Snail Mail dated 30 November '09 (written BEFORE his transfer to the new area)

Oi Familia!
So guess what! As I was finishing up my first letter, what arrives in the mail? A letter from the fam! Dated November 23! Yay! So more of Elder McGregor's snail mail for you guys!

So first, Dad wanted to know how many lessons on average we teach per week, how many people normally are in our teaching group, how many new investigators we get during the week, how many hours we spend tracting vs teaching, time spent with members, the greatest challenges in teaching, whether we eat out much or not, what I spend excess funds on, and who else sends me letters. So here we go:

We teach anywhere from 12-14 lessons per week, but we always aim to teach 20. We aim for 8 lessons with members, 8 others and 4 lessons with recent converts and less active members.

We have, usually, from 8-10 people in our teaching group. They're also pretty volatile, meaning we invite them to be baptized on the first or second lesson. And we baptize them or move on. So --

We'll add anywhere from 3 - 6 investigators per week. So we move pretty quickly. Some we keep for a long time, like Joaquim, based on what we think their potential is to be baptized. Others we cut quickly. It really depends on the person.

So when you say tracting, I assume you mean knocking doors? If so, we tract 0 hours per week. I haven't knocked one door here in Brasil. We don't have to. We do, however, do street contacts. 10 per companion per day is the mission goal, but we usually complete about 8-10 as a companionship. It might appear that these numbers don't add up, but we keep very busy. It's harder to teach lessons during the day because everyone works, but we always have a mountain of things to do after 6.

We spend probably up to 15 hours or more per week with members, asking for references, teaching lessons, etc.

The greatest challenge for us with adults is the fact that no one is married, which is necessary for baptism. For our younger investigators, it's getting mom and dad to let them be baptized. Not super difficult, but we have to be pretty convincing. Another problem is the difficulty we have getting people to go to church. "Will you go to church tomorrow?" "I will." "Great, we'll show up at 8:30 to go with you." We show up Sunday morning. "Oh, sorry, I can't go today for X reason." And it happens every Sunday. Blah. : )

We do not eat out at all. We have lunch every day with members (except P Day). And we don't usually eat until we get home at 9:00, so we eat quite a bit during lunch. : ) I do eat breakfast and dinner every day, though, don't worry.

We spend our money on food and bus rides.At R$2.50 per passage, it's quite expensive and that's without the other bus tickets for Zone Conference, the occasion what our zone leader leaves his cell phone at our house (which means we traveled 3 hours round trip & spent R$30.00 total). We also pay our water and electric bills, which are substantial. Thankfully, these things are generally reimbursable. (Not normal bus rides, though). But it takes about a week and a half to receive the reimbursement. So I find myself a little short on money at times, but it hasn't been a problem yet.

Grandma & Grandpa Fillerup, Jay & Judy, Melissa, and Amber Dayton write me regularly. I'll get a random letter from an old friend every once in a while, but you guys are the only ones that send weekly letters (which is totally fine. No complaints here. I get way more letters than almost all the other missionaries here).

So there you go. Hope that answers quite a few questions.

So Katie was watching the beginning of Beauty and the Beast when she wrote. I must say, the opening music I love. Sing along:
(here he does some doo doo doo's all up and down by pitch - it's pretty funny)

Too much fun. you wrote: "Katie, tu hermanita adorablita."
Portuguese: Katie, tua icmazinha adoravelzinha. Yay. : ) (I hope I typed that write - hard to decipher...)

Mom, I'm glad you're enjoying Seminary. I hope you know that it really does make a difference. Your efforts, though sometimes it may seem that they go unnoticed, make a difference.

Leese told me about New Moon, which is doing pretty well here in Brasil. I assume it was huge in the States. Let me know how our sparkly vampire friends are doing. Oh, and the werewolves as well. : )

Love you guys!
Elder Trenton McGregor

Snail Mail dated 24 Nov 2009 (written BEFORE his transfer to the new area)

Oi Familia!
So first, the letter I'm responding to is from 1 Nov, which was a little while back. Dad talked about his first haircut in Japan. Haha - I've always wanted a straight razor shave -- I hear it gets the job done much cleanlier (yes cleanlier is what it says!) than a normal razor.

I find sometimes that the missionary pace (which Dad spoke about) is quite a pace indeed. We get home usually about 9-9:15, and after planning, I'll take a quick shower and hit the sack at 9:45. Needless to say, I've still got no trouble sleeping. : )

