So guess what?! weºre having thanksgiving today!!!! Im cooking everything! its crazy! i already made 2 pies, the turkeys in the oven, we have a ham gonna make jello, already made stuffing, gonna ahve salad, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and other stuff...its kinda crazy, now i know how my mom feels. I kinda wish i was back just playing football haha. the turkey weºre having isnt a full turkey...well it is but its already cut, cuz we went to a butcher shop and they didnt sell full turkeys, but they said that we could order one and theyd kill it and keep it whole for us and have it ready by this morning, well.....they didnt have it ready. so we just had to buy it in parts as they had, breast, legs, wings, etc and build our own turkey haha. hopefully itll be good.
We found out about transfers. Elder Wilson and I are staying together for another transfer! Yay!....kinda....its gonna be hard....hes a really good kid, just does dumb stuff...and some of his habits are really annoying...but weºre fixing that haha. itºll be a good transfer...hopefully.~ He still does...."interesting" things everyday...like he likes touching stuff...adn there was a beer bottle that was on the wall around the stairwell for the metro...and without thinking, he just touches it, sending it falling down the metro stairwell, shattering on the bottom, almost hit someone...sigh..... but ill just have to learn more patience.
We have another baptism marked on the 20th. a kid named Milton. Hes from cabo verde, the nephew of a member. so that should be good.
Pepis baptism was amazing. He was stoked and love it. his mom liked it too. He bore testimony after the baptism and the spirit hit me like a brick wall...it was STRONG...the only time i felt the spirit like that was when Elder Holland was talking the the MTC. Then on sunday he got confermed and recieved the priesthood! next week heºll be blessing the sacrament! cool huh!
Weºve got a couple new investigators....non really seem extremely promising but weºll see. We found this crazy romanian lady that thinks she knows where Maddie is (a little english girl that got abducted in the algarve a year or so ago) then also a member presented us to her neighbor. her neighbor listened, so weºll see where that goes.
Also, we did a deep clean of our house. its really nice! we got new showercurtain that has little ducks on it! its awesome!
And that was my week!
Ate mais
-Elder Rhett
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Theres a pigeon in my soup!
So, the other day, we came home for lunch, and we walk in our room and there was a pigeon in there! It started freaking out and flying all around, it kept on trying to fly out the window, but the window was shut so it kept on just flying and smaking against the window! haha. I have a movie of it, maybe if possible. But we opened the window and it flew out. it was hilarious though. elder wilson didnt think it was very funny though...cuz it peed and pooped on his stuff. haha, but it was great for me.
Oh, and exciting news, we have a baptism this sunday! Luzie, the girlfriend of the member, shes doing really well and excited for baptism.
Hopefully after the baptism, they get engaged. Theyre pretty serious and the members kids love her. So weºll see-
Then pepi is doing amazing. the other day we were talking about reading the scriptures and i shared that one thing i like is that lots of time if you have a problem you can just open up the book of mormon to anypage and start reading and it can help you. then he showed us a list of scriptures that he found while doing just that when he was wondering if he should be baptised. and the scriptures that he randomly opened to were scriptures like Alma 34:32, Alma 32:28, 2 Ne 31, Mosiah 2, 1 Ne 3:7, etc scriptures that are like famous amazing scriptures. How cool is that.
Hes doing really well and going to be baptised on the 22nd.
Oh, this sunday, we had a returned missionary come to church, Brother Bangeter, from Highland Utah. He served here 30 years ago, his dad was the 1st mission president. and his uncle is the man of the bangater highway. He gave an awesoem talk in sacrament meeting about the start of the church here in portugal. it was really interesting. I liked it alot. I dont know if dad know this, but before this portugal was dedicated, it was open for missionaries. cuz right after the fall of salezar they opened it up. but they were doing an election and one of the parties running wouldnt let the church in and the missionaries would have to have been pulled out. Well right before the elections, Pres. Bangater called Thomas S Monson who was in europe at the time to have him come and dedicate portugal. Elder monson didnt know if hed have time, so he couldnt promise anything. well Elder Monson decided to drop what he had planned to come to portugal and he dedicated it. Well the elections which were just a couple days away, they went well and missionary work was able to continue. it was a cool story.
