Skyping Elder Vernon

This is Cory's Mom. We had a hard time getting connected to get Skype to work in Brazil but it finally worked and the Vernon family got to talk to Cory.  It was wonderful!  What a great Christmas present!   Cory has a Brazilian accent.  He has been talking Portuguese so long that he had a bit of a hard time talking in English.  It was so wonderful to talk and see him. The people who let him Skype were so kind, it was neat to meet them.  Cory and his companion sang their mission song for us! 

He didn't get to write this week since he got to Skype and they moved Pday to Christmas. 

The pizza they ordered!

It is Summer here!

December 8, 2014
Hello, my companion decided that we should buy pizza this week so we did. It was tasty.

This week was cool in sacrament meeting because a bunch of people bore their testimonies and it was especially awesome because one family is going to go to the temple to be sealed and all of them bore their testimonies of how much the lord has helped them and their family in the past year that they all got baptized.

One lesson that I liked this week was that we decided to read in Nephi about how he and his brothers went and got the brass plates at the start of the Book of Mormon. I love how Nephi explains things so clearly and also shows us how if we trust in our savior everything will work out great and how it needs to be.

We got the conference issue of the ensign so I was finally able to read the priesthood session. Other than President Monson, Elder Quinton L. Cook´s talk seemed great because he talked about how what we decide we want to do is only part of what we need to do. For example to have the goal to serve a mission people need to prepare right now by studying the scriptures and doing little daily things like waking up early and not staying up too late.

It still is not summer yet but now when we leave the apartment I start sweating a bunch again; it just drips off of my nose my ears and everywhere else! :) I am grateful for snow and winter, but also for the sub and sunscreen.

Love ya family! :)

Sincerely,

Elder Cory Austin Vernon

Uruguaiana!

November 24, 2014

This week Elder Farias and I continued to work until the dust, ´´até o pó.´´ We are teaching a bunch of recent converts and also have some cool families that we are inviting the spirit to teach.

There was a great family home evening of the ward that one of the Brothers in the Ward began a tradition to give out a Book of Mórmon every week for one of the people in the ward to give to someone and to share their experience the next week at the next family home evening. Also it was funny talking with him because afterwards there was cake to eat. Thus I ate two pieces of cake but my companion ate 5; 

Also I nearly missed taking the sacrament because we confirmed with one of our investigators that we would wait for him to enter the chapel with him because he was running late. After waiting and waiting, right as the sacrament was starting he showed up and everything went well; it was very close though.

Presidente Parrela interviewed us too which is always cool because it gives me a chance to think about how I can best serve the Lord and serve him in the way that he wants me to serve that will help everybody in the best ways possible. A piece of advice that he gave was to remember that even though we want to baptize during our mission the most important soul that we will ´´convert´´ will be our own and that we need to be able to say ´´ I know that my redeemer Jesus Christ lives.´´

Com muitos sorrisos! ;) :) :)Elder Vernon :)

After waiting 4 months for his last package, he received his Christmas Package a month early.  We are just happy he got it and things weren't stale yet.  

Elder Vernon is being transferred to a new area!

Ollo Family! :)

This week was sad because both Elder Müller (he will serve in Rosário) and I are being transfered; I will be serving in Uruguaiana (close to Argentina; maybe I will be able to learn some Spanish!).

In sacrament meeting I talked about how we need to establish Zion where we are and that we can only doso if we have charity like our Savior Jesus Christ and if we give our will to the Lord by keeping his commandments and serving our neighbor.

During one lesson with Irmão Dion we read Mosiah 4:30 and he pointed out that it says we should observe the commandments of God and said how observing is more that just knowing about the commandments but it is searching to find out why we have the commandments and working hard to always be repenting. He and Irmã Fran are super excited and already want to go to the temple! :)

We bid farewell to everyone which is always sad but it is part of the mission and it helps people so that they only join the church when it is between them and the Lord and not just becasue they love the missionaries. Also in São Pedro there will only be one companionship of Elders now so we showed Elder Hull and Elder Alvarenga our half of the city.

