Go Where the Sheep Is.

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!

This week was a good one!

To start off we had the baptism of João/Joãozinho/John/Little John, however you want to call him. He was a relative of the Martins family that was just waiting to turn 8 years old to get baptized. He was super excited to get baptized and chose the great Presidente Lima to baptize him. When he got into the water, only his little head was visible hahaha.

Also, this week we put the petal to the metal and started visiting a whole load of less-active members in order to give Crateús a little boost that it's needing. So, I gave a training on "How to Minister" for all of the leaders in the branch. We addressed the problems of each organization, gave solutions to their problems, and after gave time for each presidency to meet and place companionships and who they will be visiting. The missionaries helped a lot out with guiding each organization to make sure these visits will get done and will be reported to the respective presidencies. Every Presidency left the church with a game plan to help bring back the lost sheep.

I focused my study this week a lot on Ministering and I read about the parable of the lost sheep in Luke, it says:

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” —Luke 15:4

There is a lot I love about the parable of the lost sheep, but maybe my favorite aspect is that the shepherd goes to where the sheep is. He doesn’t stay with the group, stand at the top of the hill, and yell at them saying, “Hey, come back over here!” (like talking to a kid who ran away). He doesn’t stall to think why the sheep left. He doesn’t waste time worrying what dangers may lie in his journey to find the sheep or what the sheep will say when he gets there.

When we minister as the Savior did, and put ourselves in the shoes that we are ministering, the revelation will come to us on how we can help them come back to the fold. We don't need to worry about how we are going to bring someone back to the Church, just jump in and start swimming to those you need your help. 

I'll leave you guys with a quote that changed my mind on how to treat people in my mission and for the rest of my life:

 “When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” - Henry B Eyring

That's about it for today!! I have a lot of pictures, but this computer is being dumb.

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

Tired.

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

This just in: We called Leandro to be the new 2nd counselor, and, in the meantime, will continue as secretary. We wanted to call Marconnes as the new secretary as he is having trouble taking care of the YM after he moved but he denied the calling. 

I'm getting pretty stressed out over here. Me, Elder Terry, Elder Rocha, and Elder Monson are working our tails off for the branch but some times it seems like we're the only ones working. The YW President and the RS President both decided to give up their calling but we went over there, made some new goals and offered our support to help them. We looked in the manual, and I literally wrote down every responsibility that each President has, what has to happen within the presidency in terms of weekly meetings, interviews, etc., and wrote down what the missionaries will do to help them out. Basically, I gave them a training on how to magnify their calling. I'm trying to re-train all of the Presidencies because it seems like they forgot how to do their job, because the majority of the load is falling on my shoulders and the shoulders of the missionaries. Looks like we'll even have to re-train the Branch President too.

Being a full-time missionary and a counselor in the Branch Presidency is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life, without a doubt. Nothing has ever required more of me physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually..... but I'm super thankful for it. I can feel myself getting better and better each day. I feel like I'm learning a lot more about how to involve the Lord in all things(A LOT of prayer and fasting), how to resolve problems (of investigators, members, branch, etc), how to use my time wisely to make sure to reactivate inactive families and find time to find people to baptize, and how to work hard as hard as I can.

The work here is far from done, and I want to stay here to help complete it.  The casapela will bless this branch more than you guys can imagine. I'm tired, and that's how it should be right?

In terms of our investigators, we found Tathyla and João this week.

João is a 8 year-old kid who was just waiting to be baptized when he turned 8. We're working with him to remind him what the other elders already taught him awhile ago. He has a date for this Saturday. 

Tathyla was a contact we made when our first appointment didn't work out. We saw her talking with a kid we already taught, so we went over, asked if we could leave a message with them and she accepted a date for this Saturday!! She went to church yesterday and loved it!!

Thats about it for this week!!!

ABRAÇO,

Elder Eliason

1) hahah

2) elder terry asked me to take a pic with him and crateus

As Famílias Poderão Ser Eternas (Families are Forever)

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

This week was a great one, indeed. The headliner: Dorgivaldo and Etelvina got married and got baptized this week!!!!!!!!!

On Friday after they got married in a marriage registry in another city nearby, we had a HUGE dinner at their house and it was a lot of fun. We danced a bit, played some games, and ate my heart out. Everybody kept telling Irmã Etelvina that I wanted more food like "HEY MOM, ELIASON WANTS MORE" after I had 2 servings and 2 pieces of cake, so safe to say, I almost threw up on the long way home but it was worth it.

Saturday, we had their baptismal service and it was one of the most spiritual moments I've ever had on my mission. We invited Mara, Dorge, Breno, and Benício to give their testimonies to their parents during the service and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. As Dorge bore his testimony on how families can be together forever, I remembered how special my family is to me. I remembered when I promised the Lord that I would leave my family for 2 years to help other families be together forever. That's when I felt the Spirit comforting me that I, and all of the missionaries that helped out Irmã Etelvina and Dorgivaldo, are doing our job. And now, the Brito Family can be an eternal family.

