What's Up?! from the hoods of Africa!

April 15, 2013

What’s up everyone!

So just to let you all know, writing emails is the most stressful part of the week!! I’ve got so many to read and answer! I love it but ya'll need to have a little paciencia. I will write you! I try my best. Maybe not every question will be answered. But anyway.... sorry about getting upset right there. I should be counting my blessings this week!!!! It was soo exciting you guys would not believe it!!! NOT. hahaha like one of the most boring weeks of my life! Mainly because poor elder brown was sick for like 3 days straight. Sooo I was in the house a lot. haha, the house that decided not to have energy this week! Man I'm going to miss these times when we got the air conditioning going, the water running, and the lights on and then... Weeoooomm. Nada. It brings almost a joy ;) hahaha anyway... I did write down a few things that happened this week.

The crazy lady.

This lady was drunk and out of her mind! She was like yelling all kinds of stuff and in some native African Lang and wandering back and forth across the street! In the middle of traffic! Like I almost saw her get hit so many times! People were trying to help her but she would just hit them! And then she started beating the cars! hahaha that part was funny! She would just get ticked at a random car, run in front of it, make it stop and then just start wailing on the hood! hahaha but it was sad.... haha .. but kinda funny..

Next, there was fly hunting!!

This is what I did when elder brown was sick. We have this thing that looks like a tennis racket but its electrified. hahaaha Yeah, you know what I”m sayin. Haha Well needless to say, I put my camo and African war paint on and me and the flies in our house went at it! The flies almost won when the biggest fly flew right into my nose and I hit the ground! but obviously since I (like captain moroni) was fighting for my liberty and peace in the house was strengthened by the Lord and I beat the flies. (Notice: fly hunting, in reality, did happen, but the accounts in this story are not necessarily all true. However, the story is trademarked. TM. Yeah, don’t be publishing  this!)

Next.

I'm famous in Luanda! But for reals! There is a picture of me and elder walker walking the roads (with our laundry bags haha) on facebook that some random person took! Long story short the picture has 500 likes and counting and 300 plus comments! And we’re getting referrals off of it! Cool huh? Technology is a beautiful thing people.

So the missionary work has been slow this week. Investigators are being lazy Angolans as usual. Faith and patience though! Haha it’s our House Motto.

Umm what else... oh yeah I sinned this week.... like pretty bad. It was the second day elder brown was sick and I was going insane.. So I went into elder chandler’s room and listened to his country music. Yeah..... most pleasurable sin I’ve ever committed. But then I felt really bad, and I knew my area wouldn’t grow if I was doin’ stuff like that so I repented. 2nd principle of the gospel! And thank goodness for it!

Speaking of elder chandler. I freaking love this guy! Haha sooooo funny. He’s 22 and he has the best stories man. He had a rough upbringing and well his stories are the best. We talk a lot. It would be way cool to be comps with him in the future.  He grew up in south Cal like right next to Compton. Yeah.. straight negro man. haha I love him! But I still miss elder davis. My, the friends you make on the mission are priceless! I love it! Well, y’all keep on keeping on. Trust in the Lord with everything! Seriously, everything. The successful missionaries take the principles learned on the mission and apply them to their lives. And if we don’t... it’s our pride stopping us! Guys, I’ve learned that I’m super prideful. I’m constantly working on it. But ya.. fica bem ya?

I love you all! Seriously, everyone who is reading this.. all y’all. Voces!

Com Amor,

Elder Tingey

April 8, 2013

Well Hello everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed conference! I will get to enjoy it in two

weeks! Hahaahaha so thanks for giving me a sneak peak at the good

stuff! Actually, last night we all got together and watched the

Priesthood session and the Reedy’s (an American family here). Can you

say SPRITUAL BEEF?! Oh it was soo awesome! But I’ll talk about that

later.

Sorry peeps that my letters haven’t been that great the past few

weeks. An hour and a half to do internet is stressfull! But I will do

my best for you! First off, I got letters yesterday!  I was so happy!

So, thank you Troy’s family, the Berge family, Stefunny! Emmaline, and

Jayne! And mom thank you for the package. I made biscuits and gravy this

morning with Elder Wilhelm. mmmmm Good! So Stef congrats on the

mission! That’s so awesome but when the heck do you leave? And country

music; yes! I love how everyone is gettting into country music! The

Berges too! hahaha Country music is like the gospel. You share it with

someone and some people feel of its goodness right away but others

will reject it.... but then it works on them and they realize how good

it is and how it will uplift their life! And so they go searching for

it and they find it and they feel the joy! Hahahaahaha like that?! It’s

true though! Speaking of country music, the Lord has provided a way for

me to hear some country music here! hahaha I freaked! Oh I love that

stuff! It’s soooo good. Troy ,your family is sooo darn cute! I love them!

I wrote physical letters to a lot of you who wrote me so hopefully

you’ll get them within a month! ( Mom they’re coming to you first and

the addresses are attached. If you could mail them for me please that

would be awesome!)

Before I forget, I got to give a shout out to Ashley Clifford! What’s up

girl! hahahaha! (dont blush)

Oh and Mother, I really want your CDs. Like, you know the ones you made

with you singing. Yeah, those. Can you send those on like a pin-drive

please????!? Elder Harper has some songs you’ve done and I hear them

and I’m just like.... this would be way better if my mom was singing

it!

