Hey Grandpa,
First, I guess I´ll say the costumary happy birthday. Grandpa, it´s kind of hard to say in just a couple words the influence that you´ve had in my life. The truth is that you have always been a great example to me in many ways. Ever since I was little I have seen the strength of your work ethic, I don´t think I´ve ever been to your house without seeing you working on or fixing something. Also I´ve been humbled at times by your willingness to just help others without even thinking of your own comfort. An example of that was when our car broke down in the middle of the night on the way to Boise, and you came and took us all the way home that night then went back home the next day without a word of complaint, on the contrary I remember laughing a bit that night. One thing that I have really grown to appreciate as I´ve grown older is your wonderful sense of humor. Anyway, I could keep jabbering on but I guess I´ll just get to the point. I love you Grandpa, and once again, Happy eightieth birthday.
Elder Bangerter
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
rain drops keep fallin on my head
Howdy Fam,
I didn´t get the family email yet, but I´m sure everything is going fine up that way. Its great hearing how Bob and Brandon are doing. I had a fun week this week. Half of my investigators fell through and nobody went to church because it rained Sunday morning, and not just investigators, members too. The normal attendence in my ward is about 200 people, this Sunday there were only 104. I also won´t have anybaptisms this week because nobody went to church. I think I´m going to be transferred next week on Thursday so I´m fighting to have some baptisms that Wednesday night.
The last few days have actually been pretty fun though. I´ve been on splits with my ZL for the last three days. We are working on bringing the ward list up to date, so we´ve wandering all over our two areas trying to find roads and addresses. I´ve gotten to know my area a lot better. We´ve found I don´t know how many people that have already moved away and a few that have even died already, so its been cool.
I´m excited for Saturday . They called a special missionary conference because Elder Arnold of the seventy is in town. I´m pumped because I think I´ll get to see Elder Evans and some other missionaries that I haven´t seen in quite a while.
Oh ya, if anybody sees Tevan, tell him happy nineteenth birthday, and ask him when he´s going to send in his papers.
Anyway, life is good.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
I didn´t get the family email yet, but I´m sure everything is going fine up that way. Its great hearing how Bob and Brandon are doing. I had a fun week this week. Half of my investigators fell through and nobody went to church because it rained Sunday morning, and not just investigators, members too. The normal attendence in my ward is about 200 people, this Sunday there were only 104. I also won´t have anybaptisms this week because nobody went to church. I think I´m going to be transferred next week on Thursday so I´m fighting to have some baptisms that Wednesday night.
The last few days have actually been pretty fun though. I´ve been on splits with my ZL for the last three days. We are working on bringing the ward list up to date, so we´ve wandering all over our two areas trying to find roads and addresses. I´ve gotten to know my area a lot better. We´ve found I don´t know how many people that have already moved away and a few that have even died already, so its been cool.
I´m excited for Saturday . They called a special missionary conference because Elder Arnold of the seventy is in town. I´m pumped because I think I´ll get to see Elder Evans and some other missionaries that I haven´t seen in quite a while.
Oh ya, if anybody sees Tevan, tell him happy nineteenth birthday, and ask him when he´s going to send in his papers.
Anyway, life is good.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Election Day
Howdy Fam,
Well he wasn´t exactly elected, but I found out who my new mission president is going to be.I don´t remember his name right now, but he´s from Southern Brazil and President Parrella spoke very well of him. Still the thought of not having president Parrella as my president makes me kind of sad. I can´t that he´ll only be here for another three and a half months.
Anyway, conference was great yesterday. The doctor thats in charge of the north Brazil area was there to speak to us. imagine my surprise when President Parrella called my name and said. "Elder Bangerter will translate for doctor Farnsworth". I was caught a little off guard at first, but it was fun. First he gave a health training, then gave a talk. He is a cool guy.
The best part of the conference was in the afternoon. Last month the mission didn´t make its goal. The mission didn´t do bad but could have done a lot better. President gave an excellent training and the spirit was very strong. As I said, I will miss him when he goes. He is the best president I could ever ask for.
This week we won´t have any baptisms, but next week I think we´ll have six or so, so that´ll be fun.
