Frantic about losing this appointment

Excerpts from João's letter to his father of May 18th, 2009

This week with my new companion that I am training was great. He is a good Elder. We took the work to a higher level and it was one of the best weeks I ever had. Let me share with you one of the miracles that happen this last week. I've come to be very familiar with the area we work in, so rarely I do get lost. The other day as we are headed to our appointment I don't think I've ever gotten so lost, I'm pretty sure that we weren't even in our boundaries anymore. Frantic about losing this appointment and also wasting time I was overcomed with a sense of safety and peace. I began walking and we finally approached the street I was looking for. But that wasn't the miracle just yet. A young men possibly in his 20's, stopped us and asked us if we were Latter Day Saints? There were some many people around, that it couldn't have been a coincidence. He said he was a member, but became inactive for one reason or the another. He said his baptism was phonomenal, and he wants to return. He asked if that was possible? We happiply nodded our heads with a YES! I know that the Lord's hand is in this work.

Amazing Italian Dishes

Excerpts of Elder Redden (João's companion) letter of March 16, 2009

Elder Teixeira let me say, is one of the more talented missionaries I've met so far. You should see him work with people when he first walk into their home. He connects so quickly with them. They relax and open up and allow us to teach them. They can tell he loves them and has sincere interest in them. He is very genuine and honest, and they can tell.

Yep rest assured, Elder Teixeira is one of the more dedicated I've met. Hard worker too.

Workout Plan

Excerpts of Joãoºs letter of March 10th, 2009

I have been on a rigorous workout plan with my companion. We decided to wake up at 6:00 am and have the time to do a good exercise. He is a tought kid from Wyoming that grew up working on the field. We work well together, He's been in the area for a while... I hope that we can stay one more transfer together. We shall see!

This last Sunday we had a baptism. It was wonderful. I've realized how involved the Lord is in this work. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost. I am working hard and it is good to see the miracles of the Gospel!

"One beam of light can consume a room of darkness"

Love,

Elder Teixeira

Snow in New York City

Excerpts from João's e-mail of March 2nd, 2009

You are not going to beleive but there was a great snow storm here in New York City, there is snow all over, it looks more like Rexburg than New York. None one in the streets, looks like the city is dead!

The more I get to know this area the more I like it. We are working hard... these are the days I will be speaking of when I will be an old man! This next Sunday we will have two baptisms.

I am enjoying this transfer in this new area. I really feel like a missionary every day, not that I have not felt that before... I just don't know how to explain, I just feels right!

Dyker Heights

Excerpts from a letter to Miguel on Feb 23rd, 2009

The chapel here is really good looking. It is not a classic chapel, it's an old "cathedral", and I will send some pictures. Today I went to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. I used to go there when I was in Staten Island. It's the "Chinatown". They have these Chinese bakeries with the most delicious treats. They have this one pastry with black beans that is really good! And then I played some ping pong with the Chinese Elders ... ha-ha... I still got it!

This last week was good, the city is a different place, you can always talk to someone, plus we receive in average 3 media referrals everyday!! We have 60 to contact, lots of work to be done. I was really happy this week we hit the mission goals.

I really like walking everywhere as well, it just has been cold lately, but I love riding the trains and buses, so much better to contact people, there are a lot of people from Haiti, so I am practicing my French, a lot of them have a different accent than I am used to and sometimes they speak Creole but I am picking it up.

An incredible experience

Extract from João's letter of January 19th, 2009

"... My preparation day is almost in the end, today we decided to go out just a bit earlier to work a little extra

I spoke in Church this last Sunday, the Bishop asked me to speak for 20 minutes. I prepared but felt not to write a talk, as I prayed I knew this time I was to speak without any notes.

With only my scriptures I began, as I open my mouth the words and sentences came naturally, it was an incredible experience..."

João writes to Miguel

I've had another great week of missionary experiences,... that´s how it should be for every missionary right? The lesson of the week was "never lose faith on those that previously received you". The first weeks we had multiple families that were ready to hear the gospel. It was easy to feel the presence of the spirit in our lessons. The week families were committed opposition began... struggling to come to Church, families challenges of every sort, the list is long! Nevertheless we continue to pray for them, continue to try to visited them. Nothing happened. For a moment I thought our work and their progression was in vain. BUT again and again we forget that "God is mindful of every people". He is watching over all his children! Make a long story short, the families are coming back with full strength, and I have faith they will be blessed!

Zone Conference

This week I attended my first zone conference, the President asked me to speak on the spot, I am glad I was well prepared on the topic of this transfer which is 3 Nephi. I spoke about the signs of the Christ's visit to the Nephites. It was a good experience. I learned in zone conference that our zone is doing well and is leading in the mission, but of course we can do even more! There was no lunch, just some apples, missed the "estrogonoff" in zone conference in Brazil, but I can not complain about food the members of the ward feeds us with quality and quantity!

Scripture study in the mission is amazing, stories and characters become alive, must be a blessing of been a missionary. My companion and I are doing well, but of course there still much to do, but at least we are following and reaching all the challenges of the Mission President. I love to talk to people and invite them to come to Christ, when we work hard is when I am most happy.

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Tive a primeira conferência de zona esta última semana, o Presidente pediu-me na hora para eu discursar..., ainda bem que me tinha preparado bem. Todos ficaram espantados, porque nunca o Presidente perguntou a um missionário para discursar. Anyway o tópico ou o tema desta última conferência foi 3 Nephi. Eu falei sobre os sinais da vinda de Cristo. Não houve nada de espetacular, mas foi uma boa experiência. Aparantemente a nossa Zona é número 1!!! Mas nós podíamos fazer muito melhor! Não houve almoço...bom minto, tinha maças e água. :) Tenho que admitir que tive saudades de um bom estrogonoff. Mas não posso reclamar da comida. A ala cozinha sempre para nós, pelo menos três vezes por semana eles dão comida de qualidade e com quantidade!

