Hey Mommy! We can't email you because it's very complicated here, but it's my p-day and I think we'll be figuring it out pretty soon. So the Brazilian people are amazing! I wish I would have taken some pictures with some of these Brazilhiero Elders before they left because they were amazing guys. They are insanely friendly and are so patient with us dumb slow Americans, haha. The Portuguese is coming, slowly, but I'm learning . I just can't wait to be able to actually talk with these people because they are all so nice and could teach me sooo much, if I could understand them! It's nice to be surrounded by the language, it helps a lot but at the same time kind of depressing because you see exactly how far there is to go. My teachers here are awesome. We have a zone leader who's a teacher because we don't have hardly anyone in our district and he's so funny, he always makes fun of Americans. It's so weird because we can't read Brazilians at all. We can't tell when they're messing with us! Its entertaining to them. lol One Brazilian Elder always talks to us in Spanish right after we get out of Portuguese class, and my comps are like, "I can't understand these people!" "it sounds nothing like Portuguese!" and I'm like, "its because he's speaking Spanish Elder.... and then the Brazilians just laugh and give us all a hug, he's so funny. My comps are Elder VanHorn, and Elder Coltrin. Elder VanHorn is from Monroe WA and we have a lot in common, but Elder Coltrin is from Phillidelphia. We have some struggles and personality conflicts sometimes but overall its a peaceful trio. The MTC is a beautiful place. Built like a temple with awesome granite and hardwood. They used leftover supplies from the Sao Paulo Temple and its really cool. But I'm already anxious to get out in the field. My testimony has grown a lot since I've been here and my soul feels a peace that I haven't felt in a long time, possibly never before. My prayers are answered everyday and I really feel myself beginning to change. I'm already in love with this culture and the people and look to the future with great anticipation:-) I hope everything is well at home, I love you and appreciate your example in showing me how to not be judgemental my whole life, it helps a lot that Ive already learned this lesson. Moroni 8:3
Elder Jacob Romm
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Sweetlove!
Yay! im soo glad i got an email through finally!! Okay, so anyone in my family can email me so bring the rain, but i can only email mom back because of time, but they also have a thing here where you email me and they print it out and send it to me, it costs money but its same day kind of deal. I havent gotten any letters in the mail yet so it really is slow stuff down here. I'm so glad to hear how you guys are doing! Brads sick still? karma. He got me sick but I got over it quick, then got it again this last week and got better again. So I must admit I forgot most of the questions you guys asked because I was speed reading, but I can tell you this... Rice and beans are amazing. EVERYDAY! The food is way good. My teachers are so smart. I know so little about teaching the gospel and I decided that if I had my face in the scriptures every spare minute I have while in the CTM then pai celestial would make a missionary out of me yet. Wow this keyboard is fail. So yea we get to go outside on p-day whenever we want and just walk around Sao Paulo. We've been goin to the temple so I've been twice now. Its a really sweet temple! Lets see, I need to organize my thoughts before I come to email because I know there is just a yay yay nay nay load of stuff I want to tell you...Legal is a portuguese word that means like cool or legit. Thats bomb. My companion is elder Van Horn and we get along great. He's hilarious and looks like Ace Ventura and makes all the faces just out of nature lol. I bust my gut everyday. If anyone has advice for me in personal study or learning to teach better then hook me up. Jared Hodgy im lookin at you. I hear that rio is like the most dangerous place around lol. The brazilians are so dang funny. A big group just left yesterday and I'm sad, they were our neighbors but we got like 50 more this week. More Amercans are showin up too. I met an elder Trent who went to High School with Kevin Hodgy. Cool guy. Fetch I cant type nearly as fast as I can think, this is problematic for sure,dunno if thats a word. I'm happy here!!! I take for granted how fast my prayers are answered and I dunno why but the CTM turned me into an even bigger baby. Were you guys trying to make me cry with all your loving e-mails? comon! Okay well I better get goin, tell Clark I love him too Steph haha,SARAH! Yes you can email me and don't worry about the sweats, its an inferno here. It rains everyday but for like 1 hour a day. and hard. Like a rain forest or somthing,imagine that! We got three new elders in our district,they are hilarious, one is just like Dylan Idler, its trippy, and Brad there is an Elder here who talks about his body and acts like how you pretend to be alot. If that makes sense, only he's not acting and its pretty funny to me. Jesse, you are a Brazilian. Touchy feely and loving. All you sick people need to get better, deffinitely a bummer and this is a bummer free zone. HAH not, but more about that later =] Shell I miss you too! I miss my sisters so bad! I love my fam. you guys are legal x abajillion.5 I have to walk to the post office to mail letters so mail me haha. I sent a letter to mom a while ago but I have some more to send so expect them in a month. Ugh. There is no time to email. I can understand portuguese! when they speak slow...like uber slow haha. I cant talk very good yet but im more worried about what my message is right now. I've got another awesome teaching story that I just remembered too. I figured out that you listen to the spirit no matter what makes sense in your head, we taught a great first lesson but I ignored a prompting at the end and later our teacher told us what that we should have talked about gaining faith in Heavenly Father, and during the lesson Alma 32:27 popped into my head and I was like, its the end of the lesson that wouldn't fit at all so I ignored it. Fail...I felt so bad, I'm getting better at listening but its still newish. It really is amazing. I've never been a scripture mastery buff so it was insane the first time I experienced the promise in D and C when scriptures are brought to you in the very hour you need them, and its given you exactly what ye shall say. Its amazing because sometimes its news to even you! then you cry. gah. Oh well. crying never created an awkward moment. roflcakes. I love you mom and dad! I got some questions for you guys but idk when i'll get to ask them. I love you guys! write me! If you post this on the blog, Hi Sara! =] you write me too! haha. Seriously tho guys. do it.