Life is good. I´m learning to love this work and the Savior more and more each day. Its great to hear things are going well at home.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
P.S. tell Ryan Matteson congrats and good luck on the mission. and give Steven Williams a hug for more when one of you sees him.
Well he wasn´t exactly elected, but I found out who my new mission president is going to be.I don´t remember his name right now, but he´s from Southern Brazil and President Parrella spoke very well of him. Still the thought of not having president Parrella as my president makes me kind of sad. I can´t that he´ll only be here for another three and a half months.
Anyway, conference was great yesterday. The doctor thats in charge of the north Brazil area was there to speak to us. imagine my surprise when President Parrella called my name and said. "Elder Bangerter will translate for doctor Farnsworth". I was caught a little off guard at first, but it was fun. First he gave a health training, then gave a talk. He is a cool guy.
The best part of the conference was in the afternoon. Last month the mission didn´t make its goal. The mission didn´t do bad but could have done a lot better. President gave an excellent training and the spirit was very strong. As I said, I will miss him when he goes. He is the best president I could ever ask for.
This week we won´t have any baptisms, but next week I think we´ll have six or so, so that´ll be fun.
Life is good. I´m learning to love this work and the Savior more and more each day. Its great to hear things are going well at home.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
P.S. tell Ryan Matteson congrats and good luck on the mission. and give Steven Williams a hug for more when one of you sees him.
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Last Lost Sheep
Howdy Fam,
Well, it looks like I'm the only one still out of the country and running from time. I guess I can handle that. Crystal, por favor não chore demais por saudades, e não preocupe-se você vai acostumar-se.
Anyway, I had a great week. We finally had another baptism. Roberto was baptized on Saturday, and everything went wrong, but we got him in the water so its all good. He is a great guy that has a lot of desire to serve a mission.
This week we had a few interesting experiences. The funniest was last Wednesday. We were walking down the street that night and a drunk stopped us, thats the normal part. Anyway, I told him to stop drinking and we'd pass by his house the next day. We went there and he had stopped drinking. We taught him the first lesson, he went to church on Sunday and is getting baptized next week. We always talk about stuff like that, but I didn't think it would happen to me. What makes it better is that the same thing happened to the other elders in our ward and they're going to baptize their ex-drunk the same day as us. Its gonna be a great party.
Sunday was a really good day. We had ten visitors at church, and our baptism was confirmed and recieved the priesthood( things move a little faster here in Brazil). As far as the visitors go, a few were surprises. One was a man that we contacted the first week that Elder Santana was here and he finally went for the first time. Roberto's mom went and liked it too. The other surprise was that a member brought his neighbor. We taught him the first on Monday and he's getting baptized next week. This last week we didn't find a lot of new investigators, but we marked quite a few baptismal date of investigators that weren't progressing before.
As far as Elder Santana's patriarchal blessing, we've got zone conference again on Tuesday, so we'll ask President Parrella what to do. Well, the gospel is true I'm happy, and stuff.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
P.S. Crystal if you want to get engaged or something like that before I get home, you can just go right ahead and do it.
Well, it looks like I'm the only one still out of the country and running from time. I guess I can handle that. Crystal, por favor não chore demais por saudades, e não preocupe-se você vai acostumar-se.
Anyway, I had a great week. We finally had another baptism. Roberto was baptized on Saturday, and everything went wrong, but we got him in the water so its all good. He is a great guy that has a lot of desire to serve a mission.
This week we had a few interesting experiences. The funniest was last Wednesday. We were walking down the street that night and a drunk stopped us, thats the normal part. Anyway, I told him to stop drinking and we'd pass by his house the next day. We went there and he had stopped drinking. We taught him the first lesson, he went to church on Sunday and is getting baptized next week. We always talk about stuff like that, but I didn't think it would happen to me. What makes it better is that the same thing happened to the other elders in our ward and they're going to baptize their ex-drunk the same day as us. Its gonna be a great party.
Sunday was a really good day. We had ten visitors at church, and our baptism was confirmed and recieved the priesthood( things move a little faster here in Brazil). As far as the visitors go, a few were surprises. One was a man that we contacted the first week that Elder Santana was here and he finally went for the first time. Roberto's mom went and liked it too. The other surprise was that a member brought his neighbor. We taught him the first on Monday and he's getting baptized next week. This last week we didn't find a lot of new investigators, but we marked quite a few baptismal date of investigators that weren't progressing before.
