Elder Cory Austin Vernon: April 2014

April 7, 2014

Ollo! :)

This week started off with P-day, it was a little different than normal because President and Sister Parrela visited our apartment to make sure it is clean and to give us stuff (like new mattresses). They liked our house so much that they gave us frosted flakes (essentially, they are a little different and from Uragary).

One highlight of the week was with Tainá; he prayed about being baptized and roughly translated into English what he said is as follows: When I prayed and had a conversation with God he told me that baptism would be a good thing for me. It is really neat to see people when they receive answers to their prayers, especially when their faith is growing! :)

For General Conference (two times a year when the prophet and other people called of God by priesthood authority tell us--the world-- what we need to hear and do and stuff!) all of the American missionaries in Rosário do Sul made treats for us to eat while watching it. It was in English and live too which was cool (though in Portuguese for the Brazillians). It was spiritually awesome! I really liked how it seemed to me like one theme of the conference was how obedience and agency (choice and accountability) have the ability to help us amplify ourselves and help others as well because of what Jesus Christ did and does for us. I also liked how they talked about God being our Heavenly Father! :)

Irmão Aúreo went to Conference too and he loved it! It was cool talking with him between conference sessions because he said how much he liked what the prophet President Thomas S. Monson said!

It was sad that none of the approximately twenty other people we invited individually to come to conference did not come, but we invited them and followed up with them between sessions and stuff. We just cannot force people to do the stuff that will make them happier and help them out with stuff in general. So I pray for them! :)

There is always more to write than I have time to do and want to say! Anyway, if anyone has questions or stuff for me about anything I am always happy to try and help out (even if I am always behind on letter writing!)

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

April 14, 2014
Ollo Família! Como vocês estão! Espero que vocês sempre são ótimo como normal! :)

I got transfers and I am staying in Rosário do Sul with Elder LaPray! Transfers are normally every 6 weeks but this transfer is 4 weeks and I think next transfer is 7 weeks.

This week Elder LaPray and I started doing family home evenings with people in an effort to try and meet new people and to work with people more. I shared about the articles of faith in one famaily home evening that went well! :)

We also went to the main plaza of the city and (fizermos contatas) talked with a bunch of people with the Branch mission leader. It is funny seeing the different reactions people have when you go up and talk to them as a missionary, because soem literally run away, others are happy but keep walking away, and others will talk and be freindly. :)

I went on Exchange with the Zone Leaders in São Gabriel (another city about 1 hour by bus away from Rosário do Sul). It is always fun to see how other missionaries are working; I bore my testimony in one lesson about how our answers to our prayers are normally small and almost unrecognizable if we do not look for them.

At church was crazy but good because some families we invited came! it basically turned out being my companion and I babysitting the kiddos as they ran around the church and stuff like that. It was tiring but good, the kids are learnign slowly but surely how to act in church! :)

There should be a baptism next week if all goes well!

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

Atentamente,

Élder Vernon