12/28/09

Well this is how this week went down!
First off this week was great because I got to talk with everyone and it just felt real good. Conference was a bit boring but it then it got good at the end, we got to see all our old companions, I was able to see Elder Lyman which he is doing great and I got to see Elder Onofre too. Elder Onofre told me some real good news that made my day. He told me that he baptized a family that we were teaching and it went good. He even showed me a picture which made me tear up. It feels real good to see the work you put into people finally pays off. At the end of conference they had a play and gave a bunch of lame presents but it didn't matter because its the meaning of the gifts that matters most.
On Christmas Eve I did something what made my Christmas the best. In our district we have an Elder who does not like his companion very much and on Christmas eve everyone in the district was to spend the night in the centro with everyone at the same house. However, this certain companion did not want to go and was throwing a fit about it. So I did the ultimate sacrifice(not really but it was a sacrifice) I gave my Christmas eve to my friend. It felt good to give someone my Christmas.
The following day was of course Christmas and it was pretty awesome. We had a BBQ and then we went to the bus station to call up the family. I first called up my mom and her family which was awesome. Ivan started crying, that shows he got s heart and it felt good to me. Everyone there talked to me and it was great. I then called my dad. I basically told him about all my experiences and he was proud of me. I was able to call my grandma Martha too because I know she would freak if I didn't call her too. It was cool to hear that my aunt Bianca is getting married and I was able to talk to them in Portuguese and they understood. The calls felt real good and real relieving for me. Basically the rest of the week we did nothing, visit a couple of members and that was it. I now feel that home is like the celestial kingdom. You cant see it, yet you know how great it is and you have to serve an honorable mission to get back there.
Well to everyone have a happy new year! hahaha Love Elder Rodriguez

P.S.
hey Mom! it was good to hear your voice too. I was also with smiles the whole day too. Christmas was real good, spent it with the Elders in my district. I also ate nothing but chocolate too. It was great to eat American chocolate. Well thanks for being an awesome mom, mom. Love you bunches Jordan.

Christmas Greetings from Brazil

Oye!
So we were blessed to hear our missionary on Christmas morning calling from the bus station using the public phones( he said that everyone was staring at him because he was speaking English). Ivan and I spent the night at the Sanders house so that we would not miss his call. It was really nice to be able to share it this special moment with everyone that loves Jordan. When we heard his voice through the phone, he sounded the same and had his unique laugh that only Jordan can produce, so of course we( meaning Ivan and I) started crying like babies! We miss him so much but so proud( When I told him how I was so proud he told me in missionary form that its a sin to be prideful, lol). We passed the phone around the circle so that everyone could say Hi, it was really neat for Jordan and us. Jordan even blessed us with his testimony in Portuguese which was awesome. He actually speaks better Portuguese than he does English! He told us about the conference and other stuff. What surprised me was that he said that time is flying by and he only has 17 more months to go! That seems forever to Ivan and I but I'm glad that he loves what he is doing. He says that he is being prepared for the rest of his life and not only spiritually but in all facets. Wow! This is my son!! It was the best Christmas ever! We only talked about 25 minutes or so so that he could call his father in California. Now I just have to wait till May for the next call!!

Pic's

11/27/09

A letter dated 25th November: Dear Aunt Joan and Uncle Klaus, I am sure you are wondering how I am doing. I got transferred out of my last area to a new area. My new area is called Alvarado, Apucarana. My area is the largest hat manufacturer in the world which is pretty cool. The only not cool thing is the hills in my area. They are really steep and could be a pain on your knees. One missionary went home because of the hills wore down his knees, so I guess I have to take it easy on these hills. My ward is so small it is not even considered a ward, it is a district. Usually we have 40 members every Sunday which is little compared to my last area. The members are real nice as usual too, they feed us good. The people here in general are real nice too. When we knock on doors we usually get a lesson real quick. Oh yeah, and my companion's name is Elder M. Rocha, and he is pretty much my favorite companion yet. He is really relazed on the rules which I need but the bad thing is he is going to leave the mission this month, so that is kind of a bummer. He is a real cool guy. Antway,s that's basically my new area.