É incrivel o estudo das escrituras na missão, as palavras saiem das páginas e as historias ficam vivas! Deve ser uma das bençãos de ser missionário. Eu acho que nós estamos a fazer bem, pelo menos estamos a cumprir todas as nossas metas postas pelo Presidente. Mas há muito ainda a fazer!!! Eu gosto imenso de ser missionário! Gosto de falar com as pessoas e também de convidá-las a vir a Cristo. Nem sempre e fácil, mas com oração e paciência conseguimos. Cheguei à conclusão que realmente a melhor cura para qualquer desânimo é trabalhar. Quando eu trabalho mais é quando eu me sinto mais feliz.

My favorite... Teaching

This area is great, and from what I hear the best in the mission. It's Staten Island. Right in front of the big city of New york. We often ride the ferry to talk to people, so I see the Statue of Liberty daily. Our mode of transportation is a car. Driving here in NY is a bit like São Paulo. We pray everyday before we start driving!!!

The work is great. This last week we had committed so many people to come to church and be baptized and they have the desire and feel the spirit when we are in the home.

We just found that many who asked for DVD's or Book of Mormon's were not contacted yet. There are pages and pages of referrals. Our goal this next week is that we may contact them.

I think my favorite thing, is teaching. It's when I'm the happiest. In essence I have come to the conclusion, that we have to work on our follow up, follow up again and again to get people excited and come to church. The ward is a great ward! Ready to help us, so we're working with them as well...the number is about 120 people. We have baptisms scheduled for every week, but it seems that many of them are not keeping their commitments.

Last week I had my fist interview with the Mission President. It was short and simple. I asked him some questions and he gave me some good ideas.

I received your letter!!! It was great, thank you so much. I have found that there are 2 great joys in life, first is hearing someone decide to change their life and second letters and e-mails!!!! haha.

If there is one thing that has always gone up these past weeks is my testimony of this gospel. It is true. Jesus Christ is key! We follow Him first!

Thank you again for your love and kind words in your letters.

The first letter!

As we arrived in New York City, I began to recognize the city and it's iconic buildings, the airport of LaGuardia is close to the city. The airplane pass through the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan, it was surreal! When we landed, I noticed the humidity here, the weather feels like São Paulo. Even before we picked our bags the Mission President and one of his assistants where there waiting for us, he knew us, and asked about dad, I make some points when told the President that I studied in BYUi, he sutudied as well Political Science. They left us in Queens, in the middle of the big city and we began to work, making contacts, got some pass along cards, talked to people e even got a few addressed and phone numbers, I was not afraid, I even taught a woman about how families can be eternal.

After we went to the mission home, a very nice neighborhood and nice house. I was exhausted the day began when we left the MTC at 2AM to catch a 6AM flight to Dallas and than to New York. We got a change to shower and prepare for dinner and than interviews. Liked it!

Next day the President announced our companions and assignments, when a tall and red air companion got into the room I knew it was going to be my companion, Elder Close from Las Vegas e we are assigned to Staten Island, NY, right in front of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan.

Than same day we went to find people in the Ferry, Elder Close knows what is he doing, it is the second time he trains and has been here 9 months already. it was a great week, we have several families, including one of 11, invited 17 people to Church and taught 21 lessons!

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Ao chegar a Nova York, eu comecei a reconhecer a cidade e os predios. O aeroporto LaGuardia, é perto da cidade. O avião passou pela a Estatua da Liberdade, e Manhattan, foi muito surreal! Quando aterrou, notei logo a humidade daqui! O calor parece muito como o de Sao Paulo. Mesmo antes de pegar as nossas malas, O Presidente e um dos assistentes dele ja estavam a espera. Ele soube logo quem nós eramos, perguntou sobre o Pai, e consegui logo ganhar pontos quando disse que estudei na BYU-Idaho. Acabei por saber que ele também estudou Ciências Politicas. Eles deixarm-nos no meio de Queens! cidade mesmo! E foi aí que comecou o trabalho. Peguei cartões de amizade e comecei a falar com pessoas, não tive medo nenhum, mas mesmo assim nem todas as pessoas estam interessadas, consegui falar com algumas pessoas e obter o endereco e telefone, e até tive sorte de encontrar uma mulher que ensinei como familias podem ser eternas. Depois disso levaram-nos para a casa da missão, um bairro e uma casa muito bonita.

Eu estava exausto. Mas logo quando chegamos tivemos a opurtunidade de tomar uma banho e nos prepararmos para o jantar e de seguida entrevistas. Gostei! No dia seguinte depois de pequeno almoço o Presidente chamou os novos treinadores e anunciou com quem nos iamos ficar e onde, um missionario alto com cabelo vermelho entrou e eu soube logo que eu ia ficar com ele, Elder Close de Las Vegas. Estamos em Staten Island NY, mesmo em frente a Manhattan e á Estatua da Liberdade.

Esse dia mesmo fomos encontrar pessoas no Ferry. Vamos de um lado para outro a encontrar e a ensinar pessoas. O Elder Close sabe o que esta a fazer, é a segunda vez que está a treinar, tem 9 meses na missao. A semana foi otima! Temos varias familias incluindo uma familia de 11! Tivemos 17 pessoas que convidamos para a Igreja, e baptismos para o resto da transferência. Conseguimos ensinar 21 lições!