"He fills is perfect church with imperfect people."

OI GENTE!! Está tudo bem??

Another week in the books.

We're still working with Samuel, Gabriel, and Jardelson for this week. On Wednesday, we went and asked Samuel's mom permission for Samuel to be baptized. She said she would think about it, but that she wouldn't sign anything until she visited our church. Samuel cried and was basically begging her to sign because he's just so excited to get baptized and to pass the Sacrament with his friends. We're definitely praying hard for him and for his mom to soften up.

Sunday was Elder Eiras' birthday!! Man it is so good to the companion of the birthday boy. Cake all day. Today, I told him he could choose whatever he wanted in the mercado. What did he choose? Spicy Nacho Doritos. If this doesn't tell how great a man Elder Eiras is, I don't know what would. He turned 21!!

This week, I focused a part of my study and the questions that investigators usually ask and how I can use the scriptures to help explain common concerns and questions they have. 

After all of my study, I came to a conclusion: The Church of Jesus Christ has no fault. Without stain. Perfect. There is no hole, there is nothing hidden, and there is no one or anything that can prove this gospel wrong. 

As I studied, I knew why. Because Jesus Christ established His Church perfectly. He fills his perfect Church with imperfect people. This is His Church. There is an answer for EVERY POSSIBLE QUESTION that a person might have. It requires studying, lots of prayers, and a whole lot of patience. But I know, that whatever question that we have, whether it be spiritual, personal, or emotional, God will answer and reveal His mysteries unto you.

I'll close with the same scripture that inspired the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ:

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1:5-6)

AMO TODOS DE VOCÊS!!!

Big huge abraço,

Elder Eliason

FOTOS

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All of us at Taty's famous lunch stand for E.Eiras' birthday

The birthday boy

Us with our old investigator, Dayanne!! She's preparing to get baptized as well!!

"Are there 5 or 7 continents?"

HELLO EVERYONE!!

This week was an interesting one. We worked a whole bunch this week. 

We are still working with Samuel and Gabriel to be baptized this week. Samuel is the coolest guy ever. He is also the quickest guy I've ever seen. Let's just say when we played soccer with him I fell and ripped my pants trying to guard him. The entire block came over to laugh at the blonde gringo. Wish I had the video to show how dumb I looked haha. Gabriel is improving a little every day, he's having a little trouble comitting to what God is asking of him. To comit himself to Christ and not do any of the other stuff he's done, but he's getting better each day.

Funny story: We were in a lesson talking about the Book of Mormon, and Elder Eiras started talking about how the Book of Mormon tells the story of when Christ came to the American continent after he was ressurrected, and the Bible talks about Christ's life on Earth on another continent. He said, "Samuel there are 5 continents." And I was like, "Woah, hold up there, there are 7 continents." We debated for a min or so and then continued the lesson haha. Later that day, our house (which has 2 americans and 2 Brazilians) had a one hour debate about this haha. Brazil is taught that America is one continent and that Antarctica doesn't count as a continent as well. I would like your guys' opinion as well on this ever-important subject.

One thing that I learned from my study is about how hard our journey back to our Heavenly Father will be:

13 ¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Christ talks of 2 gates. The big, huge, enticing, and the easy gate to pass through. And the tight, straight, difficult to pass through gate.

The "big huge gate" represents the gate of sin. This gate leads to destruction and sin. It's so easy nowadays to sin and to "fall in the crowd" and make the easier wrong. It's normal today to do what everyone else is doing and let yourself be dragged along by bad examples and by what may appear as "harmless". That's why the gate that leads to destruction is so dang big.

The tight, narrow, straight gate is the gate that leads to eternal exaltation. "Few there be find [this gate]" because it isn't normal. It doesn't change with trends or seasons. It is and will always be against the norm to "seek ye first the Kingdom of God" but the reward is so much better. Being a disciple of Christ means to stand out. Stand out for what's right and to Stand up against the wrong.

As a missionary, I have the duty and opportunity to be a defender of the truth, to stand up for Christ in every place, every moment, and in every situation. I can testify that there is only person where you can find full hope, faith, and happiness: in Jesus, the Christ. I testify that he lives and that he loves all of us in such a way that he gave up his life so we could have the opportunity to live with him again. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Abraço Forte,

Elder Eliason

"Lay up your treasures in heaven"

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

This week was great!! We saw many miracles in our area this week. I'll share just 2 of them.

This Sunday 2 of our Recent-Converts Ruan, David, and Lucio passed the sacrament in brand-spanking new white shirts and ties. Ruan was acting all sad on Sunday because he couldn't pass the sacrament because he didn't have a tie. I ripped off my tie and gave it to him so he could pass the sacrament. I said, "This tie is yours now" and he went crazy haha. He was so grateful even for a small thing such as a tie. To see our Recent-Converts participating so much in church activities, passing the sacrament, attending seminary, and inviting their friends to come to church as well brings us so much joy. One of the best feelings you can have is to see your investigators progress enough to be baptized AND stay firm in the gospel.