November 25 letter to everyone: I'm in my new area now and it is right next to Londrina. It is way smaller than Bauru, but it is a good thing because my area has a butt load of hills in it. Yup, I said hills, well more like mountains. I feel like a robot when I climb up the hills, I don't even feel my legs any more, when I walk up the hills. I love the area though because the people are pretty nice here and when we knock on doors or clap at gates, the people generally accept our message. Another cool thing is my companion whose name is Elder M. Rocha and he is from Nordest or North Bra zil. He is really relaxed on everything is good for me, because I'm a relaxed person too. I'm the type of missionary who works and baptizes, that is all what is important. The only thing what is not cool is that he will go home in the beginning of December, but it is all good. The investigators are also pretty nice, we teach lessons real good, with the Spirit, so they are really powerful. Have not gotten a baptism here but we have baptismal dates for people. The ward here is pretty small, it is so small it is called a district and on Sundays only about 40, 45 people show up. Big difference than in Arizona or Bauru my last area. The members are nice and they feed us good too.
I ahve not really had any funny moments in my new area. The only close thing is when a weiner dog attacked meand he bit at my ankles and ripped my pants, but I'm fine. I fixed my pants and did a pretty good job on them. The night before I got here out house got broken into so you can imagine how I slept the first week, but now I sleep with a kitchen knife next to my bed so it gives me a bit of comfort. The neighborhood is not that good at night too. We talked to the President about this and he wants us to move to another location, so we gotta keep our eyes peeled. Elder Nielson, who is from the same district I was in at the MTC, got robbed not long ago by a guy on the street. But he only took his cell phone. The President was ticked because in reality, we are to leave our cell phones in our house, when we're out and about, but all missionaries take them out.
Our area has really been worked a lot. Almost all the doors have been knocked, but we try every day. So far we only have one really good investigator here, his name is Antonio. He has a slight problem with beer, but not really big. Once we baptize him we are gonna have no more investigators here. So we have been having a couple of slight difficulties with that. Another thing is that a lot of members here are slackers. If all the members here went to church we would have a ward. A sign that our area has been worked a lot is that everyone here knows the missionaries, which is real funny.
The city of Apucarana is built basically on an inactive volcano and right on the hole of it is a big Catholic church. I bet when the Second Coming happens that church is going to explode into flames. Well, I really do like my area, after all my area has one dollar sodas called Tubainas. Thanks for all the packages and stuff. After a week I am already out of Mike and Ikes, but the caramel pops I didn't really like, just the Mike and Ikes. It's fine though. Thanks.

12/14 Good Bye Elder M.Rocha Hello New Companion(we dont know his name)

Hey everyone,
Well transfers went on this week and it was ah, well it was interesting week. Well it started out sad cause man my companion, Elder M.Rocha was leaving. He is seriously my best and favorite companion and it stinks to lose him. Well the day came and it was hard but he took off. I went with elder Yuri and Nielsen and the day before was p-day, and they were in Londrina so they did not have a p-day so they had one with me. so in reality i had 2 p-days. it was pretty legit. the next day i went on a service project with elder Nielsen and Yuri to help them out well you know me I'm just rel nice like that.The service project was alright it was just pulling weeds and knocking beehives. Ya that's right i said knocking beehives! It was pretty intense. We knocked them then ran it was also pretty funny. Elder Yuri got stung but he is alright. ha ha after the service project we went straight to the house and i was so busy that i forgot my shoes at the house, my good ones too. We booked straight to the rodoviaria or the bus station to get my companion. We did not even change to our church clothes. Now my new companion, A lot of the elders have stories about him, and not good too. they all say that he is pretty feminine, or other words gay real gay. Well he got here and did not appear gay he actually is OK,but pretty gay too. I'm actually missing Elder Onfre now, but one thing i learn on the mission is to get along with people. At some times it is hard but hey, no one said life is easy. Well this week i was a bit lost with where the streets were and what not because my old companion was good with these type of things but now i think I'm good. Our numbers were also kinda in the dumps but this week were gonna get them back up. This last week we helped one of the missionaries with there baptisms and saw a fresh dead dog, blood was coming out of that bad boys head like crazy, it was pretty nuts but another thing only a week and a couple of day's till i call the family so that is good. remember to give me your numbers to aunt DeAnn's house or grandmas either one is good.with love,elder Rodriguez p.s. hey mom i will call on 25 probably around 12 1 or 2 or 3 so I'm not sure just be at there house the hole day.