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Letter sent on January 17, 2010
Como Vai?! How are you guys? I'm very excited to get to write you guys, finally! No joke they keep you busy, like crazy! I'm doing well here and I'm more stoked than ever to get out in the field. Sao Paulo is amazing! It's fetchin Brazil you know!? When we finally got here (14 hours flying and about 20 total) when the plane landed it was like flying into Jurassic Park and it was tight. We met up with 6 missionaries returning to Brazil at Salt Lake and they wanted pictures of us, it was tight. They speak Portuguese muito bein. Then on the flight to Dallas I sat next to a Brazillian Elder who was going home that served in SLC and he taught me some words and cultural stuff, he was so cool and soooo funny! He taught me the word for moron but he didn't tell me that if you mix up the 'a' and the 'o' the word becomes something ubber bad in Portuguese, so of course I mixed it up later at the Dallas airport (while waiting for the flight to Sao Paulo, so surrounded by Brazilians) and the look on his face was priceless. He was like don't say that!!! don't ever ever say that, then he told his companion and he jumped in shock because of what I said. They had some fun with that! The missionaries I met while still at the Provo MTC were awe inspiring.. in a spiritual sense, and I just want it on record that I was in the MTC with Elder Wilks - destined for greatness. I have to go but I have tons more to say.. Ciao! I love you all!
Elder Jacob Romm
Elder Jacob Romm
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
After a trial of their faith...
Alright what the yay yay, nay nay is going on here people. No response? Okay I'll try it again, I wonder if you guys are getting my e-mails....?
Well if you guys do get these...The CTM is really cool, they have amazing teachers here, and the Lord wants you to learn as much as possible, and we all know you learn best when you're humbled so along with rice and beans, I get a daily dose of humble pie. Usually force fed and on fire, haha. I'm really stoked to be a missionary though and I just can't wait to go to the mission field and actually speak Portuguese. That is gunna take some time though, I'm understanding almost everything the Brazilhero Elders say to me but I can't respond very well yet. Everyone says that there are a lot of similarities between Spanish and Portuguese but they are also very different. I have discovered this to be true. Apparently I only learned the stuff in Spanish class that happens to be different lol. We are actually doing really well in the language I think, though because we taught the first lesson in Portuguese yesterday. Not that we understood everything we said but it was all in Portuguese. We have been practicing teaching in English to try and experience how to teach with the spirit and to focus the lesson on the needs of the investigators which leads me to my story this week. There are so many things I could share with you that happen to me here but this is a pretty sweet one so I think I'll share this one =]. We had our first practice lesson on Monday, and we found out that we were less than prepared...it was very, how you say, soul crushing - I believe this is the correct phrase. So after this we were quite frustrated and talked with our ZL, who is a hired instructor, kind of like the head instructor really, because we don't have enough missionaries to make up a zone even. But anyways this guy is amazing. And we had him come to our room and let us practice teaching him. We had our plan and I started off the lesson talking about God's love. Then after about 5 minutes he stopped us and made us start over because we just didn't know enough about him, like we weren't asking questions or something. So we go again and this time, it was different...I was listening to my companions teach (I'm in a three-some btw, idk if I told you, but not anymore we're getting new guys today, YAY) and I was just thinking, what does this guy need to hear? I prayed that even though it was just a practice that we could have the spirit with us so we could just experience teaching with power and authority just to know what it felt like. Then it just seemed so clear. The guy we were supposed to be teaching was having difficulties with his son and he didn't know what to try and i can't remember exactly what the whole situation was but i remember what i did. One of my companions was trying to explain a story about Alma the younger and I just kind of took over from there and it was totally different, it was like every word I said had its own weight or something and it just came out of my mouth, and as I told him that I knew God lived that that he knew exactly what he was feeling for his son and his situation and I said other things but I wrote them down, I have to go because I have 2 minutes left but I love you all and write me!!!! okay bye