Oh and another cool experience happened. we had a lession schedueled with an investigator, but when we got there, he wasnt there. so we walked down the stairs and stood int he entrance way of the building, I didnt want to go out cuz we didnt have anything planned and i didnt want to make contacts in the cold. And i just felt really bad about going out...i really just didnt want to. Well I kinda stalled a little bit inside and right when we were gonna leave, in walks an inactive member and her daughter. I had talked to her daughter the other day, but she gave me a faulty address so we couldnt find their house. But they were excited to see us, invited us up to talk with them, we taught a good lesson and they are comming to church with us this sunday! If we would have just left without me stalling and not wanting to go out into the cold we would have missed them! cool huh!
Well thats about all thats happened this week. Im taking my greenie to a castle today. I bet heºll like that.
That was my week.....Arent i good...updating my blog 2 weeks in a row... Ill try to make it a weekly thing....basically i just copy the stories i send my fam....so thats cool...right?
-Rhett
Oh, and exciting news, we have a baptism this sunday! Luzie, the girlfriend of the member, shes doing really well and excited for baptism.
Hopefully after the baptism, they get engaged. Theyre pretty serious and the members kids love her. So weºll see-
Then pepi is doing amazing. the other day we were talking about reading the scriptures and i shared that one thing i like is that lots of time if you have a problem you can just open up the book of mormon to anypage and start reading and it can help you. then he showed us a list of scriptures that he found while doing just that when he was wondering if he should be baptised. and the scriptures that he randomly opened to were scriptures like Alma 34:32, Alma 32:28, 2 Ne 31, Mosiah 2, 1 Ne 3:7, etc scriptures that are like famous amazing scriptures. How cool is that.
Hes doing really well and going to be baptised on the 22nd.
Oh, this sunday, we had a returned missionary come to church, Brother Bangeter, from Highland Utah. He served here 30 years ago, his dad was the 1st mission president. and his uncle is the man of the bangater highway. He gave an awesoem talk in sacrament meeting about the start of the church here in portugal. it was really interesting. I liked it alot. I dont know if dad know this, but before this portugal was dedicated, it was open for missionaries. cuz right after the fall of salezar they opened it up. but they were doing an election and one of the parties running wouldnt let the church in and the missionaries would have to have been pulled out. Well right before the elections, Pres. Bangater called Thomas S Monson who was in europe at the time to have him come and dedicate portugal. Elder monson didnt know if hed have time, so he couldnt promise anything. well Elder Monson decided to drop what he had planned to come to portugal and he dedicated it. Well the elections which were just a couple days away, they went well and missionary work was able to continue. it was a cool story.
Oh and another cool experience happened. we had a lession schedueled with an investigator, but when we got there, he wasnt there. so we walked down the stairs and stood int he entrance way of the building, I didnt want to go out cuz we didnt have anything planned and i didnt want to make contacts in the cold. And i just felt really bad about going out...i really just didnt want to. Well I kinda stalled a little bit inside and right when we were gonna leave, in walks an inactive member and her daughter. I had talked to her daughter the other day, but she gave me a faulty address so we couldnt find their house. But they were excited to see us, invited us up to talk with them, we taught a good lesson and they are comming to church with us this sunday! If we would have just left without me stalling and not wanting to go out into the cold we would have missed them! cool huh!
Well thats about all thats happened this week. Im taking my greenie to a castle today. I bet heºll like that.
That was my week.....Arent i good...updating my blog 2 weeks in a row... Ill try to make it a weekly thing....basically i just copy the stories i send my fam....so thats cool...right?
-Rhett
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Another week
So....here was my week this week. Im gonna try to update my blog more often. so here you go
Halloween was fun. they dont really celebrate Halloween here...but we had a little party for our English class that we teach. I dressed up like a pirate! haha. I also made really really good brownies...they were really chocolaty. mmmmmmmm
Then the day after Halloween, they ahve a holliday here called All Saints Day, its a catholic holliday, where they worship all the catholic saints they have. But people also go to the Cemetary to pay respects to the dead. so we went to the cemetary and talked to people there. The cememtary was HUGE!!!! and its alot different than in the states, They have these mini houses that they keep the caskets in, that are like sculpted and really intricate. they also have huge filing cabenate type things that they keep coffins in...but we got lost in the cemetary and there were alot of cool gothic statues and ya...it was awesoem. We also talked to a bunch of people about death and the plan of salvation....lots of people cried and stuff...but we helped them out.