Alright, story time.

So this week was literally attack of the girls!! Like for real, idk

what”s going on! I think I just let my hair grow a bit too long and it’s

starting to curl and well.... haha. So me, Elder Brown and Elder Walker

are at the bank getting money from the ATM and all the bank workers

motion for us to come inside. So we go in and they’re all women. Great.

And they’re asking us like who we are and what we do and what not. And

then, it just gets too much like too many questions. So usually what we

do to get people off of us is give them a pass along card and go. So

that’s what I started to do. Except this pass along card that I pulled

out didn’t have our number on it. So I made the mistake saying I’ll

write our number on this card and give it to them. BAD IDEA! I know I’m

stupid! Wham! All of the sudden they are literally, like on me! I kid

you not, there was like 5,s 25 year old girl bam right next to me trying

to see me write the number! And they start touching me and what not

and I’m like oh! NO! My comps just walked outside but I was trapped!

Finally, I’m able to get through the "crowd" and get outside. So I’m

outside waiting for the ATM and the walls are glass and they keep

motioning for me to come inside and I’m just like no! So finally they

call our phone! Oh my gosh! Elder Walker answers it and they’re like,

“send the tall one in!” Elder Walker looks at me “dude they want you to

go in” and I’m like no. And so this goes back and forth a few times

until finally Elder Walker just yells into the phone in Portuguese "He

can’t date you! And he already has a girl friend!" Hahahahaahah sooo

funny! Elder Brown is a wise man, he keeps a pic of his girl and just

flashes that any time something like that happens. But it didn’t stop

there. This kind of stuff just was happening all throughout the

week! Even at church! All the mocas started flirting with me ( oh

sorry, young women) and I’m like trying to be nice but firm and then

they started swarming me standing next to me seeing how tall I was (which is every African girl’s excuse "wow your tall, let me stand next

to you to see how tall you are") Anyway it was bad. Geez!!! Darn

snakes! Hahaha its all good though, entertainment I guess!

So my new area..... needs work. So we’re gonna be doing some serious

work! It’s basically like were opening the area up. There is nothing

going. And we had to remark some baptisms from my old area because of

some complications with commandments in the past. But they’ll still

happen. Don’t worry, Rita’s family will be baptized! If it’s the last

thing I do! I saw them at church yesterday and they’re like, “we already

miss you!” And man, my heart just like broke! ahh!

So Elder Brown. He’s a stud from Cali bra. But yeah, he is super cool.

hahaah So funny our first weekly planning session, at the end we have

comp inventory and he just looks at me and goes ..." so basically, I

have no clue what I’m doing so we’re gonna learn together.." HA! I

busted up laughing! Soo funny! It’s his first time being senior comp.

I’m really glad I’m with him because we’re pretty close in language

skills so I get to practice a lot. My language skills are being tested and

it’s awesome! Oh I live with elder brown (cali) elder walker (utah)

elder chandler (cali, and the funniest guy ever who knows everything

about engines and what not and is gonna hook me up with a lift on my

truck that dad’s going to buy me after the missh ;) and he loves

country music! and well.... haha... haha.. I’m not breaking any rules, I

swear! I just live in the house!) elder wilhelm (az, st johns) and

elder harper (cali but his family is moving to montana).

So, no mom, I haven’t lost any weight, I’ve actually gained 12 pounds....

Things happen when you don’t eat right and bread is a lot of your

meals.... haha, but I like gaining weight. Makes me look better ;)

No mom, I don’t need money. I’m learning to live like dad. Speaking of

which, Dad, I got your emails this week. Thanks!  I wish I could be with

you! Sounds like a blast!

So, Darin, you are a freaking stud man! Dude Priesthood session of General Conference was all about you bro! like I couldn’t stop thinking about you!

Keep preparing yourself well. The priesthood is amazing. At home, a lot of

people have it so it’s difficult to really see how amazing it is. But

out here, the pickin’s are slim. Acting in the name of GOD, the one all

powerful and ruler of all; You are his son! Like wow! And He can

perform miracles through you! You have the power of God! like holy

cow! Us missionaries talk about super powers a lot, but we already

have the best one. The powers of all powers is at your disposal. Wow!

Sorry, I’m just fascinated by the Priesthood this past week.

Babes, wow, I’m so proud of you for doing that service. That is so

nice! Doesn’t it just make you feel so good! And just think you can do

little things all the time and always have that feeling! Uplifting

comments are some of the best service projects ever! They work

miracles. Elder Davis did it to me and I love that man.

Marissa, keep on keepin on! The mission is amazing at how it prepares

you for so much. With me its really preparing me for Fatherhood. It’s

amazing. Wish I would have started before the mission learning these

things.

Hannah, you little cute girl! I can’t wait to talk to you on Mother’s

day! I just want to hug you! I can just imagine you and Travis playing

amongst the African kids sometimes. Haha I love it.

My time is short. Sorry this letter was pretty short, but I gotta email

President! Keepin’ the rules; you know how I do. Entao, eu amo voces!

perseveram ate o fim!

Elder Tingey

Praise to the Man!! Well, the Elder! Elder Davis!

