Week 5 Itapoa Pictures

Beginning Week 5 in Itapoã

November 11, 2013

Nossa what a week, or two. Sorry for no big email last week. We were sick as dogs the first few days of last week. We ate something called a Mango, I know none of you have heard of it. The only have it here. My body isnt used to this exotic fruit so we were sick because of it. Ok really, everyone knows what it is, but people here eat them when they are green (Manga verde) and they put salt on them. So you know me, "Eat this elder it is really good", it is disgusting, but I couldnt look weak. So I kept eating it, and then threw up for 3 days. I am never eating that again.

But we had a baptism that day!! Maurício got baptized on the 3rd which was so great! Elder Cervantes baptized and the meeting was just awesome. We had a good amount of people from the ward there supporting him and even his non member mom and sister came. YESSS. It was really a fun time.

On Halloween we dressed up and trick-or-treated to each other in our rooms with the pumpkins lit (yep, we carved pumpkins). It was fun. We dressed up and who can guess what was? I was a Hogwarts student, yep. I have a Ravenclaw tie and Elder Cervantes and I used wands. It was fun!

We have some really good investigators right now! One is Armando and he is getting married next week so he can be baptized the following Sunday. We visited him yesterday and he is a rock. We were kind of going over the baptismal interview questions and he is so awesome. He is really doing this because he wants to change and because he knows that because of this he can receive eternal salvation with his family. Man he is awesome. 

We have another, Luan, who found us. It was really a miracle. We were walking to lunch and he called us from his house and said sisters had talked to him one time on the street and said they would visit him. The must have gotten transferred because they never went. So we have taught him a few times and he LOVES our messages. He is saying stuff like "Yeah! Why wouldnt Christ visit the people in the Americas? Yeah, why wouldnt he have prophets here, too." Nossa he is great.

We are teaching this girl, Tatiane, who has a 2 year old. She is 19 and has a difficult life. We feel the spirit with her so much and are really trying to show her that she is not alone in this, and that she can find joy and happiness with Christ. We are guided so much when we teach her. We do our best listening with her. I hope we can learn to do that with everyone else. 

Miracles are happening. We I am loving this. I am so glad I am here and am so blessed to have Heavenly Father, Christ, and the Spirit at my side (with E. C.). We are doing good work, the 5 of us. I love the Book of Mormon and the impact it has on our lives. This gospel is so true and I love that I get to spend two years of my life sharing that with my brothers and sisters here in Brazil. 

I love you all. Thank you for everything.

Elder William Craig Kesler

Pictures of Itapoa

Week 2 in Itapoa

YEAHHH Ok so I love this place. My companion is super rad, Elder Cervantes. He is from Arizona and we get along so well. We can really talk about things that help us to be better and we are learning a lot together... in English AND Português. When I got here, it was much easier to understand people. I still have to listen hard, but I am super learning. 

We had an awesome Mission Conference 2 weeks ago where we had Elder Snow from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy and Sister Snow come speak to us. Something cool was that I was asked to do a solo musical number in the Conference. I sang "How Great Thou Art" with Elder Condori at the piano. It went so well. I sang some parts in English and some in Portuguese. I just tried my hardest to remember who I was singing about. The Spirit was so strong there. I got choked up at one part. I made Elder Swallow cry (YES), but something really awesome was when Sister Snow spoke, she talked about the importance of hymns in sharing the Gospel. She thanked me for what I did and said I must have been inspired because that hymn is Elder Snow's favorite. I just about weeped. The tears just flowed. I am so grateful for the help I got from Heavenly Father in making that be the best it could be. I love Him so much. I am so grateful He answers my prayers. 

We had interviews this past week, which were awesome! Presidente Gaertner and I talked about awesome things and I am so glad to have him. Sister Gaertner gave me a box of chocolates as a gift for my birthday from a couple weeks ago. I love them so much! I got a mission pin, too which I am glad for. 

