Spirit Walker

Recently I've been feeling the power of the Holy Ghost with more power than ever before. There's a definite transition you begin to see and feel as you go from doing what a missionary does to being a missionary, and one of the most evident changes is the presence of the spirit in all that you do. Over the last few weeks, my companion and I have been seeking to follow all of the advice and council that we can, given by the prophet and mission leaders. Now, at times it feels as if we're walking side by side with Christ in search of his lost sheep. What a pleasure it is to embark is the service of God!

But, as for more details, I'm finally getting around to doing things I normally didn't have time for. Things such as make breakfast, write return letters, anything other than gaze sleepily into oblivion, etc. As well, the mission work is exploding. In fact, this week was the baptism of the same man I talked about last week. What was a miracle contact, became a miracle transformation. Marciano was born and raised in the streets, and thus had a life filled with drugs, violence, and all kinds of wickedness. In fact, he'd been ready to take his own life and sink into depression and oblivion. Then, just two weeks after two white-shirted young men come walking down the street, he's pressing forward in righteousness, reading the scriptures daily, and has the brightest hope and love of the Savior Jesus Christ than anyone I've ever seen. He's absolutely overjoyed with the happiness he's found and is firmly established to do all that God asks of him. :D

Truly the power of God is great and the blessings he offers are even greater. In Alma 36 (of the Book of Mormon) it describes a transformation very similar, being that of Alma the younger. He, as well, lived a life that was really full of darkness and iniquity, and at one point in time, he became tortured by the thoughts and memories of all that he'd done. Then, after calling upon Christ and repenting of all that he'd done, he was filled with such joy that he couldn't even express. Afterward, he continued strong in his faith and realized a great many miracles among all of the people.

Here on this Easter week, we too should remember all that Christ has done for us, not just that he suffered and died for us, but that he lives, and because he lives we too can conquer death! "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that all who would believe on his name might be saved." (Almost exact quote from John 4-ish)

I love all of you and thank you for all you've done for me. Maybe some of you will finally start getting letters from me in a little bit... I hope.

Anyway...

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Alface (al-fah-see) Meaning lettuce. Unfortunately it isn't a potential pun in Portuguese. As well, we're not allowed to eat it as missionaries. >:D All these years I was against eating salads, and now I know why! 

Photos!

- Baptism of Lorenzo Last Week

- Baptism of Marciano Yesterday

- Sunset in Rio Pardo

- Me Cooking >:P

(Note: I had to guess which baptism was which because they pics don't always come in order of how he has listed them...lets hope my investigative skills got the pictures in the right order -Breanna)

Tripping on Miracles

Wow, it's amazing how much time you can waste just dazing of in thought. The even more incredible thing is how I can waste time just to write that I'm wasting it. :P What a world.

Anyway, I was transferred! Tuesday I arrived at the bus station and received a little paper sending me all the way to Rio Pardo (a little north of Santa Cruz do Sul) and I thought, "Bah, not a city." Turns out the new area is almost exactly the same type of city as Ivoti. Only here, the church and the missionaries have been around for years without growing. That is, until my companion and I arrived. My new companion, Elder L. Santos, is a really strong bona-fide Fortelezan and recently born. But, despite these qualities, he brings the spirit like no other into the lessons we teach. He's truly a power house.

But if anything has been more prepared than my companion, it is this city. Ever since we've arrived here it's been nothing but miracles. Almost every family we speak with, I feel as if I already knew them. Almost every lesson we teach, the people are ready to commit and to change. Even in the days that seem the worst, we're finding the best of people. 

For example, the second day I was here, we had a meeting with someone a mile or two away. So, we left early and walked the distance to his house, just to find that he wasn't there. :l So we tried knocking on a few doors, talked with a few people... nothing was happening. We decided to begin searching for another contact. In fact we ended up searching for an hour in vain in the wrong neighborhood until we finally encountered a road we thought was right. Then after walking a while, nothing but trees and grass on both sides, we came across a house just as a man was exiting the house. We talked with him, asked him if he knew the missionaries, and he invited us to enter. That very moment, he'd been praying to better his life. People had passed by just moments ago trying to kill him, and he himself was ready to do the same. Then, in a moment of sincere prayer, two young men with ties came walking down a deserted street. :D  He's now getting ready to be baptized this next Sunday, and is extremely excited!

