Week 76 Letter

Monday, Nov 17, 2014

Famlee!

Hey everybody! As you might have heard, I am back on the Azores, the most amazing place in the world!!! I am so excited to be here. I am now on the island of São Miguel. The accent here is CRAZY! It sounds so much like French! Terceira has an accent, and I learned Portuguese in that accent, but the accent here on São Miguel is so thick, I feel like I am in the beginning of the mission again!

Well, before going forward, I should do some catch up, because things happened really fast and I wasn't able to get you all the details. My last Sunday in Odivelas we had the baptism of our investigator, Engrácia. I will try to attach a picture. It went really well. 

I was really not expecting to leave the area. After all, I only had 1 transfer there. I already have so many areas on the mission! They told me Sunday night that I would be coming out here to the Azores, and I was so excited! I thought they were joking with me. I always wanted to come back out, but never believed I would, because it really doesn’t happen. I only have 4 transfers left, and I hope I can stay put for all 4. 

Our week was good. Unfortunately when I got here, the area was pretty dead. We started the week with 2 investigators: a couple who are waiting on their marriage papers to get here. Outside of them we didn't have anybody. So, we rolled up our sleeves (not literally, that is against the rules) and went to work. I remembered that the people out here were a lot more closed than on the continent, and it is true, but now I feel like I have things figured out. I feel like we will have success. We have found some investigators with good potential. We actually marked an investigator for baptism but (Terciera all over again) his aunt, who he lives with rejected us pretty hard and forbid him from seeing us. He is 19, so he should be able to make the decision for himself, but he lives in her house, and she won't let us pass by anymore, and he doesn't even have a phone, so we can't call him =/  But we still have others with potential. We found a girl last night; she's 32 or something around there. She has a disease that I think might be fatal. Some sort of muscular thing that is affecting the brain. She didn't explain a lot. But talking to her, I really felt the spirit, like I haven’t felt for a while with an investigator, so we have a lot of hope for her. Please pray for Ana Paula. 

Well, the Azores are as pretty as ever, even going into the rain season. I am excited to see as much of it as I can. We have an awesome branch president who I think will take us to see some of the amazing things here on the island. 

I love you all. I can't believe Shane is getting married, and I can't believe that Cameron is going to be gone so soon. I am so proud of them both!

Hugs and Kisses,

Elder Lee

Week 75 Letter

Monday, November 10, 2014

Just letting you know that I probably won't be emailing later today, but tomorrow instead... I got transferred, but you'll never guess to where!

Love you!!!

Elder lee

Tell you when I get there ;D

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Hi mom! Well, I don't know if this will look familiar to you... but I am in my new area safe and sound =)

=D Yup! In the Azores but not on the same island. I am on São Miguel. I am serving as Zone leader and district leader... lots of responsibility =/... hahaha But I really don’t have any time; I just wanted to let you know that everything is good with me. Anything I can do for you?

Can’t write a family letter;  lots to do today. I will write one next week. As far as a package goes, you can send more good floss if you’ve got it. And those gloves. I think I might have to buy a new coat, mine is really bad. It was supposed to be good for rain, but it really just soaks up the rain. I really don’t want to though because it will be expensive. 

Okay, but I have to go now... I sure love you a ton! I AM SO EXCITED TO BE BACK ON THE AZORES!!! First time as a zone leader though... a little bit of pressure. The islands have been struggling a little lately. 

Love you! 

Elder Lee

Week 74 Letter

Monday, November 3, 2014

Famlee!

Hey everybody! How are you all?? I am great. How was Halloween? Here halloween is kind of sad... There were some kids dressed up, and a bunch trick or treating, but I don't think I saw a single candy in any of their bags. We were in a poor neighborhood that night, so I don't know if that's how it was everywhere else, but it seems that Halloween is pretty small here. Carnival makes up for it though...

We had a really cool week, with both ups and downs. Like I have said before, we have had a lot of investigators with a lot of potential, but haven't gotten them going yet. Well, we thought we were doing really well, until we even had 4 or 5 marked to be baptized this week, but then only one of those people came to church =/ So now all of the other investigators have to be remarked for another date. 