In other news, we've been working our tails off this week to find time to visit less-active adults, to find new people to teach, and to teach the people we are preparing for baptism. We have so much to do every single day, and I LOVE IT. We feel like we're doing our job, and the Lord is providing the right people in our path!

We found Layz (We joke with her 24/7 about Lays potato chips brand) and her boyfriend David. They went to church last week and we're meant to be baptized last week but they had a little fight and things got a little complicated. But, the same day, we were visiting a member and we saw them laughing, holding hands, all couple-ly again. Oh, young love. They have a date for this Saturday!!

One day, as we were heading home, I felt impressed to go pass by a referral that we had recieved 4 weeks ago that we never seemed to be home. We passed by and he was home, miracle. We gave him a lesson, he accepted a baptimsal date for this Satruday as well!!! When we got there, he asked us, "Why are you guys here?" We responded, "Well, we felt that we should be here." He said, "Who sent you guys?" That's when I said simply: "God." He then let us in without a problem.

That's about it for this week, I gotta run!!

Elder Eliason

Fotos

1) Helping Marconnes with his move had us wiped out

2) Buutttt he gave us pizza

3/4) The wedding dinner

5) The wedding

6) BAPTISM!!!!

Miracles

Sorry Fam... So this was the email that I was going to send you guys, but then I asked "Hey what time does our bus leave for fortaleza?" Elder Terry said "I think it's at 12." I looked at the clock and it was 11:30!!! So we had to literally sprint to the bus station and we lost the bus anyways. But we switched our tickets for another bus it was great.

Well here's the last email of last week.

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!

This week was a great one with my new comp. Elder Terry!! He's from Nebraska and he's the coolest guy you'll ever meet. It's pretty cool to be able to show the other 3 Elders an entire city with all the cool little places we love so much.

I don't have a lot of time today because our p-day got cut in half because we have to travel to Fortaleza AGAIN for a zone conference. That's 24 hours of busrides in just one week. Good times.

We baptized Daniela!!!! She is awesome. She was SUPER nervous during this past week leading up to her baptism. She almost gave up 5 or 6 times but we were there every time to calm her down, remind her of the importance of baptism, and help her get to the font. Daniella is going to be called as one of the counselors for the Young Women!!!! She's 19, so she will be able to help the branch super quick. She has such a strong testimony and she literally begged President Lima to go to seminary even with 19 years of age.

Daniela also gave us a super awesome referral of the family of Joelma!! Joelma has 2 kids and one with baptizing age. They went to church this week and they're getting prepared for baptism this Sunday!!! Joelma is that kind of girl that's excited about everything she does. Everywhere she goes, she brings that super enthusiasm, she'll be able to help the branch a lot.

Also: MIRACLE ALERT.

So, we've been teaching Dorge's parents, and a miracle happened. So this couple, Dorge's parents, they were almost baptized 7 months ago but when they went to get married, Dorge's Dad lost his identification and couldn't get married or baptized. After that, they got down a little bit and gave up trying to get baptized. Until 2 weeks ago, when someone at the marriage registry place said they could do the wedding for free and help Dorge's Dad get his identification. So they're going to get married on February 8th!! So me and E. Terry went over there and gave them the first lesson and Dorge's mom started to bible bash with me. Asking where in the bible talks about Joseph Smith and all that. But they accepted to pray and a date for Feb. 9th.

She came to church, Dorge's mom, and in the middle of the gospel principles class I was giving, she starts to BAWL. She turned to Maria Madalena, her good friend in the church, give her a huge hug crying her eyes out. After the class, she goes up to me and says "Your the elder that's gonna baptize me." And everyone in the branch went crazy, giving us high fives and fist bumps all around. She's been hearing the missionaries for a full year and never decided to get baptized but Feb 9th she will be!!

That's about it for this week!!

Love you all!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

Fotos

 

1) Me and Elder Terry - THE AMERICAN POWERHOUSE

2) BATISMO - Daniella

3) The best baptismal font in the world

4) Marconnes likes to dance

5) Ramo Crateus - Young Men

TRANSFERS - CRATEÚS FOREVER

HELLLOOOOOOO FAM & FRIENDS

This week we had transfers and of the 4 that were here in Crateús, i'm the only one who'll be staying here. Elder Taylor is going to train a new missionary in Ala Expedicionários, Elder Maxwell is going to Ala Beira Mar and Elder Silva finished his mission and went back home. 

So my new companion is Elder Terry!! Another American companion, and I only hear good things about him. Elder Rocha and Elder Monson (doesn't have relation to the prophet) will be the other companionship.

This week we found some awesome people!!! We found Daniella and Josivan who were referrals from Jonas, a member here. Daniella is 19 and she is super awesome, a little shy but she's opening up a lot. She watched a baptismal service with us and she is excited for this Saturday for her baptism.

