"I know the sun´s still shinning when I close my eyes."
Hello my dearest family!
Oh how I miss you all so much! But, I love it here. it´s the wierdest feeling! I want to be with you and I get that "Oh I miss you feeling," But when I think about how in 19 more months I won´t be here.. I get really sad too. I love it here. Every single second. Even if it is pretty dang hot like today.
Well, this past week has been good. Last Saturday, we had a wonderful noite familiar (family Night) with this family in our ward and some investigators. Oh man it was a blast. We watched a clip of the seminary Book of Mormon videos and then we talked about the gospel and the irmã made us hot dogs and cake. It was so good. On Monday night, a lot of people from the ward threw Elder Awerkamp a going away party because today was the start of a new transfer and he went home. He was a great missionary and I am going to miss him a lot. The ward loved him too. Everyone was getting teary eyed. At the end we sang families can be together forever. I cried. Of course I cried. That song always makes me cry! Then of course we ate food! (It´s Brazil!!!!) and played games and just chatted.
On Tuesday, we had some last minute things we had to do (Elder Awerkamp had to do) and then we went to this member family´s house and had a small party with them. They loved him and we had a lot of fun playing these silly games. Today was transfers! I stayed in my area and I got a new companion! His name is Elder Duarte! He is my first Brazlian companion! I am pretty excited. Funny story. Talk about a small world. He was baptized by TJ Packard. I don´t know TJ but I recognized a picture and his name.
Well, as my wonderful father would say, "That´s all the bullets I have for now." I love you all so much. I am so grateful to be an eternal family with you. I love you all and I will talk to you next week. Stay sweet and don´t stop believing!
-elder askins
p.s. sorry this is so short, but this week was a little uneventful
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Letter #18- DON´T STOP BELIEVING... HOLD ONTO THAT FEELING!!!
Dearest family!
oh my goodness, I love you so so so much and I miss you so much too. But no worries. Everything is going great here. I have seen miracles and truly seen the Lord´s hand in this work. When Elder Awerkamp, my companion, arrived in the area about 3 months ago the bishop said to him, "There are 2 things you need to know about the area. 1. There are a lot of houses and lots of people to teach 2. The ward doesn't have much missionary spirit." Also while he was here last transfer, Elder Awerkamp was talking about doing some activities and everyone said oh bishop doesn't like to do activities. When I got here, we had one family and a few investigators we were teaching. It was hard but we worked our tails off.
A few weeks ago we drafted up this plan for a mega-activity, to get everyone pumped for missionary work. We would show them this video about missionary work, we would do trainings to show them how to be effective ward missionaries and then we would play this awesome game. We perfected the plan. We talked with our ward mission leader and then presented it to the bishop. He said that sounds like a great activity. But the people won´t come to it. We won´t tell them it´s for missionary work, but that it was a night of pies. So all the leaders and missionaries told everyone that it was a night of pies.
When we arrived at the chapel, we didn't end up watching the movie. But we got everything set up and the people sat down. We did the opening excercises and then I got up in front of all the people. I pulled out a Bis. which is this very delicious brazilian candy. I called on a guy from the ward and said "Irmão Bill, do you like Bis" "Absolutely" "Do you want this one?" I asked "Yeah!" and then I opened up the chocolate and licked it! "Do you want it now?" Then Elder Awerkamp explained that sometimes we take good things and we don´t represent them the right way so we make people lose the appeal. Then we did some trainings, how to hand out cards, and act in a lesson with the missionaries and after all that we bore our testimonies. I told them about how I have a testimony about ward missionary work because I wouldn´t be here without it. I told them about Roger Ethington and how he helped dad join the church and he helped us. I told them that I will never forget him, my family will never forget him. My children will never forget him and how my family has been changed for the better. I don´t know how I said it in portuguese. Definitely by the Lord´s help. Then after our testimonies we played a game.
