Rua Itaùba: Letter Home--2/19/02

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Week 1:

2/19/02

"Oi Meu Familia!
It's been a week since I last saw you all. It feels like an eternity! I can't believe how bad this place sucks!! I want to come home bad, so if you guys miss me too, I'd like to fly home immediately.
I'm very down. My companion is more annoying than any kid I've met, and he won't leave me to my thoughts. He talks all the time. Fir the first few days I thought he was joined to my hip.
Oh, and some Brazilian took my gold time. I cried myself to sleep that night. It's hot here, but I feel so cold...
(NEW PAGE)
HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! I so had you guys going! Mom, if you were worried, desculpe! (I'm sorry) But it was so awesome. I'm so creative & funny! ;D
Anyway, the work here is...different. My companion, Elder Clark, and I were made District Leaders. I'm having a hard time not getting bugged by him, but it gets easier by day by day. P-Day was today. It was awesome. I got to go to the temple (amazing. Muito Bem). And we got to go buy some stuff in the city. So far, the only thing I've really liked so far are the devotionals and the pineapple.
Seriously, if the Spirit weren't here, I would be having a not-so-great time. Everything I said at the beginning was kind of true. Elder Clark is like a squirrel hyped up on caffeine. He's kind of like Mikee, but annoying and slower. (J/K--no one's slower than Mikee).
Oh, my tie. Yeah, I traded with a Brazilian. I would have done it, but his skin looked awesome with that tie. It really did! I'm not kidding. He looked smooth with the Happy Happy Sunshine Tie on. Anyway, I still kind of miss it, so could you buy me one and send it to the Manaus Mission Home about May? Thanks!
Umm...I found out the Advantix film is about 10.00 to develop (American) for singles. I'm seriously thinking of putting a package together and sending my camera and all my film home. I could just use disposables for the rest of my mission. It would be twice as cheap. Let me know.
Ummmm...it's tough here. The routine and even class is OK, but I'm really at ends wit with my companion. He tries to do too much, without doing enough. He's so different than me. He wants to work hard, but he's always asking me questions & talking all the time. I feel as if he's slowing down my learning process. I'm trying hard, though.
Dad, if you have any practical advice, I'd love to hear it. I've talked to him several times, but it's still a struggle. Don't worry, though. For the most part, I'm having a great time.
This may sound weird, but I can't wait to get out into the field. As much as I like it here, it doesn't feel like I'm on my mission yet. I know why guys call the MTC "Spiritual Prison"--you've got the Spirit, but no one to share it with from your cell. Oh well, eight weeks won't be that bad.
If you want to know what I'm here to do, read 3 Nephi 5:13. The MTC President is amazing. Next letter, I'll send you some of the thoughts I've had during his lessons.
I love you all! Eu AMO Voces! Take care, and good luck on your job Papa! You're going to love it! Tchau Everybody

Love,
Elder Vogeler

PS--Do NOT SEND PACKAGES!!! THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM AFTER MARCH 1st! THANKS!

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"

Rua Itaùba

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Letter Home--2/19/02

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

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