Four Marked Dates

Pizza

This week I just kind of want to give information. We have four dates marked right now! All are super solid! Their names are Nilton, Dario, Jerry, and Kevin. They are all friends and Nilton comes from a part-member family!! Nilton is awesome. He came to church this week and has been keeping all the commitments! The other three just had a death in their family. (Cabo Verde funerals are the most depressing things ever! I could give more details later). They have been in mourning for the past week. We should get back with them this week.

Funny corner in our area.

     We also have three potential baptism dates marked. One guy named Dori Etson has had bad experiences with church in the past, but we have taught him twice and both lessons went really well. We passed him on the street once and he was super happy to see us.
     Another investigator is Pedro, who is big time Catholic. In transfer 1, he refused to talk with us and would say "I am Catholic, and don't want to change," but we have kept trying, and we have made great progress. He came to the baptism meeting last Saturday, and he liked it!

Bathroom flooded and this is how we fix it.

     The other investigator is a young woman named Silviana. We have only taught one lesson, but she has tons of questions and really loved what we had to say. At one point, when her mom walked in, she said, "I am going to get baptized in their church!" jSo that made me smile.
     Our branch has also been making improvements. Sacrament meeting went perfectly this week without any missionary help.

Well that's all for now. Tchau!

Love, 

Elder Naylor

Conference and Instant Conversion

Hello Family and Friends!

Our Conference Setup

Conference was great! (See picture of our hi-tech set up!) I didn’t get most of it because it’s in Brazilian Portuguese, but I got some stuff and I still enjoyed it! :) 


I am not sure how I didn’t write about this yet, but remember the story about Julia (Bunting/working in the MTC)? Yeah, that’s nothing after this! Do you remember the Cowleys from the Garden stake? I went through all of school with one of their daughters, and guess what!?!? Her older sister is here. In Cabo Verde. On Sal. Working in the same area as me! What are the odds of that! She went to PG as well, and we knew a lot of the same people! Holy cow!

Me and my companion Elder Taulbee

So we marked (set) 4 baptism dates this week, and we have been working with 8 super sweet other people! All of them are progressing, but 2 people need to get married first, so I might have a wedding! :) It is always so amazing to see the effect the truth of the gospel has in the lives of people who are willing to listen, feel the Spirit, have the desire to keep the commandments, and commit to follow the example of our Savior. The peace and joy they receive shines from them.

An area in my Zone

Also, I had a super cool experience. We went to our zone leader’s house because they wanted to teach me something. We got there and he says, “Today you are going to do something that the natural man can’t do." Well, I was already freaking out, and then he said "Go out in the street and mark a baptism date with the first person you see." ??? So, we went out and we walked down the street a ways and said a prayer asking for the Spirit to guide us. Then we walked a little farther, and we saw this guy. We stopped him and talked to him and gave him a 10 min lesson and then asked him to be baptized. He said yes!!!! No questions asked! What!?!?! It usually takes at least an hour lesson or multiple lessons for that to happen!!! So all is good in Cabo Verde! 

Cockroach!

Love,

Elder Naylor 

PS: Todd (apparently) has a new companion, Elder Taulbee.

Sister Cowley and I with our companions (notice PG gang sign)

We made home made lasagna

Gratitude

(Todd didn't write much this week, but we assume that he is back on the island of Sal and that his toe is healing up OK. He didn't mention it).

While I have been out here I have learned a lot, and I have realized a lot about my life. I was so blessed to grow up in the family I did! I am so grateful for how you raised me! Because you taught me the value of work, even by your example, I have become someone who sweeps the house often, and does all the dishes every night, even though I have just been working all day! I wish I could just give you and dad a huge hug and kiss, but that will have to wait till I come home! I want to say thank you. Thank you for everything!!

Now to answer Dad's questions! Sal is dry and hot all the time! However, Praia had a ton of rain while I was there! We average about 60+ people a week at church, but we want to have 100 by the end of this transfer! 

I did get the package by the way!! Thanks :) For the future I can always use ties! :) Candy is great!! 

