July 8, 2013 First Week of the New Mission

July 8, 2013

First week of the New Mission

Hello Mundo! tudo bem? 

First off, thank you troy for the letter! Good job on life and being such a great dad! And yeah pouch mail is like the worst thing ever invented. And since we’re our own mission now I’m never gonna see those letters. Sorry but thanks bro! And mom I got your packages! Both of them! Thank you! They arrived fine but there was a little problem but I knew it would happen. The popcorn butter leaked which I figured would happen. But don’t worry I cleaned everything. 

Aunt Cheryl I read the email you sent. Thank you for sending that! I’m glad everyone is doing great and that Tyler is looking more acceptable ;) he told me he would write me twice while on the mission since I wrote him twice. Well I hit 8 months this week.... just a reminder. Preferably one letter/email one year and the other the next. Thanks Ty. Don’t have too much fun with Darin at efy! Oh and yes aunt Cheryl I know I have the BEST mother in the world. She is Amazing! 

Holy cow I’m soo jealous of your summer! It sounds soooo fun! Costa Rica sounded like a blast. And Marissa thank you for the pictures! but Marissa.... che,..... holy cow..... like whoa...... stop being so hot, or your going to get attacked!! I must say.. Mom and dad did a great job. We probably are the most beautiful looking children ever. Actually the best looking family ever. I showed Elder Chandler the photo of Darin and dad and the water fall and he was like holy cow bro..... yep your dad is totally in the CIA. hahaha! But wow the summer is awesome there! Costa Rica, efy, the ranch..... che.... I miss it so much! I knew the summer would be tough here cause you guys are having so much fun there but it’s cool cause I’m having some awesome spiritual experiences. 

So my week! Well, we had mission conference, which was awesome. I love president’s vision for the mission. hahahahaha basically screw going for such crazy numbers like we were, and keep and follow the spirit all the time and the numbers will follow. Plus, we can’t overload the branches with too many baptisms. That’s not how you establish the church because they can’t handle trying to retain all of them. Let’s strengthen our branches and then grow altogether. LOVE IT! So awesome! I love the Merrils. They are soo like G and G Stoker. Sister Merrill is so much like Grandma Stoker it’s halarious! hahaha I love it. I had an interview with President Merrill on Saturday. hahaha My first interview with a mission president my entire mission! hahahaha. I was like these need to happen often! Anyway, not THAT much work was done this week because of like 3 days with the president but still; we did work. And had a flippen awesome spiritual experience. 

Okay, so his name is Mario. We contacted him and his family like a month or two ago. Totally by the spirit. Anyway we finally are able to sit with him on Saturday. And they are such a golden family. Married, car, good morals. Like perfect. And elder brown and are just focused as ever trying to do the best we can for them and have the spirit testify to them. And so Saturday, we had a lesson with them and before we started the lesson I was just like "you’re going to listen with your ears and see with your eyes but I really want you to feel in your heart. Just open your heart  and try to feel with it. BOOM, Elder Brown and I taught the first vision so well! Not that we taught it well, but the spirit was there just SOOOO strong! Brown and I just testified up the wazzo and gave it everything we had trying to follow the spirit and it was just such a good lesson. I can’t even describe it. I wish you could have been there. And then he’s like, I’m coming to church tomorrow. And HE DID! It was just so good! But man after we got out of that lesson Elder Brown and I just were so moved by the spirit. Once we got around the corner, it was just like YESSS!!! bro hugs, and pumpin fists in the air! Yeah, Elder Brown and I.... we do work. So awesome! 

So I have some more things to ask of you. I think you guys are either too technologically handicapped or just super lazy so I’ll ask you to do it the easy way. There are 3 albums that Elder Hobbs has that I absolutely love. You know why? Cause they’re country. But church country. That’s right! its called a Nashville tribute to Joseph Smith, and they have one to the pioneers called Trek: a Nashville tribute to the pioneers. And one called The Work: a Nashville tribute to missionaries. And holy cow they are the best church country songs EVER!!!! So please buy those cds and send them to me. Or buy them on itunes and burn it to a cd for me and listen to them yourselves cause they are soo good! Well, I love you all like crazy! 

