Beira Rio Week #12

HELLO FAMILY!!!

This week was awesome!! Me and my companion, Elder S. Ferreria have been working a ton over here in Vila Velha/Beira Rio. We've been working a lot with the members here, trying to help the ward get excited about missionary work again. 

Zona Litoral reached our goal of baptisms this month!! Everyone in the zone was super happy to hear that we achieved our goal, and we're going to celebrate a little today during our p-day. And it's only gonna get better from here!! #JUNE

This week, we found the coolest little dude named Alexandre. He is 9 years old and we found him this week while contacting a kid in the street who had already been baptized. We went to his house, left a message, and then started to ask for referrals of anyone in the house who wasn't baptized and everything and we found Alexandre. He is going to get baptized in June, but he couldn't go to church this week because his parents left him locked inside the house. 

We had another Mission Leadership Council this week and it was focused on Chapter 8 on How we can use our time wisely. We talked a lot about goals and how we can be more accountable. I learned a lot from President Chamberlain and how we can become leaders like Captain Moroni and gain attributes of Christ. It was Elder S. Ferreira's first leadership council and he loved it. 

Well, I gotta run. We're gonna go hang out with the rest of the zone to congratulate them for a month well done!!

Here's a bunch of pics.

- Kayky's baptism

- Missionaries from 2 missions singing called to serve in front of the Fortaleza temple

Elder Eliason

TRANSFER - 3rd in Beira Rio

HELLO FAMILY!!!

It was so good to talk with the fam on Mother's Day, another confirmation that I got the best fam in the world.

TRANSFERS!!! I'll be staying here in Beira Rio with a new companion, Elder S. Ferreira. That means the spiritual giant Elder Alves is going to be transferred. He'll be going to my old land: Zona Bom Jardim. Really sad to see him go but we'll be able to see each other a lot in Leadership Councils and stuff. He's going to be companions with another texan from my group from the CTM, Elder Whatcott. They'll do great together.

THINGS ARE HEATING UP over here in Zona Litoral and in Beira Rio. We had another baptism this Saturday, Kayky!! Lemme give you guys the low down on him.

Kayky - He was a referral from another Recent-Convert, Emily. He was meant to be baptized in March but President said he would have to prepare more intensely for his baptism and would have to wait at least 2 months. Kayky, instead of getting discouraged, he started to read the Book of Mormon every day, he started going to seminary (The seminary teacher brags on him every time he sees us.), and he started to go to church every Sunday. Kayky is a huge example to me about what it means to chase after something you want. He's talking about serving a mission as well!!!

Zona Litoral is making a lot of improvements!! Missionaries are happier, we're baptizing more, and we're reaching our goals. After a lot of headaches, trials, and a lot of prayer and fasting, things are getting better.

So these past weeks we have been going to the temple non-stop. I got to see all the members from Ala Palmares including 3 of my converts at the temple, Lucio, David, and Ruan. I can't tell you how amazing it was to see all the buddies from Nova Conquista and Palmares at the temple. A lot of reunions and a lot of hugs. 

Speaking in reunions, I got a call on Friday saying that Ramo Crateús would be coming into Fortaleza to see the temple and that they would be there on Saturday in the afternoon. I didn't think twice and I made all the arrangements I needed to to be there to recieve them at the temple. There were 10 elders who passed in Crateus waiting there to greet them as well. I saw Breno, Steffany, Marconnes, Presidente Lima, Eridam, Chefinha, and so many others. I was in heaven for about 2 hours talking with them, re-living the good ole days with Elder Taylor. One of the best days in my mission. Probably the last time I'll see them in a very long time.

I'm loving it here and I sure am finding joy in the journey. I love being a missionary and I'll be sure to use these last 3 transfers to keep improving and get to know my Savior Jesus Christ a little better.

TCHAU, BOA TARDE!!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

pics

- Technical difficulties, next week...

Baptismos & O Templo de Fortaleza

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!

Well what a flippin' week. This week we had 3 baptisms of Felipe, Cauan, and Juliana!!! We also got to visit and go through the temple open house of our new temple here in Fortaleza!

To start off, let me tell you a little bit about Felipe, Cauan, and Juliana.

- Felipe was a contact in the street in the afternoon. He was coming back from picking up his sister at school, and I went up to him and started up a conversation. He said that he was looking for a way to get closer to God after a time away. We said that we would give him all the resources to not only have a better life here on earth but have a chance to live with God again. His eyes got big and said we could pass by his house any time. We started to teach him and it took 3 weeks just to get him to church but in the end, it all worked out. He accepted baptism, is reading the book of mormon, and will go with us to visit the temple this Saturday! Also, he likes Barcelona and gave me some stick for the whopping 3-0 my Liverpool took this week. We gotta a little rivalry going on haha.

- Cauan and Juliana are siblings and we found them through other investigators. We had challenged are other investigators to bring one friend to the next lesson and one investigator brought Cauan and Juliana went as well! We started to teach them, they accepted baptism, went to church, and brought their whole family as well. Their mother is an inactive member and their dad is a non-member. They all went to Cauan and Juliana's baptism and went to church the following day. Now, we're working with the entire family to help bring the mom back to the church and complete the family!!

Funny story: When I went to baptize Felipe, who is like 6'5 and is not light, I gave him a good dunk and literally 1/4 of the water of the font spilled and got the first 2 front rows wet. Funny stuff.

The Temple of Fortaleza is up and running for the open house. President said that we can go any time as long as we have investigators with us, so we're trying to head up there every week with new investigators.

After a lot of hard work, Zona Litoral is starting to see a lot of fruits!! The zone is getting better every week and it's due to our hard work. After a LOT of hardships, we're finally seeing the fruits from our labors, it's great to see.

That's about it this week, just a whole lot of hard work over here!!!

Amo vocês,

Elder Eliason