Praise to the Man! Oh my favorite Elder Davis left for home today.
that guy is a stud! Seriously, I learned soo much from him about all
aspects of the mission and life. He cared so much about people and his
love just shined through him! Not gonna lie, I was pretty upset when he
left. I was dreading his last day. He left at night and I gave him
one last hug before he took off to the airport. Man, Dude I was on the
verge of tears! But I held it together! I went and took a shower after
that  and I still held it together. I got out of the shower, dressed
and then went to my desk. What I found on my desk was just a simple
thing that Elder Davis had done, but it had a powerful and very personal
effect. After I saw that, I lost it. I was a wreck for about an hour.
Ah! Soo hard to see him leave! But for real, he was and still is a
champ! Ah love that man!

Last two letters- Happy Easter/My Wonderful Fam!

Happy Easter!

April 1, 2013

Hello family! Wow k so those pics for easter?!! Oh my gosh, my family is beautiful!!! Holy cow Mom, Marissa, Babes, and Hannah, You guys are gorgeous!!! Darin Bro you just look like a stud!! Dad, missed you and your email! You must be having too much fun in Costa Rica.

Xan sorry i missed your farewell, sounded like it was good! hahaha mom you’re hilarious! I miss those times when we all just talk and laugh and love each other as a family. That’s what were doing when I get home! "Can you feel the love tonight!" Darin, bro, good on you man for reading your scriptures! Aren’t they awesome?! Seriously, I love them so much it’s just like when I’m reading about Alma or something and bam! He just lays down some spiritual beef! And your like, oh dang!!! oh dang!!! hahaha Love it! But yeah, march madness man! That pic (of pro basketball injury) was gross! We had a little march madness of our own, haha we made brackets for transfers. Speaking of transfers, I’ve been transferred to Benfica B. Same house, Same branch (so I’ll still get to see my investigators!), Different area. And my new comp is Elder Brown. He’s super cool and super chill. haha I missed being Elder Davis’ comp by one transfer! One stinking transfer! Dang it! Oh well, I love that man. He is so awesome. He goes home on Wednesday and I swear I’m gonna cry. Like, for real man, he is so legit! Poor guy, is having a tough time accepting that he is done. I assume that’s how I will be. But man, we had some great times! We went on a division on Thursday and Friday. Oh my, sooo legit! We had some awesome lessons and then we were walking home and we got a ride from a guy on a motorcycle (it’s like a truck motorcycle, it has a bed) and he was soo drunk but it was so fun! Such a thrill! We’re just sitting in the back going 50 an hour on the highway at night just laughing at this drunk guy who was driving us! Oh such a thrill, most fun I’ve had here probably. hahah I felt like dad the whole time. Dang it the power went out! Now it’s back. Anyway....

It’s been a good week. Things are moving in our area. Quite honestly, I’m sad to leave the area because it was going so well. But, oh well, got lots of work to do in this new one cause it’s got nothing going for it, honestly.

Freak man I love my investigators! They are champs! Seriously we have like 8 baptisms within the next month! Hmm what else happened this week? Oh, we had zone conference that was good. I’m excited about this next transfer. My language is going to improve so much just because I’ll have more confidence and I’ll be forced to speak it! Wahoo! 

Oh family! I love you guys so much. You are champs! Keep sticking together and to the gospel. I love you guys! Babes and Hannah, you are growing up way to fast. Babes, you’re like a teenager already! Like for real; you just look gorgeous! There is a scripture about long hair for women and how it’s good for them hahaaha. It’s in 1 corinthians. Idk where exactly, but hahaa it’s good. And if anyone ever feels fat there’s a scripture for that too. It means you are just full of God’s knowledge. Heck, look at Pres Monson. Living proof! Well, I love you guys so much! Keep choosing the right. Read your scriptures daily! You will feel a difference, I promise! Be good members! Focus on the basics: faith and repentance and enduring to the end. But remember, you’ve got to endure it well; not just endure, but endure it well. Oh my goodness! I want to give you hugs! I love you so much!

With Love Angolano,

Elder Tingey

My Wonderful Fam!!

March 25, 2013

Hey everybody!

Haha you guys are awesome, you know that? I write one letter about an off week and my family comes rushing to the rescue in support! I love you guys!

First off, sorry dad about last week that was my fault, I was just frustrated. Trust me, y’all I’m learning some serious patience out here. I better come home soo patient with people. It’s hard because I’m always like a business let’s get ‘er done kind of guy. But seriously, patience and long suffering... Ah! It’s truly a Godly quality. If God didn’t have patience we’d all be dead. Ha! The wrath of God would be upon us. Speaking of the wrath of God... well, I’ll save it for later. But let’s answer some questions. No I don’t recognize the pictures Dad... sorry. And well.. my Portuguese.... it changes everyday. I’m probably a lot better than I think I am. I’d say.... a 6. Nao sei. If I wanted to write you a letter in Portuguese, I could. Speaking is a little harder because you gotta go fast. But I can understand pretty dang good. It just depends on the topic. I suck at rolling my ‘r’ s here. I’m not even trying. Just the old people roll them. It’s the old Portuguese that’s more like Spanish. The correct Portuguese way now is a hard H with a gutteral sound ( haha best two years). Yes, my shoes are super dirty. It’s cause I walk in dirt and mud and sewage all day! Oh I’m so grateful for these shoes you have no idea! So comfy. But freaking ugly. I’m going to get a nice Portuguese pair here before I come home. Yes, I’m receiving your emails each week and thank you for writing me. I love you DAD!

