Week #94 Last Transfer - - heading out of the office!

Hey Mom,
     My prayers have been answered!!  I am getting transferred!  I got called as a District Leader - - I'm going to train too. I'm going to Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais.  It's in a different state, outside of Sao Paulo.  It's soooo far away by bus - - like it will literally take me a full day to get there.  This area is new - - my companion and I will be opening it up.  We will be the farthest away and in the coldest region of the mission!   I'm super excited for this opportunity - - this last transfer we are gonna get after it!  My shoes are trashed - - we are hot gluing them today before I leave.  Don't worry about sending me anything before I come home - - I won't get it in time to use it!
     Our English class is having a going away party for me today. I have had 5 baptisms from this class - - these people are very close to me.  Saying good bye will not be easy.

     I love you all - - very excited for this new opportunity in front of me!  Love you - - Elder Akina

* Elder Akina wrote us a wonderful email about his interview with President Bangerter as he leaves his office assignment.  He has asked us not to post it as it is personal, we know you understand.  We want to thank you for your prayers - - Elder Akina has felt them as he served in the office with such a great responsibility on his shoulders.  Now off he goes to make a difference on the streets in a country he has grown to love and call home.
   

Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    

Week #93 - - Transfers?

Heeeyy, 
     That's so cool that you guys are going to Carrie's wedding - - super pumped for her! Sorry I didn't write last week, it has been crazy busy here.  So last week we had Multi Zonas and my training that I gave was super cool!  We did this big prank where we told everybody the mission was getting iphones and we even had a fake release form and everything!  At the end they figured out it was just a joke, lol we laughed so hard, everyone got so excited for nothing.  Let's get excited about the work like we did for the phones!
     We bought my groups plane tickets to go home this past week.  Elder Welch (who was my companion in the CTM) is my Zone Leader now so when I have time we'll go to his area on splits or he'll come to mine.  Ha - - ha, like whenever I'm talking to him we literally trip out on how fast it went.  Like it feels like last month we were in the CTM trying to memorize the missionary purpose in Portuguese.  The days are going by fast, our mission is doing really good.  President and Sister Bangerter are being really well received by the missionaries and the members here.  They're super cool. 
     Next week we have 28 missionaries going home and 14 arriving, so our house is going to be really busy this week, missionaries coming in and out of Piracicaba. Our house is like the house for missionaries, so I should probably just kiss all of the food that's in our fridge goodbye already - - cuz nothing is safe when it comes to food and these monsters.! 
     We planned really well so everything should run pretty smooth.  Next week I will be back in the field full time!!  I'm stoked for the opportunity I'm going to get to have this last part of my mission to really dedicate to the people here in Brazil and to the Lord, both of which have done so much for me.  I pray for you guys always.  Have a good time up there in Utah and tell Carrie that I love her, tell her husband I said welcome to the Fam.  Tell Cameron to hit those dance moves for me at the wedding.  Love you guys. Falou. Elder Akina

*When asked if it he was sure his last transfer he stated, "No - - transfers take place this coming week.  I think I am being transferred as  I already am training Schmitz,  it makes sense that I will.  I'm not for sure yet though, but I'm hoping, I feel like my time in the office is up.  I've learned a bunch but I'm ready to get back out."  We shall wait and see with this weeks e-mail!  Fingers crossed!

Week #92 Pictures Galore!

Baptism of a several people from our English class.  They live outside our area, they asked me to baptize them.  We gained approval to travel from President and  went to their baptism - - it was sweet!

Week #91 Preparing for Multi-Zonas

Hello,

     This wek is going to be crazy busy - - we have multi zonas so we're be traveling Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  We're trying to get some stuff done today to make up those 3 days we're going to be out of the office.

     I will be in my first area (Sumaré/Portal Bordon) on Wednesday!  I've made plans to see some friends at the chapel down there - - so that's going to be cool.  It's been like a year and a half, that's sooo crazy to me.

Piracicaba, Brazil July 2016

     I will also bear my final testimony in these multi zonas (like every multi zona the missionaries going home before there will be a next one, bear their testimony in front of everyone) so I'm going to have to do that 3 times, should be good.

    I spent part of the week with President Bangerter doing his paper work etc . . . we chatted a lot about his family.  He told me about his 3 sons earning their Eagle Scout awards, just like me  - - cutting close to my 18th birthday - - LOL!  I am so full of cake!  I had 4 Birthday cakes last week - - I was well taken care of and now I am stuffed full of cake!

Make it a great week - - Love you guys. Falou  Elder Akina

Tag picture - - so green.

Birthday celebration with the office AP's



English students help celebrate my birthday!

