Rua Itaùba: Day 1...of 730

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

"You are called to spread love." --Rob Bauman, Stake President; Friend 2/11/02

Well, now I'm a missionary.

I've got my suit, my ties, and my white shirts.

I have a suitcase--the Pathfinder Presidential Pro, metallic finish with Ripstop nylon and YKK zippers. (Got that for 55% off--no harm in frugality!)

I have my scriptures.

I have a testimony.

I've spoken to anyone and everyone I can who knows anything about Manaus. At times, I've felt desperate to know what to wear, what to bring, and...I don't even know what to be desperate about! Jonas Anderson from up the street served his mission in Belem, right next door to the Manaus Mission, and he's given me some tips: (1) wear the lightest underwear possible that will stay dry; (2) don't mess with Anacondas or Cayman (easy since I won't be swimming); (3) love the people and they'll love you back.

Despite the prospect of a long, HOT summer--somewhere between 70 and 100 degrees all the time and a fairly consistent 100% humidity-- I can't help but be excited. This is the jungle I'm going to!! The AMAZON freaking RAINFOREST!!! Just wait for the stories that unfold in these pages: leaves of adventures that shoot from the branches of my life.

I don't do well in the heat, but I'm hoping I'll have Alma's blessing on my mission. Alma 31:38 says "they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ." I hope that the heat, the humidity & the bugs will be swallowed up in that joy. So long as I have the Spirit with me, I know they will.

DEET will help as well.

Scott Hammer told me something the other day I hope to never forget: "Every day wake up and say 'Wow! I'm a missionary!' Work hard and never take yourself too seriously. And most important: Have FUN!" I hope I can have some companions like him when I get out there.

I am so scared. And so excited. I am torn between the two always. Two years seems to stretch on beyond a point I can see. Away from friends, family. Away from everything I've ever known. And I can't wait for it to come.

But I can't wait for it to go.

I have to go to the airport now and say goodbye to Mom and Dad. I'll write tonight.

Manauàra de Coração

This blog is written from the perspective of the Mormon Missionary that I was in the Brazilian Amazon from 2002-2004. As if I were there right now. Every day will be a "Day in the Life of Me" as it mostly was. Culled from actual journal accounts, letters to friends and family, memory, and second-hand accounts, I want this to be an exploration into what it means to be a Missionary, a 19-year-old suburban-bred boy, and an American thrust into a foreign culture, a tropical environment and a third world country...literally a stranger in a strange land.

And it all started six years ago...

Weekly Letter Home

Week 2:

2/26/02

"Oi, Familia!

By the time you get this letter, I'll have reserved my seat on the plane back home. Ha ha ha, just kidding again. I've come to find that almost everyone in my district has the sense of humor that Mikee has, only less sophisticated. I thought they didn't call 16-year-olds on missions! Oh well.

Your letter took exactly one week to get to me. (Thanks, by the way).

Mom--Don't get "weepy." Just laugh and say "Boy, it feels good to have some peace and quiet 'round here!" -or- "I don't miss Tim, er...Eric one bit!" That should help.

Umm...the flight was long, but there were nine other missionaries on it. At O'Hare we got a good game of hackey sack going when a pilot came over and gave us all some candy. He said "GGood luck, Elders!" and took off. An angel with wings, I tell you, he was and angel w/ "wings." ;D

So...does anyone miss me yet?! Have any girsl cried into the telephone, sobbing "Where's Eric?!!" I thought so! Not a one. Well, you just wait. When I get home, there's going to be an uproar such as one that Salt Lake has never seen! "Ohh! It's Eric! Get him girls!!"

Hope the Olympics are going well. I don't really care, but I hope you guys enjoy them.

Umm...I think I'm used to the heat now. It dropped down to about 65 last night and I was freezing! Brrrrrr!!!

Let's see. Oh, my companion is still getting on my nerves. I feel like I'm babysitting half the time, but he's so cocky, he patronizes me all the time. The real kicker is when I tell him something to keep his spirits up, he repeats it to me two days later as if it were something I didn't know.

"The field's going to be completely different, Elder Vogeler."
"Oh, really?"

"Oh, Portuguese will come Elder Vogeler, have faith."
"Thanks, big guy."

Just try that sometime; I gurantee it will annoy you to death.
Just tell Mikee some piece of information, or something to uplift him, and have him repeat it (as if HE came up with it) to you a few days later.

Oh well. At least I've got the Spirit as my other companion. I like him a whole lot. I've seen John Brown and Andrew McKnight several times so far. Andrew's out in a week to the wilds of Riberao Preto. Lucky Dog.

I know why people call this Spirit Prison (I may have told you this already, but too bad! I can't remember...) I just wanted to "drop my sword and pick up sickle." but insted they make me pick up the pen for two months. This better be the test of my mission. THE ONLY TEST!!

I'm having a mostly good time, and I'm well taken-care-of. Although, I got my yellow fever inoculation the other day. We took a bus from the CTM t a transfer station. I figured we'd take another bus to a clinic or a hospital or something, until they ushered us into an office right off the street and stuck us with the needle. That was it. I think I need to get tested for HIV when I get home. ;S

Ohhhhh...My companion is such white trash! Sorry. It really destroys the Spirit when he talks. I don't know what to do about it. I've talked to him about it, but he doesn't seem to get it. Now I just don't talk to him because it's a waste of time and energy. I feel like he's dragging me down with him. It's weird because he says he wants to work hard and follow all the rules, but he's only spiritual when he has to be. Outside of class or in Meetings, he's crude and loud and won't stop talking about what he used to do.

Other than him, I'm having a wonderful time. I figure I could be translated if I had an awesome companion. This is the Lord's way of keeping me here to do the work. (NOTE: Upon further reading, cynicism doesn't translated very well in a hurried, young man's letter...)

Oh well, blessings don't come without trials. One of the best lessons I've learned so far. Love you guys a whole HEAP!

Eric"

2 comments:

Andrew said...: I'm looking forward to feeling homesick for my South American home while reading this new blog. Vai ser muito bom, com certeza, meu amigo.; February 12, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Summer said...: Amém! Mas tudo valeu a pena para servir no lugar mais lindo do mundo inteiro, né? Até os companheiros chatos e insuportáveis não podiam diminuir a alegira de acordar todo dia naquela calor para servir os nossos irmãos brasileiros. Ai, que saudade...obrigada por fazer esse blog...me lembrou da época mais feliz da minha vida. Um dia quero ver fotos, viu? Eu sempre queria ir a Manaus.; March 30, 2008 at 10:25 PM

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Day 1...of 730

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

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