New Area-4-25-16

Hello-

So as you can see I was transferred... I have to say it's about time but I also will miss 2 families incredibly. It is something I didnt think would happen here but lo and behold it did. I will really miss S's family. They were so great and I was sad to leave them. I will also miss that "new Family." They were really nice and i hope they continue to progress. But I got transferred to Biguaçu which is the Stake on the Coast of FLORIANÓPOLIS! I finally got to stay around the island for the first and probably last time. But I'm here now and my companion is Elder Valadão. He is from Northern Brazil and got here with Elder B Ribeiro. So he has been here about a year already. It is very possible that he is my last comp. But we'll have to see! He seems nice and the area already seems decent. The apartment is okay. Not to big but it's good enough for just two. I am now a DISTRICT LEADER again! I am excited. I will be the District Leader for 2 other areas and the SENIOR MISSIONARIES' DISTRICT LEADER! It's pretty awesome. I havent met them yet but I've only heard good things about them. Also Elder Maltez followed me here and is in my District again! That was funny. Elder Stahn was called to be a new secretary as well. So we will see each other every once in a while still. but those are the major changes for me!

So I looked at the list of cities where the Olympic torch will pass and it PASSES my new area!!! So I will totally try to get pictures! it will come through on the 12th of July and I'm pretty sure I'll be here still so that will be awesome!

The pic I sent was our District and we had a district meeting before transfers. We also did lunch all together becasue everyone was given money for lunch. So we made yakisoba and it was amazing! I was very happy.

When we teach we really just look at what they need to be taught on the records and then we teach it. We use the missionary pamphlets (https://www.lds.org/manual/missionary?lang=eng) and Preach My Gospel ( https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service?lang=eng ) and the scriptures. We prepare just like if we were preparing a talk for Sunday.

Our visit with S. was incredible. We talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and our life to prepare to meet God and it was great. The Spirit was strong and they agreed to be stronger to get their marriage figured out so they could be baptized.

Well for the most part I would just like you all to remember to serve others this week. It is so easy to forget to serve others.  I know that through service and acts of random kindness we can make friendships and be blessed more then ever before. I know that we are blessed when we sacrifice for the Lord.

Well I love you all and I'll send you pics next week with all the new stuff!
Elder George

4-18-16

Hello!

To answer your question about if people ask why I'm here in Brazil. Well, people seem to guess the darndest things. I've already been asked so many things about why I'm here. One of which is. "Are you an American spy?" I say that I'm not and that's a surprise to them! WHY WOULD THE U.S. SPY ON BRAZIL??? Oh well...

Yes, I do have a minister card. It just tells people that I am a registered minister and that I have the right to visit people in hospitals if they request me. It's only happened a few times in the past 19 months, but I can do it if people want. I'll send a pic next week for you guys to see! But pretty much people don't care too much because there are sooo many different religions here that no one can keep track. So we just do our thing.

Our new family we found last week is doing really great and they will read and pray about the Book of Mormon And see if next week they can go to church. It is a couple and 3 daughters and they are really nice. We are gonna try and get them integrated with a member that lives close to them. We are really hoping that it will go well.

This week Elder Moore from the mission office called and asked me a super important question: He asked me what airport I wanted to fly into when I go home! I'll have my flight plan next Monday on the transfer day! It feels so close now and actually real. I had always thought that the day would never come. Now the day is actually real. Weird stuff. I'll send it to you guys next week.

Speaking of transfers this week is the transfer so if I don't send anything next week it means I was transferred and was traveling. 

This week I really got into the Book of Mormon again and I learned once again that reading really gets us a recharge against the things that try to do things that hurt us. I liked this picture:

There really is power in the book. Often, there are people who start to read the Book of Mormon at the beginning of the year and end up losing their spot and stopping their study. But START AGAIN! It really is the best thing that one can do. I know the book is true. It changed who I am and it can change you too.

Love you all and have a great week!

Elder George

New Week 4-11-16

 

Hello!

So the weather here is about the same... Insanely hot. Today and yesterday were better but still super humid. It should have already started to cool off as we are getting closer to winter, but it hasn't yet. Generally the mosquitos die during the winter because it's cold but last winter they didn't because it didn't get super cool... So that's why there is such a problem now. So we are hoping for some colder weather.