Now mom’s turn: Umm, no the weather is the same, except for this week it has been pretty rainy, which I love. Typical day... get up breakfast, studies, lunch, peace out to the area. We are there till about 7:30 if we don’t have an appointment scheduled for later, and then we come home an hour for dinner and then plan for the next day and work out. But let’s be honest, I’m so tired and lazy for working out. I need to keep a good schedule for that. Whatever, I’ll work on it and the other million things I’m working on. I fix every meal for myself except, on Sundays, we have lunch at a member’s house. Yes, the spices helped thank you. But you don’t have to send any more cause I have to pay for the packages sometimes.  My meals vary. I eat a lot of potatoes though. Haha I fry them. I love my French fries. Yes... I’m taking my meds... okay that’s a lie. I didn’t at all this week. I’m sorry! I’ll do better! Yes, the elders in the mugging are fine. I’d say when we’re out of the house it’s about 75 Portuguese 25 English. Lots of people like to try to speak English with us. And at home it’s straight English. We don’t speak any other languages, but if I were to learn another language out here it would be French. Lots of people speak it here. There are tribal langs but everyone speaks Portuguese too. Unless you’re a 100 year old granny that I say hi to in the street and you say some weird thing in a tribal language. (happened). We have to be home by 9. My area really isn’t that dangerous. Haha, although one night we were walking home and Leo ( like the only member in our area) messed with us and lifted my backpack up from behind me. ( I didn’t know it was him at first) and bam I had my fist cocked and I turned around so fast ready to take this guy out! Good thing I realized it was Leo!

Okay, now for the week. Man I gotta write fast! So, a couple things. I  made a commitment for when I get rich and super loaded; I’m going to come help out some kids here in Angola. Man, met an orphan kid the other night. He didn’t beg or anything, but he literally had nothing and my heart just broke. I cried that night. We gave him a dollar (totally breaking the rules) for a taxi to the city he was trying to get to. Then the next day, I see these kids playing Futbol in front of this wall, and this wall is just straight covered in porn. Like, it was horrible! My heart just hurt and I got angry for the circumstances here. These kids just grow up with it in their face! FOGO! I hate it! I hate it! I hate it! Then they succumb to it and their life just gets screwed over! PEOPLE stay away from porn. Every single form! Ugh! Anyway. So on Saturday we’re in a lesson and these massive clouds just rolled in and bam! African storm baby! It was nuts. My umbrella did squat. I was like screw it and just put it in my pack. We were soaked for the rest of the day and it rained the rest of the day! Lightning was everywhere and the thunder was so nuts; it literally shook the earth. Like seriously, it was like the wrath of God! I felt like I was Alma the younger when the angel appears to him and the angel is just like what? Can’t you feel the power of my voice?! Doth not my voice shaketh the earth?! Hahaha I love that part! Anyway, we get out of the lesson and oh buddy, I thought I was going to become a true missionary that day because I had to find a bathroom. Like, something was going to happen to my pants! So luckily, there was this part that was African wilderness. So Elder Walker and I hop the fence and we’re in this jungle. ..mind you, it’s pouring rain. BOOM! Yeah, well needless to say, always carry TP with you! haha That was a day for the journal! hahahaha. Then yesterday, we had 7 investigators show up to church! 7! It was awesome. Of course Rita and Telma came. They’re are champs. Then these two women we met on the street the day before (ha! soaked in the rain) actually came. We were stunned. I took the woman’s little boy to nursery and he got these huge tears (as grandpa would say in telling a story about me, he got this big old crocodile tears) and he wanted his mommy. haha That cute kid. I love African kids man! And Evandro and his family came! Like, what the heck?! They never come! They are the family that I first sent pics of. Oh, and then this guy in our area came, we don’t know him and he’s never seen the missionaries and he’s like, I just felt I was supposed to come here. BOYA! What up! The Lord must love us, or something. 

Anyway, that’s my week. Haha, love the emails guys! Darin... haha Bro, I freaking love you. You’re great. Just don’t let it get to your head. Read the definition of humility in PMG (Preach My Gospel.) It’s sick! You can still be bold and confident. It’s just all about how you are with the Lord. It’s awesome. Babes, hahahaah I’m lovin’ the rebellion! No homework!!!!!! Hahaahaha, except that’s basically all I do half the day. Study! Study! Study! What does this person need?  What can help this person in they’re life? Except, homework is so much better when you actually love the people you are doing it for. That’s how Hometeaching should be. Ask yourself, what message can help this family in they’re life? What do they need to here? That’s something I wish I would have done. I’m going to be such a baller hometeacher when I get home! Marissa, ha! It looks like you are just having a good time! I’m glad. I love you a ton. I got your pictures up in my room and I look at one everyday. Hannah, you are soooo darn cute! haha I miss your smarty pants personality that is so cute you just have to laugh! Matt, hahahaha nice bro! way to be! Austin, I swear I’ll wait 3 months. Trust me. I SWEAR!!! That’s going to be fun when we all get back from our missions. Xan, good luck girl! Entao, tenho que ir! Mas ate proximo vez! Eu amo voces! Mutio mutio mutio!

You are my rockstars!

