Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
December 13 and December 19 2011
Olá from São Francisco do sul,
I am currently serving in my first area with my companion Elder Longo- Elder ´´Grande´´ and Elder Longo haha. He is a native from Salvador so we can only converse so much. I am having a tough time understanding people, but it´s getting better every day. I am trying to work hard and make sure I am focused. 2 of my shirts got ruined by one of the belts I had... And then when we tried to clean it the sleeves got stained by something and I wasn´t able to get it out... It is muito quente aqui! We walk a lot. I don´t know how many miles, but it is hot-humid-and i am always sweating. It´s weird but i think that I am used to it because of São Paulo, you just sweat and keep on moving cause it´s not going to get better haha.
We made our first baptismal commitment and we taught 4 lessons this week. We have had to do a lot of traveling for zone conference, moving in, and we go back to Joinville tomorrow and from there Florianópolis for Mission conference. I get car sick on the bus so i am not excited at all haha.
Our investigator w/ the baptismal date, Jurema, started crying during the lesson and for the first time I really saw the change that can occur in the lives of people. She is living with a man she is not married to so my companion is worried about a lei da castidade, but I have faith she will come through. I love the people already. The days are hard and soooo hot, but you just kind of push through it. Mornings are really hard for me, but after 12 or so I can´t get this smile off my face. I smile at everyone and it´s infectious because they all smile back... except one time when a gay guy blew me a kiss... awkward...!
They don´t sell quads here! you have to know someone who does bindings to get a quad custom made here... yeah a little different i have an O livro de mórmon and a biblia sagrada, but i really need some good scripture markers like 4-5 colors. not the pencils cause i can´t sharpen those and the will destroy the pages.
Wish list part 2: We have to buy food for dinner and breakfast, a family feeds us lunch everyday- can you send me a shopping list, mosquito itch cream, pictures of the kids wrestling/activities, some more sunblock, deodorant, easy recipes?
One more thing, I am going to send you an envelope w my journey so far- itinerary, tickets, etc, a letter i want you to send me at my one year mark, pre-addressed and stamped letters to send for me please... and the last one is not finished but i was hoping you could forward the blank-ish one to the MTC in Provo to my branch presidency. They were amazing.
I miss you guys e eu amo vocês!
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 3:39 AM
To: Darrin T. Grondel
Subject: Re: First MTC email
Subject: Re: First MTC email
Ola! tudo bem? Eu estou em Florianópolis. I finished the book of mormon on the flight over and then had the MOST beautiful view of the island and the area surrounding... There are beaches, mountains, rolling hills, forest lands. This place is so beautiful you guys. I wish you could see it. They have a lot more money here than São Paulo. The city is much cleaner and the air is so clear and so fresh here. I don´t even know how to explain it. It was only a 45 minutes flight and then we met the AP and the President. He is awesome, a spunky-energetic guy. I just wanted to let you guys know that I am here with all my things and that I already love it.
We went proselyting yesterday and passed out 9 Books of Mormon! The church is true!
Eu amo vocês!
Please update my address for facebook, blog, and the ward:
Elder Bryson Thomas Grondel (Full name required)
Brazil Florianópolis Mission
R. Feliciano Nunes Pires, 42
Centro
88015-220 Florianópolis-SC
Brazil
Friday, December 2, 2011
November 30, 2011
So i am not sure how much time i have to reply, but I am in Brazil and i am doing well. I forgot to bring my address down to the lab so i will shoot you a quick email later during this week. it takes about 10 days to receive a letter here so just send any letters to the address i give you okay?
I really missed you guys on Thanksgiving and we had turkey, potatoes, and of course rice for our dinner haha. We have rice and beans for every lunch and dinner meal. So there is a main course and then you can take as much rice and beans as you want. it´s kind of awesome because I am almost up to 220 now! the culture here is so new to me. I literally cannot comprehend everything that is going on around me. There is graffiti on every building, a lot of the city is run down, and there is trash everywhere. It´s not too bad though. It is SOOOO HOT! Muito quente! I am sweating up a storm, but we have air conditioning here at the CTM so we are lucky. Our Brazilian roomates told us that they don´t have air conditioning at home and when we leave we probably won´t have it on our missions. American electronics and other items are SO expensive here it is unbelievable.
I am so glad to hear that Easton is doing well! Wish him luck for me he´s a study... and a sexy beast.
Brady, brady, brady- I have been really hoping that he will take his preparation more seriously than I did. Preach my gospel is amazing and teaches so much that we don´t cover in church or seminary or EFY. But the MTC is an amazing place.
Brady, brady, brady- I have been really hoping that he will take his preparation more seriously than I did. Preach my gospel is amazing and teaches so much that we don´t cover in church or seminary or EFY. But the MTC is an amazing place.
Lexi- I love her and I met up with my old district here in São Paulo so I have been flowing with Elder Bell again. It reminds me of the times we would makes raps together. I miss those good times, but we´ll get a chance when i get back... Quando eu volto da missão.