After interviews, Sister Gaertner brought me and Elder Cervantes to the hospital. I had something in my leg that, here, is called a "borga" I think. Pretty much it means a bug laid eggs in your body and you have to get it out without popping the sac of eggs. GROSS right? Well Elder Lant took a needle to me and tried to get it out. He said he didnt end up getting it out, but he was digging in deep. So we went to get it checked out. The doctor said there wasnt anything in there, and if there was, it had been gotten out. So he gave me a cream and some drugs to take 2 times a day. It's FINE. But yeah that happened. 

Things are going great here in Brazil! I really feel like a missionary now, even though I am still working on the language. But it is happening. Its all so real. And I hit 3 months this week! YEAH! We taught a really awesome family the other day how to play four square. I will send a photo or two of that. But yeah. I am super a missionary. Weird, huh?

Today we are going to carve pumpkins and do some Halloween things. Kind of sad we dont have candy corn, though. Dont be afraid to send me letters or packages! I have been getting letters from a few of you and they have been so wonderful every time!! I am so grateful for all of the help I am receiving from prayers from all of you. Please continue! This work is great! I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I am reading "Jesus the Christ" a little bit each day and it is building my testimony a lot. Reach out to everyone you know, and of you my friends who arent "Mormon", try out going to church with my family, you know my mom would LOVE it. Listen to me here, if I have a cake (bolo) and I tell you it is DELICIOUS, you are going to want to eat it right? I can tell you over and over how tasty it is and so can tons of other people, but if you dont taste it for yourself, you will have no idea. Then, if you dont like it, that is up to you. But I can promise you, this gospel, the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is better than any other cake you have tried or will try in your entire life. I promise you that if you take a chance at this gospel, your life will be blessed. Heavenly Father wants to bless us more than we can even comprehend. He has so many blessings waiting for each of us, because He knows each of us, and He cant wait to bless us. He will bless you through this gospel. Take a chance. Its not like it will hurt. 

I love you all. Thank you for the prayers. Talk soon.

Elder William C. Kesler

October 13th, 2013

This is Will's birthday journal entry.  He didn't write a long email out, so this is what is supposed to be shared with everyone.

October 7th, 2013

Week 5 in Field

Wasn't General Conference the BEST!? I was so sad when it ended becuase I was learning so much. I loved all of the talks, but a few really stuck out to me. Edward Dube in the first session was so full of strength. He talked about how faith is always pointing towards the future. He talked about how the Pioneers had faith because they had no idea where they were going or anything and they followed their leaders blindly because they knew they were God's servants. So many people quoted Matthew 11:28-30 where it says "Come unto me..." I love that scripture because it just brings so much hope. "Be yoked in hastening the work." I loved President Uchtdorf's talk about those who have left the church or who we are inviting. "Come, join with us" there is room for you here. And then he said "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." MAN I just about died when he said that. How perfect. I really liked President Packer's talk too. His story about the 15 year old missionary who had the dream "Joseph, you are late" "Yes, but I am clean". Awesome. There is so much more I could write about General Conference, but people can just look and watch it for themselves. 

Oh yeah, IT'S OCTOBER. Less than a week until my 21st birthday. I dont know if we will do anything, but it is still fun. I love October. I miss NY in the fall. 

During District Meeting this week we talked a lot about faith. We have a new assistant to the LMA and he is a rock. We tried so hard to be faithful this week and I think it is paying off. We are all really trying to be our best. It is never easy, but we are doing better. Along with faith comes hope. Hope is something I never really understood and I am trying to understand it. Over all, I am trying to be my best personally and as a missionary.

This is the last week of the transfer so we are trying our best. I am feeling more comfortable in being here. Being around the people, and about talking to people with less fear. We are thinking E. Simão will get transfered. 

Oh yeah! Things about Brazil, dogs are everywhere and it is nuts. They dont like attack us but they are everywhere. The busses are ridiculous and fast. They are literally like the Knight Bus in Harry Potter how fast they drive and how crazy it feels inside. The rain finally started and the storms here are awesome. There is always lightning and the sunsets are the greatest. Really. 

It is a short letter this week, but it is good right?

Thank you all for being so great to me.