Edigleison was baptized this Sunday!! He has been progressing so much and he said that he knows with certainty that the Church is true!! We've been helping him out by giving part of the big bag of snacks we get from the Relief Society every week. He's a really special kid.

Here, one very effective way we have to find new investigators is playing soccer with kids on the street. We spend 10-15 minutes playing with them and after we have a lesson with all the kids we played with. I'm slowly improving from really bad to less worse haha, they love to make fun of the americano. 2 kids that we play with went to church this Sunday with David and Lucio and we set a date with them to be baptized this Saturday, Samuel (David's friend) and Gabriel (Ruan's brother)!! Don't fix what's not broken haha. It's also a great way to teach families as well!!

Also, Ala Palmares won the stake soccer tournament!! You know Palmares knows how to represent. While our other team with all of our RC's came in last. VAI ALA PALAMARES!!!! 

Like I said last week, I have been focusing my study on Christ. How we taught, how he reacted, and how he served. 

I love the example that he gives us in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:

19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Christ teaches us to build our treasures in heaven instead of on the earth. If we spend the majority of our time "building our worldly treasure" we will be compensated with worldly things. We may have all the glitz and glamour here on Earth but when that day comes, our "heavenly treasure" will be missing. 

When we "lay up our treasures in heaven", we are blessed spiritually and temporally where no theive can break through or steal. Every time we help someone in need, read the scriptures looking for knowledge, and pray to find comfort we are laying up our treasures in heaven where we will be compensated with eternal life.

I know this gospel is true!! I know that Jesus Christ layed down his life so I (and all the rest of us) can return and live with my Heavenly Father again. He is the only way we can receive true happiness. With Christ anxiety turns to relief, despair turns to hope, and sadness turns to a constant smile :)

AMO TODOS DE VOCÊS!!!

Abraço fortão,

Elder Eliason

"Contemplating Christ"

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!

I'm really sorry to hear about little Royce who passed away this week. My heart goes out to Lindsey and their family and all of the Ford family. Know that we're all praying for you guys!!

This week was great!! We are working hard out here to make July the best month of our mission. We are working a lot with our RC's as well. In Bom Jardim they have a stake soccer tournament, and Palmares has 2 teams. One all-star team and the other team is made up of Deacons. That Deacon team got DESTROYED by Ala Bom Jardim 10-1. It was a little sad because 6/7 players on the team are our converts haha. We cheered them on anyways haha.

We are preparing Edigleison (another friend of Lucas, this kid is a heck of a missionary) to be baptized this Sunday. He is one happy kid despite his poor conditions. At 13 years old, from noon to 10 PM every day he goes with Mom riding on buses asking for money. Despite his humble circumstance, he always has a smile. I'm learning a lot from this kid. He is a great example to me and Elder Eiras. Also, during lunch on Sunday, a member from the church came up to us and said "Hey, do you wanna baptize my son?" Obviously, we responded YES. His name is Kauan, and he hasn't been baptized because his parents wanted him to make the decision to be baptized. We talked to him after lunch and marked his baptism for this Saturday!! What a miracle. 

I'm absolutely loving it out here in Fortaleza. After reading a talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf of this last conference, I have been focusing my study on learning more about Jesus Christ. I took up the Prophet's challenge and I'm going to look up every scripture in the Topical guide about Jesus Christ. So far, I'm already learning so much, but what I'm learning as well is blessing my investigators as well. As I am learning more about what Christ said, did, how he served, blessed, and loved, I feel an increased desire to represent him in the best way I can.Contemplating Christ means thoughtfully pondering on what Christ sacrificed for us, and then making plans and goals to do what Christ would do, say what He would say, and serve as He served. 

LOVE YOU ALLL!!!

Abraço muito forte,

Elder Eliason

"This week was awesome"

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!

Well, this week was also awesome. It's just great down here in Bom Jardim. This week we had the baptisms of Ruan and Savio! Let me tell you a bit about them. They are awesome.

Ruan: We found him when he interrupted our lesson and told us that he's been to our church with his cousin Rafael (who baptized him) and he "chose" our church. From there, startled, we started teaching him as well. He was supposed to be baptized last week but his Dad didn't think he was prepared yet. 

Soooo, we gave him some challenges to try to be an example in the home and show his Dad just how prepared he is. He led his family in family prayer and told them about what he was learning in the Book of Mormon. Saturday night he came to us and said "Amanha!!! Meu Pai deixou" (Tomorrow!! My Dad let me get baptized!) We were so pumped, we gave him a huge bear hug.

Savio: He is a friend of Lucas who was baptized last week. Lucas came up to us one day and said "My friend wants to get baptized too!!" Startled once again, we went to his house and taught him. He was pretty shy at first but Lucas (9 years old) helped us teach the lessons, helped Savio understand how to pray about Joseph Smith, and told him how awesome of a missionary that he is going to be. It was so cool to see him open up to us and bear his testimony to us on Saturday before his baptism.

Well that's about it for our week!! I'm off to have our District P-Day at a huge soccer field with the boys. Pics next week!!

ABRAÇO FORTE,

Elder Eliason

SAVIO!!!

RUAN!!!