The Cova Weekly

November 3, 2014

The Work

This week was sweet.  Had an all time high of people at church, and it was just a good week to be alive in Cova Figuiera.  This is a little off the subject of missionary work, but congrads to the San Fran Giants for winning the october classic.  

The Cows

For the first time ever we went up in the mountains to a zone called Stanica Hokie.  And we took the back of this hiace (a large van) to get there.  When we got in the back, there was a little cow, and we thought that was really funny.  So we took pics of this little cow that was riding in the back with us and it was all fun.  Then right when we start going up the hill, the hiace stops and picks up 4 more baby cows haha.  So here I am with my comp in the back of this hiace, with five baby cows all over us.  Drooling on our legs, and peeing on my comps shoes haha.  The driver told up the cows were super scared.  In the pic below, they are loading in the fourth of five cows that would join us.  

Ana Matilda

Ana Matilda is the funniest person I have ever met.  She was so hilarious in the week preparing for her baptism.  She is a little bigger, and she was soooo worried about drowning in the water haha.  A couple days before i asked her who she would like to baptise her, and I said it better be someone super strong so you dont drown.  Then I pointed at Elder Ayala, and she was like, yeah he needs to do it haha.  Some of the funnier things shes has said.  When we told her she couldnt drink coffee, she bore her testomony on how much she loves milk, and she will just drink that instead.  When we asked her if she knew where Jesus lived when he was on the earth, she said of course, and pointed to Australia  .  After her baptism she said she felt as light as a baloon. Kind of a strange comparison..  She was just awesome and super funny.  

The Spiritual Stuff

“A basketball in my hands is worth about $20.99. A basketball in the hands of LeBron James is worth $19 million per year; it depends on whose hands it's in. A tennis racket in my hands is worth about $17.00. A tennis racket in the hands of Serena Williams is worth about $20 million per year; it depends in whose hands it's in. A baseball in my hands is worth about $3.00. A baseball in the hands of Derek Jeter is worth about $35 million per year; it depends on whose hands it's in. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands would make a few fish sandwiches. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in the Savior's hands will feed 5000 people until they're full, and still leave 12 baskets leftover; it depends on whose hands they're in. Some nails in my hands are worth about 5 cents. Some nails in the Savior's hands will provide eternal salvation for each person who has ever lived on this earth, and all of Heavenly Father's children. It depends on whose hands they're in. When we put our lives in the hands of the Savior, we can achieve infinitely more than we ever could on our own. It depends on whose hands they're in.”

Love all you guys, have a sick week!

Elder Jarvis

Not much.....

October 27, 2014 

Elder Ayala had a staff infection, sketchy stuff, haha.  

The families are good.  We dropped two of them because they both had the husband working with visa papers for the states.  Whenever we are working with a marriage and I hear that either one of them are waiting for a visa, I drop them on the spot.  Its too much of a headache, because they wont get married until the visa goes through, and that takes up to 15 years.  Kinda a bummer.  The other is going well, just have to get them to church.  

  

I had a sketchy experience the other day when I saw a husband hitting his wife in front of the house.  I was bigger, and stronger than the husband, (Yes I have been lifting quite a bit haha) but I couldn't do anything about it.  We aren't allowed to get involved with that at all.  And this is coming straight from Pres Oliviera, so I just had to walk by, super sad...  

Ebola and the reverent dog

October 20, 2014

So as far as ebola. I'm safer than you guys.  I'm on a little tiny island.  The scary part was that there was ship from the country that has it the most on the way to cape verde, but they sent it back.  I'm fine, and more than you guys.  

I like what you said about getting used to about everything.  You guys have no idea the stuff I do everyday that just seems 100% normal to me that would be crazy to you guys.  Ha we have a dog in the sacrament room.

