August 16, 2010

My goodness I have such old parents! Just kidding. But really though, congrats on 31 awesome years, you ought to be proud of raising the best family on this planet Earth. Also glad you all had a great summer together and glad to hear that Nicole is doing a little better. I'm so happy to hear all about Sarah and everything that's going on in her life. I'm sad to have to miss it all but it's so awesome to know that she's happy. I've been thinking about how I'm going to make a book with all the baptisms here on the mission with a picture and a story but I think Sarah and Katy with be at the front. I'll never forget those baptisms. In fact, I think Sarahs baptism was my second journal entry. Give her a big hug for me! Good luck everyone who is returning to school for the Fall. Also, sister Leonard, thanks for the email it was awesome, I have my two family pictures up on the wall where i study. I can't believe Dan is already coming to an end and I'm just beginning, it's ridiculous. Also Davids going to college holy cow! As far as my week, it was really great, we found and awesome kid thats 18 years ols named Cristiano. We taught him the first lesson, gave him a BOM and the next day he said when we went to get him for church, he was all dressed with everything including a tie clasp. I asked him if he read and prayed and he paused a minute, pointed to the BOM and said in a very sincere voice "this book is true". It was really awesome. thanks everyone, I love you all

Elder Bangerter

August 9, 2010

Time is short but it's great to hear about everything that's going on and share at least a little of everyone's lives. This was a pretty darn good week, and we definitely worked a  lot which always feels really good. It's just so satisfying. The cool news of the week is that we're teaching a professional soccer player from the Pernambuco team, SPORT, (I know pretty creative name right). His wife is already a member and she called asking if we could teach him so thats awesome. In our first visit he told us about how he really wanted to learn more about the church because he wants to be sealed with his wife in the temple. It's pretty neat to see his determination and also his humility. You can really tell he wants to be better. I'm glad you had a fun fathers day at Ben and Whitneys, I dont know what this ridiculousness is being able to call on mothers day but not Fathers day. Oh well. That's also awesome that you got to see Parley P Pratts grave, I have been reading in his autobiography and his faith is truly incredible. He knew exactly what he would face and he still went forward without question. His story has truly grown my faith. I hope you all have a great week, love you all!.

 

Elder Bangerter

 

Oh, also I might have recieved a package from alice in case she was wondering.

August 2, 2010

So today, I ventured into the depths of the bottom of the refrigerator and defeated the moldy melon monsters and their minions. It was quite the experience and I can truly say I wouldnt be the man I am today without it. So, It's kinda crazy that I'm already almost a fourth of the way into my mission. I'm running out of time! It was a pretty normal week though. We walked alot so that was probably the best part. We're still working on getting more really firm investigators but everythings going well and the ward is helping so thats really awesome. We did have a baptism of one of the investigators of the previous missionaries so we didnt really get to teach her much but we can still work with the rest of her family and it was really awesome baptism. Her dad and brother were already baptized so her brother baptized her which is always better. Now we just have to work with her mom and her husband. It was really cool though because we combined with the other ward's baptism and their bishop told his conversion story which was pretty awesome. He said that one day it occured to him that if there was a book recorded by the people in Jerusalem about the works of God, Maybe there ought to be a similar book recorded in the Americas. He said he asked one of his friend about it but he called him ridiculous but that he prayed to know if such a book existed and a few weeks later the missionaries showed up on his doorstep. It was definitely a powerful testimony of the Lords hand in everything. Oh also, one funny story. So we were trying to get into the chapel but the keys werent working so my companion was climbing over the fence and ripped his pants. It was pretty funny. Also, a language update: I think things are coming along quite well because I'm messing up in English now so I guess that means I'm a pro now. Either that or I just stink at both languages.  Anywho I'm outta time but it's great to hear about whats going on with everyone and I'll be praying for Nicole. Thats pretty crazy about the Prius, why buy one when you can buy two for twice the price! Oh also I hear that you got a sea horse awhile ago, I wanna picture. Love you all, have a great week!

 

Elder Bangerter

oh also, how is dads leg?

 

Oh and the pictures

1. I just couldnt resist

2. just wanted to let you know hes still hangin around

3.The baptism this weekend

4.Heres from when Elder Anderson came

July 26, 2010

Well it's another wonderful Pday in the wonderful Boa Viagem and I just got my hair cut nice and short so I'm lookin pretty sharp. Not that anyone cares, but its been a pretty productive day already, I started my laundry, cleaned the sticky nastiness off the kitchen floor, gave my suit to the drycleaners, cut my hair, ate some finely cooked eggs and now I'm writing a wonderfully interesting email to my family. This week was pretty good, a little rough since we're having to reopen the area but yesterday we found some families that were reammy excited when we taught them so I've got a felling this is gonna be an awesome transfer! Maria, our first baptism is absolutely awesome and helping us a ton with the work which is a real blessing. My companion is awesome. he's kind of a goober, I love it. Well sorry there's not a ton to report this week but hey you just ought to be grateful for what you get. It's great to hear about the baptismcoming up, keep up the good work and I'll be praying for the work at home. Also glad to hear the family is still getting along without too much problem :) Sorry about wht happened with the tree Dad, I hope you're doing alright and of course you and everyone are in my prayers! Sorry I'm a slacker this week but I'll probably have some pictures next week.

