Guns and Roses... with Thorns
May 27, 2013
Guns and Roses
So these past weeks, we have been hearing some SHOOT-outs in our area, no lie; and it’s not people shooting off fireworks because their soccer team made a goal. Someone died near our investigators’ house. Shirley and Warley live on a morro [hill] I affectionately call 3 Hooker Street because there’s a hole-in-the-wall clothes store that always has 3 scantily clad mannequins outside.
I filmed one night at 2:30 am. There had to be way more than 25 shots. So, what’s happening here in Fonseca? Weeeeheheheel, since Rio is prepping for The World Cup and The Olympics, they’re cleaning up Rio. So, where will the hoodlums go? Niterói.
Guns and Roses
So these past weeks, we have been hearing some SHOOT-outs in our area, no lie; and it’s not people shooting off fireworks because their soccer team made a goal. Someone died near our investigators’ house. Shirley and Warley live on a morro [hill] I affectionately call 3 Hooker Street because there’s a hole-in-the-wall clothes store that always has 3 scantily clad mannequins outside.
I filmed one night at 2:30 am. There had to be way more than 25 shots. So, what’s happening here in Fonseca? Weeeeheheheel, since Rio is prepping for The World Cup and The Olympics, they’re cleaning up Rio. So, where will the hoodlums go? Niterói.
Our month ended with more thorns than roses. Our miracle progressing investigator, who has gone to church with his wife for 30 years now, is giving us the cold shoulder. He marks, we come, he says he has work to do, he doesn’t re-mark with us, so we return at will, and he asks why we didn’t stop by sooner. (Sidenote: They sew men’s clothes! They have 12 sewing machines, and one has 12 needles! It’s soooo cool.) He then invites some ward friends over on the only day he has time to burn. WELL, we’ll put a stop to this. We know he’s scared about the power we have and has felt much closer to the truth than ever, and the truth he’d rather not admit. Hmf, well I’m not here for nothing. He needs an eternal family.
Another investigator, our “Elect” investigator, has broken up with his girlfriend, who is less active. Now, he is in this awkward situation of staying there, living with the family, or... or, well, he |
doesn’t really have another option. So... he’s stuck at the beck and helm of the Wishy-Washies. He did sleep in this Sunday when the guys came a-knockin’ on his door. Shame.
Onde Encontrar Rapaz
Speaking of the Gang, these future missionaries here may or may not have a lot of potential. I must say it was sad to realize that only 2 YW [Young Women] appeared for church this Sunday, 40 minutes late... and these two aren’t even in the ward boundaries. Now I understand why we get so much attention here. Our investigator family doubled the Primary: 4. Shirley didn’t go because her toothache was giving her neck pain. Warley is a 20 on a scale of 1-10. Way to go, Sister Céspedes, for making contacts with families on the street. Way to go, Sister Nelson, for the cookies to give the kids while we’re getting their address. Hey, everyone needs to eat.
Guilherme
GUILHERME WAS CONFIRMED! And he didn’t cut a lip about it. In fact, as he was getting ready for church, he asked if he should use a suit coat, something he NEVER touched, despite our pleading. AND he tried to hurry up Nadir also, saying it’s not good to be late to church. As he came down from the pulpit, after being confirmed by my favorite counselor of the bishopric, he said, “Ele virá Padre.” Baaaahaha. I love old geezers.
Speaking of geezers, Nadir and Neuza (Alexandre’s mom, who used to professionally dance!) made friends during the dinner. Neuza saw a lady adjust her underwear and COMMENTED about it to me. I was CRACKING UP! And to put the icing on the cake, Nadir said, “Going to the movies?” THEY HAVE THAT PHRASE IN PORTUGUESE?! Lovvvvvvvve! Shout-out to Grumpy!
Trash Treasures
I found THE treasure box the other day out on the curb of trash. I handled it with care, cleaned it up in the church bathroom during the Mother’s Day dinner, and lugged it around, only to forget it on the front wall of
Rosana and Ronaldo’s house. They said they saw it sitting there when they came home, shut the door to put
Onde Encontrar Rapaz
Speaking of the Gang, these future missionaries here may or may not have a lot of potential. I must say it was sad to realize that only 2 YW [Young Women] appeared for church this Sunday, 40 minutes late... and these two aren’t even in the ward boundaries. Now I understand why we get so much attention here. Our investigator family doubled the Primary: 4. Shirley didn’t go because her toothache was giving her neck pain. Warley is a 20 on a scale of 1-10. Way to go, Sister Céspedes, for making contacts with families on the street. Way to go, Sister Nelson, for the cookies to give the kids while we’re getting their address. Hey, everyone needs to eat.
Guilherme
GUILHERME WAS CONFIRMED! And he didn’t cut a lip about it. In fact, as he was getting ready for church, he asked if he should use a suit coat, something he NEVER touched, despite our pleading. AND he tried to hurry up Nadir also, saying it’s not good to be late to church. As he came down from the pulpit, after being confirmed by my favorite counselor of the bishopric, he said, “Ele virá Padre.” Baaaahaha. I love old geezers.