Conference, Guavas and Drugs

October 13, 2014

Conference

We watched conference this week and it was incredible.  We watched it in Portugese, but I had a member download it MP3 for me in english so I got a chance to hear it all in English throughout the week.  Conference is soo sweet! Elder Ayala and I were talking about how funny it is when the announce the next speakers, and when its someone of the twelve we just get stoked. I imagine it being like a little kid at a Cavs game and they annouce Lebrons name, it was funny.  Had a lot of great talks.  Some of my favorites were Which Way Do We Face, in the Saturday morning.  Of course Elder Bednar.  Holland did very well.  The portugese talk was one of my favorites, and its so beautiful to hear someone speak portugese well.  Conference is just the best.  And the dog was present once again.  

Guava

Last monday we went up to this Guava farm place way up in the mountains and it was sweet! It took a little over an hour hike to get there, and there were just guava trees everywhere! And we picked a ton and made guava jam and what not, super good.  We still have a million of them in our house, and it was super sweet. 

Drugs

Just kind of a side note this week.  We live on the second story and someone lives in our basement.  And there is a garden in the backyard, and the person & doner got busted for growing marajuana in our backyard haha.  In between sessions on Saturday we were just eating lunch and we heard some yelling, all in kreola, from the backyard.  And there were two policia arguing with our doner.  And he was saying that the drugs werent his, and the cop asked sarcastically ^Is it the Elders?^ It was in kreola, so my comp didnt understand, but it was hilarious haha.  

Spiritual Stuff

Pretty sure this is the part of my letters that no one reads, but I need to write it to assure my mother that I am learning something over these two years.  The big thought I had this week was just consistancy.  There was the talk where he talks about not jumping ship, and Elder Holland has a talk about that as well.  I think consistancy is such a key in anything that we do, but it was something that I thought a lot about this week.  Consistantly being obedient throughout your mission.  Consistantly reading your scripts everyday.  Praying.  Going to church.  Consistantly doing the little things will ensure that we never fall too far from the tree.
There is a talk where a guy talks about thinking of his body having two fighting wolves inside.  Which one will win?  The one we feed.  And he talks about that with us and satan, and whoever we feed will win.  And we need to make sure we are constantly feeding our spiritual wolf haha.  Have a great week, love all you guys! 

Marriage, then Baptism

October 6, 2014

As I write this today I kinda think back to a Kenny Chesney song, The Boys of Fall.  And there is a part in that song where he talks about the seniors knowing that there's only so many of these Friday nights left.  This was one of those days that don^t come around too often.  

First off, we didnt watch General Conference this week because  of Power problems on the beautiful island of Fogo, so we will watch it next week.  So for everyone that emailed me about all the talks, thanks for ruining them, Im still insanely excited to listen to it. 

Definantly the highlight of this week was the marriage and baptism of the De Barros family.

The Marriage

The marriage was thursday, and whatever image you have of an American marriage, get that out of your mind because that is not how it happens here.  The wedding took place in the registro building, with some guy from Mosterios doing the service.  He just says a bunch of stuff in Portugese, which either people dont listen to, or understand because it is in Portugese, then they sign one paper.  They kiss if they would like, but thats kinda optional.  And that all went well.  The majority of the good stuff happened before the wedding haha.  Everyday they called us complaing that things werent ready, and that we didnt have everything we needed.  The day before there wedding, the still didnt have a dress or a suit.  Can you imagine not having a dress or a suit the day before you wedding!? Luckily we were able to find both and everything went well ish.  They called us late thursday night and asked if we have made a cake. Not that Im not good at making boxed cake, but this is a wedding cake! So we run to the store and buy the best Best Price cake mix we can.  Then we get up early the next morning, and start making the cake.  While the cake is cooking, he calls us and is freaking out that he doesnt have a black tie to wear! He had a tie, but it was a clip on, and appearantly that wouldnt work for a wedding.  So I let him use my black tie that Charlotte and Rich Jaros gave to me before I came on the mish.  

So when he called and needed the tie, the cake was half way done cooking, so we turned off the oven, and said we would try to hurry back after the service and before the party to finish the cake.  The wedding went well, and it ends up that someone else had already made a very nice wedding cake, so we didnt worry about that. It was really nice to get all the wedding stuff out of the way. 

