"Brazil is #dope."

HELLO FAMILY AND FREINDS

Weeks are flying by. Can't believe it's been one year since graduation!! Time flies when you're a missionary.

This week was great!! Walter's baptism fell through because he has to be interviewed by President Chamberlain, so we reset his date for the 9th of June. He was little bummed at first, but he's still super pumped for his baptism. Walter called us on Sunday 30 minutes before church to say he wasn't going to go to church today. We said "Nuh uh Walter." 

We went to his house with all of our pesquisadores and told him to put on some pants and get ready. All of our other investigators started chanting for him to go to church with us. After they all chanted and we insisted, he put on some pants and went to Church. It was cool to see our investigators helping our other investigator go to Church. We loved it. 

Here in Fortaleza, nobody likes to go to Church. They need a really good incentive or reason to go to church. Sometimes we spend an entire week teaching the Sabbath Day, and Sunday comes and they went on vacation or say that they don't wanna go this Sunday. We focused this week on showing and promising the blessings that come from Church attendance. We are blessed abundantly when we show our love for the Lord and get off the couch and go to Church. 

As a missionary, I found a little bit hard to treat Sunday as a different day because we work every single day of the week and the days tend to blur together. In the beginning of my mission, I was so completely focused on helping our investigators learn and have a good experience that I forgot about me. I forgot why I was there. I am there every Sunday to renew my covenant of baptism and to learn how I can be better and be more like Christ. 

Not that now I forget the needs of my investigators, but I'm learning how much you can learn at Church if you are ready and willing to learn. I can only help my investigators get to where I'm at spiritually, I can't lead them beyond my own conversion. So, I have to strengthen my testimony every single chance I can get to bring more souls to the knowledge of Christ and His divine mission. I'm so grateful for the chance I have to spread this knowledge to everyone in Fortaleza!!! Brazil is #dope.

BOA SEMANA PARA TODOS

Abraço forte,

Elder Eliason

"We never know when someone is ready to receive the gospel. That's why it's so important to open our mouth and invite."

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!

The first week of this transfer was great!! We worked a ton in our "new" area, it's a lot smaller and easier to get around. We went from one of the biggest areas one of the smallest haha. 

Another thing, 2 more elders came and are working in Nova Conquista (the area we were taking care of before with Palmares) and they are staying in our small little house. Safe to say it's a little tight. Elder Welling, my bud from the CTM, and his companion are living with us now. It's a blast to have 4 missionaries in a house but it's a little different haha.

This week we were looking in the area book and we came across Walter. We decided to go up and get to know him a little bit because he's been taught all of the lessons. We got to his house and we talked with him for a bit and taught the Restoration again, and he LOVED it. He accepted to be baptized this coming Sunday!! He went to church and everything and he absolutely loved it. He's counting down the days til his baptism. :)

As I looked back at this week, I'm so grateful for the Spirit who guided us to Walter. Out of hundreds of names in the Area book, in prayer, we decided to visit him. He was taught almost half a year ago and was forgotten for a bit, but we found him. 

We never know when someone is ready to receive the gospel. That's why it's so important to open our mouth and invite. Even if if you've made the same invitation 50 times to the same person, you never know when something may happen in their life when they need God in their life. I testify that the Spirit will whisper to us when that moment comes, because it comes for everyone. Our job, as representatives of Christ's church is to be ready when we are called upon to open our mouth. And we have the Lord's promise that he will fill our mouths with the words to say:

"Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." D&C 84:85

If we do our part, keep the commandments, read the Book of Mormon every day like the prophets have asked, and live as Christ did, we will have the strength to open our mouth and perform miracles.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Boa semana,

Elder Eliason

Elder Welling with (of course) pizza

Me and Pereira straight coolin' out here in Bom Jardim

"I'm absolutely LOVING it here in Brazil"

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

It was so great to see you guys on Mother's Day!!! All you guys looked great. Especially Dallin, the Birthday boy (25 never looked so good). 

For this transfer we will be staying in Palmares but we'll be losing our area in Nova Conquista. I'll be finishing the training of my son, Elder Pereira. EXCITED!!

