Book of Mormon

Book of Mormon

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Another Week 10-19-15



S'mores
 One more week gone by and may I say that this one actually FLEW by. The week before crawled by and then time flew! So that made us happy. We are having quite a bit of success with one family. They are G, M,and M. They are super cool and they already believe that the church is true. They have to get married however... So I ask that you guys could pray for them to be able to get that put together to have a baptismal date on the 7th of November. We really do think it will work out. PLEASE HELP!
Anyway I was asked this week about the zone meeting that was supposed to happen. Well it was actually canceled because of lack of  time. We'll see when that happens because we have interviews once again with president this week! It'll be good to talk to him a bit.
So! This week the 2nd ward here had a ward party that we were invited to participate. So we went and it turned out to be a macho cake contest! All of the men made cakes and I GOT TO JUDGE THEM!!!! It was super cool. They weren't too bad really. They played music and stuff when they were presenting and it was super funny! I tried to be fair and just about all of the cakes were actually really good. I was rather surprised actually. 
Something that is different about Brazil: Most of the people here don't have school like we do there. The people here have various times to go. morning, afternoon and night. The kids have different times based on grades. So for example, the high school kids go in the morning, the elementary in the afternoon, and the middle school at night. It all depends on the city as well. But for the most part its like that here.
The houses here are made of bricks... Or wood... Really nobody uses sheetrock here. It's really expensive to do. so they use cement and bricks and wood. Basically anything the can find for cheap really.
 
Everyone shops at least once a week if not more. There really isn't a lot of storage of food here.. So everyone goes to the store a lot. Well, really close to our house is a store called Celeiro. Its basically a grocery store. We go shopping based on the food that we don't have. So if we're out of food we go buy food! no cars and no bikes though. Yay for carrying groceries!
So when the transfer happened we lost two sisters from our district... We now have the four Elders from last transfer and two of the sisters from last transfer so 6 in total. They are all super nice and we all get along great. The sisters are from São Paulo and the other from Argentina. They have very unique personalities. They certainly give the meetings a little more attitude if you know what I mean.
So today I was reading the Doctrine and Covenants and I was in the 108th section* and it is great. it talks about the forgiving of Lyman Sherman I think. But I put my name in and thought about when everyone does something wrong or is having a rough time. It says that if we try to be better we will be strengthened and blessed. I felt really good after reading that. Made my day :)
Well, we haven't been terribly busy lately but we are much busier then my first transfer here. We are finding and trying to help others everyday and that really makes the difference. 
But I guess that's it today! I love you all and I hope you all have a spiritual experience today!
Beijo!
Elder George
A sister in the ward who is leaving for her mission.
"Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Lyman: Your sins are forgiven you, because you have obeyed my voice in coming up hither this morning to receive counsel of him whom I have appointed.Therefore, let your soul be at rest concerning your spiritual standing, and resist no more my voice. And arise up and be more careful henceforth in observing your vows, which you have made and do make, and you shall be blessed with exceeding great blessings. Wait patiently until the solemn assembly shall be called of my servants, then you shall be remembered with the first of mine elders, and receive right by ordination with the rest of mine elders whom I have chosen. Behold, this is the promise of the Father unto you if you continue faithful. And it shall be fulfilled upon you in that day that you shall have right to preach my gospel wheresoever I shall send you, from henceforth from that time. Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings. And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. Amen."

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

And the rain, rain, rain came down, down down.....10-13-15

 
 

Friends And Family,
This week was the week of rain and as I started to write this letter, it started again... So we sthould get a little wet on the way home. BUT MISSIONARY LIFE!
So first things first. Our investigator M. is doing well... We think... we didnt get a chance to meet with her this week becasue she was visiting her sister to help her with a new baby. So we will go there today to see whats happening. Please pray for her though. She could really need it.
 
So Maybe you guys saw some of the pics that I took. Some of them were of buildings. One of them was an electronic store called Moroni! Another was the shoppin mall that there is here. I took a picture becasue we cant actually go in becasue its against the rules. So thats why I tried to take a pic of the whole thing. Others were in the rain in our area that I thought were cool little views. I thought that you would like to see a little more then me in Brazil and maybe just a bit of brazil. Let me know what you guys would like to know or see!
Well, Mom asked if I have given many priesthood blessings and on a mission and what that could be like. It really is quite a different thing, because you think about the person and about WHO they are to GOD. More often then not you don't know the person very well, and you have to give them a blessing that will mean something for them. You really have to be in tune with the Spirit, more than I was at home. You really have to pay attention to the promptings you receive. Also, I have blessed a house and other things that I will save to mention until later on. Its a great experience using the Savior's authority and acting as Christ's hands.
 