I love you

Elder Kesler

September 30th, 2013

Alright so it has now been over 2 months since I left home to come on a mission. Wait what? Yeah I only have 22 left haha. I dont really know what to say anymore haha. We have some really good investigators going right now, but at the same time it is a little rough because we want them all to be coming to church and all of it all and of course not everyone is doing that. We have some really strong people, though, that we are teaching. We are trying to have more large groups because that was something they talked to us about at Mission Conference. Trying.

I ate and tried many new things this week! Mom you will be happy to hear I had Goiabada and also cavada. The Goiabada was good! Elder Swallow bought more so we are going to have a little of it later, but I will send photos. The cevada was surprisingly good too! I enjoyed it  a lot haha. I had two glasses. We were at a recent convert's house (Cida and Everton) when they brought it out. I thought it was coffee at first but then they explained it haha. It is something similar to coffee, but doesnt have all of the stuff that makes it against the Word of Wisdom. Super good. I also had a fruit called "fruta caju campastre or "fruta caju do mato". I had a little one with one of our investigators, Sandra, but she said in other parts of the country they get huge. It was good, but sour because it was so small haha. I also had grilled cheese on a stick, just cheese. It was supe good and we ate it with Yuri, an RM in the ward and his mom Rosangela. We have been doing well with getting to try new things haha. Also, the candy here is so good. Its hard to find peanut butter and their pb candies are a bit different, but its ok, they have other delicious things. It rained a lot yesterday for the first time which was kind of fun. Used our guarda-chuvas for the first time. 

I started reading the Bible along with the Book of Mormon. I have never read it all the way through on my own and we use it a lot here. I want to have a testimony of it as well. I know it is true because I can feel it when I read it, but I want to understand it more and finish it. That has been great, because a lot of people think we dont use the Bible, but we definitely do. They go hand in hand and work together. 

I am really grateful that I am not alone here. I know I say that like every time in every email, but I love knowing I have Heavenly Father here. I am trying to be grateful to Him for more things, because I KNOW I couldnt do this without Him. I know He is my dad. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and my big brother and I am so thankful for what he did for me and for all of us. I am so blessed to have the gift of the Holy Ghost in my life, too because if I dont have the Holy Ghost, I cant teach, or learn. 

I dont know what else to say. They language is getting better, I am so blessed to have so many people praying for me, so thank you all. If I dont write anyone specifically, know I still love you, of course, and am thinking about you. But at the same time I am praying for focus and I know I will see you all in 22 months. No less. Love you all

Elder Kesler

Field Week 3

Alrighty everyone so I have been here for 3 weeks. What the heck. 

This last week we did a lot of traveling. Since I was picked to be in charge of the musical number at Mission Conference, we had to go to Brasilia, the city, 3 times this week. We went on Monday and then Wednesday to practice, and the Friday we had the actual conference. They asked me to lead all of the hymns as well, so that happened. It was fine though, and the musical number went well. They sang Come Thou Fount in Portuguese and we did some a capella parts and some mixed things with the 15 Elders and Sisters I had to work with. It was cool.

I got to see Elder Bean which was nice. We are both in like the exact same boat with how we are feeling about all of this. It isnt easy and we are trying our best. It is stressful at times and we think about how easy it would be if we were speaking English or if we were even just with people we know, like eachother. It was so good to see a familiar face and to be able to talk openly about what is all going on. 

We are teaching lots of people and trying to talk to as many people as we can. It is scary just walking up to people and talking, but worth it when we leave them with a good message. I have been praying for boldness and I could tell a few times this week that I have been better about it. 

P.S. I am obsessed with the Book of Mormon. I dont know if I have said that or not, but I wish I could read it at all hours of the day as well as the church magazines. There are so many talks and articles that just fill me with the spirit that I just hunger for more. And I am learning so much from the Book of Mormon is is ridiculous that I didnt care about its importance before. 

I am getting closer to the members here. I still dont understand them much, but I am able to joke a little with them and I think they are starting to like me more. 

