100 Weeks later; Last pday in the mission 8-22-16

Mom,

100 weeks later and here we are. Seems like time passed so fast but that it was been incredibly long since we last saw each other. It'll be so good to see you guys again! I'm nervous but excited but sad. You probably know what I mean. It has been such a journey. I have learned so much. But we'll start with the highlight days instead of everyday.

MONDAY:  Today we had Breakfast with Elder and Sister Davis and they made pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and it was so incredibly good. It has been so long since I've eaten something like that. So that made that day. Then we went around looking at different things just to pass the time. We had a lesson that was pretty good. We had a couple that we taught about the plan of salvation and it was pretty good! They said they were always wondering about why they were here! So that was cool. Good PDAY!

THURSDAY:  Today we had our last lunch appointment with Pres. A and they have a guitar there. So I started to play something and then Sister Asaid she wanted to RECORD me for a keepsake. I was reluctant because I hadn't played for a long time and I don't like to hear my own voice. But they insisted so I played "Goodbye Nauvoo." They like it a lot. And that was the last lunch... Sad day. I left them a card and thanked them for everything. After that we did some tracting until that night and we had a few appointments that were normal really. So Lunch was the highlight.

FRIDAY:  Today was my 20th BDAY and I have to say it turned out very touching. When we woke up in was pouring rain and we had district meeting and lunch at Subway. We ended up having to stay inside until the evening because the rain got way to thick. All of my shoes have holes so they were all soaked... So we stayed a bit to see if it would lighten up. It didn't. But we had an appointment at a member's house who was gonna introduce us to a friend of his for us to teach. So we went there and when we got there it turned out to be a surprise BDAY party. I was touched by their effort to help me out on a day where I wasn't too cheerful. I thanked them for everything and it was great :)

SATURDAY:  Today we had an activity where two members came tracting with us and we got a few addresses and it was cool! WE also had a few lessons and it was just a good day! All around happiness.

SUNDAY:  Well I was thinking I would get away without speaking in church before I left but they got me. So that was a bummer but it was good too. I spoke about the Atonement and it was good to see how much I have improved in speaking since I've been here. The rest of the meetings were good and I was happy to be able to be here all this time. 

It is quite the experience to be on the last PDAY after so long of waiting and hoping that Monday arrives. I am as nervous as when I left I find. Nervous to get on a plane, nervous to leave everything I know and love behind, nervous to go so far away and nervous that I may never come back.... It is a bittersweet feeling for sure....

One thing I have found as I got throughout this time is that there is a time for everything. A time to sleep, a time to walk, a time to talk, a time to teach, a time to learn and a time remember. Along with many other times... This remembrance of everything that has happened to me has gotten to me a few times. It almost feels like home doesn't even exist. Like I come to the computer on Monday and automatically there are emails waiting to provide comfort and counsel. Sometimes I admit I couldn't even feel there WAS someone on the other side. But I can say that that is how we can feel about God sometimes. It may not seem like He is there, but HE IS. I know that is true and I have learned for myself.

This being my last real email I want to express my thoughts about everything that I have taught and lived these 2 years. I know that Joseph Smith really is a Prophet of God and that he was given the Priesthood to bless the lives of others. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet called of God today. I know that God loves us and provided a way for us to return to His presence. I know He qualifies who He calls. I know He is there when we are down and discouraged. He will change our hearts into the person we need to be. "I'm a good man with a good heart. I had a tough time, got a rough start, but I've finally learned to let it go."

My friends and family, DONT QUIT! DONT GIVE UP! The Lord with be with you today tomorrow and forever if we will let Him in. He will change your lives.

I'm coming home! Tell the world I'm coming home!

I Love you all and it'll be so great to see you!

Once and for all, with all my love,

Elder Deven Patrick George

Brazil Florianópolis Mission

2 Left! 8-15-16

This week was quiet really. Nothing too grand and marvelous to update on! So I guess we'll get to what happened!

MONDAY:  Well today we had the usual email session and lunch at Subway which is always good. Afterword I started looking at my closet and thinking about what I could start to put away just to not be stressed on the last week. So I put some of the clothes and ties that I wouldn't use before I got home in my suitcases and I'm starting to organize them just to know that it'll be fine on the way home. So that was good and now i only have the ties that I'll use out and day after day I'll put it away. Another way to countdown the days! ;) HAHA TRUNKY RIGHT? But I'm not really thinking about home just trying to plan and get ready. You know? We had a lesson tonight and it was good. We have really started to know how to communicate well with people and help them understand the lessons. This couple really doesn't have too much interest but they understand everything. We'll meet with them next Pday to see about if anything has changed.

TUESDAY:  Well this morning we went to the eye doctor to see if my companion has glaucoma or not and it turns out that he doesn't. So he was relieved about that. We had lunch with a member. We had a few lessons tonight and they were all good but one of them was really the most effective. We found a guy a few weeks ago that seems super interested and wants to change his life! So we stopped by tonight to see how he was and he is doing well.

