New Responsibilities....

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks for us as we traveled to Pennsylvania to visit with family. That and with Lucy Ann traveling back & forth to Montpelier, Idaho almost every week to care for her mother. But Daniel has been having some exciting opportunities as well (though he really missed being in Pennsylvania in his role as favorite uncle).

Daniel was called to be a district leader there within the CTM. That takes away from some of the limited free time he had to update us. But it is a good experience for him. When he was called they told him there were three kinds of missionaries – good, very good, and excellent. A good missionary hears about miracles but never sees. A very good missionary sees miracles done by companions. And an excellent missionary is one that performs miracles. I think we know which type Daniel wants to be. He is capable of doing it as well.

My "prophecy" of years ago has finally come to pass. Back in his early days, Daniel didn’t really want to put in the time on his piano practice. Sports were certainly more important. I kept telling him that someday he would be on a mission and asked to play to piano. He would then eventually regret that he didn’t practice as he we wanted him to. Well, bingo, the time is now. He was asked to play for their devotional and finds he is just a bit rusty.

Last week was Daniel’s first birthday in the mission field. It was tough on him. And, it was tough on us. But, that’s one down, one more to go! He said he did have a good time even though he missed being with family. That’s one of the good things about a mission is you get to value your time with family more.

Speaking of family, many of you know that Daniel had a sister Megan who died from brain cancer when she was three. This was long before Daniel was born, but I’m sure he got to meet with her on the other side of the veil before he was born. Anyway, he’s had an interesting experience with Megan since being on his mission. I think in general missionaries have a greater opportunity to be close to angels and those in the spirit world. In Daniel’s case, he has found that Megan is watching over and (with the Lord’s help) protecting him on his mission, and she is happy he is serving a mission. He has been impressed to tell us that Megan especially misses and loves her Mommy. She is looking forward to a later time when she can be back together with us. This experience has greatly strengthened his testimony of the Lord’s plan for our salvation and how it allows us to return again to our family members who have gone before us. Needless to say, his experience brings us great comfort and joy!

So the days are quickly passing, and Daniel is looking forward to leaving the CTM and getting about the Lord’s work in earnest. He has had some great teachers who have been helping to prepare him. His love for the Brazilian people is already evident. His language skills are coming together and the wisdom behind having the missionary training center there in Brazil is obvious. He’s already reading the Portuguese language version of the Book of Mormon. And, he and his companion were allowed to go out proselyting. He was able to speak with people and share his testimony. They were able to place several Books of Mormon. He had the chance to feel how the Spirit can help him with a less than familiar language. Again, a great opportunity that came about because of the Lord’s wisdom in having a missionary training center in the field.

Let me close with his closing words:

I love this gospel and know that it is the true church. I know that Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that the Book of Mormon changes lives because it is the true word of God. I love being a missionary!

Another Week at the CTM

The adventure continues.... Daniel reports that his time in the missionary training center seems to go by fast and not so fast. He feels like he got there yesterday, but it has already been over a month. But, when he looks forward, it seems like "forever". Pretty typical feeling I think. I suspect once he gets out on the street, the variety will make things a bit better from that perspective.

Daniel really appreciates everyone's letters and emails. We have had trouble getting a file of email and postal addresses to him, so he has had a hard time replying to everyone. I did post his "official" church email address here on the blog, so feel free to email him. Realize he only gets to check this official email site once per week on p-days. So, letters are nice cause they come at any time. But, if you could provide your email address to him, it is much easier and cheaper for him to reply via email.

In the CTM, the Elders get a chance to exercise and play basketball. One of the Elders he has been playing with is Elder Devin Peterson. Took a while to recognize it, but Devin and Daniel are related (distant cousins), so that was a pleasant surprise for him. Devin is into sports too, so that worked out well for Daniel, but Elder Peterson has been there a few weeks longer and left the CTM this week. Kind of a neat coincidence!

Daniel expressed his love for everyone. He's particulary missing his Mom (and her cooking), his Grandmas, and his nieces and nephews. He's sad to miss Melissa's baptism next week but wants her to know he will be thinking about her. And, of course, he's missing sports -- I sent him another sports update this week! With regard to food, he's getting a little tired of beans and rice (and wants us to send him some Gas-x). He misses his Sunday dinners with Grandma Beverly.

He reports that the language is coming slowly but surely. His Brazilian roommates are helping him learn. He had to go buy some face wash, and of course the whole transaction was in Portuguese, so it was a little tough. But, it worked out.

He reports a typical schedule:

Wake up around 6:20 have breakfast at 7:00. Then, personal study from 7 to 7:30. Then, companion study from 7:30 to 8:30. Class with Irmão Soares from 8:30 to 11:45. Lunch is from 11:45 till 12:45. From 12:45 till 2:30 he has MDST (missionary directed study time). From 2:30 till 3:40, it's gym time. From 4:15 till 5:15 is dinner. Class with Irmão Barbosa from 5:15 till 9:15. Planning time is from 9:15 till 9:30. Then, he showers and writes in his journal from 9:30 till 10:30 and goes to bed.

I'll close today's entry with Daniel's testimony:

I love this gospel. I like to bear my testimony. I know this church is the true church. I know that I am doing what I am supposed to even though it has been the hardest thing ever. I know that the Book of Mormon testifies of Cristo in the Americas. And, I know that by reading it you become acquainted with Him. I know that when you pray, He will answer. I know that our Redeemer lives and that when we die we can live with Him again. This mission is great, and I cannot wait to get out of the CTM and teach the people!

