This week has been so awesome. I had another baptism this week!

  Me and my companion are working super hard. There is allot were doing and were busy every minute of the day.

 Its hard work but this week my companion talked to me and he asked what do you want out of a mission, I had no clue this its already hard enough. ha ha but he told me where here for two years serving a mission its hard and our days aren't going to change so we need to just have a better attitude about things like everyone says forget  yourself and just work. So we did that this week and it went by so fast and I don't feel like I'm working I'm feeling like I'm having fun.

  It's so cool to be able to speak and teach. during my study I have been trying to teach with the power of conviction. Like my patriartical blessing says.

 Hhopefully you didn't send my package yet I need baby powder. ha ha I love you guys and I hope you have a good week.

More baptisms scheduled

 I’m doing so much better! This week I had a baptism!  Sorry I don’t have pictures today but next week.

 But anyways I had marked a baptism in my first area and then I was transferred to two different areas and the area I’m in now is right next to my first one and she wanted me to baptize her so I got another one!

 But this week has been tough and we have been working very hard and we marked a baptism every weekend this next month and now finally I’m starting to see the fruit of my labors.

It’s crazy! I didn’t think a mission was this hard and now it still isn’t but I made it past the hardest part I can understand everyone and I can teach too! It really is the best feeling in the world.

 That’s so cool Kyler got called to Italy!!  That’s a super cool mission!

 Everything with my stomach is doing better I’m doing physical therapy for my back. It’s not really helping but the church payed for 10 sessions so I have to go. So my companions name is Elder C. Alves he’s super cool and I knew him before we were companions he is a Brazilian from Sao Paulo but he lived in Idaho for 9 months and learned English so he speaks super good. But we don’t really speak in English that much. He’s a hard worker and only has 3 weeks more than me.

 So we moved to an area called Massaging. There is allot of favellas and its raining allot too so were in mud all day but its all good.

 Our house is actually pretty sweet I like it. But we don’t have a water heater that’s the only down fall.

All my stuff is doing pretty well I haven’t had much problems with my stuff it’s doing great.

Elder Christpher Mullenaux

Mission Pres. gave me a blessing

Jun 11 (9 days ago)

 That’s so awesome I’m so excited for Jacob!

 This week has been so awesome, so you know I’m having a hard time and I don’t expect the mission to be easy but got transferred again! But it was defiantly for the better my other companion was from Bolivia and he didn’t know much Portuguese he speaks Spanish and he doesn’t know how to work. But I was transferred and now I’m with a elder that was in my old zone and now were in a awesome area.

Were trying to baptize every week. I’m learning that in the mission field communication is the key. 

 So I’ve been changing companions so much because a lot of missionaries  are going home. 

Right now I’m dong physical therapy for my back. And ya it was a mental thing. this last week I told the president i wanted to go home we had an interview and he talked with me and wanted to know why.

 Satan was trying so hard to get me to come home. I was scared I had bad dreams nightly I didn’t sleep a lot all these bad thoughts would go through my mind. I told the president this and he gave me a priesthood blessing after I felt great I wanted to work I wanted to serve that was last weekend and now I’m still going strong. I was scared to be here in a foreign country and not be able to speak with anyone. But all because of my mission president I’m working harder than ever. It’s still not easy but I’m excited about the work.

 Christopher Mullenaux

Hard times

On Mon, Jun 4

 I’m doing pretty good, they use bottled water for the sacrament I have no clue what caused that but its good now, the boys name that I baptized is Dinilo!  That’s cool the missionaries were over and ya that’s a classic scripture to use if you don’t prepare one ha-ha. ya so the language is allot better I can understand every one and in the mission I never feel comfortable so this week I got a new companion his name is elder Polins he’s from São Paulo and the first day was awesome and we marked a baptism, but the next day I was transferred and got a new companion his name is elder Silis and he’s from Bolivia. Were in a hard area and its tough but it’s ok brazil is a very dirty place it’s hard to be clean. I’m going to be honest in saying its cool to be here and all but I’m tired of being here.