So the new mission president spoke at Stake Conference? Well, I encourage you guys to do what he has suggested. If he's anything like President Bezerra, he is inspired of God. I will also say that after Conference it is easy to be excited about the Gospel. It is much more difficult to retain those feelings -- think back to what you felt while he spoke, and try to continue with those feelings. When was the last time GB3 had a baptism? Do you guys believe it could be you to bring someone else to the Gospel? If not, believe it. And when you do, do you have the faith to begin the work? If not, have it. Read Ether 12, which, as you know, is on faith. Guys, our family is special. I know this now more than ever. There really are people looking for truth in this life. I think many people believe this, but not in their own lives. The exist. They're all around us. I used to say proudly to my friends that many people didn't know I was a Mormon. I was so normal that they wouldn't know it. I could not have been more wrong in being pleased with myself about this. We have the truth. The least we can do is let others know how much we love the Gospel. We must be proud of our beliefs, and ready to speak about them at any time. Those who are seeking truth, when they see our joy in the Gospel, will want a part of it. Guys, each of you has a wonderful testimony. Share it. Whenever it comes up. Every Fast Sunday. With your friends, associates, neighbors. BE NOT AFRAID! : ) People will not be offended. I think many times I didn't want to invite people to church when I could have -- what will be said at church? It might not be ideal. I've learned that there is no such thing as ideal in the imperfect world we live in. People enjoy church. Do not worry about offending -- people DO have interest. Help them see the real truth -- the greatest truth -- in this life. Let them accept or not -- don't choose for them by not sharing.

Anyway, I'll get off the soapbox now. : ) But these are all things I've learned here. Doing missionary work is truly something that brings joy. For many, it only brings a lot of stress : ) It will not be stressful for you guys if you share with love. It's not a math equation -- it will come naturally to you guys as you share with love. Just talk about the Gospel and the happiness it brings. And you'll find yourself surprised at how easy it will be to invite those who show some interest to Sacrament Meeting, or FHE.

Okay, off the soap box -- REALLY -- now : ) : ) : ) : )
So, as you can see, I've changed pens - it's now 30 November 2009. I got the letter previously mentioned last week after p-day had ended. Blah. But all is well. You guys got it eventually, right?

So Leese, you said you wanted SPORE for Christmas? I got to play that game before the mission and it's a lot of fun. I'd recommend it : ) Katie'll like it, too. And of the three holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) I love Christmas the greatest. Only a little bit more and I get to talk to you guys! Very exciting : )

Well, I love you guys! Hope all is well!
Love love love love : )
Elder McGregor

A Transfer! Now serving just outside Rio...

Check out where E McGregor is now!
(pictures from Google Earth)

Green - new area, Caxias
Yellow - second area, Conselheiro Paulino
Purple - first area, Barra Mansa
Red - Rio de Janeiro

and, just to show his areas in relation to the Brazil MTC (CTM)
(the aqua marker, lower left):

Hey hey! Well, as you guys suspected, I was indeed transferred. I am now in the Caxias area, of the Rio de Janeiro zone.

We live here, but I don't know the number of the house. So send letters to the mission office for now, k?
Rua Valença
Bairro Prainha, Duque de Caxias--RJ
Brasil

Elder Nogueira (no gay ruh) is my companion--he's from São Paulo. He's 6 foot 5, so now I really am Elder Magrelo. Good stuff =]
But I'm liking the new area a lot. Sorry, no pictures this week--the LAN house we're in isn't all that great.

I didn't get to say goodbye to any of the members in the last area--both Elder Morris and I were transferred, and the area closed again. We were both surprised. But I suppose that's how it goes, huh? But I'm here working hard in a really stinking hot area. Conselheiro was pretty cool--high altitude. It's stinking hot here. But luckily, to make up for it, we have an air conditioned bedroom!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D Totally fantastic. I'll take a picture of it for next week. Anyway, I love you guys and hope that all is well with you. I'll try to get a pretty good sized snail mail written today, kk?

Love, Elder McGregor

PS--don't know anything about the packages yet, but I'll probably get them both on the 21--we're having the mission conference next Monday. So it's quite possible I won't have time to do emails next week either. But I'll probably get both packages there.

PPS--I'm still not entirely sure how calling on Christmas works. So I'm going to need the house number for next week to talk to you guys. I remember it ends in 4805, and starts with 916, but the rest is escaping me. Looking forward to Christmas!! Love!

Snail Mail dated 23 Nov 2009

Oi Familia!
Tudo Bem? Sorry, it's been a while since I've written you a snail mail, so it's about time, huh? I hope everything's great with you and I'm pretty confident you guys are.

And of course everything's going well here. It's wonderful to be a part of the work, especially here in Brasil where it goes so rapidly. How happy I am to have been called here -- what a blessing. And I hear France is a very different mission -- missionaries that go without baptizing their entire mission. And I baptized in my third week. That's not to say that if you don't baptize, your mission wasn't worth anything -- just much more difficult because it is far less visible -- "it" being the fruits of your work. So I am indeed blessed to serve here where results are almost immediate. Do you guys know I haven't knocked one door since I got here? Not because we're slacking, but because it hasn't been needed. Again, what a blessing! : )

So yeah, I'm really well, and happy to be here. And I hope you guys enjoy my letters -- I try to make them interesting for you. If you find them lacking in something, go ahead and suggest something for me to write about, k? : )

I love you guys, and I know it's a short letter today, but I don't have much time : ( Sorry ... If I were Katie, I'd give you a hug and say, "There, all better!" I love you guys!