Josivan is 18 and is a straight up stud. He had been to church a while back with other elders but was never baptized. He stopped drinking coffee in one day, after he had been drinking 3 times a day all his life. STUD. When we got to the prayer, I asked him to ask God for help to help him prepare to be baptized, and he said, "Why, I'm already ready for baptism?" STUD. He'll be baptized this Saturday as well.

Well I don't have much time today because i have to go to Fortaleza to get the other elders and to drop off Elder Maxwell and Elder Taylor, which means 12 HOUR BUS RIDE. 

BOA SEMANA PARA VOCÊS!!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

Which is Greater?

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

This week was a different one. We had to get home a little earlier this week because of the riots going on in Fortaleza. Nothing is happening in Crateús, but President told us to be home by 7. They're rioting because basically a Brazilian Trump got elected: Jair Bolsonaro. It'll pass quick. 

We're preparing Carlos e Gilmara for this week for baptism!! They are STILL struggling with the Word of Wisdom (coffee), and they didn't wake up in time to get to church this Sunday, but it's gonna work out just fine. We're gonna have an awesome Family Home Evening at their house today so that will be great.

We also found a guy named Higor. He's a son of a member and he teaches MMA and has the coolest Jamaican dreads. We taught his brother Italo too. He knows everything is true, but doesn't wanna go to church, so we dropped him and started talking to Higor. He literally is like a Californian surfer haha.

This week I gave a lesson for the adults in the branch on Ronald A. Rasband's talk on fear. I absolutely loved this talk. 

He talks about a story from the Old testament that I loved:

"Since ancient times, fear has limited the perspective of God’s children. I have always loved the account of Elisha in 2 Kings. The king of Syria had sent a legion that “came by night, and compassed the city about.” Their intent was to capture and kill the prophet Elisha. We read: 

“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 

“And [Elisha] answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." 

“Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

You can really sense the fear in the servant's voice when he says "Alas, my master! how shall we do?". I would be scared too, if I saw my city encircled by another army in my city. But, Elisha shows us what happens when we "fear not". Our eyes are opened, and we can see how God sees.

We fear a lot of things in our lives. Change, the cool table, an audition, are just some examples. Fear is one of Satan's greatest tools that he uses against this generation. Ultimately though, it's us who decides if we let the fear enter or not. 

We decide which is greater: our faith or our fear? 

Because we know that fear and faith can never exist in the same place. Just look at Peter when he tried to walk on water. He started to walk on water with the great faith that he had at the start and he was focused on Christ. But when he felt the heavy wind and the big waves he feared, lost his focus and started to drown. 

We don't need to fear anything if we are with God. A successful missionary and a successful person in general doesn't fear men, but fears God above all.

So don't fear. Pray for God to open your eyes to see how big the team is behind you in the heavens.

THATS ABOUT IT FOLKS

BOA SEMANA PARA VOCÊS!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

"No wicked man could write such a book as this"

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

This week was a great one. We had the baptisms of Carlos Felipe and Juliano!!!

Interesting story. One day we grabbed some young men (Breno e Diego) to go teach someone. BUT, we really didn't have anyone to teach during that hour. So when they asked us who we were going to teach, we said "One of your friends." We got em good. So we were walking by this highway and Breno saw a house pretty far away and says "Carlos Felipe lives there, let's go visit him." That's when E. Taylor remembered that 3 days earlier, he told me as we passed that same house, "We gotta knock on that door." I told him that we were running late for an appointment and that we would return later. So, with Breno and Diego we went to his house, and he accepted baptism on the first lesson!! Miracle.

Juliano is Eduardo's brother, who we baptized in november. We've been working with since november to get to church but he always had an excuse. One day we were visiting Eduardo and Juliano showed up and we decided to give him another shot so we taught the Restoration for him again, and he accepted baptism. He got even more excited when he found out that his brother Eduardo could baptize him. He's awesome.

We are still working on Carlos e Gilmara. They said once they stop drinking coffee, they'll be ready for baptism. So you can bet Elder Taylor and I will be on them like white on rice every time they think about drinking coffee. They loved the lesson on temples and they accepted a date for the 19th. Prayers will be needed.

This past week, me and E.Taylor were talking about the Book of Mormon in our companionship study. We talked about how we can use it more effectively, shared experiences with it on the mission, and bared testimony of it. My testimony is really simple, every time I read the Book of Mormon I feel it is true, and my testimony grows. I know that no one could've translated this book on accident, but it had to be translated and restored by a Prophet of God. Jeffrey R. Holland explains:

"For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. 

None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.” - Jeffrey R Holland

I have seen so many experiences with how the Book of Mormon can help an investigator progress and be converted to the gospel. I know it's true, and I know that everyone can know what I know, all you have to do is do as James 1:5 directs: "Ask of God".

AMO TODOS DE VOCÊS, BOA SEMANA!!!

A bear hug,

Elder Eliason

Fotos

- Carlos Felipe's house

- BATISMOS

- Me and E. Taylor bought matching shades, everyone in the branch wants a pair