Dear Family,
I have been sent to Rio de Janiero. I am staying in Campos
and our mission is huge. We have to walk everywhere and it takes over 5 hours
to get from one side to the other. It doesn't help that our housing is in
another area. We start every day with a 20 min walk to our area. My companion
is awesome. Elder Mitchell. Yes, he is american. But, he has been here almost a
year and speaks fluently. I am learning pretty quickly but it is still really
hard to understand what people are saying. I can understand almost everything
that my companion says know and some of our investigators.
It is less hot here that in Vitoria but still hotter than
Sao Paulo. But, the mission schedule is kinda different than in the handbook.
Missionaries take about 2 hours for lunch during the hot part of the day 1-3,
and we work straight through dinner until 9. We dodge most of the really hot
sun but it can still get really brutal. In almost every part of this mission
the members are really good about feeding us. It is hard sometimes to arrange
the meals but we always end up with food. Almost anyone in there house will
give us water too. Elder Mitchell likes to use this strategy to talk with
people. If we can't come in then we can talk for like 20 min over a glass of
water. We have gained about 10 investigators so far but have had to make some
cuts too. It is really hard to have to tell people that we cannot help them
anymore unless they either go to church or pray for themselves.
Another difficulty is the couples that only live together.
It is not so much that they don't want to get married. It is actually a long
process here to legally marry. It takes over 3 months and costs $500, which is
really hard for a lot of people. It found out if we give up our bimonthly
allowance we could pay for one marriage a month. But, that we require us to
basically starve to death.
Our house is actually kinda big but not very clean. We get
rats at night and I have just learned to ignore the ants that are everywhere.
We live with 2 other Americans so I get plenty of English in the house, but my
companion speaks almost all Portuguese. He is a good trainer. I have only heard
good news about him.
It is also really hard to get people to go to Church and the
Bishops here require 2 visits before a baptism. I don't know why but the
Portuguese language doesn't really have a word that really means a commitment.
the direct translation of (I will) really means (I will try kinda maybe
wishy-washy) We challenged 8 people to go to church all of which said they would
come and none showed up. it was kinda sad, but on the bright side, someone else
came and talked to the bishop about marriage and baptism.
With our huge area, my companion said that they typically
pick a section of the area and focus on that area for 3-4 weeks and then focus
on another area close by. That way we do not have to spend 4-5 hours of our day
walking. Instead it is only 2-3. I was told that excising is also not a
requirement here because of the walking. I just do stretches and try to stay
awake. I have never felt to tired day after day and I hear it only gets better
(worse) hurray! I cannot wait to be right along side my companion teaching and
feeling like a contribution. As of right now I mostly testify after he teaches
and occasionally add a comment. My goal this week is to talk to people on the
street and get addresses.
I finally get to send pictures so that is going to be
awesome. I just have to figure out how.
Well, I apologize, I forgot my USB
cord and can't send pictures until next week. I will make sure to take lots of
pictures today and send you a flood next week. Soooooo Sorry.
Love,
Elder Jacobson (Andrew)
P.S. I have been missing some things from home and was
wondering if you could send them maybe as like Christmas presents. I was
wondering first if someone wants to reorganize my iPod into a mission approved
iPod. Anything churchy is awesome. I can also listen to like just instrumental
music as long as it is reverent. I was thinking like Lord of the Rings. I also
would love that soundtrack that Dad listens to with all the songs about Christ.
The forgotten carols. .... and I am going to talk to president to see exactly
what he will approve.
Also, they don't have deodorant sticks here. Weird I
know.
Finally, I have a pair of black pants in my closet that were
getting too small but I need another pair of black pants to match my suit
jacket.
PSS. Happy Birthday BREALYNN. I hope you enjoy the part they
will be having for you in Jerusalem. I miss you too. I will need a picture of
you also. haha.
