Riviera Paulista is my new area.

This week has been the biggest shock of my life! I thought I knew the language, but the people here speak so fast and use different slang for different things. I would be lost if it wasn't for my companion Elder Nunes. He is a native Brazilian and only speaks Portuguese so sometimes it is hard for us to communicate and plan haha. This week I am learning patience and praying for the gift of interpretation of tongues. I can speak fine, but I have no idea what others are saying to me. I feel like a child unable to communicate and can only eat and fart. There is so much room to improve and become better it is not even funny. It has been a very long week and I don´t know how I could make it another week if it wasn’t for my companion and the Holy Ghost.

This week we had a fun activity called barra de ferro which means rod of iron. We got a really long rope and put blind folds on people and had them hold to the rod which guided them to me and elder Nunes dressed in white. We cut down a small tree out side of the church and tied chocolates to it representing the fruit of the tree haha. It was a really fun activity, but I struggled to talk to people. Please pray for me I really need the help right now!

So my area is called Riviera Paulista  which is pretty much all favelas or slums haha. the first couple of days our so called shower was broken so we had to use cups of water to shower ourselves. I have some pictures which will describe our apartment. I haven´t gotten the chance to take some good pictures of my area yet, but some areas are really bad and some are beautiful in their own unique way haha. I can´t believe I am here it is soo crazy! I have taught a lot of lessons already and contacted a lot of people. My companion already had 6 people marked for baptism so it is up to us to continue to teach them and prepare them. Elder Nunes teaches most of the lesson right now and I give a thought or testify at the end. This week will be better because I am teaching half the lessons. Pray for me haha. Oh mom I can Skype you!!! I don´t know what day exactly I will Skype you so I think I will try to call you and set up a day to do that. I am excited to hear your voice and see you once more before Christmas haha

This computer is really slow so I might not be able to send a lot of pictures right now but every week I will send more and more.

Mom and dad thanks for all the pics and updates. love all of you and please pray for me I really am in need of it right now.

Elder Crandall

Happy Easter

Elder Crandall finished the CTM

I got a call from Brendin’s mission president last night to let me know that Brendin is finished with the CTM and is off to his new area. His companion is from Brazil and speaks very little English. His mission president said that in his interview with Brendin he told him that having a companion that only speaks Portuguese should really help him with the language. Below is a email that his mission president sent us and some pictures. 

To the Family of Elder Brendin Ronald Crandall,

Sister Jackson and I were delighted to welcome Elder Crandall to the Brasil S Paulo Interlagos Mission on Tuesday,19 Apr 2011. Please be assured that he received an enthusiastic welcome from his leaders and fellow missionaries. Pictures should arrive shortly by e-mail or conventional mail of Elder Crandall with Sister Jackson and me, his companion and his CTM group.

Elder Crandall has been assigned to labor with Elder Danilo de Holanda Cavalcante Nunes in the Riviera Paulista Ward of the Guarapiranga Stake. As you can imagine, those who receive the assignment to train new missionaries are among the most faithful and dedicated missionaries in the mission.

Elder Crandall has been asked to write you each week on Preparation Day (Monday). We would ask you to write him weekly as well. The importance of a letter each week from those he loves cannot be overstated. Please remember to share family news and personal experiences that will help him focus on the work of the Lord and increase his desire to serve with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength.Given the time difference with the United States, e-mail correspondence should probably be sent by Sunday evening. Packages and correspondence sent by conventional mail should be addressed to the Mission Office as follows:

Elder Brendin Ronald Crandall

Miss Brasil Sao Paulo Interlagos

Rua Euzio de Souza, 121

Jardim Londrina, Sao Paulo, SP

CEP: 05638-100

Brasil

We look forward to our association with Elder Crandall as we work together to build the Kingdom of God in Brazil. We are so impressed with his desire to serve and feel sure that he will be a blessing to his companion and to our entire mission.

