Pics from week of March 28, 2009

picture time! the first is just of me and elder cruz in the Boituva wilderness...not really we were walking next to the train tracks in the middle of town.

The second is my shout out to FOND...yes dale, you are notorious in South America as well. Cant wait to get that letter

Third was my great accomplishment...i figured out how to solve the rubiks cube....btw, could you send me a rubiks cube in a package? That rubiks cube does not belong to me.

And the last picture is of me and elder anderson. roflcopterz

6 MONTHS already

Pics to come, my blogmom is in the desert and will update when she gets back.
A quick thanks to Brother Walton...and a quick favor...could you send me Elder Walton´s mission address?? Thanks
Ok, onnnnnn to the week This week had some cool things that happened. We have started going to Wizard language institute to talk with the people learning english and everything. Wizard is pretty cool, it is the biggest language learning school in Brazil, and was started by a member of the church. Actually, i have heard that the method that they use is pretty similar to the teaching method of the MTC...but yeah, seems to work. Also, what is really cool, every book that you get at Wizard has a pass along card in it and information about BYU. Actually, was because of this that our elect family called and we are now teaching them and getting them ready for baptism on the 11th of April. How cool. but yeah, so we have gone there a couple times, and we enter each class and just talk to the people there. It is really funny how shy the people are to talk with an actual american hahah...but its fun. It has been a great way for us to get the news about the church out there, to show that we are great guys, and to put a little bit in about our message. But yeah, they love us there.
FUnny story, we were there last night going through classes...and right after i finished talking with the last class I got a MAJOR nose bleed. Man, it was funny. I was talking to some brazilian kids and all of the sudden went the red waterfall out of my nose. The owner got all concerned and started taking care of me...it was really humorous, to me. But yeah, it is going to continue being a great source of references.
BTW, for the people that are reading the blog...references are amazing. Give them to the missionaries..it helps a ton! You dont even have to do anything special. Just write down the person´s name, address on a piece of paper and give it to the missionaries. Woot!
Ok, back to the week. On monday I went on splits with my district leader over in his area. Parque São Bento, a bairro on the outskirts of Sorocaba. But yeah, it was a lot of fun. Elder Anderson is a pretty goofy kid. He is from Ogden, UT and has been on the mission for 17 months. But yeah, was cool teaching with him. One of the great things about the divisions is seeing how other people teach and interact with the people, and integrating some of those things into your own teaching style and method. Way cool. But yeah, will send some photos of our exerience there. Fun fun fun.The other stuff that happened this week was all pretty routine. We are walking and teaching alot. We have found some pretty amazing people, and it is so cool being able to teach them. Like I have always said, I never tire of seeing that new form of light in the people´s eyes...it is just wayyy too cool.
OH YEAH! HOW CO ULD I FORGET? I REACHED THE SIX MONTH MARK TODAY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!!Yes, i have officially reached 25% of the mission. It is a big day. I think that tonight I am going to buy a big pizza or something. Maybe some cake. Or just eat those oh so delicious reeses peices...yummmmm
Well, hope that every that is reading is having an amazing week! If you are already a steady reader, keep up the good work! If you are just beginning, keep on reading! If you fall in some other category, it doesnt matter, just remember that i expect you to continue checking the blog every week.

6 months already!

Picture is Bryan with Elder Costa...Presidency of the Seventy
see story below.

Surprise, surprise, I received a package from Cindy Rae! Let her know that I am sending them a letter today. But it was a great package. Received letters from grandma jeanie, grandfather, caryn, heidi this week, and am sending letters to caryn, heidi, caryn, and cindy rae. hope they all get to you soon!And krispy kremer (aka amy), i forgive you, just get those letters in the mail!
Congrats to the choir! Yeah, i miss those trips...did you say hi to Boo for me? And did Jack and Carol receive my letter? Sending a postcard to Elder Anderson...hope it get's there before he's homebound.

Love that you are doing all the stuff with the missionaries...i am sure that they are really loving it too. It helps when the members help teach investigators. Especially since you are studying PMG and really working hard with this. Kudos. BUt isnt it interesting, as soon as you start really studying gospel stuff, you just get hungry for more and more knowledge. There are so many books out there that I need to read now..like the great apostasy, miracle of forgiveness, etc. etc.