Elder Tingey

Independence Day!!!!Luanda Angola Mission!! Woohoo

INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!! from mozambique!

Yes Yes Yes! hahaqhahaha I’m soooo happy we are on our own now! 

Oh so much has happened. I’m for sure going to miss some things and I don’t even know where to start! Well, on Friday Elder Brown and I went to go see more of our area...... and we walked and walked and walked...... and walked. Let’s just say we were out there! And we didn’t even leave our boundaries! We went to where they slaughter cattle.... like it was out there! Then on Saturday we had a baptism for Scorinha so that was cool and ... (drumroll) then the big man in charge, President Merrill strolled on into ANGOLA! It was soo sick! I’m soo excited that he’s here! and ah!This week is going to be so sick. Mission conference for like 3 days. And we have people from other provinces staying in our house! party!!!!!!!!!! hahahaha jk. Anyway president told the APs that all the missions should have ipads by next year....... we’ll see. I’m trying to not get too excited... (!!!!) What a cool time to be a missionary! I am blessed! And to be in Angola! I hope we start opening up more provinces because there are some groups of like 70 people in some areas that are just study groups. How cool would that be to open a place like that up?! I want to.... 

Guys, I don’t even know what to say because just so much happened and I can’t even give you a glance of it! k the Costa Rica place looks sooooo sick! Like oh! I want to go! One day we will open one up in Angola, and soon all of South Africa! 

I see that mom must have updated my blog because I got a lot of emails today... haha. Thanks guys! and Stokers, I got your poster! Thank you so much! You rock! Liza Jayne, thank you for praying for me you little cutie. Speaking of little cuties, Brittany had a baby!!! oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! holy cow!!!! I can’t even believe it! like what the heck.?! Brittany, I felt like my whole life you were always an adult and grown up but now that you have a kid it’s like... whoa when did you grow up? I didn’t have time to read all of your emails but I took pictures of them and will read them when I get home! 

Funny story about Elder Fontian, a really funny elder who is one transfer behind me. Anyway at soccer today,  he pulls out a plastic American flag and sticks it on the field and says “In remembrance of our independence day as a mission and July 4th this week, we are all going to put our hands over our hearts and sing the star spangled banner. hahaha So we all lined up and sang it! hahahahaha! and it was good! And the Angolans that were playing with us were just like “Oh these Americans hahahaha! AMERICA! 

Let’s see. The work is going. It’s going. Remember that girl I wrote about last week..... trouble. ugh. Stupid teenage girls. They’re dumb and just want attention and want boys to love them. bleh bleh bleh. Don’t worry people, nothing happened with me! So now, were trying to teach a teenage girl how to be a good girl. Haha. We haven’t even had a lesson with her yet. But I already gave her a “For the Strength of Youth” and I swear the first thing we’re talking about is law of chastity and dating before 16. I’m throwing all expectations out on the table. I ain’t messen’ around! 

Well, to be quite honest, this week was pretty tough. I freaking love Elder Brown. Such a good comp. We are getting pretty close. We have had some good deep talks. One night we were waiting to meet an investigator (who never showed up) in the middle of nowhere so we could see the stars pretty good. Yeah, we waited there for like an hour and just talked about life. It was way good. He has been helping me a lot. 

Anyway, I love you all! Thanks so much for all your letters! 

 Elder Tingey

Greatest investigator ever!  She has the best attitude. Everyday is the best day ever!

June 24th, June 17th: THE WEEK

June 24, 2013

Well, hello family! Wow, I can’t believe that summer is like basically half way through! 

And yes, I am so sad about the NBA finals. A bunch of members were rubbing it in my face.. sad. But whatever! 

K, first of all. that date idea is awesome! Soooo soo awesome! Darin you guys are halarious! 

The week.