Then we have pepi. Hes doing good. He hit a portuguese kid the other day. cuz he was doing his work (he puts pamphets on cars) and this portuguese kid and his girlfriend start making fun of him. Pepi ignored them, then The portuguese kid pushes pepi in the back, and pepi turned around and BAM socked the guy in the face, putting him on the ground. then the guys girlfriend started hitting pepi then pepi just walked away. hes so cool. He apoligised to us for hittin the kid...saying it was wrong and stuff. I was like YA PEPI! WAY TO GO!!! WHOo HOo! haha.
oh and a cool experience happened the other day. We had a ward party and we had a bunch of investigators there....except for pepi, cuz he had work. but the party ended at 730 and we were gonna talk to an investigator afterwards for the rest of the night, basically. we didnt have anything else planned. so we had the party and right afterwards...all of our investigators left.....so we helped clean up...but then it was 745 and we didnt have anything to do...and it was cold...and dark.....and we didnt feel like we should make contacts int he streeet...and at that time, it isnt a good time to knock doors. so we sat in a train station thinking of what to do. Then I had the impression to go to this one park. so we started to go, and on the way we found Pepi talkign to this guy that he said he had been talkign to about the gospel. So we talked to pepi and the guy a little, then we left with pepi to his house and had a good lesson with him. it was just really cool how following the spirit lead us to somehting good that we could do.
Oh and i found out about the elections.....Obama won.....dang......I might just have to stay here in portugal...haha
And that was my week.
Halloween was fun. they dont really celebrate Halloween here...but we had a little party for our English class that we teach. I dressed up like a pirate! haha. I also made really really good brownies...they were really chocolaty. mmmmmmmm
Then the day after Halloween, they ahve a holliday here called All Saints Day, its a catholic holliday, where they worship all the catholic saints they have. But people also go to the Cemetary to pay respects to the dead. so we went to the cemetary and talked to people there. The cememtary was HUGE!!!! and its alot different than in the states, They have these mini houses that they keep the caskets in, that are like sculpted and really intricate. they also have huge filing cabenate type things that they keep coffins in...but we got lost in the cemetary and there were alot of cool gothic statues and ya...it was awesoem. We also talked to a bunch of people about death and the plan of salvation....lots of people cried and stuff...but we helped them out.
Then we have pepi. Hes doing good. He hit a portuguese kid the other day. cuz he was doing his work (he puts pamphets on cars) and this portuguese kid and his girlfriend start making fun of him. Pepi ignored them, then The portuguese kid pushes pepi in the back, and pepi turned around and BAM socked the guy in the face, putting him on the ground. then the guys girlfriend started hitting pepi then pepi just walked away. hes so cool. He apoligised to us for hittin the kid...saying it was wrong and stuff. I was like YA PEPI! WAY TO GO!!! WHOo HOo! haha.
oh and a cool experience happened the other day. We had a ward party and we had a bunch of investigators there....except for pepi, cuz he had work. but the party ended at 730 and we were gonna talk to an investigator afterwards for the rest of the night, basically. we didnt have anything else planned. so we had the party and right afterwards...all of our investigators left.....so we helped clean up...but then it was 745 and we didnt have anything to do...and it was cold...and dark.....and we didnt feel like we should make contacts int he streeet...and at that time, it isnt a good time to knock doors. so we sat in a train station thinking of what to do. Then I had the impression to go to this one park. so we started to go, and on the way we found Pepi talkign to this guy that he said he had been talkign to about the gospel. So we talked to pepi and the guy a little, then we left with pepi to his house and had a good lesson with him. it was just really cool how following the spirit lead us to somehting good that we could do.
