Monday, November 18, 2013

Pictures Week #76


African Kids
Elder Brown's Favorite Pic (mine too!)
Elder Brown and Rui
Devon, Elder Brown, and Zecarlos
Zecarlos' Baptism


Another Week


Oi Family and Friends,

This week went good, and went by pretty fast. We had some good
lessons, I'm blanking though on the lessons we did have. We had
Zecarlos baptism this past Saturday though, and it was awesome, I got to baptize him and Elder Andre confirmed him. He is so awesome even though he is lacking self confidence in himself. He is a very humble guy and has taught me alot about humility and self control. I can't wait to just talk and talk and tell stories about all these people and just the things that I've done here. 


But the branch here can be frustrating at times. First off it is a little disorganized. Second our members, love them to death, can be frustrating at times. For most of them, the church is not the top priorities in their lives. They don't do their callings, show up to everything late, and don't show up for things like baptisms. We started the baptism reuniao 35 min late and all that were there was us 4 missionaries, Zecarlos and his son, and President Marques. It was so sad and we were so frustrated with our members, because we invited everyone. I'm seriously taking back a huge testimony of church organization and church meetings and callings and all that. It will be nice getting back to an organized ward and stake and all that. 

Anyways there's these kids in Zecarlos neighborhood that love us and I have so many pics and videos of them. They would do stuff for the camera and then all huddle up around me and just laugh their heads off. Haha I love African children. 

Hmm what else what else. I don't know if I told you guys but in 2 weeks we're going up to Luanda for a Mission Conference with Elder and Sister Hamilton of the 70 so were really excited about that. Not the 19 hour bus ride, but it will still be fun. I'm loving living with Elder Wilhelm again. This is our 5th transfer together in the same house and he is one my really good friends out here. He is awesome, love him to death. 

But yeah that's pretty much all I got to say. That's so sick for BYU Bball and football. Hope they both keep it up. GOSH I miss it so bad. But only 6 months. Love you all, can't wait to talk to you guys here in a month, gonna be sweet. Have a great week!!

Love,



Monday, November 11, 2013

Picture Week #75


Elder Brown is on top of the world!
Epic stare off on the distance
Tundavala
Elder Andre and Elder Brown





Good Week


Oi Family and Friends!

This week was very good. To start off the week last Pday we went to Tundavala, my first time. And it's way cool. Very very pretty, and you just get reflecting on the beauty of the Earth and appreciating the things that God has created. It's such a wonderful reflection to make, way cool. 

This week lessons have been good, a bit frustrating sometimes with Elder Andre but its getting better. Cool thing though is that this Saturday Zecarlos is going to get baptized! So cool, and he chose me to baptize him so that's way awesome. Can't wait for that this Saturday. 

On Thursday we had an activity with the branch, and I was in charge of the spiritual thought so I did a thought on the Atonement. I used the Rubix cube and I brought someone up to the front. I said that the perfect rubix cube was him after baptism, but he sins, then he sins again, then again and again, just twisting the rubix cube up. And then I gave it to him to solve, to put it back together because to get into the Celestial Kingdom, you have to be clean. He couldn't do it. So I offered him to help him just because I loved him. So I did it and related it to the Atonement, how by ourselves we can't get to the Celestial Kingdom, but we absolutely need Christ. Then I gave everyone those small rubix cubes, and sometimes I had to give seconds because they would absolutely destroy them into pieces, haha it was fun, this branch is awesome although disorganized. But we're doing good. 

Went on a division with Elder Wilhelm on Saturday, which was really good, help destress me a bit. Yesterday was GC in portuguese which is really hard not to get bored. Also I was having a hard time yesterday, but the scriptures really picked me up, I love the power of the scriptures. Yeah its only us four in the house down here in Lubango. And yeah I can understand Elder Andre. And that's too bad about the HEFY, but oh well, it alright, I will enjoy being home. Anyways yeah its crazy that its this time of the year again, Miss you all like crazy but its only a short more while. Love you all and have a great week!

Love,

Monday, November 4, 2013

Pictures Week #74


Top of the waterfall
Cool huh? 
Waterfall
Just a little ledge sitting
Waterfall
Elder Kearney and Elder Brown
Elder Brown and Elder Cafferty
Elder Wilson getting splashed with water at FHE
Yay! Elder Brown got his package!
Elder Brown and Sany


On to the Next


OI! Family and Friends,

This week was good. The first half of the week was mostly cleaning the house and doing visits with Elder Cafferty and then on Thursday Elder Wilhelm and Elder Andre came. Also last Pday we went to this pretty cool waterfall that you will see some pics of that I send this week. That was cool. Anyways, Elder Andre is cool, he speaks no English so it's just Portuguese all the time, which will probably be for my good so I can speak better. But I won't lie, it's difficult. Having him just go straight from being a member to a missionary without passing through the MTC yet is hard. Not obedience wise or anything, he is solid on that, but teaching and missionary work wise, which he isn't to blame because he just doesn't know. So I'm doing my best to give him a good example and training him. And I don't know what will happen to me
when he gets his visa, we shall see. 

This week was good. We found some new families, which built my faith because I was fasting to find some more families, and it does show that the Lord immediately blesses you when you have faith in him. Speaking of fasting, I had just had my 18th Fast Sunday on the mission. Crazy. 3/4 done with those and only 6 more to go, it's unreal. We will see how this transfer turns out, I'm sure it will be a good one. 

Oh yeah, also awesome news....so remember Danilson´s family, like my family, my golden family. Well on Saturday the two sons got baptized John and Toni, and then here on the 16th the daughter Danilsa and Danilson´s sister Emelia will be baptized. And then when Danilson and Isabel get married then they will be baptized. I was sooooooo happy. I worked so hard with them, and I love them so much, they are going to become an eternal family one day,
and I cant wait to go back and visit with them. They are an awesome family, and I've really seen the fruits of my work in Benfica, all that hard work where it seemed it was not going to go anywhere, I'll have 10 converts there. And I never thought that would have been possible, but it's like the Lord says, by small and simple things are the great things brought to pass. And I really do have a testimony of that promise. 

Welllll, also I really miss you guys. I can't believe Ive been
away for so long already, and I can't wait to be back home. But I'm
going to enjoy that bit of time I have out here. And for the HEFY
thing I think if I don't get the Cabo Verde thing or Brazil, I don't
think I want to go. I would only like to go there because of
Portuguese and if it's some other place I think I would rather just
spend my time home, Idk though. Well I love you all, have the bestest week! And we will be going to concerts when I get back ;) haha.

Tchau,