6/23/2010

Hello Family and Friends.


So I would just like to start off today telling you all about the most amazing thing thats happened to me on the mission. As am telling you this story it may not seem like that big of a thing, but to me it was! So when I got the Vila Sonia at the begining of Febuary We started teaching this Ducinei who is 24, her sister named Leda is a member and was baptized 4 years ago. At the time that Leda was being taught Ducineia was being taught too, but she was never baptized... So for the past 4 years the missionaries have been passing by there teaching her trying to baptize her. To this day I still don't know exactly why she didn't get baptized. We taught her everything and tried to figure out what the problem was and Im pretty sure that during my time teaching her I invited her to be baptized over 100 times. I was determined. So about a month ago I decided that I was going to baptize her, it didnt matter what it would take. So i started praying and fasting specifically for her that she could get baptized, I think I fasted 7 times for her and we would pray everyday that she would get baptized, but then still nothing really happened and I kinda lost hope, but we kept praying and kept inviting her. Then the miracle happened. So shortly after writing my email last week we went to her house and left a message with her and talked to her again about baptism, she said to us, look ive been thinking alot and tomorrow I want you guys to return and ill give you my answer. oh just a side note, for the past month she knew my birthday was comming up and she kept asking me what I wanted for my birthday and I told her I wanted her to get baptized. It would be the best present that anyone could give me... So anyways the next day (thursday) we went back and she just said to me "Elder Schoen, on sunday you are going to baptize me, happy birthday!" I almost started crying I couldnt believe it. I was just like "What did you just say!" So sunday Ducineia was baptized. It was the coolest experience of my life! I really dont think there is anything in my life that ive prayed so hard for, and Heavely Father answered our prayers. Best Birthday Ever!

This was the Biggest Miracle of my Life!!! Best Birthday present I've ever gotten and will ever get!

So that was sunday that she got baptized and then monday night we got the phone call "Elder Schoen was transfered!" So tuesday was my birthday and I spent the day saying bye to everyone. The members here are so awesome! I had 5 birthday parties! It was sweet! But i didn't think it would be so hard to say bye to everyone. I cried saying bye to everyone. I just spent the entire day crying. I didnt think i would be so attached to the people in that ward. It was so incredibly hard to leave. I feel that I did everything that God had for me to do there. I left with a happy satisfaction knowing that I did all I could do. But wow is it hard to leave the people that you grow to love so much!
 

I woke up to this cake and decorations that Elder Duarte made for me!

This was one more beautiful birthday cake!

Birthday cake from Maria and Rodinei (that couple that we married and baptized)

This was my last birthday cake of the day... number 5!!!

From left to right. Ducineia, Me holding Carol, Leda, and Cilene. Im going to miss them soo much!

Saying Goodbye

So right now im in a new area with a new companion. My area is called Salto de Pirapora. Its in the middle of no where! Its just a super small town. Its really weird going from the crazy hectic city to a super small relaxed town. But im excited for the new adventures that I will have here. Everyone says that this area is so awesome. Apearently the bishop here is american and plays the drums, Tonight we are going to his house to meet him. I have a feeling we are going to get along well! haha

My new companion is named Elder L. Barroso. He is from Minas Gerais.. he is Brazilian. He looks like an american but he is Brazilian. He kinda speaks english which is pretty cool and he is way excited to work! Im super excited I think that this new area and companion are going to be really great!

New companion, Elder L. Barroso

Well thats about it for now. Im just sitting here with feelings of sadness cause I miss the people that I had to leave behind, and excited anticipation to see what the next chapter of my mission will bring.

Elder J.D. Schoen

6/16/2010

Hello!

This past Sunday our elect investigator, Paula, was baptized! It was such an awesome experience. So to start off we decided to do the baptism on Sunday after church, which we normally don't do just because converts have to be confirmed in sacrament meeting. So when you baptize someone on Sunday after church you have to wait one week for the confirmation, and this is kinda dangerous with people that had problems with addictions like smoking and stuff. Its alot of time for Satan to work. But we decided to do it anyways because we wanted alot of people to be there. So normally at a baptism there is like 30 people, but on Sunday everyone stayed after the meetings and there were over 200 people there. Also, Elder Puerta ( Area 70) is a member of our ward and he was there on Sunday and we got him to bear his testimony at the baptism! It was awesome! Paula loved it and took a picture with him afterwards. It was so cool to see how excited she was. Everything went perfect!!!