Oh and i found out about the elections.....Obama won.....dang......I might just have to stay here in portugal...haha
And that was my week.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Its a boy...again!
so yess...im trainign again a brand new missionary
Things are going great. My second sonºs name is Elder Daniel Wilson. hes a great kid. Kinda a bigger kid but way nice and has a great heart. But he is VERY green. oh man....its been a very entertaining week so far. Ill let you in on some comical greenie stories. Well the friday after he got here we had to go get him his Metro/Bus pass in a place called Belem, Which is about 45 minutes away. So we meet up with Elder Tipton and his new comp, elder Smith from my district (cuz Smith had to get a pass too) and we eat at japanese. Well, Elder Tipton, he had served with a bunch of brazilians on his mission, so he has a strong brazilian accent. So they decided to play a joke on Wilson. Tipton said he was brazilian and elder smith acted like a COMPLETELY lazy and apostate missionary. Elder Wilson was lecturing elder smith the whole time. it was funny, but good that he knows the importance of obedience. But it was hilarious watching him lecture smith the whole day. so then after we go to belem to get his pass. To get the pass, you can either go to belem and get it right then, or you can put in a form at almost any metro station, but that takes a few days. and travel costs ALOT if you dont have a pass...so it was the best to get it right away in Belem. Anyway, we get there and come to find out he didnt bring his passport, which is necissary to get the pass, even though he was told by the office elders that the reason they were letting him keep his passport (instead of letting the office guard it like ususal) was for the pass...and i told him RIGHT before we left.....sigh.....so he didnt get his pass then and we had to go back, get his passport, then go to a metro station near by and submit for a pass which we got on monday. But on the way back, on the metro, i was sitting with Elder Tipton in one set of seats and Wilson and smith were on the other side of the isle. There was a couple people sitting in front of us, an old guy and a young girl. And elder Wilson likes to talk in portuguese...which is really good..,..but he thinks hes fluent cuz he was the best in the MTC....and hasnt realized that he still cant talk very well (he can talk better than ive seen any greenie, and can understand TONS which is amazing..but,...)so he was talking LOUD (as usual) to elder smith and the girl across from tipton and I starts laughing...it was pretty funny. Hes an awesome guy but he has had some GREEN moments....(and it would take to long to write the rest of stuff thats happened)
And he just does some things that I cant figure out. I woke up and took a shower one morning then went to eat breakfast I open the fridge and...and in my oreo mug....there was mashed potatoes...I was like....ummmm ok....i guess elder wilson made mashed potatoes. Well we get ready and go out then come back from lunch. I go to take off my tie in the other rooma nd hear elder wilson getting somethig to eat in the kitchen. I yell in the kitchen "what are you eating?" cuz i was gonna make some food. and he was like Oh...just some leftovers i found in the fridge. Then i was like What left overs? Him- Oh some rice or something. Me-oh I wouldnt eat that...thats been in the fridge for a while. I started walking into the room. and he shows me the mashed potatoes...and i was like...umm i dont think thats rice...it looks like mashed potatoes...where did you get that? him-oh it was in the back corner of the fridge. me-ya? hmm...ive never made mashed potatoes. him-oh maybe it was your other comp....me-ummm I dotn think so cuz i just used that mug last night. Him-oh...well i dont know...unless i made it and didnt even know, that would be wierd. and i was like....umm ya...that would be....and he ate his mashed potatoes.....i dont quite get him ahha.
And...this is going to amaze you, but I (Rhett Dustin Hildebrandt) am saying that he is a slob...which you can only imagine from the way I am haha (but ive cleaned up on the mission believe it or not)
So I got my work cut out for me to train this kid into a amazing missionary. Hes got the spirit and the desire and the work ethic and all the spiritual stuff...but i get to help him to be less awkward and focus the amazing attributes he has haha.
Yesterday, something really cool happened. We got to do service at a catholic church that was built in the 1500s! it was AWESOME! we got to go in all these back rooms...walk through these places that were falling apart...like this staircase that was being held up by peices of wood. We go to hold a SOLID GOLD figurine thing that they had there...it weighed SOOO much, and was really detailed...it must be worth a TON. AND we got to go into the caticoms under the church. They used to bury people under the churches before the earthquake in the 1700s...and we got to go down there and see all these skeletons and stuff. And i got to hold a Skull of a priest!
Also the first person to die a Stiphulus was burried there.......go figure haha.
Umm what else has happened. Oh we invited Luzié to be baptised. Shes the girlfriend of a member. Shes gonna be baptised on the 23rd of Nov! Then Pepi he really wants to be baptised...but hes praying right now to see if he should be baptised before his girlfriend and get the priesthood instead of getting baptised with his girlfriend in Jan. like he was wanting to. So weºll see what happens.
