16 September 2013 - Estancia Brazil

Dad has updated Elder Frogley about some friends of his--a young man by the last name of College (Elder Frogley isn't talking about his university experience). Elder College is in Germany. And between e-mails, our grandmother, Donna Lee (Woodland) Frogley, passed away in her home in Providence, surrounded by family on both sides of the veil. We had a wonderful time joining the family in celebrating her life. As part of the work after her departure, the family is fixing up and selling her house, which means Dad has to move his Providence office (which was in the front office of her house) to a new location.

Elder Frogley (and his mission president) are also somewhat disappointed at the seeming contradiction in how "successful" the disobedient missionaries appear to be versus the challenges and trials the diligent and obedient missionaries face. Many of us wrote sent him some scripture references, stories, and allegories to help him through his trials. I'll leave you to ponder the question yourselves.

New office hu!? Cool! Send me pics please! I remember college really well. Good kid. We were in the CTM together. I have a pic with him. Its good to know hes doing well. One difference between his mission and mine is that missionaries are inspired to keep comandments and rules in order to obtain baptisims and help people. In a hard area like Europe this is obviously necisarry. As it is in all missions. In most of South America Success comes so rapidly and easily that its hard for many missionaries to see the nacesity of obedience. We have one of the most dysobedeint missions in the world. Litterally. The confussion is obvious when you see the biggest slackers baptising the most people and the people whe follow every rule stressed, freaking out, and not having any succes. Im working hard to follow the rules but Id like an explanation to that if you have one please. Why do the happy slackers have success while the hard working, rule keeping missionaries get stressed out and have zero success. Its been ratling the brains of many a missionary and the pres. here in Maceio.

Now that thats out of the way! This week was happy and sad and happy again! Were still working alot with Diana and Suzana. Diana marked her baptisim for Saturday but never got permision from her Mom. When she finally asked her Mom said no! That wasWednesday. She called us and told us and we were CHAPPED. We asked if we could speak to her Mom and she said of course.On Thursday we went to talk to her Mom to ask permission and we turned the charm up all the way. We were very sweet and we busted out pics and everything of our families and had a good talk. When we asked about baptisim for her daughter she said she doesnt want her daughter to make a decision she would regret. Apparently when Diana asked for permission she wasnt that convicted. Dianas Mom said if Diana showed real conviction to be baptised shed let her. We were pretty pumped cause we thought her Mom just dropped the iron foot and refused baptism but it was pretty chill. We told Diana to talk to her Mom again and express her desire. She did and her Mom told her sho could! But only the next week. Which bumbed my comp out pretty good cause he got transfered today.

Suzana her sister doesnt need permission from her Mom but shes got some issues. We found this tight way of finding investigators concerns. We just read the artacles of faith with them and ask if they believe. We found Suzanas problem to be prophet. She doesnt believe that we can have a prophet today cause the world it too wicked. We taught a little about the times of Noah, the roll of a prophet and we testified. We told her to pray and taught a little more on prayer too. She promissed to pray to know again. Shes been doing it for a while with out success. After that day she left to visit her Grandma in the hospital and we havent had th opportunity to talk to her again. Were shooting for her baptisim on Saturdaywith her sis. 

Our other investigator is Amanda. Remember her? She accepted baptisim, shes keeping the comandments and doing everything right. Minus going to church. She just cant get out there! She promissed to go yester day for the third week in a row and didnt. We´ll pass again wednesday and see what the problem is. Shes been to a baptism though and liked it. This entire week Elder Hansen has been packing and getting ready to go home. Its been rough watching someone getting ready to go back to the US but were pulling through. He got on the bus to go to Maceio yesterday after church. It was sad to watch him go. He was tight and I hope to find him again after the mission. A lot of my friends just went home. I gotta make new friends now. Ugh. We also found out who got transfered yesterday! My comp takes off but me and the Brazilian stay here! This is a tight area. I like it. All the members said they wanted me to stay which was cool. Anyway! hey, are yall going to come pick me up after the mission here? Cause if you are I gota tell the secratary before 1 year and 4 months which is in 6 months. sounds like a long time but for me its flying.

Love yall!

Elder Ian