December 31, 2018

Wow I loved Christmas Day and I loved seeing you all. It made me want to cry so much but I held in the tears. I think one of the best things on my mission is that I have developed an even greater love for you all my family!!! It was amazing and my mind reflected on it a lot through out the whole day!! But thats ok that the package hasnt come yet. It would have been nice to use those new shirts but I think i will make it ha! 

This week was awesome!! On friday we had divisions with a District Leader and he and I went to Visit Kevin and his family!! We taught them about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how much it blesses us if we have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the holy ghost, and endure to the end!! It was such a powerful lesson and Kevin and his brother accepted a baptismal date! The mom still wants to pray about it and pray about what she should do. She loves her church and so it is hard but she already received and answer about The first vision!! It was super cool and if people will actually talk to our Heavenly Father he will answer!! But this week we found out that Tatiane and Nilda still have some doubts about reencarnation! They believe that it is possible and so we challenged them to read a part of the Book of Mormon and ask God about the subject. They didnt come to church and so we are praying about what we can do to help them out. We want to help these people so much and I know that the lord will bless us and them for our service! As I was thinking about this last year, I thought about how I was expecting to have more success with people accepting the gospel but when i really thought about this last year so many people did accept it even though they werent baptized and i realized how i wouldnt trade this last year for anything in the whole world. I love my mission so much and I love my savior and I am happy that it is hard, I wouldnt want it any other way!! On sunday I gave a talk about how we can have christlike atributes and I said that we need to 1. follow the savior 2. serve him and others 3. Love him and think of him in all moments! It was such a great experience! I love this gospel so much!!! 

 Tell Mckay and Steve that I said Congrats and Tell Aunt Michelle that the lord will provide ha!! I Love you so much mom and thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve this mission and to learn more about the lord throughout all of my life! You and dad worked miracles in my life and I love you both for that!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! 

December 24, 2018

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Samara and her family traveled to their hometown this week so we only could teach them once this week but it was a lesson where we read 1 nephi 14 with them about how there are only two churches here on the earth. The church of the lamb of God and the church of the devil! It was an interesting lesson and the all promised to seek more to know if this is the true church of Jesus christ! We were able to find and teach two new families this week!! Erica and her son Israel and then a family that are not members but have a son on a mission! Kevin, Marcia and Moses!!! So they are all really awesome and have a lot of potential but sadly they didnt come to church this week. We were super sad about that but other than that we are happy because Christmas is coming and we are excited to do some service. I was able to talk a lot with Elder Cerda this week and serve him the best ways that I could. I did recognize that at some points i was being prideful too in our companionship and so I am trying to change that so hopefully  things will go well now between us. And yes I did spend that money at the supermarket here to buy things for Christmas and for the other elders! We are hoping to feel the Christmas spirit together on tuesday night and we want to have a great night where we can remember our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he lives and loves us and that we need to seek him. He really was born to save us all and I am grateful that through his Atonement we can all be purified and cleansed of our sins. I know that he restored his true church in these latter days and that we can all feel his love and know that this gospel really is what will bless our lives!! I love my savior and i will always follow him because he is the light of the world and who follows him will never walk in darkness but will walk in the light!!!

And also I am probably going to spend a little bit more money  today because the Açai will be ready today and we are going to let the sisters in our district meeting tomorrow have some too!! But other than that I dont think I will spend any more money unless I really need something. But if you dont want me to spend money at all and save I will do that too!! I love you so much mom! I miss you like crazy and I miss the family but I know that I need to be here and I am grateful that I am here right now. This christmas maybe i dont know whose life I will bless but I am grateful that  i can spend my time losing my life for the savior! Love you so much mom and Tell the family that i love them!!! 

December 18, 2018

I am doing well!! I am still recovering from the surgery and I had to stay out of everything again this week but I learned a lot of new things and I learned a lot more about Patience ha. I was able to take out the stitches with the doctor this week and he said that I can start to walk a little bit but I have to use sandals ha. So i had to buy some sandals. Tuesday we have our Christmas conference and I think i will get the christmas stuff then!! 

Our investigators were super busy this week and we havent been visiting Arthur and Vitoria that much because they havent been progressing, we are going to continue to help them out but for now we will only pass by once in a while. It is sad that we have to do that now but I know that one day their mom will see what is the truth and that she should have let them be baptized. Elder Cerda left a couple of times during the week with other elders to work and he found some new people to teach which was a huge blessing. But Sunday was the only day that we got to visit Samara Nilda Tatiane and kenia. None of them came to church and we were super sad about that so after lunch on Sunday, I did everything I could to walk to their house and see what was going on. They told us everything and how these two weeks were super busy and they also expressed a feeling they have had towards Baptism. They want to be baptized but they told us that they feel pressured to be baptized with the dates and feel as if every time they arent baptized on that specific date they feel like its because of them. So we are going to help them out more on recognizing the Holy Ghost and we challenged them to read the Book of Mormon every single day from now on and they accepted!! So we were super happy about that. Elder Cerda is going to stay with me for one more transfer now, thats going to be three together and he was super sad that he didnt get transferred. We have had our difficulties during the other transfers and we are doing fine right now but I think he wanted change hahaha. But now I know that I do not understand what the lord understands. I think the lord has a purpose to keep us together one more transfer and maybe it is to strengthen our relationship and do something even better. Lets see how everything turns out. Something awesome I learned this week "God can only be known unto man by revelation. Otherwise he must remain uknown to mankind" So for us to know God we need to seek him and the Holy Ghost!! So if you want a strong testimony of God and his son, seek them and learn to know if they exist!! 