One little boy was the sheep and the missionaries were the wolves. We have the ward mission leader protect him. He couldn´t. Then we had the bishopric join and help. They couldn´t protect him. We had all the men of the ward join, they still couldn´t protect him. So we had the whole ward come up and protect him. We couldn´t get to him. The second counselor tackled me to the ground while 7 guys took down Elder Awerkamp! It was great! Then the bishop got up and gave his testimony about how we all need to work together to protect the sheep of the Lord. It was great then we ate delicious pies! oh man it was so good.
The next day at church we had 8 investigators at church! It was great! And a family who I love so much! (The family that we took the coffee away from! hahah) and the ward was great! We couldn´t even sit by them because the ward was just going to town with being missionaries. Now we are teaching 3 complete, legally married families! We have a few other people and the ward is saying let´s do family nights! Let´s go out with the missionaries! How can we help you? What a miracle.
Well I have to go. I love you all so much. I'll talk to you next week!
com amor
elder askins!
oh my goodness, I love you so so so much and I miss you so much too. But no worries. Everything is going great here. I have seen miracles and truly seen the Lord´s hand in this work. When Elder Awerkamp, my companion, arrived in the area about 3 months ago the bishop said to him, "There are 2 things you need to know about the area. 1. There are a lot of houses and lots of people to teach 2. The ward doesn't have much missionary spirit." Also while he was here last transfer, Elder Awerkamp was talking about doing some activities and everyone said oh bishop doesn't like to do activities. When I got here, we had one family and a few investigators we were teaching. It was hard but we worked our tails off.
A few weeks ago we drafted up this plan for a mega-activity, to get everyone pumped for missionary work. We would show them this video about missionary work, we would do trainings to show them how to be effective ward missionaries and then we would play this awesome game. We perfected the plan. We talked with our ward mission leader and then presented it to the bishop. He said that sounds like a great activity. But the people won´t come to it. We won´t tell them it´s for missionary work, but that it was a night of pies. So all the leaders and missionaries told everyone that it was a night of pies.
When we arrived at the chapel, we didn't end up watching the movie. But we got everything set up and the people sat down. We did the opening excercises and then I got up in front of all the people. I pulled out a Bis. which is this very delicious brazilian candy. I called on a guy from the ward and said "Irmão Bill, do you like Bis" "Absolutely" "Do you want this one?" I asked "Yeah!" and then I opened up the chocolate and licked it! "Do you want it now?" Then Elder Awerkamp explained that sometimes we take good things and we don´t represent them the right way so we make people lose the appeal. Then we did some trainings, how to hand out cards, and act in a lesson with the missionaries and after all that we bore our testimonies. I told them about how I have a testimony about ward missionary work because I wouldn´t be here without it. I told them about Roger Ethington and how he helped dad join the church and he helped us. I told them that I will never forget him, my family will never forget him. My children will never forget him and how my family has been changed for the better. I don´t know how I said it in portuguese. Definitely by the Lord´s help. Then after our testimonies we played a game.
One little boy was the sheep and the missionaries were the wolves. We have the ward mission leader protect him. He couldn´t. Then we had the bishopric join and help. They couldn´t protect him. We had all the men of the ward join, they still couldn´t protect him. So we had the whole ward come up and protect him. We couldn´t get to him. The second counselor tackled me to the ground while 7 guys took down Elder Awerkamp! It was great! Then the bishop got up and gave his testimony about how we all need to work together to protect the sheep of the Lord. It was great then we ate delicious pies! oh man it was so good.
The next day at church we had 8 investigators at church! It was great! And a family who I love so much! (The family that we took the coffee away from! hahah) and the ward was great! We couldn´t even sit by them because the ward was just going to town with being missionaries. Now we are teaching 3 complete, legally married families! We have a few other people and the ward is saying let´s do family nights! Let´s go out with the missionaries! How can we help you? What a miracle.
Well I have to go. I love you all so much. I'll talk to you next week!
com amor
elder askins!
Some Pictures from Elder Askins!!
I have no comment except that Audrey looked on Elder Askins' bank account to make sure he had money and noticed a $13 to McDonalds. We wondered what he could have purchased. We now know...
