Christmas, New Prospects, & a Service Project

Admiring the spread of Christmas gifts.

Random Christmas Tree shot

Hello everyone once again! It was great to hear just about all of you guys yesterday. Hope that Christmas went well. It was as good as it could get for being a missionary over here. On Christmas Eve, we went to a member's house to have dinner. It was a bit awkward, but the food was good. On Christmas Day we started by opening our presents. Thanks! Also we went to the church for Sacrament Meeting. 

This first week in my new area went pretty well. We are in the process of looking for new people to teach. Many of the people that my companion has been working with haven´t really been going anywhere. So this next week we are going to work with a bunch of references that we have been pulling from the members. 

Hammock sleep = lap of luxury

We also did a service project a few days ago. It was at this kid's house that we are trying to get baptized. His mom had a stroke, so she is paralyzed. His dad is a drunk, so he is never home. Us and a few members went over to the house to clean up. Let´s just say it wasn't a very pretty sight in there....and the smell was....well, I´ll let you imagine. So we helped them for a bit until we had to go. The mom can´t really speak, but she seemed grateful. Nothing better than a clean house for Christmas. 

Well, next up is New Year's. 

Hope you all have a good one.

--Elder Castagno

(I can barely look at this picture without getting claustrophobic.)

New area...FINALLY! (and Merry Christmas!)

The following e-mail was received today:

 Merry Christmas everyone! Well...it will be soon enough. Anyways I have news to tell....I´ve been transferred! Finally! It´s been a bit of mixed feelings. Back in Mondubim and Esperança there were some really good friends that I made. But I am sure glad for the change. 

My new area is Cidade dos Funcionarios. It´s HUGE. Almost like all of Salt Lake City. The area is a city within Fortaleza. They have everything here, which is great. They even have Subway and McDonalds! My last area had nothing. My new companion is Elder Redd. He is from Blanding ,Utah. He´s also going home at the end of this transfer. I just keep scaring these missionaries out of the mission I guess...haha. 

So this last week went well. Just about everyday we had to go somewhere. One day we went downtown so Elder Brody could do is interviews, and the next day we went to Maranguape. We even went to the hospital...I was sick, so I went there. Nothing serious, I just had a type of flu. I´m much better now. 

Today was Elder Brody´s last day. He´s already on the plane out of here and will get home tomorrow. He was a great companion. This week is already full of things to do. It will be interesting working within a city. I´ve been so used to neighborhoods in the middle of nowhere. Can´t wait for Christmas! It´ll be great to hear from home. 

The most important thing I learned this week was that the blessings come after the trials. If you endure the trial well, the Lord will bless you for your effort.

With love,
Elder Castagno

6 Month Mark & Ups and Downs

The following e-mail was received today:

Well another week has passed, and in a few days I´ll hit my six months mark! 

So this next week is my companion's last week on the mission. He´s made it! We have a going away party planned for him later this week. He´s been a great companion, and I've learned a lot from him. Today we went to the center to make his last purchases. 

Everyone here is getting ready for Christmas. At church they are going to do some fun activities. I´ll probably end up playing some Christmas songs on the guitar. 

Ups and Downs

This last week had its ups and downs. The week started out pretty bad but got better by the end. The first three days of the week were really hard. Everything fell through, and I mean everything--even our lunch. It was tough, but with some adjustments to the people we were teaching, we made it better. These areas right now are pretty dry--as in there is no one good to teach. Just about everyone we have talked to doesn´t really care, or they don´t really do much about anything. But that´s how it is, and it´s okay. There will be some family out there that is waiting for the gospel, and I can´t wait to find them.  

Other than that....it´s still pretty hot over here. Not like that´s new--haha. Hope you´re all doing well. Have a good chilly week and keep me in your prayers.

-Elder Castagno

A boost, a baptism, and a life-changing experience

The following e-mail was received today:

So this week was interesting--better than the week before. During district meeting this week, I learned a lot. I heard many things that I needed to hear. Our zone leaders told us on what to do when everything in our planning falls through. Basically to not be stressed! To take a breather, and to look at all the options we have and to replan before we go out to teach. When we are stressed we don´t have the Spirit, and without the Spirit, we can´t teach. It really gave me a boost. 