The Baptism

The baptism was one of the smoothest baptisms I have been a part of here in Verde.  We got there 7 hours early and filled up the fount, and our ward mission leader baptised them and it was all good.  So the Dad is a less active, and the wife and kids all got baptised, it was incredible.  Then I sang a musical number with Jeremy,I like to look for rainbows.  I sang in English and he sang in Portugese and it was sweet.  Its a good thing that they didnt understand anything, but I thought it went well haha.  

Its weird to explain how great it felt to see them get baptized.  Like those guys will go to the temple a year from last saturday, and will be sealed together forever.  This is such a blessed people, and Gods Hand is so visible in the work here. There wont be too many more days like this, but it was a blessing to be a part of it. 

  I love all you guys, and I love being a missionary.  The church is true.  

Elder Jarvis

World's Biggest Pig

October 6, 2014

We didn't actually watch conference last week. With the shaky power problems in Fogo they moved it to next week.  

I did finally get the package, and I can't tell you how thankful I am that you guys sent it, you guys are incredible! The Sunflower seeds were amazing!

 I wish you could come here.  Cova Fig has some of Gods greatest children.  It also has some of Gods most frustrating investigators, but its all good.  

Worlds Biggest Pig

Power problems and marriage problems

9/22/2014

Power Problems

As Elder Calhoon says on the best two years.  ²Its kinda cloudy, we been havin lots of rain².  Its been raining every day here, which means the power is never on.  Por isso, I didnt sent a long email last week.  The power is really schetchy, but luckily our fridge is similar to the fridge of most elders, and we dont have too much in there that can go bad when the power goes out.  Its a little inconvient, but what can ya do.  

Curt Schilling

I felt a little bit like Curt Schilling Sunday morning.  Curt Schilling threw game 6 of the 2004 ALCS agains the Yankees with a broken ankle.  And it was bleeding the whole game and he spoke about the blood running down to the bottom of his toes.  Im in no way comparing myself to Curt Schilling, but my shoe has a pretty big gap, and because of the rain if filled with water quickly and my toes were pretty wet for a while.  Im getting the shoes fixed this week, so there shouldnt be anymore problems.  Just a little funny comparison I made in my head and thought Id share it.  

Marriage Probs

We have been working really hard with Marcaleno and Titeta for their marriage and baptism to be this week. Everything worked out, but they can only do marriages on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  And appearantly there is only one person on this whole Island that can do a marriage service, and he will be in Praia until next week.  We have transfers this week, so I have hoping that I get to stay to see the marriage.   #Familia

The Dog

I feel like the dog deserved a paragraph of its own.  The same reverent dog joined us for church this week.  And stayed for all three meetings with is better than a lot of our members.  I also played the piano in church, not saying I played well, but I played.  

Spiritual Stuff

Listened to Remember Lots Wife this week. Ive heard it a million times, but leaned some new stuff this time.  Learning from the past but not living in it.  A lot of missionaries, especially the Americans always talk about America and how great it is.  Things like carpet, hot showers,  paved roads, and grocery stores.  I would be lying if I said Im not guilty of doing the same things.  But the past is to learned from and not lived in. Not saying Im gonna teach these guys how to build a grocery store, but two years is such a short time away from all that stuff, and we signed on to give it all up for two years. Concercrate yourself, and see what the Lord can make with you.

Hope you guys all have a great week. Thanks for the letter, and please continue to send pics, its my favorite part of P Day! 

Elder Jarvis, Cova Fogo

A few more Cova Pictures

September 15-16, 2014

The House

The Church

Kids playing soccer at the church

The Bedroom

Sunrise from Cova

September 15-16, 2014

1. This is C and S.  I met C almost two months ago, he was a little drunk, with a beard, and long hair. He was super less active, with the Mel. Priesthood, who was currently breaking the law of chastity, living with his girlfriend.  And after the first lesson we challenged him to give up beer, and cut all his hair to show God that he wanted to change.  And he did.  Then we worked with his wife Forever, she was so stubborn in her Catholic ways.  But finally we committed them to marriage and baptism.  I'm not serving in the area anymore, but this next week they will get married, and she will get baptized.   It was so incredible to see them again, and see how the Lord changed their lives so much. 