But I know things will get better this transfer and I hope that Elder Cerda can open his heart so that we can work together as one! I love the lord and i love his gospel and thats why I want to see those amazing miracles in the lives of others through his Atonement. 

Those who have the most difficulties, develop the greatest souls!

David's email

 I am doing a little bit better now!! It is definitely hard to stay in bed all day doing nothing... I had to do that this whole week and it was super annoying ha. But I was able to study the gospel so much and I was able to study more about the Pioneers and their sacrifices!! I love them for what they did and how they were willing to give everything for the gospel of christ, just to be able to step foot in Zion. It was a cool experience that I had. I know how you feel too ha because that is basically what is happening here and I know that on your mission it was probably hard but you learned a lot from it. Elder Cerda is going to be with me for one more transfer so we were nervous about that because in past times we havent gotten along so well. But we get along in other parts too. I know that the lord has a purpose for eveything and I know he will bless us. I was able to take out my stitches with the doctor on thursday and now I can start walking with sandals but only a little bit. I hope that my toe will heal quickly and I know that the lord is going to give me strength. We visited samara and her family on sunday because they didnt come to church and we challenged them to read the book of mormon every day. They told us that they dont want to feel pressured by a baptismal date and they want to be baptized but they want to decide when, what can i do to help them?? But I love you so much dad and I am grateful that you are my father. Having you as my dad gives me the strength to continue and carry on in the hard times. Because in all of our difficulties is where we will develop our souls!! I love the gospel so much and I know that it is true and that the book of mormon is another testament of Christ our savior. I love him and I know he lives! Love you so much dad! Have a great week! 

December 10, 2018 Surgery!

This week was very interesting and this surgery was definitely harder than the last one hahaha. But I will tell you about that in a second! I hope this last week of the transfer I will be able to work some more! I have to stay out of working for about a week so that is hard. So maybe on wednesday or thursday i can get back at it again! But I am glad that you had some great experiences this week and it makes me happy to hear about Chris and Mitch too!! But yes sadly i have definitely had to stay home but thats ok because I am learning more about Patience! 

So this surgery was definitely different hahaha. Because he took out the sides of my toenail and then he took out the part that makes it grow. So it will only grow in the middle now! But it was cool for me because i was awake the whole time and i honestly could have watched it If i wanted too haha but i decided not too and he just showed me the things that he did. IN the end he sowed up the two holes with stitches and from thursday and on I had to keep my foot in the air and rest all that I could. I still have to do that haha as i am typing this my foot is in the air. Friday was hard because we had our mission tour with Elder Parrella but i couldnt benefit from it as much as I wanted because I had to leave every fifteen minutes to go "empty my stomach." And that was because I had taken the strong medicine they gave me in the morning but I forgot to eat something with the medicine and you know how the rest goes ha. But something cool about that experience was that I finally got that blessing from President Castellano and he was by my side the whole time that I was under the weather.  The blessing was very beautiful and I could feel the Holy Ghost comforting me through out the whole time. I was able to strengthen my testimony this week a lot about how the Lord is with us when we really need him. And I want him to be with me all the time because its a comforting feeling. Especially when you are in pain he is there with you until the end. I am definitely still recovering from this surgery because I believe it was a lot more intense. But I know that the lord will bless me and help us out with our investigators. Sadly Arthur and vitorias mom has not let the be baptized still and we are still waiting to see if this week Samara and her sister will be baptized. We have worked so hard and I trust in the lord that he will help our investigators to use their agency in the right way! 

I got the first package you sent for christmas but i dont think it has their presents inside.... I havent opened it yet but from what i have seen through the ziploc bag it looks like it isnt the package with their presents too. But Thanks so much mom for everything you do for me! You are the best mom in the world and tell everyone who has prayed for me or fasted for me thank you so much!!

