Brazil Sao Paulo East Mission

Brazil Sao Paulo East Mission

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

4-27-15 Enoch, Alma the Younger, Nephi from 3rd Nephi

4-27-15

Hey family!

I'm happy you guys found time to do a cruise :)

The members here really like me, It's good to be liked

This last week, I entered in contact with the daughter of Sueli that we baptized a couple weeks ago who is on the mission, Fabiana Rodrigues. She asked me how was it for her mom to stop smoking and be baptized so I sent her this email. I thought it'd be interesting for you guys to read too so I copied the email in Portuguese for you Portuguese speakers out there (é nois!) and translated it using google and corrected the major errors (instead of rewriting everything)

É, eu sabia que você estava orando e querendo muito que ela e o José se batizassem, isso, e sua alegria resultante, foram 2 dos motivos que a gente usou para ajudar a incentivar sua mãe a ser batizada. Mas vou te falar viu, foi um a luta haha. A gente chegou aqui em São Mateus, abrindo a área eu e meu filho novinho! Então com certeza pode imaginar né que tava um pouco difícil para a gente no começo, ou pelo menos era para ser. Maravilhosamente, não foi tão difícil assim. Acho que ajudou que eu era LZ aqui da Penha antes e já tinha vindo para cá antes para fazer entrevista e divisão e já conhecia a área um pouco. Então até eu já tinha ouvido falar de sua mãe bem antes de eu vir para essa área, o elder que estava aqui também estava tentando trabalhar com ela para batizá-la mas não conseguiu. Quando chegamos aqui, a gente logo ligou para ela e por acaso, tínhamos almoço com ela naquela semana. Então fomos lá e conhecemos ela e tal. Fomos lá de novo quase todo dia, umas 4 or 5 vezes para semana, quase sempre a tarde, umas 2 horas por 5 semanas. Falamos com ela sobre várias coisas, o Livro de Mórmon, o profeta Joseph Smith e tal. A gente fez metas com ela para ela parar de fumar, a gente deu uma bênção nela, a gente escreveu uma lista de coisas que está perdendo por causa do cigarro e coisas que vai perder. A gente deu algumas fotos do templo, a gente conseguiu até incentivar ela a jogar fora os cigarros em vários momentos. A gente também tirou a foto do panfleto do evangelho do batismo de Jesus e colocamos a meta para o batismo dela que era no começo tipo dia 22 de Março e também algumas coisas para ela fazer quando sentia vontade de fumar (ler as escrituras, orar, ir para igreja cada domingo, beber água, não ficar sem nada a fazer mas ficar ocupado). E também fizemos a meta com ela para ler todo dia o Livro de Mórmon. Ela falou que depois que lia, ficava sem vontade de fumar por tipo 3, 4 horas e depois voltava a vontade então fizemos a meta para ela ler cada 3 horas haha que a gente acompanhou bem e nem sempre conseguia mas se esforçava. A gente também tentou preencher a ficha para dar mais firmeza para seu batismo. Preenchemos tudo menos a assinatura dela por que achava que escrever a assinatura estava dizendo que já ia ser batizada. Também falava que não adianta se batizar só para voltar a fazer coisas erradas, que tinha que continuar. Isso era uma das preocupações dela e a gente só falava para ela que não devemos deixar as possibilidades do que poderá acontecer nos impedir de fazer a coisa certa. Que nós devemos fazer o certo só por que é o certo e depois fazer nosso melhor para continuar firme.