Guess who had a birthday?!?!?! 11/08/09

Hello Everyone,

Man, do I have a lot to tell everyone! I got a transfer baby!! YA! I am now in Apucarana but I will tell you what went down on the last p-day until now. So after we used Internet on the last p-day we got a call that I was going to be transferred, where one of my good friends, Elder Nielson was . At this time I still didn't know who my companion was. Well when we got home I started packing my stuff and then I went and visited the families who are important to me. When we went and visited the first family I gave away my LiveStrong bracelet to a kid named Lucas. His family cried, he cried and I almost cried, so it was basically an emotional mess. The we went to Rogerio and Gracellas house( they live right next to us) he said that he would give me a ride to the bus station the next day which was way cool, and then we went to another family's house. These people we are teaching and I paid for their wedding. I did not really want to leave Bauru but I sort of want to visit new areas, so it was bittersweet. I told the people that I would visit them which I plan on doing. The next morning we went to the rodoviara( bus station) and said goodbye to Rogerio. I then went to Marilia and I saw another good missionary friend, Elder Pumphry who also was in my district but he did not get a transfer, we switched buses there and then went to Londrina. On the way there Elder Aider( he is also from Mesa) told me a story called The Kimberly Story, look it up, it is a good one( I didn't sleep too good for two days because of this story). We were able to see the movie Ice Age 3 on the bus :). When we got to Londrina Elder Yury and I got some food and juice and then left to our new area in Apucarana( which is close to Londrina). Got to our area and saw Elder Nielson and had to give him a huge hug, then I met my companion! My companion's name is Elder M.Roch. He is from Brazil but man, do I love him. He is so chill and not strict. We got our bags and headed into the house. The house is huge!! The night before the house was broken into, so you can imagine how I slept this week. Our ward is real small and guess what, I'm 20 now! Weird!!All in all I like Apucarana except maybe for the giant hills!!

--------Elder Rodriguez

P.S. Hey Mom my birthday was fine, Ive had better. It looks like my picture had a better one than the actual person but Im good. Way to make me homesick! Ivan looks like HotRod and wow he looks like a giant now! And to answer his question i would be a Grizzly Bear( Ivan wanted to know what kind of Bear would he be)

It's been awhile, sorry!!--The Mom

Well it has been awhile since I last posted, sorry! Nonetheless, Elder Rodriguez is doing good and growing each day. He his still in the same town with the same companion. I thought that I would post a letter that Elder Rodriguez sent to my Uncle and Aunt since the letters that he sends to me are mostly his wants and needs( I thought that I would have two years free of that, oh well).