I love you all! And I wish you all the best in school and in work, especially Mom! 

Love,

Elder Naylor 

A Week in Praia

Well, I had a surgery done on my toe, to fix an ingrown toenail I have had. It was kind of scary, the fact that it was done in Africa, but it all went well and the place was very clean! :) But I am great, and I have been chilling with the AP's all week, so that has been kinda cool to see what they do! I should return to Sal.

I spent 9 hours with this guy while I was sick, we only talked a little but he was cool

Since I have been in recovery all week, I have done a lot of sleeping and reading! I have read like 8 Ensigns cover to cover! :) And I did have some good experiences! A week or two ago, I was thinking to myself while we were going between appointments, "Do the modern prophets keep scriptures like the old prophets?" and I know there are the Teachings of the Prophets books, but I still thought there was something else. Then, while I was reading the Ensign this week, it hit me!! The Ensign is it! They have teachings about modern things and all of the prophets teachings. They even have all the conference talks in one Ensign! It was so cool to realize this! I have found so much comfort and guidance in what I have read! I have always been worried about a future job, schooling, money, and what I should do, and about my future family, wife, and children. But I found so many answers through these magazines! I really am not worried about the future anymore! I just need to stay faithful, and worthy, read the Ensign, and all of my problems and concerns will be fine!! :)
The other thing I learned this week is how the Holy Ghost whispers to us! I had always kind of thought I knew before, but never for sure. I went out teaching yesterday, and I am in a flipflop because my toe doesn't fit in a shoe right now. We were in one lesson and there was a little kid playing with a book. I had been fine the whole time, but then I had the thought to cover my toe with my other foot, so I did. No more than 30 seconds later, the kid threw the book and hit the top of my shoe! Had I not moved it, it would have hit my sore toe directly!! I am so grateful for the prompting and that I was smart enough to listen to it! The Holy Ghost is so soft! It's almost like your own thought! Love you all lots!
Love,
Elder Naylor 

Shortest I have ever had my hair

We like bread! 40 Pieces

The world famous Cachupa

Rachel, does this look familiar ?!?

Praia

Miracles and Minor Surgery

This week will be kind of short as well. It was kind of a slow week this week in terms of teaching, but it was still good. We finally sat with one girl named Darleen. She had come to church for 5 weeks and wouldn't sit with us (I think this means meet for a discussion), but now she has and will be baptized in a week!

I do have two way awesome stories to share. First, last week I felt, honestly, really crappy. I was annoyed with people, I was tired, and I felt a little homesick. But there was a day when my companion noticed and he asked what was up, and I explained. He said, "Just go read your scriptures. That's what helps me." So I decided to read the Liahona, and I came across a story that was written by the lady who wrote Thomas S. Monson's biography (Heidi Swinton). She was sharing different experiences the prophet had had. While I was reading it, I felt the spirit so strong, and I had tears in my eyes because everything in there was what I needed to hear! Just one of the many things I learned from that talk was a quote by the President that goes "whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies" and that hit me so hard! I am called to be a missionary, and even when I feel insecure or like I shouldn't be here, He knows what I can do, and he will give me the strength I need to do it. I just need to go to work! 

The next story happened yesterday! I was at church listening to the weekly announcements, and then it was time for the confirmation of the sister's baptisms. They asked the first woman who she wanted to say the prayer, and she chose me! I have never even studied how to do that, let alone in Portuguese! But this week we had a stake presidency member there and he spoke English. He called me up, and as I went up to the front, he said to the others in the circle, "It will be okay, he has the Spirit." I regret to say that I thought it wouldn't be enough, but boy was I proven wrong! He helped me get through the part that you have to say, and then he said "bless her". Until this point I had totally forgotten about that part!!! So I paused, and thought, and then all of a sudden I knew what to say! It was amazing. It was as if the moment my mind was about to run out of words to say, someone just popped a sentence in! I know the Spirit was with me, and that the Lord gave a blessing through me. It was my hands and my mouth, but it was all His words and love! I know the Lord loves us, and will help all of his children in ways that we really won't understand or comprehend! He is always there for us!

