Trainings and Travel

May 19th

Hey! Another good week!

We had Zone Conferences this week, and so we got to give trainings and travel around which was a lot of fun. In our training, Elder Niedert and I focused on the importance of working with members. It turned out really good and we're looking forward to see the results in the mission!

This week in our area, we had it a bit tougher because a lot of the people that we had been teaching lost interest and said that they didn't want to learn more. There were a lot more people than normal and it was pretty sad to see that they can't see the importance of the gospel. Like I've said before, I think this is one of the hardest parts of being a missionary, but it gives me an idea of how our Heavenly Father feels when we don't keep the commandments. This is something I'm really grateful for that I've learned on the mission. It seems like now I have a clearer view of what's important. But, the Lord was still able to bless us with a really cool couple to teach, and they said they're excited to go to church this sunday!

We also did splits with the zone leaders in a zone in Ribeirão Preto. I was with Elder Molinari who is one of my good friends here on the mission. He's heading home on the 4th of next month, so it was our last chance to work together! We focused on finding new investigators that would progress. We had a cool experience with this. We sat down after lunch for him to pass me all the appointments they had marked, and then right as we were about to end someone in the house close to us went in and out of their house. We said a prayer during the prayer I felt like we should talk to the person, and then as I got up I said "let's go talk to that girl who just went into that house" the Elder Molinari said "I just had that same feeling during the prayer!" So we went and taught her and her boyfriend, and they were super interested! They really understood the message, especially about the importance to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet or not. It's so cool to see how the Lord guides us in all we do!

But, that's about it for this week. This next week we'll be traveling almost all week again, including to my last area! It should be full of great experiences. I love you, until next week!

Elder Odom

Visiting Araçatuba and Bus issues

May 12th

Hey there!

Wow, it was a great week! This past week we basically just spent traveling around to other cities to do splits with the zone leaders. On Wednesday I got to go back to Araçatuba and work in my very first area again! It's been a year and 4 months since I've been there. I ran into the bishop at the church building and at the end of the day I got to see my very first baptism, Eunice! She was super excited to see me. It was funny, because at first she didn't recognize me because it was dark outside. But once we got inside she turned and saw me then gave a little scream! But it really was such a fun time to catch up with her and see that she's still going strong at can be in the church.

The next day we headed to another city called Birigui, and I got to go out with Elder Cleverly from my group, one of my best friends on the mission. It's kinda funny because even though we've been on the mission this whole time together, we've never gotten to work or teach together! So it was a blast to spend a day with him. We taught a family of 5 that he's teaching and I was super impressed with them. In the family there is a mom, her sister, and 3 little girls. The mom has gone through a lot of hard times in her life but now is super excited for her baptism. She's already totally converted and hasn't even been baptized yet! We taught about temples and they already got super excited to go to the Campinas temple to do baptisms for the dead for their ancestors. 

After the day was over, Elder Niedert and I were planning on taking an overnight bus to Ribeirão Preto because we needed to be here early friday morning to plan for zone conferences. So we headed out but once we got to the bus station at 11:15 at night, we realized that the ticket booth had already closed... Dang! But we knew we'd still be able to pay the bus driver in cash, but the problem was that we only had money on our cards! So we went to a restaurant to see if they would let us pass R$100 on our cards and give us cash back, but they said they couldn't. As we were looking of anther place to take out money, a member puled up out of nowhere and asked "Elders, what are you guys doing? Need help?" We explained our situation and he told us to jump into the car. We zoomed to a bank to take our money, but the door was locked. We went to another one and even though the door was open, all the atms were broken! So we went back to the bus station and found out from a homeless guy that the bus had just left 2 mins before... So, we went back to the other missionaries apartment and and then ended up taking the bus the next morning. It was a funny experience!

It's been a really good 3 weeks so far here in the office again. My comp Elder Niedert is a great missionary and I'm learning lots everyday. I'm so grateful to be here and for everything that happens out here in the mission field! Until next week!

Elder Odom

What!? Back in the office!

May 5th

Hey!

Wow, sorry for not writing for the last 2 weeks! it's been super busy for me! But a lot has happened... 

So to start, I was called back to the mission office! This time as an assistant though. But by the end of my mission I'll have passed 1 year in the office. A lot of time! I couldn't believe it when I found out, I never would've guessed I'd go back! But, I'm looking forward to the new opportunities that I'll have to learn in this new position. So a few of the cool things that happened this last week...

When I was still in my last area with Elder Silva, we were walking on the street at night and we say a family coming up the street. I leaned over to Elder Silva and said "go make a contact with them!" and so he did! The family turned out to be super interested and we were abe to go back and teach 6 people that same week, and 3 of them went to church that same sunday. The mom of the family has already talked to the misionaries 20 years ago but her ex husband didn't let her go to church, and she basically bore her testimony during the relief society meeting that she knows that the Lord sent us to find her after all these years. How cool?! It was a little hard to follow up with them during the next week though, we only got to talk to them once. But, this week I got a call from Elder Silva saying that the mom in the family got an answer to her prayers that he church is true, and if her boyfriend doesn't want to get married she'll leave him! Man, I can't believe how many blessings just keep coming!

We also baptized Larissa and Jó last week! They were so happy, they even cried when they bore their testimonies. Missionary work is awesome!

My new comp is awesome, his name is Elder Niedert and he's from St. George. I only have 5 more weeks of mission time as him. He's a great missionary and is super funny, so it's going to be a blast working with him during these last 2 transfers! What's cool is that we have an investigator that we're also going to baptize this week. Her name is Patrícia. I'll send pics next week!

But I'll let you know about more cool stuff that happens this next week. Love you and until next week!

Elder Odom