Elder Tingey

Last two weeks: The Mish and Another House

The Mish

3/18/2013

bom Dia para todo mundo,

Hey family, friends what’s up?

I’m frustrated that this computer is so slow. Like really, it’s

ridiculous. Tech in the U.S. sooo nice. Anyway, my week... was a rough

one. Thank you mom for praying for me (and I thank others as well).

I learned that I’m really just not a good communicator sometimes; especially when the other person isn’t a good communicator as well. So basically I’ve been frustrated, and trying to humble myself constantly. Ha I think Darin will go through a lot of what I’m feeling when he is out on the mish haha. The mission just teaches you so much stuff; gives you so many experiences to learn from. Kinda crazy that I’ve been out for 4 months.

Mom, thank you for the two packages of spices and sauces (the two small white ones). Ha I was a little down that there was no note or letter in the first one. Haha, I was, like, “Ah dang it! 14 bucks all the way around the world and no note!” But it’s okay Elder Davis made me be grateful. Ah I love Elder Davis! He’s my district leader (and he lives with us) and he is just awesome. He goes home in two and a half weeks and I’m dreading the day. haha I really don’t want him to go. When we go on divisions together It’s awesome. But really it doesn’t matter who you’re with when you’re teaching people and the lesson just goes well; the joy you feel is the

same.

Speaking of lessons going well...... Rita’s family came to church

again yesterday! Whahooo! Did you guys get that picture I sent of

Lucas? So we had a lesson with them again yesterday. It was the

Restoration again because we hadn’t taught that to two of her

daughters. So we taught that and basically Rita was teaching it with

us too and just spot on with every point! Quite honestly, I think the

lesson was more for Rita. So anyway, long story short, I asked them all

if they would be baptized on the 20th of Abril, I mean April. And they

said YES! Finally!  Whaooo! So now, Rita and all of her daughters (over

8) will be baptized on the 20th! I’m sooo excited. I love that family

sooo much, they are just champs. Telma is amazing; going to seminary, all

the activities and stuff, and just is awesome! That family is going to

be awesome members. I’m going to be really sad if I get transferred in

two weeks. And I’m going to literally cry if I get transferred to Huambo

or Lumbango and I can’t see them be baptized. Like for real, cry. I love

them sooo much! I’m coming back to Angola to baptize Lucas. I already

decided! Haah. But yeah, that’s my week in a nut shell.

Oh Elder D, my MTC companion, apparently, is really sick. They think he has malaria or dung fever or something like that. He’s living at presidents right now. He’s miserable. Poor guy!

The language is really doing a lot better this week. Glad to know everyone is well. Hahaha, Mom your letters keep on gettting shorter and shorter. But I know you’re busy, and tired. I don’t blame you. You rock! You’re the best mom ever and I love you so much!

Everyone CTR!!

Com muito amor Africano,

Elder Tingey

Another House Again!

3-11-2013

Well Hello America!

Well, we moved back to our original house this week! sooo much closer to our area and we have water and energy! Yes! I took a shower the other day and I totally forgot we had hot water in that house! Such a baller (slang word for really good basketball player—which translates to anything as “awesome”) shower! But yeah, not much has happened this week. Unfortunately, my comp got sick. Lovely. And I think he is giving it to me. My throat is starting to kill in the mornings! But I like our new house. We are back living in Benfica and we’re with 4 other missionaries. I’m glad Elder Davis is in that house. I love that elder! This is his last transfer. He only has like 3 weeks left! nooo! I don’t want him to go home! Whatever though.I’m learning to work with people. Correction: live with people 24/7!  It’s hard! Like, you don’t even do that with your wife! NUTS. But I’m learning lots of things. 

Troy you wrote me! And about that book, turns out the old mission president left it in our house and wants all the elders to read it. So I read it. haha already. Took me a week just in my spare time at night and in the morning and at lunch and dinner and stuff. Good stuff. Just FYI for everybody it’s like a how to deal with people and win friends by Dale Carnagie. It’s got great stuff in there. But the hardest part is applying it!! ah! whateves.

I think yesterday was the best day of the week. Rita’s whole family came to church! Oh my gosh I was sooooooo excited! And they were on time! A member picked them up! Oh what an awesome member Marcela is. She literally looks like Opera Winfrey. Like they’re sisters, I swear. But anyway, yeah the whole family came and they loved it! Rita’s oldest daughter, Gezella (who is the mother of Lucas my favorite kid in the whole world) has a baptismal date! And Telma, the next one down is awesome! She’ll have one here soon. Rita is soooo close! Can’t wait for that whole family to get baptized. Lucas is my favorite. I swear I’m coming back to Angola in 3 years to baptize him when he is 8. Ah I love him! I’m gonna send a picture of him. Haha he had me take him around and introduce him to all the missionaries yesterday. That kid is such a stud!!

Letters are always appreciated! Thank you Troy, Clara, and Austin for the letters!

Coolest thing we saw today! So we were playing Futbol this morning and a government helicopter flew over circling us and these guys are all dressed in black, masks and everything, just standing outside the helicopter on that platform with these rifles in there hands. Ha! sooo cool. But that’s the government for ya here! Well, sorry this one is so short! I’m going to try to send pics so yeah. I love you all. EVERYONE choose the right! Be good members for the missionaries. I might send another email if I have time. But ciao for now!