Oh yeah, I baptized someone yesterday. His name is Victor and he is a champ. He has been going to church for like 4 years or something and his uncle is a member. We taught him all of the lessons and he knew them pretty much already. He is a funny kid and when I had to do it TWICE, he just laughed. There wasnt much water so it was hard to get him all the way under. His uncle was going to baptize him but something came up and, surprise, Victor picked me to do it. It was a really cool experience. It was in Portuguese and everything.

I can tell the language is getting better. I am always stressed about it and I am praying I feel like every second. I am glad I am not alone in this. 

If people are thinking about sending me things, it takes like a month I think, so send them early haha. I mean you dont have to, but if you were thinking it. 

Ok, I love you all and think about you often.

Stay strong, and please keep praying. They are definitely working.

Love,

Elder William Craig Kesler

Week 2 in the Field

Ok so let me talk about where I live. Our entire house pretty much is big tile. Its pretty cool. I dont sleep on dirt floor and we have a fridge and a stove. We have a washer and no dryer. I have a closet and a desk. The people here are very similar to people at home in that there are the richer and the poorer, but really, unless you are pretty wealthy, you dont care much about what the outside of your house looks like. But in general, they insides are not bad. It is very different but it isnt too hard to adjust to, in THAT aspect.

This week was better, very different. Elder Duarte did something to his knee and had to stay in. WE took turns staying with him. I am kind of rushed so sorry about the bad grammer and punctuation. I stayed in during lunch, with is when we dont do anything anyway, other than eat with members for like 2 hours. Then I took turns going out with Elder Simão and Elder Swallow. Doing lots of teaching and all. I like the extra time to study though. If I could read the Book of Mormon literally all day I would. So I know I should be bummed about not being out on the streets but I love the extra study time for language and all. 

We taught less people this week because of that, but I felt like we taught lots. Elder Simão and I have a baptism on Sunday which I am stoked about. We had two other people tell us they would be baptized too, but we have to find a day. It is not easy teaching people about this stuff, but I can SUPER see the help I am getting from Heavenly Father. 

I am leading a musical number at Mission Conference on Friday. Yeah what? The assistants called us yesterday and said the Mission President asked that I be in charge of it. We practiced today, it went fine, but I have been here for 2 weeks and everyone who is singing has been here at least a year and can speak, so there was a lot of translating. It's weird directing a little choir all by myself. Pray for me in that please haha. 

The language is coming. I talked to someone all by myself while my comp was talking to someone else. I mean they were both members and we were just chatting, but I wasn't like freaking out. Cool what Heavenly Father can do. And I am learning more about making sure to teach by the Spirit. I feel like I am always doing the spiritual thought at things, which is fine, and I am trying to bring the Spirit the best. My words don't mean anything if I dont have the spirit. 

Lots of learning and Lots of trials, but I am praying to understand and I am praying with thanks and praying for my trials. I know I have to go through them. 

I am pretty much out of time, but I love you all and sorry if I didn't reply to you. I got so many emails this week and I dont have THAT much time. I mean I do, but I guess I dont have enough.

Love from Brazil

Elder Kesler

Brazlandia Picture

September 9th, 2013

Ok so I am in Brazlandia and I don't really believe it. I super left my journal at the house so I am going on a whim here. To be honest, this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I don't want to scare anyone, but really, the days are so different. It seems like each day is a roller coaster. I am doing awesome one minute and then an hour later I just want to go back to the house and not talk to anyone. I guess I need to work on some stuff. 

As much as it is really not easy, I am learning so much. I can tell each day that Heavenly Father is giving me help with everything. My faith is definitely being tried while I am here. I don't know the language well at all and it's super rough because my companion expects me to do stuff that I don't really think I can do. Sometimes he will look at me and wait for me to say something but I don't know what is going on in the entire conversation because I can't understand anyone. So he just talks again. It's frustrating and makes me a bit nuts at times, but it is getting easier already.