These are some little criancias at a family night. 

We may not have running water or power, but this is what our sunrise looks like!

Firewood, new shoes, and "taking Cova by the horns".

Sept. 8, 2014

The Conference 

This week we had zone conference with Elder Moura from the 70. He was incredible.  I learned so much from him, and it was a blessing to be able to talk with him.  And his Portuguese is absolutely beautiful.  

Power Outage

It kinda felt like the Super Bowl when Elder Moura came, and has reminiscence qualities to the Super Bowl in 2013 because the power went out.  Probably turned out to be a blessing for me because I didn't have to play the piano haha.   

Church

Everything got a little better, and it showed in our church attendance, and we did better.  It was definitely a solid week working from Cova, and we will keeping working.  Make Plays not Excuses as my friend Sister Shipp says haha.  

Sorry not a ton going on this week, keep writing, and I love hearing from all you guys!

Love Elder Jarvis, Cova Fogo

Taking a little firewood home.

"Taking Cova by the Horns"

Not sure my shoes love Fogo as much as I do. Im switching the souls of the shoes for tires this week.  Well see how that goes

Add caption

The soccer team and the cockroach

Sept. 2, 2014

Just a few pictures from Nate this week.

The soccer team. (They informed me that no real soccer players smile, and I'm no scrub) 

The view of the volcano from our house

    The cockroach we trapped in a cup for 7 weeks. he stayed alive inside the cup for 7 whole weeks. No food, water, nothing.  He died yesterday, may he rest in peace

Climbing mountains and playing the piano

August 25, 2014

Had a very solid week from Cova Fig.  I freaking love this place.

Power Problems

Saying that we had some power problems this week would be an understatement.  There was a stretch in time where we went two and half days without any power. And the other days we had it for maybe an hour or two. Whenever we got it we had to run back the house to charge the phone so it didn't die. The work was a little rough around 730, when there is no light at all in the town.  The word village would probably be a little more appropriate, this place is tiny.  Its not too big of a prob not having power because most of the time were out of the house anyway.  

Hills to Climb

Whats that country song? "The good Lord gave us mountains, so we could learn how to climb?" or something like that.  Super true. Up until now, I have served in 3 of the 4 biggest cities in the country, and havent really gotten the little town expierence. But our area consists of mountains, and volcanic rock. Which pre mission Elder Jarvis would have no problem getting up those hills. After being in Africa a year, Elder Jarvis, struggled a little getting up some of those hills haha.  I love it tho.  

Piano

One of my goals for this place was to be able to learn the piano a little more. There is no one to play in Sacrament, so I figured I'd practice and learn.  My thought process was "I've been in this country for over a year, and served in 4 wards, and not one of them has picked the sacrament hymns until ten minutes before sacrament." So I figured if I could learn four songs, I could tell the bishop ten minutes before sacrament and I'd be good to play those four songs.  Go figure, Cova Fig is the only area where they pick their hymns BEFORE Sunday.  And even when they told me they had already picked the hymns, I still felt pretty safe because we sing the same 4 hymns, every week, in every ward. Come to find out, none of the four songs were any of the five I had learned... So Ill let you guess how me trying to play the piano went.  Feel free to use your imagination, and you probably won';t be too far off.  It actually wasn't terrible, just a little amusing.  

The Work

The work is going great.  I love it here, and wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.