There was one spiritual lesson with them where we talked about the work of salvation and how we need to have a bonding link that links us all together and back to our Savior and our Heavenly Father.

I also got a package that my Mom sent 4 months ago, but it finally arrived! It was fun to open!

Com muitos sorrisos! ;) :) :) :)

Sincerely,

Elder Vernon :)

Some things I have learned on my Mission

November 3, 2014

Todo bém família! Como vai! :)

This week was the first fast Sunday in the new chapel. A funny thing happened in that Irmã Fran showed up without Irmão Dion; because Irmão Dion was sleeping so deeply that he wouldn´t wake up! They are a cool family. Also when I was writing the email for the family Irmão Dion snuck up behind me and tapped me on the head--after being a little surprised it was funny.

The sad thing that happened this week is that one of the people we visit passed away. His health wasn´t really good, but it is still sad. On Sunday Elder Müller and I visited the family and sang a few hymns because the spirit carries more comfort than our words ever can. He is called the comforter because it is what he does. I feel that the spirit consoled everyone and that with all that happened he is continuing to learn about the restored gospel in the spirit world.

My Mom asked me to write about some things I have learned on the mission and also what has been hard and how my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ has grown.

Other than spiritual things I have learned to be more grateful and to know that the lord always prepares a way if we do our part. By loving people and the Lord by being obedient and service the Lord will trust you to do what is right. Even though prayer is a constant link between me and the Lord I know that much of the time the Lord allows me to make a decision based on what I want to do (if it is something good it doesn´t matter if it is me or the spirit). Hard things would be seeing the sad situations that some people are in and adjusting to the culture, but with every hard thing it is just a blessing in disguise. I feel like waiting on the Lord´s timing is important and that having unity as a companionship are two things that are hard but good. With most things about my testimony is that everything I already knew is confirmed time and time again, and with each new look at the gospel and every question doubt or concern I can learn the basics better to help others learn the basics by the spirit and in turn the spirit helps me learn what I need for myself. I hope that answers your questions a little bit Mom! :) Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Sincerely, Elder Vernon :)

A New "chapel" in Sao Pedro! October 2014

Elder Müller and I found a full family that we are starting to teach. It was a rainy day and it was the evening quickly turning into night. But we decided to clap hands in front of one of the houses close to where we are teaching another family. The kids of the family answered the door (we thought on of them was the parent) so we entered and started talking to them. Later their parents showed up and everybody was happy to talk about how because of Jesus Christ and the power of the Priesthood we can be with our families for forever.

This week was great, hmmm, such is life, every week is great! :)

With Irmão Dion we talked a little bit about family history and he got really excited so we showed him family search and he showed us a bunch of old records of his ancestors that he had saved. It was cool.

There was also one lesson that we gave a blessing afterwards. Always, I am amazed how the Lord takes the time to guide the words of blessings. It truly is the words of our Savior Jesus Christ and not my own words. With this same family we just happened to have bought flowers the same day that we gave to them; the little present made them really happy and we also talked about how the Book of Mormon and Bible word together as if they were one book (like is talks about in Ezekial 37).

On Sunday President and Sister Parrela came to our branch to announce the new chapel we are having; it was cool because they got to talk with the people that came to church with us and got everyone super excited about the open house for the new chapel next week.

This week was busy because we had the inauguration of a new building where we meet for church in São Pedro! During the week we had our Zone leaders and the assistants to the President and a pair of sister missionaries that all helped out with the open house and giving out invites.

During the week we gave out more than 1200 invites to people (had stuff on the radio, etc...) and I talked so much that I lost my voice. It was cool at the inauguration because the new chapel filled up with people. One of the talks at the inauguration is how we believe in Jesus Christ and just want to share his love with people so that everyone can be happy; how we do this is the Church of Jesus Christ is by making covenants (promises with God) that are done by the priesthood authority of God that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.

