Finally, an email from Zack. He has left the missionary training center in Sao Paulo and is now in his mission area, Santa Maria, where he will be for the next twenty-two months. He is currently serving in Sao Gabriel located two hours South of Santa Maria.
Here is an excerpt from his letter:
"Well, it has finally happened - I am in the field! . . . The last couple of weeks in the MTC were very good. The most spiritual weeks by far because we just talked about doctrine and practiced a lot and had great discussions about faith and the Spirit and such. I played the piano for sacrament meeting too; I know Mom, you told me so. Conference was absolutely fantastic!
Monday was crazy, my last day in the CTM. It was weird leaving the guys from the district. I made a lot of good friends...
Anyway, I had an hour and a half flight from São Paulo to Porto Alegre and then a 4 hour bus ride to Santa Maria. The city is absolutely beautiful and actually reminded me a lot of home. The area is very green with a lot of trees. We met President and Sister Myrrha (Zack's Mission President,usually called to serve for three years), ate dinner and then spent the night at the AP's (Assistant's to the President) house. The next day we had a long meeting and met our trainers.
My trainer's name is Elder W. Ferreira from São Paulo. He is 25 and this is his last transfer (but he still works hard). He is absolutely hilarious and we get along well. He also speaks English, which is both a blessing and a curse.
My first area is São Gabriel, about 2 hours South of Santa Maria. It is very big and the Church here is very small. We are part of the Bom Fim Branch, which has about 100 members but most are not active. We are basically opening the area because there was basically nothing left for us by the previous missionaries. We have 3 progressing investigators and about 10 people who have let us in and we will go see again later this week. One is a 10 year-old girl who is being baptized but is an 'investigator' because her parents were inactive; but, her parents are going to church again and so she will be baptized either this Saturday or next Saturday. Another is a 60 year-old woman who we just taught the Plan of Salvation to and things are looking good. It was a very spiritual lesson, and she says that she believes but needs more time. The other guy is 25 and thinks he is perfect, so we'll see. . ."
In describing his typical day to Alivia, he wrote:
"So you want to know what it is like, Alivia? Let's see. . .you walk 5-10 miles a day; it is super hot, humid, you sweat, [you] are sticky and smell really bad; there is one meal a day so you are always hungry; it rains really hard and you get soaked, but it is still hot; the roads are cobblestone and dirt, your feet hurt and you forget that your shoes are actually black and not orange-brown; you sit in a home that is the essence of poverty and watch the bugs crawling around your feet on a dirt ground; you understand absolutely nothing that is said and people seem to enjoy asking you questions and watching you try to figure it out; and, then you teach a lesson, and the Spirit fills the room, and you testify of the truth--in another language--and you see the people feel the power of the truth; and, that is what it is all about. It's true....
The mission field is great and this is the work of the Lord. As Brother Adams says, 'Its not just a good story, it's true!'"
When he says that he has one meal a day, that means that the members feed them their main meal (lunch). He is on his own for breakfast and dinner. He has never been a big breakfast eater, so either he skips it (and is hungry) or eats very little. I'm sure he'll learn the importance of eating something in the morning. I miss him very much, but I know that he is doing exactly what he should be doing at this stage in his life. He a terrific son.
Until next week (hopefully) . . .
Here is an excerpt from his letter:
"Well, it has finally happened - I am in the field! . . . The last couple of weeks in the MTC were very good. The most spiritual weeks by far because we just talked about doctrine and practiced a lot and had great discussions about faith and the Spirit and such. I played the piano for sacrament meeting too; I know Mom, you told me so. Conference was absolutely fantastic!
Monday was crazy, my last day in the CTM. It was weird leaving the guys from the district. I made a lot of good friends...
Anyway, I had an hour and a half flight from São Paulo to Porto Alegre and then a 4 hour bus ride to Santa Maria. The city is absolutely beautiful and actually reminded me a lot of home. The area is very green with a lot of trees. We met President and Sister Myrrha (Zack's Mission President,usually called to serve for three years), ate dinner and then spent the night at the AP's (Assistant's to the President) house. The next day we had a long meeting and met our trainers.
My trainer's name is Elder W. Ferreira from São Paulo. He is 25 and this is his last transfer (but he still works hard). He is absolutely hilarious and we get along well. He also speaks English, which is both a blessing and a curse.
My first area is São Gabriel, about 2 hours South of Santa Maria. It is very big and the Church here is very small. We are part of the Bom Fim Branch, which has about 100 members but most are not active. We are basically opening the area because there was basically nothing left for us by the previous missionaries. We have 3 progressing investigators and about 10 people who have let us in and we will go see again later this week. One is a 10 year-old girl who is being baptized but is an 'investigator' because her parents were inactive; but, her parents are going to church again and so she will be baptized either this Saturday or next Saturday. Another is a 60 year-old woman who we just taught the Plan of Salvation to and things are looking good. It was a very spiritual lesson, and she says that she believes but needs more time. The other guy is 25 and thinks he is perfect, so we'll see. . ."
In describing his typical day to Alivia, he wrote:
"So you want to know what it is like, Alivia? Let's see. . .you walk 5-10 miles a day; it is super hot, humid, you sweat, [you] are sticky and smell really bad; there is one meal a day so you are always hungry; it rains really hard and you get soaked, but it is still hot; the roads are cobblestone and dirt, your feet hurt and you forget that your shoes are actually black and not orange-brown; you sit in a home that is the essence of poverty and watch the bugs crawling around your feet on a dirt ground; you understand absolutely nothing that is said and people seem to enjoy asking you questions and watching you try to figure it out; and, then you teach a lesson, and the Spirit fills the room, and you testify of the truth--in another language--and you see the people feel the power of the truth; and, that is what it is all about. It's true....
The mission field is great and this is the work of the Lord. As Brother Adams says, 'Its not just a good story, it's true!'"
When he says that he has one meal a day, that means that the members feed them their main meal (lunch). He is on his own for breakfast and dinner. He has never been a big breakfast eater, so either he skips it (and is hungry) or eats very little. I'm sure he'll learn the importance of eating something in the morning. I miss him very much, but I know that he is doing exactly what he should be doing at this stage in his life. He a terrific son.
Until next week (hopefully) . . .
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