Until Next Week

There are 20 missionaries on the island of Fogo.  The church is big compared to the town. Idk if you can find it on a map, but the area I work is call figero pavon, and its up this big mountain. I wouldn't go up there if we didn't have to, because I don't think its too efficient to walk all the way up there. But we are baptizing two families up there within the next little bit, so that's what we do.  Yes, its an insane amount of volcanic rock. My shoes are literally getting killed, but Ill last them out. Having shoes that are destroyed is kind of part of the mission experience so Ill last them out.  My greenie is sweet. He had a really rough past with gangs and stuff, and has a couple of tats.  He is also very "willing" to share his past history and stories. And by saying that, I mean we walk around, and he just talks and tells stories all day.  I listen just enough to say "oh really" or to ask another question that could lead into him talking more.  I'm sure you guys had that on your mish, but he likes to talk about himself and his past. So I kinda listen, just enough to keep him talking haha. Sounds weird to say, but I know you guys know what I'm talking about.  Dan and Jess are seniors, that's insane to me.  I hope everything is going well with school, its really nice to hear from you guys! 

(later in the week)

Hey so i have to play some songs in our zone conference next week, with that general authority coming, and the only one I don't have in the simplified version is "Nossa Lei e Trabalhar" Or in English, "Put your shoulder to the wheel" And I cant find a simplified version. Do you think you could look and see if you can find one for me somewhere and send a pic of something? Thanks a bunch! 

 Ive been practicing everyday, its exciting haha.  How funny is that.  there's 26 missionaries in the zone. 26 Lds missionaries, and Iºm the closest thing to a piano player haha.

Cova Figuera (the other side of the island)

August 18, 2014

I'm not sure if i will get to email more today, or if it will be tomorrow.  We had transfers yesterday, and I am getting transfered to Cova Figeta! Its a really small area on Fogo. I will train again, a missionary name Elder Alyla, from nevada. His parents are from El Salvador, so Im hopin to pick up on a little spanish. 
I loved Sao Filipe more than anything, and the frat house was fun. But this will be a chance to get away from everything, and really get to study.  Its kinda in the middle of knowhere, really green, rainy, cold. Ill kinda be by myself, but my studies were not as solid as they should have been here, and Im looking forward to getting away from everything, and kidding getting to know My Savior. I feel like thats when you get to know him, and im looking forward to that.
  

Ive been playing the piano a little here in sao filipe, just like the top hand of things. I play at the baptismal services. And we live next to the church there, so I will get to practice the piano hopefully everyday, and get a little better. Ill play in church, so that will be fun! 

 I really am excited. Its a good chace to get away. Ive worked in three of the four biggest cities in the country, so itll be nice to get away. Its absolutely gorgeous out here. I have a sick view of the volcano, and its increcible. Rains all the time, and is super green. My shoes are destroyed, but I will buy some new ones at some point in time. My area is straight volcanic rock, so that might take a little hit on my shoes as well haha. Im really excited to be out here, should be good

This is just a little email, ill write a big one later. Know I love you guys, and hope everything is going well!

Much Love, Elder Jarvis

P-day to the Volcano

I don't want to brag but I saw the volcano today, and when they talk about the four corners of the earth, they are talking about Fogo...

Best P-Day ever.

Translation:  Strange People Prohibited from Entering

They grow these grapes in the crater of the Volcano

"Where we tract"

One Down, One to Go

August 4, 2014

"The Soccer Gang"

Hit my year mark this week, such a crazy feeling.  The days feel like weeks, the weeks feel like days. 

Feels like just yesterday I was spending my last day in Cedar City, eating a chicken fried steak , going golfing with Hux and Coach Jake, saying goodbye to Brady, Chad, McCoy, Dallin.  Crazy to think I haven't seen the family for a whole year.  

Iºm so blessed to be able to serve in the best mission in the world, and have the opportunities I've had the last year.  Iºve lived the mission of all missions this first year, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Most rewarding year of my life, and crazy to think its half over.  I love all you guys, and thank you for everything youºve done for me.  I love Fogo, I love Cabo Verde, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.  I love you guys, and thank you for everything!  I will try to summarize my last year into some points, and send it later today.  Love you guys 

The church is true. It changes lives, I see it everyday. Let it change yours.

Much Love, Elder Jarvis 

Cabo Verde, August 2013-2015

Ja

July 28, 2014

Elder Pauli, Ja, Nate and ?

