June 24, 2009
WOOOOOHHHHHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Man, p day today was pretty sweet, we ran into a couple guys skating on the street corner last night, and I skated for a few with them, then we marked to go to a skate park here in our area with them. Good times just rolling around on a board again for a bit, our District leader came out to our area too, and he, those guys and I had a pretty good sk8 session... just thought I’d get that out at the beginning, (and my knee was just fine, not a single problem, woohhooo!)
Well let’s see, yes I do feel that time flies by, its kinda weird to let people know when they ask that I’ve been here for ... 9 months today actually.
After a somewhat slow start here in Porto, the Lord is Blessing us and the work is picking up as we have found a family to teach, among a good number of teenagers, and have at least one baptism this Saturday. Elvani is a single mom whose son was baptized a while back, but with no one to bring him to church went inactive. She is a really nice woman, and is one of many who has strong catholic roots in her family, but with a heart open to God’s will she made the steps to go to church this past Sunday and to read and pray about the book of Mormon. When we taught the first lesson and invited her to be baptized on the 27th, she agreed, and her 10 or 11 year old son Guilherme said excitedly, "you're going to get baptized mom? Really?" IM happy for them and for the decision she (Elvani ) made to ask God, to act in faith, and to decide to be baptized, what a blessing that will be in her family. She also lost her mom recently, so we'll be teaching her the 2nd lesson here soon, and share the doctrine of baptisms for the dead, and more about eternal families. Man id be pretty happy to hear about her going to the temple.
I think working in Vitoria da Conquista has prepared me to work here, I learned alot more about working with the members and the leaders of the ward, and prepared me to bring several new ideas to try in this area. The area here close to us is small, and Elder S. has been working here for about 4 months now and as such is a little burned out, so we're looking at staring to work at another part of the area where almost all of the members live, but it’s about an hour’s walk, so to save time, we are only going to work up there with references from members, and then leave the members responsible to bring the people to church on Sunday. I feel that working with the members and recent converts truly is the key here.
I don’t remember if I told you guys that the church is really new here, about 5-10 years old, and it’s amazing to be kind of "on the front" here, one of the neighboring branches here just bought a house to use in place of an Indian school that they were using (did I tell you there’s something akin to Indian reservations here close by) it really is a blessing to be here serving the Lord, and learning more and more how to trust in Him, and to serve more fully and effectively. I know God lives, and loves each and every one of us, that He will help us as we strive to do His will, for I know the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall provide a way for them to accomplish the thing which he hath commanded him.
This testimony I leave with you all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amém.
The new address
Elder Pettit
São Benedito 27, Antonio Tito
Porto Seguro-BA
45810-000
Brazil
BTW here’s a great recipe I picked up from a sister in Vit. Da Conq.
Its cabbage, but done in a fancy delicious sort of way. ( I think she made it up)
Cut up enough cabbage into thin slices to fill a small Pyrex dish (it depends on how much of this stuff you want)
Fry with a little oil; Garlic, onion, green pepper, sal (a pinch)
then stick it all together (the cabbage and the other stuff) and let it cook on low heat (don’t add water, there is enough in the cabbage)
While its simmering (I guess that’d be the word) take four eggs separated into the whites and the yolks, beat the whites until they turn white (reads really strangely, but really, just do it) and then add in the beaten egg yolks. then beat in parmesan cheese (grated/that powder) I don’t know how much, but however much you think would be good,
Then put the cooked cabbage mixture into the casserole dish, and pour the eggs/cheese mix over the top.
Cook in the oven for about 10 minutes and.... tada, you have a tasty cabbage... casserole. Good stuff, make it, enjoy.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
June 17, 2009
Traveling to Porto Seguro was pretty cool, I left about 6 30 in the morning and got here about 2 in the afternoon. It was a beautiful area we passed through, and with the weather being cooler and rainy in the heights where Vit. da Conquista resides, traveling to the hotter lowlands I got to see a good bit of misty topped hills, all in all very cool, I snagged some pics, though won’t know if they really came out yet. I’ll try to send some your way in a bit.
As of yet there’s not a whole lot of tourists though it seems they’ll get here in the next month or so. Not too excited about that to tell you the truth, but tudo bem.
