4/14/14

week 14

Meu amigos e familia!! Tudo bom? Esta semana estava muito bom! This week we had a couple of miracles happen! Like, real miracles.

 

1st miracle- We were walking down a street making contacts about 45 minute walk from our house. We were both kinda in a sluggish mood, but we kept on working. Then boom miracle. We were about to go to a different area and a woman saw us walking and called us over. Usually when that happens its to tell us how our religion is horrible, but we both went over there with smiles. She asked us if we were mormon missionaries, and we said yes. Then she said is your purpose to share the word of God. And my companion said, kind of, our purpose is to baptize people into the only true church on earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the same church that Christ established. She then looked at us and said she wants to be baptized. Woo! That doesnt and probably wont happen that much on my mission. We walked with her back to her house, and she told us about her. She said her sister was baptized in our church, but a couple years ago she died. She said she wanted to be baptized since she has died, and she has a friend that wants to be baptized too!! When we finished teaching her the 1st time, my companion and I just looked at each other and knew God brought her to us. He brought us to her. I just keep thinking, what if we did one thing different that day. One thing. We would of missed her. This was a miracle for sure.

 

2nd Miracle

We are teaching this sweet old lady and we have taught her 3 times already. The 2nd time we taught about the Book of Mormon, and gave her some chapters to read. We came back the 3rd time and she read it!! She asked a couple questions, and i shared my testimony that the Bible bears witness of the Book of Mormon. I shared John 10:16, when Christ says he has other sheep that havent seen him yet. and After his ressurection where did he go? We go to the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 11, and learn his other sheep were the people in the Americas, The Nephites. The Spirit was so strong, and then she asked when is the baptism?? It was awesome. Then she really opened up to us. She started crying and told us that her 22 year old son died 2 years ago in a motorcycle accident. And every religion has told her that her son is going to hell because he wasnt baptized. Why would a loving God do that? We then told her that he isnt there, he is somewhere much better. And we have a message just for that that we will teach next time, the Plan of Salvation. Every gets a chance to accept this gospel. People who dont get a chance to accept it here on earth because they died early, never lived in an area to listen to missionaries, ect. They have a chance to accept this Gospel in the next life. I know that to be true. And then she said since he has died and religions have told her that her son is going to hell, she has been just hanging out in her house cause she never wants to go out there in the world. I know its a miracle that we found her at her house. Its a tragidy turned into a miracle. What if her son was still alive, she might not of been at her house. But she was at her house. And I know the whole purpose of everything that happened, was so that she could meet us.

Remember, Miracles dont create faith, faith creates miracles.

 

We had a district conference yesterday. Kinda like a stake conference, but with branches. The branches were Sinop, Boa Esparança, Sorriso A and B, and Lucas. It was really good and i played piano for the choir!

 

This week was good and we should be having a couple baptisms these up coming weeks! Ill keep yall posted for sure.

 

And my Portuguese has really improved. well, mostly my accicent, but life is good down here and I love it!

 

Love you mom!

 

Com Amor,

 

Elder Marstella

 

4/7/14

week 13

Wow! What a great conference!! haha well... i think... It was all in Portuguese so i didnt understand much. Haha now during Pday im going to watch it on YouTube every week until i finish. But I still could feel the Spirit and have a small understanding of what the speakers were saying. We ended up having 4 investigators come to conference!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER DILLON!! I think he turns 6 this week. jkjk He turns 14! Happy birthday dillon, love you!

So this week was a long one. Last week we had transfers, and the missionary that came here last week came in at midnight, so we were all tired. Really tired. haha We found a cool bird on our way home so we had some fun times with it until we had to let it go. haha The missionary who just got here is Elder T. Nascimento. He is from Sao Paulo and goes home in June. But he is a hard worker, and a few transfers ago he was assistant to the president. He is awesome and he is really funny haha. 

I didnt understand much, but during the saturday conference I could understand that Pornography is getting worse and worse as technology is improving. Stay away from that stuff!! 

Yesterday we had another baptism. He is 10 years old and is super cool! I love him! 

I hope everybody had a great week and enjoyed conference in english. haha

Love you all, and Love you mom!!

Elder Marstella 

3/31/14

week 12

This week was pretty good. We had alot of training exchanges so I learned alot and was forced to speak alot. This week I went with my district leader. He told me at the beginning of the day that he wouldnt speak alot during lessons or while contacting people. That was a little itimidating because thus far ive only taught about probably 20% of the lesson. That day i taught about 80%. It was a lot of broken caveman portuguese, but most people could understand mostly of what i was saying and could get the message i was trying to say. I recited the 1st vision a couple times that day in Portuguese for the 1st time! The spirit was so strong! 

