"Being Sick is No Fun..."

The following e-mail was received today:

He is one sick puppy.

Being sick is no fun on the mission. Being stuck inside for days without nothing to do is tough. I had to spend most of my time just laying in my hammock taking drugs. Towards the end of the week, I started feeling better. The cough is basically gone, but not all. I´m going back to the doctors to have another check up. But all should be well. 

Towards the end of the week I started going back out at night just so I could talk to some of our important investigators. There is a man named Paulo that we are trying to help out at the moment. He is willing to be married to the woman he lives with...and he wants to be baptized. It´s just that she doesn't see things the same way. Of course they've being living together for over twenty years, but she still has her doubts. It´s tough, but we really are trying to help them out. There always seems to be a problem. But that´s just the way it is. 

Sunday was the dedication of the Manaus Temple. Going to church was basically like going to the temple. It was awesome; I could really feel a different spirit in there. It makes me miss the temple a whole bunch, and it showed me the huge sacrifices all these people have to [make] to go to the temple. It´s a huge blessing to have so many [temples] right next door in Utah. 

Hopefully I'll have more success this week. Until next time.

Elder Castagno

Success Right Out of the Gate...and then Bronchitis

The following e-mail was received on Monday June 4, 2012:

Well, it's my first week here in Montese, and it has started off good...and bad. We have a good group of people we are working with at the moment--all families--and this week we helped a couple get married and then baptized: Leonardo and Gardenia. Leonardo was already a member but fell away a while ago. The missionaries have been working with him to reactivate him, and in the process his wife was taught and felt that this was all true. 

So the bad part of this week is that I have a bad case of bronchitis. I went to the doctor's [office] for a cough, and they did an x-ray and blood work. So I´m out of the game for the next week. I have to stay home and take a bunch of medications. So the next e-mail will probably not be too exciting. Maybe I'll do a deep study about something and let you know what I learned. 

Half of this journey is complete.

We´re in June! I've made it to my year mark. It is pretty nuts. I've learned so much up to this point....and for sure still have much to go in the next year. Thanks to all for all of your support, letters, messages, pictures, everything. It really helps. I truly am grateful for all of my friends and family. Hope you all have a better week than I will!

Elder Castagno

Year One: At a Glimpse

As of June 2012, Elder Castagno has been on his mission for one year! This video is a tribute to the first half of his journey.

New Area--and a Bolivian Companion!

The following e-mail was received on Monday 5/28/2012:

 Another transfer done, and another has begun. Again many changes have happened. Because of a large decrease of missionaries in this mission, the mission president had to join a few areas together. Mine was effected. So of course, me and my comp had to be changed to different areas. I´m now in the area of Montese. I've heard some pretty good things about [it], so I am hoping for the best. 

 Also my new companion is from Bolivia! So I guess i´ll be learning some Spanish while I'm out here. He is pretty new. Just got out of training. 

It was a little sad though leaving Tancredo Neves. Sure the work was hard, but we did make some good friends there. And we were helping some really special people--one that we were helping get married. Unfortunately, I won´t be able to see the wedding or the baptism. But that is just how it is. It was meant for the other elders to do that part. 

This area is another smaller area...which is good. Keep myself from being too tired from walking. Other than that, not much is new. I´m excited to start in this new area and see what it has to offer. Take care.
 
 Elder Castagno

"Just Two Americans in White Shirts Walking Around in the Sun"

The following e-mail was received on Monday 5/21/2012:

Well, this week was a bit interesting. Not one of the best weeks but also not the worst. We are having some difficulties finding people to teach at the moment. A good amount of our area is already baptized...but most are inactive now. Also everyone we seem to talk to has already talked to us. It´s kinda funny sometimes. We just go up to people and ask them when they were baptized; most of them tell us a date...haha. 

We had zone conference this week. President told us some stats about Fortaleza....only 30% of all the members here are active. Ridiculous! I don´t know what happened. We are really trying to focus on families now. 

On the good side, we are helping two families become...well, families. [This week, we initiated two couples into the marriage process] so [that] they can be baptized in the future. It is a longer process, but they are more sure to stay in the church.

 Also, we had a really great lesson Saturday night. We had a member come with us to teach. She gave a powerful testimony that for sure reached to our investigator's heart. I love it when the members do all of the talking for us...haha! They seem to understand better and also they have the opportunity to hear about the church from a normal person...not just two Americans in white shirts walking around in the sun. 

Elder Godoy

This week we get to hear from Elder Godoy. That should be fun. Well have a good week everyone.


--Elder Castagno
 

Elder Castagno's 20th Birthday

Free Will & a Ghetto-Seeking American

The following e-mail was received on Monday 5/14/12:

Well I´m glad I was able to talk to most of you yesterday! It´s always good to hear the family. 

This week went by alright. Not the best week, but not the worst week. We are trying to really focus on families to help them into the church. Sadly though, we had a few people say that they did not want anything any more. But, at that point there isn't much we can do. It is their choice. Another thing that seems to be difficult is getting people to church. We only had a few come this Sunday. 

But in good news, we are in the process of helping a couple get married. The woman wants to join the church but the man....well, he is lost in iniquity in the moment--as in drinking and stuff. Hopefully he will want to give that up so he can have a happier life. I guess we´ll see! Their children are members of the church, so it helps them out. 

Example of a Brazilian favela (shanty town/ghetto)

The other day we met this American at lunch [who is] here on vacation with his Brazilian wife. He doesn't speak a word of Portuguese but wants to go take pictures in the favelas (the ghetto)! That´s a great idea! NOT. He wanted to go with us for a day...but that would mean we would be babysitting this guy, so we said no. Apparently his in-laws don´t let him leave the house though 'cause it is too dangerous....well, good luck my friend..haha. Seems to be a crazy thing that happens here every week. 

We have zone conference this week, so that should be good. That´s about it for this week. Hope all is well!

Elder Castagno

"This week was a huge smack in the face."

The following e-mail was received on Monday May 7, 2012:

Well, this week was a huge smack in the face. After a great first week, the second week just had to be super tough. Each day just about all of our appointments fell through. We tried working with everyone too: members, non-actives, investigators, contacts....but nothing. The members are not animated [motivated/excited] to do anything. We try and get referrals, but the banks are all dried up. The inactive [members] that we try to visit have either moved, or they don´t want anything to do with the church. And our investigators don´t want to go to church! We had a couple that were way interested [in] the church....but they said they needed permission from their pastor to go to another church--give me a break! 

It´s just ridiculous the things that happen over here. About half of the area is baptized, but about 80% of them are inactive. Things are just kind of a big mess over here. We tried organizing goals and things to help the ward mission leader, but he flaked on our meetings, and nothing is happening. There is so much more, but I'd be here all day writing. 

It´s difficult when no one helps or cares that much. But we have to keep trying. I´m hoping for a better week. The work of the Lord is the hardest thing to do--no matter where you are on the earth, I think. I just wish that people could see what I see, but you can´t take another's agency from them. 

Other than that, all is fine. Me and my [companion] try and make light of things so we don´t get disanimated [discouraged]. With patience and hope, things will get better...eventually.

--Elder Castagno