 I’m going to physical therapy for my back and we will see if that helps. But if not I don’t know what to do. It seems like when I need to feel good I feel bad and honestly I’d rather serve in the United States were its more structured and the houses are better and it’s more clean. I don’t know mom as hard as it is I don’t know how much more I can take I’m miserable. But don’t email the president or anything let’s just see how things go for a couple of weeks. So ya other than my back and me being stressed out a lot I’m doing ok. It’s just hard to work and have the spirit.  The reason why USA is better is they have bikes and cars. So we´ll see how it goes don’t worry I’ll be alright just pray for me and that’s all I need.  

For Mothers day

On Mothers day I’m going to call on Skype at 5 here. I think it will be 11 or 12 at the house! So you and dad need to learn how to use it, I will be Skyping it from a members home. So the boy has not been able to come back to church yet but were trying really hard to get him to come back the only reason why he hasn’t been confirmed yet is because of his parents aren’t members and they have a busy life and drag him around every were. I’m working as hard as I can and its taking effect on me it’s hard to work when I have stomach issues all the time.  The elders that are a distraction are leaving today and me and my companion are super excited it’s hard to have the sprit because they know cuss words in English so it’s hard. 

Is there any way you guys could send me a card? I need about 40 dollars for a radio and i can put music on a flash drive from lds.org. We only get 50 dollars per week and it’s very hard to use that money just on food. And use it just in case of emergencies and it would be allot cheaper to put money on a card then send me a package for Christmas. I’m having fun and I can’t wait till the end of my mission and you guys come pick me up. See you next week on Skype! 

My 1st Baptism

So Dad I talked to the Mission President and he said at the end of my mission like the last week you could come here and go on splits with me! Dude that would be so sick! So dude you should learn some Portuguese and we could go teach people and possibly baptize someone! Brazil is super poor my house is made of concrete floors walls and ceilings.

 

The best thing about my mission is at the end of the day when all of the six of the Missionaries in my house come  together and make dinner and talk about or day there is one other missionary in our house that knows jujitsu we end up wrestling for fun on the concrete and I always win by choking him out, haha, its fun. We get up at 6:30am every day. I exercises and study for about 2 hours then me and my companion get together and work on my language then we get ready and go eat with a member then we start to talk to people on the

 side walk every person here always stops because of me I'm super white and they know I'm American and they automatically think I'm rich. Every person stares at me its a very uncomfortable feeling. But I always use it to my advantage to talk to people.

 

 I'm doing so great! this week was tough but totally worth it because... I GOT MY FIRST BAPTISM! I was so excited it was amazing! We have been teaching this 10 year old boy for 2 weeks and finally his mom excepted that her son wanted to be baptized. I was deeply touched because he came up to me and asked why I was here and I gave him the Book of Mormon and didn't think much of it but the next Sunday he came to church and he told us he prayed about it and knows its true so the hole last 2 weeks be have been teaching him and trying to convince his mom that he should be baptized and she finally accepted!

 

I hope you all have a good week!

 

Elder Christopher Mullenaux

PICTURES!

Out into the field, "So Bring It On Brazil, I'm Ready"

  

   

     Hey everyone! I’m finally here in Recife! and I’m so excited, well I was at first after I got here we had lunch with the president of the mission he’s super nice, after that we went to the mission office and meet our companions my comp was Brazilian and hardly spoke any English and it felt like it went all downhill from there we took a bus to our house that took 45 minutes standing up with all my luggage with at least 50 people on it. Everyone was staring at me because of how different I look, (American) in the middle of the bus ride it started to rain hard! and I thought to myself o crap this is going to get crazy we proceeded to our stop and started running with my luggage o struggled to get my handle open i couldn’t so I put it on my back and started running me and my companion ran for about 10 minutes in the rain we finally got to the house with all my stuff soaked GREAT! So I hung everything on a clothes line to dry out. Later that night I remember my dad saying that he wanted me to struggle a little bit on my mission I smiled and laughed thinking to myself this is how it’s going to be for two years. the next day I was struggling, it was hot and I really missed my family and we walked all day to talk to people with no success and I really wanted to go back to our apartment we had one last appointment so we went to the man’s house and my companion started to teach and after the lesson he asked me to testify about baptism and the blessing that it bring. I don’t remember what I said in Portuguese but all I know is that the man wanted to be baptized the spirit was very strong there and I know without a doubt that the sprit converts. the area that were in is one of the hardest in the mission and the ward hasn’t had any baptisms in 8 months I know without a doubt that the spirit converts and I love this work it’s awesome! SO BRING IT ON BRAZIL! IM READY!