I got the package actually LAST THURSDAY! It was awesome! It was awesome and I have already given some of my good friends that aren't American a tie to remind them of me and they enjoyed them. I also enjoyed the Peanut Butter as always and the hymn book. I admit there isn't too much time to practice but I want to do better with that and take it to District meeting to play. IT meant a lot. Thank you :) YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I fount the pin you hid in the sock. It was awesome and I loved it so much :D THANK YOU!

We have one couple of Senior Missionaries but I haven't even met them yet and it's been a year since they've been here. They're American, and that's basically all I know about them. We also still have 6 in the apartment and one is Elder Peterson who is from the US. No, We don't do splits anymore unless it's absolutely necessary. So unless there are really big problems we just stay in our own area. Elder Peterson is cool. He is nice and does the right thing and wants to be obedient which is good. He is fun to be around. My Companion is Elder Castro. I guess I forgot to tell you his name.

For Zone meeting, we taught about the Holy Ghost in Conversion and it was good. We talked about the moment when we had our own personal conversion and it was pretty good. Unfortunately, doing all of these trainings is getting a little repetitive. I would love to not always be in charge. But the President seems to trust me and ask me to arrange a lot.

Our investigators are doing well and literally the only thing holding them back is getting married. So we're gonna get a member to help them on that. Other than that, the work is about the same. We talked to a lot more people this week and miraculously we found a new family that we will teach tomorrow. So that will be a great way to find some new investigators. 

Listen, Brazil isn't all that to photograph. You probably wouldn't even like it where I am. The city is dirty and hot and really unpleasant to live. There isn't any beaches, there isn't any cool forests or anything like that. Basically it's a hotter more humid area like ours that has rice and beans with every meal.

Well this week I was marking my MTC Portuguese scriptures and I found the verse* that says all things will work together for our good and that hit me. I realize that through ANYTHING, we should be cool because things will work together for our good. Even though we may have some things to work on, we should remember what we have already learned and apply it to our new challenges. I know that God is with us through all things. He helps when we are passing challenges and when we are trying to do what's right. He hears our prayers and answers them. He only requires that we be patient and wait for him to manifest his will AS we do the right thing. I love you and I know God loves you too. 

Have a great Week!

Elder George

*Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another. (Doctrine and Covenants 90:24)

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/90.24?lang=eng#23

Busy Week 4-4-16

General Conference together!

Well this week was busy as you can see!

 

So the zone breakfast happens every time we have a zone meeting. The Zone Leader's are in charge of feeding the missionaries at that time. So that Is where it came from. It cost about 70 reais and we did sandwiches and juice with some little cookies as well. Every area from the city watched General conference together this time which was really cool. We got to watch in English which always is good and by October Conference I'll be able to be at home!!!! YAY!

 

I mentioned that the mission told us to get special bug spray because Off isn't working on these massive mosquitoes. So, the bug spray was probably something that the mission didn't really want to do but the area presidency said that they had to. So I had to buy a can of bug spray for 60 reais ($9)! and the mission said," You HAVE to buy this but lets use common sense. Don't use it everyday..." That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I thought," Are you kidding. You're gonna break us to buy this stuff and now telling us that we shouldn't use it everyday!?" Oh well. I'll use it for the next few months.

 

My head is fine. I got the stitches out on Tuesday and now all the guys have stopped playing nerf because they don't want any other injuries.... probably for the best.

 

M and S are doing well and they are already doing the things they should! We talked more about the restoration of the Church and Joseph Smith and they seemed to feel something more. So, I said "When you know that these things are true will you be baptized and follow it?" They said they would and our next visit we'll try to mark a baptism date!

 

I really liked Elder Holland as usual and that one was the one I needed especially now. Here is a link to his talk.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/media/session_5_talk_11/4829903593001?lang=eng

 

I know that when we remember the spiritual things that happen in our lives we will be able to make better decisions in the future. I know that our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, is called of God and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Elder George

Adventure MORMON 3-28-16

I know you have probably been dying to find out what happened this week because of the pictures and everything. May I say that it isn't any grand story. It really was just and accident. But here we go!