While contacting we ran into a 15 year old girl and taught her about the restoration. Then we came back and taught her about the Book of Mormon. During the 1st lesson we had with her, she told us her dad is a pastor so we were like thinking, we will see how this ends up because if they are under 18, parents have to give approvement to being baptized. On our second lesson when we taught about the book of mormon, i asked if she has recieved a answer to her prayers about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She said she did and knows our message is true!!  We were so happy for her. Then when we finished the Book of Mormon lesson, she said to us ´´This makes perfect sense.´´ In portuguese of course, but her testimony was already so strong!! Then we went to teach her again and her dad came to the gate. He said she is happy with what she knows and told us not to come back. A couple jovens in the branch know her so its up to them now... Its disappointing, but we have faith God will provide. Maybe she´ll have to wait til she is 18 to get baptized, but the Lord will provide. 

This sunday was testimony meeting again and i bore my testimony again. Everyone told me that can understand me now! woohoo! haha Then last night we went on exchanges with the youth in our ward and one joven, christian is 16. He got baptized about a year ago and is parents didnt. And he is still active and cant wait to serve a mission. And we were actually able to keep a conversation going while walking. When we taught a lesson, i let him bear his testimony alot because he has a huge one.

This saturday we are baptizing a 10 year old kid. He is awesome and from the 1st moment we met we were best friends haha. He reminds me alot of Dillon! There will be pictures of us next week!

We had transfers today, and they are sad! Seeing missionaries you love leave. Another one is coming tonight at 11 so that be a long night. But I love this work!

This week is General Conference! We get to hear from the Prophet of God and his 12 Apostles. What a wonderful opportunity to feel the Spirit so strong.We have General Conference every 6 months. I love General Conference. Go into conference with questions you have. Youll be suprised that what the speakers say seems alot like they are talking straight to you. There are 4 sessions this weekend. 

There is 2 sessions on Saturday and on Sunday. Everyone, EVERYONE should watch. I promise everything it will be worth it. Even if you can only watch a couple minutes, watch it! You can watch it here at:https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

Here are the conference session times:

Saturday 10am 2pm

Sunday 10am 2 pm

3/24/14

week 11

This week was a good week for sure!! Ohh and happy birthday to my Aunt Marina! 

This week we went to Sorriso (1.5 hrs away) to meet up with the missionaries there. The zone leader is an american, so he helped me with the language and gave me advice with some stuff. He is really cool and really good at Portuguese. haha Then we came back to Sinop on Wednesday and had a Zone meeting. Elder Laws took all the new missionaries and he taught us and gave us some advice. 

Then on Wednesday night, my feet were hurting so bad i called President´s wife and she said to call President in the morning because before his mission he was a foot doctor. So he gave me advice with my blisters and now they dont hurt anymore! He told me to rest on Thursday, and that helped alot.

On Friday, we ate lunch at the Branch President´s house. One missionary gave the spiritual thought at the end of lunch and talked about Matthew 14:26-31, when Jesus walked on water. And at the end, the president looked to me and assigned me to give a talk about that for Sacrament meeting. I of course accepted it but i was nervous for sure haha.

Saturday i prepared my talk and my companion proof read it. Saturday night we helped a less active move in our missionary clothes, so that was fun haha. I love helping for real! 

Yesterday, 4 investigators and 7 less active members came to church!! We were really excited! One of the investigators is 9! He is so cool. I love him! He reminds me alot of my brother, dillon. We hit it off really well and now everyone (including me) calls him my son. haha we visited him and his member sister after church and taught him the restoration. we found out its really hard to teach a kid. haha but we tried and we will use more pictures. This week was good! I cant believe I have already been in the field for 5 weeks! Its crazy. People are mostly understanding what i say, so thats good! Portuguese is coming along! 

And shoutout to Dylan Wiseman recieving his call to Japan! Congratulations!!

I love brazil, i love this gospel and i love my mom!!

Boa sorte este semana!

Com Amor,

Elder Marstella

here is a pic of my zone

This is me and elder Clark, 

We were best friends at BYU and then we got to see each other at the CTM! Pretty cool!

meu pés

me and my comp this morning 

3/17/14

Wow wow wow, this week was awesome. Mainly beause We had a baptism on Saturday, it was really spiritual. Its my first of hopefully many! His name is Emerson and he is the best. 