Love Elder Bangerter

July 21, 2010

14. And it Came to pass that while he was jouneying thither in Candelaria, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much water and mud, because of the much rain, it came to pass while Elder Bangerter was thus weighed down with water, behold an Assistent of the President called unto him saying:

15. Blessed art thou Elder Bangerter; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice: for thou hast hbeen faithful in keeping the mission rules from the time you got to Recife and thou hast had an awesome transfer in Candelaria.

16. And behold, I am calling you to command thee that thou return to the city of Boa Viagem, and preach again to the people of that city: yea preach unto them. Yea say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them

...18. Now it came to pass that after Elder Bangerter had recieved this phone call from the Assistant of the Preident he returned speedily to the area of Boa Viagem. And he entered the city with another companion, yea the companion that is called Elder Quabreira.

 

-Alma 8:14-18

 

So ya, turns out, I got transfered back to my old area. Who woulda thought? I wont lie I was pretty sad to get the call, because I've really grown to love the people and especially the families in Candelaria and I really think its one of the best areas in the mission. I'm also gonna miss elder Magalhães though, he was an awesome missionary and we really became great friends. I'm sure the Lord needs me back here in Boa Viagem though and I'll probably stay here for another two transfers. We had a really great end of the transfer though, we baptised two of Priscillas brothers, and both her dad and other brother are marked for this week and her mom (she was baptized when she was ten) is returning and learning to love the church again. That was really the hard part of leaving is that I dont get to see them all baptised together and also that other family of Luiz in the picture with elder Martins is still waiting because the marriage process is really slow but they are really strong and I'm sure they'll make it. I sure hope I can find more families like them here in Boa Viagem. Well time is of the essence but thanks for your prayers.

 

Love Elder Matthew Haynie Bangerter

 

P.S. happy birthday Whitney, I hope you had a great one, glad to know my Whitney is all growin up. Also I heard a little something about Brandon Crofts getting his mission call to Texas and I thought I'd give a little gonradulations and good luck.

 

Oh and the pictures are Elder Magalhães in Candelaria, 

Priscillas baptism, 

 Felipe and Silas' baptism 

and my new companion, Elder Quabreira

July 12, 2010

What do I think of the good news? well what do you think I think of the good news!? I should've thought that you would have to think too hard to know what I think but on the other hand I don't even know what to think anymore! In other words, I'm really really exctited :) Also sorry to break the bad news Nicole, but you're probably right. Just kidding. Glad to know the reunions went well, wish I could've been there but my schedule didnt really allow it. Also glad to know Brent has finally come to his senses and realized what's what. As far as this week, it went really well, we got to baptize a girl we've been working with for like a month named Priscila and she's really awesome. I'll try to send pictures next week but it was a really great baptism. We've also been working with here family and her 3 brothers should get baptized this week, were still working on her dad, and her mom was already baptized when she was 10 but went inactive. Really an awesome family though. Funny story: so we started the baptismal font filling, then went to go get our investigator and when I got back it had overflowed into the bathroom so we mopped it all up and started draining it but it drained too much so I started filling it again and got distracted reading the scriptures and it overflowed again. Anywho it was pretty funny but Im outta time.

Love Elder bangerter

July 5, 2010

Hey glad to know you got the pictures this time, I hate for you all to miss out on my ugly face. How goes everything in the Utah, from the updates I've gotten, it seems dad is cutting down the old cherry tree at the moment. I feel as though a piece of my childhood is falling in pieces to the ground. Actually I could care less, but it's glad to hear that you're all hangin out and having a blast, that's how it ought to be.I hope everyone enjoyed independence day but more importantly Crystals bitrthday. Are they still putting on the fireworks for you? My comps Bday was actually on saturday so that was pretty stinkin awesome. Basically, woke up, worked and then slept. It was the Best! Really though, I love working. It's funny because if there's one thing i've learned out here( dont worry there's more than one) it's that satting around just isn't very fun. I was reading in Alma 43 the other day and it says that the sons of alma went out to preach and Alma could not rest so he went out to. I thought it was pretty funny, but it's so true. So you wouldnt believe it but nobody celebrated the fourth of July. I tell you, there's a real lack of patriotism in this generation. Also we got to baptise a man and his son this last week and holy cow they are so golden. His wife was inactive, but she reactivated, they got married and then they got baptized. He's gonna be an awesom member of the church, and he's been teching jujitsu( I know its wrong) classes to the kids in the ward. sorry I'm outta time but love you all, and I love the work!

Love Elder Bangerter

PS sorry I'm slow but for all of you waiting on letters I'm sending them today!