 Love,

PresidentChristopher G. Jackson

Brazil S Paulo Interlagos Mission

Five Days Left in the CTM

Dad nice work on the down hill ski run, but talk to me when you beat my snowball record, or ski jump record ha ha, just kidding. Sounds like Washington is getting a little wet over there. The Cavalcanti’s know how crazy wet it can get over here. The past 3 out of 5 nights have been raining super hard with lightning storms. I have never been in storms like these they are so awesome! Everything about Brazil I love! Especial all the food I have gotten here. I have never eaten this much food before in my life. I have regular breakfast lunch and dinner and they are all pretty big meals then we have snack time at night were you go to the auditorium and eat lots of food again and talk to the Brazilians. I especially love the people down here they are all so fun and friendly. I wish the people in America could learn from them. I have 5 days left in the CTM I am super animado! I can´t wait to go out in the field and get super frustrated with the language and continue to grow in the gospel.

Everyday I see more and more of how true the Gospel is and how everything just fits. My class talked about the plan of salvation or plan of happiness for and hour and a half and then the book of Mormon and the bible and I know with out a shadow of a doubt that the book of Mormon is truly the words of the lord and together with the bible is a plentitude of the words of God. Heavenly Father loves us so much because he sent his son and has given us a prophet and has trusted us with the priesthood to perform the saving ordinances to return to the precsnçia de Deus. I love the gospel, brazil and especially my family. There is still much to learn here, but I am excited to see how I can be an instrument in the lords hands for spreading the Gospel.

Brian its good to hear that you are working with Mr. Peterson again he is a really cool guy, tell him hi for me:) Devin and Becca I love getting emails from you! Devin if you have time I would love to hear some stories about you mission that you loved. Dustin please keep me updated on how things are going with you and meu novo sobrina! (my new niece). Make sure that reading the Book Of Mormon is a priority in you day even if it is just for 5 minutes because it is truly blessing my life as I study ponder and pray about it. The holy ghost is real and I feel it as I read the scriptures and when you have faith in the lord all things are possible. Jesus Cristo performed miracles through faith. Faith is the power of god. I love all of you so very much and thank you for your prayers and support. I thank you for your prayers for helping me get my visa so I can come to this promise land of teaching. I love all of you so much!

Paz fora Elder Crandall

Meu Primero Semmana

First thing I want to share is my experience at the São Paulo Interlagoos Temple. Oh my gosh it is so pretty! My first Temple out side of the States, the temple grounds were beautiful if you had your back towards the roads and broken down buildings haha. Every part of the Temple was beautiful and the inside you could tell was well crafted. My relationship with my companion is getting a lot better, I prayed to the Lord that he would give me strength and courage in the language and now we share our lessons 50 50.

My companion is very emotional and good at feeling the promptings of the spirit. He is going to be a great missionary and he is already very good at speaking the language. I notice the days that I pray for a better time with the language and each day in general I have to show forth my faith and enthusiasm for the work. Now everyday I am the first to get up and put a smile on my face and speak the language with confidence. The Brazilians here are my favorite part of this CTM. They are so open and out going. To be honest I don´t think I have ever made this many new friends in such a short time! They all love my Spiderman watch haha they call me Elder Spider Man. I sit with them every meal and practice the language and make new friends.

Also very exciting this was the first time outside of the states that I got to watch Coferencia General. Unfortunately I don´t have my notes with me right now so I don´t remember everyone's names. One of the many quote that I liked was "To see the majestic view of the top you must put forth the hike" it shows that you must put forth the hard work first. A lot of the talks were on families or the priesthood. I like the talk "to be or not to be...well actually that's a very good question" He talked about the differences of to be and to do. To do´s are simple acts that can be merely check off your list, for example to be a father you can check that off as a to do, but to be a good father that's something you must always work on being.

To be honest I don´t think I have ever written down so many notes before in my entire life! I had over 20 pages of notes and my companion had 60! I have never felt the spirit so strongly as well, I feel a lot more susceptible to personal revelation in my everyday life. I wish I had my notes with me right now because I have a lot of good quotes. Oh I like what the sister said about be as little children. Everything is so true about what she has brought to my attention, little children are no respecter of person, they are always the first to love, and sometimes they say the most profound and incorrigible things. 

