Week 63 Letter

Friday, Aug 15, 2014

Famlee!

Hey everybody, how are you all? I am great. This week has been the most different week of my mission... but really cool too. I am a part of the team that keeps the mission afloat. I just got done talking to president (he came into my office to talk to me, which was a little bit backwards... hahaha) and he told me that I would be staying here in the office. I was hoping I might get to go back out into the field this Monday for the beginning of the new transfer, but I am going to stay here in the office until I am better. However, he told me that this didn't mean I would be here the whole 6 weeks. He says he wants to get me back out there ASAP, so as soon as I am good to go, I am out of here, regardless of what week of the transfer we are in. But he did give me some good advice too. He said this is a very unique call as a missionary, one that almost no other missionary understands. Being one of the few who works to keep a mission going is special. He told me to take advantage of it, and I will.

Well, not much to tell. Adventures still happen here in the office but they are different. I'm sure things are going to be pretty crazy the next few days. We need to start planning all of the travels of all the missionaries being transferred. Bus, train, airplane, metro, taxi, everything. And it is a big transfer. Lots of missionaries moving around. So there will probably lots to tell next week. 

This week we had 1 good day that we got to spend 7pm to 9pm proselyting. It felt so good! I went crazy! I don't do so well walking with these horrible crutches, so we decided to knock a giant apartment building in a wealthier neighborhood. We started at the very top, level 13, and started knocking. Well, half way through we were experiencing Matthew 19:24 pretty severely, all rejection, Elder Braga's back had been bothering him, and we were all dead tired, but I told them that I still felt good about the building. We kept knocking. 

Not one person listened to us in the entire building, 13 floors, and 4 doors on each... until the very last door. A woman named Laura opened the door. She was very nice and interested as well. We testified, and prayed with her. We have an appointment for tonight that I hope goes really well. The experience just testified to me that God looks out for all his children. Us, the tired beaten missionaries, and Laura, the lost lamb. It sure was neat. 

Okay, well, I sure love y'all. Congratulations Shane and Heather! I almost forgot about that... You guys are awesome! You'll have to send me a tie from the wedding =) This will be 2 weddings missed on the mission... wow! Life doesn't stop back home while I'm on the mission, that's for sure!

Hugs and kisses,

Elder Lee

PS, Here's a funny picture that Elder Lima drew of our district when I was in Bragança... hahaha, thought it was good.

PPS- Funny quote from a Portuguese... almost forgot. This one comes from elder Braga. He's a missionary, but he is from Portugal, so it counts. 

After we finished proselyting the day we found Laura he said, "Lesson learned." 

I responded, "Endure to the end?"

He said, "No. Start on the bottom." 

Hey Mom,

The ankle is progressively getting better. The pain has gone down. Life is good. Weird. I miss regular missionary work. We only got to do real proselyting for about 2 hours last week, and I went insane. We knocked a giant apartment building at the very end of the night. Elder Braga wasn't too sure about it, because he had hurt his back and we were all dead from the crazy hours. But we knocked every door, getting rejected every time (It was a wealthier apartment building). Until the very last door, a really cool lady opened the door and let us talk with her. Hopefully we have time to get there tonight, but we are about to go crazy on transfer stuff. More sleepless nights to come. Just got word today (Office privileges) that I will be staying here. However, I think it is just until the foot is better. Might not be the entire transfer. I don't know. 

How is Koli? What's wrong with him? Does he have asthma? That is super scary. I am worried.  Keep a really close eye on him, don't let him be alone.

I can't believe Shane is getting married. That sucks. Well, no, it is a really good thing, but weird. Did heather serve in Brazil by the way?

Ahhh. I am a little stressed. I'm good though. This weekend will be insane. Lots of missionaries travelling all over the place. Hopefully we don't lose any. Pray for me. 