The one who did came to church was Engrácia. She is about 20 years old, from Cabo Verde. She never would talk to us when we started visiting her inactive brother, but slowly she started coming in for the prayer, listening to some of the lessons, until finally we had a good sit down lesson with her and marked her to be baptized this weekend. She is excited. We still need to teach her the commandments, but if all goes well she should be baptized this weekend, on sunday after church. 

We have transfers already the end of this week, and it might be crazy. I think either a lot will happen in the district, or nothing will happen. Whatever happens however, the next transfer is only a four week transfer because of complications with flights during holiday times, and at the end of that 4 week transfer my entire district will have gone home... I will be the only one left, that is if I stay in the area after this week. We'll see what happens. Anyways, I hope I stay. 

Today I got cool news. Elder Cook will be coming to portugal, and we will have a conference with him midway through the month! I am really excited. it will be a good speedboost for me as I get into my last 6 months. 

Indira and family are all well. It is possible that Giane and Tália will be baptized this weekend. Still need to find a solution with the dad. We still havent met the other half of the family either. Everything will work out though. 

Well, I need to get going, my time is up. Love you all!

Elder Lee

Week 73 Letter

Monday, October 27, 2014

Famlee!

This week was awesome, and ended in a miracle. We baptized one of our investigators, Patrícia. She is a young single mom who has had a lot of struggles in life, but has an amazing potential. The entire time we have been teaching her we have really focused on how as a daughter of God she has an incredible potential, but that she needs to live up to it, or will surely fall short. 

The baptism was awesome. One of the daughters of the family we are teaching, the youngest, Tália, sang a special number with the sisters in our ward. They sang ''Lead kindly light'', but it was awesome, because Tália had never sung it before. She has a good voice, but didn't know the notes, and had only combined with the sisters to do in right before the baptism. So what they did was have Tália sing one line, totally improv, and then the sisters would sing a line normally. It was awesome, and so funny too that she was so willing to do that. They need to get baptized sooo bad!!!

P-day was super awesome today, because we got permission from President to drive to the other side of Lisbon, to my old area Cascais. It was so fun being back, but it made me homesick for all of my old areas XD  We went and did a lot of cool things, but then at the end 4 of the elders left, but Elder Wiscombe and I went to go try and find one of my recent converts from Cascais, named Bemvindo. I don't know if you remember him or not. Well, I had heard that he was struggling, so I went out to find him. We went to his house, but only his grandma was home. I was surprised to find that she remembered me because I didn't think she was ever really conscious of me while I was there... she is kind of spacey. She told me that Bemvindo had gone to get water. So, we left and I took us to a market that he used to always go too. When we walked in, I went first to look in the checkout lines, and saw from a far a kid who looked like it could have been him, but he had a hat on and I couldn't tell if it was him or not. However, he looked towards me, we made eye contact, his face got kind of confused for a second, and then he lit up with a huge smile, left his stuff and ran over and gave me a giant hug. It was so cool. We had almost no time, but we helped him carry his water home, the whole time just talking like back in the day. His mom is in the hospital to have twins, a boy and a girl. His little brother, Junior, the super funny one is doing well. Bemvindo will get a diploma from his course tomorrow. He also promised that he wouldn't miss church anymore. It was so good to see him. I took some pics with him, but I don't have my camera or much time this week.

Anyways, those are some highlights from the week. It sure was a good one. I hope you are all well and happy, living and spreading the gospel. I'm sure you are.

Love you all!

Élder Lee 

Week 72 Letter

Monday, Oct 20, 2014

Famlee!

How is everybody!? How is fall going? It's going pretty good here, we're still up in the 80's... it's pretty nice. This week was a fast one, and I sure enjoyed it. 

First off, we unfortunately were not able to baptize Aiman, Giane, or Tália as was planned. The dad came into town this week and didn't let us pass by while he was there. I still don't even know where he is at with all of this because we weren't able to talk to him. He sounds like he is being somewhat reasonable still. Or he at least didn't just cut us off. However, now we can only meet with them one time a week, and he talked to Indira and told her that they should all wait before being baptized. Wait until what? I don't know. I just wish we could have talked to him so that we good explain things well, because people always assume that what we do as missionaries is worse than it is... So it was pretty sad. We had fasted for them and prayed for them to be baptized on that date, because we felt like that really was the day Heavenly Father wanted them to be baptized. However, Heavenly Father knows what is going on, so we will just trust in Him and continue fighting for the salvation of this fantastic family. 