Irmã Sissi and João liked the inauguration and got to talk with President and Sister Parrela a little bit which was cool.

:)      :)    :)    :)    :)                 :)         :)             :)          :)                   :)

Also, we talked with Irmão Dion and Irmã Fran a little bit about how when people are married in the temple that it is for forever and not just for this life. It is cool to see how excited they are about everything.

At church on Sunday there was nearly double the normal amount of people which was also cool! :)

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

General Conference

October 6, 2014

General conference was wonderful as always! I thought is was really cool how some of the speakers gave their talks in other languages; it was especially neat when Elder Godoy gave his talk because it was in Portuguese and didn´t have a translator! Other talks I really liked were President Uchtdorf´s Sunday morning talk about how to get answers to prayers, Presidente Eyring´s talk Sunday morning about the work of salvation and the sealing power of the priesthood, and elder Bednar´s talk at the end addressing people who are not members of the church about why we share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This week we focused on inviting everyone to go and see General conference! Actually for the past several weeks we have been focusing on the living prophet that talks with Jesus Christ face to face and how we have the opportunity to listen nad hear him and the apostles talk about what the Savior wants us to do with our lives.

The two families that came to conference really liked it! :)

Also this week we replaced the roofing of a members house and ate churrasco. Our district meeting was about how the Savior prayed with those that he taught, thus we should pray with those that we are inviting the spirit to teach.

Also we gave a blessing to an aged man between conference sessions and he passed awaythe next day; we only know that he passed awaybecasue I had a feeling we should call the man´s family to see how they were doing. I know that the Lord uses us to console peopel and answer prayers.

As always there is always more to the week than what I can write and I am super excited for everything! :)

Love ya family! Com muitos sorrisos! ;) :) :) :) :) :):) Sincerely, Elder Vernon :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

October 13, 2014

This week there was a zone conference so we went to Santa Maria one day for it. It was really cool because President Parrela taught us about how we should use the spirit of Elijah with the Book of Mormon and showed us the article in the new liahona magezine that Elder Bednar did.

Also Elder Müller and I found a full family that we are starting to teach. It was a rainy day and it was the evening quickly turning into night. But we decided to clap hands in front of one of the houses closeto where we are teachign another family. The kids of the family answered the door (we thought on of them was the parent) so we entered and started talking to them. Later their parents showed up and everybody was happy to talk about how becasue of Jesus Christ and the power of the Priesthood we can be with our families for forever.

Also I am reading in the portuguese index to the Book of Mormon all of the references about our Savior Jesus Chrsit like President Boyk k. Packer recomended during general conference. I am just starting, but it is still amazing how much the scriptures tryuly bear witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

SIncerely,

Elder Vernon

Hello!

:) This week we had a family home evening where I made cookies and we shared the restoration with the pepper and water analogy that I learned in Utah to explain baptism and the priesthood. We also ate another dessert that is common in Brasil which is called Torta de bolacha (Cracker cake) it is made with crackers and whipping cream and other stuff and is yummy.

Also, with General Conference coming up we have been inviting everyone to go to General Conference like crazy. I am super excited to hear the Prophet and Apostles talk again. 

One cool lesson this week was we started talking with a guy and he began to talk about how important and awesome prayer is. We bore our testimonies and read James 1:5 about "If any lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not" with him and then shared the rest of what we know about Joseph Smith, the priesthood, and the Book of Mormon! He said he would pray and also prayed with us after we talked with each other.

Irmão Gabriel is doing well too and is excited for his baptism coming up, he says that there is a peace and happiness that he feels when he is in church and talking with the missionaries and because of these feelings he wants to be Mormon too by following Jesus Christ´s example. His mother made a really tasty lasagna for us too because Gabriel is doing better than before he started meeting with the missionaries.

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Atentamente,  Élder Vernon

( Irmão significa Brother and Irmã means Sister.) 