Alright...the week. Started out pretty cool with Elder Costa from the Presidency of the Seventy giving the talk and everything. He is an amazing leader. He talked about the gospel, about missionary work, and about some other doctrine stuff that was wayyyy cool. The coolest thing of all is that Elder Costa was a convert to the church when he was around 20 here in Brazil. Gosh, imagine, it would be so cool to see one of my converts raise to such a high leadership position. That is probably one of the coolest things about missionary work, 30 years after the fact seeing that your convert not only stayed active, but is a valiant member of the church. How cool.Also, Elder Costa stayed that night to give a fireside for the members of the city (sorocaba). The place was packed. Elder Cruz and I decided to stay because one of our golden investigators (Carlos) made the hour drive from Boituva to watch! He loved it. Man, it was just perfect, plus we got to show him around an actual chapel and show him more about the church. Our stake president here (who is oddly similar to President Rau) called our investigator up and introduced him to Elder Costa, Elder Cooper of the seventy, our mission president, and other leaders of the church. Was an amazing night.

The whole week has really been about this family, the family of Carlos. Sunday, we committed all four of them to baptism for easter weekend. It is going to be an amazing day. We also have another rapaz (Evandro) who is going to be baptized on that day. Things are just going pretty well here in Boituva right now. Elder Cruz and I are getting along pretty well, the members are working with us, our investigators are amazing, and we found an AMAZING pizza place here in Boituva.

We are having miracles here in our area. Like I said before, things are just moving now. Carlos and family are so great, just golden. They are reading the scriptures, praying personally, and are just hungry to go to church, to commit, to LEARN the gospel of christ. They have been searching for the true church for a long time, but always before they said that they just didnt feel complete. Carlos said that the first time he entered church last sunday, it just all felt right. Plus, they are all getting answers to their prayers and everything! It is very very exciting with them.

Can you believe I've been out 6 months already? Thanks to you all for all of your support! Thanks for the letters, the packages, the pictures! I hope that everyone is having a wonderful day, and that you send me a letter with a picture soon ;) Love you...Elder Briggs

...oh the Mormons!

The first picture is at the home of a member family after lunch.

Second...Basically weeding on steriods. Goodness, out in the hot sun using a strange tool and yeah, weeding. Third is just me when i get bored.

Quick shout out for me to Lauren! Thanks for all the support Lauren, hope everything at BYU is going awesome. I cant wait to receive kelseys talk and announcement and some of those pictures. Really, when i receive pictures it is awesome. I love letters, but everyone knows that a picture speaks a thousand words right?? Pictures are great. Congrats Kelsey for all the hard work you are doing, and succeeding! Goodness, sounds like busy times. Give everybody a HEY for me on the choir trip to Seattle this weekend, especially Bue...Hi to Hannah Castor - still waiting for a letter.

Goodness, that was a weird sentence. That is awesome that you guys are working with the missionaries so much. My my how my life has changed. It is strange sometimes to think that I am living the church, 100% of the time. Seriously, wake up, pray, shower, pray, study scriptures, pray, study with comp, pray, lunch, work, home, pray, plan, pray, eat, pray bed. Goodness. I pray a lot haha. BUt it is amazing, seriously, I have developed such a strong testimony of the power of prayer. The simplicity of its power is beautiful. Absolutely amazing the strengh, comfort, guidance, revelation that you can receive.

So, this week. Lets see. So, first things first, miracles are happening in Boituva. It is amazing how much the Lord has been preparing this city for the gospel. Things have been kind of going slow, but all of a sudden we changed chapels, and people just started popping up out of nowhere for us to teach! Seriously, it is way cool!

We found one family last friday that is the definition of elect. We clapped our hands (knocking the doors here) and the guy rushed out ´oh the MORMONS! i am so excited you guys came! We have been waiting forever for you guys, i was starting to get worried that you werent going to be able to come´ it was crazy. This family is amazing. Carlos is the dad, Marli is the mom, then there are two sons..philipe (17) and daniel(9). They are awesome, reading the scriptures, praying, going to church, treating us like family. It really is incredible. They have been prepared a long time to receive the gospel, about 20 years ago their friend joined the church and turned her life around, and the life of her children. SInce then they have always been impressed and this christmas, they received a pass along card in a different city, and they called to receive the DVD. They are great. Also, there were tons of investigators in the chapel...6! The most that we have had up to now was 2. Plus, 73 people showed up for church, incredible for a branch that usually averages 40 people.

