So,

The title of this email comes from an interaction we had with some muleques (a word whose closest translation in meaning would be "rascal" or "punk") the other day. A group of about 5 kids came up, and while they asked what we do and if they could take and keep literally anything we had on us, we noticed that the person who's door we were about to knock had just left. As anyone would in the situation, I said "womp womp" to my companion, and one of the kids asked, "what's a 'womp womp'?" I then had to explain to them the origin of the saying without knowing the word for trumpet and without any other valid context to explain it.

Fast forward about a week, and while walking home from church, some random kid says "womp womp" to us right after we walk past him. We were in a hurry so we didn't stop and talk to him about where he heard that phrase, if he was a friend of one of those 5 kids or if it's spread through their class to say it to the two Americans in white shirts or something. And now this missed opportunity to learn of our potential cultural impact is one of my greatest regrets.

Christmas Celebrations -- I've been asked a couple times what Christmas traditions are in Brazil. At least here, the main event was fireworks at midnight on Christmas Eve. I'm not sure if everyone was aiming them for Santa's sleigh, but if they were, they were not even close, with the full-size 4th-of-July fireworks barely making it above their roofs before setting off.

For us however, we had a great Christmas. Dinner on Christmas Eve was very tasty; although the combination of Brazilian and Mormon standard time gave us only 15 min to eat before we had to be back home for the night. I got to call my whole family (thanks guys :)) and open the gift I've been carrying with me for the past 5 months, which was actually just what I've been wanting: peanut butter and sock ties!

Keep the Lines in the Water -- Many missionaries here seem to have any idea of what are effective methods for finding people and what aren't. References from social media and members are effective, street contacts and knocking on houses are not. And yet, a connection I made this week while teaching our three people who have accepted dates for baptism -- Vanessa, Beto, and Carmundo -- is that they are from only those two later sources.

I described Vanessa a few weeks ago, how we met her on the street, drunk almost out of her mind, and since that interaction, we've gotten into contact with her and her husband, Beto, and are teaching them and helping them really turn their lives around through Jesus Christ. Of couse however, I am still learning patience with them as the changes they want to make will not be easy and fast, and we have to be with them where they are.

And Carmundo, we are only teaching him because of a prompting I had a week ago to go out of our way on the way to lunch and knock on his door, even though we had stopped teaching him after our first lesson with him and he didn't seem to show much interest. Now, even after asking every time we visit if we wanted a cup of coffee, when we asked him to stop drinking coffee and follow the word of wisdom, he said "I'll do anything for God."

Favorite Hymn -- We were asked yesterday to visit a young woman, an inactive member, who's husband died recently. We came and taught as best we could the Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Happiness. After many questions asked and answers given with varying amounts of acceptance, one of the members with us had the idea to sing a hymn: "Vinde, Ó Santos", or "Come, Come Ye Saints".

Here's the 3rd verse to consider, who's original context is the pioneer's difficult treck out to Utah:

We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,

Far away in the West,

Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;

There the Saints will be blessed.

We’ll make the air with music ring,

Shout praises to our God and King;

Above the rest these words we’ll tell—

All is well! All is well!

During this hymn, I felt the Spirit incredibly strongly with feelings of hope and love. And after it, I said two things:

First, God's plan for us is a plan of happiness. It is not in God's merciful nature to punish anyone to a fiery inferno because they weren't baptized or commited some sin. And, it is a plan of reunion -- reunion with God with our families. I promised her that she can be with her husband again, because she can.

And second, that there is a path that leads to all of the blessings of heaven. Everyone will be given the real chance to choose to follow this path in this life or in the life after death, but not everyone has this chance now. Those of us who have the chance now should follow it, because if we don't choose to now, why would we after we die?

I know that families can be together forever and the blessings for us in heaven is beyond anything we can even try to describe. I know that everyone will be given the opportunity to choose Jesus Christ. One connection I made during our discussion is about other religions and Christian churches. They may not have the full truth or the authority necessary to be Christ's church, but they still can help others come to Christ or even just be good people. And any good thing comes from God. So after this life, any religious, or even just good, person will be that much more prepared to choose Christ. God truly is both just and merciful.

That's it for week!

Till next time,

Elder Haroldsen

Images

My Christmas present for myself: a ukelele!
Elder Liquor Store?
We made 200+ cookies again to give out to everyone for Christmas

Week 21: Womp Womp