Here is a note from Tina Cory's Mom.  Brent, Ellaina and I went to a ward in Nebraska and people were so friendly it was really wonderful.  The ward was near Chimney Rock so we got to see that too.  Here is what Cory wrote:

 I know that I have heard about chimney rock before, that is cool that the ward you visited talked to all of you. It really helps the missionary work when members take the initiative and talk to people that visit church. I use sunscreen everyday, but pretty soon it will be hot enough again that I sweat it all off and will get sunburns even though I use the sunscreen. 

Cory made cookie cake (it is extra thick) for his old Mission Training Center Companion who just arrived in Brazil.  It was Elder Hull's Birthday. 

Cory says his feet were wet but his feet look pretty sore, I know he walks alot.  Hopefully it doesn't feel as bad as it looks. 

September 22, 2014- He has been out a YEAR!

Ollo!

This week was Gaúcho week! So there were lots of people dressed in the traditional gaúcho clothes and lots of horses and even a parade. Also on Sunday we ate churrasco, in other words lots and lots of yumminess! :)

Irmão Vanderlei and his family did not go to church this week, but when we talked with them we shared our testimonies of the love that Jesus Christ has for them and us and how through the restored priesthood families can be and are together for forever. Afterwards we gave Irmã Elizete a blessing so that her eardrums will get better and the spirit was really strong. After the blessing we asked their son Wagner how things felt. He replied ´´certo´´ and a bit more or in other words that what happened was the right thing to do; he recognized the spirit and how the Lord always guides us even if we have other desires, what is hard is doing what our Heavenly Father wants and not just what we want.

With Irmão Laureni and Irmão Vanir (Nicker) we talked about the restoration of the priesthood and how crucial it is that those who follow the Lord need to follow him in the way that he has pre-established so that we can receive all of the promised blessings that he wants to bless us with. Irmão Reinaldo and Irmã Mari went with us to the lesson and bore their testimonies and invited them to visit church on Sunday. Irmão Vanir was sick and bedridden so with Irmão Reinaldo we gave him a blessing by the spirit and on Sunday he was up and walking and stayed through all of church. Irmã Laureni and Irmão Vanir liked what we talked about in church on Sunday because the lessons were about the temple, family history, and how Our Heavenly Father makes it possible for all of his children to receive the gospel with his authority even if they never had a chance in this life to accept or reject the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness.

:) Additionally I have now been out on the mission for over a year, the time passes by super fast.

Also we got transfer calls and I will be staying in Sião Pedro do Céu with Elder Müller Archilla.

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Sincerely, Elder Vernon :)

Irmao means brother and Irma means sister in Portuguese.  

Elder Vernon gets to train a brand new missionary from Guatamala

September 24, 2014

Ollo! :)

This week I went to Santa Maria to meet my new companion, his name is Elder Müller and he is from Guatamala, so he speaks Spanish! Also for the time being we are in a trio with Elder Carlos de Souza (he is from Paraíba, Brasil) until one more missionary arrives. They are both cool. It was funny getting to the stake center in Santa Maria because I did not know how to get there but I took a bus, saw the street sign where the chapel is and left the bus and walked the rest of the way! :) Hmmm, life is funny that way... :)

The training was cool and I saw 3 of my past companions. I like the training stuff because it is all of the basic stuff that invite the spirit to do the real teaching.

Also, one of the family’s that we are teaching went to church! There was also a really good lesson with them where, even though they did not read 3 Nephi chapter 11 that we left for them to read, we read the start of 3 Nephi chapter 11 with them. Explaining how faith in Jesus Christ comes before repentance and baptism and how the Lord is always trying to talk to us was what we talked about. I think it helped them see how even though we (missionaries) talk a bunch about baptism, what we really want is the eternal happiness of those we come into contact with.

