January 4, 2012

Family Hey so this letter will be the first for a while because it was Christmas and New Years and I really didn't have any time so sorry, but your reading this one so I won't miss another week for a while now! So starting with before Christmas we had our Christmas party where we went to Centro Instrucao de guirrada selva (instruction center for forrest warfare). So President related alot of their trainings for us but we got to take a 20 min. jungle walk then ate really good food and ate fruit and juices. Then we got to dig out larva from a branch and eat that haha. I almost lost it! It was bad but then we got to attempt to grab snakes, but one kid in my group was a girl and didn't do it, but wasted so much time that I didn't get to so yeah, I was mad. But oh well. Then Christmas was fun. We went to the church and saw that someone already deleted skype so that wasn't good, so it went well but was full of stress haha. Then one week passed by and it was New Years which I can't believe I'm in the last week of this transfer, holy cow! That passed by so fast! So if I'm transferred I'll explain how the house is. We have 2 rooms for sleeping, 1 entrance room, 1 dirty kitchen/wash room and 1 bathroom and 1 ironing room, but we don't have beds so we sleep on a mattress on the floor ha woot experiences haha. So I got alot of stuff for Christmas. I received 2 from mom and dad, 1 from Chan, 1 from Holly which was way nice of her. The k'nex was super fun and I've already done Chan's puzzle. It took 10 min. haha, but it was fun. (mom says: she didn't send a picture so it would be harder, obviously that didn't work) I got the wood puzzle all figured out too haha, but it was fun! Alright, so I keep forgetting how to do it haha, so it's continually fun haha. A good toy for short term memory people ha. So as I told you I finished the Book of Mormon before Christmas so it was like 6 months I think. So at the Christmas activity I found out that one of our people in Itacoatiara who returned to the church was called 2nd Counselor to the President! So that's cool! To pronounce Itacoatiara say it like It-a-co-watch-e-a-da try that, I think you should get it now. (Mom's note: when we were skyping I said something about that city and he didn't have a clue what I was saying until finally I said the first city you were in then he said Oh, so that is why he is giving me a lesson on how to say it)haha So right now we have 3 weddings planned and 4 dates marked but we have one more potential wedding and baptism so were being blessed right now. Were working hard, but you have to. Oh about the buzz fliers you got me "he doesn't fly he falls in style"! haha So at lunch the other day had a chance to try the inside fat part to the bone of a cow foot, was called tuterio and man was that really bad! I really almost lost it that time! But all in all the area is good, the comps always there by me and the suns close to keep us tan! I love you all, have a wonderful week! Elder Deakin D&C 135:3 Joseph Smith's the Man! Jacob 1:12 Though this scripture is short and undetailed we can remember one trait about the glorious, strong, brave, valiant, righteous, Prophet Nephi...that he too was just a man, like us, therefore we too can perform miracles and be like him.

December 25, 2011

Familia! Merry Christmas! Hey how goes it this week? So....transfers! It's old news but I will be transfered to Zona Central (where the mission home is, where da Cunha got transferred to). So I am pretty sad I have to leave this town, but it's cool to see a new area! So as I'm leaving, the whole town is throwing me lanches w/cake and food. Sorry this letter is short today, I'm super busy getting this package sent! Have a great day. I Love You all! Oh also Merry Christmas!!

Garland 4th Ward! I hope you all are enjoying this cold Christmas season. I'm enjoying this hot Christmas weather! You all might not enjoy the snow 100% but it's not Christmas without it! I would also like to thank you for all the letters and especially all the prayers for the missionaries. This work isn't possible w/o the help and the prayers of all the members. Also like to thank you all for the help and teachings you have given me in my life. Each member/leader has made a significant impact on my life and I thank you all for that! And with the Christmas season here I would like to challenge you all to read the Christmas story in the Bible and learn more about our Savior that we have designated a day for. Remember the true meaning of Christmas. Help those who stand in need of help. With each new ward/branch I enter I can see those members who truly are disciples of Christ, testifying of Him in their actions, and I know that each of you truly are His disciples. Also, I challenge you to watch the video on LDS.org about Christmas (as missionaries we make alot of challenges haha) But as a last note, I really would like to thank you all again for all the help and prayers! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season! Stay warm! Elder Deakin Reading assignment: St. Matt Chap 1 & 2, St. John 1:10-12, Zechariah 2:6 (santa lives)

