21 Nov 2017

Received a text from the Mendens. An expat family from Arizona who are living in Sao Paulo for work. They had Alihi and his companion over for dinner.

Among other things they said "...just want to share that he and his companion are really great missionaries and your son seems really happy and is doing really great with Portuguese...We probably confused your son with our English because he already seems comfortable with Portuguese..."

With Sydney and Max Menden

Alihi also wrote:

"...Brazil celebrates thanksgiving but missionaries don't so I'll be doing the same thing I've been doing...This week was a little long, yesterday was a holiday so Pday is today.  We still aren't seeing much progress but things are getting better and I can understand and speak more so that helps."

07 Nov 2017

I think I'm a missionary now!

We didn't hear from Alihi until Tuesday, because he went to the temple on their regular P-day, so they "traded" days...

So this week was fun, I think I've checked pretty much everything a missionary has to go through on a mission already.  Here's my list:

-Dog peed on my shoe through a gate

-Walked through the pouring rain for a couple hours

-Got rejected by an investigator that was progressing

-Multiple ocassions I embarassed myself with my portuguese

-Lost all of our investigators

Things I need to do:

-Be robbed or shot

But hey, I'm serving a mission and that's what matters.  No honestly the mission is good.  I'm still trying to get used to the language and get used to being really tired and hungry all the time.  I also think that I need to do a better job with remembering what happened in days past.  It all just blurs so I forget.  Anyway in good news we picked up 16 new investigators and about half of them are progressing.  So now we have a total of 16 investigators.  I think that's pretty much about it from my week, I'll try to do a better job next time.  Cião! Amo vocês!

Elder Keliiliki

30 Oct 2017

I'm doing well...The mission is good. It's been pretty hot here and the sun is pretty intense.  I'm starting to tan so that's good, who knows maybe I'll come back brown.   [W]e do not have a lady that cleans or cooks. We do that ourselves and it's not as bad as people made it seem.  Also the apartment is good, the first two weeks we didn't have hot water so we got a rude awakening every morning.  Oh and I only share with my companion, which I'm thankful for.  It's nice and peaceful at night.  

[W]e don't have bikes so we have to walk everywhere... they celebrate halloween here, the ward that I'm serving in had a trunk or treat this week.

We just had a stake rezoning to split and remake wards and we lost all our investigators because they're all outside our area now...but we found new ones.  

* Here are some pictures of Alihi and his companion a member in Brazil (Amanda Sodre) sent to me via Facebook

23 Oct 2017

Now my week,

It was good.  The field has treated me well but it's hot!  It was a consistent 30-37 degrees celsius (80 - 96 degrees fahrenheit) all day every day.  But I'm enjoying it so far and drinking lots of water.   The members are nice and portuguese is coming along.  I hope everything goes well over there.  I don't really know what to say.  My companion is nice and fun and we work hard.  We walk a lot but that doesn't really bother me.  I just keep thinking about my setting apart blessing about my legs and feet and wonder what's going to happen.  But yeah...  All is well over here.  I'll try to be better next time.  BYEE!

Elder Keliiliki

19 Oct 2017

Wihi is officially in the Sao Paulo West mission:

We received the following letter from Alihi's Mission President

13 Friday 2017

Quite the Week

Hey dad,

I'm glad Auntie Margie got to go sooner than later.  It was her time.  Have fun in Los Angeles and whatnot though.

And my week was boring, we didn't really work as hard as usual because our schedule they gave us was a pretty lame one that is trying to prepare us for the field.  I see the importance of it but I'd rather learn more portugese and practice teaching more or something.  Instead we just sit in a room where they talk at us.  I don't know, I'm almost out so it's all ok.  My portugese is really coming along now.  My instructors say I don't have an accent which is good and people are saying that I speak better than some people in the field.  But the last couple days have been pretty difficult, I was waiting for the pride cycle to kick me and it did.  I hope I get back around soon and receive the Lord's blessing some more.  I don't think that I'm ready to leave yet because of my language capabilities, but besides that yes I'm ready to go.  I'm so anxious.  Also it"s been cooking here, it's so hot.  We are truly in different hemispheres.  Anyway, I think that's all from me.  Have a good week!  Love ya!

