Travis's Email August 24

Hey, This week we baptized the son of a member that we reactivated and this week we are going to do her wedding so her husband can be baptized. It was really cool to see their whole family at church yesterday and at their sons baptism. The mom of the family was a really strong member of the church for a really long time, she went inactive because of some gossip, and it was clear that for a long time she was just waiting for someone to come by and invite her to come back to church. Now we´re going to baptize her husband and in about a year they will be going to the temple! There´s nothing better than that. So me and my companion suffered a little this transfer but it looks like if I stay in the area next transfer we´re going to have a lot of success. Last night we almost died laughing because of a 4 year old boy that likes to run and get knocked down by his dog. The kid thinks its the funniest thing in the world. We´re hoping to get a higher allowance so we can take a bus to the neighborhood where we´re working instead of wasting 45 minutes walking everyday. Sorry my time´s up. remember that there is always, always, always someone seeing and being influenced by your example. you can be the means of someone being baptized without even knowing it.

Questions:

1. Have you gotten sick very often and what is the most common illness that the missionaries get?
Until now I only got sick one time. Most missionaries get sick with diarrhea and the common cold.
2. How has your acid reflux been?
I haven´t had any problems until now.
3. Are transfer coming up? Do you think you will stay in the same area? Transfers will be next wednesday, it looks like I will be staying in this area.....soon I´ll be able to say one year ago I was in this same area.
4. Did you mention to the mission pres. that you have served in this area before for several months?
Yeah I mentioned in an email. I'm sure he already knew. Mission presidents always have a way of knowing about the missionaries without them knowing.
5. Are you in need of anything? (that we could send you)
No I´m fine for now. When christmas gets closer I´ll ask for some stuff.
6. What has been your scariest experience as a missionary?
Do you really want to know? Passing a month without baptisms was pretty scary. I´ve received a few threats from drunk guys but thats really not that scary.

Travis's email August 17, 2009

Oi,
This week was goood. Unfortunately the man that we were
teaching, Tiago, in spite of his testimony about the
apostasy and restoration chose the baptist church. When
he broke the news to us he said, God forgive me if I´m
wrong but I´m going to stay in the baptist church. I
can´t ask that God forgives him but I pray that he will
be merciful. We spent a lot of time teaching him and I
really did get sad when I saw that he wouldn't be baptized
but I know that I did my part. We taught him the truth
clearly and powerfully and he rejected it.

This week was really cool. We found 3 awesome families
that we´re teaching. In one of the families, the wife is
already baptized and the husband and the kids want to be
baptized. They´re the Bishop´s friends and he´s really
excited. The other family was already taught in Rio de
Janeiro and when we talked to them about baptism the wife
said Oh Glory! (She´s evangelical). And the other family
is an old couple that has a bunch of kids. Things are
starting to look really good in the area. The bishop rented
a bus to take all of our investigators to church and we´re
hoping to fill up the bus.

Life is  good, my companion is happy, and we´re going to
baptize a bunch of people. Is there anything better than
that?

Elder Jenson

Questions:
1. Name three things that you love about Brazil. 
The people, the fruit, the growth of the church. 
 
2. Whats the funniest thing that people said when 
they saw you back in the same area? 
A missionary that looks just like you passed in 
this area! 
 
3. how far is the church from where you live ? 
200 yards. 
 
4. Do you ever take a taxi ? If so whats that like? 
Depending on the area we take unofficial taxis and 
we always have to haggle to get a good price. its 
really normal  here. 

5. Your most spiritual experience this week was. 
The man we were  teaching decided not to be baptized 
and I felt  the reassurance that I did my part, 
the rest is between him and the Lord. 

Is that a Capabara? Travis's Email August 10, 2009

Hi,
This week........We lost quite a bit of time teaching some people that told us
they wanted to be baptized but really just didn't have the guts to tell us no.
But on the brighter side we are teaching 2 brothers Tiago and Bartolomeu
who are way cool & are are going to be baptized this week. We´re also
teaching a couple of families that are progressing. The work here is a little
tough because we´re working to open up a branch in a neighborhood that's
pretty far from the church so we have to walk a lot and its a little tough to
bring the people to church. The bishop is going to rent a bus to help us
out with that so it should be good. I´m hoping to baptize lot of families
there.

So I´m in the second year of my mission. I made some goals and so far
things are looking pretty good. I still can't believe I'm back in this area.
Talk about irony! I started the first year and the second year of my mission
here, hopefully it won't end here.

I don't know if I have any funny stories but some weird things happened
this week. A woman that I baptized some time back somehow found
out where we live and left us a cake. I don't know how she found out where
we live but if it means more cake I'm OK with it.

A lady that we took to church yesterday sat through 10 minutes of the
lesson in the relief society room, left and went home because she
knows all the stuff they were teaching and she doesn't need to learn
more. That lady´s a little crazy. In fact, I think this area has the craziest
people out of any other area in the mission. The other day a lady found
drops of blood in front of her house, which was probably from a stray
dog, and as we were passing on the street she asked us to expel the
demons from her house. Trying to be good Samaritans we entered into
the house and I don't know why but she asked my companion to say
a prayer in English. It was ridiculous, and it was so hard not to laugh.
That's just one example. stuff like that happens every day.

have a good week everyone!

Note to Wirthlins:
I wrote Annie and gave the letter to another missionary for him to put in the
post office because I didn't have a post office in that area. I think he didn't
send it....grrr

Travis starts the 2nd Half of his mission

Olá,
Tudo Bem? Yep thursday will be my hump day. I´m definitely going to make a cake. The mission has gone by faster than I could have ever imagined but it's gone great so far. I´ve had good companions and I´ve learned a ton. I only have one more year left and I'm sure it will go by fast, maybe too fast.

Me and Elder Nielson are having a great time here in Jardim Veneza. Our relationship with the leadership is really good and they´re willing to help us out. Unfortunately we didn't have baptisms yesterday but this Sunday should be different. We found two brothers Tiago and Bartolomeu they are in their 20´s and they have been investigating various churches. When we taught them the first lesson they said that they believe in everything we taught them. We are going to baptize Tiago this week and Bartolomeu next week if the pastor of the church they were attending doesn't put any crazy ideas in their heads.

Today is P-day and we are going to the zoo! I´m excited, it's been quite some time since I went to the zoo and I've never been to a brazilian zoo. They say that you can get way closer to the cages than in the u.s. Don´t worry I´ll be safe.

That's all I got for now. Talk to you guys soon.
--
Elder Jenson

Questions:
----------
1. How do you feel at your 1 year anniversary?
Good. I feel like I have all the tools to do the work.

2. How are you and your companion getting along?
Great. We´re going to the zoo today it should be fun.

3. What's the hardest thing about your new district?
My district is great. the hardest thing is do the work here in the area but its
really no problem.

4. Describe your living conditions
We live in a one bedroom apartment. Its way nicer than our other house and easier to keep clean. I´m liking it. I'll send pictures later.

5. What are you doing today for p-day?
zoooooooo.