I noticed on Saturday that I could understand people much better. It got to near the end of the day and most of the people we talked to I could actually understand what we were talking about, even if I wasn't following exactly. I have given quite a few lessons to investigators or contacts, and a few to members as well. I have a few scriptures that I like to give as thoughts and then during lessons Elder Simão will point to something in the pamphlet and I will have to talk about it. Sometimes I am like no way Elder I don't even know what those words mean or who this person is we have been talking to for an hour and all that. I feel like I am getting better, though. 

The food is super different and I am full after like half a plate, but they always make me get more, so I want to puke. But is all really good. It's all so heavy, but really good. 

The language is not easy. There are 2 companionships here and one of the Elders in the other companionship is from Utah so he can do some translating for me. At the same time, I need to understand for myself. AND we are only together for some of the day. So a lot of the day I am just stressed. Elder Simão speaks a little English, but the majority of the time he talks to me in Portuguese. Which is good. The worst thing, though, is that people will stand there and try to talk to me, members or not, and I don't know what they are saying. So I am just like sorry I don't speak well. Then they stand there and talk about me with everyone else. Even the other three elders will and I don't know what I am supposed to do about it. Then I will do something and they laugh and I am like HOW am I supposed to know what you do in this country or what you mean when you say this or whatever. I am now just murmuring. Again, I don't want anyone to think negatively about what I am talking about, even though they are all negative things that I am saying, it's just different than anything I have ever done and it's my first week.

Elder Swallow (Utah) says I am doing really well and that he knows how I feel. He says in 4 MONTHS I will know the language well and it will all be much better. That is super far away. But I will be here in 4 months so I guess I will find out. 

Every day is a struggle in some way. Each day I get scared or nervous in some way. But at the end of the day, I can't believe all of the help I received from Heavenly Father and the Savior. It amazes me the things I am learning and as much as I am still so lost, I am not walking in the wilderness without help. I know I am being guided and I know we can do this if I have faith. WE can do this, The Savior and I, WE'VE got this. 

It is not hard, but is not easy. But I know it is going to be worth it. I'm bringing the family home. Can't wait.

I love you all and I miss the crap out of you. Keep me in your prayers as you have been doing already, please.

See you in a few.

Love,

Elder William Craig Kesler

Week 4!

August 23rd, 2013

I am in the wrong lab and I don't have my camera so looks like we will have to wait a week for that. 

ANYWAY. So first week as Zone Leaders was good. I was so stressed at the beginning that we would be the crappiest Zone Leaders ever. We weren't the best at it, but we are getting better. We have responsibilities that we have to take care of and people to take care of. We want people to see us as Elders you can talk to, and I think we are doing better at being that way. 

We got to host this week! (This email is pretty much going to be mostly about technical stuff and not spiritual stuff because I don't have a super lot of time sorry) As a host we get to pick up missionaries at their cars and bring them to where they need to go when they get here. We grab their bags and bring them to a building where they get their nametag, then we take them to their residence and drop off their luggage, then we get their books at the bookstore and then take them to their classroom. It was so awesome! I hosted 2 elders and I half hosted a sister until I found another sister to take over. It is so fun helping them feel safe and helping them not to worry.

So that was Wednesday. Wednesday night, the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders have a meeting with any new districts they have and we got a district of 13 I think this week. They are all so awesome! Elder Williams and I call them "the kids", even though that's not technically accurate or what we should call them. They are just so new and so innocent and really just have no idea what to do and we love answering all of the questions they have about things that we had no idea about as well. We talked to them that night about what it means to be a missionary and how awesome it is. We explained schedules and talked about what they will be doing the next few days to get settled. Then we give them a tour of the campus and let them know about the important buildings and just things to remember while on campus. We then split with the sisters and E. Williams and I take the elders to the residence

Elder Williams and I checked on the elders of our zone every night. We try to make everyone feel loved and it's nice because we are all in the same building. 

I'm thankful for this responsibility because I have already learned a lot more patience and also I am in the process of learning how to be uplifting and edifying instead of telling people they are doing things wrong. It's fine, my words. I'm learning. I am so blessed to have Elder Williams because he can sense when I am having problems or when I am stressed out. 

This week has been great and I am excited to find out my reassignment in A WEEK!

Love, 

Elder William Craig Kesler

Week 3!