Yesterday we had a baptism! Fernando. He is a neighbor of one of the members. He knows that all of these things are true, and he really likes the church. He´s just...well...a little strange. He told us of when he snuck onto a cruise liner and how Cristina Aguilera sang to him. The cruise liner went to the North Pole and then to Ireland. From there he went to Romania where vampires are real. But then he unfortunatly got deported back here, as he says. He´s a good guy. 

Also this week we were hired to carry a huge wedding cake to a member's wedding. We hopped in the car with the cake and went all the way to the reception at 100 MPH. God was truly on our side for that trip. 

A few days ago our friend from the ward came to our house in the morning. He said that he needed a blessing of health. He sat down, and I started to give him the blessing. Something happened to me that had never happened before. The Holy Ghost completely filled me, and I heard with my own ears the voice of the Spirit. I was trembling. It wasn´t anything that I thought up, but the Spirit told me to tell things to this member that he really needed to hear. It was hard to speak at times. But the voice of the Spirit was as clear as the noon day sun. After the blessing, I was completly exhausted. I have a true testimony of priesthood power. It is real, and it is from God. It really is a blessing.
Love you all.

-Elder Castagno

Optimism on a Rough Road

The following e-mail was received today:

Elder Claudio R.M. Costa

So this week, well, was a bit tougher than others. But still went well for the most part. We didn't do anything for Thanksgiving, seeing that it´s not a holiday here. But the same day we had a meeting and got to hear from Elder Costa. He is the area Seventy for Brazil. He went into great detail about the calling of an apostle and of a Seventy. He told us everything that they do and the process of everything. All of the Elders here now know information that 98 percent of the rest of the church members do not....ha! He also talked about many other interesting subjects: ways to teach, how to use the Spirit, and what not. 

Also this week we had an "integration." Basically a talent show at the ward. Everyone was invited. Me and Elder Brody played and sang a song. It was great. 

Sadly we´ve been having a tough time with our investigators. It´s hard to find new people, and many of the people we have have many problems to overcome to be baptized. But we´re trying. For example, Viviane. She is a mother of three girls that are all members. She wants to be baptized but the only thing that is holding her back is smoking. She was good for a week, but then we came back Saturday night and we found her smoking--and singing loudly to forro in the dark (forro is the typical music here--a.k.a. the worst music you´ll ever hear in your life.) She was doing that because of an even bigger problem happening in her life. We talked to her, and we´ll shoot for next week. 

Our zone is baptizing zero this week. Which has never happened. We had a baptism for Sunday....but he left in the middle of church so he could go eat somewhere and refused to come back until next time. So we have a bunch of problems we need to try and fix. But as long as we trust in the Spirit and do our part, things will pull through.

Elder Castagno

Visit from Elder Bednar!

The following e-mail was received today:

Future temple of Fortaleza, Brazil

Well the Fortaleza Temple is now under construction! Elder Bednar was here along with other General authorities to open the site. He also talked to us the day before. His method of teaching was very different from anything I've seen before. All in all, it wasn´t even him that taught us anything--it was the Holy Ghost that did. He would talk about something and then ask a question. Anyone that wanted to could respond. From that he would talk and explain things in a way that really made us think. It was the best talk I have been to in my life. He explained about teaching people. About caring for them. He said that a missionary's success is not on how many they baptize, but if they did their best to help the people. That really spoke to me. Sometimes we as missionaries get into the routine of just trying to baptize as many as we can. But that´s not it. There is no use in baptizing a bunch of people that will fall away from the church within a month. I had to stop and think. I also had to change a few things/ways that I teach and ways that I would find people to teach. Through that I can focus more on the needs of the people. Only the Holy Ghost can truly convert someone. When there is more room for the Holy Ghost to talk in a lesson than me, then I have done my part. So that´s what I learned. 

Come on, it's funny.

Other than that, it is still blazing hot here. Also after Bednar´s talk, my  comp and I went to a place called Maranguape. This place is beautiful! We stayed there over night with the other elders. It´s super calm, and the people are very nice. Reminded me of home a bit. A great week to all.