Well a little while ago we had our zone meeting and its getting time to do another one. We are gonna plan to talk about the role of the leadership of the church in missionary work. (chapter 13 Preach My Gospel- Link to material is https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/how-do-i-work-with-stake-and-ward-leaders?lang=eng) And being zone leader makes it a little more interesting actually doing the training. I really do enjoy trying to help others be better, because in doing so I have the devotion and incentive to be better myself. It really changes you.
My companion is doing well. It is a bit different because organization is super important to him. He really is bothered when things arent organized and details aren't planned out, So that is a bit different then me. I find that a little planning and a little bit of "on the spot" really brings things to life instead of doing the same thing over and over again. So I am trying to help him see the benefit in that. He is 24 which is different and he is native Brazilian. He is nice and chill and enjoys the work. It really is a good time. He has been out 10 months right now and will make a year in December. We are getting along well! In our house everything stayed the same which was awesome. We were super excited to stay all together for a while more. I had been praying that we would all stay. I really like the guys here. It keeps things fun.
So yesterday we had Children's Day!!! Apparently its a national holiday and EVERYTHING closes. This is why the letters are being sent on Tuesday this week. There was a few little parties but we just stayed home. :)
Well the rain was a hard deal this week. We were wet one way or the other: when we stayed out of the rain we would sweat and when we would leave our rain jackets home to stay cooler it would rain and we would get wet. So we were just wet this week. We also had an investigator that has been going to church for the past few weeks that gained a testimony of the church in Gospel Principles on Sunday and wants to be baptized! That was cool. We marked a date and are gonna visit him tomorrow. He could be the first baptism for me! We'll see!
Well to leave a thought with you guys, I was listening to Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk from General conference (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-plea-to-my-sisters?lang=eng) and it really does touch those who have trouble keeping up with trials in life. His wife told him after a recent heart operation failure that he needed to "stop crying and get up, go back to work, and get learning." If we quit, others will have to learn painfully what we already know. I really liked that and I thought about that in the mission. With the time I have another missionary would have to suffer through similair things to know what I know. That is why I can't give up. 1 Nephi 2:15 Talks about the struggles of Lehi. (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/2?lang=eng)  Its simple yet direct. Through our trials we can thank God or be bitter. It's our choice. We can rise or we call fall. There is no middle ground. 
I love you all and I hope that this large piece of memory helps someone learn something that they needed to. I really know that Christ lives and loves us. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. 
Take care everyone,
Elder Deven George

A PS from Elder George's mom:
This past week I received a letter in snail mail. Deven said that he has been trying to play piano again. As a very young child, he took piano lessons, but hasn't played in about 8-9 years. When I questioned him about it he said,
 "Yes mom... I am still playing. In fact I printed some stuff today! I am gonna try and learn some hymns and things to play :) Sharps and flats are a hard deal... They make playing a little slower.. BUT I am liking it :)"

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

New Transfer 10-5-15

Watching General Conference in English

Well this week was awesome. We had a great time with our ONE YEAR PARTY!!!! On Thursday me and Elder S made one year in the mission and we went around all day shouting HUMP DAY!!!! And singing "Livin' on a Prayer." It was super fun. That night we weren't having to much success so we called it just a bit early and decided to start the party! So we got the pizza ordered, got our Axe spray, lighter, shirts, ties and Coke and we went nuts! When you make a year you burn a shirt and tie. I had some DI ties and we found some shirts that the other elders left and we went off. We poured on hand sanitizer and got the light and did the "blow torch" deal and we had an awesome time burning the past to get ready for the new "year" Certainly was an awesome night. We got two pizzas and coke and we were stuffed that night.
 
So that was Thursday. We also received the transfer call and all of us are staying again! We are excited and ready for one more together. On a plus side Elder J from my first Field District got transferred here and Elder F form my second area also got transferred here! So that should be fun to see them again!
CONFERENCE!!!! General Conference was OUTSTANDING. Me and Elder S got to watch it in English! So we felt more American. I know you should always go with questions to conference so I went with the question," What should I do now to strengthen a future wife and family?" Let me tell ya... Just a FEW answers to that one. I was taking notes like a mad man and managed 20 PAGES of notes. It was good to hear all the messages of the inspired men that lead us. I also was very happy with the new apostles. I knew instantly when they were announced that they were called of God. It was a very good conference. I was really rather sad to see it end. But now I can say only one more General conference until I get home! WHOOT! 
Anyway, We have one girl that has a date for baptism on the 30th of this month that we would really like it is she was prayed for a little more. She is a little afraid of what the answer will be if she asks. So if you guys could pray for her to be calmed and comforted about this I would be grateful. 
You little ones! I want all of you to send an email about your favorite talk from conference so that I can know that you at least paid attention to one talk! Tell me about it, who gave it, and why you liked it. I loved Elder Holland's. Surprise surprise. I thought of Mom and said to myself..."All missionaries in the world are gonna email their moms and apologize for everything they have done wrong now." Mom, sorry for being a rotten child. Should have done better but you can count on that I'll never be that person to you again. <3 So now for all those who read this it's your turn to think about your beloved mothers. Give them a call, write a note, send a message, make a cake etc. Do something to show your appreciation for them. I promise that if you do they will rejoice more then you can realize. 
I love you all and I wish an absolutely fantastic week for you all!
"Remember who you are and where you come from." (Elder Neil L. Anderson)
Elder George
*Here is a link if you are interested in watching any of the messages from General Conference:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2015/10?lang=eng