Oh and today right when we were coming to do internet. We have to walk down this HUGE cobblestone staircase to go anywhere, and there was this old lady that had fallen down on the stairs....so I got to help her out and she said her leg was broken but she was walking fine and I really dont think it was...she was just hurting a little...but we walked for a little and she was fine and thanked us and gave me Beijinhos....and yes...she had amost a fullblown mustache. haha.
and that was my week
so ya.
tchau
-rhett
Things are going great. My second sonºs name is Elder Daniel Wilson. hes a great kid. Kinda a bigger kid but way nice and has a great heart. But he is VERY green. oh man....its been a very entertaining week so far. Ill let you in on some comical greenie stories. Well the friday after he got here we had to go get him his Metro/Bus pass in a place called Belem, Which is about 45 minutes away. So we meet up with Elder Tipton and his new comp, elder Smith from my district (cuz Smith had to get a pass too) and we eat at japanese. Well, Elder Tipton, he had served with a bunch of brazilians on his mission, so he has a strong brazilian accent. So they decided to play a joke on Wilson. Tipton said he was brazilian and elder smith acted like a COMPLETELY lazy and apostate missionary. Elder Wilson was lecturing elder smith the whole time. it was funny, but good that he knows the importance of obedience. But it was hilarious watching him lecture smith the whole day. so then after we go to belem to get his pass. To get the pass, you can either go to belem and get it right then, or you can put in a form at almost any metro station, but that takes a few days. and travel costs ALOT if you dont have a pass...so it was the best to get it right away in Belem. Anyway, we get there and come to find out he didnt bring his passport, which is necissary to get the pass, even though he was told by the office elders that the reason they were letting him keep his passport (instead of letting the office guard it like ususal) was for the pass...and i told him RIGHT before we left.....sigh.....so he didnt get his pass then and we had to go back, get his passport, then go to a metro station near by and submit for a pass which we got on monday. But on the way back, on the metro, i was sitting with Elder Tipton in one set of seats and Wilson and smith were on the other side of the isle. There was a couple people sitting in front of us, an old guy and a young girl. And elder Wilson likes to talk in portuguese...which is really good..,..but he thinks hes fluent cuz he was the best in the MTC....and hasnt realized that he still cant talk very well (he can talk better than ive seen any greenie, and can understand TONS which is amazing..but,...)so he was talking LOUD (as usual) to elder smith and the girl across from tipton and I starts laughing...it was pretty funny. Hes an awesome guy but he has had some GREEN moments....(and it would take to long to write the rest of stuff thats happened)
And he just does some things that I cant figure out. I woke up and took a shower one morning then went to eat breakfast I open the fridge and...and in my oreo mug....there was mashed potatoes...I was like....ummmm ok....i guess elder wilson made mashed potatoes. Well we get ready and go out then come back from lunch. I go to take off my tie in the other rooma nd hear elder wilson getting somethig to eat in the kitchen. I yell in the kitchen "what are you eating?" cuz i was gonna make some food. and he was like Oh...just some leftovers i found in the fridge. Then i was like What left overs? Him- Oh some rice or something. Me-oh I wouldnt eat that...thats been in the fridge for a while. I started walking into the room. and he shows me the mashed potatoes...and i was like...umm i dont think thats rice...it looks like mashed potatoes...where did you get that? him-oh it was in the back corner of the fridge. me-ya? hmm...ive never made mashed potatoes. him-oh maybe it was your other comp....me-ummm I dotn think so cuz i just used that mug last night. Him-oh...well i dont know...unless i made it and didnt even know, that would be wierd. and i was like....umm ya...that would be....and he ate his mashed potatoes.....i dont quite get him ahha.
And...this is going to amaze you, but I (Rhett Dustin Hildebrandt) am saying that he is a slob...which you can only imagine from the way I am haha (but ive cleaned up on the mission believe it or not)
So I got my work cut out for me to train this kid into a amazing missionary. Hes got the spirit and the desire and the work ethic and all the spiritual stuff...but i get to help him to be less awkward and focus the amazing attributes he has haha.
Yesterday, something really cool happened. We got to do service at a catholic church that was built in the 1500s! it was AWESOME! we got to go in all these back rooms...walk through these places that were falling apart...like this staircase that was being held up by peices of wood. We go to hold a SOLID GOLD figurine thing that they had there...it weighed SOOO much, and was really detailed...it must be worth a TON. AND we got to go into the caticoms under the church. They used to bury people under the churches before the earthquake in the 1700s...and we got to go down there and see all these skeletons and stuff. And i got to hold a Skull of a priest!