Outside of the family we have a lot of people who are close to getting on the fast track to baptism. I feel like that has been the challenge this transfer. Getting people who are almost progressing and would make really great progressing investigators to actually start that progression. 

This week is a big one. We need to see milagres, or we definitely won't reach the goals we made for the month. I don't like not reaching goals, but I guess they are there mostly just to make us do everything we can to achieve them, which we are doing. And the month still isn't over yet, so we still have time. 

Today was fun. We went bowling as a district. Here in Lisbon there is a giant shopping center called 'Colombo', and they have a bowling alley there, so we went. We were the only ones there. For my companion and Elder Cardoso it was the first time bowling. It was pretty funny XD but they did well.

Well, I don't have much time left. I sure love you all. I know the Lord loves you all too. Keep going, and wherever you are and whatever you are doing, strive to be an effective instrument in the Lord's hands!

With love,

Elder Lee

Week 71 Letter

Monday, October 13, 2014

Famlee!

Heyoh! How are you all doing? Sounds like you all had a good weekend adventure! Hahaha, glad everything is working out. I can almost taste the washington apples...

Well, before I get started I just want to say...

Happy Birthday Jet!!!!!! Parabéns! I can't believe you are getting so old Jet, it's crazy! Dad told me that you still remember me really well though, which made me happy. Don't forget all of our good times! (Like the time I took you fishing... cough cough... (For those of you who don't get that reference, just go ask Jackson Romney about it...))

And,

Happy birthday Ryan!!!! You sure are growing up! In all the pictures mom sends me you look so old and so cool! You are such an awesome kid Ryan, I am proud to have you as a brother. Keep being cool, and don't grow up too fast! (Also, eat some albertson's chicken for me!)

Dont worry, I know there are a lot of other birthdays this month (wink wink Ali...) and I didn't forget them. I just sent them separate letters.

This week was awesome. We keep finding more and more people with potential. Elder Bezerra is a really good worker, so we really get things done. 

As far as our family, things are pretty complicated. I mean, kind of. They are all still great, and really want to be baptized. They all went to church and loved it. However, we have found out more about the situation with the dad. We taught Indira the law of chastity, and asked her if she wanted to be married. She got a bit smile on her face and looked up longingly and said, "ahh, yes, yes I would! If I could be married tomorrow I would be." She then explained the following.

The dad is Muslim. She and he met almost 20 years ago in Guinea Bissau, and decided to start a family and be married (unofficially, of course). So they did. However, Guinea is going through basically a civil war right now, and it isn't a very good place to raise a family. The education system has crashed, there is violence, and a lot of instability. So, very early on in their relationship they decided to raise their kids in a better place. But, the dad works for a company there in Guinea which is how the family lives. So, he sent her up to Portugal when she got pregnant. Well, the dad makes good money, so he was able to pay for flights, so he visited the family a lot, or paid for them to fly and visit him. The family grew to have 3 kids.

Like I said, the dad is Muslim. I doubt you know this, but Muslims are allowed up to 4 'wives'. So somewhere along the line, he made another union with another woman, who also is now living in Portugal as well. They have at least two kids together. Naturally, Indira felt pretty bad about him doing that, but she still loves him, and the kids love him, and she decided that when she married a Muslim she accepted the risk of that happening. She just never thought it would. So, the two families of this one dad just lived separate lives. No contention between them, they lived separate, didn't communicate, and just went on with their lives. However, time in, Indira decided that they should make a friendship, because they didn't want their kids growing up knowing they had siblings they weren't allowed to see. So, Indira reached out and they began letting their kids play together and that kind of thing. Indira has already invited the other family to church, and we are going to teach them soon I think.

So there it is. To be baptized, Indira has to be married, or leave the father. If we start to teach the other woman and she wants to be baptized, she also has to do one or the other. If Indira tries to marry the father, what will the other woman do? I think they would both like to marry him.

I'm kind of stuck. I don't know what to shoot for. Advice would be great from anyone who is getting this letter. The kids I think will all be baptized this weekend, but we will have to wait on Indira. Pray for them!