Another solid week from Verde

Elder Naylor

Probably the highlight of this week was Elder Naylor... He is working in Mosterios, about an hour out of Sao Filipe. He had to come to Sao Filipe to get toe surgery for an ingrown toenail. Super gross. Its actually the second time that he has had to have the surgery, but his area is literally walking on volcani rock every single day, kinda makes sense something like that would happen. But I had to stay in with him for two days this week, and we had to babysit him all week.  He is a super boss, I love that kid, but a lot of our week was taking care of him.   Elder Pauli worked our area for two days with members, and he did an awesome job. He's a boss.    

Ja

I dont usually write too much about baptisms, but Ja might be my favorite one ever.  Ja is 19, and we have been working with him for about three weeks now.  He had already been to mission prep before his baptism, and all he talked about was wanting to serve a mission.  

Money is kind of tight for everyone in this country, but he took all the money that he had, and bought two pairs of shoes for church.  Such a sacrafice, but he was so happy when he showed us his new shoes.  He asked me to do his baptism, and it was incredible.  We showed up, and the water wasnt working at the church. So all the members ran from this house across the street to bring buckets of water to fill up the fount.  That might be a bigger deal in other missions, but its kinda normal here.  But the baptism went well, and after he bore his testomony and said "Im so grateful for the missionarys that brought me this message. All I want to do is share it. In the name of Jesus Cristo, amen." SO sick! Ill try to hook on a pic.  

Thoughts of the Week

Similar thoughts to last week. Its funny, after everything I study, everything comes back to just trying to be more like Christ everyday.  And the mish really is two years, to try to become as much like Christ as I can. But Elder Cook says something sick, "The mission should not be a two year spiritual high, that ends after two years.  It should be a learning process, where we continue to learn, grow, and change everyday. And continue to do that the rest of our lives!" I loved that quote.  

There were a couple times this week where my patience was tested, and it made me realize even more how patient my parents are with me.  I really kinda sucked as a kid, and my parents put up with a lot of crap.  Hopefully I am learning some of the patience they showed me.  I also had some thoughts about baseball, and America, but I wont talk about those haha.  

I just want to write one more time to anyone thinking about a mission. Do it. I'd be lost without it.  

I love all you guys, and I love being a missionary.  

Love Elder Jarvis 

Verde

African Weight Room

July 21, 2014

African Weight Room

View from the Apartment

Lela

Very solid week from the Island Called Fire. I read in a missionary handbook that if you dont know what to write home in your letters, try to title it like a news paper artice, and write different sections. So let me know if this is good or bad.  

The Baseball Section

 Elder Bazzarone and I went on the roof today and did soft toss to eachother with little rocks, and a broom stick.  It was nice to swing something like a baseball bat, brought back some good memories.  Needless to say, either the rocks got a little bigger, or the bat/broom handle got a little weaker, it broke in half like a wood bad on a Mariano Rivera cutter.  But we do have plans to get another broom handle, and we plan on keeping the broken one as a lembranca of our works.  That happened this morning, and it was super fun.  And if I wasnt missing baseball enough, I recieved word that my family is going to California and going to the two baseball parks in Cali I have never been to.  Thanks for that. Its great to talk baseball with Elder Bazzarone. Hes from DC, a big O's fan, which is respectible.  

The Work Section (I promise it's not that boring)

The work here is going sick. Still bishop-less, which gives us a little more reign to do what we will with the ward haha.  We're reading the BOM juntos, and the home teaching is a lot better. This week a lot of people were gone to help start up EFY, and our frequency stayed about the same with a lot of the strong members being gone, so thats very solid.  Had quite a few investigators, and even more less actives show up.  Our baptism for this week is one of the best baptisms of my mish.  His name is Ja.  He is 19, been to church the last couple weeks, was just ready to hear the gospel. We talk a lot about what he has to do to serve a mission, and he is actually preparing right now haha. We got him PMG, and he reads that and the BOM everyday, and he hasnt even been baptised yet. He went to mission prep with us last night, and Im excited about him.  We have a couple that we are working with thats progressing well. We will start the marriage papers this week, and they should be married within the next three weeks. Carlos and Samilia. Carlos is a MA, and Samili is an investigator.  The work is going well, and Elder Pauli is a boss.  On Wednesday I was reading in Matt about repentence. And literally all 5 lessons we had were on repentence that day.  I felt like all I was doing was spiritual Faukas, but litterally everyone we taught that day came to church so it kinda worked...  I also taught Elder Pauli how to say "take out your earings", so we found a coulple less actives with earings, and my earing collection got a little bigger.  