-Elder Castagno

The following e-mail was received today:

So this week was pretty busy. Seeing that my companion is district leader, he has to do interviews for any investigators that are ready for baptism. Towards the end of this week, we went to an area called Maranguape. This place is beautiful! It´s all green fields and farm land. It´s much cleaner and peaceful out there. It is also close to some small mountains. It takes a while to get out there, so we spent most of our day just on the bus. 

Thanks for the packages!

Cool news...in about an hour we are going to a talk with Elder Bednar. So I have to be kind of quick. Also, last Friday we had a fireside with Elder Evans and Elder Costa. I learned a lot of new interesting things. First off, Elder Evans' wife talked about The Book of Mormon and how it teaches about families. The Book of Mormon is about family and shows how to work through problems to have a good family. They wanted us to explain this to our investigators so they would have more interest in The Book of Mormon. He also talked about tithing, and how our investigators need to understand this commandment better. The main reason why people fall from the church is because they do not pay their tithing. He explained that the windows of heaven will open up to those who pay their tithing. As in, when we pay our tithing, we will have revelations on how to manage our money better, and also, there will always be enough. He then said that we should help many be reactivated back into the church. There are 50,000 members here...but only 15,000 are active. There is a lot of work to be done. Well, gotta go.
-Elder Castagno
 

The Book of Mormon is True

The following e-mail was received today:

Hello everyone! Well this week went by really well. We have been teaching this one girl named Erika. She is a friend of one of the members here. She recently moved here from SãoPaulo. We came by day by day to leave her a message. We gave her a Book of Mormon to read and she started to read it little by little every day. A few days later I then asked her if she read, and she said yes. I then asked her how she felt about being baptized this last Sunday--her response was also....yes! Once more a confirmation to my testimony that The Book of Mormon is true. No one can walk away after reading that book and say that is not true. Her baptism was on Sunday, and all of her friends were there to give her support. 

So I´m staying in my area again for this next transfer...and probably will stay for the next one seeing that my companion is going home after this transfer. It´s bitter sweet. I love my comp and am super glad I get to stay another transfer with him, but at the same time, I am a bit worn out from this area. It will be a total of about eight months of walking through the same neighborhoods. 

Elder Bednar

Anyways, I have some pretty cool news! They are opening the temple grounds for construction on the 15th of November! Elder Bednar is coming down for the dedication and will talk to all the missionaries on the 14th. I´m very excited for that. We also have a few from the Seventy coming to talk to us also. It will be great. Hope that all of you are enjoying the snow! I sure do miss it.

-Elder Castagno

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us of His ministry in the Eastern Hemisphere while The Book of Mormon tells us of His ministry in the Western Hemisphere.

Baptisms, Stake Conference, and...Happy Halloween!

(Sent 10/31/11, but nobody received it, oddly...)

Churrascaria (Brazilian Steak House)

Happy Halloween everyone!

Today we went to the church and watched "Hocus Pocus" with one of the members. Then Elder Brody & I went to a churrascaria (steak house) with one of the members of his old area. It was really really good. Never eaten so much meat in my life! That is about it for Halloween. They don´t celebrate it here. 

This week went by really well. We found a few great people. All friends of members. Also we had the baptism of Reginaldo this week. We were able to complete a family with his baptism! They were all so happy. Also yesterday we had another baptism: Marlucia. She is Wanderson´s mom who was baptized a few weeks ago. She is an amazing person! I am thankful for her example. She has gone through so much in her life--even barely having enough to eat for years so she could feed her children. She is very blessed and is watched over by the Lord. She has been looking for the truth for a very long time. She said that she never wanted to join a church until she had a certainty that it was the right one. Well, we taught her and little by little she had a testimony that this is the true church of the Lord. 

Also this week was stake conference. Two of the Seventies came, because there was a change in the stake presidency. It was great to hear them talk. Even my mission president was there! One of the Seventies talked about the eternities...as in, this time is such a small time compared to the rest of eternity. We just have this time to prepare and get ready to live with the Lord. And how it is our choice to choose eternal life or eternal bondage. It is good to think about.

Well have a good Halloween! You can send me candy if you want...