Love, love, love
Elder Trenton McGregor xoxoxo

A baptism, Zone Conference and Thanksgiving

Oí família! Tudo bem??
Everything's great here--last week was great =] Thanksgiving, Zone Conference, and a baptism!
So this last week we had lunch on thursday with Fransisco (papai de Nolan) and Kalyla (mamãe), (Fransisco and Kalyla are parents of the samba-dancing toddler Nolan) who lived in Australia for over 6 years. So they knew what Thanksgiving was (Thanksgiving is celebrated in Australia? Maybe they had Americans in their ward there or something), and they offered to do a Thanksgiving Lunch for us =] We had chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy (something I miss substantially--they usually eat them dry here), rolls and stuffing =] Elder Morris' fiancé sent him stuffing in his last package (I told you guys he's engaged, right?), and so we had the opportunity to introduce stuffing to Fransisco's family, as they'd never had it before. Very exciting =]

Friday was our Zone Conference. I won't go over what was said, but I will say that Presidente Bezerra is a man inspired of God. Also, this last week we had 91 baptisms in the mission, which, I'm pretty certain, set the new record for baptisms in a week--normally we have about 50-60. So everyone's super pumped to keep baptizing at this rate =] Wish us luck!

And finally, last week Elder Morris and I had a baptism--Emylenne! She's engaged to one of our formerly less active members, Alan. His father, Pedro, performed the baptism, and it was a very special occasion, as all baptisms are.

So this week I have a special request--E. Morris and I are going to have Joaquim interviewed to be baptized. If all goes well, we'll baptize him this Sunday. So if you guy could pray for him to see the importance of this next step in his life, and to help him give up whatever keeps him from entering into this saving ordinance, I would greatly appreciate it.
Love you guys a whole bunch! Glad everything is well with you guys still! Have a wonderful week!
Elder McGregor


The happy birthday song here in Brasil:

Parabéns pra você (congratulations to you)
Essa data querida (this beloved date)
Muitas felicidades (much happiness)
Muitos anos de vida (many years of life)

x2 =]


And - The new scripture cap I've got for my triple combination
(scripture cover)

Joaquim, a Critter, and baking soda

Oí Família!
Tudo bem?

Things are going well here in Brazil =] Haven't gotten the package yet--I'll either get it this transfer, or if it hasn't arrived by then, next time the zone leaders drop by.

I won't need the Ensign--the mission provides them monthly for us. Pretty sweet =] Glad you're not bovvered =] (I ordered a Conference issue for him. Bry and I would have LOVED to have those while serving our missions. The only way to get them was if someone sent it).

I call you guys on Christmas. I'm looking forward to it, too. And I think I call you guys from the mission office, where all the missionaries gather at Christmas time. A missionary mecca, if you will =]

Angela, Eva and Joaquim are doing well. I think Joaquim will be baptized soon-ish, and the others possibly as well.


So photos this week--first is an out of focus centipede, but it was pretty big. It moved too fast to get a comparison, but it was at least as thick as my thumb, and probably twice as long.

"Bixo" (critter)

Next is a photo of our district this transfer, with our Zone Leaders present. (E. Morris, E. Makiama [my trainer, now ZL], E. Fernelius [ZL], E. Vaniski, me, and E. Dooley in the chair. It's E. Dooley's last transfer--he's out of here!

The next two are our baptism this week--François. He's a fantastic kid, and we'll continue to work with his mom and she'll probably be baptized soon. Very exciting =]



But yeah, all is well here! Hope everything's great with you guys!
Love,
Elder McGregor



Then, in a separate e-mail Trent answers my question as to whether or not he wants us to send baking soda so he can make pancakes. He asked us to send pancake mix, but with the outrageous shipping I sent him a recipe and some baking soda ; )

Basicamente, it's really hard to find baking ingredients here. That's why all Brazilian meals consist of beans and rice, noodles and a type of meat, and possibly egs -- that's all they really sell here. There's no such thing as baking in Brazil, unless you buy a pizza. So I'll continue to look for flour and baking soda, but the easier way would just to send me the pancake mix (krusteez powder stuff. Which is why I asked for in the first place?)

But yes, it would be great to send me baking soda. I'm thinking they don't have it here. And it's pretty tough to find brown sugar here too. Wish me luck! =]

We got the email this morning and snail mail this afternoon!

Oi Familia!

Tudo Bem? Tudo bem aqui. Sorry, today I haven't got much time to write -- churrasco! (In other words, really good meat - smoked : )

So that Halloween movie looks pretty entertaining
(I sent him a few screen shots of this JibJab video Kelsey did starring Katie, Jordan, Elise, Kelsey and Trent:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/dNJ4GjKW7O7265OM )
I remember being a vampire for Halloween once. Way fun.

We always have our own washing machine - the mission buys them for us. Very nice for us : )

Katie; cool stylus thingy - parabéns for learning how to use it well : )

And yes, Daw, miss the banter a lot. But one of the pluses of having an American companion is if I have something really witty to say, I'll just say it. Quite nice : )

So sorry, that's it this time around.

Love you guys!

Elder McGregor