to church so that is frustrating. The three with the most promise are Emilio, but we are thinking about cutting him because his girlfriend is more closed off than a rock; Venicios who has a lot of questions, but is feeling the Spirit; and Carol, the girlfriend of Venicios, whose dad won't let her come to church, insisting that she will go to his church seeing as how they are " very similar" . But we will keep trying to have them come to church this week.

As for me personally, I am fine. Tired because of all the walking, but it all comes with the mission, right? I am getting along with my companion and the other two missionaries in our house--Elder Daloin and Elder J Forte. We celebrated the one year anniversary of my companion with the ceremonial burning of the shirt and eating marshmallows (pictures are below).

It is good to see how all of you are doing. Keep telling me how life is treating you and any news that you think I should know. Have a great week and I will tell you more good news next week.

Love you!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Elder Jardine with his district

Elder Jardine with his zone.

Elder Jardine with a new animal friend...

Week 33

Okay, so my week was great. We are working with a family who has some experience with the church and are even good friends with the bishop. His name is Emilio and we think that he will be a key to almost 7 baptisms, including his own. He loves the church; his kids love Primary and he has a great influence on his brother and niece. The only problem is he finds it a bit difficult to go to church, so we are hoping that he will be able to go this week.  Another thing is that his girlfriend (they aren't married) is pretty closed off, so we will just have to see about that. 

Other than that, we have a few other people that we are teaching, but we are just going to have to see if they are the elect for us. I will keep you posted on them.

We had zone conference this week. That was great. We learned a lot and had some fun. We had stake conference this past Sunday which was wonderful. I am loving this new area and I think it is white and ready for a Jardine to come and do some harvesting . 

The only really bad part of my week was just barely when I visited the doctor to do some fixing. She took a look at things and did some stuff including removing part of my ingrown toenail and removing the last part of a pre-existing one, so now my toe is throbbing, but I will live.

Love you guys. Have a great week and keep emailing me and send me pictures if you can.

Love you!!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine​