The Lastest News From Mission Home

Jardim Londrina

My area, The FERREIRA! (In other words Zion!!!)

November 27, 2012

Happy late Thanksgiving. I was out working one night with Elder Castro and we were doing a bunch of contacts, when one of them wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I was surprised and then a little embarrassed because I had completely forgotten.

So this week the Lord has been teaching me a lot! I´ve been given the opportunity while serving here in the office to really see what the Lord wants to change in me. This has been and continues to be truly the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life. I´ve seen a lot of selfishness, pride, and other things that aren't worthy of a follower of Christ. The Lord has really been working to show me what I need to do to change these things. I had an experience last Friday that really woke me up, I felt completely worthless. I felt as though the President and other missionaries saw me as a burden and had no confidence in me. With all this in my heart I knelt to pray and ask direction of the Lord to show me the purpose of all of this. Amidst all of my complaints and murmurings in the prayer I had a comforting feeling come over me and a thought come into my mind that all of these things would serve to make me the man and leader that the Lord wants me to be. 

I'm so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father that knows His children and is ready to help and guide them through their trails and growth. I know that I can have a successful mission if I rely on the Lord and humble myself enough to except that I'm not going to be perfect at everything the first time but I need to persevere and then I will succeed.
              

November 20, 2012

So another transfer has come and gone here in the mission. Can you believe it, I'm starting my fourth transfer. Next week Elder Castro and i will begin training our replacements. It has been an interesting experience being in the office and seeing all the old missionaries return home and the new missionaries arriving. It really gives you a perspective of how short of a time we all have to serve the Lord and what a blessing it is to serve a mission.

President Pinho is getting super excited lately, he is always excited but as of late he's been getting even more excited! Excited about baptisms!! Our mission is in the top 3 in Brazil, and is one of the most obedient. President went to Campinas this passed week and had a meeting with all the other mission presidents in Brazil and he was spotlighted. Everyone was so surprised the hear that a mission in the southern part of Brazil like Sao Paulo was having so much success with baptisms. We have a goal to baptize 1000 people in the mission just in the month of December. That's 12 baptisms in every area. It's going to be amazing and everyone is stoked!

November 13, 2012

I am so excited to be an uncle:)!!! My prediction is that it is a boy. About what the grand kids should call you my vote is for "mi maw", grandma works too.

So we had the amazing experience of baptizing the family Eleita, this last Sunday! It was an incredible experience and one I will forever remember. I got to baptize Marcos (Dad) and Melina the youngest daughter. The spirit was so strong and they were all so happy! Here are some pictures :)

FAMILY ELEITA Baptized November 11, 2012.



All who attended the Baptism

October 25, 2012

I'm going to be 20 yrs old in 2 days and I've been on my mission for 9 months. The time is passing so fast! Today I went to the Federal Police, to help a few Elders with renewing their visas and I had the biggest throw back. The CTM usually brings their new elders that are needing to get their visas booked, on the same day as us. When I saw an Elder there that graduated with me, Elder Meyo! I was really surprised and it was good to catch up with him. It got me thinking how things have really changed and how fast the time is going by.

You asked about the family Eleita!! (elect). They are doing awesome and progressing really well. I am growing to love them. Elder Castro and I are already imagining going through the temple with them in a year and they haven't even been baptized yet. They have been marked for baptism on the 4th of November. I can't wait it is going to be an amazing day!!!

October 2, 2012

We have been blessed by the Lord the to have received a reference this week of a family. They are really great and we have already taught them once. The are having really serious financial trouble right now, and with the passing away of one of there mothers they seem really humble and ready to accept the gospel. :)

September 12, 2012

An other week came and flew by. Lately here in the office It feels like I'm always running behind. It's a real big temptation to work on P-day. This has been a good and challenging week. I feel like this area is the fulfillment of my PB when it says "you will be asked to do the hardest work you have ever done." I really feel that way right now and at time very inadequate. I pray always that the Lord will qualify me for the work, I know he is, but one thing I am learning is that, that doesn't mean he will make it easy. I think he makes it just bearable enough to get by and grow the most.

I have also been praying to be able to remember all that I need to with the responsibilities in the office. I had an experience that strengthened my testimony. This morning we had a missionary that was returning home to receive treatment for medical reasons. I set my alarm for 3:15 am so I could wake him up and help get him on his way. My alarm didn't go off, I believe the spirit woke me up at exactly 3:15 and the taxi ran late so it gave me just enough time to get him ready and on his way. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father that knows me and he is always there to help when my weaknesses get in the way of his work:).

We lost Victor and his sister Bia. Their mom was a member of the church and now wants nothing to do with it and has forbidden Victor and Bia from continuing with the discussions:(.

Sao Paulo, Interlogos Mission Office Staff

                                                 Me and Elder Castro and the AP's

September 4, 2012

Well let me first start off by adding my testimony to yours that when we are doing our very best and living the gospel the Lord will provide the rest!

The work has Changed a lot here in Ferreira. last transfer we were working a lot in the favella on the outreaches of our area called joão dias, all the former sec. have only worked in that area for their entire time in the office, so its really burnt out. The reason is that its a lot easier to find people in the favella you just have to knock a couple of doors and you ll enter for sure. The other parts of our area are huge apt buildings that you can't enter unless you know someone inside. But the problem with the favella joão dias is retention they normally don't want to commit, and if they do they have to travel a way to church by bus and our ward is just full of wealthy educated people, so they just end up feeling uncomfortable. Most of the people that the other sec. had baptized in the passed have now left the church.

So this transfer Elder Castro and I are changing the plan. Were gonna focus on the apt buildings! It's super tough right now and at times this week it was really hard not to get discouraged, but yesterday was amazing and I know that the lord is already preparing the hearts of the people here to hear our message.

Our Plan is to us the members of the ward. We have been visiting less actives and fully active asking for references and also trying to reactivate people. Right now our numbers aren´t doing so good but we are giving it everything, And the Lord is already blessing us. This Sunday a kid named Victor appeared out of no where and has interest in the church he lives in one of the apt buildings in our area. We visited him and his sister yesterday and they are probably the most elect kids that I have ever met, I already have a huge love for them. As for the family of Falk We are still trying with here, here progress is really slow but we are going to teach Them today about faith in Christ and try and help her with all the doubts that she has had. I'm so excited for what is in store for this area!!!'

 

August 21, 2012

This week was really great, I'm learning so much about myself and who I want to be, or who God wants me to be. I'm trying to make those two desired the same :). The office is going good and it's my last week of training here. I'm a little nervous to be on my own with all the responsibility and me being the forgetful person that I am, but I know that the Lord is by my side ready to qualify me for the work, as long as I put my trust in Him.

The area here is doing great! Our teaching group is diminishing but the quality of the lessons is increasing. The family that I told you about got married on the 18th and it was great, everyone in the family was so happy! We are now working on helping them with gainning a soilid testimony that the church is true and that they need to follow Christ and be baptized. The other family is a little more complicated. the family recently suffered a death of their son. they have many doubts and are having a hard time fulfilling commitments. Yesterday Elder Cherry and I were really firm with them about reading and praying to know. I felt impresed to share the experience I had on the mission when I received and answer to prayer that families can be together forever. The lesson was really spiritual and our hopes are high! :)

A little bit to answer your questions. My p-days aren't really anything special, in the office especially. I have enough time to write you guys do my laundry and clean the house a little bit usually, an the rest of my p-day is working haha the office is super busy. I think it´ll get better where I get everything organized the way I want it. :) Here in the ward we receive lunch from the members, but usually because either we are too busy or they are we just get money to buy something to eat. and ya at time we get to eat out with president. Surprisingly service projects are not a common thing in my mission. I´ve only done 2 the whole time that I´ve been here in the field.

 

August 15, 2012

So I only have this week and the next until training is finish for me here in the office, I'm kinda stressing out about this a bit because after training all the responsibility will be put on my shoulders and I still don't feel all the way prepared. 

About your questions ya, the secretary of the mission handles all the Administration for the mission. so everything from visas to calling parents because they aren't writing their missionary letters. Right now we have 6 people in the office because Elder Cherry and  Elder Vasquez are training Elder Castro and I, and then the assistants. After the transfer on the 28th it will just be the 2 secretaries and the AP´s. To answer your other question as well its just the AP´s that travel with the pres.

So the Family that I was telling you about is planning on going to the court house and getting married on the 18th, which is a huge step and I'm really excited about it! This week was amazing with them. I had a really neat experience with them. We taught a lesson about the Book of Mormon and we read 2 nep. 31 together. It was so beautiful it see the family all united together happy and reading the words of God. It's  amazing the power the gospel has to unite families in happiness and love!

August 7, 2012

This week was really great, I'm learning a ton and feeling little by little more like I know what I'm doing. Also This week was super stressful. We got hammered with a bunch of stuff we had to get done fast and on top of that there´s always the elders that are calling with problems to be resolved haha. I know that this is the reason that the Lord has placed me in this calling.I am always reminded of a passage from my patriatical blessing that says, about my serving a mission, "How you do this work will prepare you physically, mentally and spiritually for the rest of your days on the earth." I Know that these experiences have the ability to change me into the person that the Lord wants me to be, I just need to do my part and work hard while staying humble and leaning on the Lord!

As for proselyting its going good, it's amazing to see how the Lord blesses us. Even with The restricted time that we have as secretaries, it is having no effect on maintaining a teaching group just as if we were normal missionaries.Right now were are teaching a couple of  FAMILIES!!! I am so happy, my goal is to find teach and baptize an elect family of the lord so that they can eventually be sealed in the temple! I want that so badly!!  

August 2, 2012

So novidades(new stuff). Its now my second week in the mission office and its really going good! There´s a ton of stuff to learn and to remember, but I'll get there for sure I know it. One of the great things about being in the office as Secretary of the mission that, I´ve been figuring out that my English definitely will get back into shape, I'm having to call the association in salt lake at times so I'm practising and by next phone call at Christmas I should be great. Also with 4 Americans and only 2 Brazilians that are trying to learn English here in the office, we are talking a lot in English so that helps too.

I had an experience this week that now seems funny but at the time was just terrible. I ran out of toothpaste one morning and had forgotten to buy some that night before returning home from proselyting. Well, I needed to brush my teeth that night before bed so I asked Elder Soares, the Brazilian AP, if i could use his. He said ya and that his toothpaste was in the second bathroom. I went to the bathroom and found what I thought was his toothpaste and went to brush my teeth. When I put my toothbrush in my mouth and started brushing I realized immediately that it most definitely wasn't toothpaste!! I spit everything out and washed my mouth out and then looked at the container, lo and behold, It read Creme de barba, in other words shaving cream!!! haha This week I learned that sometime things aren't as they seem and that you shouldn't judge things buy how they are on the outside! :) haha

But all jocking aside I really had a good week! The Lord is really molding me through experiences here that are always in response to prayer. One thing that I am really learning lately is about positivity and the giant role that it plays in the life of a true follower of Christ. I think this is one of my weaknesses but the Lord knows us and that is why he has placed me where I am to learn what he wants me to become!

Secretary to Pres. Pinho

July 14, 20012

Here in chacara we are planning on having a baptism for August 4th!! His names Migeul and hes 32, he has a big desire and he already has the support of an amazing ward, because he went to Church!!!!!!!  we are helping him stop smoking. He was at 20 per day and now is working on the goal of 10! Hes really doing great!!!

So about the stuff in the packages, if its possible I'd really like some Zebra pens, I know its weird but they are really my favorite and also some things I have been craving, skittles and starbursts!! ha ha I really miss those :) 

Also something new, I got the news I'm being transfered :( :)(Mixed emotions ha ha). I'm leaving Chacara Santana and the Lord has called me to be secretary to President Pinho. I'll be moving there to the mission office on Tuesday and be living there for at least the next 6 months. I'm really nervous, but I do know that with the Lords guiding hand I will qualify for the position for which he has called me. Elder Cherry will be training me. Its kinda funny because I remember when Ii was at home and was emailing Him to know about the mission.

July 24, 2012

This week was awesome and I"m having a great time working here in the mission office! There´s a ton of stuff to remember and a lot of stuff that your responsible for, so it´s a little hecktic but I´m just hopping and praying that all get it with time. To answer your question about the prosilyting, yes, we do get to prosilyte. We work in the office Mon-Tues and Thurs-Fri after studying 10:30-5:00 and we get to work in the area from 5-9:00 and Saturday and Sunday all day. The only problem is that sometimes we don´t get to leave if we are really weighed down with work, but the amazing thing is that Elder Cherry and Elder Vasquez(the last secretary of the mission and secretary of finances) were still able to baptize! Elder J. Castro(The new sec. of finances) arrived in the area Tuesday and we have a baptism already planned for Saturday! I'm supper excited, the area here is really different. Its Really Really wealthy here. In our ward, its just full of high up leaders in the church. Pres. Pinho, Pres. são paulo south, Pres. Coasta( brazil area president) its really sweet! The problem is that because the areas is so rich its really hard to teach here, they are really "hard in thier hearts" like the scriptures always say and don't have any room for the message, but the Lord always provides a way and we are trying to think of ways that we can get references from the members so that we can enter some of the huge apartment buildings were all the wealthy live and BAPTISE!! But as for now we are mostly working in an area really far from the office that is a favella called João dias, there the people are more humble and willing to hear our message.

July 30 2012

So novidades(new stuff). Its now my second week in the mission office and its really going good! There´s a ton of stuff to learn and to remember, but I"ll get there I know it ha ha. One of the great things about being in the office as Secretary of the mission is that I´ve been figuring out that my English definitely will get back into shape. I'm having to call the association in Salt Lake at times so I'm practising and by next phone call at Christmas I should be great. Also with 4 Americans and only 2 Brazilians that are trying to learn English here in the office, we are talking a lot in English so that helps too.

I had an experience this week that now seems funny but at the time was just terrible. I ran out of toothpaste one morning and had forgotten to buy some that night before returning home from proselyting. I needed to brush my teeth that night before bed so I asked Elder Soares, the Brazilian AP, if I could use his. He said ya and that his toothpaste was in the second bathroom. I went to the bathroom and found what I thought was his toothpaste and went to brush my teeth. When I put my toothbrush in my mouth and started brushing I realized immediately that it most definetly wasn't toothpaste!! I spit everything out and washed my mouth out and then looked at the container that, lo and behold, read Creme de barba, in other words shaving cream!!! ha ha This week i learned that sometime things aren't as they seem and that you shouldn't judge things by how they are on the outside! :) ha ha

But all jocking aside I really had a good week! The Lord is really molding me through experiences here that are always in response to prayer. One thing that I am really learning lately is about positivity and the giant role that it plays in the live of a true follower of Christ. 

August 7, 2012

This week was super stressful. We got hammered with a bunch of stuff we had to get done fast and on top of that there´s always the elders that are calling with problems to be resolved. I know that Lord has placed me in this calling. I am always reminded of a passage from my patriartical blessing that says, about my serving a mission,"How you do this work will prepare you physically, mentally and spiritually for the rest of your days on the earth." I Know that these experiences that I am having, have the ability to change me into the person that the lord wants me to be, I just need to do my part and work hard while staying humble and leaning on the Lord!

As for proselyting its going good, its amazing to see how the Lord blesses us. Even with The restricted time that we have as secretaries, it is having no effect on maintaining a teaching group just as if we were normal missionaries.

Right now were are teaching a couple FAMILIES!!! I am so happy, my goal is to find, teach and baptize an elect family of the lord, so that they can eventually be sealed in the temple! I want that so badly!!

August 15, 2012

This week was tough. :) So, I only have two more weeks until training is finished for me here in the office. I'm kinda stressin out about this a bit because after training all the responsibility will be put on my shoulders.

  

About your questions ya, the secretary of the mission handles all the Administration for the mission. so everything from visas to calling parents because they aren't writing their missionary letters.ha ha. Right now we have 6 people in the office because Elder Cherry & Elder Vasquez are training Elder Castro and I, and then the assistants. but after the transfer on the 28th it will just be the 2 secretaries and the AP´s. To answer your other question as well its just the AP´s that travel with Pres. Pinho.

So the Family that I was telling you about is planning on going to the court house and getting married on the 18th, which is a huge step and I"m really excited about it! This week was amazing, I had a really neat experience with them. We taught a lesson about the Book of Mormon and we read 2 nephi 31 together. It was so beautiful to see the family all united together happy and reading the words of God. It's amazing the power the gospel has to unite families in happiness and love!

New Opportunities

So Alan was BAPTISED Saturday (July 7th)!! It was really great and he really has developed a testimony!  Sad:(  he got sick and didnt make it to be confirmed on sunday:(next week for sure). 

Here in Chacara we are planning on having a baptism August 4th.  His names Migeul and he's 32, he has a big desire and he already has the support of an amazing ward, because he went to Church!!!!!!!  We are helping him stop smoking. He was at 20 per day and now is working on the goal of 10! He's really doing great!!!

Something new happened, I was transfered :( :)(Mixed emotions haha). I'm leaving Chacara Santana, the Lord has called me to be secretary to President Pinho. I'll be moving there, to the mission office on Tuesday  July 16th. I will be living there for at least the next 6 months. I'm really nervous and scared because of the responsiblity, but I do know that with the Lords guiding hand I will qualify for the position for which he has called me.. I'll be conpanions with Elder Cherry for the first 6 weeks, while he is training me..Haha, it's kinda funny becuase I remember when I was at home and was emailing him to know about the mission. 

My p-day is now going to be on Wednesdays.Thanks to everyone for the prayers and letters. I am so grateful for the support!

E. Rasmussen

Transfered

NEW area!! I'm now in Chacara Santana in zone Guadapirunga and its really great!! My new comp is Elder Firl (an American this time haha). things are really starting off great. 

Again my Comp and I are opening the area which just means that both of us are new to the area and having to start with 0, but all the more exciting this way

. 

Right now the conditions are not very good. We don't have a house in our area and are living in the house with the elders in the area next to ours. We don't have a cell phone as of yet either, so things are a little scrabbled right now but we are doing great!

The ward here is really supportive and the Lord is always there for us. I know Elder Ffirl and I are hear for a reason and if we are obedient and diligent well fulfill the purpose for sure!

I"m so happy to be a missionary, I'm learning a lot.  pray that can learn and grow and be molded into the servant that God wants me to be. 

Right now we have 5 people marked for baptism for next month on the 7th. I'm praying a lot and I hope they reach conversion. I know that if they just keep there commitments, with a sincere heart they for sure will.We Will see :)

E. Rasmussen

Catch Up!!

Bad Mom award for me. I have not been doing so good on keeping up on the blog. I am going to do better!!

4/3/12
So my second week in the field has come and gone. Things are great, sometimes hard but Great! You asked about my companion Elder Lembranzi.. He has been out 1yr 8.5 months. He is from Rondonha, Porto Velho. It's a city near the Amazon jungle. He has a girlfriend at home and will get married shortly after he returns. I'm told this is typical for most of the native elders.

The ward in Cotia is a fairly large one we have 130 members, however most of the membership is woman and children which makes incomplete families in the church. We have a lot of work to do in bringing the fathers into the church.Our ward area cover an 5kl by 8kl area, with a ton of hills.  The people of the area are a little harder to teach. We get appointments and they let us teach them, but they don't put a lot of importance in what we are teaching them. We do find those Eleilos(elete) that truly are prepared by Our heavenly Father and are ready to hear our message.

A mission is an extraordinary experience. I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father. He is always there for me as I lean on him with the very important task he has laid before me.

4/10/12
I Had my first baptism this week!It was a couple that just got married. They have been coming to church for 4 yrs. So we didn't do much. A baptism is a baptism. Ha Ha:) We have a goal to have 5  baptisms for the month osf April. Our investigators are Lusas, Jodma, Jessica, Sabustiana, and the Luan and Lucus families. We also have Sara, Zesinho and the "Jata"-Jose Family. We are working hard to help them gain a testimony of their own so they will realize the importance of being baptized and becoming a member of the Lords church.

I have sent pictures of the city of Cotia, my house and the couple we baptized.