December 6, 2011

Family! Hey how goes it this week? So we had transfers and that was a very new experience! So to start off Sunday after Church we were in the house of a member and I received a call from the Secretaries! He told me everyone's transfers then mine! I will be transfered to ...Zona Central! That's it. No news on comp, no curca nada! So I started to call everyone in my branch to tell them (also found out the area received 2 sisters) but they said they will throw a party Monday night. So Monday morning (p-day) I woke up, started packing everything. It gets harder each time fitting everything in my bags! I had to use a box also! But then I went and got my watch fixed, then to correios w/my box! It had 2 ores, 1 cd, 1 plastic box, 1 shirt from helping hands and suprisas! Share! So that was 90 reias. So not really bad. I hope you get it all! So I sent that then we went to e mail you! Then to the party! Where one by one they stood up and complimented me on our work. It was cool! The best was Presidente Antonio. He said I could return and have wifes waiting for me. He's so funny. With every person that stood up after they would say Tchau Deakin. It was a really cool experience then at 2 in the morning I got on the bus, got into Manaus 7:15. It was raining really bad so the bus went really slow. So got there to the office and they posted the names out front like when your trying out for a sport. It was funny! My new area Novo Israel. Comp is Elder Helama Javiar DeSilva. Its a ward that has less members than Itacoatiara. Now my area has more hills than San Francisco. It's so bad. Just to get to lunch, up, down, up, down. We are knocking doors. Last week we knocked 4 entire streets, everyhouse. My house when I got here was super dirty but it's getting cleaner and cleaner. I sleep on a mattress on the floor so thats fun! But we have air conditioner! Also internet is really good here so I will start trying to send photos every p-day. I cant take too many pictures cuz I don't take my camera with me. It's dangerous. I will buy my web cam to use skype so everything is going to be great! I think thats all for now. Tchau! I Love You all! Elder Deakin Espiritual message. "the Event mentioned most in the Bible is the Second Coming. Birth 9 times, baptism 52, second coming 1,500 times in the Old Testament, 300 in the New. I thought that was really cool!

November 25, 2011

Family! Hey how goes it this week? So today is Thanksgiving! I'm writing today because I want to ha. So hows the dinner there? Today at lunch the member fixed a bar-b-que so I was happy. It was a big lunch. It's super hot and I'm really feeling the stresses of being Senior! We went to take care of things for a wedding and I had to do it all! It's stressfull ha but @ the same time I like it alot more! So this last week we had a batismao! That's like a really big baptism. It doesn't translate as cool but we had the baptism of Rosenere that we married to Romerito last week and the family Raimundo & Maraci so clempted 2 families! It was very cool. We have had alot of problems with Raimundo & Maraci. The whole branch was stopping by teaching new things confusing them, but this last week we finally got it all worked out. They have a daughter that is handicapped that we were planning on baptising her Saturday, but she didn't pass the baptismal questions? She knew some and not the others so we hve to return and teach very simply! My comp is good. He's got stuff that I can learn and at the same time I'm helping him. So I had to restart the Book of Mormon and this time its alot slower. I need to pick it up to finish by New Years. I'll write grandpa's and grandma's next week. So this last week nothing to exciting happened. We have this member inactive that we are trying to help return to the church. I felt inspired to ask her how she could know the truth but go to other Churches! And then her knowledge of the Book of Mormon. She only read it as a book, not as a way to help your life. Her friend called that night saying she was really thinking about what we said. I've learned as a missionary sometimes ya got to get in peoples faces and shake them a little like Elder Holland! Some people will only realize they can't live the way they are unless you say those exact words! But thats all for this week. Take care. Love ya! Tchau! Love you all Elder Deakin Isaiah 49:16 He won't forget us How then can we forget him!!!