August 17th, 2013

Before I start, I'm sure everyone saw the big letters spelling out a well known name down below. Go ahead, read that part first. It's FINE. Then come back

We good? Bom,

Oi minha família e meus amigos! This has been such a great week! So many things to talk about... 

Primiero, Elder Williams and I now officially have 2 long term investigators; Guilherme (Willherm haha) and Stepherson. We have taught Guilherme three times and Stepherson twice. What's cool about our investigators is that they are our teachers and the people they are acting as are people they really know, even people they may still be in contact with. So when we talk about them or to them, we are really referring to someone. It makes it cooler because we know we really have to respect them and think of them and their needs. That's something Elder Williams and I have been focusing a lot on. We are looking for things we can learn about the investigators that will tell us what they need to learn and how we can help them come unto Christ. We are really focusing on teaching people, not lessons. We have had some cool experiences this week and look forward to more. We had to say goodbye to one of our teachers this week, Sister Steinbeigel (spelling?). It was super sad because we all think so highly of her. She came in as a substitute for Brother Dodge for two weeks, and she just hooked us. She knew how to like "chastise" us, not really, but how to like tell us that we need to be better. It was good to hear. It was nice having a sister in the room. I mean we are 14 teenage and early 20's boys and she knew how to bring the Spirit like it was her job. I mean, I guess it was. Still. We got her a Stripling Warriors shirt and we all signed the back. 

We started TRC last P-Day which is when volunteers from outside of the MTC can come in and we talk to them in Português. It's cool because it is so real. We talked to a lady in her late 20's last week from Hawaii and she said she knew the Tukuafus (Spelling? I'm sorry). Yeah that was super cool! She also knew Elder Williams' family there too! It was a great bonding experience. Then we talked to a man who served his mission in São Paulo South just like mom! His name was Scott Loghlin. He said he probably missed you, mom, by like 3 months. Maybe not, maybe you know him. Anyway, we have that again tonight and we can't wait! 

In personal study we were asked to read the entire Livro de Mórmon while we are here. So we had to start over when we got here. I am in Alma, so I'm a bit behind, but I'm getting there. I spend some of my personal study doing that and then some reading Pregar Meu Evangelho. I'm also going through minha escrituras em Português along with the English ones and looking for scriptures that I want to have highlighted or underlined, keeping in mind specific investigators, or even just ones that I know I want to understand in Português. So far I have found some really great ones! I am loving Mosias 24:13&14. It's about how o Senhor knows our covenants with Him and he sees our trials. He talks about how he will take our trials off of our shoulders so much that we won't even feel their pains anymore. I mean we know all about this, but it's an Òtimo visual! 

Portuguese is coming along, we get new missionaries every Wednesday and during break time we usually run into some of those who are newer than us. It's fun to talk to them in Portuguese and them having to ask us what that means because they haven't learned that word yet or that phrase. It makes me feel like I am actually learning the language. We have a good time learning it and we really enjoy all of the things we get to do to learn.