As far as everything else, we are really trying to hit some high goals this month. We are going to do it! We need to figure out who really has desire and really focus on them, as well as keep finding lots of new investigators. Progressing investigators are my favorite thing in the world!

That's what's going on with me on this side of the world. I love Portugal so much. Sometimes I forget how different it is. Cobblestone, castles, milk from boxes, and a lack of hot water and water pressure have all become the norm. I love it!

I love you all!

Elder Lee

Week 70 Letter

Monday, October 6, 2014

Famlee!

Hello everybody! How are you all? I heard a lot of fun things about you all from mom, and it sounds like you are all anxiously engaged in a good cause. Good job! Keep up the good work.

I wanted to shout out to Cameron about his mission call: I am so excited for you Cameron! I saw the video of you opening your mission call and it made me want to get mine all over again! You are going to learn Spanish! That is so cool man! We will be able to understand each other just fine I think when we get back home together. I can understand Spanish pretty easily, and you will learn to understand Portuguese soon. I know a mission who lives in Alaska who got super excited to hear that you were called there. He says he is going to visit you sometime =)

Well, this week was so awesome! I love being back in the field! I have an awesome companion. His name is Elder Bezerra and he is a crazy little Brazilian. When I got out of the office all I wanted to do was work like a dog, and he has the same desire. Because of that and because of the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father we already have found an awesome family who is marked for baptism on the 18th. They are soo amazing! I think I should get Ali the email of one of the daughters, Giane, who is learning English and speaks really, really well. All of them are so incredible. We had the most picture perfect lesson I have had on my entire mission with them this week, where we committed each of them to be baptized, one at a time, asking them why they wanted to be baptized. They all have so much desire and all gave amazing responses. However, there is one thing that we need to overcome before everything is perfect. The mom, Indira (an absolutely amazing woman from Guinea Bissau) has been with her 'husband' for almost a dozen years now, but they are not legally married. The husband lives in Guinea, and isn't here to get married. The husband belongs to the Muslim faith. They are separated because Guinea is basically in a civil war right now. As a result the education system has failed; there is insecurity, violence, and lack of resources. So, they had to make the decision to have the family move up to Portugal while the dad stays there working in a big business to support the family. The dad is very successful, and has a really good high-paying job. As we were hearing this, we became a little sad because we didn't know how everything would work out. It seemed pretty impossible. However, we then found out that he will be coming up on October 15th to stay for a couple months and visit! I have so much faith that everything will work out that that the entire family will be baptized together. Please, please, please pray for them, and include them in your fast on Sunday. They are a family that needs to be sealed for time and all eternity!

Everything else is going well too. I am driving, yes a stick shift, yes in crazy Lisbon. Portuguese drivers are crazy! I already knew that, however now that I am on the road driving with them it is even more apparent... they don't have a lot off accidents, but the driving style is definitely different, and when I first was learning stick it was pretty scary! Good thing I have a lot of miles in a car... luckily I learned stick pretty fast. I only have killed it once so far, so that's good =) I have the hang of it now for sure. 

Well, my time in this little Indian internet café is running out, and these guys are ruthless. I heard that if you go over your paid time that they will cut off both of your thumbs so you can never use the space bar again, and all of your emails justlooklikethisanditisreallyannoying. We wouldn’t want that, would we?

I love you all. I hope you all loved conference! It was awesome!

Lots of love, 

Elder Lee

PS- The names of the family members are Indira, Aiman, Giane, and Tália (mom, son, daughter, daughter)        

Loveyouall!

Hey mom! How are you?

I am great. The new area is super cool as far as the work goes. I am driving (a stick shift, wooh!) here in Odivelas. My address is R. Alfredo Roque Gameiro Nº5 3ºd. However, you should probably just use the office address for anything you send, I am pretty close to the office and my zone meetings and stuff will be in the office chapel. I am basically in a suburb of Lisbon, it might even be considered part of Lisbon, Lisbon is pretty big. I am serving with Elder Bezerra, a little Brazilian elder. 

Conference, yeah, I got to actually watch it this time. It was really cool. I especially like the talk where it was actually in Portuguese and not just translated. I know the Brazilian guy's son; he was a teacher in the MTC

My time is short.  I sure love you.  Have a great week.  I know I will.