When Jesus Christ said "Behold your little ones" He used the word behold, not see, not glance, but to be like them. There is a lot we can all learn from little children and most importantly be humble as children. I find the days that I am more successful is when I am striving to humble myself. I don´t envy someone's better skills at the scriptures or the language and I worry and care about other people. I receive more personal revelation for me to become a better missionary. Just the other night I prayed to learn how I can become a better missionary and I had the strongest prompting that said look through my notes that I took from Conferência General because they are spoken by the mouths of my prophets and are for they benefit. So I have been making this a morning habit to look through all my notes.

Also I had my first Devotional here at the CTM and it was very interesting. We tried to sing the EFY Melody, but had to cut a lot of it out because it was to hard for them haha. When the speakers began their talks I started to take notes in Portuguese! I didn't even realize it haha. And when they bore their testimony's I knew every word. I love this work!

I love all of you so very much

Elder Crandall

Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration

Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration

Ola from Brazil

Written on April 1, 2011

This week has been crazy! I am typing on a Brazilian keyboard right now so it is a little strange at this moment, but I will get used to it. Well I have a new companion his name is Elder Keeny and he is from Washington as well. Everyone is from Washington except for a few from |New York and Philly. Elder Keeny is really good at the language but every time I get  talking to a Brazilian he takes over and talks the whole time. We had a teaching appointment and he pretty much talked the entire time and when we got to a subject were I knew I could ask the question like what is your favorite food he just laughed at my question because it wouldn't´t help the investigator come closer to Christ. All I want to do is practice, but he is beginning to get on my nerves. I can´t wait to have a companionship inventory so I can improve my learning here. Anyways enough about that, I am having a great time and the weather here is sooooo nice! Even when it is cloudy outside it is still warm and humid. I don´t need a blanket at night because it feels perfect. I feel like I am camping because the windows are open and the weather is nice at night and I have a beautiful view of the city at night. One elder made the comment that the city form our window looks a lot like Seattle at first then you look a little more and it is like 30 Seattle's in a huge area. This week I am working on listening to native speakers to train my ear to the different pronunciation of words so it will be easier in the future to answer back. Oh also something funny I meet two elders whose names are Elder De Jesus and Elder Dos Santos ha-ha and they are companions. (the name of the church in Portuguese is A Igreja de Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Ultimos Dias). The Brazilians are really cool and funny like an elder came up to me and said in English Go Go Power Rangers haha and another elder said my name is elder Bond Elder James Bond haha. I am so happy to be here and am so grateful that my prayer and your prayers have been answered. I have no idea how to start a new paragraph the enter key doesn't´t work or something ha-ha. My flight down here was really cool I flew on a 777 which is this super big plane! The engines were huge and I was so surprised that the airplane could actually take off and fly. They gave me breakfast and dinner and it was hard to fall asleep because I sat next to the bathroom so every time someone went to the bathroom the light would hit me and I would wake up ha-ha, but for how much sleep I got I surprisingly had tons of energy. Once at the airport we were going through all these things that required people to look at my passport and we gathered together and prepared to exchange our money. It was crazy too because just before it was my turn to exchange currency the power at the airport went out and it was super dark ha-ha. It was a crazy experience but after 2 minutes the power turned on again and I was able to exchange my currency. The money down here is really pretty and they are called Reals. Everything about Brazil is really fascinating and I am excited to see more when I get out of the CTM. I know the lord will help me with the language I need to put forth the effort and try my hardest to talk  and practice so that I may talk with the people who the Lord has prepared. The people down here are humble and prepared as it says in 1 Nephi when Lehi and his family were traveling in the wilderness the Lord promised them that if they stay faithful there will be a promise land for them. For me that promise land is Brazil. This email is a reassurance that I am still alive here and that everything is going well. I wrote and sent you a letter that has information about letters and packages if you wish to send any to me. I love all of you and will write to you again next week hopefully I think my

P- day is either Tuesday or Wednesday. I will let you know the next time I write. Eu amo vocês e estou muito animado para servir akey em Brazil! Atê mais! Elder Crandall