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!