News from Brazil & Pictures Too!

Got a couple of notes from Daniel this week -- one was sent via snail mail the first day he arrived in Brazil.  Took almost 4 weeks to get here.  A good reason to do email instead!

In that first letter (written in "Daniel font" - another good reason for email), Daniel described his flight down.  On the leg from Boise to Salt Lake, he was pretty emotional.  He sat next to a lady who was very nice, and they had a nice chat.  She was a non-member but told him she would pray for him on his mission.  He got to present a mini-discussion, so he was pretty hyped about that.

Then, to his relief, a group of missionaries joined him for the flight from Salt Lake to Dallas-Ft Worth.  Then, on the flight to Brazil, there were 28 missionaries, so he felt pretty good (as good as he can when flying).

He couldn't believe the humidity once in Brazil.  He felt like he was swimming all day.  He liked what he saw in Sao Paulo but said some of the buildings didn't look structurally sound.  Even though the mission home is on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, there are still skyscrapers everywhere.

The tone of this first letter -- very homesick!

Then, we got the email he had written just this week.  Four weeks make a difference!  He's enjoying the mission.  He talked about the various pictures he was attaching to the email.  At the end, he had to add a postscript cause system limits didn't let him send all the pictures.  He is still enjoying working with his companion, Elder Young.  He was selected to go sing at the capital in Sao Paulo for Mormon Day.  There were only a few of the missionaries who were selected to go, and he ended up by the microphone and thought that was cool.  This from the kid we couldn't convince to take choir in high school.  

He also got to attend the temple again and pressed all of us to do the same.  He told us when we send pictures, it is best to just paste them in emails rather than attach them as an attachment.  Then, he closed with his testimony:

I love being here so much.  I love this gospel I know that it is true.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I know that with the Bible, they are the fullness of the gospel.  I love being on my mission even though it is so hard and will only get harder.   I miss being home so much but this is where I need to be.

Here are some pictures:

Companions - Elders Young & Parkinson...

District 17B at the Sao Paulo Temple...

A hazy morning in Sao Paulo - view from Daniel's room...

Daniel and his companion plus a Brazilian Elder (we think Elder Wilber Da Silva) flexing...

Can't wait for next week!

Beginning Week 3

Daniel began his 3rd week at the Sao Paulo CTM this week.  We were expecting to hear from him on Wednesday, same as last week.  But in pops an email on Tuesday!  

His first concern was to make sure people have his address and email address.  The mailing address at the CTM is posted here on the blogsite, so that's easy.  His "official" email address is EDanielJP10@myldsmail.net.  Last week, we asked if there were any restrictions on who could send him emails to that address.  He answered all our other questions, but not that one....  So, I thought I'd just release it to everyone and see what happens.  The only "downside" with that address is he only gets to check it each p-day whereas he can receive letters any day.  Another option that Daniel has recommended is the use of a service called Mission Ties (www.missionties.com).  We are experimenting with that to see how well it works.

The theory behind Mission Ties is that the missionary can write as many people, as often as he has time, using the service.  He sends his letter via local mail to an address in Sao Paulo.  The Mission Ties people scan the letter and then send it email to the person he is writing to back home.  On the flip side, we can write him an email (with an attachment if desired).  We send the email to the Mission Ties site.  The email is received in Sao Paulo by someone who will print it out, put it in an envelope, and mail it by local mail to Daniel.  The advantages of this is avoiding some of the cost of international mailing while typically getting the letter there in a day or so.    Apparently, they also have an online store so you can order and send packages to missionaries.  This means the product you want to send must be available in Sao Paulo though.  That may not always work.  In any case, we'll let you know how this works out.   Take a look at their website if you want to know more.

Then, Daniel's next question -- no, not how is everyone doing or anything like that.  He asked for info on the NBA playoffs and on his Mariners.  He tells us other missionaries are receiving updates on their favorite teams, so he's sure it's alright if we send him info.  He was also interested in how his car is doing -- and would like a picture of it.

But, his heart is in the right place.  Here is an excerpt from this week's email:

"I believe this is the right place.  The language is not coming as easily as I had hoped.  I guess it will come in the Lord's own due time.  I've got to try to be patient which has not always been easy for me.

My companion and I are like best friends now.  One of my teachers, Irmão (brother) Soares is way sweet.  He's moving to Utah in 3 months or so, and he wants me to look him up when I return from my mission.  The best thing is when I get back, I'll be able to talk to him in Portuguese instead of English.

I love being here in Brazil and the time is flying by fast.  I love this gospel!  I know that our Father in Heaven called me to do a work here.  I know that God loves me and that he knows me personally.  I know that Deus e Jesus Cristo revealed themselves to Joseph Smith.  Eu Sei que o Livro de Mormon é verdadero. Eu sei que está igreja é verdadera."

Finally, he closed by asking us not to forget him out there in the mission field.  He would love to have letters from everyone about what is going on [sports updates optional].  

Thanks to everyone who has talked to me about this blogsite.  It seems like a hit, so I'll keep it going.  Even Daniel was able to view it!  We'll update again as soon as we have something.