As far as Elder Santana's patriarchal blessing, we've got zone conference again on Tuesday, so we'll ask President Parrella what to do. Well, the gospel is true I'm happy, and stuff.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
P.S. Crystal if you want to get engaged or something like that before I get home, you can just go right ahead and do it.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Welcome to my neck of the woods
Howdy Fam,
You know its funny I told my comp last night that my mom and dad would probably fly over at around four in the morning. I just got moms email confirming it. Welcome to Brasil! Anyway, I can't believe Crystal already finished her mission, but I guess thats life. Have a great week Crystal and parents.
My week was a little different this week, but as always had its good parts. The best part of course was zone conference. Elder Arnold wasn't able to come again because a missionary died last week in the neighbor mission (Belem). Instead Elder Franca the area seventy came and talked to us along with President Parrella. I felt the spirit very strong and it was a great. As usual it was good to see Elder Nixon and talk to him a bit. I was happy to find out that him and Elder Paludeti(my last comp) are training. This transfer 22 missionaries went home and 24 new ones arrived; 20 Brazilians, and 4 americans. Next transfer only to are leaving and 16 americans will arrived that should be interesting. Anyway conference was great and thats what I expected of the next day, yeah right. It wasn't a bad day, just a little tiring. Elder Santana was supposed to get his patriarchal at 4:00. We went to the bus station at 2:15 and got to the patriarch's chapel at 4:30 to find out that he had left less than five minutes earlier. We tried to find him and his house without success and got back to our area at 7:30 in time to miss the stake priesthood conference, and we didn't have the baptisms, but thats fine because Roberto will be baptized on Saturday.
Anyway, life's great, we're working and we've got some baptisms marked so I'm happy. Mom, I also asked about Steven.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
You know its funny I told my comp last night that my mom and dad would probably fly over at around four in the morning. I just got moms email confirming it. Welcome to Brasil! Anyway, I can't believe Crystal already finished her mission, but I guess thats life. Have a great week Crystal and parents.
My week was a little different this week, but as always had its good parts. The best part of course was zone conference. Elder Arnold wasn't able to come again because a missionary died last week in the neighbor mission (Belem). Instead Elder Franca the area seventy came and talked to us along with President Parrella. I felt the spirit very strong and it was a great. As usual it was good to see Elder Nixon and talk to him a bit. I was happy to find out that him and Elder Paludeti(my last comp) are training. This transfer 22 missionaries went home and 24 new ones arrived; 20 Brazilians, and 4 americans. Next transfer only to are leaving and 16 americans will arrived that should be interesting. Anyway conference was great and thats what I expected of the next day, yeah right. It wasn't a bad day, just a little tiring. Elder Santana was supposed to get his patriarchal at 4:00. We went to the bus station at 2:15 and got to the patriarch's chapel at 4:30 to find out that he had left less than five minutes earlier. We tried to find him and his house without success and got back to our area at 7:30 in time to miss the stake priesthood conference, and we didn't have the baptisms, but thats fine because Roberto will be baptized on Saturday.
Anyway, life's great, we're working and we've got some baptisms marked so I'm happy. Mom, I also asked about Steven.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
And stuff
Howdy Fam,
Wow, I can´t believe that it´s already Crystal´s last week. It seems like yesterday that I saw her driving away to the airport feeling like I´d never see her again, then I go to sleep one night wake up and she´s already going home. Well, I guess it´s just ment to be that way , and Crystal, tenha uma boa viagem.
Life is wonderful as usual here. We´ll have two baptisms on Saturday of two young men; Bruno(finally), and Roberto. They´re both 18 years old and want to serve missions, so I´m pretty excited about that. We´re also teaching a number of other people. We taught Teresinha and her family again, which we had thought didn´t want anything, but I have faith that they´ll be baptised before I leave. They´re really a nice family. Vera invited a friend of hers to church on Sunday. Maria is a single mother with two children. We talked to her yesterday and she seems quite interested. We´re going to teach her the first tomorrow. We´ve also got a few other people that we´re teaching, but these have the most potential.