We were running all over the place this week. We had exchanges twice this week with our LD e os LZ. Elder Pereira went to Canindé (A city 3 hours away from our area) and I stayed here with Elder Toribio from Guatemala. We had 3 different baptismal interviews all over the zone, so we rode the bus almost the whole day. And the buses are always full to the absolute BRIM. You make friends really fast when every part of your body is in contact with someone. haha.

The miracle of this week was Simone. She has been through 7 sets of missionaries in the past 10 years but she still didn't want to be baptized. She has been to church numerous times and she knew that the church was true, but when it came to baptism she shut the topic down quick and fast. The first time we went there she said other elders tried to force her to be baptized. We knew we had to allow the Spirit to testify to her heart that what we said was true. We set another appointment and started from the beginning and started slowly but surely, clearing up her doubts along the way. We explained everything really simple, clear, and direct. I felt the Spirit guiding us and giving us the words to say. We could see the Spirit working in her. She said, "No one ever took the time to explain this to me, thank you. Thank you for opening up my mind. So when can I get baptized?" She was baptized and confirmed this week. :)

We've been working with Rute this week and she is progressing really well. Her only problem is drinking. She knows the Book of Mormon is true, but she has having a hard time keeping commitments with the commandments. Slowly but surely she is progressing. BUT, we were transferred out of her area :(

Dayanne finally went to Church!!! She absolutely loved it, we have her date set for the 26th but when we told her that we would be leaving the area she started to cry. :( She is so special and she told us that one of us would be able to baptize her!! She said she felt at home at church. Our prayers were really answered.

I'm learning so much here in my area. I have really noticed the small and simple miracles working in our area. I have a spiritual experience every single day here. Whether it's helping an old lady with her groceries, teaching a powerful lesson, or being inspired to make a contact or knock a certain door. I know for a fact that God is looking over me, guiding me and protecting me.

One of the simplest and most powerful truths that we have in this gospel that we are all children of God. He is our father, and he knows us better than anyone. 

What difference does this make? 

When we know that God loves us and that we are his children, it's easier to make right choice. And once in a while when we don't make the best choices, he is always there waiting for us with open arms waiting to show his love. I always love to say to our investigators, 

"God hears you, God knows you, and God loves you."

Anyways, I'm absolutely LOVING it here in Brazil. I can't wait to tell you guys all the miracles we will see this week! LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Abraço forte,
Elder Eliason

 "Ready for School Dad!!" 

Pizza and Coke with the LZ's

Shoutout to Seth's Grandparents coming all the way from Curitiba to come visit and spoil the heck out of me. Nicest people in the world!!

 Simone's Baptism (Elder Pereria was coming back from Canindé, bad timing)

Bishop Aguair of Nova Conquista and his wonderful family (They're the BEST)

"I can't describe to you guys the joy that missionary work brings."

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!! 452, 455

Another week in the books!! Can't believe we are already in May!

This week was SUPER busy. We have a ton of people to teach and we're running all over the place with so many appointments. The only frustrating thing is Sunday. Because all week, we're preparing them and teaching them, but come Sunday they don't want to come to Church. Even when we get the members involved, it's still an uphill battle. Other than that, this week was great!!

We have Simone, Victoria, and Rute ready to be baptized this week!! Simone was an old investigator that we found in the Area Book that we decided to go and visit. She let us in and we talked with her about baptism. She said that she's already been baptized and she doesn't need to baptized again. After 45 minutes of explaining and explaining, it finally clicked in her head that she needs to be baptized by someone with the authority of God that comes directly from Jesus Christ. What a miracle!! We marked her date for this week! Rute and Victoria are coming along great as well.

It is so humbling to see miracles happening in our area. Every single day we have a spiritual experience here in Bom Jardim. The people here really are prepared to hear the gospel. I can't describe to you guys the joy that missionary work brings. Sure it definitely has it's ups and downs, but the good times outweigh the bad ones. I love being a missionary, and I love being a trainer as well!! My companion, Elder Pereira is one heck of a guy. He's from Rio so he loves to be the life of the party. He can make anyone smile. I'm learning so much from him as well.

I'll just leave you guys with my favorite quote from my Grandpa Eliason:

"Doubt the things you don't know before the things you do know."

BOA SEMANA PARA VOCÊS!! 

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

Me and Elder Pereira, (4 weeks ago) when I picked him up at the mission office. His mom sent him a hard copy of the photo that they took.

Another day, another random horse in the street. Always gotta take a flick.