Another cool lesson this week was we talked with a guy about how to pray. He listened attentively and then said something interesting at the end. He said that before he did not know that ´´amen´´ means that we agree with what was said and recognized how something small like that can be an opportunity to learn and grow. I say ´´amen´´ to that! :)

One lunch this week was churrasco! :) Meat is yummy, I ate too much, but it was worth it! My tummy was very satisfied with itself! :)

  Com muitos sorrisos! ;) :) :)- This means "with many smiles"

Elder Cory Vernon

:) Novo Líder Da Obra em São Pedro! :)

Ollo Family! :)

This week the branch in São Pedro called a branch mission leader! We are super excited because it is much easier to work with everybody when there is a branch or ward mission leader that organizes and directs things regardless of if missionaries are tranfered, etc...

Also, one funny thing this week was that I was a little bit sick and as such it was necessary to blow my nose and as a result of this I had a few bloddy noses. It was funny because my companion and the people we visited were super shocked and thoguht it was super strange to have a bloody nose. I guess people in Brasil do not have bloody noses very often becasue it is humid.

Another cool thing tis week is that last p-day I finished reading Isaiah! It was a slow process but it is really cool how Isaiah talks about practically everythign in the plan of salvation from the pre-existance, to Adam and Eve, to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Gospel being taught after this life (and during this life), the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and more! ;) I liked it.

Additionally, we started teaching a family that had already visited the church at one of the chapels in Santa Maria and liked it. Thus it was cool that they were super excited to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoration of it.

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Sincerely,

Elder Vernon :)

 Flaming Hot Cheetos- Cory got these in his Birthday package!

Exotic food and 19th Birthday Celebration

July 28, 2014

Ollo! :)

This week a bunch of the members in our branch were traveling so there was only 25 people at church; my companion and I taught the Sunday school lesson about how good and bad leaders in the Bible effect the people. One thing   we talked about was how a good leader always has the courage and integrity to do what is right regardless of circumstances.

I also read Mathew chapters 5-7 verse by verse with 3 Nephi 12-14 which was cool. I like how together they show how Jesus Christ has showed us the way to be perfected through his grace and gospel. Together they talk a lot about faith, repentance, and baptism, while showing how all the wonderful things about the gospel are possible because of Jesus Christ.

One lunch this week was churrasco of sheep, sausage, and chicken meat! It was yummy. Also the daughter of one of the people we are teaching gave us about 10 avocados (in Brasil the people make juice with one avocado and 3 limes and sugar; they think it is strange when I tell them about guacamole). And we visited with one of the familys that we are teaching and they shared with us how the gospel is already helping them out a bunch in their life! It is cool to see the joy in their faces! :)

I also made beans with our pressure cooker, the pressure cookers here in Brasil are better because they actually work (I think it is because they have less safety stuff) it cooks the beans in about 10 minutes and then waiting 30 minutes..

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Sincerely,

Elder Vernon :)

Cory Celebrating his 19th Birthday!

Elder Dias liked the fake snow, it was his 1 year mark so he made a cake.

A Copa do Mundo Já Começou! :) This means "The World Cup has begun"

June 16, 2014

A Copa do Mundo Já Começou! :)  This means "The World Cup has begun"

Ollo!

This week was great! :) We went and visited a bunch of people with Irmão Alan, a cool guy in the branch that likes to work with the missionaries. Also the assistants to the Presidente came on Thursday and did exchanges with us so we were able to visit more people than normal this week despite the world cup starting.

When we were working on the day of the first game of Brazil for the world cup it was funny because whenever Brazil scored a goal we could hear all the people cheering even though we were in the streets. My companion said that where he lives in Manaus that the ground shakes for about 15 minutes after each goal and that here in Rosário is pretty calm.

I got a package for my birthday that had fake snow in it. It was cool showing Elder Dias the fake snow because the only time he has seen snow is on the TV or computer. I opened most of the stuff in the package but saved some stuff to open on my actual birthday.