-Elder Castagno

Uniting Families & Shenanigans with Photos

 The following e-mail was received today:

Hello everyone! This week was very busy as usual. We are focusing on a few certain families and people. There is this one family in the ward, Assis and Arriza. We had lunch at their house about a month ago. They are members, but they went inactive. We talked to them a little bit. We found out that they were not even married! Also that they had a daughter that hadn't been baptized yet. So we talked to the daughter, Gabi. She wanted to be baptized. Also the father wanted to baptize her. So we made the arrangements to get them married. Also, we passed by their house many times to teach Gabi. Arriza would sit in on the lessons many times. She said she never really had a great interest in the church until now. Each week we would go and teach them. I could see all of their testimonies growing. Then Assis and Arriza were married! Then a few days later, Gabi was baptized. About an hour before the baptism, we were at their house. They were all so excited for this new chapter in their life. They said that they felt a happiness in their home when we were there. Something I never really payed attention to. It made me realize again how important this work is. How as missionaries we really are servants of the Lord. I took a step back to look. There was such a big difference in their lives in so little time. Once a broken family, now a happy family strong in the gospel. That is our purpose: to bring familes together. I don´t think they could have been any happier. I don´t think I could be either. 

Also this week we are helping another family be completed. It is just the dad that is left to be baptized. Other than that, things are going well. It is hot as usual, and there is a lot of work to be done.
Until next time.
-Elder Castagno

Surrendering to the monster under his bed.

4 Month Mark (P.S. Send Snow!)

The following e-mail was received today:

Well I've hit my 4th month mark! Each one just goes by faster and faster. This week we were very busy.We had a bunch to do and a bunch of people to teach--which is good. It makes the time go by faster when there is lots to do. 

Earlier this week we went to the center to do interviews with president. The same day we had to go do two weddings for families that were getting baptised. We also set up a wedding for this week. It´s hard to find people that are actually married here, so we have to do it. Anyways we got that done. They seemed really happy and now they could be baptised. One was from area Esperança. It was a mom and a dad. The rest of their children were baptised weeks ago. So we were able to complete a family. 

Yesterday we had three baptisms! One was Cristina, which is the mom of that family. Unfortunately, the dad went back to drinking so he could not be baptized. The other two are these two really good friends that we have been teaching: Wanderson and Henrique. They are awesome! Wanderson is basically a missionary already! He invited his friend to church last week, and the next day he said he wanted to be baptized! They are really good friends with the youth in the ward. They have this dance group that they put together--haha. 

Also yesterday we had a fireside. I gave a talk about Joseph Smith. I [said] that even he had to be prepared to be prophet. It is not easy. It went pretty well. 

I´ve been hearing that it is starting to get colder over there...well, it´s still blazing hot over here! Feel free to send me snow.

With love,

Elder Castagno

Walking, walking, walking...& great success

The following e-mail was received today:

So this week we walked...and walked and walked. Having two areas is not very easy. The area of Esperança is very large, and all of our investigators live way out there. I so like it in the fact that we have many people to teach. Esperança is giving many fruits--as in many good people to teach. And the ward is awesome! The members help out a lot and they are very nice. 

This week we went out with a couple members to go teach their friends. We got about ten new people that day. It was very tiring but worth it. The next day Elder Brody and I went out to teach a few people we didn't get a chance to teach the last day. We met a family consisting of about six people. It was a mom and her four girls. We taught the lesson like usual. When we got to the point to [discuss] the First Vision of Joseph Smith, it was my turn to talk. So I explained about his life and such...but as I spoke the First Vision, I felt the Spirit so strongly. The most I ever have when saying the First Vision. I felt Like I really was Joseph seeing God and the Son. The Spirit filled the room. I could see it in all of their eyes that they felt it too. 

Experiences like this really strengthen my testimony. I know that these things are true. There is no other way. I´m so thankful for this church and how it changes peoples lives. I've also had an increased testimony in the Book of Mormon. I've really been studying it, and I've noticed something in these last few months: no one can read the Book of Mormon and then after say that it is not true. No one. Everyone that has read it with true intent and desire to know, comes to know that it is the word of God. It is my number one tool to use to convert people. 

Love all of you and hope that you are safe.
 