Miracles are happening. We keep running into more and more people that just want to be taught, that want to receive the lessons. It is such a blessing. It is one of the interesting things about the mission. At times you may not have a ton of success...not because you are a bad missionary, or because there arent people ready to be taught, but because the area itself, the branch itself isnt ready for more people. Now, the branch has changed so much and improved so much. The people are starting to just roll. Hopefully, within a year, we will be able to get Boituva prepared to receive an actual church building. How cool would that be.

The other stuff that has happened hasnt been huge. Elder Cruz and I did a service project (pictures to come). We ALMOST went to the zoo in sorocaba. Yeah, and tomorrow is going to be our Zone Conference with Elder Claudio M. Costa, of the Presidency of the Seventy. This is going to be wayyyy cool. Will tell you guys about it next week. Love ya!Elder Squig

Oh, and btw, i have been wanting to try something new here. Like i said way back when, when i email i dont really have time to read a ton of emails from a ton of people, take notes, and respond with a letter. But, i have been thinking it would be awesome if people would send me an email when they get a letter of mine, and when they send me a letter...would help me know when to expect letters and also how long my letters are taking through the south american postal service system. Thanks! My email is sbryanbriggs@myldsmail.net

I think my shoes are melting...

almost forgot to send pictures!one is just me and elder cruz at the edge of boituva...kind of looks like the midwest doesnt it. The other is just to show everyone that i still bleed purple and am dooing my best to support them from brasil. Another is us in front of the old chapel and the last is a picture of some food for ya, finally. its called pastel, and its basically like hold able chicken pot pie...or those mcdonalds apple pies except with meat and stuff in them..yumm

Haha, Elder Cruz sure got a kick out of seeing a picture of his brother (Morini Cruz - the Zach Ephron of Brazil - you can see him singing on You-Tube, Mom googled him and sent a picture to Bry) in my email haha.. But yeah, Moroni is one year younger than Elder Cruz, and they have always been members, their dad served in Manaus or Belem I think...not sure. But yeah, he has already helped in the missionary work (Moroni). It is pretty funny, Elder Cruz just mentions his brother and we are instant friends with everybody, sure helps to break the ice and continue teaching, become friends with out investigators and members.

But thats awesome about the Seattle trip! Glad that it was a hit there at Daniel Smith, and next time it will be even better. Gosh mom, you are becoming the regular Artstar...in place of rockstar, get it? But yeah, thats awesome that you were able to see all those people (in our Sammamish Ward), of course tell them all that I say hi, and tell Theresa that I have been putting her tie to good use. BTW, packages still havent arrived yet...Sister Cooley told me that she just got a pair of packages from her daughter that took six weeks to arrive. Hopefully will get them next week at Zone COnference. Should be pretty cool, Elder Costa of the Seventy is going to be there! Wahooo

But, this past week, I was mail king again. Gosh, it felt good. Big big thank yous to Grandma Jeanie, Grandmother (thanks for the Obama stuff), Uncle Paul (thanks for the dawg news), Cascade Crest Young Womens, Kelsey (loved it), Julia Briggs (cuz...most amazing tie ever) Lauren Lytle (pictures rock), and Chelsea Caldwell. You guys all rock, thank you so much! BTW, for those writing letters now or in the future, please follow Lauren Lytle´s example and send me some pictures...I appreciate them oh so much.Today I am sending letters to Chelsea, Lauren, Kelsey, and Julia. Hope that they get to you within two months!

Woo hoooTooooooo the week. So, there wasnt a ton that went down this week out here in Boituva, in terms of adventures that is. I think the biggest thing is that it has been stinking hotttt. Seriously, 38 degrees celsius during the day and 27 at night. Wowza, i think my shoes are melting. Strangely enough, I have completely stopped to tan. I dont burn, but I dont get darker...i just exist now. BUt its cool, my missionary tan is already way chiquezão.