I ate more cow hoof dessert and cow guts soup! Yum! :)

After we passed by a bunch of peoples houses reminding them about church there ended up being 5 people that came to church this week!

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Sincerely,

Elder Vernon :)

Why I am serving a mission...

June 10, 2014

Ollo Família! This week was great! Irmão Glenio (he was baptized last Monday) was confirmed in Sacrament meeting! Also, the Sister Missionaries had three baptisms! Also we went to Santa Maria for the Mission Tour of Elder Mozart B Soares and got trained on how to do missionary work better.

One day of the week we had lunch at Irmão Delcis and he invited a bunch of members and another friend who isnt a member. It was yummy, but it was cow guts soup that we ate! They call it Mondongu or motaco. 

I am still the exact same weight I was before the mission and during the mission; it is funny though because people talk about how skinny I am, but I am just the same as always. I also got a happy birthday letter, so I am feeling a little old (just kidding, I will only be 19 when my birthday comes around). 

Elder Mozart B. Soares talked about how part of missionary work is helping people come to Christ and be saved spiritually. He talked about how we can always do more to help people out and that we should not abandon them when they need us most even if it seems like they are not doing the things they need to do to change. He shared how his parents were the first converts in Recife and how he was the first Mormon baby in Recife Brasil.  :) He also asked us to write why we are serving a mission to our family, so here is a short explanation:

Why I am serving a mission is quite simple, I want to help people be happy and I know that because of what I have learned, especially in the home because of my parents and siblings, that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and that his Atonement makes it possible for all who will accept him to be perfected (not only me and my family, but the whole human family!) :)

I would say the most spiritual growth I have had on the mission is with seeing others how they can become and trying to understand their situation and why they do they things they do.

The soccer world cup starts this week, it is fun to see the people freaking out and getting super excited for it; however, as missionaries the rule is that we can study or proselyte like normal during the games, we cannot watch the games with people. :)

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) Sincerely, Elder Vernon

May 19, 2014

Ollo! This week Elder LaPray left to become the companion of Elder Sol, my other companion in Brasil! I just thought that was kind of funny. My new companion is Elder Dias; he is from Manaus (the big city in Amazonas Brasil) and joined the church when he was 14 years old, he likes to eat fish and likes the Avengers and can draw stuff really good.

We also organized an open house at the chapel, but no one came. That was sad, but we practiced showing the chapel to the seminary kids and set up to try again next week; hopefully, with more success. ;)

Irmão Glenio has now read the whole Book of Mórmon, his baptism should be on Saturday when all goes well with his stopping smoking and drinking alcohol. 

Also Thainan's confirmation and recieving of the gift of the Holy Ghost went well on Sunday. 

One thing that people who are looking into the church get a little angry about here is that the missionaries are always being transferred out of areas with new missionaries coming. But I think it is a good thing because it means when they come to church it will be because they actually believe and not just because they are friends with the missionaries.

In the mornings and in the night it sometimes gets cool now which is nice, the climate here can get to just barely in the negatives using degrees Celsius, and is humid and rains a lot, but snow, if it happens is extremely rare (essentially it doesn’t snow and people go on trips to other places in order to see snow).

One food people like here is linguiça, it is essentially a giant brawtwurst that they cut up and then eat, it is yummy. I haven’t had liver or panelada, but I have eaten heart on a couple of occasions.

I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting about how with revelation and testimonies they both normally are processes and not instant things and how with the temple, even when we have troubles in life, the temple helps us feel the peace that Jesus Christ brings into our lives.

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Sincerely, Elder Vernon

Mother's Day Call and a new companion

This little blurb is from Cory's Mom.  It was so wonderful on Mother's Day getting to actually even see Cory while we talked.  Skype is really a blessing.  Mother's Day is ALWAYS extra special when you have a missionary who you only get to talk to twice a year.  Mother's Day  and Christmas are the days we get to connect.