Elder Mullenaux

The send off from the Brazil MTC, out into the field

  This Is the send off picture from the Brazil MTC. I'm not sure Chris is feeling to well in this picture. Maybe he was still feeling the effect of pneumonia that he had a couple of weeks ago.
  So they are all off into the field now. So exciting, I can't wait to here about his expiriwnces!

6th week

  Well last week was crazy we have been teaching our teachers as investigators for over three weeks and by now Im teaching the hole lesson in Portuguese its been pretty hard because Im so used to Spanish so that defiantly doesn't help and the language is very difficult to learn. But I keep working away. The best is to sit down at the lunch table to eat and to be able to talk to the Brazilians its so cool! Im starting to understand people when they talk to me. so this week has been good. Its funny to see new missionary's so discouraged and tell them it gets better because it really does. Im starting to be a little more confidant with talking to people on the street on p-day the food here is so different we usually have two different kinds of meat with beans and rice and orange soda. Not the healthiest meal but i like it.

  The weather here is crazy the clouds move super fast. It rains every day for 20 minutes and its super super humid.

   My mtc experience is been so fast and I still feel like I'm not ready to leave here but what better way to learn than in the Field!

  Hope everyone has a great week!

  Please write to the Mission home not the MTC anymore.

Elder Mullenaux

Elder Mullenaux's Addresses

  This week was great! It seems like everything down here is twice as expensive.  Yes Im getting the letters from the kids there great! emails are hard because I have very little time on the computers. I'lll right you a letter about it here. Yes I can get pics via email. thanks dad! I pray for you all every night!
 I had the craziest week. It first started off with I got  pneumonia with a 102.8 temp and I thought I was going to die, so in class I just layed down on my desk and prayed for like 4 hours every day in class and now I'm better and I feel like I have learned more Portuguese than the hole time I have been in the MTC it's been so crazy the miracles that are made at the MTC. Love you all so much.
Elder Mullenaux



Chris would love some letters. So here is his address and email.
Thanks for your support. Mail is better though because he has limited time on the computer.

Elder Chris Mullenaux
Brazil Recife Mission
Rua Sao Francisco110 Sala 102
52010-020 Paissandu-Recife - PE
Brazil

christopher.mullenaux@myldsmail.net

Third week

     How was your week! Mine was great! We have a lot of work to do in the MTC on learning our language. But we’re all getting it. So I was in a trio with elder Lesuer and elder Ericson but I have a new companion he’s from Provo his name is Mark Grether he’s great and super smart he helps with the language a lot! I miss you a lot I don’t have a lot of time on the computer. But let me know if you have any questions about brazil!  I will send some pictures soon!  I’m in the MTC so I’m learning how to teach the people but when I’m in the field ! Love you!

Elder Mullenaux

Second week

   I’m having a blast me and my companions all get along so great and we are  learning Portuguese 24/ 7.

 It’s so hard and I feel so discouraged but when they asked me to teach a lesson I felt like I couldn’t do it so when I fully committed to the lord and let the spirit guide me I taught the first lesson in Portuguese with the spirit and you could tell it was there and for the first time I know what bring people to Christ feels like. It was so awesome. I still need more time in the MTC with my language but I’m so anxious to get out and serve.

 I miss you tones and I’m trying my best and even though most times I want to come home I know that would be a selfish act on my part and I need to be here because there isn’t allot for me at home. I love you allot so make this week better than the last.

    They won’t let me put pictures on the computer because I’m at the mtc but you’ll get tones when I’m out.

    Its amazing here and the language is extremely difficult to learn but I’m trying my best and putting all my learning problems aside and just do what I can.

So I’ll be sending you pictures in four weeks! 

Love,Elder Mullenaux

Hey everyone!

   Yes I have made it here safe and I’m loving the MTC! I’m so excited to be here. The food is great and the Brazilians are the coolest people especially the native missionaries in the MTC, since I’ve been here it has felt like we have been rushed and it seems like a little too much but when we really on the lord the weight of that load can become and feel less. I know that if we have heavenly father in our life and always really on him he makes everything ells fall into place.  So far thats mostly what I have learned at the MTC.  And yes Elder Nate Lesuer is my companion and we are having a blast I hope all is well I would love your letters so please send some!!!

Elder Chris Mullenaux

Elder Chris Mullenaux's 1st P-day