I got the Christmas letter from home this week. I almost had a heart attack when I saw Matt´s picture, and then again when I realized that that picture is from 9 months ago. I´m going to get home and he´ll e taller than me.They family is looking great though. Those were the first pictures I´ve seen in a year. ( Nice attempt at a beard Adam, you look quite sophisticated).
The next few days, will be very busy. Tomorrow we have baptism interviews, Friday is zone conference with Elder Arnold, and Saturday my companion will recieve his patriarchal blessing, and the baptisms, so life is good. Well, I´m here you´re there, what more can I say.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
Wow, I can´t believe that it´s already Crystal´s last week. It seems like yesterday that I saw her driving away to the airport feeling like I´d never see her again, then I go to sleep one night wake up and she´s already going home. Well, I guess it´s just ment to be that way , and Crystal, tenha uma boa viagem.
Life is wonderful as usual here. We´ll have two baptisms on Saturday of two young men; Bruno(finally), and Roberto. They´re both 18 years old and want to serve missions, so I´m pretty excited about that. We´re also teaching a number of other people. We taught Teresinha and her family again, which we had thought didn´t want anything, but I have faith that they´ll be baptised before I leave. They´re really a nice family. Vera invited a friend of hers to church on Sunday. Maria is a single mother with two children. We talked to her yesterday and she seems quite interested. We´re going to teach her the first tomorrow. We´ve also got a few other people that we´re teaching, but these have the most potential.
I got the Christmas letter from home this week. I almost had a heart attack when I saw Matt´s picture, and then again when I realized that that picture is from 9 months ago. I´m going to get home and he´ll e taller than me.They family is looking great though. Those were the first pictures I´ve seen in a year. ( Nice attempt at a beard Adam, you look quite sophisticated).
The next few days, will be very busy. Tomorrow we have baptism interviews, Friday is zone conference with Elder Arnold, and Saturday my companion will recieve his patriarchal blessing, and the baptisms, so life is good. Well, I´m here you´re there, what more can I say.
Love,
Elder Bangerter
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Almost died of shock
howdy fam,
The most amazing thing happened last week, it seems to be one of those rare mission events. I got two letters! I couldn´t believe it. Thats the first time in about 5 months. Its nice to know I at least have two friends in this world. Thanks Linnae and Jared.
Anyway, life is actually going great, and another thing that is far better than letter is that three people were baptized on Saturday. It was the first time I´ve performed a baptism since June, so that made it even better. We baptized Thelma who is the mother of a member, and two young women; Mayarah, and samara. It was the perfect way to end general conference, which of course was wonderful. I love general conference. I always learn so much and always walk away with so many things to work on. I particularly enjoyed how much they talked about the importance of prophets and apostles, considering we had thirteen investigators there. Ya, this weekend really was a blast.
We opened up transfers on Monday and as I expected I´m still in this area with Elder Nobrega This transfer we are going to baptize a lot of people. I´m way pumped, just this Saturday we should baptize five people. The Lord is truelly blessing us in this area. It is really cool to see how many people are ready to accept the gospel in their lives.
Anyway, thats about whats going on in my life. These two photos are of Wesley that we baptized in my last area and the baptisms this week.
love,
Elder Bangerter
The most amazing thing happened last week, it seems to be one of those rare mission events. I got two letters! I couldn´t believe it. Thats the first time in about 5 months. Its nice to know I at least have two friends in this world. Thanks Linnae and Jared.
Anyway, life is actually going great, and another thing that is far better than letter is that three people were baptized on Saturday. It was the first time I´ve performed a baptism since June, so that made it even better. We baptized Thelma who is the mother of a member, and two young women; Mayarah, and samara. It was the perfect way to end general conference, which of course was wonderful. I love general conference. I always learn so much and always walk away with so many things to work on. I particularly enjoyed how much they talked about the importance of prophets and apostles, considering we had thirteen investigators there. Ya, this weekend really was a blast.
We opened up transfers on Monday and as I expected I´m still in this area with Elder Nobrega This transfer we are going to baptize a lot of people. I´m way pumped, just this Saturday we should baptize five people. The Lord is truelly blessing us in this area. It is really cool to see how many people are ready to accept the gospel in their lives.
Anyway, thats about whats going on in my life. These two photos are of Wesley that we baptized in my last area and the baptisms this week.
love,
Elder Bangerter
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