The Curitiba Temple
Getting locked out of the apartment.
His study table.
I really have no idea what this is...
So We Sit At This Table With Our Hands In Our Laps
This week has been interesting. We have our power back! So no problem there! Last week I had my first interview with President Cordon. Man was it great! What a strong powerful man. I am so glad he is my leader. We talked about a lot of things for like 20 minutes. I finished Jesus The Christ last weekend so he gave me permission to read the Miracle of Forgiveness. What an intense book! It´s changed my life already!
Last Sunday, we were waiting at church for Sander and his family. but they never showed up. So after the first hour (We have sacrament meeting last) Elder Awerkamp asked me and our Ward Mission Leader (who served in Miami. he is hilarious) to go to his house to talk to him and get him to church. I was nervous. How was I going to get this guy to come to church!? but I prayed a lot. When we got there... he talked for like an hour and a half. So we ended up missing sacrament meeting. But I found out they were having doubts about Joseph Smith being a prophet and about the Book of Mormon. So I prayed for some heavenly help and at the end I felt inspired to tell them that we would come by again this week and talk to them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we would answer their questions. I had us read out of the Book of Mormon, parts of the introduction. and then I committed them to reading all of the introduction and also 3 Nephi 11 (about Christ´s visit to the people in America) and Moroni 10:3-5 (The promise). It was amazing that as I was filled with the power of God I knew what to say, how to say it and I could feel it, and I could feel it touch them. It was an amazing experience.
This weekend we are doing a missionary activity in helping the ward learn how to be better member missionaries. I´m pretty excited. We have found a few more people (one more family and a man and his mom) so hopefully the work picks up even more. I love you all so much. I have a testimony of this work and of Jesus. That he is the Christ and is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is true. I love you all so so so much. and I am grateful that we can be together forever. DON´T STOP BELIEVING!
com amor!
Elder Askins
Last Sunday, we were waiting at church for Sander and his family. but they never showed up. So after the first hour (We have sacrament meeting last) Elder Awerkamp asked me and our Ward Mission Leader (who served in Miami. he is hilarious) to go to his house to talk to him and get him to church. I was nervous. How was I going to get this guy to come to church!? but I prayed a lot. When we got there... he talked for like an hour and a half. So we ended up missing sacrament meeting. But I found out they were having doubts about Joseph Smith being a prophet and about the Book of Mormon. So I prayed for some heavenly help and at the end I felt inspired to tell them that we would come by again this week and talk to them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we would answer their questions. I had us read out of the Book of Mormon, parts of the introduction. and then I committed them to reading all of the introduction and also 3 Nephi 11 (about Christ´s visit to the people in America) and Moroni 10:3-5 (The promise). It was amazing that as I was filled with the power of God I knew what to say, how to say it and I could feel it, and I could feel it touch them. It was an amazing experience.
This weekend we are doing a missionary activity in helping the ward learn how to be better member missionaries. I´m pretty excited. We have found a few more people (one more family and a man and his mom) so hopefully the work picks up even more. I love you all so much. I have a testimony of this work and of Jesus. That he is the Christ and is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is true. I love you all so so so much. and I am grateful that we can be together forever. DON´T STOP BELIEVING!
com amor!
Elder Askins
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Letter #16-hey now you´re a rockstar get your show on, get paid
I don´t have much time but here is a story for you all....
