July 30, 2008

so this last week we went proselyting on Friday as you all know, and i bet you are just dying to find out how it went. Right? well here you go we were released in a different area this time, I felt a lot more confident in attempting to communicate with people, there was even one guy who spoke with us for about 10 minutes, gladly accepted the BOM and our message and even hugged me when i was done. but as we know there is opposition in all things, if there is a man that nice in Sao Paulo there has got to be another on the other end of the spectrum. i don't know if there has to be but there is, some old, seemingly kind, fellow was so eager to get his hands on o livro de Mormon that he didn't even have time to listen to the message. still cool though that he was interested enough to take one, he walked about 20 steps and threw it into the road. I know that's just a small taste of the rejection I'll be getting in the field, and they tell us not to worry about it but i worry, cause of you mom, on Sunday during church I began to think about that guy, and i felt so bad for him. I hope that someday, someone can touch him and soften his heart, or at least get him to stop ripping books out of peoples hands haha well that was the best and the worst of what happened on Friday everyone else was in between, it was such a good experience. I know the MTC like the back of my hand, I'm getting excited to get out of here on the 19th even though i have so much to learn still, that will be hard but so worth it.
Mom thanks for the email and all the support you show me I love you very much, don't worry about Lauren too much, she'll be fine tell brad I'm happy for his decision to follow his heart. Lauren thanks for your email, I can't go to your blog but thanks for telling me all about it, Ryan! good to hear from you, I'm glad all is well thanks for putting me at the top of your list. Tawny thanks thanks for the quick line i hope you are doing so good. I love and miss you all.
bye

Hi There!

this last week we taught the first lesson in Portuguese in companionships to members of the church, just as practice, but it was a pretty big deal, and tough we did well though and it was another marker on how much we have learned and need to learn humbling yet uplifting i guess you could say. On Sunday I spoke about Knowledge I want to share a quote from it well from Dallin H. Oaks he is explaining how we can know the church is true. "while not capable of scientific proof, it is still important. The idea that all important knowledge is based on scientific evidence is simply untrue." I think that is rather enlightening I always have to have facts, to explain everything, but I am learning more and more each day that feelings are a way of KNOWING something I know i love my family, I know this church is true and I´m almost out of time that can be proven, bad example , but it´s true I have to head out. I love you mom I got your package the one with lotion and cornuts haha, Lauren I want to hear about the trek and your testimony will you write it out for me? Lisa the picture didn´t work keep trying and thanks for the email and your support tell ace that i say I'm just in Brazil, and easton give him a love for me. Tawny! i got your package too! thanks for the rings, what on earth! so nice I will give the ring to a good man, I'm so glad the trip was a bast fill me in on what exactly is going on! The mail strike is over you are right! so that's good so good so were the emails you can be expecting letters who do you think I am? . I love you all! I go proselyting this Friday again just so you know I will tell you what happens.
Elder Williams

One Month Out

They do go by thats for sure, so this last week i went to a train station in downtown São Paulo. not door knocking. just walking in a busy area. We were let go for like 2 to 3 hours and we were just supposed to meet people on the street and give them a short lesson. this was last friday, morning when we went. the same white van that they brought us here from the airport,drove us to the station and let us go out with our companion. stopping people on the street is kind of out of my personality but I didn't feel like it was so strange, I definitely feel like I have a good reason to stop them. So the first man elder Peck and I approached was Probably about 60 or more and I told him That I had a something to share with him, kindly he listened and was patient with me and my Portuguese but i got the message across and he seemed very interested, he took the book of MOrmon and flipped through it as he walked away, not a huge deal, who knows what will happen to him, this was just an exersise to get comfortable talking with people in the language but it certainly was a good feeling, having somebody listen. elder Peck got the next guy and wasn't so lucky we switched off giving the message and after a lot of rejection we gave out two more Books of Mormon its hard work, but It was so much better than sitting in class all day, but also it´s so humbling cause we all have so far to go until we can speak the language. Guess what! I forgot to tell you last week, one of the guys in my district, his name is Elder Duke, is best friends with Landon Finter, we discovered that probably two weeks in and thought it was so funny, Landon had told him about me a few times and do you remember how we were going to get together before we left, but it never worked out? Because either one of us always had something come up, well Elder Duke would´ve been with him and I would've known him before I came. neat huh? I want you all to know that I´m learning alot and i love you all, I'm obedient and im doing my best. and yes I do get to play a little piano every once in a while and we all mess around elder Howard the one i told you reminded me of Kirby, he is teaching me a little bit more about the piano which is sweet of him, he is so funny. i love everyone in my district, we have the biggest one here, and we are all cramped in a little room all day and surprisingly we all get along so well and there aren't really any fights sometimes a little contention but what can you do. Mom I miss you very much and i love you, Dad thanks for the advise, keep it coming I love it, and i love you , Lisa way to go on the baby! i already knew but that's pretty stinking exciting, She or he better know who i am when i get back. Lauren, your teeth look great, have fun at the trek.
Tawny, I hope you are doing good! I don't get letters and i don't know if mine are going out cause the Brazilian Mailmen are nutso but I´m sending them I really hope you are getting them, they keep saying they are on strike. but Have fun on your trip! I don't know when exactly you are going but tell me all about it, and you can email me i just cant write back. so if that is ever easier feel free. well i love you all talk to you next week

Hey

I don't know how much time i have so this might be cut short and the computer is being weird. you asked about my companion. . .Elder Peck lets just say he is from the smallest town in Idaho, 13 kids in his graduating class and he hasn't had too much social contact. he is a good kid though i like him, but when you are with someone you aren't used to and the only thing you have in common is that you left on a mission the same day it can get hard but I'm sure it's hard for him to get along with me too, it's just kinda awkward sometimes because he doesn't ever get my jokes. Like for example, I'll say something like, "how about we skip class today and go out for a night on the town. . ." response, "i don't think we should do that elder." i don't know. I love him.