Also the first person to die a Stiphulus was burried there.......go figure haha.
Umm what else has happened. Oh we invited Luzié to be baptised. Shes the girlfriend of a member. Shes gonna be baptised on the 23rd of Nov! Then Pepi he really wants to be baptised...but hes praying right now to see if he should be baptised before his girlfriend and get the priesthood instead of getting baptised with his girlfriend in Jan. like he was wanting to. So weºll see what happens.
Oh and today right when we were coming to do internet. We have to walk down this HUGE cobblestone staircase to go anywhere, and there was this old lady that had fallen down on the stairs....so I got to help her out and she said her leg was broken but she was walking fine and I really dont think it was...she was just hurting a little...but we walked for a little and she was fine and thanked us and gave me Beijinhos....and yes...she had amost a fullblown mustache. haha.
and that was my week
so ya.
tchau
-rhett
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
so I just wanted to update my blog really quick to say im getting transfered! Im going to the heart of the mission! Right in the middle of Lisboa. Campo Pequeno! Im so excited! Im gonna be the District Leader, over the Elders in Olivais (Where my old comp elder Kapp is...Im way excited about that cuz me and him got along really well) and also the Assistents to the President! so im pretty much the most powerful elder on the mission now cuz I control the APs haha. Just kidding.
But ya...Im excited but sad at the same time.
My new address is
But ya...Im excited but sad at the same time.
My new address is
Rua Jorge Barradas 14-c
1500 Lisboa
Portugal
Im really gonna miss Olhão. a big part of me wanted to stay...but It was time to move on. Things are starting to pick up alot here, our investigator Marcos is marked for baptism on the 16th of August. Our investigator Nelson is doing amazing...hes actually driving me up to lisbon on thursday! And he wants me to baptise him when hes ready (which will be pretty soon...I think hes just waiting for his wife to accept...which weºre working on)
Then we have Eunice who has been investigating the church for 4 years and has an AMAZINGLY strong testimony...but she is living with a boyfriend and it is a really difficult situation, but last week she finally decided that she was going to leave him...which is taking ALOT of faith on her part...she had been living with him for 5 years...but she knows its for the best....so pray for her.
Then we have a member Paulo (who is the DJ) hes cool but has a sickness that has really been depressing him lately...but last week he decided he was really going to dedicate himself to the lord! so the next elder coming here better not mess it all up! haha
Well have a good week everyone!
Till next time
-Rhett
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Im a daddy!
So...Im training now. I got a greenie of my own fresh off the plane. His name is Elder Muns...from Nevada. Hes cool and its fun to be like a God to him....acting like I know everything haha.
Im still here in Olhão and loving ever minute of it. ...well except for lately weve been knocking alot of doors....sigh...that hasnt been fun....but it has to be done.
well Im almost out of time. So Ill update this later
Tchau
Im still here in Olhão and loving ever minute of it. ...well except for lately weve been knocking alot of doors....sigh...that hasnt been fun....but it has to be done.
well Im almost out of time. So Ill update this later
Tchau
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sorry for taking so long to update....but its been cool
So...i cant remember last time I updated....i dont know if ive said that im in a new area...Olhâo. Its the southern most part of portugal. really cool, really warm. I have3 2 islands in my area that we go to on pday to hang out. its awesome.
but heres some storys that have happened recently.
accomplished one of my mission goals. THat is to ahve a actual lesson with a TJ (Jehovaºs Witness) well...ok, it was half accomplished. In Tavira (the area neighboring us) our DL found a TJ that was really cool and wanted to meet and talk to us, jsut share beliefs in a nice way, and he schedualed the appt when I was going to be on divisions with him. So we met the TJ in a park and at first it was really cool, he shared stuff, we shared stuff and it was going good, and he was really nice. But then we got on the defensive side....and thats when the spirit was lost...he tried to show us that there isnt a spirit world (he found a list of Book of Mormon scriptures that "contradict" the bible.) and we tried proving our point right with scriptures but I dont know the bible as well as he did, so we jsut got on the defensive side and it wasnt good, but then my DL Elder Nelson asked him aobut how he knew the bible was true. The TJ laughed cuz Nelson asked that question last time they talked and he didnt answer last time. and this time he avoided the question. We tried to show him James 1:5 but he kept on trying to change the subject until we were out of time and had to go to another appointment. But he was really cool and gave us a ride to our next appt. Maybe Ill get a chance to talk to him again.