David's email

This week was definitely a trial of my faith!! This surgery that i had this week was definitely more painful than the last one! But I know that the lord was blessing me and i know that the blessings I received from you and others helped me so much!! But After the surgery on thursday I was feeling a lot of pain because the anestesia wore off and I was feeling the effects of what he did in no time ha. But on Friday I threw up a lot because I took the strong medicine without eating and so that definitely destroyed my stomach and that was during our mission tour with Elder Parrella. It made me sad that I could not watch all of it through because I had to leave so much to go to the bathroom, but I definitely felt the spirit as he taught us and when President Castellano gave me a blessing! But Other than that I had to stay home with my foot in the air and just rest the whole time. It was definitely a challenge But I know that the lord blessed me for my patience and I know somehow the lord will bless us for our work here in Barroca even if we havent had a baptism yet. I feel like in these last six months I will be able to work my hardest and say that I have fought the fight. That is super cool the experiences that you had this week with the temple and with the temple interviews! I hope to have those type of experiences when I get home so that I can keep the same spirit with me that i have right now. I was able to strengthen my testimony on the book of mormon and how he came to help us strengthen our testimony of Jesus Christ. I love my savior and I know he felt the same things that I felt. Transfers are coming soon and I think that Elder Cerda will be trasnferred and I hope that my next companion will work just as hard or even harder than Elder Cerda so that we can have success here and bless this ward in Barroca. Thanks for your prayers and Blessings Dad. I love you so much and I hope you have a wonderful week!! I sent mom the description of my surgery in portugues its called Cantoplastia with another type of procedure! 

December 3, 2018

Hey, Dont worry about me too much!! I am doing good but actually I found out some pretty big news this week!! I am going to have surgery on thursday! The first thing I went to was just a check up and now this week I am going to do a surgery on thursday so wish me luck haha. But I am doing fine! I am working hard, having a great attitude and giving it my all!!! I am jealous that you got to go and see those speakers talk!! I love all of them and I am sure it was super funny ha! But that is so cool that Emmas Farewell is on your birthday and I hope that you will be able to make it to Mckays Wedding! I cant believe I am missing it all but I love being here. 

But this week was actually pretty normal! We were able to follow up with Samara and her family and we taught them all about the importance of the Sabath day!! They all accepted to live it but this sunday none of them made it to church because they got sick and Samara traveled for the weekend! But at the end of the night on Sunday we had our Christmas Devotional here in our Stake and Nilda, the mom and Tatiane one of her daughters came to watch it! It was such a spiritual experience and Afonso did great! He sings so well and I wish I had musical talent in my life! Ha I regret quiting piano so long ago! We were also able to talk to Vitoria and Arthur but their week was super busy and their mom isnt open that much to letting them be baptized yet! But we believe that this month the lord will provide miracles because during Christmas season the Lord always provides miracles! I am excited to help people Light the world too! I love that campaign and I wish it was a lot stronger here in Brasil. But This week i have been studying a lot about the saviors atonement and wow has my testimony grown so much knowing that Christ did that just for us and to save us from our sins!! We found some new people to teach but mostly everyone is running from us!! This week we have a Mission Tour with Elder Parrella and the rest of the Brasil Presidency so that should be exciting! Also The leaders have a meeting with him on Wednesday so wish us luck!!! 

Thank you so much for what you said!! I am trying to find Happiness in everything that I do and I love it so much. I think I wouldnt have made it this far if I hadnt been doing that. I dont worry too much about the number of baptisms that I have on my mission, I worry more about if I am teaching the right way so that my investigators can make the right choice. I think I just think about it too much but I know that the Lord will bless me. He already is blessing me so much and one important thing is that everyone has your own agency and I just pray that these people will use it for the better!! I love the gospel so much!! I love you so much too! Oh and by the way the shoes came and I love those shoes, but they fit and dont fit. When I walk with them they pressure my toes and sometimes my foot slips... So i might have to buy new shoes here that I found that are pretty good!! I will save these ones for Chris!!

David's email

Hey dad!! how are you doing?? I love you so much and I am grateful to have you as my Father!! I am excited to be a dad just like you have been to us!! This week was interesting and we were able to teach Nilda and her family about the sabath day!! They all accepted to live the Lords day and to do everything they can to obey gods commandments!! They are so ready for Baptism and we are hoping that Samara and Tatiane are baptized this month!! Nilda is super ready to be baptized too but she needs to get divorced from her husband first off because she seperated from him but is dating another guy now. So she needs to do that first but we are helping her!!! Arthur and Vitoria are still doing great but the mom is still hard hearted!! We need to do another fast with them this week!! And I will have my surgery this week actually. So we will have to see how it goes. I believe that the lord will help me in everything and it can be a way that he is going to bless me because of my service!! We found some great people to teach this week also and we are trying to visit so many people! This week will be harder because of the surgery, but before the surgery we are going to have a mission tour with the Brasil Presidency, of the seventy. It is going to be awesome and on Wednesday the leaders are going to talk to them too!! I am super excited!! This week I learned so much about Christs Atonement and my testimony grew so much stronger! I love Christ especially because he did that for us!! He is amazing. I love you so much and I hope you have a great week! Tell Mike Jones dad I said Hi and thank you too ha! Love you