Well unfortunately, the week was not very good. because I was sick! Actually, the whole house was! Serious colds going around. Probably because its "cold" outside. Hahah, but yeah, I was in the house for 3 days and the other days I was on divisions and the work didn’t go that well because we were still pretty much sick. But on the bright side we have a baptism on Saturday, her name is Scorina. She has been coming to church for like 2 years now and her time has finally come! And Rita’s family... they may or may not be getting baptized this Saturday. Rita isn’t but her kids might. Rita isn’t ready for baptism. But one day. I’ve been talking to her at church, and I got her to read the Book of Mormon again. I kinda have a contest with her. Haha. What else. 

Transfers came in and I’m staying in Benfica again, and with Elder Brown again; 3rd transfer with him. Good thing we get along great! Haha sooo last week, Harper and I contacted this girl and mom and the girl was like way gorgeous, we call them mulatas. They’re half black and half white. Anyway, we left and I told Harper, I can’t teach her. She’s too pretty. And he’s like “suck it up, Elder.” So then, I didn’t really do much trying to “pass by and teach her”, but quite honestly, we just don’t put our focus there. But then on Saturday I was on a division with Elder Hobbs and we saw her on the street. So we did kinda a follow up contact. And then I just invited her to church. But then Elder Hobbs was like, "you’re going to be at church right? Right?!" Kind of demanding it out of her, cause that’s kind of what we have to do with Angolans, and she’s like, “yes.” So Sunday morning comes and I get a phone call and it’s her asking if she can still come to church and asks for the directions and so I gave them to her and then she showed up! I was impressed cause she was really, really modest in her dress, and I was like, wow! That’s impressive, so I sat her right next to Mila, an awesome girl in our branch, and I basically told them that they were going to be friends. and they were best friends for the rest of church! And then the girl (oh her name is yola btw) was making friends with all the youth in our branch! I was like sick. And then a member that we had lunch with told me that she was asking great questions in class and was very interested. And I was like sweet! So future baptism right there with a family too. Oh, and I told Harper, the only reason that I would teach her is because she was being taught by the JWs and I won’t let one soul go into that church... haha.

Speaking of which! we had some JWs knock on our door one morning as we were doing studies! Haha it was way funny. They asked me if I wanted to know what happens after this life and I said no because I already know what happens and then Elder Brown and I just laid down the plan of salvation right there! haha pretty funny. (There was only a little bit of Bible bashing..... )but yeah, they just don’t understand the scriptures. They are basically like the pharises in the time of Jesus. 

Funny story about Lucas. At church he asked me if I had a tie to give him. I told him I didn’t have any ties that small. And then he’s like “well then, buy one! “hahaha He is so much like Hannah and Darin put together. And then he went even further. He’s like, “actually, I want a white shirt and pants and a name tag and a back pack too! hahaha he wants to be a missionary. Then outside the church he told everyone that he was the boss of all the missionaries! Haha but then he told everyone that I’m his favorite missionary. hahahaha Oh I love that kid sooooo much! I’m going to come back and baptize him one day. Well that was basically my week! President Merril (Our Own Mission President) finally comes this week and hallaluha! I’m excited Angola..yeah! 

Well, love you all! Sounds like you are going to be having a lot of fun this week! and Kistie I got your letter! Thank you! ~

Com amor,

Elder Tingey

Oh, I forgot to say! Elder Mariquele found an ipad in our yard!!! And it worked! And it was blank! Swear it’s a Liahona! 

 Baptism!

Elder Lucas, My Man!!!

 My AP, Elder Mariquele

Dinner, Our House

 Caterpillar Casserole?! 

 I'm not feelin' so good!

ugh!

The Week

June 17, 2013

Okay family.

YOU’VE FAILED ME! I had to depend on an Angolan to show me Apple’s new software! And it’s beautiful! BEAUTIFUL!

Okay, done with that.

Anyway, hello! hahaha sounds like it was a good week for you guys! It was a GREAT week for me! Freaking awesome! Yeah good week. Where to start...