Dear Aunt Joan and Uncle Klaus--

First off, I heard that Clint and Maryanne got the baby! How exciting to have a new family member. They must be crazy with happiness. About the writing letters, its OK. It just takes awhile for the letters to get to us because we only get them when the mission president comes down or during transfers, which is every 6 weeks. So its usually my bad, with the letter writing.
I heard about the blog, but I only been on it once, we are not really allowed to go onto other sites but, that might be one exception.
I love it here. It is funny that you say the field is ready to harvest because today I was reading in Jacob 5 about the Lords vineyard, then I compared missionaries to the servants. I like that section! My old companion, Elder Lyman left and now I have a Brazilian, his name is Elder Onofre and he is from Rio de Janero. He is real nice and loving. We have two baptisms in our area so far, which is great!
The area which I am in is called Murechal Rondom, and the city or my district is Bauru. I love the people here, especially the members of the ward. They are all real nice. We try to have fun activities every P-day but this P-day we are writing letters to our families. Next P-day we are going to the zoo. I also try to take pictures on P-days as well.
Well I'm not roasting nor chilling here, but more like dripping! It tends to rain a lot in my area but on the days that it is not raining it can get hot. In our area we walk but when we go to the Internet cafe or to our district meetings we take the bus.
At church we attend a ward or an alag. There is a pretty good amount of members who attend. On a regular basis on Sundays or Domingos, we have about 150 members show up. It stinks because we are the only missionaries in our area but I guess it is alright because that means we get a greater opportunity to teach more people.
My companion and I live in a small 3 bedroom house, one room is our study the other kitchen/laundry/bathroom and the other our bedroom. We don't get asked out for dinner a bunch but we have lunch with members everyday except for our P-days, so we do just fine.
It sounds that everyone is doing fine over there in Arizona. Yesterday I went on splits with an Elder from Arizona as well. Mesa in fact! I thought that was neato! Well Aunt Joan I think I answered all your questions. Thanks for the greenie package but by the time I received it I was not considered a greenie. I'm in my second transfer already but the package was a great moral booster. Well whenever you feel the need to write a letter you know who to write too!!
Love Elder Jordan Rodriguez

Elder Rodriguez and Elder Onofre

September 21, 2009

Iguazu Falls

Hey Mom!
Well this week did not go so good. I had a pimple under my arm and it became infected so bad that it affected my whole arm. So I had to go to the hospital and give myself treatments at night and take medicine. but I'm OK. I will spare you the gross details but the ordeal is not going to stop me from doing the lords work. Another bad thing happened was that the last would-be baptism did not happen so now I only have two under my belt but on a happy note is that we have so many investigators now that I have a native companion. His name is Elder Onofre and he is from Rio de Janerio, which is pretty cool. I'm speaking fluent Portuguese now(with a lot of errors). I learned that I may be here in the city of Bauru for 6 months or longer. If all the missionaries in the Londrina area get a baptism we will all go to the Christmas Conference at the Iguazu Falls, they are huge falls that were shown in the last Indiana Jones movie. That's nice that you helped AuntieAnn move, I figure that is you help people that when you need help they will help you. Our church building is the second largest building in our area, the first is the market. I love all the members here, they are super nice. All of them call me "menudo" or "Ricky Martin" because I told them that I am Puerto Rican, it's pretty funny. I really like Elder Onofre even though he is a neat freak. He is always going around cleaning everything but I love the guy. Our area is real humble as well( in referring to Cousin's mission in Mexico). The temple is 7 hours away right now so we don't get to go to it. Well please tell everyone hi and I love them. Love Elder Rodriguez

September 14, 2009

Well Elder Rodriguez has been doing really good out in the mission field. As of August 4, 2009 he has 3 baptisms under his belt(literally, he makes a notch on his belt for each baptism). Jordan says that it has rained a lot and that the food is great. Here is an excerpt of his letter that he sent today(via email): Dear Mom and Ivan----
It's hard to say what happens because there is so much to tell but I will tell you this, blessings do really come true. I have been praying that you would be financially well and that Chloe could get a job then the next thing I know you get money in the mail and there's a good chance that Chloe will be hired. All I can say is that you better get on your knees and thank you know who cause that is huge! I am excited to get the package, my companion, Elder Lyman was transferred and I have no one to speak English too or music to listen to when we are going to sleep. My new companion is Brazilian and its pretty intense cause I feel that I'm still not good with the language or my surroundings. However, I'll do OK. I have been traveling with the LEZ's zone leaders to other cities to do interviews. One last thing, I have not seen a monkey yet but once I do I'm jumping on it and throwing it in my backpack! Love you Elder Jordan Rodriguez

August 17, 2009

Elder Rodriguez goofing around, as usual!

