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