So I had a division with Elder Harper this week. Stud missionary. Haha I’ve never seen someone so focused haha! It’s quite funny actually, cause he leaves in 10 days. But it was a good learning experience. And we had a sweet lesson that day about the restoration and the spirit was so strong and I gave the account of the first vision and then bore my testimony on it which was super heartfelt btw. And the spirit was so strong! And then they asked me how I knew. How I could say it with such conviction? Oh, I love that question!!! It’s like you get to bear your testimony all over again about how they can get a testimony! So that was a really good lesson.

Then Elder Brown and I were knockin’ doors making contacts. And we got a return appointment with this one lady. So we’re like okay sweet we’ll come back later that night. So we go do a lesson, which went awesome. About prayer. We totally didn’t plan to have it on prayer but Elder Brown and I both felt that it needed to be on prayer right after we said the opening prayer. Which was way cool because we didn’t even talk to each other or anything! The Spirit just prompted us both and we both started talking about prayer! Way cool how the Spirit works and then we went back to the return appointment where we found... THE MOST AWESOME PERFECT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FAMILY!! (angels singing "ahhhh!") it was sweet. So we started talking about the restoration and our message and how it’s centered on families. I started off and then handed it off to Elder Brown to explain some more and he started to talk but then he couldn’t.  I thought he was just trippin’ on Portuguese, so iIwas like, “say to me in English and I’ll help you” and he’s like, “I can’t even say it in English, there is literally a block in my mind. So he’s like “Elder Tingey, you’re going to have to go on. So I took over again and told about the restoration very quickly and started to testify about it. Then the father asked me if I would bear my testimony to him. He’s like, “I want your testimony bourn to me.” So I was like, heck yeah I will! so I bore my freaking legit awesome testimony (hahaha) and the spirit was soooooo sooo strong! It was just great. When we left their house I was just soo soo excited I couldn’t help my self! I wanted to just scream! I was like jumping and you know how I get when I get super excited. (ie when I got my mission call, when my mom gets me the coolest presents like Jason Aldean tickets) anyway it was just Sick!

And then! On Saturday I got to baptize Arnaldo and Amarildo (Usher) which was way cool cause they are both my former investigators that moved into different elders boundaries and they still chose me to baptize them! I was honored! And no offense to English but the baptismal prayer is soo much cooler in Portuguese than in English! So that was way cool.

I kinda got frustrated on Sunday cause none of our investigators came to church except one. Scorina. She’s a moca. Count your many blessings right? Little by little they’ll come along. Transfers are next week. che! I hope I go to Cassquel. I want to be in the city. But yeah.

Funny time! A hooker tried to flirt with me on the bus last night. Hahahaha and she asked for my number, so I gave her the AP’s number. hahahahaha! That was funny! Oh, and then yesterday we had a legit crazy man come to the church and he wanted to live there. Then he followed the missionaries home... hahaha way funny. Crazy people. Don’t do drugs or drink people! It’ll mess you up!

So I’ve conducted a little experiment out here; strictly for the knowledge of the general public of course. And in the course of conducting this experiment (I only do it for 2.5 seconds at a time. cause if you do it for 3 seconds you’re messed. And I don’t actually plan to do these experiments they just kind of happen.) but I have come to the conclusion that.... jungle fever is a real thing (not saying I have it. but it’s real)  It’s just a fact. Not an opinion. Straight up fact! hahahahahahahahaahahah! I’m such a dork!

Anyway, I hope you have a great week! oh wait! If you have any Country Christmas music, please send it to me. via email or dropbox. Thank you!

Love you all,

Elder Tingey

 USHER!!

 The Dinner I made with the spices Mom sent me!

 Again, I'm so proud of myself for this awesome dinner!

Josemar and Cicilia. The coolest members. African love story!