Hey Mom!
I'm good! I have a lot of emails to write so this is gonna be short. Today for P-day I might buy a guitar or a pipa(kite). They have crazy kite battles like on the Kite Runner!! This past week we ate lunch at this lady's house and she served us this substitute coffee and it was gross. I tied to make it taste better by putting sugar in it but she just filled it with more coffee stuff so I had to drink even more of the gross stuff. Tell Aunt Shellie that I met up with the elder that she and Kyle knows. Its crazy that his mom and Aunt Shellie are like best friends. He also knows Danielle and a lot of people that we knew from our old ward( our old neighbor from Corona). The baptism went well and I will send more info on that next week. Here are a few pictures, I will send more. I love you

A short note to Grandma Bev

Hey Grandma--
Yup out in the mission field and it is awesome! Know wonder LaVonne didn't want to leave New Zealand. There is a bunch of hills here and I get blisters and shin splints like crazy but it is worth it. My companion, Elder Lyman is awesome as well. He is from Colorado and has been out for a year so far. He helps me out a lot. Now for some successes, We made 15 contacts today to people on the street. I teach a good chunk of the principles to investigatos and we are baptising a lady this week. I never thought that we would get a baptism this quick. I will give you the details after it happens-----Elder Rodriguez

Out in The Field!

Dear Family-----
I'm still alive and well. We flew down to Londrina at 3 in the morning then had lunch with the president. The took a 4 hour bus ride to Bauru and have had an awesome 6 days so far. The language is finally entering my head and my companion, Elder Lyman is pretty cool. While going to visit with some members yesterday we saw a couple of Toucans, so that was pretty cool. The days are long and I get tired by the end of the day. I have blisters but at the end of the day it is well worth it! Oh ya, I forgot that we are baptizing a lady this week. Never thought it would be this quick, crazy huh?!?! I will take pictures of the baptism. I heard that Brayden is having a good time too, saw the pictures. Well I will send you the rest of my adventures in the mail!! Love you Elder Jordan Rodriguez

29/07/09

Dear Family----
This is the last letter to you from the MTC. Went proselyting again, in the rain but it was still fun. We got out all our Books of Mormons. We talked to some bums( homeless people) and to some other people but it was all good. We also went to a city walk which was like Wall Street of Sao Paulo so we were talking to a bunch of business people. I'm definitely going to get a hot wife because it rains like crazy here. It has been raining for 4 days straight. We went to the temple this last P-day and I bought some nice Portuguese scriptures with a case that has the Sao Paulo temple on it. My Portuguese is coming along OK, I guess but I will really find out when I leave the MTC. Man, I cant wait to get out of this MTC! I am really excited to go out into the field. I also hope that my companion is cool. Last Tuesday I sang a solo for a devotional and I thought I did OK, it was real cool. I am going to ask if I could do another solo this Sunday for a prelude. Don't worry about me, I have Heavenly Father on my side along with Jesus Christ. That's as good as a bullet proof vest! ----Love Elder Jordan Rodriguez

Elder Rodriguez has Arrived in the Mission Field

Dear Family of Elder Rodriguez,

We are writing to inform you that on August 4, 2009, Elder Rodriguez arrived very well in the Brazil Londrina Mission field. We were very happy to meet him and to know that from now on he is part of this great and wonderful army of the Savior. After a long wait and much preparation, he along with many other missionaries arrived at the mission home safely and very excited. They had lunch, and after a great testimony meeting he learned who would be his companion. The Brazil Londrina Mission is a blessed land where many people are hearing and accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ in such a joyous way. It is an honor for us to be able to receive your son in this area, and we know that this is possible only because you have so lovingly taught, guided and cared for him until he could arrive here. We want you to know that we will strive to fulfill all his needs, and will take care of him as if he were our own son. Thank you for trusting us with your son for this short yet fundamental period of time in his life!

We are at your disposition to help in any way during this time.

With gratefulness and love,

President and Sister Leal
Missao Brasil Londrina

Last Letter from the MTC

Dear Family,

I'm doing just fine. Went proselyting and we handed out all our Book of Mormons. This one lady wanted us to go and teach her. But we told her that we were not the missionaries to talk to. She said that she would call the number in the book to have some missionaries in the field teach her. We took pictures today as a district. I realize that I am really gonna miss Elder Rezende. Elder Neilson is also real cool. He wants to me to go and live with him after the mission. I miss the beach. I'm glad I am not going to the Rio de Janeiro, that is where Elder Rezende is going. He is also from California, but lives in Arizona now. We have like the same type of friends, and his dad is Brazilian and my dad well you get the idea. I think that's why we are so tight. I am really going to miss him. We went to the Temple today and I brought some scriptures with the Sao Paulo Temple on them. They are cool. Mom, I am fine. I wear the armor of god and nothing could fade me. Hey did you know I have like the largest wetland in the world in my mission. Ya I did not know till last week. I will write Todd and Bradyn. I just hope they got my letters in time. Well gotta go, next time I type you I will be in the mission field. Love you mom