The "Strange Things That Happen in Verde Section"

We havent had water in two days, but thats almost not even worth writing about.  We were walking on the street, and an old lady three a bucket of dirty water off the roof and was about 5 feet off from hitting my companion.  As you can see in the pics, we've starting lifting in our "weight room". Fun stuff.  We talked with two 30 ish year old white teachers from Boston.  They asked us who we were, and what we do.  Amazed me that people come from the States, and dont know who the missionaries are.  It was the first time in my whole mission I have explained who we are, and what we do in English.  They were super awesome, and they loved me because I love the Sox, and we talked about the Sox forever.  God Bless America.

The "Thoughts of the Week" Sectioin

Had a bunch of good/strange thoughts this week.  I hit my year mark in two weeks, and I was just thinking about that. Like I have been out a year, have I even changed that much? And I becoming the person I want to be, & the person God needs me to be. The good thing about the mish is we dont have to wonder if we are actually making a difference, because the fruits are visible.  

Another sick thought was from Tony Dongy (Football coach for the Colts) (Not the best missionary source, but very reliable, and one of my dads favorites) "God didnt create christians to be soft. If your a player, win the game. If your a lawyer, win the case. If your a detective, solve the crime." Thats not saying dont be christ like in everything we do, but we werent made to be soft, or shrink in the shadow, or not let out light shine.  God blessed us with the Gospel, the chance to grow up in a member family.  God didnt do that so we would hide under the shadow, and not share His message.  To anyone thinking about serving a mission, God blessed us with the gospel, and this light.  He didnt do that for us to stay home, or to crumble, be quiet, and not share it.  "God didnt make christians to be soft" 

Let me know if you liked how I did this letter, and if it was a little more enjoyable to read.  I love all you guys, thanks for all the support Ive recieved the last year out here. Thanks for everything, love you guys! 

    

Elder Jarvis, Fogo Cabo Verde

New Elder Pauli the Tongan!

July 14, 2014

This week i received my Filho.  Elder Pauli from Sacramento California is now in Fogo.  He is such a boss, I love this guy! He is like 5'11, weighs 230, speaks tongan.  He is full Tongan, and lived there for a few years.  He is a boss.  Overall the week was sick.  His Portugese is a lot better than mine was coming out of the MTC.  And he eats Everything. 

Its nice, we listened to the same sort of music back home, he played football, and we have a lot of stuff in common to talk about.  He's so funny. On Sunday before church, he invited EVERYONE to go to church with us.  His line for the week was "Voce vai assister igreja comosco" "You will come to church with us?" And if everyone that said they will come next week actually comes, our frequency should be nearing 400, and the ward should be looking to split soon:) But he honestly is funny. We kind of wrestle in the house sometimes, and having him there kind of adds a different element, because he can kind of take down all three of us when he wants too...  

Our baptism goal for last week passed the interview on Friday, all ready for baptism saturday right? Well, she kind broke the law of chastity, the day before her baptism, and let her boyfriend move in with her. FRIDAY night, before her baptismSaturday.  I gave her one of the most spiritual faukas Ive ever given anyone.  It was a strange feeling becase when I left, I still felt the spirit, so I didnt feel bad about ripping her.  Cape Verde Problems... 