The Campo (field)

Monday March 26, 2012

I'm pretty much settled here in my first area and really love my companion. I am in the city of Cotia. It is about 2 hrs from the city of Sao Paulo. It is a pretty nice place there are some poorer areas but for the most part it is nice. My companion and I are very blessed to have a fairly nice house to ourselves. It came complete with box springs and mattresses. I guess this is not common from the way my companion and district leaders acted when they saw them.

My companion's name is Elder Lembranzi. He is a Brasiheido 100% and he speaks 0 English ZERO!! What a blessing it's been and I think it will really help me to learn the language much faster. Both he and I are new to this area, so getting around has been quite the adventure. This week we have been trying to learn the area and get to know the investigators.The Bishop and members of the Cotia 1 ward are amazing and so willing to help. The boundaries of the ward are huge but it has been great.

The language is a bugger! Especially understanding the people in the campo(field). I don't understand a lot, but it is only the first week and I know for a fact that if I am faithful, diligent and obedient the Lord will make me equal to the task. The members and my companion have been very supportive of me and it has really helped a lot!!

I know that this is where I am suppose to be with a certainty, even though a times it is tough and stressful, already the good times far out weigh them. This gospel is true I know it, Heavenly Father lives and hears our prayers, we have a Savior Jesus Christ who knows all our difficulties and sorrows (Alma 11:13) I know this to be true. The gospel is so simple and beautiful, how blessed we are to have it, live it and gain the wonderful happiness and joy from it!!

Elder Rasmussen

New Experiences & Miracles

This week was full of tons of new experiences. Wednesday my district and I along with some other districts traveled to the federal police station to get finger printed. The missionaries from the Sao Paulo East Mission also came. The ones who had been out a year and were renewing their visas. It was awesome to talk to them, hear their accents and talk about their experiences. I learned from them that in their mission many people get baptized but don't get confirmed. This was shocking to me. They said they get about 400 baptisms a month and only 250 of those will get confirmed.

Another amazing experience this week was proselyting. Yesterday(Mon. 3/12) was my district's first taste of preaching the gospel to real Brazilians. We went out around the town of Casa Verde. It was amazing! We talked to this one kid, his name was Rafiel, he was 14. He told us he lived right by the Casa Verde church building. It was amazing to bare witness to him of the Book of Mormon and have him commit to read and pray about it. We were able to pass out all the Book of Mormons we were given. The total was 6. Next Monday (3/19) we will go into down town Sao Paulo. It will be great!! To top it off today we are going to the temple in Campinis. Two temples in just two months. That the same number of temples I have been to in the states.

A couple of weeks ago I had an amazing experience. My instructor Irmao Ramolhid was giving a lesson on how the B of M is more than just a great book and how to help people realize that. This was the first day our instructor chose to only speak in Portuguese the whole class. The spirit was so strong, he talked for about an hour and gave an example of teaching an investigator. I was able to understand everything. Afterward he had us teach our companions. I felt the spirit flowing through me and helping me speak the words. It's not a constant everyday thing but, I know through experiences like these that the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues are real gifts. If I work my hardest, stay in tune to the spirit and it's Gods will I can speak.

You asked if I am ready to go out into the field. When I came to the CTM (missionary training center I made a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish while I was here. I pray about them often and the Lord has helped me achieve everyone. So I am ready to go into the field and work hard and do my very best for the Lord. With Him I know I will succeed.


                                                                      Elder Rasmussen

Week 6

February 27,2012
Querido,
I'm so glad to write to you. To answer your question about what an English fast is. It is a whole week when my companion and I only spoke Portuguese. It was sooo hard! The story we heard from Robyn about her nephew who was on a mission in Brazil. The one where his companion lost his leg when he was jumping on a train. My branch president here in the CTM is the doctor for all the missionaries in Brazil. He told us the whole story. It is incredible. The Elder was trying to jump on the train and fell under the train. The next thing he knew he was laying on the ground no leg and blood pouring out of his leg. The Elder's companion was very green and just went into shock and didn't know what to do. The Elder tried to take his belt off and make a turnicut, but was loosing blood to quickly and didn't have the strength and passed out. A man who called himself Joao "John" came out of know where and told the companion to call the mission president and then call the ambulance. Joao took the elders belt and made it into a turnicut. The elder was dead on arrival at the ER. He had no pulse, by a miracle the OR was already prepped and he was in surgery within 10 min.  This Elder is alive today and is getting married soon. What an amazing story!! God truly does watch over His missionaries!