Truly we are tools in the hands of the Lord as we do as he says, and we get this wonderful opportunity to serve our part in the miracles that he performs. Thanks everyone for the food, love, and letters. The weather here is starting to get colder, but the fire is getting ever hotter.

Até próximo!

Elder Angus

Word/Phrase of the week:

Palavra/Frase Seminal - (pah-lah-vrah/frah-zee seh-mee-now) Meaning word/phrase of the week. Inception! >:D

Rip Tide

Bah!!!!! I'm getting transferred! Okay, in reality, I did see this coming. In fact, this entire week my companion and I have been joking that one of us will be transferred even after just two weeks together. But it's amazing how fast time flies. To think that I've already completed six months in my mission is crazy. ... Then again, I still have another year and a half. :D *does little irish jig out of pure joy* 

Anyway, I really don't have alot of time, so I'll jump right to it. This week we've received a higher padrão or level of excellence as far as our obedience is concerned. I won't lie, some of the rules established become very difficult to live, but after you live them, it really begins to show greater fruits. We've been searching alot for new investigators this week and we've truly been blessed. Almost everyone we've been meeting with lately seem like I've known them before, which made me try every little bit harder to help them. One family we found recently is really excellent. It consists of a mom, two daughters and one son, who haven't visited a church in a really long time. When we arrived there, they were extremely receptive to both us and our message. We invited them to go to church this Sunday and asked if they wanted any rides to get there when it rains. The mother then turned to me and said, "Don't worry about the rain. Church is a compromise. If you'd walk to work or walk to school in the rain, there's no reason you'd put off church just because of the rain." They went this Sunday and they are really growing fast. Now I'm just sad I won't be around to see the baptisms. Oh well, there's alot more work to be done else where as well. >:D

Well, if there's anything I want to say to all of you right now is that we should never place our priorities on worldly things. Jaqui, our first convert here said that she's passed through all ways of life, but the same things always brought her happiness. In her own words, "People are searching for happiness in things that don't give us happiness." We should take a look at our lives, our goals, our intentions, and then see what it is that truly brings us happiness. For me, it's my family, my knowledge, and my God. Nothing could be more important than these, and I wouldn't sacrifice any of these for something of lesser value. We can search for riches, search for excuses, or search for fame, but nothing can bring us greater joy than a family, united in a home, striving to live the words of God.

Thanks everyone for the prayers, the letters, and the support. It's always a great surprise when you open a box and find military rations. XD Okay, thankfully I haven't gotten those yet. Anyway, until next week.

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Engraçadinha (en-grah-sah-gee-nyah) Smart Aleck/Dork, like me! >:P

Photos:

- City of Ivoti (Part)

- Baptisim of Ari Luis (From Last Week)

Wake Up Call

>:D This week makes me smile. Mostly because the beginning of this week, we planned on something unimaginable happening, and then it happened. One of our investigators, the father of a member, had been progressing very well until about a month or two ago when he decided he didn't want any more. In fact, he pretty much rejected all that we had taught him and reverted back to the way he was (but he did still give us lunch). Then, this week, we stopped by for lunch and another member that just moved into the branch was there. To keep it simple, she's single in the army reserve, and she gave him a nice big wake up call to reality. 

He got baptized! >:D

Truly this one was a miracle, because the likeliness that he would've accepted us to teach again was slim, let alone be baptized. Then, during the middle of the week, we got a call that he was going to early morning seminary, and that he wanted to be baptized. That very day, we arrived in his house, talked with him, and challenged him for the weekend. He accepted. \'o'/

Anyway, that's just the better news of the week. For the better part of this week, we did a lot of walking. In fact, we actually walked over to a neighboring city once. As well, we've been doing contacts in the dark, improvising on essential items (for cooking, sleeping, etc.), and talking to everybody. Unfortunately, very few people even pass us on the streets, so that doesn't get us very far. 

Well, I guess if there's any moral for my story, never doubt anything. Even the things that appear impossible are highly probable when the Lord is on your side. Anyway, I've about written my mind dry today. Thanks for all of your support! It's nice to know I have a little fan club, somewhere. 

Elder Angus

Words of the week:

Português - faxina (fah-shee-nah) The weekly house cleaning. Usually people here save it for one day each week, and it's really rough.

Mission - só agua (soh ah-gwah) Means "just water." When we find people are already completely prepared by the Lord for baptism, we use this phrase. Other quirky ones are "just add water" and "nothin' but water." :P