So as for Devotional this Tuesday, RICHARD G. SCOTT came! It was so RAD! When we walked into the Marriot Center, there were extra chairs on the floor and the stage was set up more more fancily than usual. So we knew it was going to be at least a GA. We have had retired and former 70's come already which have been great. It was so cool though when he walked in. He talked about prayer. Yeah yeah everyone talks about prayer, but I really needed to hear what he said. I feel like a lot of the time we get tired of listening to talks on topics we feel like we know all about. I guess I know nothing about prayer because I learned SO MUCH. Something he said was that out of all of the Cosmos and people on worlds, we can personally talk to Heavenly Father. WHAT. I mean everyone can, of course, but it is just so cool to think about how each and every single individual person can have personal one on one time with Him. So cool. Something else he said was that we need no appointment. It's like picturing Him doing something and right when we start praying, He drops what He is doing and we have is undivided attention. I mean He is perfect and is a personage of light so He can literally do everything at once, but it's cool to think that one of those things He is doing all at once is talking to us and listening intently. Something else Elder Scott said was that there are 3 types of answers to prayer: A feeling of peace and warmth - like a Yes, a stupor of thought or confusion - a no, and then no response. Number 3 is the worst haha. But he then said that we have to realize that we are not the ones calling the shots. We are on His time and everything is according to His will. We can't murmur about getting no answers (which I have been) and we can't get discouraged about how hard it is (which I have been). It was like a punch in the face, yet a kind one because he is an apostle of God and they were OBVIOUSLY things I needed to hear. So Elder Williams and I have been focusing on being grateful for what Heavenly Father is giving us and praying for help to accept His timing and learn what he wants to learn. One last thing about Elder Scott, he said one little phrase that just set my heart and mind rolling, he said "He is at the helm". Well shoot if that doesn't get me going! You know I love sailing, even though I have never been, but just imagine that! I big ocean ship (Pirates of the Caribbean style) with big white sails and there Heavenly Father is, at the helm. We may be the ones on the journey, but He is driving. Man I wish I could paint or something because I just can't stop imagining how COOL that is. If anyone wants to paint that for me, I'm in. If it isn't exactly how I picture it, though, I'm sending it back. Nah, but really. Muito Òtimo!

We are going to the temple for the first time while being here and our entire district seriously can't wait! I am excited to have that experience with all of these people who are so close to me, who have become close to me in such a short amount of time.

I want to thank everyone who helped get me here. This is the greatest experience I have ever had and it's just beginning. So many of you have sacrificed so much for me, whether it was words of advice or a gift. This has been so great and I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the influence of all of you! Muito Obrigado!

Thank you to everyone for all of the Dear Elders and packages and letters and everything!! 

I'll get some pictures send to Becca so she can post them on the blog or something! 

Love from the MTC,

Elder William Craig Kesler

MTC Pictures

Meeting Jenny Oaks Baker

 This one is for Chelsey Fiorni--she gave him the journal.

 Why yes, they DO have prefects in the MTC.

 With Elder Williams, his companion.

Week 2 Down

August 9th, 2013

LONG week. And it's still not really over. We got a new investigator this week, Maria (AKA Sister Steinbeigel, who is our teacher). Not a whole lot happened with her and we are only teaching her maybe once more, but still. We are starting TRC tonight. Don't ask what it stands for I have no idea, but it means we are teaching real people. They could be members or non-members. A Korean girl got baptised last week from being taught my missionaries here. It was crazy. They had her come up to the stand during Mission Conference and bare her testimony. There was a translator and it was just so rad to heare that she came to know of the truth from being taught here! I'm nervous but excited to be teaching for real.

 

I have been kind of sick this week, getting better, really. But now Elder Williams has it. Lots of coughing and sneezing and phlegm (gross word). We have been using that Emeregen-C stuff. That helped me out a lot.

 

Portuguese is coming along. I would write things in the language on here, but it's a hassle to change the keyboard to portuguese to add the accents and such. But it's good. I mean I would be lying if I said I wasn't struggling, but I am learning which is good! We have been doing better at knowing what we need to say when we need to in the language. Sometimes Elder Williams and I practice by just talking in the language (Fala Sua Lingua). Stop me if I have told you all of this. Or whatever, I'll just talk forever.

 

I fasted yesterday for guidance and help with learning the things I can. We watched a talk last week during Movie time (RIGHT?) by Elder Bednar called Character of Christ.... LIFE CHANGING. It is all about how even in the roughest times during the life of Christ on earth, he only helped others. He was suffering on the cross and he didn't ask Heavenly Father to help the pain go away for him to be able to die quicker, he asked Heavenly Father to forgive the HORIBBLE people who were doing it to them. We have been praying to learn how to turn outwards instead of inwards like Christ did. I was fasting to know how to apply that yesterday as well.

 

Everything else really is same old. The MTC is awesome and I am so glad to be here. I think about Grandpa a lot and about how I know he is helping me.

 

Prayers are always helpful! I love you all!

 

Elder William Craig Kesler

 

I don't know which photos I will send, but I'll get a few out.

