The Lastest News From Mission Home

Jardim Londrina

My area, The FERREIRA! (In other words Zion!!!)

November 27, 2012

Happy late Thanksgiving. I was out working one night with Elder Castro and we were doing a bunch of contacts, when one of them wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I was surprised and then a little embarrassed because I had completely forgotten.

So this week the Lord has been teaching me a lot! I´ve been given the opportunity while serving here in the office to really see what the Lord wants to change in me. This has been and continues to be truly the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life. I´ve seen a lot of selfishness, pride, and other things that aren't worthy of a follower of Christ. The Lord has really been working to show me what I need to do to change these things. I had an experience last Friday that really woke me up, I felt completely worthless. I felt as though the President and other missionaries saw me as a burden and had no confidence in me. With all this in my heart I knelt to pray and ask direction of the Lord to show me the purpose of all of this. Amidst all of my complaints and murmurings in the prayer I had a comforting feeling come over me and a thought come into my mind that all of these things would serve to make me the man and leader that the Lord wants me to be. 

I'm so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father that knows His children and is ready to help and guide them through their trails and growth. I know that I can have a successful mission if I rely on the Lord and humble myself enough to except that I'm not going to be perfect at everything the first time but I need to persevere and then I will succeed.
              

November 20, 2012

So another transfer has come and gone here in the mission. Can you believe it, I'm starting my fourth transfer. Next week Elder Castro and i will begin training our replacements. It has been an interesting experience being in the office and seeing all the old missionaries return home and the new missionaries arriving. It really gives you a perspective of how short of a time we all have to serve the Lord and what a blessing it is to serve a mission.

President Pinho is getting super excited lately, he is always excited but as of late he's been getting even more excited! Excited about baptisms!! Our mission is in the top 3 in Brazil, and is one of the most obedient. President went to Campinas this passed week and had a meeting with all the other mission presidents in Brazil and he was spotlighted. Everyone was so surprised the hear that a mission in the southern part of Brazil like Sao Paulo was having so much success with baptisms. We have a goal to baptize 1000 people in the mission just in the month of December. That's 12 baptisms in every area. It's going to be amazing and everyone is stoked!

November 13, 2012

I am so excited to be an uncle:)!!! My prediction is that it is a boy. About what the grand kids should call you my vote is for "mi maw", grandma works too.

So we had the amazing experience of baptizing the family Eleita, this last Sunday! It was an incredible experience and one I will forever remember. I got to baptize Marcos (Dad) and Melina the youngest daughter. The spirit was so strong and they were all so happy! Here are some pictures :)

FAMILY ELEITA Baptized November 11, 2012.



All who attended the Baptism

October 25, 2012

I'm going to be 20 yrs old in 2 days and I've been on my mission for 9 months. The time is passing so fast! Today I went to the Federal Police, to help a few Elders with renewing their visas and I had the biggest throw back. The CTM usually brings their new elders that are needing to get their visas booked, on the same day as us. When I saw an Elder there that graduated with me, Elder Meyo! I was really surprised and it was good to catch up with him. It got me thinking how things have really changed and how fast the time is going by.

You asked about the family Eleita!! (elect). They are doing awesome and progressing really well. I am growing to love them. Elder Castro and I are already imagining going through the temple with them in a year and they haven't even been baptized yet. They have been marked for baptism on the 4th of November. I can't wait it is going to be an amazing day!!!

October 2, 2012

We have been blessed by the Lord the to have received a reference this week of a family. They are really great and we have already taught them once. The are having really serious financial trouble right now, and with the passing away of one of there mothers they seem really humble and ready to accept the gospel. :)

September 12, 2012

An other week came and flew by. Lately here in the office It feels like I'm always running behind. It's a real big temptation to work on P-day. This has been a good and challenging week. I feel like this area is the fulfillment of my PB when it says "you will be asked to do the hardest work you have ever done." I really feel that way right now and at time very inadequate. I pray always that the Lord will qualify me for the work, I know he is, but one thing I am learning is that, that doesn't mean he will make it easy. I think he makes it just bearable enough to get by and grow the most.

I have also been praying to be able to remember all that I need to with the responsibilities in the office. I had an experience that strengthened my testimony. This morning we had a missionary that was returning home to receive treatment for medical reasons. I set my alarm for 3:15 am so I could wake him up and help get him on his way. My alarm didn't go off, I believe the spirit woke me up at exactly 3:15 and the taxi ran late so it gave me just enough time to get him ready and on his way. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father that knows me and he is always there to help when my weaknesses get in the way of his work:).

We lost Victor and his sister Bia. Their mom was a member of the church and now wants nothing to do with it and has forbidden Victor and Bia from continuing with the discussions:(.