Week 70 - On Top of the World

Hey family,

This week was a good one. Things kind of got back to normal, I got my new comp last week and he is pretty cool. He is from Virginia and he is super new in the mission. He has only been here for 3 weeks but he speaks pretty well because of his Mexican background. 

The zone leaders have headed the house search so we kind of started doing real work again. They just need a house more than we do right now so we finally had decent numbers. Some other good news is that today the zone leaders found houses for both of us! And they are close so we don't have to run too far to have sleep overs.

This week we got a reference from the sisters for a guy who lives in our area and he is super dope. His name is Carlos and he used to be evangelical but he is looking for the true church. He wasn't able to come to church this week but he said he will next week. I have a lot of hope for him.

This week we had a Christmas conference with our mission president and it was pretty great. We ate a lot of good food, played some games and after we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" which trunked me out a little because our family would always watch that but I got over it. It was super cool to see a non-church movie haha. Best of all is that I got your guys´ package. It got here just in time so president could bring it to Madeira. Unfortunately they had to unwrap everything to bring it through customs so I know everything but I will act surprised on Christmas morning.

Today for P-day we did a super cool hike to the highest point on the island with a member and the zone leaders. It was so pretty and the pics don't do it justice. Probably one of the prettiest places I have ever been. We will have to vacation here after the mission.

I am so sorry, but because of the craziness of this week and last week I have not done any Christmas shopping. I am putting together a Christmas package this week but it will definitely get to you guys after Christmas. I feel really bad but I will hurry so it is not too late. Love you guys thanks for everything. 

Love,
Elder Ruggles

Week 69 - Big 3

Hey everyone,
This week was pretty crazy! My numbers were really bad but we didn't really work at all this week. We have been in a crazy search for apartments and haven't had much luck. The missionary couple here showed us one but it was really far away from the chapel so the zone leaders said no and now they are super mad because we didn't accept the first one...oh well.

We were in a 3 elder companionship all week because the sick zone leader was in Porto but he got back a couple days ago and everything went back to normal. It turns out that our zone leader Elder Da Veiga was just having an allergic reaction and it had nothing to do with his lungs but because of him we all have to move houses... baby. We all gave him a lot of crap for it haha he was a good sport though. President said we have 1 week to find a house so I don't know how much work we will get done this week either.

Unfortunately we are in a 3 elder companionship again because my comp got emergency transferred off the island. I am here waiting for my new comp with the zone leaders. We are the big 3! I don't really know when he is coming, I have heard in a week and also tomorrow but I will let you know next week. My new comp is brand new so I will be training again. It is going to be a challenge because I still don't know the area or a lot of the members, so it is kind of a white wash as well. 

Now you guys know why I didn't have a lot of time to write last week. Super stressful week but hopefully it calms down soon. Some good news is that they started putting up Christmas stuff here and since it is such a touristy place they go all out. It is kinda like Temple Square but on an island. I am trying to put your guys´ Christmas package together but obviously I haven't had a lot of time so it will most likely get there after Christmas... Sorry but I will do it as soon as I can! Love you guys!

Love,

Elder Ruggles

Week 68 - House Hunting

Hey family,

Sorry I didn't write yesterday, this week was super crazy. It started off normal, we taught some good lessons. Our investigator Sergio started to have his doubts answered and he accepted a baptismal date of this Saturday but he missed church because he got drunk so we might have to help prepare him a little more.

At the beginning of the week our zone leader was feeling a little sick and his chest was hurting so they scheduled a doctor's appointment. He went there and it turns out he has a lung infection because of some mold that is in our house. He couldn't sleep in the house so they got him a hotel and he couldn't walk around so I became his personal taxi driver seeing as how I am the only one on this island with a Portuguese drivers license.

Because the zone leaders needed to go from our house to the hotel a lot and they had appointments in their area our area kinda suffered a little. We still worked but I felt like I was not working a lot more than I was working. I couldn't write yesterday because president finally called and told us that Elder De Veiga, the sick zone leader, would stay at his house while he recuperates. I had to drive him to the other side of the island to drop him off at the airport.

This week won't be a lot different because we have to move apartments which I am not happy about because it is one of the nicest apartments I have ever lived in. Also, they are splitting us up with the ZL´s because they don't like 4 elder houses now. In the mean time the other zone leader, Elder Brown, is my comp and we are in a triple companionship. He is super dope and funny, we are going to have some fun looking for this apartment. 

That is all that happened this week but I will let you guys know how the house hunting goes! Love you guys.

Love,

Elder Ruggles

Week 67 - Beach Bum

Well Family,

My dream finally came true and I'm just living it up soaking up the sun here on Madeira. I wish I was here as a tourist and not a missionary because it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. I love working here, it is just a mountain in the middle of the ocean and our area is all the way up the mountain so I am able to see the ocean and the city from almost any place in my area! It is amazing here, words and not even pictures do it justice. I feel like Jake McCleary out here slacking off on the islands.

My new comp is Elder Gomes and he is from Lisbon Portugal, so he does not speak English but I am learning how to speak really well because of him. It doesn't help too much though because the accent here is really bad haha. I am also teaching him some English, just the important ones like "Shut up" and fun stuff like that so by the end of the transfer he will be ready to go to the US. We live in a 4 elder house which is always a good time. I haven't been in one since my first area. It is me, an American, a kid from Lisbon and a kid from Cape Verde.

I would like to tell you that our days have been spent sitting on the beach but we are working hard. Our most progressing investigator is named Sergio and his family. He is really cool but he knows the bible really well. He wanted to be baptized but he found a scripture in the Joseph Smith translation of the bible that switched the words "holy ghost" and "Fire" which I always thought WERE interchangeable but he seems to think otherwise... we have been trying to talk to him but he is a little upset. We will try more this week.

I pretty much did nothing for Thanksgiving. The american, Elder Brown, who lives in the house, flew to Porto to do some stuff for his Visa so I was alone in the house with 3 Natives... I just got pranked by them. The holidays should make up for it though. Here in Madeira it has the Guinness world record for world's biggest firework show for New Years! They do it out in the ocean and we are going to try to see it. It is a once in a lifetime thing! I am stoked for it. While you guys can have fun in the snow, I will be soaking up the rays in this nice, 80 degree weather with a slight island sea breeze! Love you guys and thanks for all of your prayers! I will be thinking of you guys while I am on the beach sleeping in a hammock with a tropical drink haha!

Love,

Island Ruggles

Week 66 - Islands

Well family, 

I don't have too much time to write because I was transferred. Last night we got transfer calls at like 11:30 and I was expecting to stay. Because I was group leader and driver, I thought there was no way that I was leaving. Not to mention that my comp had about 5 months there already. I got the call and it turns out that I am going to Madeira which is an island off of Portugal. I hear it is so pretty, I am going to paradise. I was surprised to get the call but I am super excited to go.

It was hard saying goodbye to all the people in Portalegre, I was not ready to go but now I am coming to peace with it. It can't be too bad on the island. I will be there for the world's largest firework show so there is no complaining here.

This week we had some good numbers and did some good teaching. We didn't have anyone in church because P. was sick but we went and visited her and she is doing alright with reading. Hopefully she will be baptized soon. We had a division with the zone leaders and it went really well. Me and Elder McColley tore it up and did some good proselyting. We also had some good heart to heart feelings talks which is always needed.

Well I will write more next week, I have to go catch a plane. Love you guys. I will definitely send pictures next week.

Love,

Elder Ruggles