I'm learning a ton! everyday they just cram more and more into you. I went to the Campinas temple today, so pretty. The language is tough, I'm understanding it but there is quite a process to it, hmmm I was blessed with a really cool district though all the kids i came with said they met you at the airport mom, did you go a little crazy? I bet you did, but they were happy to meet you, elder plazier is in my district but he was only my flight companion, he is super funny once he opens up to you . I love the Brazilians, They are close talkers and always want to have a good time, i'll send some pictures. one of the boys in my room is from the amazon, he and his mom were just recently converted and they are working on the rest of his family.

well mom, i would absolutely love my i pod and those speakers and a charger. leave mine and Steven's music on it and if you could maybe give it to tawny and she could put some church music on there, and just leave anything else that's pretty on there ok? I love you all so much. sorry this is kinda short i got wasted on internet time but you are all in my prayers. thanks for all the support. thanks for the stories Lauren, I'm glad the wedding was wonderful. sorry i couldn't help move> the Christensen's were so sweet to help tell them I'm grateful. Dad i expect another letter, i love you. I'll fill you in more next week.
Elder Williams
ps these shirts aren't wrinkle free, and i really miss your cooking mom. as Linda would say peace love and chill

First Companion

We thought you would enjoy seeing a picture of your fine missionary sons,

Companions Elders Peck and Williams.

Thanks for the Alarm!

Well, i made it! It´s been a good slow first week, I get up every morning at 5:45. . . make up for the time difference and that's about when i used to go to bed! but i get up at that time to go run then i get ready, study and pray, go to a long day of class and eat, read and pray some more. It,s crazy only a week has passsed by, i feel like i have been gone forever. I can see how it flies by though, it is going faster and faster each day. I had a neat experience yesterday, I had the chance to give an elder a blessing in my district, it was a very straight forward and direct blessing, i promised him things that i myself couldn´t possibly promise. he wanted a blessing because he felt un worthy. it was strange that he trusted me so much to tell me how he was feeling, cause im not even his comp. but i talked with him for a bit, he didn,t go inot detail cause we aren´t supposed to but i got the idea of what he was trying to say. i didn;t have any answers he had done some bad things, but i gave him a blessing, and in the blessing i had the impression to promise him that he would be able to serve an honorable full time mission, not in those exact words but something like that. anyway (tawny if you are reading notice the lack of s) he had an interview with the President, elder Makey is staying, i think they had to call a higher authority and it was a pretty big deal but the lord knows that he has truly repented in his heart. I think you have to be so brave to confess something like that on your mission! he is a great kid. Mom, i hope you are doing alright with out me. i wrote up a letter for you guys today but i can,t send in i dont have your address. i am having a hard time trying to find the apostrophe key. lauren, i hope the move to lehi wasn´t too much of a shock for you, i bet you miss me so much! thanks again for the letter in my suit pocket pretty cute, let me know whats up with besser. Lisa Ace and Easton i hope you guys are all well and i expect some sort of communication from you three in the next couple years i feel like you guys have a tendency to forget about me. Dad send me some letters, i miss you and i love you, and i hope to hear from you soon. I love you all so much and i am praying for you.


love love love
Elder Williams

ps i need steven and ryan´s addresses as well.
pps the alarm doesnt work, i never wake up to it! my roommates hate me.
ppps its very windy at night.

Your Great Missionary Son

Your son is having a great experience here and is enjoying his companion and

district. He is well and happy. We took this picture just this morning in
our office. He hopes you will be able to send him some special hand lotion
from the dermatologist. Thanks for raising such a fine son.
Love,
Sister
Joanne Linford

Your Missionary Son Has Arrived Safely

Dear Parents,

We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time.

They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study.
The branch presidents and their wives, who are usually a senior missionary couple or mature Brazilian couple, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.

The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife.

We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.

Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.

Important information is attached for communicating with your missionary through letters and other mail while at the MTC. Your missionary's district is 25-A and the mail box number is 18.Too many packages are arriving after the missionary has left to the field, so we ask that you send a package only in the first 4 weeks and after that send any packages to his or her mission home.

We are also parents of children who have served as missionaries. And we have been missionaries who have left family. Please know that we are mindful of you and know of your love for your missionary.

Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”

Please accept our love,

President and Sister Woodward
Brazil

Saying Goodbye

June 17, 2008

The Setting Apart

June 16, 2008

The Farewell

June 15, 2008

The Call...