August 2nd, 2013

HOLLAAAA! Remember that time I was a Missionary?

 

So the MTC has been great! My companion, Elder Williams, is a GREAT missionary. We get along so well and goof off a bit, but still know how to get down and work hard. When I first got here I was really nervous and even thinking about that first day gives me anxiety. The only reason for that, though, is because I had no idea what to expect. After my host and I got my suitcases in my residence, we went to the classroom where I would be spending most of my time. I met my comp there and was I glad to have him. Irmao (Brother) Dodge wasn't speaking a single word of English so we had to work together as companions and as a district to get to know each other in Portugues. None of us knew what we were doing, which was quite refreshing.

 

Oh! Yeah so there are 13 Elders in our district. We had 14 but one was too advanced (Elder Lee, no he isn't Asian) and got to move up to a district that was leaving earlier. His mom is from Portugal and his parents served their. He leaves in a week! But really we have the best district. Our District Leader is Elder Sharp who is from Oregon, and we couldn't have asked for a better leader. As you read this email, I will probably talk about how everyone has a huge testimony and is so strong and we get along so well... That's because we DO! So, Elder Sharp has a huge testimony, and alwasys has the greatest stories to support it. He is a Champ and during gym time each day we susually run together in the indoor track. Another Elder I am getting close with is Elder Craft. He is Sam's age, and he too always has a crazy story to tell. To be honest we are kind of the cry babies in the room. I'm not going to say that it is because we feel the Spirit the most, but if that's what it is, then I mean I'll take it. No, we all have strong spirits and you can tell we are all so receptive to the spirit. Elder Craft and I just aren't as good as the others at letting it overwhelm us, in a good way, of course.

 

The language is going well. We are progressing at a good pace. I wish I knew how to write the crazy symbols on the keyboard because I would say something in Portugeus. Let's be honest I don't actually know what I'm talking about. We finished with out first investigator this week, Marcos. We taught him 5 times, in Portugues. It was super hard, but after the third lesson we got rid of notes and just trusted that we would know how to say what we needed to and we rocked it. We committed him to read o Livro de Mormon and he did and prayed to know if it was true. Which it was. He wasn't ready for baptism though, so I wish we could have had a few more lessons with him. We will get two new invetigators on Monday. We are always so nervous before we start. We of course pray like it's our job and always have a prayer of thanks afterwards. I am learning so much that it's almost discouraging when I am in class and we aren't learning enough. It has been RAD.

 

I also have been kind of sick. It sucks haha. I went to the doctor and he told me to just lay low, but that's kind of impossible while being a missionary.

 

The food is actually really good. They have an entire wrap/salad bar, and usually 3 different options for dinner... where you can get all three if you want. You can get just fries or just a side or whatever. It's really nice and I am probably getting super fat. We have gym pretty much every day and during that we either go to the gym and play basketball, volleyball, four square (I'm a beast at it), or I just run in the upper indoor track. There is a weight room gym which we have talked about going to but that hasn't happened yet.

 

I'm going to send a few photos, we'll see how many I will be able to send, but I'll send the most important ones I guess. I know this isn't super long, but I really wanted to let everyone know I am doing great!

 

Love, Elder William Craig Kesler

MTC Day 2

July 25th, 2013

Minha Familia Eterna,
So I'm alive.  This is day 2 and we had a meeting with our Branch President and counselors.  They told us to write to you all even though it isn't p-day.  Our p-day will be Fridays, but not until o primeiro de augusto.  It has been great!

I can't believe I'm here!  My companion is Elder Williams who is Tongan heritage from Hayward, California.  He is a blast!  We get along very well and have made good goals for the next week that we are very excited about.

Portuguese is hard...but we are learning!  We are praying the most we can in Portuguese.  Tomorrow (Friday, the 26th) we have our first investigator in Portuguese.  I am nervous and so is Elder Williams.  I don't have a lot of time.  I'll email when I can. I love you all!  It's been great!

P.S. Send anything you want!  I could use some t-shirts and shorts.
P.P.S. Tell everyone who came to say goodbye that I think of them often.