Calme-se! June 4, 2013

June 4, 2013

calma-se!

its okay people. its okay. shhh. everything will be alright. yesterday i got on to email and 15 min in the server for the whole city went down. sooo we couldnt email. dont worry i still love you all! and im emailing today. so goodmorning :)

Hello familia! Whats up! So first things first, mom it’s okay if there’s not stuff on the memory cards and sticks. Whatever, I just want them. Yes, perfect, the 32 gig cards and then two thumb drives. Perfect. I don’t think they will open it if you send it in the small ones like you have been doing. Just send like a t-shirt too and wrap those in the t-shirt. Yeah, send some cash in between the cards. I was thinking about that this week. And President Kretly talked about how we need to have a reserve fund. So yeah. Btw, I got your package of the spices this week. Thank you. But now, don’t send anymore spices. I’m good. And I also got letters from the Beehives (thank you!) and from Troy. Troy you rock! Seriously, like best writer ever. How’s the job situation? And you have the cutest family ever! You look like such a happy father! I can’t wait! Haha and yes, for sure about living by you because of a (something, something) haha I’m down.

Catie!! Ha! Salt lake! Dang that girl hasn’t written me once on the mission! Somebody find out her and Brooke and Emmy’s emails. They all told me that they were going on missions but idk what happened after that!

Ha, mom you are so cool! You watched all the Fast and Furious with Darin! Wow. Haha Elder Brown and I saw the movie poster for the new one. It looked cool and so did the one for The Lone Ranger. You are such a cool mom. But yeah, Darin you better read a ton of scriptures after that. I’m scared to watch movies when I get home. I think I’m going to invest in Clearplay. Seriously.

Dad have you heard of Continental Outdoor or Big Media? Those are the big billboard companies here. And wow, they are exploding. I’m seeing new billboards pop up all the time!

Okay so my week. Wel,l President  Kretly came this week and we had an all day training on Friday and then on Saturday we had baptisms and such. Brazilians….. idk about them. Haha no jk. It’s so difficult being on the other side of the continent and and trying to run things over here. Let’s just say its not working out that great. It’s actually quite a long story that I will tell you when I get home. But the Brazilian couples fed us after the trying and we all got sick that night. Everyone. Same thing happened last zone conference when they cooked. Sooo yeah. I think Sister Kretly got kinda upset at that. Well,  Elder Brown and I have a new fire in us and we found like 5 families to teach in one night. It was sick. Although I think I’m ready to go to a new area. Eventhough I love Benfica.

Funny story time!! So we’re contacting and we were walking and everything was going great. I’m happy, the people are happy, and were contacting the houses down by the coast. And this one guy was outside his house and I smile and waved and said tudo bem?! (the most common Portuguese phrase ever… ) and he flipped! He started yelling at me and telling me that tudo bem is for kids and all this and did he look like a kid. Blah blah blah. He’s like “am I older than you? Am i?” and I was like yes… and then he’s like then you show me some respect!! Like just went off on me. Elder brown is just sitting there like oh che. Haha and I was like but everyone says tudo bem don’t they and he was convinced that it was just for kids(and this guy wasn’t even like well-off or anything. And he was like 30 yrs old max) anyway I told him sorry and to have a great day. Then I walked away.. but man, if I wasn’t a missionary I would have laid some Portuguese throwdowns on that guy! Oh I was restraining myself sooo much. I wanted to just rip into him and tell him he was a stupid Angolan who didn’t know Portuguese. That’s pretty common of them actually. They don’t speak it right. But I didn’t. So I guess this story is for Darin. HahHhahahaahahaha!

Another funny story. We were at Irma Dove’s house. She is a great member whose story is amazing. She is a champ. Anyway her “kids” were playing in the dirt and then they started to jump on us and get our clothes all dirty and she got mad at them and told them that we had to wash our clothes all by ourselves. Haha and her oldest son started telling his sister “yeah they don’t have a woman to do it for them!” hahaahahaha it was sooooo funny everyone just busted up.