Here in Brazil they have this amazing drink. It's kind of a drinkable yogurt. It's called vigor. It comes in huge bottles and tons of flavors. We drink it sometimes for breakfast. It is amazing!!

Sao Paulo is huge, very green and warm. There are many poor people here, but they are very kind. In the CTM there are many Brazilian missionaries. They are all very nice and are very willing to help you with the language. The language is coming, my dyslexia makes it a little hard when it comes to the reading, but I know it will come.

As soon as I get out in the campo (field ) I will send some pics. Here is some Brazilian slang;
                                 E al cada = wats up man!
                                 Belaza = awesome or killer
                                 Legal = cool
                                bacana = stud
                                ultimo = great
                                fubeca = slacker
                              
God lives, Jesus Christ lives, This is His work and I'm so grateful to be a part of it!

                                    Elder Rasmussen

Happy Carnival! :)

February 14, 2012
     
 This Week is Carnival in Brazil. I didn't get to see a lot, being in the CTM and all. At night as I was laying bed I could hear all of the parties going on with the crazy music and drums. Pretty sweet.
      So the DL (down low) on the CTM here in Sao Paulo is that the North American missionaries are here for 9 weeks. I leave for Campo (field) on March 20th.:) Can't wait. There are no other missionaries that I know of now in the CTM that are going to the Interlogos Mission. I'm looking forward to finding out where my first area to serve will be and who will be my trainer.
     I haven't had any allergies as of yet Yeah!! I am inside the CTM a lot so I guess we will see. Everything is going pretty great, I still have stresses and struggles throughout the week but, I wouldn't have it any other way. It keeps me humble and relying on the Lord. I've been trying to say all my personal prayers in Portuguese and it has been a huge blessing.
Until next week,

Tchau,
Elder Rasmussen

Life in the CTM Brazil

     First let me say I am really missing that cold weather! It's meutio calor aqui em Sao Paulo!

My day begins at 6:30am. I thought waking up at this time would be a lot harder than it is! Breakfast at 7:00, same thing everyday (a panini w/ weird different cheeses and ham). We grill it and it is pretty good. Then we have "personal" study for an hour and then language study for an hour and then gym! At first it was hard to get use to all the studying, especially because it's all individual. If you want to goof off then you can, there is no one to tell any different. So, a lot of people don't study, but I have a great district and we do all our studies!:) For gym we mostly play volleyball which is super fun! Afterwards we have 2 instructors that teach us. Most of the instructors are native Brazilian return missionaries. One of my institutor's name is Irmao Ramalho, he returned from his mission only 5 months ago. He is way awesome! Each instructor has an investigator they pretend to be. We teach them everyday. I have prepared a lot of lessons since I've been here, in both Portuguese and English.

That is what I do everyday and I really enjoy it. The CTM is a wonderful spiritual  place and I am so glad to be here. I feel like I am learning a lot, when I look back I know I have.
Please write me and ask questions.

I will send some pictures soon!

Love to all,

Elder Rasmussen



Familia!!!

I love Brazil!! The food, the climate, my district, the Brazilian missionaries, and the language!  It is super hard learning a new language, I know God called me to preach his word in Brazil in Portuguese! As it says in 1 Nephi 3:7 "the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save He shall prepare away for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them" if I humble myself and put my trust in Him, He will Prepare a way that I will accomplish this commandment!


The spirit is very strong here in the CTM, as long as I open my heart to it and pray for it throughout the day, I can really feel God helping me all the way.


One of the great things about p-day is  that we get to go to the temple, so this morning my district and I did a session. It was great, thankfully most of it was in inges.


How grateful I am that I have a loving Heavenly Father that cares about little Elder Rasmussen and his struggles with Portuguese.


Other great news, Wednesday (Jan. 25, 2012) Elder Ballard and Elder Anderson are coming to the CTM for a devotional!!! I can't wait, it will be amazing.


I love you all and want you to know that I am doing great and am truly where I am meant to be!:)


Elder Rasmussen

Final Goodbyes



At If Airport sending off Elder Rasmussen