Week 4: Making Contacts

Ola minha familia e meu amigos! Como voces esta??

This week had a couple pretty cool things. My district and a few others at the CTM had the opportunity to be taken to a busy part of Sao Paulo to proselyte for 2 hours.  At first, my companions and I had trouble talking to people, but eventually we got the hang of it. We made 8 contacts. There was an old woman and her daughter. They were very very sweet. We talked with them for a little bit and got their contact. The old woman told us she was sick and couldn't speak very loudly or hear very well, and then she thanked us for talking with her. With another guy we talked to, we got his contact and then in English he said, "Wait, where are you guys from?" We all got pretty excited and talked to him for a while longer in English.

 

This week I had the opportunity to give a few blessings as well: One of comfort and one of health. They were such cool experiences. The Spirit helped me to know exactly what to say. I know that this Gospel is true. I know Heavenly Father hears our prayers. Jesus Christ descended below us all so that we could be saved.

 

I love you all and am always praying for you!

 

Elder Tolen

CTM District at Sao Paulo Temple	Sao Paulo Temple
Companions at Sao Paulo Temple	In the Savior's Care (Sao Paulo Temple)

Week 3: Finding Purpose

Ola minha familia e meu amigos!! Como voces estao?

This week on Wednesday (My P-Day) we went to the Campinas Temple! It was so, so, so beautiful! (I am biased though since Campinas is my mission.) I am so excited to get to Campinas in three weeks! Also, I can't believe I'm already halfway done with the CTM!

 After the temple, some people from my district, one of our instructors, and I went and got sushi. It was actually really good! Oishi! (That's Japanese XD)

 Lately I've been praying a lot for help understanding my personal purpose as a missionary and for help being away from home. It has been hard for me to adjust and I still miss everyone at home. Then, a few nights ago, I had a dream, and in that dream, I was on my mission. In the dream, I went to bed, and when I woke up, I was home from my mission already. I was with my family. I had my music. My phone was literally in my hand XD. I said to my family, "Wait, I'm home from my mission? That didn't feel like two years..."

They said, "Haha! It felt like two years to us!"

Now, there was also another problem. I couldn't remember any of my mission experiences! I didn't remember any of my bad days, or any of my good days. I didn't remember any of the stories I had to tell from my mission. I didn't remember any of the spiritual experiences I had. I looked at my dad and said, "Wait, I don't remember anything! I can't be home yet!"

To which my dad replied with something along the lines of, "Well, then go back there, and fix it."

Now, if that isn't an LDS version of Its A Wonderful Life, I don't know what is.

My dear friends, though I miss you all so, so much, I know that I need to be here in Brazil for 2 years. I know that the Lord has called me here for a reason. I am always praying for all of you. I love you all!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Elder Tolen

Companions at Campinas Temple	District at Campinas Temple
Another District Shot	Elder Tolen & Sister Sampson Viewing Campinas

Week 2: Patience and Pastels

First Care Package from MissionTies.com!

Oi Meu familia e meu amigos! I can't believe that I left two weeks ago and am now entering my third week in the CTM! Things at the CTM can get pretty interesting! For example there's a random guy who will come into our room some nights and talk really fast in Portuguese so we don't understand. Also the native Brazilians sing and whistle a lot of Christmas songs. I learned a little high pitch tricycle horn-like sound from my roommate at college and the people here at the CTM love it when I make that noise. Sorry if that doesn't make much sense XD. I've discovered that one of my favorite things from the vending machines (they give us 7.50 R every day for vending machines) is chocolate milk. Muito bom!

Roomies

I realized something yesterday. I had to wait for my mission call to come for six weeks, which is the same amount of time I have at the CTM... Maybe me waiting for my call was teaching me patience here at the CTM.  On P-day last week we walked around outside a little bit, went shopping, and got food called pastels. Pastels are basically giant, fried Hot Pockets. Really good! We also went to the federal police station to extend our visas, so that was fun to get outside.

 

Something cool I've noticed is at the bottom of my notebook pages there are scriptures and quotes and they usually correspond really well with the day. Today's quote is 2 Nephi 9:49. It says, "Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness, and I will praise the holy name of my God."

 

I know that this Gospel is true. Heavenly Father hears our prayers. Don't forget that you are never alone. I love you guys! Keep going no matter how hard it gets. The Lord will recognize your efforts.

Elder Tolen

Week 1: Adjusting

This is Elder Tolen's mom! He only had a few minutes to write this morning; their schedule at the CTM, especially these first couple weeks, is really busy! I did get to talk to him on a video call (well...one-way video. He could see me, but there are no cameras on the CTM computers and they are not allowed to plug anything into the computers. I was just delighted to hear his voice!). His email to everyone is below (I think starting next week he will send this out from his own email address). He's learning a lot; the food is "good" but not great (and they served pizza with peanuts on it one night, so he's a little cautious about all the "American-izing" of the food in the CTM that hopefully won't happen once he gets out into Campinas). He said that every morning he usually just eats a ham and cheese sandwich (pressed in a panini maker); lunch and dinner he sticks to the rice and beans because he isn't sure what is in the sauce they are putting on the meats. But he doesn't mind!  He said that Fast and Testimony meeting this past Sunday was amazing--such a strong spirit, and powerful testimonies of the Savior and His Atonement. His Branch President in the CTM is a Brazilian who only speaks a small bit of English, but the two counselors are Americans who served missions in Brazil back when there were only 4 missions there (today there are 35).

He said the first few days were pretty tough, just missing home and adjusting to the new routine. But he's doing better now, working hard to learn Portuguese, feeling the Spirit. He's happy!  You can write back to him at joseph.tolen@missionary.org. He would love to hear from you!

Here's what he wrote:

Hello, everyone! Wow--this week in the Brazil CTM has been crazy! Especially for the first few days, adjusting was really hard. I am starting to understand Portuguese a little more! I can't believe I've already been here a week! I was also made district leader, so that's fun!

Especially in the first few days, Satan was really trying to bring me down. And then a thought came to mind: Think about the prophets and apostles. Would a person like that ever lie to us? Of course not! I testify that this Gospel is true. Times will get tough and Satan will try to bring you down. Never forget the love that the Savior has for you. He suffered and died for you. He knows what you are going through. I love you and miss you all! 

Elder Tolen

MTC Buddies	Elder Tolen and Elder Carlevahso
Creative Use of Bathroom Mirrors!	CTM Friends
Out the CTM Window by Day	Out the Same Window by Night