Well, on Tuesday night after we closed the day of we were messing around with our nerf guns and Elder Maltez was gonna shoot me. So to avoid it I jumped and spun around and without even noticing where I was when I jumped BLAM!!!! In the door frame.... Forehead full of cement... It didn't hurt all that much at the moment; but as soon as a took my hand off my head I saw it soaked in blood. I thought," Oh no....."  So I went into the bathroom, tried to stop the bleeding and then we called Sister Silva because she helps with the Missionaries health. She said to us,"Well get to the hospital and see what the doctor says!" So we did and may i Say that here in Brazil the hospitals are less than convenient for those in emergency situations. I had an OPEN cut and I went to the receptionist and said "hey I need to talk to a doctor." He said "Ahhhh yes. Well so does everyone else so if you could take a number that would be great." I thought to myself" TAKE A NUMBER?!?!?!?! YOU'RE KIDDING!!?" Oh well. Fine. I take the number, wait for a half hour, then my number is finally called. He asked for my insurance info and then entered everything into the computer, gave me one of those wristband deals that shows that I'm allowed to be in there and let me in. THEN there was a line to see the doctor!!! SO after about 45 more minutes of waiting I finally got to see the Doc. He was on his computer when I walked in and he said, without even looking at me,"How can I help you?" I said (really rather annoyed)," Well, as you can see I've got a little problem on my forehead." He looked up at me and I saw a little more urgency. Then he looked at the cut, cleaned it, and said it would need stitches.... 4 stitches... So great. Get that done and then he says alright you're normal again. I asked about working and everything and I mention sun and sweat and he cut me there and said "Oh no... You cant do that until you get the stitches out... 10 days..." My heart sunk and I thought 10 days at home..... Why me......But after that I went home I slept because it was midnight already and everyday its gotten a bit better and that's where we're at! I should get them out Thursday probably. I'll go tomorrow to see exactly where we're at but we'll see!

My new companion has 15 months in the mission. But he is great, funny, loves to work and have a great time and we get along great so far. We are STILL Zone leaders and the obedience has gotten much better in a few ways. In others we still have some trouble trying to get some people to obey. But that's the normal struggle for leaders. But we threw a party for the new elders that came to the district and that was fun.

I don't have anyone else that write me regularly other then you, dad, Grammy DD, Grammy George, and one friend. It happens in the mission. At the beginning everyone writes and as time goes on people start to fall away because life moves on! It's the way things are.

So because of the accident we could really participate in the #hallelujah initiative which was a bummer for me. We had some pretty good ideas but it just didn't happen. 

The family we are teaching are great. They are already quitting coffee and alcohol and getting ready to get married and so baptism should be around the corner with them! We go back Thursday and we'll see if we cant get them on a date.

But those were the adventures this week! I hope that you feel satisfied with the info and I didn't leave anything out. I love you and I hope you have a great week!

Elder George

#hallelujah

https://www.mormon.org/easter/hallelujah

Transfers 3-21-16



Elder Zwick and Elder George

Hello!
Well this week was transfers and my comp was sent away to Lages. Now I'm with a guy from Rio! AGAIN! It's kinda funny but the people from Rio I get along with well for some reason. I'll send a pic this week and we'll see if you can tell what is different! This transfer will only be 5 weeks because of the thing the MTC did. They decided to keep the missionaries for 3 weeks now to better prepare them. So even if something goes bad it'll be only a little while before the next one.

The conference was super freakin good! I got a picture with Elder Zwick and everything! But he talked about how sometimes in the mission with all the goals we have and the drive to baptize everyone we lose track of the big picture of Establishing Zion. Sometimes people just baptize without a testimony and hope it goes okay to have the number. Then the person leaves the church and they wonder why. So he talked about focusing on new investigators, investigators in the Sac. Meeting, and baptismal dates. He said that ALL goals need focus but those need EXTRA focus. He also told us that in our teaching we need to Simplify, Intensify, and Testify Powerfully. He said that doing those things NOW will help us be able to reap the fruits of the harvest and prepare even more fruits! It was also cool because being a zone leader I got to attend 2 meetings that Elder Zwick gave! He gave one specifically for the ZL's and the STL's and then one for everyone. They were both morning and afternoon sessions, so it took about 6-7 hours each conference. The Exclusive one was way better but the general one was good too. But he is an amazing person and really tries to teach by love.