Don't know if you're awake, but sure would like to talk to you =)

 I think the Elder who replaced me is doing alright. The area was dead for 2 years, but then we started it on fire again, so I hope it doesn't die again. Not much is going on here. Been working on putting baptismal records into the system. We are about to start working on the travels for all the missionaries for the transfer. Looks like we are going to miss another P-day =/   Well, so far on p-day we haven't done anything. This week or last. But it is normal. Clean house, shop, write home, go do something fun if there is time. Our apartment is 7 floors above the office, really close. But I have both eaten and slept in the office... hahaha 

President and Sister Fluckiger live in a beautiful house about 15 minutes from the office. I was there the other day for the first time since my first day in Portugal, and that was really weird.  I did see the family movie. It was really good =) I don’t have speakers... what music did you use? New stuff? I might not know it. There were a lot of circles, but it really was good. I loved that picture of Koli and Ryan upside-down over him. Can you send that to me? Also the pics of the family with Shane and Heather? Those were funny =)  

President and Sis Fluckiger’s kids are married off. I don’t know how many grandkids. Something like 10-15 I think.  Dad is going to do what President Fluckiger did. He was called as a 70 and then later a mission president.  

I already made the connection with Elder Eddington. We didn’t figure out how we are related though. He is from Utah so...  It is still sunny. But Lisboa isn’t as hot has Bragança.  Did you guys already buy a new car?  

I ate cereal for lunch today. I can't wait to eat American cereal.  I call these chocolate toe nails. They are supposed to be like little scoop things, but they look like toenails. They are really hard. They don't have, like, poufy cereal. Just hard cereal.  And, I’m still not a man, don’t worry. Everyone still tells me I look like I'm 15. But that’s just because Portuguese kids have beards with 13 years. 

Oh, hey, did I tell you I should be getting a reimbursement after all this time for the stuff I had stolen? Apparently they are now just deciding how they will pay me. I don't know how long that is going to take, but it has already been a while.  Hahaha...

How is butterscotch? How are the cats? Is Cebu still gimpy?  Well I have to go.  I love you and I will talk to you again next week.  I am going to go teach Laura!

Hugs and Kisses to the kids,

Elder Lee

Week 62 Letter

I didn't get a letter from Tony on Monday and I was wondering why.  This is what I got on Thursday.

Thursday, Aug 7, 2014

Hi Sister Lee, sweet mother of many,
I wanted to let you know that our wonderful Elder Lee injured his foot playing soccer.  I believe he has a partially torn ligament by his ankle.  He can probably explain it better to you when he writes.  The doctor up in Bragança put a brace/cast on it.  We have brought him in to Lisbon where he will work in the office and stay off his feet more.  He is on crutches. We are sending his x-rays to our advising Dr. in Germany today to get his opinion.  We will get him another apt with a Dr. here in Lisbon.  We surely love your sweet, optimistic, loving son!
Thank you for raising such a fine son!

With great love,
Sister Dorothy Fluckiger
Portugal

The sign says "There is not a weak body when the heart is strong".  (I love my Tony)

Then I got this on Friday...

Friday, Aug 8, 2014

Hey mom, I don't think you'll get this for a few days, but I'm not sure. Sister Fluckiger said she already informed you, but yeah, my ankle is messed up. I am in the office of the mission, because I can't really do much. I wanted to work, but president wouldn't let me. I am in a cast. It has already been a week and a half. I couldn’t tell you on Monday because I was on a bus to from up north to down south here in Lisbon. I didn't have a chance to use a computer. Now, here in the office, we do Pday on Friday, so don't bother waiting for me on Monday, I won't be there. 

The doc said that ligaments are torn. One is especially bad, but luckily nothing is completely torn or I would be having surgery I think. The doctor said at least 4 weeks in a cast. I don't know what is going to happen when I take off the cast, if I’ll be able to walk, or what. It hurts right now, but I think it is healing. 

I'm good though. I wasn't happy about coming to the office, but I have been a big help here so the elders here so are thankful. Luckily president only puts good elders in the office, so I am here with friends. Elder Collier who was in the MTC is in here as executive secretary, and the son of a family I know really well is here too. We've become really good friends really fast. I don't know if you remember that high priest who would come to both Regua and Bragança every month, Rui Braga. Yeah, it's his son who is here with me. 