Well if you guys do get these...The CTM is really cool, they have amazing teachers here, and the Lord wants you to learn as much as possible, and we all know you learn best when you're humbled so along with rice and beans, I get a daily dose of humble pie. Usually force fed and on fire, haha. I'm really stoked to be a missionary though and I just can't wait to go to the mission field and actually speak Portuguese. That is gunna take some time though, I'm understanding almost everything the Brazilhero Elders say to me but I can't respond very well yet. Everyone says that there are a lot of similarities between Spanish and Portuguese but they are also very different. I have discovered this to be true. Apparently I only learned the stuff in Spanish class that happens to be different lol. We are actually doing really well in the language I think, though because we taught the first lesson in Portuguese yesterday. Not that we understood everything we said but it was all in Portuguese. We have been practicing teaching in English to try and experience how to teach with the spirit and to focus the lesson on the needs of the investigators which leads me to my story this week. There are so many things I could share with you that happen to me here but this is a pretty sweet one so I think I'll share this one =]. We had our first practice lesson on Monday, and we found out that we were less than prepared...it was very, how you say, soul crushing - I believe this is the correct phrase. So after this we were quite frustrated and talked with our ZL, who is a hired instructor, kind of like the head instructor really, because we don't have enough missionaries to make up a zone even. But anyways this guy is amazing. And we had him come to our room and let us practice teaching him. We had our plan and I started off the lesson talking about God's love. Then after about 5 minutes he stopped us and made us start over because we just didn't know enough about him, like we weren't asking questions or something. So we go again and this time, it was different...I was listening to my companions teach (I'm in a three-some btw, idk if I told you, but not anymore we're getting new guys today, YAY) and I was just thinking, what does this guy need to hear? I prayed that even though it was just a practice that we could have the spirit with us so we could just experience teaching with power and authority just to know what it felt like. Then it just seemed so clear. The guy we were supposed to be teaching was having difficulties with his son and he didn't know what to try and i can't remember exactly what the whole situation was but i remember what i did. One of my companions was trying to explain a story about Alma the younger and I just kind of took over from there and it was totally different, it was like every word I said had its own weight or something and it just came out of my mouth, and as I told him that I knew God lived that that he knew exactly what he was feeling for his son and his situation and I said other things but I wrote them down, I have to go because I have 2 minutes left but I love you all and write me!!!! okay bye
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
One Week...
No letter yet... I know I know its only 12:54 but its almost seven in Brazil. I do know they get to go to the temple today so, I will sit and wait for the email to ding!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Letter from mission home
Dear Parents,
We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time.
They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, who are usually a senior missionary couple or mature Brazilian couple, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.
The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.
Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
We are also parents of children who have served as missionaries. And we have been missionaries who have left family. Please know that we are mindful of you and know of your love for your missionary.
Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”
Please accept our love,
President and Sister Woodward
WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE SENDING PACKAGES to the Brazil Missionary Training Center.
If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package cannot be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name and district and mail box numbers above the Brazil MTC address on all letters. Your missionary´s numbers are: District (3-A) and Box (21). Record these numbers for future reference.
Address:
Elder Jacob Richard Romm
Curitiba
District (3-A) Box (21)
Brasil CTM
Rua Padre Antônio D’Angelo, 121
Casa Verde, São Paulo, SP
Brazil 02516-040
DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers. We can only accept mail sent through the U.S. Postal System
We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time.
They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, who are usually a senior missionary couple or mature Brazilian couple, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.
The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.
Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
We are also parents of children who have served as missionaries. And we have been missionaries who have left family. Please know that we are mindful of you and know of your love for your missionary.
Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”
Please accept our love,
President and Sister Woodward
WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE SENDING PACKAGES to the Brazil Missionary Training Center.
If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package cannot be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name and district and mail box numbers above the Brazil MTC address on all letters. Your missionary´s numbers are: District (3-A) and Box (21). Record these numbers for future reference.
Address:
Elder Jacob Richard Romm
Curitiba
District (3-A) Box (21)
Brasil CTM
Rua Padre Antônio D’Angelo, 121
Casa Verde, São Paulo, SP
Brazil 02516-040
DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers. We can only accept mail sent through the U.S. Postal System
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