"...a good missionary doesn't work with his legs, he works with his head."

HELLO FAMILY!!!

This week was a great one!!!

We started off talking with Eduardo and Erik to get them ready for Wednesday when out of nowhere their mom runs up to us and says that she won't let them be baptized because their step-father talked bad about the Church to their mom. It was a little sad, because they were so excited but everyone has their agency. 

We are teaching Valeria as well, a referral from Dayanne (our RC). She is super cool. She is super happy all the time, and is super interested in our message. We had Dayanne guide us to her house and that's when I realized I had already contacted her in the street with Elder Eiras. She said she accepted the invitation and actually went but didn't see us there and got nervous and left. She's the first contact I've made randomly in the street that went to church on Sunday without us passing by later in the week or go with her to church. She has a date for this Saturday but she works ALL DAY EVERY DAY, so we have to talk to her at her work.

I had my first Stake Conference here in Fortaleza in Stake Bom Jardim!! President and Sister Chamberlain gave talks, and it was great to see some of our RC receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood!! The Stake President talked us up as well. He said that just this last month in August we baptized 53 people in this stake!! The entire zone Bom Jardim is doing awesome!!

One thing that I learned in my Interview with President this week was about how much we have to rely on the Lord. Early in my mission, I wanted to do everything on my own, talk with everyone I could, work as hard as I could. I wasn't relying on the Lord as much as I should have to guide me to where I should go or what should I say. I was always "diligent" but a good missionary doesn't work with his legs, he works with his head.

Sometimes, we want to do everything on our own. Sometimes we forget to ask God if this makes part of His plan. God is all-knowing. He knows much better than us. As a missionary, I don't know what my investigators need, but He does. It's my job to get the answer and relay it to them through the Spirit. The more we acknowledge him and include him, he will guide us:

5 ¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Don't forget to include God in all of your decisions, whether it be day-to-day or the biggest decision you'll ever make.

LOVE YOU ALLLL

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

"I'm absolutely loving it here in scorching Fortaleza."

HELLO FAMILY & FRIENDS!!!

This week was a bit of a struggle. Filled with ups and downs. We started out the week great, we had 4 pesquisadores (investigators) on date for this week. Eduardo, Erik, Bianca, and Andrelina. 

Eduardo e Erik are brothers and they are friends of other Recent-Converts we baptized. They were super excited for their baptism until Thursday when Eduardo, out of nowhere, said "I don't wanna do this mormon thing anymore". We tried to talk to him but he wasn't listening. The next day, we said a prayer and me and E. Fernandes went there in divisão (division) to solve the problem. 

We talked to him and I asked him about his mom, because she goes to another church. We started talking to I'm about her and E. Fernandes said "Are you afraid of what your mom might think when you'll get baptized" and he nodded his head. We called his mom in and talked to her about the goals we are setting for her kids to be baptized. She said she would support them 100% but they would have to be baptized next week so that she could see the baptism. I was so happy that Elder Fernandes and I were able to listen to the Spirit and let the Spirit guide our words. MIRACLE.

Andrelina is SUPER ready to be baptized. She was dating an old RC and they got seperate apartments. So she's ready to get baptized!! BUT. On Saturday, the whole ward was there to support her at the church but she didn't come. We waited 45 minutes and she still didn't come. After 45 minutes, her brother called us and said they her cousin assaulted someone of another gang, and got shot along with his friend who died on the scene. So yeah. The Baptimsal service was cancelled. She'll be baptized here soon.

I'm absolutely loving it here in scorching Fortaleza. I've learned a lot about obedience and what it takes to be a successful missionary. The most important thing to success on the mission is faith. Not faith in yourself or in your own abilities, but in God and Jesus Christ. Sometimes it's hard to think that there is someone out there who is just waiting to hear your message. But when we put our faith in God and put him to the test it is impossible to fail. 

Moroni 7:33-35 highlights the importance of faith:

33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?

If we don't have faith, how can we expect to teach faith to others? How can we ask of God to help give us a job if I don't have the faith to go out of my way to get off the couch and work my butt of to find a job? God helps those who help themselves. That's why faith is the first principle of the Gospel!

AMO TODOS DE VOCÊS!!!!

Elder Eliason

- Funny story. One investigator asked the Elders from Nova Conquista if "the dude from texas" could baptize him because I danced the cotton eyed joe and sang "Deep in the heart of Texas" haha

"The power of examples is great."

HELLO FAMILY!!!

I have very little time today But I'll give you guys the low down of how our week went.

Gabrielle and Nicolas were baptized!!! They are only 8 years old but are already smarter than me. They have such strong testimonies for their age, it's great to see such a light inside them.

We are also teaching Nicolas' family, Michelle and Marcos Vitor. Marcos Vitor was going to be baptized along with his brother but he wanted to be baptized alongside with his mom!! Michelle has been visiting the Church for the past year or so, she said "I WILL get baptized, I just don't know when." We'll get to work on that. Such a great family.