Let’s see, had a great last week in the area in Conquista, I’m def. going to miss some good people there. Here in Porto Seguro there is only a branch, but I’m really excited to work here with Elder Schreiner, who is from Porto Alegre, looks like an American, and probably speaks better English then I do Portuguese. I met the president of the branch yesterday, or Monday actually, and he seems like a great leader for this branch, supports the missionary work and seems to care about the members. Yesterday we had a great experience with a partially less active family in the branch. A sister passed away early this week and we passed by to see if we could help, and to leave the message of the plan of Salvation if it seemed right. What a great experience it was, the spirit testified strongly to the family there and to me as well, of the truthfulness and the true comfort that we have in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, including the knowledge of what happens to after we die, where we were before we came to earth, and for those of us still here, why we are here. I know that the gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, that our families can be sealed such that we can be together for time and all eternity if we but live faithfully to the sacred covenents we make in the temple, and I know that this is possible only by way of Our heavenly Father's love for us, in sending His only begotten son Jesus Christ, in whose sacred name I leave this testimony, Amém.
Elder Pettit
Traveling to Porto Seguro was pretty cool, I left about 6 30 in the morning and got here about 2 in the afternoon. It was a beautiful area we passed through, and with the weather being cooler and rainy in the heights where Vit. da Conquista resides, traveling to the hotter lowlands I got to see a good bit of misty topped hills, all in all very cool, I snagged some pics, though won’t know if they really came out yet. I’ll try to send some your way in a bit.
As of yet there’s not a whole lot of tourists though it seems they’ll get here in the next month or so. Not too excited about that to tell you the truth, but tudo bem.
Let’s see, had a great last week in the area in Conquista, I’m def. going to miss some good people there. Here in Porto Seguro there is only a branch, but I’m really excited to work here with Elder Schreiner, who is from Porto Alegre, looks like an American, and probably speaks better English then I do Portuguese. I met the president of the branch yesterday, or Monday actually, and he seems like a great leader for this branch, supports the missionary work and seems to care about the members. Yesterday we had a great experience with a partially less active family in the branch. A sister passed away early this week and we passed by to see if we could help, and to leave the message of the plan of Salvation if it seemed right. What a great experience it was, the spirit testified strongly to the family there and to me as well, of the truthfulness and the true comfort that we have in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, including the knowledge of what happens to after we die, where we were before we came to earth, and for those of us still here, why we are here. I know that the gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, that our families can be sealed such that we can be together for time and all eternity if we but live faithfully to the sacred covenents we make in the temple, and I know that this is possible only by way of Our heavenly Father's love for us, in sending His only begotten son Jesus Christ, in whose sacred name I leave this testimony, Amém.
Elder Pettit
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
June 6, 2009
Let’s see, packing since I left the CTM... it’s a bit harder each time for some reason, I ended up using the extra bag on the way from Itapetinga to get here, but I’m up for making a change and using the standard two bag approach, packing smart is the key, and not just packing to get there is the key, I haven’t really picked up any souvenirs yet. Speaking of souvenirs, I lost a good number of my fotos here on the mission because the memory card I was using had some sort of error, fortunately the foto place here has a program of attempting to save goofy memory cards, and some of my pics were saved, which I promptly put on a cd. Lessons learned? not gonna leave 8 months of fotos on a single memory card again.
Yes, the table cloth is a nice touch, baby blue with white designs...
We were blessed with a baptism yesterday of a young man named Giovani, he has 16 years old, and it’s been really great seeing him change under the spirits direction. He and his brothers are all hooked on playing video games, which made it interesting teaching at first, and in actuality we stopped going by after a couple visits as they weren’t progressing, but then a little while after we ran into his mom in the street, who said he wanted to talk to us and she asked if we could stop by and talk with him. So we did, and after going to church a couple times he was set to baptized last Saturday night, but when we got to his house (unfortunately a bit later then we had planned) he had already gone to the church, so we headed off to meet him they, calling ahead to see if he had gotten there yet, as far as the people we talked with know, they didn’t see him, but what seems to have happened is that he went there after we didn’t show up on time, and then by the time we got there, he'd already left. We thought in the moment that someone had spoken a bunch of crazy lies about the church to him, (a common one being that there is a black bull in the church that everyone has to try and ride, but if one tries without success will be killed) Long story short when we talked to him on Monday, we found out what really happened, and upon clearing up the confusion we asked when he wanted to be baptized, and he said, tomorrow, and so he was. When we showed up to bring him to church for the baptism, he wasn’t to be found, that is until Joyce his two year old sister lets us know that someone was under the bed... Funny stuff, its good fun to mess around with him and his brothers and sister. It’s been great here, I’ve made alot of good friends with the members and investigators, and it’ll be sad to say good bye if I get transferred on Sunday.