So I am sad to not be doing missionary work on the street (we teach maybe a lesson a day as office elders, it is CRAZY busy in here) and I am going a little crazy, but I am okay and happy at the same time. Don't worry. 

Love you,

Tony

Mom, I don’t know how long I will be here. The transfer ends soon and it would be nice to leave at transfers. I am fine. I never had x-rays with a Germany doctor but we will send them to him for his opinion today. No doc apt until next week, the 14th. I do a lot in the office, I can't really explain all of it. Right now I am working on translating a 13 page document for president. A couple days ago we had to make plans, find hotel rooms, and feed 57 missionaries that were evacuated from Sierra Leone, an African mission because of a breakout of a killer disease. We give a lot of rides. I schedule flights.  It is a lot.

And the I got this at like 1:00 am Tony's time???????

Friday night, Aug 8, 2014

Famlee!

Well, this has been an interesting week and few days...  Not really ideal. 

Let me explain.

Last week one night we were teaching Romeu and Ana a lesson on the street, because we didn't really have another good place to teach them. The lesson went well. At the end of the lesson some other youth showed up, a couple of them being investigators. They had a soccer ball with them, and wanted us to play. We said no, but Elder Tavares started showing them some tricks with the ball, just juggling. So we started lust juggling the ball around with them. Well, someone kicked the ball out of the circle, so I ran to go get it. It was getting late and it was dark out, and I don't really know what happened. I don't know if my foot landed on the ball or in a ditch or what, but I fell over my ankle. I knew right away I had twisted it nicely, but it didn't feel like anything special. It hurt, and it got hot, but not anything different than the other several times I have twisted my ankle. 

We walked home, me limping, but managing. When we got home I called the Elders in my district like normal and reported to the Zone leaders. We set the alarm on our phone for 4:45 am because the next day we needed to travel to Porto for a zone meeting. I put some ice on the ankle just to be safe, it was getting a little bit swollen, and then went to bed. 

The next morning I woke up to the alarm. However, I quickly realized that we would not be travelling to Porto that morning. My ankle was on fire, I don't even know how I was sleeping. I called for Elder Tavares to turn on the light, and when he did I saw that my ankle was huge. It hurt pretty darn badly. I tried, but could put 0 weight on it, or a screaming pain would shoot up my leg. 

Great. Just great.

I called up our zone leaders, and told them I wasn't going to be able to travel. Then I got the ice again and slapped it on. From 5 o clock on I didn't sleep. I couldn't. It was really bad. When 8 o'clock came around I called Sister Fluckiger (Wife of the mission president) who is in charge of the health of all of the missionaries. I have gotten to know her really well, and she is amazing. Well, I told what happened, and she told me to wait a day, and if things continued like this that I would go in to the hospital. Well, I spent the day in the house. I hated it. To that point I hadn't had a single day on the mission that I didn't suit up and go work. So, I had Elder Tavares carry me down the stairs and we taught a lesson to Romeu and Ana sitting on the street in front of our house and after that we contacted the few people who passed. At around 7 o clock, things were really bad. The ankle was killing me. It was also even more swollen, it looked like a balloon. It was also crooked, which had me pretty worried. I called Sister Fluckiger and told her this, and she told me to go in that night. 

We hitched a ride with a member to the hospital to take advantage of a really well set up health care program- cough cough... (You get what you pay for)- and to see what was going on with my ankle. We did x-rays and after waiting the doctor told me I had a very serious sprain, that I had nearly tore all the way through one ligament and that 2 others were severely injured as well (don't worry mom, ligaments aren't important... remember that one in my wrist that might still be torn to this day?). He put me in a cast then and there. I don’t know if that was the best decision seeing as the ankle was still super swollen, but hey, I guess he's the one who knows, right? As he was putting on the cast he felt the need to force my ankle to move here and there, and that just about made me kick him in the teeth with my good foot. Almost. I asked him how long I would be in the cast, and he said four weeks- at least. 