Oh, plus, newsflash, I have hit a huuuuge milestone on the mission....I received my first wedding invitation of a friend! Whoa... But a big congratulations to Lisa! Wish I could be there, but happy for ya! Our ´chapel´ is moving to a different location this week. We will be able to fit 80 people now in the sacrament hall instead of the barely 40 that it was. Keep praying for us to be able to make up the 40 person difference! We are working pretty hard at it. We have some great investigators right now. We found a couple new ones recently, three brothers from 10-14 years old. THey are hilarious, but also they are great. Evandro (the oldest) has already gone to church and a baptismal service. It was pretty funny, in talking to him, we asked `hey evandro, have you read and said that prayer that we asked´ he replied ´no, i dont need to, i already know that what you guys are saying is truth´ pretty cool, although we keep telling him that he really needs to say that prayer, and receive that answer from Heavenly Father that we promised him. But cool huh.

My portuguese is getting better and better daily. It is actually really cool. I cant believe it, I am speaking portuguese almost all day, every day. My only english break is when district leader Elder Anderson (ogden, ut) gives us the nightly call. But seriously, I am amazed daily by the progress that I have made, by the amount of the gift of tongues that Heavenly Father has blessed me with.

I have been thinking a lot this week about spiritual gifts, the gifts of the spirit. As it says in the bible, or Moroni 10, or D&C 46, etc. there are a lot of them out there, a lot of abilities that we can develop. The interesting part, though, is our need to actively seek the gifts of the spirit, activiely work and pray, and also our need to be worthy. For example, why would Heavenly Father gift me with the spirit of prophecy if my goal was to know the result of the future super bowls. Really, we need to always work for the gifts of the spirit, show Heavenly Father that we will use them ´for the edification of the church´ for the blessing of others. Its always something for me to remember that I need to use my time here on the mission responsibly, to allow the Lord to shape me into His perfect tool for whatever situation He needs me in. How amazingI know this work is true, that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I am so grateful for this gift to be able to be here, devoting my time to the service of others. As Lauren said in her last letter, there really is nothing better than service, nothing that helps us feel closer to our Heavenly Father. As King Benjamin says, when ye are in the service of your fellow being, ye are only in the service of your God.

So, I have a challenge this week for everybody that is reading the blog. Look for one small thing that you can do for someone, and do it randomly, without their foreknowledge. I promise it will be worth it.

Splash Mountain...

Ok, first picture is part of the path through the field between Novo Mundo and Boituva. In fact, you can see Novo Mundo there in the background. Second picture, just before my adventure Spash Mountain style. Third and Fourth, Elder Cruz and I were just having fun during our little party for first week of the transfer. We got icecream, ordered pizza, and talked about disney movies and home alone haha. Gosh, i really want to watch home alone again. And Lion King is amazing.

Well, my whole email just got deleted halfway through..darn it ok, start over. ...say hi to caryn for me! Ask her if she ever got my letter...cuz i sent one a while ago. And sorry GJ, i didnt get your email..not sure what happened there.

Ok, so, it is going great with my new comp. We are already pretty good friends, which is great. Getting to know him better has been a lot of fun, especially since its all been in portuguese and i have been talking and understanding pretty well (thank you gift of tongues). Anyways, Elder Cruz is from Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brasil. He has lived there for a while, but before then, he lived in Ogden, Utah for three years. The kid is about as american as it gets for being a brazillian. Plus, his namorada is going to school at BYU. Found out some fun things about the family too. Turns out his brother is a Disney star. Go ahead and google Moroni Cruz, and you will find that his younger brother has been in quite a few disney shows, High School Musical, and will star in High School Musical: Brasil. Pretty exciting huh. But yeah, things are going great, we are teaching well together and have had quite a few adventures already.

First adventure...Splash Mountain. So, this happened on saturday. We started out in Novo Mundo (a neighborhood about 30 min walk out of Boituva) and we were coming back through a field and forest and all that fun stuff. IN fact, same path that we took when i took that picture of me in front of those trees that you liked so much. Anyways, there is a good little stream that we have to cross right at the very end. Only thing is, it is just big enough to make trying to jump over it not a very wise option. Usually, there are some wood boards there to kind of serve as a make shift bridge. However, of course, they were not present at this time. So, using my keen intellect, we decided to hike up about 100 yards to cross at a dam (picture included). I have crossed once before, and was pretty confident. How you go about it is walk across while holding firmly to the metal fence on the top, thereby seeing you safely to the other side. Long story shirt, i didnt hold firmly enough, slipped, and fell. Yeah. Fun stuff. I got pretty wet and dirty and a little banged up. But, luckily, a member lives real nearby so i was able to get all fixed up and everything. Dont worry mom, everything is great right now, totally healed and clean and safe :) But it was pretty funny haha...

