Mission Payoffs: Baptisms...and Brownies. Bonus!

The following e-mail was received yesterday, 7/30/12:

Elder Castagno deserves a high five.

Finally after a long while of work, prayer, and sacrifice, we had a family baptized: Paulo and Rosileni. They went through a huge change within these last months. Saturday they were baptized and now the whole family is happily in the church. They have a goal to go to the temple in the next year. All of the work really paid off, and it's [been] great to see all of these miracles happen to this family. I don´t know if they can see it as clearly as we can, but truly miracles happened before their eyes. This is when the mission really pays off. Yes, it´s extremely difficult at times....but seeing people step out of the lives they lived is great. 


And it starts all over again....this week we´ll be busy trying to look for more people to help out. We made some goals with the ward this week, so within the next few months the ward should be even stronger. 





This week a member made brownies for dessert! Bonus! It´s been a long long time since I've had them. It even tasted like it was from home. 




Hope that all is well. I know that it´s hot over there....but remember...you have air conditioning! 

Love you all, 

Elder Castagno

The Lord Will Provide Who He Will Provide

The following e-mail was received Monday July 23, 2012:

This week was actually pretty good. We were able to finally find some solid people to work with. I´ve noticed lately though that it´s not just me that has problems finding people...but just about everyone....actually others even have it worse. Just depends on the situation and on our attitude really. The Lord will provide who He will provide and when they are ready. The mission really has nothing to do with us baptizing, but with us growing as a person. Or let me rephrase that. As we try and help others and do our best, the Lord in turn teaches us. And the the less stress, we have even better. There is no use stessing over...well, anything. Things have been much easier for me as I´ve learned that. And we have had success. 


This week we will help a couple get married and then join the church. We´ve been working with them for a long time, and boy have they changed. The family was broken and now they are strong, happy, and even their house is clean every time we go there. It truly is a miracle. People changing their lives through faith. Through simple things and through time. Well, I hope to have good news for next week. Until then.

Some Success After a Long Time

The following e-mail was received Tuesday July 16, 2012:


Finally we had some success after a long time. At the end of this week, we had the baptism of "E." Even better was that his parents came to church! His dad left in an angry mood after the first class, because he wanted someone to make lunch.....but other than that, it was great. We had two complete families there! One family is getting married next week, and they want to join the church! We´ve been working with them for a while. With patience everything works out. 

Most important thing that I learned this week is that if you want something to happen, then you have to forget about everything else and go after it. Many things could have stopped this baptism and his family coming to church.....but we kept on top of it and it worked out. We have a small...but good group of people we are working with. Things will go right. 


Other than that my wound has healed up....and that´s about it. Have a great week!

Elder Castagno

What Missionary Work Really Means

The following e-mail was received on Monday July 9, 2012:

Well another transfer gone...and another one beginning. This week we had some success. Unfortunately, our baptisms fell through....but this week should work out. Nothing new this transfer. I´ll be staying here with my comp. Should be interesting. 

This week we've been talking to this kid that has been coming to church. We talked to his parents here and there but they didn't want anything. One day we went over there and his dad was drunk. His mom was crying and freaking out that she was sick with a bone problem and that her husband was just drunk...and the kid, "E", was crying. It was a pretty crazy situation and I wanted to leave....but that´s not what Christ would have done. I calmed down the mom and my comp talked to the dad. Then I talked to "E" and made him feel happier. I felt so bad for the kid. He was traumatized by everything. The mom said she was going to go to church to talk to the members to have some type of help. They could see that we weren't just there to try and add them to the church...but there to help. At the end everyone calmed down and we left.

We've been working with the members to get them to help out. It´s something that the ward really needs at the moment. Someone to help so they can be more united. I really learned what being a missionary meant after that. Has nothing to do with numbers or baptisms--but helping those that can´t help themselves at the moment, and showing them what they could have: the true love of Christ.

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AND NOW FOR MORE SURGERY PHOTOS...

 

Back to the Grind--Meanwhile...the Town Parties

The following e-mail was received on Monday July 2, 2012:

First week back in the grind. Not gonna lie--it´s a little tough getting back into the system of a missionary after being out for a while. But little by little, I'm getting there. 

We had a good amount of work to do these last days. We've been working with some inactive members, and some of them are starting to come back to church. Also, we started a marriage [process] for Paulo and Rosileni. A while back they didn't want anything to do with us...but now they are going to church and are on their way to baptism! Hopefully we should have some success by the end of this week. We've been working with a few people that have been going to church and hopefully we can have a baptism. 

This week has been a huge party week for Fortaleza. A holiday again that has turned into way longer than it needs to be: São João. Out of all the holidays here....this is probably the one that really gets on my nerves. The last few nights there have been tons of people and a band playing music out in the street close to our house. The microphones are about as loud as they can get.....and they go until three in the morning! It´s ridiculous! Can´t even sleep at night, but oh well. It´ll be over soon. 


Well this end of the week is transfers, so we´ll see what happens. 

Until then,
Elder Castagno

Regaining Strength & Ready to March Ahead

The following e-mail was received Monday June, 25 2012:

Well this week I stayed in the office with the secretaries of the mission. It´s been a good week with them. I've been able to regain my strength and learn about the mission. It has also helped out my faith with the work here; I feel like I'm ready to go back out and do even better than before. Tomorrow I go back to my area. 

Earlier this week we had a rare opportunity to have lunch with [the] president [of the mission]. This never happens. It was just me, my comp, president, and his wife. 

During the week, I spent my time in the office studying and helping the other elders with random tasks in the office. At night, we´d go out to teach a few lessons. Their area is really rich...but surprisingly, they have a bunch of people to teach. I learned a lot from them. 

These last few weeks have been crazy....and I'll be happy to be back in my area being a normal missionary. 

Glad to be out of the hospital.

Until then,

Elder Castagno

Hospitalizion: "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger."

The following e-mail was received today:

There´s not a better way to celebrate your one year mark than in the hospital! I´m sure you all know the scare I had earlier this week. I got a thing called pneumothorax [A.K.A. collapsed lung]. It´s when you have a small hole in your lung where air escapes. This makes your lung unglue from your chest and can be very dangerous--as in my case it was. They had to put a tube in me and keep me in the hospital for a few days. Luckily everything worked out and now I´m just resting for a little bit. Soon enough I´ll be able to continue the work. For sure it was one of the biggest scares I went through in my life. Going through surgery out here without anyone I know. One of the Elders was with me, who really helped me out a bunch. But there is nothing like family. I had to really rely on the Lord--there was no other way. I felt that I really grew closer to the Lord from this. Although it sucked. "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger"...it´s true. 

This week I´ll be staying here at the mission home until I'm good enough to go back to my area. 

 Elder Castagno suffered through the process without anesthesia.

Feeling much better. His dad & step mom flew in to lend support during recovery.

Until then,
Elder Castagno