Luckily the member who drove me to the hospital had a friend with crutches he wasn't using that I could use. Unluckily they were the world’s worst crutches... They were the kind that has a ring for you to feed your arm though and a handle for you to grab with your hands. They don't rest under the armpit, but instead all of the weight rests on the hands and wrists (not easy on the left wrist which still gives grief with things like this). Well, after another long night, I called President to ask him if I could try to work just a little with the crutches. He said no. That meant I would have the first day of my mission that I wouldn't work. Well, we stayed in the house and I tore into the area book, as well as 'Jesus the Christ', trying not to think about all of the opportunities we were missing not being on the street. I was not feeling good about the fact that I had messed up my own ankle. 

Well, time passed. I asked President a couple of times what he would do with me, but he still hadn't decided. He told me he would need to study and pray more. Half a week or so later, the next Sunday, President and Sister Fluckiger were in the north (in fact they were in my old area in Régua). They had planned to pass by our area while they were up north to do a district Pday with us and the Elders in Mirandela. We planned a fun little day. We went to the castle here in Bragança, and it was a super fun day. I had to do a lot of stair climbing on my crutches, which was scary and sister Fluckiger sure didn't like it, but I managed =) However the crutches were killing my hands. 

There was a plaque I found at the castle that said, 'Não ha corpo fraco onde o coração é forte,' and showed Sister Fluckiger telling her it applied to me. She loved it, and we laughed pretty good about it. It means, 'There is no weak body where the heart is strong.' She took a picture of me in front of it, and then sent it to me. I will attach the photo for you.

In the end, I had to pack my bags. After our district P-day with president and sister Fluckiger I had to catch a bus for a long ride down to Lisbon. I would be the newest office Elder. Fortunately office Elders have a really good reputation in our mission, because some of the best missionaries get called to the office here. Even though I had to cheat to get into that group, I am now in it ;) To be honest, I really don't want to be here. But, God knows what is going on. It is just really hard to keep from going a little crazy when my entire desire is to go do work on the streets with the people, but can't. However, like mom stated really truly, it is the Lord's work all the same. I feel like the Lord blesses us a lot here, because basically everything we do is a service to the missionaries either personally or impersonally of the mission, and in the case of this crazy week other missions as well. I guess that is the best part of the office. We get to be servants of a lot of missionaries. 

I don't know how you picture the mission office, but it definitely isn't a boring place. We are constantly busy, running around, picking up Elders and Sisters, getting them where they need to be, arranging flights, I've been translating a 13 page talk for President that he wants to start using as a focus for the mission... we are busy. Quick examples of some of the excitement we get- Tuesday we had to accommodate 57 missionaries evacuated from an African mission because of a deadly disease, Ebola I think. We had to figure out flights, rooming, how we would feed them, how we would transport them from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the airport the next morning... everything. And we had 0 hours of notice. It was just like, ''Hey, we need your help. We are going to have 57 missionaries coming tonight. Can you figure this out?'' Luckily everything worked out well. Elder Collier and Totland however didn't sleep all night, they were giving rides, figuring out problems with flights, everything. They literally did not sleep. Elder Braga and I were luckier, we got 4 hours of sleep. 

The very next night we lost a Sister. She was a part of a group coming in to renew her residency, but she had to fly in from the Azores. She was supposed to fly with her companion, but for some reason that didn't happen. Elder Braga and I were at the airport at 11 pm when she was supposed to arrive, but there was no sign of her. Her phone was not working, and we couldn't get a hold of her. We confirmed with the airport that the flight had landed, and confirmed with her companion on the island that she was on that flight. Well, we had no idea where she was. Luckily we found her an hour later, and everything worked out all right.

As you can tell, things are pretty high paced here. You at least don't have to worry about me being bored to death in the office. I just hope I am ready to get out and back into the field by the end of the transfer at the end of next week. We'll see. 

Well, right now it is 12:50 at night. We are waiting for 2 sisters to get in on a flight from Madeira. The flight was supposed to get in an hour ago, but it was of course delayed. So now we are waiting. I need sleep, but I can sleep when I'm dead, right?

I love you all. Pray that I can get back to work on the streets. Don't worry about me. I am fine. I am thankful for all the office elders in the whole world. Pray for them too if you think about it. 

