June 28, 2014

Due to the World Cup, Jason was unable to write his weekly letter, but he did send us some pictures on June 28th.

Jason finally received his birthday package from Mom! Can you tell he was happy? :)

June 23, 2014

Happy MONDAY, family!

Time is of the essence today, so this is gonna be a short one!

Things are still going well here in Tamandaré!  We had a fun week, going to the other city in our area and finding people to teach.  Due to the World Cup though, not too many people were home or willing to listen!  Blasted World Cup!  Things are L-O-C-O crazy here during the Brazil games.  We aren't allowed to leave the house during or after the games, because the streets are wild.  Haha

WOOOOOOOOOO good news!  We have been working with an AWESOME couple named K____ and E_____ (K_____ is a girl's name here, haha) and they are ELECTS.  Holy Hannah.  They have both had wild lives, but after they met the missionaries, they have changed EVERYTHING.  The only thing keeping them from baptism was the fact that they weren't married yet... buuuuuuuuuut.... FRIDAY WE WENT WITH THEM TO SIGN THE MARRIAGE PAPERS AT THE COURTHOUSE!!  They are getting married (Brazil is laaaame, because after signing, you have to wait 30 days for the marriage to take effect), but in just 28 days they'll be married officially, and baptized that night.  They are SO cool.  Literally they would be the most fun Young Mens/Young Womens presidents!

I love my family!  Heavenly Father is so good.  I have pictures to send you, but the computer isn't working today.... 

Until next week!

Love you!

Jason

June 16, 2014

Howdy family! 

Transfer news:  I'm staying!  Wooooo which is a real blessing.  I was hoping that I could stay one more here in Tamandaré and with Elder Gilguero.  

This transfer will be phenomenal.  Our area is HUUUUUGE, and this week we are going to venture out to a town (within our ward boundaries) 2 hours away by bus, and work aaaaall day, knocking doors, talking with everyone, and teaching up a storm.  The town, Rio Branco do Sul, is untouched by missionaries/ the church, and has a lot of farmland, so hopefully that means receptive people and baptisms.  We are STOKED to see what will happen!  The idea is to open up a "group" there.

Things are a little intense here due to the World Cup.  Nossa!  Hooting and hollering and explosions in the streets... Haha it's kinda scary sometimes, but really funny, too. There are SO many crazies in the streets.  This past week, some random drunk guy called us over and commanded that we pray with him.  Haha he was thoroughly disappointed when the heavens didn't open after the prayer.... 

I hope you all are doing wonderfully well.  Sorry this update is so short.  With the World Cup going on, we were yelled at all week to "get lost" whenever we knocked a door (people LIVE for soccer here, so the entire town shuts down during the games!).  This week will be better though.  

"As you wish."  :)

Love, 

Jason

Photos:  SHIRT BURING!! WOOOO 1 year!  Elder Gilguero has the same time as me, so we burned our shirts together.

June 9, 2014

Hello my wonderful family!  I hope you all had a marvelous week, and that things are going well.  Thanks again for all the birthday wishes! 

Things really are starting to fly by!  They say a mission is  an uphill climb until your year mark, and after, it goes by very quickly.  I can't believe a year ago I was boarding the plane to get dropped off at the MTC. 

This past week, we had a sudden mission conference.  I thought it was to 'burn' us, but it was really a wonderful time with our president.  We were counseled to remember how truly precious our time here on Earth, and our time on a mission are.  He told us how many missionaries think, "Woo-hoo!  One year down, only one more to go!" (Guilty!!), but maybe we won't have another year here.  We have no idea  what tomorrow holds.  I could discover I have cancer, or break my leg and have to get sent home.  Would I then be able to look back and feel content that I truly had done all that could have with the time the Lord gave me here?  I don't think so!  Oftentimes we think... "I have plenty of time to _____", but in reality, we have only today to "....write our names in heaven".  EVERYTHING could change at the drop of a hat, so we need to focus on today, doing everything in our power to make it matter.

I am so thankful for the time Heavenly Father has given us here on Earth.  Our time is precious, full of challenges and trials and tests, but when we rely on the Savior, and our Father in Heaven, all  things are possible.  This week in my studies, I came across this scripture in the New Testament:

Romans 8:31

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

I love it!  We know that God is for us.  We know that we cannot fail with Him on our side.  I truly know that all things are possible. I know that God loves us, and I know that He really is rooting for us and helping us every step of the way!!  I hope we take advantage of our time here on earth, and seize "today"!

Love forever, 

Jason

June 2, 2014

Familia!  OI!  

This week f-l-e-w by. I'm not sure why, but here we are again.  Thank you for all the birthday wishes and love!  IN 4 DAYS I WILL NO LONGER BE A TEEN!  Crazy!

This week was full of good things, and sad things, too.  We got permission to visit the temple with a few investigators and recent-converts.  It was  a magnificent experience!  We got there at about 8pm, and the lights around the temple and garden were perfect.  The Spirit was SO strong, and we were able to teach about temples (why we have them, what goes on inside, eternal marriage/saving ordinances for the dead, etc.), and it was a success!  Sorry the pictures are sub-par... my camera has fewer magapixels that your cell phone, but the Temple is always beautiful! :)

Remember that elect lady, R____, we started teaching?  We committed her to baptism, and she was SO excited.  We went to interview her, and she met us in tears, telling us that all of her adult children told her that if she got baptized, they would never vist her again or let her see her grandkids.  None of them (the adult children) even go to any church, so I'm not sure why they care...  It was so sad and heartbreaking for her and for us to let her go.  Satan will use anything he can to stop salvation.  But we'll keep trying to work with her, and maybe try working with her children to better the situation.

This transfer is almost up already!  I hope I get to stay here in Almirante Tamandaré (the #1 most dangerous city in the state of Paraná I learned)  for a little more!

I hope you all have a fantastic week.  The Savior lives!  His love and Gospel are perfect.

Love,
Jason