Well I should be going, but I want to leave my testimony with you all that I know that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, that he has a plan and a vision for each and every one of us, that if we will but give our will over to Him, listening to the Spirit's voice, He will guide us in the "more fertile parts of the wilderness" just as he did with Lehi and his family. I know that the gospel was restored through Joseph Smith, that the Book of Mormon contains the words of God, and that the power of the priesthood was again placed here on the earth such that we can receive the necessary ordinances for our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amém.
Elder Pettit
PS please pass the word on that the address in Vitoria da Conquista probably won’t be valid any longer. Thanks much :)
Let’s see, packing since I left the CTM... it’s a bit harder each time for some reason, I ended up using the extra bag on the way from Itapetinga to get here, but I’m up for making a change and using the standard two bag approach, packing smart is the key, and not just packing to get there is the key, I haven’t really picked up any souvenirs yet. Speaking of souvenirs, I lost a good number of my fotos here on the mission because the memory card I was using had some sort of error, fortunately the foto place here has a program of attempting to save goofy memory cards, and some of my pics were saved, which I promptly put on a cd. Lessons learned? not gonna leave 8 months of fotos on a single memory card again.
Yes, the table cloth is a nice touch, baby blue with white designs...
We were blessed with a baptism yesterday of a young man named Giovani, he has 16 years old, and it’s been really great seeing him change under the spirits direction. He and his brothers are all hooked on playing video games, which made it interesting teaching at first, and in actuality we stopped going by after a couple visits as they weren’t progressing, but then a little while after we ran into his mom in the street, who said he wanted to talk to us and she asked if we could stop by and talk with him. So we did, and after going to church a couple times he was set to baptized last Saturday night, but when we got to his house (unfortunately a bit later then we had planned) he had already gone to the church, so we headed off to meet him they, calling ahead to see if he had gotten there yet, as far as the people we talked with know, they didn’t see him, but what seems to have happened is that he went there after we didn’t show up on time, and then by the time we got there, he'd already left. We thought in the moment that someone had spoken a bunch of crazy lies about the church to him, (a common one being that there is a black bull in the church that everyone has to try and ride, but if one tries without success will be killed) Long story short when we talked to him on Monday, we found out what really happened, and upon clearing up the confusion we asked when he wanted to be baptized, and he said, tomorrow, and so he was. When we showed up to bring him to church for the baptism, he wasn’t to be found, that is until Joyce his two year old sister lets us know that someone was under the bed... Funny stuff, its good fun to mess around with him and his brothers and sister. It’s been great here, I’ve made alot of good friends with the members and investigators, and it’ll be sad to say good bye if I get transferred on Sunday.
Well I should be going, but I want to leave my testimony with you all that I know that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, that he has a plan and a vision for each and every one of us, that if we will but give our will over to Him, listening to the Spirit's voice, He will guide us in the "more fertile parts of the wilderness" just as he did with Lehi and his family. I know that the gospel was restored through Joseph Smith, that the Book of Mormon contains the words of God, and that the power of the priesthood was again placed here on the earth such that we can receive the necessary ordinances for our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amém.
Elder Pettit
PS please pass the word on that the address in Vitoria da Conquista probably won’t be valid any longer. Thanks much :)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June 3, 2009
Alo!!