May 11, 2014 Ollo! :) Feliz Dia Das Mães! :)

It was cool talking with everybody on Mother’s Day. It was funny watching all the missionaries freak out talking to their families. :)

Thainan had his baptism this Friday! It was really good. Yes, before the baptism when we were filling up the font there was a lot of smoke and it was really stinky, but there was a guy at the church that knew what to do so he bought more gas to heat up the water and everything worked out alright. He is 16 years old, he had to move before he could be baptized because he lived at his girlfriend’s house. His parents have drug problems. He wants to serve a mission! Talking with him afterward he said how he felt renewed. Also, the cookies I made were promptly eaten by everyone at the baptism; they don’t have cookies like we do in the states but they really like them when the Americans make cookies for them!

Mother’s Day was also the district conference so we went to São Gabriel for church on a bus. Irmão Aúreo brought a bag of meat for snacks that he shared with everyone when we waited after church to return to Rosário because the branch president had a meeting after the normal meeting block. President Parrela talked about how awesome Moms are and how we always remember Mother’s day.

There was also a Zone Conference in Santa Maria that was really good. While there a recent convert gave a talk on how love and charity need to be the very first thing in missionary work and how it is Christ like love that helps people realize how much the gospel can bless them in their lives. The other talk was a family history specialist guy that served his mission in Brasil 50 years ago that shared a story how our mission calls are divine assignments and about a senior couple that after rejecting a mission call to Mongolia the first time (they didn’t want to serve in the cold) they accepted the call a year later, and while they were there they found their prodigal son in a prison who had been praying that his parents would find him.

There was other stuff too, but like always I can never write everything!

Com muitos Sorrisos! :) :) :)  :)

May 5, 2014

Ollo! This week Irmão Aúreo fed us churrasco! It was funny because after eating 4 platefuls of meat, rice, beans, and potatoes slathered with mayo he still wanted us to eat more! He said how he likes people that eat a lot and that there was plenty more food to eat! He then went on to say how he will let the people that wander the streets come into his house to eat his food and how one time a guy ate not 3 plates full of food, but 3 platters full of food! :)

There were three of the people we are teaching that came to church this week so we are hoping to have 2 more baptisms this week (assuming all goes well.

I have started reading through Isaiah in the bible now, a goal I have is to to read all of the Standard Works (Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants) in both English and Portuguese. One thing with Isaiah that is nice though is how the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and covenants have stuff that make it easier to understand, because when I just flat out read Isaiah I don’t get much out of it (normally).

We also gave away some copies of the Book of Mormon to people who had refused to even stay in the same room as the missionaries in the past, so that was really cool too!

Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :) Sincerely, Elder Vernon

Irma Regina's Baptism!

April 22, 2014

Ollo! :)

I wrote a written letter since nothing was open on p-day that says more about the week. Also I got my first package and it was awesome! The pictures are of Irmã Reginas baptism, some cookies I made, and my hand with flaming hot cheetoh stuff on it.

Irmã Regina was baptized and confirmed this week! She was so excited for it that for both her baptismal interview and her baptism she was about an hour early! It was also cool talking to her during the week because she has already noticed how life is improving and her family is becoming more united just with her decision to be baptized.

Easter was good too! Bunches of people came like they said they would! It is really exciting when people keep their commitments that they make with the missionaries and the Lord. People gave us a bunch of chocolate stuff that we promptly ate joyfully. 

There was a drunk guy that asked for our help that we helped walk (it was more like we carried him) several blocks of the city to a house he said he lived at. It is sad how people destroy their lives with stuff like drugs and alcohol. But it was the house of his Aunt who didn’t want him there, and when Elder LaPray handed me the drunk guy *thud* I accidently dropped him. Eventually the drunk guys brother came and picked him up.

Love ya family! Com muitos sorrisos! :) :) :)

Sincerely, Elder Vernon

Steve the Frog and other Frogs

Steve is small, but the frogs we see on the road are huge, they are like the size of plates almost (lots of them are road kill too).