With lots of love,

Elder Lee

Hey Mom, 

It is 1 30 in the morning here. Blaah, office life. The only reason I can kind of talk to you is because I didn’t have an email time today. We are waiting for sisters to come in from Madeira to give them a ride from the airport. I am tired, but okay =)  the document is English to Portuguese. It is a really good talk, but full of quotes from early prophets and apostles speaking really complicated old English, and it is not the easiest to translate. I could easily do a half decent job, but it needs to be really good, so it takes time. Which I haven’t had lately. I need to get it done by the end of the week, which leaves... 2 days.  I will get up at 7. No problem. We just are hoping this flight gets here soon. I think it will land around 2.  The flight just landed, I gotta go. I won’t be on until next Friday I think. I sure love you. Send my love to the fam. Don’t worry about me I will be okay.

LOVE, Elder Lee

Week 61 Letter

Monday, July 28, 2014

Famlee!

Another awesome week! How are you all doing? I am fantastic. Yesterday we ended the week strong with the baptism of Romeu and his sister, Ana. It was so awesome. They are still so excited. With them it has been miracle after miracle and nothing less. So awesome. I think next we have a shot with their dad and stepmom, but we'll see. 

This week was crazy busy. We had a division with the zone leaders on Friday, which was also the day they did the baptismal interviews for Romeu and Ana. The day of the division was super-hot. I was with an Elder called Elder Domingos from Angola in Africa. I knew it was hot when he was dying in the sun... 

I'm trying to think of more I can tell you... Work work work! Bragança is growing, but it hasn't been easy. There are still big problems with the branch. I hate having to worry that my recent converts might hear things they shouldn't or get involved in it all because of other members. Blah. They'll be alright, they have testimonies. 

Looking ahead now, we still have a few investigators with potential. Tania has been reading the book of Mormon, but it has been really hard to get a hold of her because she has been going out of town to help her family on the farm. Portugal is covered in tiny little villages called 'aldeias' where things are still really old and traditional. And they are always leaving town to go take care of the aldeias! Especially on the weekends, which means they can't arrive in church. My companion has arrived at the conclusion that we need to go arson the aldeias surrounding Bragança so the people don't have a reason to not be here to come to church. I think I am going to wait a bit longer before taking that idea as a necessity. 

Today we are going to go play futebol again with some of my favorite people in Bragança, the neighborhood youth. They are so funny. I'm going to miss them when I have to leave, and they have already planned ways to get me to stay. One of them involves finding me a girlfriend here in Bragança so I choose to stay with her. Hahaha, yeah, they aren't going to have any success with that one... 

Well, I am going to go now. I really don't know what more to write. It is so weird. But I've already tried to explain why and you guys already get it. Some other missionaries send me the letters they send home and I can happily say that my letters aren't the longest, but they sure aren't the shortest. I think that title goes to Chappy... hahaha

Well, I sure love ya'll. Have an awesome week. Love your letters and support. Pray that I don't get skin cancer. 

Love you! 

Elder Lee

Funny quote of the week,

Me- We want to do a prayer with you sir. What can we include for you in the prayer?

Random man on the street- I don't need anything.

Me- If God were in front of you right now, what would you ask of Him?

Random man on the street- Give me less age and more health!

Week 60 Letter

Monday, July 21, 2014

Famlee!

Hey, I am a little bit behind because I was watching the videos you sent... you guys are so awesome! I'm not going to lie, I was blown away by how different you all are... holy cow! I can't let my comp or anyone else see this video because you girls are getting so pretty! And Danny, you look like a man! Jet is talking like crazy, even though 50% of what I heard was, ''I don't know'' Don't worry Jet, I it is hard to talk to a camera. Shane, obrigado pela informação... é tão bom saber que eu sei mais do que mãe. Espero que ela não tente a traduzir isto... mas não disse nada importante. Tens um sotaque fixe man. Estranho. Mas fixe.

Well, things here are crazy. Things about the work are changing, because I am changing how I do my part of the work. It is a good thing. This week should be pretty crazy as well... We are going to try to end the week with a few baptisms. Man! So much is happening it is so hard to explain... 