November 18, 2011

Family! Hey hows the Griswalds hoje! Everything is great. We are working really hard. We had an activity here in the church and had 300+ people there to contact. We had 42 contacts and lessons. It was cool. I really feel that my language really took off these last few days. My comp doesn't speak english so it's just portuguese but it's good. I've really felt that the members really have taken to me since da Cunha left. The members are great. I really am going to miss this town. It's all I know, but it will be cool to have a new area. I received a letter from the Stake Relief Society. It was nice they thought of me. It's also really nice to hear of those people that ask about me. Nice to know I am remembered haha. I'm really excited to receive photos. I hope I receive them soon! Also I'm preparing a package to send when I leave here. It will have some surprise presents for you all. So this last week we had a wedding for Rosanere & Romarito. It was cool. I played the piano for them, I was very happy! They have been together almost 2 years and one day we got there to get money for lunch and said you gotta get married. He said "yeah, so we marked the date. It's awesome! Then we have 3 baptisms this week and the other branch has 6 so 9 all together! Holy cow it will be awesome! Also this week we had 11/11/11 and @ 11/11 I made a wish! That was alot of ones! haha Elder Leno is very cool. He will study at BYU so we'll for sure hang out! Its starting to rain pretty good. Thats good because then its cooler and easier to sleep, but mosquitos are worst. President said that he would pull all missionaries for the dedication of the temple! But I think that's all for now. I will write a spiritual message Tchau I Love You all Elder Deakin Pslams 144:15 Phillipeans 4:13 These two scriptures are very cool, talking about the strength the lord can bless you with!

November 9, 2011

Family hey! How goes it this week? Everything is great! Today is Wednesday and man did we have a crazy day yesterday. President Klein called in the morning and asked Elder daCunha if I knew the area really well and all sorts of questions making me think I will train this transfere, but then after lunch he called again and said emergency transfere. da Cunha is leaving. I received a companion 3 weeks before transfors normal. (note: a little portuguese there) So my comps name is Ariel. He's from the same state as da Cunha Rio Grande da Sol. He arrived last night. We spent all yesterday saying goodbye to everyone and now I have to teach him everything about the area because he said that I will proably leave w/the next transfers. So wow interesting. So this week we have our wedding, baptism so I'll let ya know how that goes. Oh I got the christmas tree package. I'll get all decorated now ha. Christmas will be wierd. Everybody is already decorating, not like there, but with statues and things of santa. I finished the book "Be Thou an Example" in 4 or 5 days. I really liked it! It was very good! Well that's all for this week. Just quick to get it in the mail since were headed there! Have a great week! Tchau! I Love You all! Elder Deakin Este mensagem johe primera e em portugues por pai para ler e segunda e em Mosiah 27:25 isso e um convendo especial (batismo) e so depeis batismo nos somos "filhos de deut" isso e porque batismo e important Tchau! Te amo! Love You all!!!

November 2, 2011

Family, Hey how goes it with you this week in the big town of Garland? Everything is great here in the bigger town of Itacoatiara. Right now I'm on divisions with Elder Almeida because his comp and da Cunha are in Manaus. They left Monday at 4, Tuesday morning they had leadership trainings, Wednesday they had to go to the policia to renew Laskos Visa, Oh but wait it's a holiday and not open! So now it is Thursday and they wont come home till tonight. So update our investigators, the wedding is all set. We took care of that Monday, then the family, everything is going good. Our ward is helping out a ton! Only 2 problems. 1. The pastor of Deuse Amor (God is love) stopped by and said we receive money for every baptism and spreading fofoco (rumors) but she had nothing to do with him, then the other was some member said its ok to wait to be sure...but she said no were ready so I think were all set! We have others but nothing happened w/them. We celebrated Halloween by buying a pepsi and eating the oreos. The coke rule is almost gone. Pres. Klein doesn't like it and the missionaries don't either, its just spreading the rumors that we cant drink coke, but yeah thats how we celebrated Halloween. Were going to make the cake this weekend. (Mom note: I sent Halloween oreos and a Halloween cake mix) We really didn't have anything exciting happen. It is starting to rain alot. It's getting closer and closer to Christmas. So right now I'm studying Livro de Mormon. I'm in Alma and I also started reading Jesus the Christ again. I read it in the CTM but I didn't study it but only 1 problem, the copy I have is in portuguese so it will be difficult but I want to push my language to be really good. But I think that's all for this week. I hope you have a wonderful day and tell everyone to write! Love Ya! Tchau! Elder Deakin Oh we saw a monkey! I petted it and da Cunha got bit haha it was a guys pet! I will write my interpretation of the Good Samaratin here. We can use the parable of the good samaratin to lay out the plan of salvation. Vs. 25 The question is brought up how can I receive eternal life. Vs. 27 The answer is love the Lord because its been said if you love the Lord you will keep his commandments. Vs. 29 Who is my neighbor? (who should I follow) Vs. 30 talks about a "certain man" this certain man is us and as we "fall among theifs" we fall into sin and get spiritually wounded and after the joy of the sin leaves, we are left "half dead" spiritually. Vs. 31-33 talks about a priest levit and a good samaratin some say other othings but for me they lay out the 3 kingdoms of heaven. Vs. 31 the priest is the telestial kingdom, he saw the chance to do good but didn't even try like the people that hear the truth but refuse it cuz it's easier. Vs 32. Levite passed by and stopped and looked. people of the terrestial kingdom that have good intentions but fail to act! Vs. 33 the samaratin is the celestial kingdom having compassion and doing all that was necessry to help him out. Also the good samartin is representative of Jesus, he "comes" to us when we fall into sin and need him most and he shows compassion on us. Vs. 34 he bounds up our wounded hearts and heals us of our pain, gives us all he has to heal to help us meet the "host" Vs. 35 God is the "host," the first two penses given represents burnt offerings that was done before christ come to the earth. Then he says "and whatsoever more thou spendest, I will repay thee when I come again" This is his promise that he will take care of all of the cost on the cross. He will give up his life for us to be "spiritually healed." That's my interpretation of it, take it for what it's worth! haha Have a great week! (Mom note: Britten challenged us to compare the good samaratin to the plan of salvation for family home evening)