Love

Elder Tingey

Last two weeks (most recent is first) A Stormy Night in Luanda/ Angola, Luanda Baby!

March 4, 2013

Subject: it was a stormy night in Luanda

day 59... (idk what it really is)

no energy (imagine typing sounds)

no water

water pump still broken

its been almost a month...

barely..living.. tell my... ah. tell my mom... I.... love her... ah. ah. ahhhhhhh. 

Hahaha what’s up y’all? I’m  not quite dead but conditions are dificult! Wow, so much has happened at home I don’t know where to begin and I might even forget some stuff! But congrats Aunt Tiffany! Geez that’s weird.. I feel like Tyler probably did with Lizajayne. Darin congrats to you! Bro you write THE best letters! Like we should be writers together! Oh my gosh I’m  dying laughing here in the cyber cafe when I read them! Dude so awesome! Marissa! Oh my goodness! Not gonna lie it’s kinda cool... I always wanted to wear one of those casts and just have girls do favors for me... LUCKY! Haha ya gotta look on the bright side of life! (sing that sentence please) 

Tingey fam, my heart goes out to y’all for papa. so sad. but! That lucky dog gets to finally learn so many of the mysteries of life! I’m a little jealous. I just want to go to heaven sometimes and start learning more! Like seriously I have soo many questions to ask people up there! And could someone get me Paige’s mission address? Poor girl just had the biggest shock of her life out there. We have been emailing but I need to write her a letter cause our emails are just too short. We need a good twin talk. 

So fun to hear about your trip Mom and Dad! Dad way to score the paddle board! 

Alright! Y’all ready to hear about my week! It’s a little... interesting! hahaahahahaha

So last Monday we started burger night. Oh my gosh best idea ever!! We made burgers and fries and oh man the were delish! American food baby! But that night after we made burgers this huge storm came out of no where! It was soo fast! Like all the sudden the wind started shaking the windows and then I went over to the window and bam! The power to the whole city that I can see just goes poof! It was soo cool to watch! And then the windows got all foggy. Haha Elder Wilson was in his room and he didn’t know what happened and he started screaming "theres evil spirits!" So funny. So we’re like let’s go watch the storm from the penthouse! So we go up there and into a room and we open the windows and just are taking in the sight and the storm and then a gust of wind slams the door shut! And Elder Wilson just starts screaming NOOOOOO!! no!!! and we’re like what? And he’s like it’s locked from the other side! Great. We are locked inside the penthouse! So we start messing with it. We get the handle off finally of the door but it’s still locked. Anyway it’s hard to explain but we couldn’t get the door open over all. So Elder Walker just opens a window and Elder McCune and I are watching and this is our thought process: Elder Walker is looking out the window. He’s climbing on the window.. ha he’s doing it as a joke....OH MY GOSH ELDER WALKER JUST WENT OUT THE WINDOW! We are 5 stories up and Elder Walker goes out the window and is free climbing slash scaling our building! So he finds a window that’s open that’s the room next to us. Goes in but that door is locked too! So ultimately were still locked in. We’ve been in here for like an hour! Finally Elder Walker is somehow able to get that door off its hindges and comes and open our door! Hahahahaaha oh my gosh my companion! He’s nuts! Hahahahaha such a good story! 

Oh but what else has happened.. well Angolans are lame! Freak. They have no sense of time or commitement. Okay that’s a lie but its true for most. Our electrician hasn’t come all week to fix our pump after more than 100 calls to him and he says he’s "coming right now" every time . BS. So I’m  a little frustrated at Angolans this week. I wouldn’t mind punching one. Like seriously if someone tried to mug me ooooo I want it to happen because I would just go ape on them.l Oh and btw again, Elder Banta (with me in the mtc) and Elder Kelsey got mugged this week. Apparently, it’s pretty bad; knives and stuff. Cool huh? Alright, nobody panic, I’m the biggest guy here I could take any Angolan. But they’re still out for 2 more days and it happened like on Thursday or something. Oh I want something like that to happen to me! I just want an awesome story like that! I’m wishing death upon myself I know but I just want that story! Anyway..

Our branch is the new one and they are so legit. Our Branch Pres. is President Sabstiao and he is so sick. BIG black dude with the sickest voice. Large and in charge that’s what I like! But he is the biggest teddy bear, so humble and just awesome! And he always is lookin so good in his super nice suits, watch, rings etc. like so fly. Haha love him. And he helps us so much its awesome! Our PEC meetings are sick. He’s like alright let’s do this and its so efficiant and we get out of there so fast! Love it! And he finally met Rita on Sunday! She is so close. Dad the reason she hasn’t been baptised yet is because she hasn’t commited to it. She has done EVERYTHING else but that. But she knows it’s true and she is so close. It’s just a matter of weeks. We had the most amazing lesson with her the other day. It was the last thing we had to talk about which was perseverance (man I can’t spell) and we were expecting it to be just 15 min. But the spirit had other plans. It was AMAZING! Like the spirit was so strong. And she just told us about her husband leaving her and the family and going to live with another woman and how that just tears a family apart and how a father is soo necissary for the family. And she was just in tears about how the Lord has given her strength and blessed her. (gloria Deus) and wow it was amazing. She was telling us how she knew the church was true and all this stuff about how Elder Walker and I were just such a blessing to her and she talked about when she first saw us on the street. Like guys it was so sick. Like Elder Walker and I were getting the same promptings and we were just going with them and things were just happenin! Such a baller lesson. Man, when I gave the closing prayer, I could barely hold back the tears. My voice was shaking and all that jazz. Ah I just love that family soo much. They’re going to be baptized it’s just a matter of time. Ah I love them! And man, I’m going to be the best husband and father. Like it’s just too much to see so many broken families out here. The father is soooooooo important! 

