"Em espírito de jejum e oração" - In the Spirit of Fasting and Prayer

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!! 

First, shoutout to Codes on the baby. George Cody Eliason is gonna be a stud for sure. #UncleClub

This week was the best week on my mission until now!!! The work is coming along great!! We have Tailanne, Lucio, David, Jardelson, Gabriel, Sabrina, Tayanne, Roberta, and Ruan all set and ready to be baptized this Sunday. We're hoping to have a big huge baptismal service for them.

We had a zone fast this week. And me and Elder Eiras (Pereira) got PUMPED, because a zone fast always brings miracles. This time was no different. We fasted to help get all of our investigators to Church. It was a little complicated with the Brazil game going on at the same time but, after a lot of convincing and testifying the greater importance of going to church, ALL of them went to Church!! Miracle.

The World Cup here is #crazy. The game on Sunday, EVERYONE had a Brazil jersey on. There was NO ONE in the streets, and every 2 seconds there were fireworks. We were in sacrament meeting when Coutinho scored the first goal (Shoutout to Liverpool) and it seemed like the Earth shook haha. Fireworks, everyone screaming, and everyonne drunk. It was interesting haha.

Don't have a lot of time this week, sorry!! Pics next week!!

BIG HUGE ABRAÇO,
Elder Eliason

"Repentance is failing over and over again, learning from each mistake."

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

What a crazy week.

First off, Iury's Dad, out of nowhere, said that he wouldn't allow Iury to go to Church anymore because of the crap that all of his friends were talking about the Church. So, naturally we went to their house to talk with their family and to convince Carlos (Iury's Dad) to let him go. We talked with them, answered all of their questions (it was a long list), and bared testimony of the principles we taught. Everyone was super excited after the lesson, except for Carlos. We have been praying and fasting for this family to not only support Iury but to come to know for themselves if what we are sharing is true.After much pleading, they all agreed to come to Church this Sunday!

Valter was baptized!!! We've been teaching him for a month now, helping overcome his challenges. After President Chamberlain interviewed him, all was set for his baptism this Saturday. Walter really was prepared well for us to come. He strengthened my testimony of repentance, and that there are people being prepared for us, we just need to find them. MIRACLE.

We are teaching 4 kids as well, David (12), Lucio (12), Tailanne (10), and Jardelson (10). We found them through David who was a contact that we made in the street. Tailanne and Lucio are children of a less-active member. They all went to Church this Sunday, and they're preparing to be baptized on the 23rd!!

This week was very rewarding. The ward is helping us more and more every day. We were able to help paint a member's house on Saturday which is fun. It's rare we have time to serve with so many people to teach. It felt good.

We had interviews with P. Chamberlain this week and it was great!! He's been around the block a bit so he has a great long-term vision of things. We talked a lot about planning and how all of what I am learning right now will help me out in the future. He's awesome. 

That's about it for this week. I'll leave you guys with a quote from a talk from Lynn G. Robbins from this past conference:

Repentance is God’s ever-accessible gift that allows and enables us to go from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm. Repentance isn’t His backup plan in the event we might fail. Repentance is His plan, knowing that we will.

God knows we will fail, that's why Repentance isn't our plan "just in case". Repentance is failing over and over again, learning from each mistake, and trying to become more like Christ with every step. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Big giant huge abraço,

Elder Eliason

VALTER'S BAPTISM

Our P-Day soccer team (with Iury, the man)

PAINTING

"I'M LOVING IT HERE!!"

HELLO FAM AND FRIENDS. 

What a week!!

We had a miracle this week, baptizing a true elect, Iury. We have been teaching him these past 2 weeks and straight from the beginning he has been showing so much interest and a desire to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized!! He really is the man. Now, we are teaching their entire family and their family has a date for 15 de Junio! I looked back to how we found him and pondered on how grateful I am for the Lord putting him in our path. 

We were running from appointment to appointment and we passed Iury carrying a bucket of old movie tapes. After a couple of steps, I decided to go back and talk to him. I asked about the tapes and he told us that he likes to fix old broken movie tapes that he finds in the street. We talked and asked if we could stop by and give him a message on how he can have more faith in Christ, he accepted and 2 weeks later, I was privileged to baptize him. What a miracle it was that we were humble enough to hear the small voice of the Spirit in that moment when we were in a big hurry. 

We are also preparing Lucilene and Walter this week for baptism!! We have been working with them for a month or so. Lucilene has some problems with coffee, she drinks it like water. So we are working with her on that, she's already down to one cup a day!! Walter is doing great as well. We marked his baptismal interview with President Chamberlain this Wednesday, he's so anxious to be baptized!! He's loving every second of Church and all the members love him. :)

 We have been teaching 3 families this week that are very very special to us. In my mission I haven't had the opportunity to teach and baptize an entire family. Our goal is that we can be able to baptize these families and one year from now, have them be sealed for all eternity!! Perhaps, the biggest miracle this week was the rebirth of Ala Palmares. We took what we learned from our district/zone meetings and put it in practice and worked with members so much these past 3 weeks. 

This past Sunday, every single one of the members who bared their testimony, talked about missionary work. Children said they couldn't wait to grow up and serve a mission like us. Youth shared experiences of when we go out on visits with them, and the adults bared their testimony of the change this ward has gone under in such a short time. Many of them said that this ward has been resurrected and is animated to do the Lord's work. Just to be a small part in that was an immense blessing. Actually, I think we just did our part, but the members themselves, made the change. We're just a part of the puzzle, but I was so grateful to see the change of this ward. Members are bringing their friends to church, building friendships with our investigators, and doing all they can to help us in our work. I'M LOVING IT HERE!!

Being a missionary is the best decision I could have ever made. I love this work. I love these people. Being a representative of my family and most importantly, Jesus Christ is a lot of responsiblity. The time I am here in Brazil, is only a small part of how I can repay Christ for what He did for all of us, what He did from me. I know he lives and that he loves us unconditionally and through him we can find peace. How blessed are we to have a Savior who loves and wants us to return to him. There's no greater work than this.

LOVE YOU ALL!! AMO TODOS DE VOCÊS!!

Big huge abraço,

Elder Eliason

Elder Welling out here winning the Biggest Loser

IURY'S BAPTISM

BURGER KING (oh how i miss fast food)

Fotos

1) 

2) 

3/4) 

"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.