WEDNESDAY:  Today was lunch with J and I didn't take a picture with them because we'll have one more lunch appointment there in two weeks so that'll be fine to do then. After that we smashed the tracting and talked to 50 people.! That was cool because we spent all time trying to find new people. It was good because I was focused on the quality and not the quantity since we had a lot of time to tract. It was a good experience even though sometimes its annoying(in the rain cold heat you know). It was a good day!

THURSDAY:  Today we ate lunch at a restaurant and that is normal really. Nothing new there. And we went back at the tracting since our investigators are falling off the path every step of the way. We did well again but tonight we had an appointment with L and F... L seems to be more dedicated to learning and knowing then F but it's good to help them out. There was another lady there that was convinced the the Savior wouldn't come again because the world was just to bad and without hope. We tried to explain and it just wouldn't do it for her. So that was interesting... 

FRIDAY:  This morning was district meeting and we ended up having to do it later since the bus tickets for one area got messed up. So they got there late but the meeting went well really! We talked about teaching PEOPLE not just lessons and that's always full of new insights and cool experiences. Today we visited with V and that was eh... his desire to follow is solely based on if he KNOWS right now about EVERYTHING being true... So that's a big challenge for us. We also talked to another investigator who is just as set on following her religion as ever so we cut her too.... Sad day.

SATURDAY:  Today was the last lunch with the ward mission leader and it was good. We took him on some visits afterword and he helped us with J and F and it was good because now that they have another friend they'll want to come to church more often. We met with I again today and he read the whole pamphlet about the Restoration and he knew everything! It was cool to see that he really is excited to go to church but this Sunday he wont be able to because he has to work and take his mother in law to the bus station because she was visiting them. But next week! :D

SUNDAY:  Today was lunch with F and Church was in the afternoon yet again. We finally got F and T to go which was so good. They didn't have too great of an experience because some of the leadership at church was stressed out.... So that was disappointing but hopefully they got past that. F is reading the Book of Mormon and likes it because the story is basically about any other family trying to follow Christ, but they have a little more responsibility. It was a good visit with them as well. I felt like the week went by so fast again! When you work hard it goes by real quick!

Well I love you all. I was reminded this week about service and how when the Savior would cure people's afflictions he would ask them not to tell anyone. We shouldn't seek glory from our peers when we do the right thing. We do the right thing BECAUSE it is right. We had an experience about this yesterday. I know the Priesthood is the Power of God. May we Cherish it more in our lives. I hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Deven George

Getting There: District meeting, a basher, and a birthday wish 8-8-16

This week FLEW by! WE could hardly catch up with it! Every time I would look at my watch it would be 6ish or 7 already! It has been craziness! We continue on our finding and we are starting to find people that are more interested and that is something that is changing us drastically.

MONDAY:  Today was a good Pday. It was long which was good and bad at the same time. I have found that at any time when we aren't doing something I start to think about home and everything that is waiting for me and so that slowed down time. At night we visited two new families one of which doesn't have much interest really but the other we are pretty sure are elect. They are F and J. They have a little 2 year old girl. They asked a lot of questions really wanting to know more and not debate things. They were very interested in the Book of Mormon and they really want to know more! We were both kinda shocked at the lesson and how well it went. So that was Monday really.

TUESDAY:  Today was also good as far as teaching! We had 4 lessons and they were for the most part good except for two which weren't terribly productive... The people just weren't to into the lesson so we will stop teaching them in a bit if the don't progress. We met with V and his desire to come to church has grown so we'll see if he comes through Sunday! I had my last lunch with V and G and that was sad really. But it's good because I'll still see them every Sunday at least until I go. Tuesday came and went!

WEDNESDAY: Today was a rainy day and there was 2 lessons but one of which was basically talking to a old lady from a different church and her telling us what she believes and getting irritated if we didn't agree with her. We had a lesson with a guy who married a girl who is an LDS member who doesn't participate, and he is nice but we're not sure if they are wanting us to come back. We shared a message and we'll go back next week. Nothing too interesting today!

THURSDAY:  Today was lunch with the branch president's family, and I finally got a picture with them and now mom cant ask for it any more because I got it! It will be my second to last lunch there so that was a bummer. But life goes on. We met with J again and they are so excited to get to know the church more and they are on track to be at church this week! We also had a lesson at night with L and F with a couple from the branch and it was good because they both have powerful testimonies of the Gospel and it'll help the investigators a bunch! Good day!

FRIDAY:  Today was district meeting and it was pretty good this time around. We did a debate/ discussion about how inviting people to act is important and how they can understand what to do and do it. It was good. After that we had to go to the island (Florianopolis) to do some medical exams for my companion and so that ate our day really. We'll see how his eyes are later next week!