 

Week #90 Happy Birthday Elder Akina

Haaazit,
    This weekwas craaazy - - President Canuto left us :/  It was super sad to see him go but is bitter sweet moment because we knew we were getting a stud for a President.  President Bangerter!!   So on President Canuto's last night he took us, the Assistants and his councilors out to eat.  We had good talk about pretty much everything lol that was super cool.  President and Sister Bangerter got here the next day with the Canuto's here in the office.  We had a sign ready for them here and everything - - we talked about mission stuff and that was the last time President Canuto walked through the office :/  He called us into his office for the last time and thanked us for everything, super cool moment and then they left.
     President Bangerter then met with all of us, we chatted, then yesterday we had a meeting called conhecer seu Presidente, where all the missionaries came to Piracicaba to meet President Bangerter.  The logistics of this meeting were super hard to plan btw, we had lunch there too.  Last night I went with President Bangerter to do his visa stuff, Monday morning we will go again to take out a couple more documents he needs and to get his signature registered at the notary.  Yaaayy fun stuff!!  (Lol - - totally joking) 
     President Bangerter is like 6'6 so he's like a giant here in Brazil and Sister Bangerter is tiny!   They are super cool and really spiritual.  President Bangerter worked for the church before receiving his call, he was a product manager for the programs of the church.  His dad was President Faust's companion when he served in Brazil.  His dad served in Brazil when the mebership was 20 something in the country and the mission was the Brazil Mission - - like there was only one mission in the whole country!  So their family definatley has some pioneers here in the country. 
     I'm putting up some videos for you guys to see.   On Tuesday my zone did a little party for my b-day which was super cool.  Today I'm going over to some of my English students house for my b-day, were gunna eat there for lunch.  Tonight we will be with the Assistants for dinner for my b-day and then tomorrow there are some mebers here that are gunna do a party for me that im not supposed to know about.  However I do know because someone has a big mouth - - Lol!  So - - should be good, my birthday is taken care of Mom!


Love you guys!! tchau.  Elder Akina

Zone Birthday celebration!

"The Last Supper".  Aloha Oe President and Sister Canuto.  Ahui hou, malama pono.

 

Birthday boy!

  

 

Week #89 Training a Replacement!

Haaazit,
     This week was busy!!  We had transfers this week, everything went good. I got a new companion I'm training here in the office - - Elder Schmitz from Ohio - - he's cool.  This is my 6th transfer in the office and I have 1 more transfer after this.  So since I got a companion to train that means I will have 1 more transfer in the Field!!  Hehe - -  I'm so pumped!  Counting down the days till I can get back out there man!  Whenever I see everyone their always like, "Bro, Akina you're so white!"  Ha-ha  - - not anymore.  So these next couple of weeks I have to make sure Elder Schmitz knows everything so he can be ready to help the new President who gets here next week. 
     We are going to have 2 meetings this week, each one with half of the mission.  That's been crazy to plan, vans and buses and all that - - but it should be good.
     Its been too long since weve baptized in my area :/ like were finding people to teach, but just no one wants to come to church.  So we spent this week reevaluating what needs to be done to change that.  If you want different results you have to change the process, otherwise we're just wasting our time, which we don't have a lot of.  Elder Nunez goes home on this next transfer. I seriously can't believe I'm on my last 12 weeks. Too quick.   
     Literally everyone wants a Hawaii tie, like 15 elders call me daily asking.  I went to a
dermatologist because of this infection that I had is coming back. Dudes that don't clean there clippers!  I am ok Mom, don't worry. Daang - - Lol I literally forgot about my birthday. I don't need anything mom. 
     I'll send some pictures.  Love you guys.  Falou.  Elder Akina

Elder Akina's Birthday is July 3rd, next Sunday - - take a minute and drop him an email with

Birthday wishes! 

His email address is on the sidebar of the blog.

      

 

Week #88 Happy Father's Day

Hey Mom - -
     The Canuto's leave the end of this month :/ , however we're excited to receive our new Mission President!
     This week has been crazy, sending everyone home on Tuesday so I'm busy trying to get all their documentation straight so they can leave the country with no problems.
     Congrats on a successful Girls camp!  The youth are so important and are my favorite group to work with!  I have to buy medicine for my head thats 200R$ - - its manipulated (not sure what this means - - trying not to worry)  . But I'm okay.  Love you!! - - Elder Akina


A letter to Daddy-O:
    Daaaadd!!  Happy Fathers Day!!  (tomorrow but still) Dad I've been super busy renewing Visas.  We had an emergency transfer yesterday and some crazy stuff take place :/   We have transfers this Tuesday and 23 missionaries going home!  So I'm hustling trying to get all these missionaries' documents together so they can leave the country legally. 





My 2 favorite boys! 




Somebody grew!

    

But I love you man, thank you for your example to me.   You've always been the type of person that just gets it done - - even if you don't want to and that one of the most valuable things I have learned while I have been out here.  The most special moments on my mission is when I see myself using what you guys (you and mom) have been trying to instill in me my whole life.  Our Savior Jesus Christ has really helped me see that.  So - - thank you Pops!  Have a good Fathers Day and thank you for being mine. Love you.   Elder Akina