I have been learning a lot about examples in my mission. How I can learn from great examples of how I would like to be and bad examples of how I don't want to be. The power of examples is great. As a trainer, I'm learning about this more and more. Words can only get you so far, but your example through your actions is really what matters. So BE AN EXAMPLE.

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I Timothy 4:12

LOVE YOU ALLL!!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

"We are all here to make mistakes, learn, and be better than we were."

HELLO FAMILY!!!

This week was a great one with my brand-spanking new companion Elder Borges. He is from São Paulo and he was trained by my good friend from the CTM Elder Welling! He's a great guy, a hard worker, and the complete opposite of Elder Eiras. It's pretty funny how different they are. Elder Eiras was the life of the party, had a megaphone for a voice, and was SUPER animated. Elder Borges is more meek and humble, more kept to himself. On the mission, you get to work and deal with so many different personalities, it's a great time.

This week SAMUEL GOT BAPTIZED!! Samuel is a heck of a guy. He loves to talk to me about the United States. He's spent the past 3 weeks asking if I can take him to the States haha. After he was baptized, in the bathroom, when he could baptized again. He's the coolest guy. I was lucky enough to baptize him as well. He's even more excited to pass the sacrament in a couple weeks with his friends.

This week we saw many miracles as we worked our little back sides off. We found Fernanda and Felipe. Half of their family are members and they've already visited the Church a lot already. They were just waiting to be baptized. They have a date set for this Saturday!! We found Nicholas and Vitor, kids of an ex-investigator, that also have been to the church a lot as well. They're super excited as well to be baptized this Saturday. Also, we recieved a referral of Gabrielle who will turn 8 on August 15th, and her baptism is marked on Saturday as well!! Her parents aren't members, just her sisters, so it is a baptism of the elders. 

I'm learning a lot in my study about humility. One thing that measures our humility is our willingness to learn from everyone. In the mission, it doesn't matter if your companion is a greenie or is in his last transfer, you can learn a lot from each companion. However, if you think that you already know it all, you stop progressing. 

There's a scripture in Proverbs 19:20 that illustrates this truth:

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

When we recieve instruction and counsel, we will always be wiser in the end. However, if we brush off instruction, because we "know better", that's where our spiritual progression stops. 

Every day, every sacrament meeting, every conversation, we can try to learn more and more. We know that all we learn here on Earth will rise with us to the heavens. We are all here to make mistakes, learn, and be better than we were. If we make mistakes, and learn from them, I testify that we will "be wise in [the] latter end".

AMO TODOS DE VOCÊS!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

P.s.

I forgot my camera at home, more pics next week

"Without the Spirit, I'm just a white tourist out here getting fried in Fortaleza."

HELLO FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

We had transfers this week and I'll be.............. staying in Ala Palmares with a new companion Elder Borges!! My son, Elder Eiras, will be leaving for Ala Beira Mar on the other side of Fortaleza. I learned so much in this time I had with Elder Eiras. Sad to see him go, but he'll do great.

This week was the baptism of Dayanne! Dayanne was an investigator that we found in our first week when we were taking care of Nova Conquista and Palmares. We taught her the entire transfer helping her with all of her challenges and her doubts. When we left Nova Conquista, the other Elders went there and never found her when she was home. She started to work in the center of Fortaleza and live with a friend there. So, naturally, the Elders gave up. 

BUT. 3 weeks ago she visited me and Elder Eiras in Ala Palmares to see how we were doing! We talked with her and she said she was going to be spending more time at home. She went the next Sunday as well in Ala Palmares and she told us that she was ready to be baptized! The next week she passed the baptismal interview and she asked me to baptize her. It was such a great feeling to see an old investigator enter the waters of baptism after so much work and effort.

She thanked me after baptism, for insisting with her. Our 3rd week teaching her, she called and told us that she wouldn't be able to go to church for the 3rd straight week. She told us that she wants us to spend time with people who really want to go to church and be baptized. Me and my companion talked for a long time, deciding if we should stop visiting her or if we should give her one more shot. After a prayer, we decided we should give her one more shot. 

Tuesday morning we went to her house and we had one of the most spiritual experiences we've had. I remember specifically, after hearing her tell us that she doesn't think this is the path for her, that I said with tears in my eyes, "Don't shut the door, yet Dayanne. Please don't shut the door. Do you think that you have done enough to really know that this is the path for you?" She said no and that she was willing to try again and again until she knew this was the path for her. On Saturday, she was baptized and Sunday she was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I know that the Spirit is essential in this work. Without the Spirit, I'm just a white tourist out here getting fried in Fortaleza. The Spirit or the Holy Ghost is what guides us, gives us the right words to say, and most importantly, it testifies of precious truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love this work because I'm constantly feeling and being guided by the Spirit. There's nothing like being a missionary of Jesus Christ doing His work.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Abraço forte, 

Elder Eliason

"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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2) 

3) 

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