Elder Rodriguez

Week 7

Dear Family,

Only 3 more weeks in the MTC until I get out of this hole. There is this kid in my room right now and his name is Elder Allred. He is singing along with a church song and he is doing it bad, so it is even worse! Again, can't wait till I get the heck out of here and to work.

That's good that you feed the missionaries. I hope I could get fed that good. I will probably be giving out pamphlets too to families. I think I told you that for the 4th of July we sang the Star Spangled Banner in the morning, outside our windows. it was early in the morning and it was fun/

The language is getting a bit better. Last Friday our district went proselyting and gave out 48 Book of Mormons. At first, I was a little panicked on the basis of talking to people with a language I have not yet mastered. But somehow, i gave out 4 with my companion. I am truly grateful for my companion because he helped me out when I needed help. I also need to work on not judging people as to how they look, cause I would not talk to scary-looking characters, but I need to realize that everyone is a child of God and that I have an important message to share.

I still have not received your package of candy, I fear that it is lost forever (Elder Rodriguez did receive the candy package a few days later and said it was definitely a morale booster!)

I want to tell you about some spiritual experiences I have had. One night I prayed that as a district we would be able to exercise our Priesthood powers. After this prayer, this blessing came upon all of us in my district. We all had a blessing of comfort come upon us. Everyone gave a blessing. I gave mine to Elder Nielson. He is really a neat elder. I was so happy to have this prayer answered almost immediately. It was truly a blessing. Another experience was when I fasted and prayed throughout the day for Mom to receive her job back, and as you know, that blessing came true too.

Tell Aunt DeAnn to write me. Tell her I only write to people who write to me. I received a email from Grandma Martha. Uncle Barry wrote to me and I'm sending him a letter today along with this one. My hand gets tried sometimes but I still persevere on writing.

I know I am here to serve the Lord, and I know my Savior Jesus Christ died for me. I love that I am here and that I will be spreading a word that is more important then everything. I am thankful for every one's help to me and my family. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love Elder Rodriguez

Thumbs Up

A letter and email all in 1 week

Letter

The language is coming along. I go proselyting this Friday. Last Monday i did my first lesson in Portuguese. It was rough but I got through it. It's most likely that my first companion in the field is going to be a native. So I will have that same experience as Uncle Richy.
I do admit I am feeling homesick a lot lately but a good friend, Elder Rezende who is also from Mesa, Arizona, so we help each other out a lot. I take these tutoring classes that are helping me out. I feel I'm catching on to the language a bit better.
Ya, I miss Mom a lot too. You could let her read this part. Mom, I love you and I'm doing okay. It is good that you sold the piano. There is an elder here who plays amazing, his name is Elder Olsen. He will play at my wedding!
I went to the Sao Paulo Temple again today. It is a great experience every time. You can't help but feel the spirit there.
One of Todd's friends came in last Wednesday and we talked. It was cool to see a friend of a friend.

I love you guys. Bless you,
Elder Rodriguez

Email

I feel I might be going slowly crazy in here but two more weeks. I leave on Ivan's birthday. August 4. I went proselyting and along with my companion I gave out 4 Book of Mormons. The best part was that it was pouring rain. The leaders say that when you work in the rain the the Lord blesses you with "hot" wives. Ha Ha so you know when it rains I'm working hard. Mom don't worry about me. Instead worry about the people of Brazil cause I'm gonna baptize the #@** out of them.
Mom, dad wrote me he said he was proud and helped me with home sickness. It's getting better slowly. Love you and Ivan. Please send me Todd's address

Love you,

Elder Rodriguez

Pictures from Jordan