Adventure 2. The Lord of the Keys. So, this happened a lot more recently. Was Monday night, and Elder Cruz and I were returning home from Novo Mundo. It was late, we were tired, and definitely pretty hungry. So, we got home to the apartment, put the key in the door, and it snapped. Yes, you read right, we broke our key in the apartment door, effectively locking us out at night...during Carnaval no less. So, a lot more things happened, called our leaders, figured out Plans A, B, and C...and ended up having to go with Plan C, which was spend the night at a members house. Whoa, that was weird. I mean, would have been completely normal and pretty cool if i wasnt a missionary. But yeah, interesting experience sleeping on the floor in dress pants haha. but, everything turned out all right, we got up in the morning and searched out a key maker and he got everything fixed up for us.

So, another funny story. This next story is more inspiring. We had an amazing sunday. Elder Cruz and I marked five baptism dates. Two families and one funny old man named Vicente. But yeah, it is amazing seeing the strength and testemonies that they have been developing. This really is the best part of mish work, seeing that you are making a positive difference in the lives of others...how cool.

Well, i think that is about it for now... I love you all! Miss you guys a ton, especially the last couple days for a reason...i was really `trunky` go figure...but, I know that i am in the right place. Gosh, i just cant ever say enough about how grateful i am for the mission. really is an amazing experience unlike any other. The Church is True. Love you...Keep up the awesome work! Glad that you guys are writing Jonathan, i just wrote a letter to him today, but i will include a little line saying that you received his letter and are writing back.

btw, quick shout out to Bishop Sansborn, I sent a letter to you today, so you can expect one whenever it gets there from here

Cow Preaching

Well, here are a few pictures this week. The first couple may seem a little confusing at first, but it has a great story behind it. Ok, not really, we just wanted to take a picture preaching to cows. Sorry, we are college aged guys...cant help it sometimes. But, i must say, it was well worth it. Some of the best pictures ever.The last is of The Trujillo Zone before transfers. We were really changed a ton. One guy finished the mission, both district leaders became Zone leaders in different places, Martins became Zone

Leader, another became district leader in a different place, anotehr was just transferred...crazy. Changed almost completely. Who knows how long i will stay here in boituva. I am think either just this transfer or one more after...vamos ver. (more photos to come, having problems downloading to blog)

Well, things were a bit different this week. First off the big news is that I have finished my second transfer in the mission field! WHOAOAOOAOAAAAAAAAAA! Cant believe its been this amount of time, but i know i have already talked about the whole time mission space continuom so i will just stop myself here. Second amount of big news....elder martins was transferred.

My new companheiro is Elder Cruz from Florionopolis, in the state of Santa Catarina. Pretty crazy. He seems like a pretty cool guy, but he has been kind of sick today so he hasnt felt very talkative at all. Plus, he doesnt speak any english, but that will really help me establish my portuguese. Right now, I am thinking and speaking, hopefully with elder cruz i will develop the ability to just speak portuguese, without having to concentrate real hard on what people are saying and what i will reply haha. But, we will get along well together and get to work. I will apologize right now i dont have any pictures of him as of yet, you will just have to wait for a week.

Secondly! Kelsey! Nice work! I knew you would get into BYU....never really was any doubting going on. But seriously, so exciting. Congratulations! I guess i have yet one more reason to make visits to BYU after the mish is over right? But seriuosly, so exciting...gotta announce it to the world...MY SISTER IS GOING TO BYU yee haw.

Lets see, gosh, the transfer this week was just so huge, i am having a hard time remembering everything else that has happened. All that i can really remember right now is that Elder Martins had a lot of fun together, working together in our last week. Both of us thought that he would go, but its too bad, really, he became one of my best friends. But, gotta keep putting that shoulder to the wheel and pushing along.One cool thing that has continued to happen has been my spiritual growth, especially in the study of the scriptures. It is amazing the things you can find when you actually take the time to read the words of the prophets, the words of the Lord. Seriously, i have a really strong testimony of the scriptures now, and how through them we can literally here the Lord speaking to us personally. Way cool.

Love you all, will send some pictures in the next email.

Sorry, i am a little scatterbrained today. For the transfer I had to get up at four in the morning to catch a bus to Sorocaba to catch a bus to Sao Paulo, and I have spent the entire day returning too.