October 27, 2011

Family! Hey how goes it this week? Everything is good. Just returned to normal, working hard! We have found some really good investigators this week but besides that nothing really exciting has happened! So the first ones I'll talk about is the Miranda family that was our baptism w/that girl that coudn't receive an answer. So we started teaching her family and that lesson was one of the most spiritual ones so far. So we spent 1 1/2 hours talking and becoming friends with them and answering doubts they had w/the church. Then De Cunha shared a scripture and because Da Cunhas the senior comp he does most of the talking. So she asked if I was going to say something so I bore my testimony and I don't know what happened but I just talked & talked and gave the strongest testimony I have ever given. It was very cool! But they still have lots of doubts and problems that are keeping them from being baptized. Then our baptism date is Rosane. She is 15 years old and her testimony is super strong. She prayed one night to find out if its true and she had a dream where someone in white told her that she needed to follow this church and it is the true church! She said she woke up crying, talked with her mom and her mom said you need to follow this! The only problem she wants her brother to baptize her and he was in a motorcycle wreck and has a really messed up leg till the end of November. So we just wait for that one. Then we have another wedding/baptism that happend very strangely. We were there to get money for lunch cuz they were in Manaus (money for lunch is great) but the son & girlfriend was there and we talked, marked a wedding date & boom! Marriage. Then we taught the first lesson few days later & boom! Baptism! So we have that in 2 weeks then the President called & said he found an elect family for us. So we went and talked to them Tuesday. This is one of the saddest stories ever! So this family was trying to do what they thought was right going to catholic church and was super firm. They had a very nice home w/lots of things and the pastor said to sell it all and come to Manaus on a mission! And if you don't you will die! So they lost it all! And they are just the nicest family ever! Full of problems but super nice! The dad is good and normal and mom super nice. Then the daughters get really interesting! The 15 year old is handicapped and in a wheelchair, then the 13 year old is living with her boyfriend and is pregnant with his child. So they cant get married until she is l6. Brasil laws. But were going to try to figure something out ha. So thats all of our investigators. Well the ones closest to baptism. Now I'll talk about treats. They have 200 different type of oreo type cookies in sleeves that I'm constantly eating. Then also like to eat Goiabada w/creme de leite (cream of milk?) not sure in english what it is thats the translation though ha. Haven't had any crazy food but, we got to go help move this family. So until next week! Love ya! Have a great week.
Elder Deakin

