Week 34

Monday, August 6, 2018

Change is good but hard at times... Right now I’m in a new city with my third son and being a zone leader... its super tough but I’m loving it., my companion is from an island here in brazil and is super excited about the work. He is a huge example to me. He was the only member in his family to be baptized and has one year and 4 months in the church. We are both new to the area so it is fun because we don’t know where anything is and we get lost a lot. We also started with no investigators so we do a lot of contacting and knocking doors. We are building a good base... 

I’m happy to be in a ward again here in Caracica. We have a pianist and chorister so I’m off the hook once again ;) . This last week was the first month in my mission that I didn’t share a testimony because all the members wanted to. It was a powerful meeting. 

What’s crazy is now I have to give training in zone conferences and this week will give training to 60 people and in front of president. But it will be good. I more or less have two comps because I have the new one who is training and my other zone leader is also training. By day we are dads and be night ZLs. This week was pretty difficult which means the upcoming week is going to be jam-packed with miracles. 

This week we preached on the bus for the first time in my comp's and the other new American’s mission. It was super fun and we made a few new friends who are interested. I said alright this is what we are going to do. Everyone thought I was joking (including the other ZL) until I got up, walked to the front and began teaching. 

Spiritual thought: We need to have faith in the lord. This doesn’t mean only believing in him but having a perfect confidence in him. Sometimes with our friends and family we just need to open our months and have the confidence that God will fill them with what needs to be said and heard. Be Bold in the Gospel and quick to defend, explain, and clarify her. 

I love you tons and miss you all! Sorry I don’t have great pics this week. 

Sorry... it’s not letting me end pics... I <3 Brasil

Week 33

Monday, July 30, 2018

This week a lot has changed. I will be transferred to the first zone I passed through to be a leader of zone and a trainer again... so now I have an American son, a Peruvian son and a Brazilian. I’m super excited but nervous as well. I also love my Peruvian son and don’t feel ready to leave him. But God knows what we all need. 

This week we had a few miracles that blew my mind. First we have a branch with no more than 30 people that attend. This last Sunday yesterday we had 74 people there. There were not enough chairs to hold everyone. The spirit was super strong and the people who had returned felt that it was the place they needed to be. As well, I got to teach a class with some new member and our investigators that was super good! Over all we had a great Sunday. 

Friday we had a lunar eclipse... it was super cool to see it. My son loves the moon and freaks out every day to see it... imagine his surprise at the eclipse. 

I am cooking like a Brazilian now which is good because I will have to know how to eat when I get back. I’ll send some pics of what I made my comp and I for lunch a few days during the week.

Also we made a super cool oatmeal cake to bring to our investigators with cevada (it’s like a barely cafe that is not coffee). 

This week’s spiritual thought...

     Our faith is principle in establishing our foundation in the church and primarily in Christ. The one sure way that we can build this faith is through obedience to the laws and commandment that we receive through scriptures, prophets and, realistically God. It is through faith that we have the ability to repent, be baptized, receive the spirit and continue to the end. When we face trials and difficulties we need to have resort to our faith to carry us through.

 Thank you all for the example that you have been to me. I love and miss you tons! Keep being an outstanding people!