Hey mom,

I will definitely pray for Ikaika, he told me all about that target job so I hope all goes well.  And yeah I forgot about that too, I'll think on it this week and I'll let you know next time because I don't know what to use as of now.  I find it hard to believe that Bentonville is undefeated but good for them.  As for my week you can read what I wrote to dad, it was meant for the both of you so yeah.  Um, OH! fun fact:  My CTM president is jehovah in the temple for the portugese films and he also was one of the main people that translated the bible into portugese!  Isn't that crazy!  I just thought that I'd share that with you because I thought it was cool. Anyway, I don't know my area yet but my mission is also pretty small so there can't be many and the dress is kinda ridiculous.  But it's really good.  I think that's about all for me so yeah.  Love ya!

Elder Keliiliki

6 Oct 2017

Greetings

Hey dad,

I'm glad we're getting closer to figuring out house stuff.  I know it's super stressful for you guys.  But yeah, the MTC is getting to me.  I want to get out so bad.  Oh well, only 1 and a half more weeks.  Also I agree 100%, I do not like friday p day.  It throws me off so bad and it doesn't have very many good perks.  The language is starting to plateau, I was progressing really well but I've hit a hump and so I asked my instructors to start going hard on me so hopefully that'll boost the learning process again.  I can't really think of much else to say.  So love ya! BYEE!

Hey mum,

General conference was so good for me.  I learned so much out of this one.  This one seemed to be a lot about hanging in there and like you said having faith, hope, and charity.  My favorite talk was Elder Holland's.  But only because of one quote, "We are a fallen people."  It struck me so hard and made me realize how great of an opportunity it is now to be a missionary and try to get this people out of this fallen state.  I'm glad that grandpa daddy is going to get the care that he needs and hopefully mama gets figured out.  What do you want to do?  Also that is really sad, Auntie Margie was the best.  Oh well, she'll be going to a better place and the plan of salvation is real so we'll see her again.  Yay for finishing the belle dress.  Now it's time to pull the rest of your hair out with the blessing dress.  I wanna see a picture of the belle dress if that's ok.  Also why do you do that to yourself.  Iron man again?  You're crazy, I hope you're at least enjoying it.  Exercise and sleep?  Not enough.  "represent?" yes, but not with portugese.  Without a phone has been really easy, we're really busy and I love talking to the brazillians so I'm doing A ok.  Best experience this week was probably Elder Hales funeral.  We just barely watched it and it was really humbling and super sweet.  It was great.   The most challenging was the entire week.  It was a long week, but it's over and it's time to start anew.  I miss you guys but not enough to come home.  Love you!  BYEE!

Elder Keliiliki

Oh also another thing, the bikes... well traffic here in general is in insane.  But the bikes especially.  They sorta just encroach into a lane until people make space and then the bikes just swerve in between cars and lanes all the time.  Quite the sight to see to and from the temple.  Speaking of which, the temples wood is amazing, I have no idea what kind but it's so dark and I heard some story about how the church was able to buy just enough for cheap.  I'm not sure but you can look it up and find the story

29 Sept 2017

Conference Weekend

Hey Dad,

So I knew josh was working at the spark because he started when I was working.  But I didn't know jordan was working there now.  I'm glad he did though, its a good job.  The language is coming along pretty well, I talk to brazillians every night to try to learn and it's a lot of fun.  It's only frustrating whenever you're trying to teach and you can't figure out how to say something important.  But I have 2 more weeks to figure that out.  Um, I took some pictures but my camera died recently so I need to go out and buy an outlet or some batteries or something.  I'll figure it out.  Love ya, BYEE!

Hey mum,

I'm going a little crazy for right now but I'm getting more used to things.  The street contacting went well, I understand people for the most part.  But I think I could understand them a lot better now since I have another week under my belt.  Thor is coming home now?  I was thinking about him the other day was like dang he's been out for what seems like forever.  Also wow! A belle dress?  I'm sure alani will love it and want to wear it everyday until it falls apart.  Regarding Bentonville and Fayeteville, that just tells me they are both junk this year.  Fayetteville is just more so.  And I won't be able to watch the women's session.  We're watching the priesthood session the same time the sisters are watching the priesthood session.  I'll try to find it when I'm out in the field though.  Anyway that's all for me, Love ya, BYEE!