Ah I love that family! Lucas is the best. I just want to steal him and take him with me everywhere! 

So we we’re in a nice part of town ( like it feels like America, but all the houses are bright colors so you feel like you’re in a Dr. Seuss land) and we knocked on this door and these white guys answered and started speaking English! And we were just so taken back! And we’re like “are you American?” And they’re like “no were Israelis.” WHOA! Soo cool! And we told them how were missionaries of the church and we gave them a pamphlet cause they were just super nice and cool. Looked totally like Americans. but they’re like... “you know we don’t believe in Jesus Christ right?” Ha, we’re like “trust us, we know. We basically study your people everyday. (Yeah and we have a book that is for the convincing of the Jew haha jk) but they were super nice and cool. what else..

Oh, I had a dream last night that I got a bunch of letters and packages...... so let’s make it come true peeps! Speaking of sleeping. It’s soo freaking hot. Man without AC. I die. I don’t sleep. we seriously just sit there stripped down to our G’s just lying there sweating profusely! Saturday night was the worst cause we had already started our fasts... so dehydrated. 

But today I went ape on our apartment and it’s spotless. I swept and mopped like a mad man and Elder Walker did the dishes. It’s so hard to keep the dishes clean without the pump. I’m kinda becoming a clean freak.

Anyway, this week has just been difficult. I’ve had a hard time with doing the Lords will. I’m just so selfish! me me me me me. I’m cookie monster. GIVE ME COOKIE NOW! But I’m happiest when I do the Lord’s will. It’s hard, but so worth it. The mission doesn’t necessarily change people. It gives people choices and opportunities to submit yourself to the Lord completely. These choices happen hourly and depending on how you choose, that’s what changes you. It’s the choices that the mission provides that change people. 

Well, I love you guys! I might be able to send some pictures later. We’re going to presidents today. We don’t have enough water to do the wash by hand this time. Everyone keep going! Perseverar ate o fim! Endure to the end! I love you all! The Lord loves you! Be good members! Work with the missionaries! Go to lessons with them! It’s your duty! I can’t wait to come home and just be an awesome member. Set good examples! Remember you can be on the right track but you’ll get run over if you just sit there! Okay, love you, love you, love you! 

Com muito amor africano

Elder Tingey

ps. Mom my area is Funtungo (or benfica c) Elder Walker was in Cassquel for a year (crazy!)

FEB 25, 2013

ANGOLA, LUANDA BABY!!

YO YO YO whats up!!!

Such a good week. Especially after last week! So I’m all better just FYI! 

Oh and I know you all know, but we are becoming a mission!!! Woooo! I’m soooooo excited! So excited! And, I love how on the announcement we were first! haaha Just cause were the first in the alphabet. But still! I’m sooo stoked! ah I just cant say enough about that! So wow... okay first to answer some questions…..

Mom. I’ve got an oven, a stove, a microwave, and a fridge. The microwave is iffy. Usually the power isn’t good enough to run the microwave, but the stove is my trusty friend cause we don’t need electricity for that! And yeah we have big stores here, just like a regular grocery store. Although the things they have there vary week to week. So we shop there but for little stuff… we get that at cantinas, which are little stores everywhere in Angola. Literally, you can’t walk a block without seeing at least one. So yeah.. and no, we don’t have pots or pans... I usually just hold whatever I’m cooking in my hands and hold it over the stove.. seems to work alright...... except my hands kinda hurt after. They’re turning black too.. haha jk, yeah,we have pots and pans, and yes, we are allowed to eat the food investigators and members give us. But honestly, you just gotta use good judgement. I’m good at fake eating. not gonna lie, I practiced a little bit at home. Haha but I swear when I get home I’m eating EVERYTHING! Last night Elder Walker and I had a serious food trunkout. haha It was funny. Seriously, any fast food.. or any American food. I’ll take it! 

Dad, finding people t

ANGOLA, LUANDA BABY!!

YO YO YO whats up!!!

Such a good week. Especially after last week! So I’m all better just FYI! 

Oh and I know you all know, but we are becoming a mission!!! Woooo! I’m soooooo excited! So excited! And, I love how on the announcement we were first! haaha Just cause were the first in the alphabet. But still! I’m sooo stoked! ah I just cant say enough about that! So wow... okay first to answer some questions…..