SATURDAY:  Today was our last Lunch with J and E and it was awesome. They made roast and potatoes and  that made fasting a wonder. I felt that a different attitude about fasting makes everything different. Tonight we shared a message at the Young Men's activity using a pool table analogy and it turned out well. 

SUNDAY:  Today was MY LITTLE SISTER'S BDAY and I was thinking about her a lot and hoping she had a good day. We had a lesson today with F and T and they are gonna try to come to church next week. They are enjoying the Book of Mormon and seeing the ways that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is like the Church that Christ established. Unfortunately, none of the people we taught came to church... Everyone fell on that commitment. So that was a huge bummer. So that was a down hill descent for the week but next Sunday will be better that way!

But that was this week! I'll be sure to put some more details next week because we have to go already! Love you guys!

Elder George

Within Sight 8-1-16

This week was good and we are doing great at finding and teaching but our investigators are constantly changing now since President has encouraged us to try harder to find the elect and not waste time on those who aren't ready to commit themselves to the gospel. So our families are constantly changing.

MONDAY:  Well today we had lunch with Elder and Sister Davis and they made TACOS! Tacos are NEVER made here and really Mexican food is NOT popular here. So that was a good change there. We also had the opportunity to knock doors tonight again and the first door we knocked let us in and we taught them! It was a great visit and we plan to go back Thursday with a member that is from the same place that this family was. They are called L and F. We talked about how we can know if something is good based on the fruits produced. It seemed to go well! We also cleaned house and rested a second and that was that!

TUESDAY:  Today we had lunch with J and N and it was pretty decent. They made Strogonaff for us and it was good. It is basically the same as it is there but they use more meat and pour it over rice. Good stuff. after we taught a new potential investigator and it was a little iffy. He didn't seem THAT interested. But he let us in which was good. We taught J and J tonight and it was a good conversation. They seem to be set on changing, so we'll see if they do. We had to cut an investigator today and they were sad but understood that there are others out there that we need to find. We taught C the Adventist tonight and that wont last too much longer because she likes to debate and Bible bash to tell us her church is true instead of just praying to find out.

WEDNESDAY:  Today I got my last haircut with Sandra (a member) and that was a weird feeling to think that I would have my next haircut at home from family. We had lunch with Euzebia and there wasn't too much there that was FANTASTIC but it was good. We talked to an inactive member today who finally got up the courage to leave her husband and find somewhere safe to live until she moves away. She was in pretty bad shape, but we talked to her about how the Atonement will help her heal. We also taught a new family tonight but I don't know if it will last too long either. They are nice and do the right things but might think that they don't need the Gospel because they don't do anything extreme. We'll see what happens

THURSDAY:  Today was a bust until tonight when we visited L and F with Sister V and Brother I. They went AWESOME together. After we left they stayed for hours and chatted. Great deal there. We had lunch at home so we went to Subway. Nothing too exciting.

FRIDAY:  Today was our Zone Meeting and it was okay... Nothing too different then what President talked about in the mission conference. But I got my package finally and it was amazing! I loved it so much and it was good to feel a little extra love. Elder Valadão loved the tie clip and the sweets. We'll make mashed potatoes Monday and that'll be awesome :) Lunch was....well... The family forgot and so we waited a bit and then ate. We left a LOT later then planned, but that was fine because there wasn't much to do today other then knock doors and street contact.

SATURDAY:  Today we had lunch at home again so we went to a restaurant and ate there. I had meat, mashed potatoes , fruit, salad, and it was great. Tonight we taught J and J again and that was pretty good again. They are starting to notice that ever since they started investigating the church things at home have gotten better. So hopefully that continues and works in them. We found a guy tonight who smokes marijuana everyday since he was 15. We talked to him for a while and then he told us. We told him about the strength to quit and he told us he really wanted too because he know that it is bad for him. So we will help him out with that.

SUNDAY:  Today church was in the afternoon again and so we went to lunch and the family had planned on us staying there until church started so nothing was ready yet. We ended up leaving at 2 instead of earlier and we were a half hour late to our appointment because of it. But all went well and we taught T and F. They seem to be doing well and they are actually applying what they learn and praying about it knelt down! I was very impressed. Church was long but I am enjoying at night because everyone seems to be less bugged and more happy. So that is good. Sacrament meeting was good. Our Mission leader talked about missionary work and it was a great talk. Afterward was a talk about sacrifice and obedience. Then the high councilor got up and gave a great talk about helping others and loving them. It was good! Then tonight Elder and Sister Davis invited us for supper at there place and that was simple but well appreciated!

This week I was reading D&C 88:73* and I remembered that this is the LORD'S work and not ours. WE need to be instruments in HIS hands, not try to do everything ourselves. So that was a great reminder to let him help us and guide us instead of trying to force our way on things. It surely was a great realization.

Well I love you all and I'll see you at the end of the month! Thanks for the support! 

Elder George
*"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time."