Speaking of geezers, Nadir and Neuza (Alexandre’s mom, who used to professionally dance!) made friends during the dinner. Neuza saw a lady adjust her underwear and COMMENTED about it to me. I was CRACKING UP! And to put the icing on the cake, Nadir said, “Going to the movies?” THEY HAVE THAT PHRASE IN PORTUGUESE?! Lovvvvvvvve! Shout-out to Grumpy!
Trash Treasures
I found THE treasure box the other day out on the curb of trash. I handled it with care, cleaned it up in the church bathroom during the Mother’s Day dinner, and lugged it around, only to forget it on the front wall of
Rosana and Ronaldo’s house. They said they saw it sitting there when they came home, shut the door to put
the groceries away, and when they went back to get it, it was gone. I’m not gonna lie, I fell into depression for 8 hours or so. It was the perfect size to put the game cards I’m making for our Missionary Work game. Howwwwwever, as we were hustling home, I spotted a lovely vase in our neighbor apartment complex trash. I love how God compensates me.
Descended Like a Pomba I knoooooow there’s a rule against having pets, but what can I do?Our kitchen window is broken, and pigeons just LOVE visiting us. So much so, that our first visit was a very spiritual one, who quietly made its way to listen in on our companion study time. We’re working out the matter. So far, we’ve Jeffy-rigged a window out of plastic bags and a shoe box. |
Sister Céspedes
I never thought I’d love Sister Céspedes so much. Sometimes, she is really air-heady and Criança, but she is awesome. I realized during the other division we had this week that she gives me hope. I don’t just go through the motions of missionary life, but I do it to see results. And we SEE results. She has a lot of faith that is firing me up every day. I’m so glad God has put her with me, or He has put me with her.
So, Sister Céspedes laughs like Squints in The Sandlot. Ya know, in that famous shot before he “drowns” in the pool? And he giggles? Yup, that’s how she giggles. We’re currently working on her stomach problem and fungus that’s growing on her leg. Other than that, she basically loves me for getting her to 51 Kilos. *Flexes muscle.* Yup! (Shout-out for The Benji.)
I never thought I’d love Sister Céspedes so much. Sometimes, she is really air-heady and Criança, but she is awesome. I realized during the other division we had this week that she gives me hope. I don’t just go through the motions of missionary life, but I do it to see results. And we SEE results. She has a lot of faith that is firing me up every day. I’m so glad God has put her with me, or He has put me with her.
So, Sister Céspedes laughs like Squints in The Sandlot. Ya know, in that famous shot before he “drowns” in the pool? And he giggles? Yup, that’s how she giggles. We’re currently working on her stomach problem and fungus that’s growing on her leg. Other than that, she basically loves me for getting her to 51 Kilos. *Flexes muscle.* Yup! (Shout-out for The Benji.)
Elder Venâncio is going home today. :( I really got quite attached to him. He’s QUITE the gentleman and knows how to lead by example and lead without making you feel bad about your numbers. We met up at the MAC museum (SUPER COOL) today. (Another score for Sister Céspedes. She LOVES going out adventuring for p-days.) We brought with us some special Mom’s cookies that she sent. Elder Gividen from Payson, Utah, was super impressed and gobbled his up. AND this p-day was awesome because we had a 20-minute talk with an “Elect” right there in front of Jesus [Cristo Redentor, the famous statue.]. He approved so much that he said to me, “I love you THIS much” and spread out his arms. Unfortunately, we were so busy, that we just gave a thumbs-up back to Him. ;) |
FAMILY STUFF! YAY!
Spencer is married now? Yeah, weird.
What’s with the party in PERU??? [Cousin Dalton is serving in Peru Lima West. Cousin Davi is in Las Vegas, awaiting her visa to Peru Piura. Mission calls for Natalie Glenn and Amber Goulding, both to Peru.] I want in on this madness. :(
Spencer is married now? Yeah, weird.
What’s with the party in PERU??? [Cousin Dalton is serving in Peru Lima West. Cousin Davi is in Las Vegas, awaiting her visa to Peru Piura. Mission calls for Natalie Glenn and Amber Goulding, both to Peru.] I want in on this madness. :(
Visit the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Niter%C3%B3i+Contemporary+Art+Museum,+Niteroi+-+Rio+de+Janeiro,+Brazil&aq=0&oq=Niteroi+Con&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.349227,107.138672&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=Niter%C3%B3i+Contemporary+Art+Museum,+Niteroi+-+Rio+de+Janeiro,+Brazil&ll=-22.907339,-43.126101&spn=0.006809,0.013078&t=h&z=17
At Niterói, crossing Guanabara Bay on the Ponte Pres. Costa E Silva