 

I also had an interesting experience this week. I taught a lesson with Elder Evans, (From vegas, MTC together) and it was sweet, super spiritual and everything. ANd I had never done this before, but I felt like I should. When we finished, I gave her the pamplet, and told he that after we left, I wanted her to write down everything that was going through her mind on that pamplet.  

So we came back sunday before church. And she wouldnt talk to us. So her sister who is a sweet member let us in, and I found the pamplet on the table. So I read the back, and it said this "Os palavras deles foi increvel. Sinto muito optimo. Para Falar a verdade... Os palavras me batarem." "Their words were incredible. I feel great. To say the truth, their words hit me." But the word batar in portugese is like hitting in english, but harder. And besides her portugese errors, it was a very powerful message. So I slid it under her door when she wouldn't talk to us.

  

 

I also listened to an insanely good talk by Brad Wilcox "His Grace is Sufficient" I had already listened to it, but it is the number one talk listened to by BYU students, so I figured it wouldnt hurt to listen to it again. Its super good.  He talks about people asking him "Have you been saved by grace?" And he says yes, absoluletly. Then he quickly asked "Have you been changed by Grace?" Such a powerful line, and I just love that thought. He talks about how grace is not something we recieve at the end of the race, at the finish line. But its something that we have with us throughout the whole race.  Super good talk, really made me think.   As Ferris Bueller says "If you have the means, I would highly reccommend it.

I had this kind of change the past couple of weeks. Where the amount of baptisms doesnt matter, but baptising leaders and families does.  Because honestly in this mission, if we want to just find 15 and 16 year olds to baptise, we can, and there are plenty of them, and a majority of them are less active. Its more about baptising families, and specifically leaders of the church. And right now we have two less actives that are 26 and 28 men, that will be leaders in the church Who are both breaking the law of chastity. 

. And right now,in Fogo expecially, we need leaders. So the main goal for this transfer is to get them baptised.  

Other than that, things are great here. The best four elder house in the history of missionaries is still sweet. Church was good, and my comp is hilarious.  Love Fogo, and love these people.  I hit my year mark in a couple weeks, super crazy.  I definantly dont want to ever go home, which was one of the goals for my mission.  Everything is good, and I miss and love all you guys! GO CUBS GO

Love Elder Jarvis

Fourth of July in Cape Verde

July 7, 2014

It was kind of a strange week from the Island of Fogo. So I was serving with a mini missionary from Fogo, just waiting until my greenie comp gets here.  And Tuesday my mini refused to go out teaching with he. He just stayed home, and said that he was home sick. So we talked to the stake president, and he went back home. I got a different mini missionary for the time being, named Elder Lopes.  He never stops talking. Ever.   Just noise comes out. Very energizer bunny like.  Hes not bad tho. My new companion Elder Poly gets here from the states on Thursday, so that should be sick.  Looking forward to that a lot

Also today we had interview with President Mathews. It is the first time that I have seen him since my praia days.  It was really nice to see him again, and I had an awesome interview. 

 

The work is going super sick, and Im very happy out here in fogo.  The forth of July is like my favorite holiday, so that was a little truncky day, but its all good.  We ate some pretty good Pizza. God Bless America.

  

As for the spiritual stuff Im suppose to write about:) I listened to an insanely good talk by John Bytheway titled "Turn off the TV and Get a Life" But its not just about TV, its about life in general. It was very motivating and just sweet! 

By far the highlight of the week was Elder Bazzarone getting a package full of granola bars.  Courtesy of Bazz's grandma. 

We had some great lessons this week, and working with a couple families.  The church is Sao Filipe is shut down because they are doing construction on it for 9 months.  SO we get to the church in Congresso. But Churchs here arent like churches in utah, where they're everywhere.  We have to walk a pretty good ways to get to church, but we actually had a very solid frequency, and it just shows the sacrifice the saints here are willing to make.

  

We are helping Zecarlos, Lela and Leele prepare for baptism this week, so if you've got a little spare time in your prayers feel free to include those guys! I love fogo and I love the people.  Thanks so much for everything mom and Dad, you guys are awesome.  

Love Elder Jarvis