Spiritual experience time. So Saturday Elder Brown and I went out contacting. Our whole day had fallen through. Which was way annoying. So we went to go see an old investigator. He wasn’t home. So then we walked a little bit and didn’t know what to do so we asked each other. Since both of us didn’t know what to do we knew we needed to pray. So we did. I offered the prayer. As soon as I started to speak this guy came out of his house and was like che como entao! I finished the prayer and then he’s like were you praying for me?! Haha and were like yeah! So we talked to him and got his contact info and what not and he’s got a family and all that jazz way qualified. So then we walk around the corner and I get the ever so slightest feeling/thought to knock on this door. Obviously, it was the spirit. So I knocked on this door. And boom! Golden family, married, don’t have a church, have cutest kids, good work, smart guy, wants the best for his family. I’m just like oh my gosh, I have the best thing possible for your family!!! So anyway from there on out we just found families after families that night. It was Saturday so that helped. Haha one house had a ton of balloons so I was like oh it must be a birthday. So I was like Elder Brown, go tell the person Happy Birthday and he’s like idk they’re probably going to get mad. But I was like. no, come on. Haha, turns out it was this man’s 2 years old’s bday. Haha She was so cute and as we showed interest in them and excitement for the baby his heart was softened and he invited us in to talk and have cokes! Legit huh? So people, the Lord does answer prayers. Just remember to show your faith. How do you show faith? By action!

Well, that’s pretty much my week…. We went to the Reedy’s house today. An American family! Wow, I felt like I was in the states again. It was weird. And I played basketball and freaking beasted. Like holy cow unstoppable :)

I heard the MTC is freaking nuts now. Crazy! Glad I’m not there! Wow it’s June. What the heck?! Weird. Wel,l I love you guys like crazy! Fica bem. Amo voces.

Elder Tingey

PS. Im a Portuguese beast now. Haha jk. But for real.

Missionaries (Elder Tingey) sang (country songs) as they walked and walked and walked

May 27, 2013

Missionaries (elder Tingey) sang (country songs) as they walked and walked and walked

Spin from “Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked and Walked”

Oh my gosh. You are all at the cabin. JEALOUS. mas tudo bem. I'm in Africa HA! Marissa thanks for all the videos and the pics. You give me a little piece of home and I appreciate it! Man summer has officially started for you guys! Ha-ha Darin I loved the story about the teacher. Ha-ha way to be.... ha-ha except next time do it more nicely. But I know you have a heart.

This week we walked bwe. That mans a heck of a lot. So dang much. Basically cause our area tanked and all of our flipper amazing investigators moved! Whatever, they're still on track for baptism. But yeah this week was basically straight finding, which is probably the worst part about missionary work. So you gotta make it fun some times. Like go in the super markets and look for cool things. Super markets are gold mines here. That’s where all the married are! So we go there and always get some good contacts. "the grocery store" Best Two Years anyone? anyone?

Well, some cool things happened this week I guess. Finally got to sit with the one guy named Valsco. I've been trying to get a time with him for like a month. Finally was able to.   His house is amazing. Huge swimming pool in the back yard with a trampoline and I'm just like whoa.. haha you guys are like what...? I know but to see that here in Angola you’re just like wow. And some crazy guy started following us that said he could speak 6 languages but really he could only speak... nada. Seriously though.

So needless to say... I gave the first vision like a bazillion times this week. And I pray that each person I gave it to will feel the spirit and act! Always remember to act peeps. Faith is where it’s at. Belief and action. Speaking of action, we were at a member’s house for lunch yesterday and they are just awesome. I love Sundays here because it’s when we see the members!! Anyway, it was kinda weird because... well, we were just in the presence of a family. Like a church family sealed in the temple and what not. OH such a good feelin!!!! Like you have no idea. You don’t realize you miss it until its gone! But yeah, so good. Anyway, I was talking about action. The members are so awesome because they act. They try their best to fulfill their calling and keep the church functioning and growing.

Hmm what else. The APs went to Huambo for the weekend... so that's cool I guess. Well, that’s basically it folks! Stay tuned for our next show on Monday next week. Previews coming up next: " A missionary out in Africa, preaching the gospel (scenes of me walking in Africa, talking to people with a bom (Book of Mormon) in my hand"), 5 people will accept the invitation to baptism, but will they change their lives to prepare for this grand experience? Tune in next Monday to find out" (next commercial) hahaha that was fun. Okay love you all. How about you do a family writing while your all together and then send me them in the mail. Yeah!! K love you all!

Elder Tingey