We found a super awesome kid named Romeu (Row-may-oh) playing futebol a week ago (thank heavens our mission president opened up soccer on p-day again) who is going to be baptized this weekend. Also, his sister Ana should be following him into the water the same day. He has 16 years and she has 14. They are super cool. Miracle after miracle has happened with this which is another big testimony booster for me that the Lord knows who he wants in His church and when he wants them there. Really, everything that has happened with Romeu and his sister has been a miracle. There baptismal papers are already signed by the parents and everything. I would like to explain it all, but it is too much. Ask me in a few months. 

Also looking at the weekend, Carla could possibly be baptized. She needs to do her part though. Until now she hasn't done it, and that's always one of the hardest things to see, because no matter what we say, she is the only one can do the work to receive an answer from God.

I spent some time today watching a bunch of the bible videos of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior. I know the actor isn't really Jesus, but he did an amazing job, and thus (Shane, is there any other way better to say 'assim' in English than 'thus' in English? I want to say, ''Ele fez muito bom, e assim eu consegui imaginar...) I was able to imagine how the Savior taught with such clarity and simplicity. He really was the perfect teacher. I want to be a teacher like Him.

Well, I already need to finish up. Keep having an awesome summer. It has been getting up to 47º C which is around 115º F if I am not wrong. Just think of me in a shirt and tie while you go about all your cool water activities... XP

Love you all, have fun and be safe.

Elder Lee

I’m going to try and remember to include something funny at the end of every letter that I heard during the week. This week is the following:

Me- Do you believe in God?

Old Portuguese man- No. Thank God I'm atheist.

Week 59 Letter - lots of pictures

Monday, July 14, 2014

Famlee!

Hey there everyone! How are you all? How is the summer going? How was your birthday Katie? I was thinking of you! I can't believe you are getting so old! Everyone is getting old but me! ;P

This week was fast. Both good things and bad things happened. Paulo still isn't baptized. His mom and dad's divorce will end this week, but the mom will still be living in the house until she finds a new one. And as long as she is in the house the dad doesn't want Paulo to be baptized for fear of what the mom will do. We've tried everything with him, but he really just wants to wait. I read in a talk recently that when somebody is feeling the spirit, and wants to be baptized, if we don't baptize them then they will lose the spirit. It can't stay with them. That's why we are pushing to get him baptized. It's tough. Pray for him please.

Another difficulty, Tania didn't come to church yesterday so she can't be baptized this next Saturday as planned. We will try to do it Sunday after church, but she has also been really hard to get a hold of. She still needs to be taught the commandments, and time is running out before the end of the week.

Carla, however, who is marked for the 26th was in church. She is doing well. She has a bit of a rebelled personality. That doesn't really explain it well though. She isn't mean, she is a really good girl, but she hasn't been accepting the lessons well. She challenges almost everything we teach... haha... In that same talk I referenced before it talks about how teaching should be a last resort for a missionary. That if somebody feels the spirit bearing witness that the missionaries are disciples of Jesus Christ, they will readily accept everything they say. I am working on being a missionary that has the spirit so strongly with me that those people the Lord has prepared accept me as a representative of Him. Instead of our focus trying to be teaching her as much as we can to try and clear her doubts, we should be testifying inviting the spirit to do the same. Then she won't question those feelings. Being the most effective missionary I can be is hard work!

The north of Portugal is really struggling, and this week we are having a special leadership meeting with president. It is going to be pretty rough I think... I'm glad we have been working hard and getting things done. 

Well, I need to wrap things up. I hope that all of you are well. I sure love you all. I think and draw upon things I have learned from each and every one of you daily in this great work. I pray for you all. Keep up the good work, and ask yourself, ‘‘what can I do to help speed up the work?''

Love you!

Elder Lee

PS I am looking forward to a more pleasant American food experience than what happened with the jarred ''hot dogs'' last week. I bought marshmallows, and then some Português cookie/crackers called Bolacha Marias, and some chocolate. I am going to try and whip up some s'mores. Or, the Portuguese version: s'mais'es

PPS  Attached is a pic of a brave Portuguese knight riding into his castle on his noble steed...