Elder Keliiliki

With the District at the Temple

22 Sept 2017

It's Fall

Hey dad,

Thanks for the pictures that's kinda insane.  It's just like they said, and the food here is good but they serve the same things a lot.  And right now I'm staying at a consistent 185.  Hopefully it stays that way and why would BYU do that?  That's pretty dumb.  Oh well.  Ummm, this week wasn't very eventful.  We just did the same MTC thing and taught and learned and taught and learned.  We're going proselyting on the streets tomorrow though so that'll be exciting.  I get to show off how bad my portuguese is.  Well, I don't really know what else to say sooo BYEE!

Hey mom,

I hear you brought a friend to church!  Or at least tried, better luck next time.  And I'm not surprised about the football team.  Everyone at bentonville is like that now.  I told dad pretty much what is happening here so if you read his you'll get the jist of what's happening here. Sorry this isn't long and whatnot.  BYEE!

Elder Keliiliki

Also the temple is really cool

The baptistry has a mosaic of church pictures and the celestial uses giant quartz in the windows.  It's quite the sight

Oh also, I got to see some slums and it looks like the movies. This is going to be a fun mission

15 Sept 2017

Hey Dad!

I must be doing something wrong because I am having a pretty good time.  My companions are alright and the classes and teachers are great.  Some days are kinda stressful but overall I´m having fun.  The language is actually coming along pretty nicely.  I think it´s just because I have so much to learn and the beginning is always the most progress.  We´ll see how this next week goes.  Also I wanna see pics of the hurricane!  I hear so much  about it and how it was a one of a kind thing and how the ocean is gone...  Thanks.  Also am I doing an email group thing? I don´t know so I´m not gonna do one this week.  mostly because I don´t have any time to email.  Anyway, that´s all from me, BYEE

Hey Mum,

The food here is great, I chow down on everything!  And yes my room is nice and clean, and the best thing so far is probably the language.  It´s a lot of fun.  I´m glad you guys are getting the chance to go back out to Utah.  I hope all goes well with Timbre and Grandpa Daddy. Please  keep me informed and please send pics of the new baby.  Also I told dad but I´ll tell you, I wanna see hurricane pics.  Lots of pics.  Um... It´s been a bit and a lot has happened but I don´t remember a lot of it.  It´s all just blurring.  I'll plan things out better next time.  That's all from me, BYEE!

Also everyone here thinks I'm Brazilian, especially Brazilians. They start going rapid fire Portuguese and I have to tell them I'm American.  Just wanted to share it. I thought it was funny.  BYEE for real

Pictures from the MTC

06 Sept 2017

Your missionary´s arrival at the Brazil MTC

Wihi with his MTC District

We received an email from President Paulo R Grahl from the Brazil MTC. Here is a short excerpt:

"Dear Parents,

Sister Grahl and I are very happy to let you know that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil Missionary Training Center.  What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they begin their missionary experiences with us! We will surely take good care of your missionary...

Your missionary is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of many others. President Lorenzo Snow said: “There is no mortal man that is as interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the Gospel as is the Lord who sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord's children".  We love these missionaries as if they were our own.  We will watch over them carefully to ensure they are ready for a wonderful missionary experience after the rewarding time they will have in the MTC.

We thank you for preparing such a wonderful representative of the Lord..."

05 Sept 2017

I MADE IT!

Hey guys I'm here. So first things first my P-day is on Friday and I won't email this Friday but the next so this is my email for the week.  So yeah, so far so good.  I don't really know what to say so I'll just tell you how traveling and the MTC is.  

So with traveling everything went smoothly and I met a few other missionaries going to the MTC.  Luckily the flight to Brazil was pretty empty so I got a row to myself. The MTC is pretty great so far too, they told us everything we needed to know and now we're on our way.  

My companions are Elder Laine and Elder Gabel.  They're cool based off what I can tell.  Also, we aren't allowed to take pictures until we leave the MTC because they say it'll crash the system, which is fine because I haven't taken any pictures yet.  Let me know what you want to see or what you want me to tell you about.  That's pretty much it for me! I love you guys, and look forward to emailing you guys next time about all my MTC experiences. 

BYEE!

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!
Last photo before heading to the airport.