Mom. I’ve got an oven, a stove, a microwave, and a fridge. The microwave is iffy. Usually the power isn’t good enough to run the microwave, but the stove is my trusty friend cause we don’t need electricity for that! And yeah we have big stores here, just like a regular grocery store. Although the things they have there vary week to week. So we shop there but for little stuff… we get that at cantinas, which are little stores everywhere in Angola. Literally, you can’t walk a block without seeing at least one. So yeah.. and no, we don’t have pots or pans... I usually just hold whatever I’m cooking in my hands and hold it over the stove.. seems to work alright...... except my hands kinda hurt after. They’re turning black too.. haha jk, yeah,we have pots and pans, and yes, we are allowed to eat the food investigators and members give us. But honestly, you just gotta use good judgement. I’m good at fake eating. not gonna lie, I practiced a little bit at home. Haha but I swear when I get home I’m eating EVERYTHING! Last night Elder Walker and I had a serious food trunkout. haha It was funny. Seriously, any fast food.. or any American food. I’ll take it! 

Dad, finding people to teach here is not a problem. Honestly, anyone will give us there phone number. It’s just us trying to pick which ones are the elect and are ready to receive it. 

I got two letters this week! One from grandma and grandpa for Vday, Thank you! and the other from Brookie! I was so excited! haha I was like, geez finally! And the sticky notes that were in there are up in my room! And I cannot believe MR. Hansen got married!!!!! chei! Like my mind is blown. I KNEW he had a girlfriend! I knew it! Someone send me a picture! and Brooke, that’s awesome that your planning on serving a mission! haha it’s honestly really nice that everyone’s going on a mission because I know  that I’m not missing out on too much! haha

So we’ve been without a water pump for two weeks now... the electrical stuff is fried. Angolans are so slow to do anything.. ugh. But whateves.. ,,every morning for exercise I haul buckets of water up stairs and fill up our big (like trash can size bucket) bucket. So fun!

Angola is developing soooo fast. It will look totally different by the time I leave. haha Oh, so there are a ton of motorcylces here. Like a ton because you don”t need a license to drive one. Anyway... I want to ride one sooo bad! Yesterday, we were down deep in Futungo by the beach and wow its just a party down there!  But there were soo many motorcycles! They were just doing wheelies back and forth, back and forth, and I just remembered the thrill of riding my motorcycle! ahhh Shifting and then popping that clutch and feeling the power of the beast flow through your veins! ahhh Ahat a rush. I miss it! haha. When I get home. Motorcyle trip! And I don’t care what anyone says! (ahem MB.. haha). Yeah, Angola is quite the party place. Our neighbors party hard dude. Like, all the time. It’s nuts. So, just fyi the apartments here are crazy expensive. The one we live in is 1400 dollars a month and president’s is 5,000 US dollars. Yeah crazy!! 

So mom and dad, I need you to fix something. My debit card isn’t working here. Fix it. Hahaha, but, for real, fix it fast, please. If you don’t want me to lose weight! 

Alright. Let’s get to some good stuff. 

So Friday, we had divisions, or splits, as they call them in the states, and Elder Walker went to another area and Elder Hannay came to my area for the day and night. Elder Hannay has only been out one more transfer than me. Let’s just say our Portuguese is about the same. So we were in my area and I lined up a solid day for us, like, it was awesome. So we go and wow! Guys, the gift of tongues is real. I kid you not it is. It happened to me. Every lesson we taught, the words just came. Everything fit together and I could understand everything the investigators said and asked. Like, guys, it’s real!! It was such a solid day too, like, all our investigators were just solid! Felix is just so awesome, like the blackest gangster ever! So hard to understand but I understood him! he is just so smart and wants to be good and keep the commandments and he’s already inviting others to church like man he is so fiz! cool I mean. And then Rita and Telma. Sooooo solid. They are going to be such strong members when they’re baptized. Telma is going to seminary, Rita never misses church, like, ah, it’s awesome! Rita has a kid named Lucas. Oh. My. Gosh. I’m going to steal him and bring him back with me! I love this kid to death. Like, I love love love him! He is so animated and talks all the time with me! haha The other day he’s like, you guys always talk to my mom! I want you to come one day and just talk with me! haha He’s 5 and the cutest African ever!!! I got some sweet pics with him and I was going to send them today but this internet cafe is lame... dang it. But Lucas is soo awesome. haha I told him I was going to bring him a present ( my etch a sketch)  and I forgot it like 3 times and he was just getting so frustrated with me and he’s like you always forget! Next time you cant forget!! and just so animated waving his finger at me and yelling all these other things in Portuguese hahaha sooo funny! He has the biggest smile. I seriously love this kid. Every time we go over there he sees me and gets this huge smile and he runs and I hold out my hand for a hand shake and he’s just like, screw the handshake! and jumps on me to give me a hug! hahaha I love that kid. That whole family is awesome. I love ‘em! 

But seriously, everyone be grateful that you live in the United States with good families. It’s just so sad to see people’s situations here. Like these kids whose parents are just retards and drinking and brake the law of chastity probably 3 times a day and they live in crap. and they have mud huts. These kids just have tough lives. And it’s not their fault. But they do it. They’re studs. Such ballers! I love ‘em. I’m so grateful for all that I have and what I’m blessed with; and for my parents. Thank you for all you’ve done for me. Seriously. 

Mom, thanks for the pic. You’re so pretty. I was looking at my calendar this morning and I was just like, dang! my mom is beautiful! You’re awesome! Dad, love the CIA letter hahaha. Elder Walker thinks your in the CIA or CTU ( you know where Jack Bouer works). Well, family I love you sooo stinking much! Remember you gotta stand for something or you’ll fall for anything! 

Angolan love,

Elder Tingey