Abraços,

Elder Castagno

Conference, hot showers, and snakes

The following e-mail was received today:

This week was pretty hectic. Me and Elder Brody now have two areas to take care of. I know how to get around in one...but I was completely lost in the other area, Esperanca. The area of Esperanca is huge too. I've walked more this week than I've walked in the last month. We had to take a few days going back and forth between areas to take care of people that are progressing. We only have a few in Mondubim. 

I´m really learning how to use my time wisely. If we don´t we end up having to walk more than we have to. There are a bunch of great people we are teaching in Esperanca! There is one teenage kid named Wanderson. He is perfect. He knows that these things are true, and he is really smart. Hopefully he can be baptized this weekend. We also have a mom of one of the members that is really close to baptism. We just have to help her stop smoking. We are in the process of helping three couples get married. The other day we took Manuel and Michelle to sign their wedding agreement the other day. They were really excited and happy. I could truly see the difference in their lives--the improvements they've made. Not because of us, but because of their love to the Savior. Miracles really do happen. They don´t even realize it but I see that they really do have the Holy Ghost with them. They have a different glow. 
  

I´m grateful for General Conference. I learned a lot from it. It is different watching it as a missionary than being a normal member. I found many ways I could use those talks to help me be a better missionary by teaching others by the spirit. As in paying close attention to the small promptings to the Spirit in what to say and what to do. Also, I am grateful for prayer. Prayer is a literal communication with God, as I have learned. He is truly there to hear us. He does answer prayers. 

 On a different note, I bought an electric shower the other day. It is a little sketch but is better than taking an ice cold shower at night. 









Also, last night a small snake decided to come join us during dinner last night at our house.

Well love you all and may God be with you till we meet again.
 
-Elder Castagno

New companion, larger area, & baptisms

The following e-mail was received today:

 Hello everyone! Well one more transfer has gone by. Today was transfers and a lot has changed. First of all, I have a new companion! His name is Elder Brody. He is from South Jordan, Utah. He´s pretty cool. He likes a lot of the same things that I do. 

Also, I am staying in my area, but the next area over is now combined with mine. We look over Esperanca and Mondubim. Esperanca is a very large area, but the members help a lot. We look over two wards now. It´s going to be a lot of walking. It´s just me and Elder Brody that live in the house now. It is kinda strange. One elder went home and the other was transferred. 

So this last week went by pretty well. We had two more baptisms on Saturday! One was Manuel and the other Jessica. It is amazing to see the change in Manuel´s life. He had many problems and at first he didn't want to have anything to do with the church. But now he is a member. I´ve really learned a lot throughout my training period here. Things I´ll take with the rest of my life. Thank you all for your prayers and for all that you do.

-Elder Castagno

 

Tries, Cries, and Fries

The following email was received today:

Well one more week 'til transfers! This week went by well. It was much harder than the other weeks though. Why? Because I was made senior for that week. It´s part of the training of new missionaries. Now I really know what it is like to be a senior. It is tough. There are definitely much more responsibilities and pressure. I planned every day out and had to make all of the appointments. Also, I had to take the lead in teaching everyone. It was hard, but I was able to pull through it. It for sure taught me a lot about being a leader. 

 

This week we focused on a number of people. We were getting them prepared for baptism. And we were able to baptize two of them Saturday and Sunday! One was Michelle. Unfortunately she separated from her boyfriend, but she was able to get baptized. We are planning to baptize him though this week. He said he wanted to learn more and to support Michelle. Not to mention they already have kids, so it would be easier if they could just be a complete family. We also marked a wedding date for them. Won´t happen till next month though. Also one of the member's sisters was baptized! We taught her, then the next day she told us she already received an answer! We are preparing for a few more baptisms this next week. 

The Lord really has blessed us in the work we are doing. The most important thing that I learned this week was about being meek and humble. I had to cry unto the Lord every day so I could have help. At times I wasn't sure what to do, and I would be in despair. I just relied 100% on the Lord. He really did bless me and helped me out a lot. It really strengthened my testimony in knowing that He is there helping me at all times. 

Brazil's version of burgers and fries.

Love you guys and until next time,
Elder Castagno