My brother had a cool experience on Sunday - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

SteelBlue · 07-18-2007, 07:08 AM

He's been in Brazil for the past several weeks and on Sunday had some time to venture away from his office/neighborhood and into the ghetto where he served his mission. The first thing he noticed was that there was a brand new beautiful chapel built, but when he went in it was not the same ward that he was looking for. Somebody gave him directions to where the ward he was seeking was meeting and he made it in time.

He said he was initially very sad because there was nobody left after just 15 years away. He didn't recognize a soul and nobody seemed to recognize him. It wasn't until he got to Sunday school that he recognized the teacher and after class went to her and introduced himself. She remembered him and began taking him around to people she thought would remember him.

Sacrament was last and the Bishop announced his presence and so many more people recognized him. He said during sacrament he began to recognize several faces and began to cheer up. After sacrament meeting he was invited to dinner with about 15 members who threw a party for him. He said it was an amazing experience to have all of these people remember him and still love him like that. The highlight was being introduced to a 15 year old boy who was named after him (given our last name as his first name) because the parents had liked him so much. He had no idea that he'd had that kind of an effect on anybody and he said the honor of that whole situation nearly brought him to tears.

Mormon Red Death · 07-18-2007, 01:10 PM

that is awesome... I've wondered what it would be like to go back to some of my old areas in brazil

Indy Coug · 07-18-2007, 01:14 PM

If I went back England, they would go "who"?

MikeWaters · 07-18-2007, 01:32 PM

I went back to one of my old areas, about 4 years after I left, to find the chapel that was dedicated on the day I was transferred out completely in weeds and disuse.

Depressing. People were still there, but no church going on. Missionaries all moved out.

I'm glad your brother had a good experience.

Archaea · 07-18-2007, 01:50 PM

It is good. He must have made a lasting impression.

My experience would be similar to Indy's.

SteelBlue · 07-18-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

If I went back England, they would go "who"?

Same for me.

Indy Coug · 07-18-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

Same for me.

I tried hard, but I didn't have very much success. I just seriously doubt I'd get anything more than a few vague recollections from members, mostly from those that I lived with in a couple of areas.

Lost Student · 07-18-2007, 04:31 PM

When I went back to Brazil, I had a similar experience... met a kid that was born several months after I was transferred out...also named after me.

The kid even had blue eyes. I could almost see a little of myself in his face. Seemed like a cool kid.

Unfortunately, his mom was trying to be very clingy to me so I had to skedaddle out of there.

Black Diamond Bay · 07-18-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

He's been in Brazil for the past several weeks and on Sunday had some time to venture away from his office/neighborhood and into the ghetto where he served his mission. The first thing he noticed was that there was a brand new beautiful chapel built, but when he went in it was not the same ward that he was looking for. Somebody gave him directions to where the ward he was seeking was meeting and he made it in time.

He said he was initially very sad because there was nobody left after just 15 years away. He didn't recognize a soul and nobody seemed to recognize him. It wasn't until he got to Sunday school that he recognized the teacher and after class went to her and introduced himself. She remembered him and began taking him around to people she thought would remember him.

Sacrament was last and the Bishop announced his presence and so many more people recognized him. He said during sacrament he began to recognize several faces and began to cheer up. After sacrament meeting he was invited to dinner with about 15 members who threw a party for him. He said it was an amazing experience to have all of these people remember him and still love him like that. The highlight was being introduced to a 15 year old boy who was named after him (given our last name as his first name) because the parents had liked him so much. He had no idea that he'd had that kind of an effect on anybody and he said the honor of that whole situation nearly brought him to tears.

My dad took us all to Bolivia when they dedicated the temple there...thirty some years after his mission. There was only one family left that remembered him, but they practically fell down and kissed his feet. They still called him Elder which was sort of funny. It was a mother and her two daughters. Both daughters had grown up, married in the church and sent kids on missions. It was very cool to see. One of the sisters still had a picture of my dad and his companion with them in their baptismal clothes hanging up in her house.

Chapel-Hill-Coug · 07-18-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I went back to one of my old areas, about 4 years after I left, to find the chapel that was dedicated on the day I was transferred out completely in weeds and disuse.

Depressing. People were still there, but no church going on. Missionaries all moved out.

I'm glad your brother had a good experience.

My first area, where I served for 6 months, was actually demoted from a ward to a branch shortly after I left. I thought THAT was bad.

07-18-2007, 07:08 AM	#1
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	My brother had a cool experience on Sunday He's been in Brazil for the past several weeks and on Sunday had some time to venture away from his office/neighborhood and into the ghetto where he served his mission. The first thing he noticed was that there was a brand new beautiful chapel built, but when he went in it was not the same ward that he was looking for. Somebody gave him directions to where the ward he was seeking was meeting and he made it in time. He said he was initially very sad because there was nobody left after just 15 years away. He didn't recognize a soul and nobody seemed to recognize him. It wasn't until he got to Sunday school that he recognized the teacher and after class went to her and introduced himself. She remembered him and began taking him around to people she thought would remember him. Sacrament was last and the Bishop announced his presence and so many more people recognized him. He said during sacrament he began to recognize several faces and began to cheer up. After sacrament meeting he was invited to dinner with about 15 members who threw a party for him. He said it was an amazing experience to have all of these people remember him and still love him like that. The highlight was being introduced to a 15 year old boy who was named after him (given our last name as his first name) because the parents had liked him so much. He had no idea that he'd had that kind of an effect on anybody and he said the honor of that whole situation nearly brought him to tears.

07-18-2007, 01:10 PM	#2
Mormon Red Death Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Clinton Township, MI Posts: 3,126	that is awesome... I've wondered what it would be like to go back to some of my old areas in brazil __________________ Its all about the suit

07-18-2007, 01:50 PM	#5
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	It is good. He must have made a lasting impression. My experience would be similar to Indy's. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

07-18-2007, 01:14 PM	#3
Indy Coug Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Between Iraq and a hard place Posts: 7,569	If I went back England, they would go "who"?

07-18-2007, 01:32 PM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I went back to one of my old areas, about 4 years after I left, to find the chapel that was dedicated on the day I was transferred out completely in weeds and disuse. Depressing. People were still there, but no church going on. Missionaries all moved out. I'm glad your brother had a good experience.

07-18-2007, 04:31 PM	#8
Lost Student Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Boise Posts: 261	When I went back to Brazil, I had a similar experience... met a kid that was born several months after I was transferred out...also named after me. The kid even had blue eyes. I could almost see a little of myself in his face. Seemed like a cool kid. Unfortunately, his mom was trying to be very clingy to me so I had to skedaddle out of there.