This week the World Cup started. For those of you that don't know, Brazil is crazy about soccer! Yesterday was the 1st game that Brazil played. Everyone has always told me that during World Cup Brazil stops. I thought they were exagerating. But it was serious, The President of Brazil made an announcement that everyone has the days off when Brazil plays. Its amazing and impossible to work. We are not aloud to watch the games but we have to work. So we just sat on the sidewalk for 2 hours, because there was litterally nothing to do. Everytime Brazil made a goal it was crazerier than the 4th of July! Everyone has fireworks and air horns and it was soooo loud! Its way cool to see the excitement and patriotism that this country has!!!

So I've gained 8 pounds here in Vila Sonia. Its impossible to not gain weight, we eat so much good food all the time! Its a blessing and a curse. But I'm doing better than my companion... Elder Duarte has gained over 20 POUNDS here in Vila Sonia with me!!!! ... He has only been here for 2 and a half months! haha

My Birthday is June 22! I'll be 20 years old! Wow!

June 23rd is the next transfer. So the next time I email you I might be in a different area, and with a different companion. I'm excited to see what happens!

Thanks for everything!
Elder Schoen

The baptism of Paula!!!

JD's Birthday

Note to All***

Elder Schoen will be 20 years old on June 22nd.  You can email him if you like at james.schoen@myldsmail.net but please do not be offended that he can not reply.  Also, actual mail is always appreciated.

6/9/2010

I ate alot and was regretting it!

This is my favorite chocolate in the world!

Yesterday I successfully completed 11 Months on the mission!!!! Whoooo!


Well this week nothing super exciting or interesting happened, except for the part that I found out that my companion's home town is incredibly small. I already knew that he lived in a small town but this week we were talking and I discovered that his town only has 2 street signals! WOW!

Today we went to a mall thats like 20 minutes away from our area. Its called Shopping Eldorado. Its like the Nicest Mall in South America! We ate lunch there... BURGER KING!!!

It was so good... lets just say right now im having Double Whopper w/cheese burps! haha Its awesome!

The work here is going well, nothing super amazing happened this week. It was just a normal week of work, but things are still going really well. This Sunday that girl Paula will be baptized. She just has to stop smoking, but as of today its been 4 days since she stopped, so we are just praying that she will be able to stop for good. Because if she smokes again before Sunday we will have to cancel the baptism!

But I think thats about it for now.
Thanks for Everything!

Elder J.D. Schoen

6/2/2010

We went to the center again today, and this was at the top of the tallest building in Brazil.

This is a picture of my area. Ive been here for almost 4 months and its about time I sent of picture.

Just having fun!

This desert is called Brigadeiro. Its the best ever! And its super easy to make. So when I get home and make some and you can be as happy as I was in that moment!

Hello!


So this week was really good and went by extremely fast! I can't believe that its already June!!! WOW!!!!

Ok so I have a funny story... I need to start off explaining about the Brazilian sense of humor. They love jokes about mother inlaws. There is like 10 billion jokes about how mother inlaws are so terrible. ... So anyways back to the story... This week I did a division and in the other area that I went to we went to teach a lady that they have been teaching for along time. Her husband hates mormons and never ever ever talks to the missionaries. So when I got there he was there in the living room so I decided to try and start a conversation with him, we started talking because he has visited Las Vegas and he loves the place. So we talked about Vegas for a little while, then he left the room and we taught his wife. (Just to discribe this man, he is fat and angry and has white hair, and a beard, he looks like a member of hells angels just without tattoos.) Ok so anyways after the lesson with his wife, she made us dinner and we were sitted eating dinner and her husband sat down at the table and looked at us and said..." So I heard that your church practices Polygamy...I read it on the internet" And so we explained to him really well about how the church used to but doesn't anymore. Then he looked at us really seriously and said "Do you know what the condemnation that awaits people that practice polygamy is?" And at that moment i wanted to pee my pants, cause he is a really scary man. Then i said " No, what is it?" and he relpied " They have to have multiple mother inlaws!" It was so funny cause it was the absolute last thing I was expecting him to say!!!

Also this week while knocking doors we came across two teenage boys sitting in their driveway with a 3 foot tall bong. And we told them how we are representatives of Jesus Christ and asked if we could enter and leave a message with them. And one of them just looked at me and blew out smoke and was like "i dont know, we´re kinda busy right now, do you think you could come back another day" ...It was pretty funny, and something that you dont see everyday! haha

Other than that things are going well, we are teaching alot and seeing success! Im lovin' life!

Well thats about it! Thanks for all the support from everyone!
Elder Schoen