Now again, Mother. Don't freak out, call the mission president, send an email, or complain to the First Presidency (I guess that's a problem), but I am having my toenail removed this week. (Mom's note: I get the feeling he believes I harass everyone like I harassed him about homework in high school... :) I have had an ingrown toe nail the entire time I have been in the field, and it has gotten pretty bad. I did everything to help it heal, but it's not working. They have found a really clean and good clinic to do it at, and the President's wife is really looking out for me! So no worries! (Another note: He didn't know that his brother Makay also had to have a toe nail removed last week!)

I am currently in Praia, but I hope to go back to Sal! I am a lot more comfortable in Portuguese, and have been able to talk more often. Creole is a nightmare, nuff said. My companion is your typical skater, but he is way cool! Got to jet, though. Love the pictures every week! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Naylor 

The Field Is White

     Day life at home is sounding crazy! I love hearing about my teams, and the weather! We have had some good rain here. 
     We had another two baptisms this week, and their names are Telma and Francesca. They are both awesome! Telma was the one who had the problem with smoking, but she has over come it! She gave us 8 people's names who she already has talked to about the Church, so we are hopeful that they are ready! We really want to teach all of Francesca's family (she is only 17). If we did that, it would be sweet!
     I have gotten to know some of the members here really well, and they are awesome! Stephan, and Ed Neilson! Two way awesome people! Stephan is our branch mission leader!
     The general age of the people we talk to is about 17 to 30; a lot of young people! This week was hard because, I just feel tired now. We hope for another successful week.
     The other elders in our house are from Cali, and Arizona, and we share a house with them, and then the ones in the baptism pictures are from Salt Lake and Brazil!  The couple is from Idaho! I will have you know I have almost filled the journal you gave me! I have not missed a day in the field and they have been 3+ page entries. I plan to type all of them out when I get home, and make a book of them!

Love,

Elder Naylor

I Really Am in Africa!

     Well, another week has gone by, and I have another baptism! This one was great! I was actually here to teach her all of the lessons, and when it came time for her to decide who would perform the baptism, she chose me!!! :) And to make it even better, it was in the ocean! I will send some pictures home! We had to time it so that we didn't get hammered by a wave in the middle of it! We have a senior couple here and he was doing a baptism before me, and it knocked both him and the convert over right in the middle of the prayer! :)  When I went out, the water was at my knees, and a wave came that went over my head! These were some big waves! Luckily I was not praying at that moment! 
 

Baptism group

Our investigator that I was asked to baptize

Baptism in the ocean.

     In even more great news, my baptism from 2 weeks ago now has the Priesthood, and is teaching the Gospel Principles class next week in church! He has given us 5 solid contacts, and he is always telling friends about church, and reading the Book of Mormon at work. This guy is just awesome! 

 

Our first baptism and a look at his house

     We have two more baptisms next week and they are both ready. The only problem would be if one of them smokes, but she fasted last Sunday for the strength to not smoke! Who has ever heard of an investigator fasting?!? :) All is still going well and I have almost completed my first transfer! 

This is someone's whole kitchen

The Room where we hold sacrament meeting

we had a pancake activity to find new people! they also watched the restoration! dad would be proud i made some beast pancakes!

Attempt at a burger :)

     About daily life... P-days we clean and relax. Here on Sal we don't really play a sport, but I heard in Praia, there are huge soccer games, because they have more elders! Our food is rice and beans and pasta. It's really boring but it keeps us going! Today, however, we went to one place that sells burgers! Clothes are washed in a washer in our house and hung up to dry, and we are very lucky to have these washers!! Even houses that have plasma screen tvs don't have washers! And everything is on foot! We walk about 5 miles, if not more, a day! Our area is way big! I am in Espargos, but we do go to Santa Maria. You should try and find my house! There is this base thing on the hill and it has this ball building, but the road that comes down from there goes right past the back window of our house!

16°39'11.19" N  22°53'50.40" W

     Got to go. Will send some pics! Wishing everyone the best!

Love,

Elder Naylor