15 July 2013

"Great to see the temple progression!! Dan Parker's beard has never been bigger or better! Thats great to hear about your missionary experiences at home. .......This week was pretty exciting! It wasnt perfect but we had some really cool stuff happen. First off, I really like my new companion. Hes from the south part of Brazil where Jonathan Solomon served his mission. Hes got about 8 months on the mission and we're getting along really well so thats great. Also, we met some new families this week. There were 2 kids at church yesterday that are Americans and there mom is Brazilian. Theyre visiting family here and it was cool to talk to them in english. They're from North Carolina. Last week, we went to a ladys house who is gonna have surgery today. I got to bless the sacrament for the first time in Portuguese. I didnt sing in church yesterday but I think it'll be next week. I'm gonna sing with a member of my ward. I'm doing well and feeling good. Its not too hot here this part of the year. We are gonna do just a small service project with a member who is doing some work on his house. Ive been reading the talks from General Conference and have read so many good talks. I especially liked the talk by Elder L Whitney Clayton about marriage. One principle that he spoke of really hit me and can be applied in any relation.

Humility is the essence of repentance. Humility is selfless, not selfish. It doesn’t demand its own way or speak with moral superiority. Instead, humility answers softly ² and listens kindly for understanding, not vindication. Humility recognizes that no one can change someone else, but with faith, effort, and the help of God, we can undergo our own mighty change of heart. ³  Experiencing the mighty change of heart causes us to treat others, especially our spouses, with meekness. ⁴ Humility means that both husbands and wives seek to bless, help, and lift each other, putting the other first in every decision.   

I love that he said that its basically impossible to change other people but we can and should change and improve ourselves. I love this idea of truly having a "change of heart". There were several other things that I read and liked but unfortunately dont have a bunch of time to share it all together. I really hope you're doing well. I miss you. I love you. Continue to look and pray for opportunities to share the gospel and to bless and serve others. There are hundreds of people that need your help. You have special gifts and talents. Use these gifts from God to bless His children. I know that as you strive and desire to serve others, God will inspire others to serve and bless you. God's love is infinite and powerful. "

These are the pictures that he was referring to:

8 July 2013

So many things going on so I'll be brief and clear. Tomorrow is the transfer and my current companion, Elder Motta will be returning home. Hes a great guy and I'm excited to hear about his adventures back at home. I'll get my new companion at the Rodoviaria tomorrow. The Rodoviaria is a huge, central bus station where we meet to get our new companions and then return to our areas. My new companion is a Brazilian and his name is Elder Maciel. I'm excited to be staying in Sulacap and working with the Madureira Stake. We will have 2 baptisms next Sunday in my ward for two young men. Matheus (Matthew) who is 10 and Daniel that is 13. They're excited for baptism and I'm glad that I'll be staying here to help them. We have several missionaries in my zone (stake) that are going home or to other areas but I'm excited to train and help these new missionaries and leaders that will be arriving tomorrow. ...... I might be singing with a member of our ward, Fabiano, at church this Sunday. Its great when I get to sing but I dont have all that many opportunities to do so. Its funny that simple things make such big differences. I'm doing well. I bought new shoe inserts so that helped a bunch! We're walking a lot but thats nothing new. You get used to walking really quickly. I thought that walking 10+ miles would be a TON but its really not all that bad haha. 

I told some sisters at church that you made 10 cakes and they thought that was sooo much food! Must have taken forever. I ate this soup yesterday that is called dobradinho. I think thats how you spell it. They use white beans, carrots, potatoes, sausage, other vegetables and.... cow stomach. Its pretty good. I've eaten it a couple times. I also ate pig tail a couple weeks ago. It was pretty good but just had a lot of fat on the meat but its good when you just cut off most of the fat. 

Well for a spiritual part real quick, I read an amazing talk by Pres Uchtdorf this morning from this past conference. Its from the priesthood session but you can apply it to any person or member of the church. Its called "Four Titles" and I encourage you to read it and ponder on the amazing things that Pres Uchtdorf says. I loved when he said, 

"It can be discouraging at times to know what it means to be a son of God and yet come up short. The adversary likes to take advantage of these feelings. Satan would rather that you define yourself by your sins instead of your divine potential. Brethren, don’t listen to him.

We have all seen a toddler learn to walk. He takes a small step and totters. He falls. Do we scold such an attempt? Of course not. What father would punish a toddler for stumbling? We encourage, we applaud, and we praise because with every small step, the child is becoming more like his parents.

Now, brethren, compared to the perfection of God, we mortals are scarcely more than awkward, faltering toddlers. But our loving Heavenly Father wants us to become more like Him, and, dear brethren, that should be our eternal goal too. God understands that we get there not in an instant but by taking one step at a time.

I do not believe in a God who would set up rules and commandments only to wait for us to fail so He could punish us. I believe in a Heavenly Father who is loving and caring and who rejoices in our every effort to stand tall and walk toward Him. Even when we stumble, He urges us not to be discouraged—never to give up or flee our allotted field of service—but to take courage, find our faith, and keep trying.   

I loved this part and know that it can be frustrating sometimes but just as a child falls and gets back up again, we must also. Heavenly Father will always lift us up. I love you and will talk to you soon!

1 July 2013

I got Jordan's email and responded already. His senior pics were great. I almost cant believe that Eric's birthday was this week. Seems like such a long time ago that he passed away. I miss him and love him. I love everyone in our family and miss you all. I'm so excited about your experiences with school and Aunt Jill and FCCLA and the temple! I'm so glad that youre keeping busy and doing so many great things! The Lord is richly blessing you and that makes me very happy. You truly deserve the Lord's blessings. It is incredible how fast Jordan is growing up. Hes not a kid anymore. I dont like it haha! I'm glad hes doing well. It was great to hear from him. I really hope Adam is doing alright. I havent heard from him in a long time........ 

I just wish I could help more. I have so much desire but sometimes you just cant get everything done. Just gotta be patient and do your best. The Lord will do the rest if we obey and work to do His will. I'm growing so much. My priorities and desires and understanding are growing and being enhanced by the spritual truths I'm learning. I'm impressed by my own personal growth and am excited for the future. I just need to focus while I'm here and do everything I can to use my last 10 months the best I can. The time has gone by so so fast. Did you enjoy the letters that I sent last week? Its been  a while since I've sent pics so I sent a ton when I could. Well I dont think this email will be quite as inspiring as others but I'll share a little thought. I've been thinking and studying recently about what we should pray and ask the Lord to help us with and what is our responsibility and should use our own common sense and free agency to choose. The first line in Alma 37:37 says to counsel with the Lord in all things. But then there are other scriptures and references like D and C 9:8 that says that we must think it out first in our minds and then after, ask the Lord if it be right. Its an interesting concept and principle to think about. The Lord has blessed us with the capacity to choose and make our own decisions but He also wants us to counsel with Him. I'll do some more studying about this. I gotta go soon. Next week is the transfer and my companion is going home. I'll probly be staying here and I'll get a new companion. I'll let you know how it goes. I'll get my new companion next Tuesday. Well I love you Mom. I think of you often and hope that you're well. I'm thankful that the Lord is blessing us. Always remember to be grateful. Thank the Lord for everyone we have. Elder Bednar gave a talk called "Pray Always". He talks about 3 points of prayer. Theyre all great but read the second point. There is a little story that is great! you'll love it. Well have a great week and have a good 4th of July!......