October 19, 2011

Familia! Hey how is it going this week? I'm struggling having the focus to write today ha but because you like to hear how I'm doing and because it's a commandment to write I will. So this week has been pretty eventful ha so lets begin day by day. First tuesday Oct. 11 we went to the ear doctor but thats old news. After we went to pizza hut and ate rodizio style! It was so very good! They brought pizzas around and you could take as much as you wanted! Then they had a chocolate pizza that was very good! Then at eleven o'clock we got on our bus and left back to Itacoatiara arriving 3 o'clock in the morning ha woot! (Mom note: They had to go into Manaus to an ear specialist) Elder Garrett has a new comp. He seems cool. He studied in Utah for 1 year, he is brasilian, so thats cool. I'm pretty excited to spend one more transfer with De Cunha. He's a really good companion and while ya have a good one dont complain haha. Wow so really don't have anything else this week. Oh our batisimo her name was tatila (pronounced tatchilla) We started out teaching her grandpa but she wanted to hear too so then her grandpa moved, but she stayed really firm. She was having alot of problems with thinking she hadn't received an answer, but she really already had we just had to show her that. So then while we were in Mnaus one of the families in our ward just got back from getting sealed and bore their testimonies and said things your not supposed to say so....our investigator had alot of questions when we returned ha but we got it all worked out. Then at her baptism we had her family there which is really rare and the dad started to cry. It was really spiritual! The young women sang a special number. Very cool! Were now going to start teaching the dad & mom. So thats where we are now. We have to receive lots of news now to get the ward going again, but I think that's all for this week. Sorry it's shorter. I want to get it in the mail before bairro da paz today, and nothing really happened. Take Care Love You all Tchau! Elder Deakin I want to hear how you guys interpret this scripture! Prov. 3:19 Study it hard its a deep one! I promise next weeks letters will be better & have 1 for the whole family! Oh also I figured out what I would like for Christmas about 200 photos of all sorts of things family, friends, house, town, just all sorts alright thats all I want for Christmas! :) Tchau

October 13, 2011

Family! So this week has been very eventful but very unproductive. To start off Monday night we went to the house of the guy thats making our oars and he asked us if we wanted to eat turtle eggs, so we did, 1 cooked 1 raw ha. It was pretty good, sweet, but wasn't slimy like you would think. Then Wed. night I was cleaning my ears because here has alot of humidity so they said to, but then my ear just stopped working. Needless to say that night I did not sleep well. But then that morning I had Da Cunha give me a blessing to help me calm down. It helped alot but then we went to the doctors. Wow what an experience! haha The walls are cracked and covered in plaster. The floors were worn way down! Then we got in and he gave me an anti-inflamatory but that didn't work so after Tuesday we went to the doctors again and he gave us some new medicine. I hope it helps! I'm relaxed but starting to really freak out! I need my hearing. We'll see how they are in the morning. Da Cunha has been really great to help me out! Telling me when I need to take my medicine. He's been great but I just really need to get better! So we can go work again. ( Mom note: I am so thankful for e mail as he told me about this and I was aware of what was going on. He ended up in Manaus going to a specialist and found his ear was very infected. It got cleared up and all was good before I got this letter.) We have had to spend most the week indoors but we did teach 2 lessons with the same girl and actually marked a baptism date for her. The second lesson though she started to cry saying that she hadn't received an answer yet and was starting to get frustrated, but we explained that God works in little ways, it won't be a grand sign. We asked her how she felt when we were there, when she reads and goes to Church. She said peaceful. We said "sounds like thats your answer". She said yeah! :) It was very cool then we had another girl that all we did was give her the first lesson pamphlet and explained a little and when we saw her next she told us that she had a dream that said she needed to follow this church and she woke up crying. So we will try to mark her date as well. Then Monday we got the experience with a turtle. We showed up and the turtle about 1 1/2' in diameter was upside down alive on the table. So they set him on the ground to watch the dog play with him. The turtle stepped on an ax and the handle fell and hit the dog. Turtle 1 Dog 0 ha, but then we watched the turtle die, get cleaned, we then ate him it was pretty good! Like chewy chicken but not Kache's "chewy chicken" :) (Kache is his cousin and he calls clams chewy chicken) But that was my week. Not too productive but had alot of excitement and thats how it is when ya get sick in the mission. Health is very important. So if the medicine doesn't work I'll be going into Manaus so pray for me and by the time you get this you will already know what happened so I Love You all! Take care:) Elder Deakin
(also mom & Cambria & Dad don't forget about our little race! :) (were seeing who finishes the Book of Mormon first)