 This week was a lot of exchanges. The Zone leader came one day, then the Assistants to the President visited, the we had an exchange with in in our area. It probably doesnt make sense, so ask a return missionary amount exchanges and they will describe it better. 

Um i had dirrhea 8 times in 2 days, then my companion gave me some pill and i was like i take anything to make it stop. But it worked haha!

Me and my companion had a couple arguments that so things, but other than that, our week was awesome. 

We met a man Saturday. He´s around 45. we clapped at his gate and he came out and before we said anything he told us to come in. we thought he was waiting for us or knew who we were. But he didnt know who we were our purpose, it was an awesome experience. We taught the Restoration, and invited him to come to church yesterday, and guess what... He came!! Woohoo! We had 4 investigators at church. And during sacrament i played the piano. ohh and confirmed Emerson as a official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!

Every lunch is huge in brasil! Anyways to fill you up till breakfast the next day haha.

I love it day here. and i love my mom!!

Com Amor,

Elder Marstella

3/10/14

So this week was really good!! The key things that happened, happened yesterday. My companion and I decided to pray for investigators to come to church and for it not to rain. We started Saturday after lunch and ended Sunday after church. We went to church with our faith strong, and guess what. 2 Investigators came. It was awesome. One was emerson, i mentioned his name a couple weeks ago and he is our key investigator. He came to chuch for the 2nd time. After church we talked to him privately and invited him to be baptized this saturday. He said ´´already?´´ We talked to him about how his faith has grown since we met him and told him we think he was ready. He then said he would be baptized this Saturday!! I love bringing people into this gospel... since its my first one it´s really great!!!

Portuguese is coming along... slowly, sometimes discouraging, but its coming along. 

Oh then last night we knocked on a guys door and a 18-19 year old came out. He let us in. After we taught him the Spirit was so strong! He said he has been looking for the right church. He said when he is with his friends and they do bad things, he feels bad and feels something missing. He said when he was with us he felt peace and felt good. We invited him to be baptized later this month and he accepted! Wow! The Lord provides miracles. 

Ill be sending baptismal photos next week!

Oh and after every lunch that we have with a member, my comp and me switch off giving the spiritual thought. Earlier this week i read out of Alma about the Stripling Warriors and i talked about how they listened to their mom´s. and how they obeyed with exactness. Then I told the members how my mom was my role model and how she is who i am today. Everyone should read those chapters in the Book of Mormon! They are great!!

The Lord provides miracles when we have faith. Miracles dont create faith, they build faith.

Ill talk to you guys next week!! 

I love you mom!

Elder Marstella 

3/3/14

So this week was a tough one for my companion and me... Especially for my companion. On monday he started feeling sick, so we walked 45 minutes to a public hospital, but the line was out the door. So he said we could work instead. So we worked! Tuesday and Wednesday were normal hard working days. On Thursday President Reber came to Sinop for our interviews. Since i just got here we had ours in english. That man is awesome. Before his mission, he was a foot doctor so he can help with any foot problem, which was nice because I have a blister under my toes that he told me what to do. Friday we had a zone meeting. I thought it was a zone conference, but my companion said 2 zones need to be in attedance for it to be called a zone conference. But i played piano for Called to Serve. The whole day we were in Sorriso. ohhhh and this week i forgot things. I forgot my ring at a members house early in the week, then i went back on saturdayand got it. Then after the zone meeting (which is 1.5 hours away), we called a taxi to bring us to the bus station... and i left my umbrella in there!! dang it... haha but it will be alright. 

Back to my companion, saturday for lunch we were eating at a members house and he felt sick, so they took us to the hospital. They ended up saying he was stressed. Then Sunday we had church. We were expecting a couple investigators to come, but Sunday it was raining pretty hard, and alot of people of motorcylces here. We were running late because of my comp. and ended up getting to church right at 8 am. I was annoyed cause as a missionary we should be there early. but we got there and the doors were still locked... haha I guess here when it rains, everything just stops and people run late. And our investigators didnt come. But they will come next week! I bore my testimony in portuguese yesterday. I made it short and sweet. haha 

Then we ate a members house and elder machado got sick again so they took us to a primacare type of place. They are going to look at him today. 

Anyways, this week was slow but the Lord is working miracles on the people of Sinop. I love it.

I love you mom.

Ill talk to you guys next week!!

Elder Marstella 

This week i was reading in Alma 40-55 and captain moroni stuck out to me. He is awesome. One line that hit me hard was, ´´his heart did glory in it.´´ Thats how i need to be as a missionary!!

^Mason and the MTC President and his wife