Jake- I really hope that letter helped! You better stay on that reading and make sure you take your start doing those workouts so that when i get back you´re bigger than me okay? You are a stud, you just don´t know it yet. Step on the mat as if you have already won everytime.
Caleb- Just keep on chugging superstar! you are such a boss you know that? Piano, sports, sax...aphone! And you are so freaking funny, Lady killa! haha. Don´t let anything stop you, if you get nervous, punch that nervousness right in it´s face. Use prayer swiss cheese and believe. Você pode fazer qualquer coisa! Você um ótimo jovem.
Levi- I am so glad to here he is working hard and having fun. He told me about that on the phone when i called =] it was so great to hear all of your voices again
Olivia- I want pictures of her recital when she gets those!
Monsser- He made me laugh so hard when i talked to him on the phone.
Bella- About time!
I think next week they take us to a park and we have to place 3 Livro de Mórmons com nossos companheiros e ensinar o Evangelho de Jesus Cristo! It is going to be so exciting to really start doing the work. I am definitely nervous to do it though. We have been practicing A LOT here because... Personally, I like Provo a lot better. I miss Elder Wise like crazy, my old professors, and the spirit that is there. It is so chill and laid back here that I find myself making myself stay motivated and on task. i have had the opportunity to lead by example and really have my dedication tested during my time here. I know that this is a test because when I am serving things will change: surroundings, companions, attitudes... but I WILL not let it affect my ability to serve and to learn.
Eu amo MUITO vocês!
-Elder Grondel
Thursday, November 24, 2011
November 23, 2011
FROM BRAZILIAN MTC:
Dear Parents,
We would like to inform you that your missionary arrived safe and well at the São Paulo Brazil MTC.
We are happy to have them with us.
President Clark, MTC President, and his wife are currently on a Mission Tour throughout the Brazil area.
As soon as they return, we will send you an e-mail with a picture of your missionary with the president and his wife.
Sincerely,
Davi Ramalho
MTC Presidency Bilingual Secretary
MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER - São Paulo - Brazil
November 15, 2011
I love that section in Mosiah! I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. It is so amazing! During my personal study I find so many answers to the problems that i am going through, or helpful advice for my life or the life on my investigators. They are both scheduled to be ''baptized'' this Saturday and we had the most amazing experience in class: Our professor Irmao Perry had us imagine someone in our lives that we love. Someone that doesn't have the gospel. And how we would want the missionaries to prepare to teach that person. How would WE want the missionaries to talk to them. The lesson was on following up on commitments- For the class period it was following up on when someone hadn't read the book of mormon. Elder Wise and I chose names from our lives and while one of us played the part of the investigator, the other one was a missionary. I was his older brother Josh who is currently inactive and I had him be Tony... Momma I felt the spirit so strongly as I expressed my disappointment. And as I shared my testimony of the book of mormon with him, the importance of it in my life... I could really feel The Savior pleading with my cousin to come unto Christ. To receive the restored gospel.
We are so blessed to be in this gospel. I am so blessed to be a part of this work.
Summary of this week:
1. I love going to the temple! we did endowment sessions the first 3 weeks and the last 2 weeks we have done initiatories. I love the spirit you can feel and the reminder of the promises we receive in the temple during initiatories.
2. One more Elder received his visa and headed off to Brazil
3. Elder Wise and I have taken some cute companionship photos that I will be sending to you fairly soon.
4. We are getting workouts in every day that we can and it is so nice to get a good sweat... because we sweat a lot throughout the day on accident haha.
5. I had to deal with some issues in one of our companionships because one elder was not being receptive to the ideas of the other elder. Elder C said: ''I know this sound bad, but my ideas are better...'' yeah we had a good talk on how both parties could improve and how to establish some personal goals for each of them. A neat experience to apply the leadership training I have received.
6. Sister Emily Kohler is here! haha. we have roughly the same schedule so i actually see her a lot haha
-Remember that I love you!
-Elder Grondel
November 15, 2011
The one thing that I havej really been working on these last 2 weeks is charity. Because I always look for the areas that can be improved in myself and a lot of the time that carries over into the lives of others as well... we are admonished to "avoid pride" "and boast not in our strength, but the strength of the Lord just like Alma.''. This is also making me very grateful for the upbringing that I have had. You taught me very well how to receive and give constructive criticism. Also, you taught me how to be a true leader, a leader who leads with love and understanding. knowing that sometimes we must change our attitudes because the ppl around us are not going to change. I have been blessed with a lot more charity this week, although I still struggle, I am able to forgive more easily and I am so very greatful for your prayers.
It means so much to me to know that people are praying for me. That I am thought of. You have no idea how much I love all of you.
Brady- READ PREACH MY GOSPEL! You have no idea. You MUST read that book before you get to the MTC
-Elder Grondel
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