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

The work is hard, but the blessings are rich.

The following e-mail was received on September 12, 2011:

 This week was interesting. It went by pretty well. We taught and found a good amount of people. We also had many miracles happen. One of these miracles was a reference that just dropped out of the sky...well...the mission secretaries gave it to us. This person lives way at the end of our area. Her name is Jessica, and she´s the only person we are teaching out there. We went to her house expecting it to be just another lesson like the rest of the day. When we sat down, she said that she already knew that all these things were true and she already read half of the Book of Mormon! She wants to be baptized already. She just has to go to church a few times and she can. 

Also this week we were having problems teaching Gilberto. He´s a really cool guy, and we´ve been teaching him for a while. He always said he would go to church, but he never did. And he was rarely home. We also had problems with a couple, Michelle and Manuel. They live together but are not married. Michelle wants to be baptized and Manuel wanted nothing to do with it. Sadly they decided to split up because of some reasons...My companion and I did a fast from Saturday to Sunday for these people. On Sunday, Gilberto went to church and he liked it! We also had several others come. Michelle then told us that Manuel wanted to know more about the church. After church we went to their house and had a talk with him. He said that he wanted to change and that he wanted to keep their family together. He also really wants to hear what we have to teach. This really strenghtened my testimony in fasting. I know that miracles can happen because of it. I´ve seen it with my own eyes. 

 

The work is hard, but the blessings are rich. I know that God lives. He watches over us and helps us when we show our willingness to obey. Love you all and have a good week!

-Elder Castagno

Taking the lead & knocking on doors

The following e-mail was received yesterday:

It´s amazing how these weeks really just pass by like nothing. I've already been out for about three months, and I feel that I left yesterday. I've already learned so much, but I still have much to learn. This week was interesting and somewhat of a challenge. This last Friday me and my companion had a division. I stayed in our area, and I was made senior companion for a day. I wasn´t sure if I was going to be able to do it, but I actually did pretty well! We went to all of our appointments, and I took the lead in speaking and teaching. I was able to remember all the things I needed to say to the investigators. We even taught a new family! It was for sure not easy. My mind never stopped. I was always thinking on where we needed to go next and what to teach. At the end of the day I was very very tired, but it was worth it. I learned a lot from that experience, and I feel that I´d be ready if I was called to be senior.

This week was full of good lessons that we taught to people. We have two families that we are teaching: Flavia and Francisco, and Michelle and Emanuel. Both of the men in the families want nothing to do with religion, but the women already know that these things are true. We met these people by knocking doors, amazingly. The Lord has been very kind to us in this way. All of our baptisims and lessons have been taught to people that we knocked doors on. This is usually very rare. Anyways, they are ready for baptism, but they both need to get married. This will be a hard task to overcome seeing that the men don´t really want to. But I have faith in the Lord and I know he can do all things. 

Yesterday we made a churrasco, a.k.a. B.B.Q., in our front patio. My companion made a really good seasoning and we cooked it. This is Brasil. Love you all and until next time!
 
-Elder Castagno