but heres some storys that have happened recently.
accomplished one of my mission goals. THat is to ahve a actual lesson with a TJ (Jehovaºs Witness) well...ok, it was half accomplished. In Tavira (the area neighboring us) our DL found a TJ that was really cool and wanted to meet and talk to us, jsut share beliefs in a nice way, and he schedualed the appt when I was going to be on divisions with him. So we met the TJ in a park and at first it was really cool, he shared stuff, we shared stuff and it was going good, and he was really nice. But then we got on the defensive side....and thats when the spirit was lost...he tried to show us that there isnt a spirit world (he found a list of Book of Mormon scriptures that "contradict" the bible.) and we tried proving our point right with scriptures but I dont know the bible as well as he did, so we jsut got on the defensive side and it wasnt good, but then my DL Elder Nelson asked him aobut how he knew the bible was true. The TJ laughed cuz Nelson asked that question last time they talked and he didnt answer last time. and this time he avoided the question. We tried to show him James 1:5 but he kept on trying to change the subject until we were out of time and had to go to another appointment. But he was really cool and gave us a ride to our next appt. Maybe Ill get a chance to talk to him again.
AND....a few days ago was one of the most interesting nights of my life...if not THE most interesting. We got a reference from Faro, that was this guy from Russia and he was supposed to be a "Golden Reference" They set up an appointment with him and with a member of faro that knew how to speak russian (cuz he didnt speak portuguese very well) So we met up with the member and went over to this investigators house. He met us outside with his wife. They were really nice. Hes in his late 50s early 60s and his wife too. They walked us up to their appartment. We started talking (the member was translating for us) he brought out a book of mormon and D&C in Russian and said it was revealed to him that they are the word of god and that they dont contradict the bible. and we were thinking, WOW this is awesome, this guy is elect. He had been studying it for 13 years and then he opened up to Alma 32 and said that there is one thing that he doesnt agree aobut with our church, then he read aobut the Talking int he language of angels. He said that we dont do that. Our member explained to him that its more of speaking in language that you dont know...like spanish if you dont know spanish. he didnt agree. He said that it was the language of God and a way to communicate with god more purely...then I was going to say something but the member stopped me and reminded me that we need to say an opening prayer. So we all kneeled down and our member offered a good prayer. then....it was the guys turn...and he offered a prayer in russian...it seemed kinda intense...but I didnt understand it. Then it was the wifes turn and she offered another prayer that i didtn understand...that was pretty long. Then after she asked us if we understood the last part of the prayer....that it was in English...and we were like...ummm noo....then the husband was like "she wasnt speaking russian...she was speaking in tounges" then he had her say the prayer again. and I listened to try to pick out english..but the only thing I recognised was Halleluja. It sounded like some german, some french, some russian, some italian, and I heared a few words that sounded portuguese. Then after the prayer, they guy said that he interpreted what his wife said and recieved revelation for us that our minds and hearts arent open enough. that we need to be more open.
Then we sat down again and he went on to explain that he was called of god to be a prophet and has been sent all over the world because of revelations. he was sent to portugal to build up churches. but also he said alot of things that were true doctorine. He talked about faith and listening to the promptings of the spirit and most of what he said was very true and almost exactly with our teachings. He believes in Joseph Smith. I asked him if he believes he has the priesthood. he said he recieved the aaronic preisthood, Jesus had revealed to him that he has the aaronic priesthood. I told him about authority and I flat out told him that He DOES NOT have authority to recieve revelation for me. I explained about the prophet of the world and how he is the only one that can recieve revelation for the world. He said that he doesnt know much about Thomas S Monson but he beleives that he is the International Prophet but he was chosen like Joseph Smith was, to be another prophet. He was disappointed that I didnt have a heart open enough to believe. I told him that I would pray about it. and he agreed, cuz that is the way to recieve revelation. He also said that he recieves revelation from the Devil and he has to be able to discern the spirts.