Good to hear things are going well on the home front, All is well here on my end of things, Next week we have transfers and I think I’ll be heading out of here, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
The area is really starting to look up here, we have another baptism on Saturday, a 16 year old guy named Giovani. It’s been interesting and really great to see the change the Spirit has led him to make in his life, and also in the lives of several other investigators here recently. Giovani went to church alone last Sunday, is playing less violent video games, and has even begun reading the bible in addition to the Book of Mormon, though. It's a lot of fun visiting with him as well, as he has 2 younger brothers and a younger sister, (Jackson, Alex and Joyce) and it’s a good round of zuando about Sao Paulo's soccer team being better then the Corinthians, poking fun at their hair, (which Giovani cut) or mine for that matter (which Giovani also cut) or frequent use of the phrase "galego está tendo sucçeso". In the beginning they didn’t seem too interested, but then out of nowhere Giovani had an allergic reaction, and after which we ran into his mom in the street, who said he wanted to talk to us and invited us to come visit. And he has been progressing ever since. It’s also been great because Larissa (the girl who was baptized a lil while ago) knows him from school, and apart from a fight they had (because he said her mouth was like a duck's bill) in which she ended up punching him, they are great friends. We held a FHE at her place with Giovani, her cousin (Fernando who will be baptized in 2 weeks), and some neighbor's kids, and everyone had a good time and wanted to keep going when it came time for us to leave. Larissa is a great example of determination in following the Spirit and is a great support to her neighbors, cousin, and Giovani as well in progressing towards being baptized.
Also of note that woman (Redilane) who went to church thinking she was going to die, went to church again, has the name and address of a friend to visit, is reading the book of Mormon with several friends, is amazingly excited about learning all she can in the Book of Mormon, taking in the story and everything, talking to everyone about the "Mormons" and gave me a big beautiful bible with a personal dedication written in the front. Her son Iago also went to church last Sunday and we have come into brief contact with her ex husband through her as well. (btw it’s kind of ridiculous how much Iago looks like Stephen)
In terms of working with the ward things are looking better, the bishop is trusting in us, we are beginning to receive some more references from the members, and judging by the last activity, the excitement level and attendance at the "missionary activity" is improving as well.
The Lord has blessed us immensely as I think about it.
I know that this is the Lord's work, the gospel was restored through Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ is our Savior, and through Him and righteous choices in our lives we can return to live with our Heavenly Father After our time here on Earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amém.
Elder Pettit
Alo!!
Good to hear things are going well on the home front, All is well here on my end of things, Next week we have transfers and I think I’ll be heading out of here, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
The area is really starting to look up here, we have another baptism on Saturday, a 16 year old guy named Giovani. It’s been interesting and really great to see the change the Spirit has led him to make in his life, and also in the lives of several other investigators here recently. Giovani went to church alone last Sunday, is playing less violent video games, and has even begun reading the bible in addition to the Book of Mormon, though. It's a lot of fun visiting with him as well, as he has 2 younger brothers and a younger sister, (Jackson, Alex and Joyce) and it’s a good round of zuando about Sao Paulo's soccer team being better then the Corinthians, poking fun at their hair, (which Giovani cut) or mine for that matter (which Giovani also cut) or frequent use of the phrase "galego está tendo sucçeso". In the beginning they didn’t seem too interested, but then out of nowhere Giovani had an allergic reaction, and after which we ran into his mom in the street, who said he wanted to talk to us and invited us to come visit. And he has been progressing ever since. It’s also been great because Larissa (the girl who was baptized a lil while ago) knows him from school, and apart from a fight they had (because he said her mouth was like a duck's bill) in which she ended up punching him, they are great friends. We held a FHE at her place with Giovani, her cousin (Fernando who will be baptized in 2 weeks), and some neighbor's kids, and everyone had a good time and wanted to keep going when it came time for us to leave. Larissa is a great example of determination in following the Spirit and is a great support to her neighbors, cousin, and Giovani as well in progressing towards being baptized.
Also of note that woman (Redilane) who went to church thinking she was going to die, went to church again, has the name and address of a friend to visit, is reading the book of Mormon with several friends, is amazingly excited about learning all she can in the Book of Mormon, taking in the story and everything, talking to everyone about the "Mormons" and gave me a big beautiful bible with a personal dedication written in the front. Her son Iago also went to church last Sunday and we have come into brief contact with her ex husband through her as well. (btw it’s kind of ridiculous how much Iago looks like Stephen)
In terms of working with the ward things are looking better, the bishop is trusting in us, we are beginning to receive some more references from the members, and judging by the last activity, the excitement level and attendance at the "missionary activity" is improving as well.
The Lord has blessed us immensely as I think about it.
I know that this is the Lord's work, the gospel was restored through Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ is our Savior, and through Him and righteous choices in our lives we can return to live with our Heavenly Father After our time here on Earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amém.
Elder Pettit
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