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.