Florianopolis Bridge

The people in the pics I sent were just missionaries that I met and heard about. They are all really nice and I enjoyed joking around with them a lot. In the general session with Elder Zwick we did a musical number and I sang with the two girls in that one pic. We sang Israel, Israel God is Calling and it turned out good!

 

The area is the same. Unfortunately we were traveling and My companion was preparing his suitcases, so the work this week was really weak. But this next week we'll really be able to hit it hard and hopefully by the end we'll have a few people with a baptismal date! But M and S are doing great and we'll go there on Thursday. I'll try to take a picture with them to send you guys!
But as far as the week that was it! There isn't too much super funny about the week but it was good! So I guess I'll let everyone get back to life! Love you guys!
Elder George

President and Sister Silva

 

One More Week 3-7-16 AND Transfer Week 3-14-16

Hello!

This week we had a little less than success... But I'll go through the good things.

M and S are doing well but we found out that they have to get married before they can get baptized. They are understanding the lessons and going to church every week. It's just a problem visiting them because they live really far away. We have to go with a member in order to not waste a lot of time going there. So that's the only thing that's hindering right now.

As far as upcoming transfers, I think my comp will be transferred because he has been here for 6 months now and President doesn't usually leave people for so long in an area. We'll have to see though.  I'm hoping to have an opportunity in another area as well, but I don't know what will happen.

So in our house everyone got obsessed with trading things for other things. Throughout the mission I have traded ties on a number of occasions but this time we just took everything out that we wanted to trade and started offering things. I traded the suit coat with Elder Reis for a nerf gun, 3 ties and a tie clip and he loved that idea. I traded some exercise equipment for a jacket, I traded another jacket for a coat, sweater and some colorful socks, and some other stuff. Basically they're all addicted in trading. I think it's fun but we've run out of things to trade.... I liked the suit because it was like a MR. BEAN suit. It is brown and shiny and sweet. He also didn't like it too much and didn't wear it so he offered it to me for that stuff. The trade fest was probably the best thing that happened this week really.

My SWEET traded suit!

This week I wanted to share 1 Nephi 6:1-2 with you because of what it says. It talks about how Nephi won't use the space in these plates for certain info because they need the space for other things. I think it is amazing that the Lord inspired them EXACTLY in what they should write and how they should write it, that we might have those records now. I know that OUR prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, is inspired by God to write and tell us the things that we need to know today. 

Well, that's it this week I guess. Take care and don't die!

Elder George

Dragonfruit!

3-14-15
TRANSFER WEEK

I FINALLY GOT MY PACKAGE AND I LOVED IT AS USUAL. I thought to myself when I saw the face soap... wow... what's mom tryin to say..... ;)

BUt thank you for everything. IT means a lot when you send something that really will help me. The simplified hymn book was good too. That'll help me get back into the rhythm. HA pun.

yes, this week is transfers. Next transfer though will be only 5 weeks so that is good. just to help those who come to the mission after visa waiting in the US.

As far as trading clothes, Elder Reis' torso is about the same size as mine. so the suit fit well. I have no idea if I've gained any weight or lost. its been a while since I've measured. 

My comp had to do a root canal last week and finish it today. I probably wasn't very sympathetic with him. Especially since I had a root canal the week before I left for Brazil. But yeah. Sunday we had a manifestation of physical unrest so we had to stay inside all day. That was good to get some stuff done.

This week I dont really know what to share that was spiritual or strengthening. Other then the fact that I see how mom and dad raised me to be more responsible and do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. Thank you so much for that and I love you guys for that. 

I'm sorry that I don't have more but I have to help Elder Reis with something so I dont have more time. I hope you have a great week and I'll let you know about transfers and if I dont email next monday it's becasue I have been traveling.

LOVE-Elder George