I prayed last night and I know for a FACT now that he was not called of god. When he and his wife were praying I felt really uneasy, and if they were really speaking int he language of god....Im pretty sure that I would ahve felt the spirit. overall....It was kinda freaky.........
But other than that, everthing is going good. haha. It was a big testimony builder last night.
and thats about all that I have time for.....
Tchau todos!
Rhett
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
BIG NEWS
BIG NEWS!
Im getting transfered! to Olhão in the Algarve! im leaving tomorrow. I dont know the address there yet so ya..... but Im excited. Im really gonna miss this area and the ward. I love this area...but thats the life of a missionary. Im gonna be serving with Elder Parkinson. Hes in my MTC district and we shared a room at the MTC and were in a tripla together for like 4 days, after Elder Wangaman left. It should be fun. I love the ocean and its right by the ocean. The only down side Ive heard is that it smells like rotten eggs cuz its right by some sulfer fields lol. So if you have any letters to send to me....hold off for a little lol.
Im getting transfered! to Olhão in the Algarve! im leaving tomorrow. I dont know the address there yet so ya..... but Im excited. Im really gonna miss this area and the ward. I love this area...but thats the life of a missionary. Im gonna be serving with Elder Parkinson. Hes in my MTC district and we shared a room at the MTC and were in a tripla together for like 4 days, after Elder Wangaman left. It should be fun. I love the ocean and its right by the ocean. The only down side Ive heard is that it smells like rotten eggs cuz its right by some sulfer fields lol. So if you have any letters to send to me....hold off for a little lol.
Oh and guess what! I have a good food story this week.
One member (thats fithy rich) named Ana took us to a restaurant called the Fondue. And guess what I ate.........Camel. and I ate Ostrige and Bison and Zebra and Kangaroo and even Octopus! AND i liked all of it. Camel had the best taste but its really tough, Kangaroo tasted good and was really tender. I liked that alot. Ostrige tasted like chicken mixed with beef, bison tasted like....steak but was a little different and tougher, and zebra was kinda bland but good. and octopus.....it was actually really good, it was an apitizer...i ate tenticles. the texture wasnt that great...chewy, but wasnt bad...it was seasoned very well. then for desert we had chocolate fondue. mmmm. she dropped $120 on us..... :S
WEll thats it....talk to yaºll later
Rhett
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Sorry its been a while
I dont even know when my last blog post was....seems like its been a while....like before christmas or something....i dunno.
But Christmas was really fun...for christmas eve we hung out at a members house...had dinner and stuff....christmas morning we opened packages then went to another members house for lunch. It was really good. then I got to talk to my fam over the phone. It was really sweet to hear them again.
For new years eve...it was pretty much like any other day...we had dinner at a members house...and there were a bunch of people there getting drunk....trying to forget the previous year lol.
Ive already hit 6 months! isnt that crazy! im close to 7. Its flying by.
We have a baptism scheldualed for the 26th of this month and one for the 7th! im way excited! they are 2 cousins. way awesom.
Anyway...things couldnt be going better for me!
Tchau todos!
Rhett
But Christmas was really fun...for christmas eve we hung out at a members house...had dinner and stuff....christmas morning we opened packages then went to another members house for lunch. It was really good. then I got to talk to my fam over the phone. It was really sweet to hear them again.
For new years eve...it was pretty much like any other day...we had dinner at a members house...and there were a bunch of people there getting drunk....trying to forget the previous year lol.
Ive already hit 6 months! isnt that crazy! im close to 7. Its flying by.
We have a baptism scheldualed for the 26th of this month and one for the 7th! im way excited! they are 2 cousins. way awesom.
Anyway...things couldnt be going better for me!
Tchau todos!
Rhett
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Transfer Maddddddneeeesssss
So the elder in the Neighboring area of me was transfered out to fill another elders spot in Lisbon cuz he had to go home sick. So they grouped me and Elder Gasser up with the elder that stayed, Elder Garner. So we are in a tripla now...covering 2 areas. Its INSANE! but fun at the same time. No really big stories have happend...but Im still loving the mission. Ive like never been happier in my life...and I was pretty dang happy before the mission. Crazy no?
anyway, Fica Fixe
Rhett
anyway, Fica Fixe
Rhett
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