I had to speak in church. SO every Sunday we have a meeting with Bispo (Bishop) at 9. It´s with him, his counselors, and the male auxilary leaders. We were chatting about missionary work and he says "Elder Askins, we need someone to speak for 10 minutes today. Would you be willing to speak to the congregation?" I have never turned down the bishop for anything. Of course I said yes. He said, "What should he speak on?" and Diego (the second or first counselor who just loves me) said "Have him speak on the 7 dispensations and the gathering of Israel. He laughed so hard. I could not do that! I can´t even say dispensation in Portuguese! But it was a joke. Bispo said, "Elder Askins, do you have your Dever para com Deus? (Duty to God)" I told him yes. "Talk to the ward about how earning your Dever para com Deus helped you prepare for your mission. Your talk needs to be 10 minutes." Ten minutes of just me and Portuguese!!!!! What!?!?!?!?! Well church started at 2 so we ran home and I prepared my talk. With the Lord´s help (and grammer checks from Elder Awerkamp) I was kind of prepared. When sacrament came around, the person who spoke in front of me was supposed to speak for 10 minutes and she spoke for 5. I ended up speaking for 13 minutes, we sang the Spirit of God and the speaker after me (he was in the stake presidency) spoke for the rest. I love that song.
love,
elder askins
Sunday, July 25, 2010
We Have PICTURES!!
Elder Askins didn't include names this go round. 3rd and 6th pictures are with Elder Savage and the picture just above is with Elder Awerkamp. The others are with people he is teaching. Looks like hes putting the Brough's scarf to good use!
Letter #15- He was a skater boy, she said see you later boy; he wasn´t good enough for her
Hello from Brazil!
This has been a fantastic week! I do not remember when I have ever been this happy! I am in my new area. Nome de la Cap da Imbuia (kapow da em-boo-yah) and it is just great! It has been freezing here! The coldest for me it has ever been! But it made for an interesting change up. and the rain. oh gosh!!! It has rained every day this week, well, except today. It is bright and sunny and actually getting kind of hot. But i cannot complain.
So the area I am in is a suburb of Curitiba. It is just great! The ward is awesome and Elder Awerkamp is awesome. The people are awesome. It's all awesome! Everything is going great! The work is hard. Not as many people are as receptive as in Timbu. But no worries. I have constantly thought this. "If life gets hard, work harder."
While I've been on my mission I've remembered many quotes I have heard. One that I love is by Coach Hornbeck from high school. "Just because you are moving, doesn't mean you are going somewhere." I have tried to apply this. Make our time affective! So this week, Elder Awerkamp had 2 different meetings in Portao with the President! Because he's the District Leader. So I went with some other elders in our district. I just have to tell you the story.
So we are in the other area with the other elders and we went to lunch yesterday. The three of us walked in. We shook everyones hands and the last person is this mentally challenged Brazilian. He shook my hand and glared at me. He came and sat down and just glared at me. He screamed (this is all in Portuguese, remember) "What's your name?" "Elder Askins" "Are you an American?" "Yes I am" "I don't like you!" (the other elders are just laughing hysterically) He got up and walked around screaming "Who took my meds? Who took my meds?" He came to me and screamed "You took my meds!" And raises his hand to hit me and another elder says "No he doesn't have it" And so he sat down. I asked to go to the bathroom and he says "Do you have to poop?" And just laughs. So I went to the bathroom, but I was so nervous I can't pee and when I came back I sat down and he started screaming again. But I looked over and I saw a camera with the light on. When he saw me notice it he shouted "YOU JUST GOT PUNKED!" in English!!! HAhahahahaha and then he started saying how he can speak English, how he doesn't have any problems or anything and how he served a mission. He gave me a big hug and we laughed how funny!
But on a more spiritual note. I had quite an experience. I was praying a few nights ago and I was asking Heavenly Father why I was transferred, why I left my area, my trainer, the whole shebang. Not complaining, but looking for understanding. I had a dream that night that I was at a baptism, and my mission pres was there. I asked him why he transfered me and he looked me deep in the eyes and said "Elder, we both know it wasn't me who transfered you, and the Lord did it because there is something that YOU can do there. Maybe no one else can. In the furnace of our afflictions, the Lord makes us strong.
I have noticed that since I have left my other area and been with a new companion, I am speaking more and better. I know the Lord transfered me because I can learn and grow more here and I can help the people. My last night I met with a family that I just love. I gave the dad a hug goodbye and he said "Askins, there are people there waiting for you." I find it interesting. In Portuguese, the word for wait and hope are the same. So I will find who is waiting.
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