Nossa falando tudo isso, reconheço o quanto que fizemos, realmente foi um monte de coisa né? A gente estava aplicando tudo isso e de repente a gente foi lá, a semana antes de conferência geral, e não tinha fumado desde segunda e já era quarta ou algo assim. A gente ficou animado e continuamos indo lá e acompanhando e marcamos ela para ser batizada na conferência entre as sessões mas eles acabaram não indo, eu acho que por causa da distância. A gente não desistiu e até assim era legal também por que a gente queria batizar numa sexta ou sábado e logo confirmar no domingo. Acompanhamos ela e marcamos a entrevista e estava tudo certo para ela se batizar e ela estava querendo e tudo. Mas quando a gente chegou lá com o Elder que ia fazer a entrevista, a primeira coisa que ela falou "Mudei de ideia, não quero mais me batizar" e aí bateu aquele desespero que acho que você deve conhecer...desespero e tristeza né...mas fazer o que. Eu falei com ela por uns 15 minutos tentando entender por que e convencer ela que precisava se batizar. Se você perguntar ela, ela vai te falar que falei coisas duras, que "dei uma bronca nela." E é verdade, falei coisas que eram difíceis de suportar, como nem Alma 5 ou os profetas da Bíblia ou o Livro de Mórmon. Eu não gosto do fazer isso, mas as vezes é necessário para a salvação da pessoa. Mesmo depois de eu falar com ela, ela não estava de acordo ainda, falei para ela pelo menos fazer a entrevista que ele ia poder dizer como representante autorizado do Senhor se podia se batizar ou não. Esperamos esperamo esperamos e saiu o Elder, com a assinatura dela na ficha e a esperança ressurgiu de dentro de mim e perguntei a ela "E aí então está tudo certo para amanhã?" "Sim" Nossa como eu estava aliviado haha. Ainda continuei com a preocupação de que ela desistisse o dia do batismo. Fomos lá e falamos com ela para firmar ela e perguntei "E aí irmã, tá tudo certo para você entrar na água hoje?" "Ué assinei a ficha, agora tenho que me batizar" haha eu nunca ia explicar para ela nesse momento que podia desistir ainda, mesmo tendo assinado a ficha "sim, é isso mesmo irmã, vai ser da hora seu batismo irmã! A gente falou para a ala inteira pelo face e pelo what's de seu batismo!" Então assim vemos uma coisa interessante, a mesmo coisa que impedia ela de querer ser batizada no começo, estava puxando ela para o batismo no final (falando sobre a assinatura da fica) interessante né?

Para responder sua pergunta se foi muito difícil, sim foi haha mas deu certo e valeu todo o esforço. Ela está muito firme na igreja junto com José. A semana passada a gente não conseguiu passar na casa dela por que meu companheiro estava doi doi (nunca tive que escrever isso...sempre só falei, então não faço ideia de como escrever haha) e ela e o José foram na igreja mesmo assim! O José é muito firme, recebeu o sacerdócio já e realmente mudou para o melhor. Acredito que a Sueli vai ficar firme por que também sempre falou que não adianta se batizar só para afastar. Então agora, é para ficar. Mais um exemplo de algo que impedia ela de ser batizada mas que vai ajudar ela a ficar firme.

Nós estamos ensinando várias pessoas que moram no seu quintal, a Patrícia, a Larissa, a Lourdes, e queremos ensinar mais deles mas não deu oportunidade até agora. Precisamos também pegar mais firme com essas pessoas que já começamos a ensinar. Acho que percebo que fogem um pouco da gente quando a gente vai lá mas a Larissa e Patrícia já expressaram muito desejo e interesse, mas eu acho que tem medo ou algo assim. Mas estou animado por que quando você chegar, já era, é batismo. Vai ser mais fácil pegar uma caixa de água e encher em frente de sua casa que a gente vai batizar tudo mundo aí, começando com o seu quintal e depois espalhando para a rua inteira. Beleza? É isso que está esperando você quando você chegar aqui viu haha se prepare :) Espero que eu continue aqui, quando você voltar, qualquer coisa, eu falo para meu filho fazer isso, estou tentando ensinar ela tudo que eu sei.

A coisa mais da hora que a Sueli falou: "...Quando eu era fumante..." Era! No passado!

Espero que gostou da minha historinha

English
Yeah, I knew you were praying and wanting so much that she and Joseph were baptized, that, and the resulting joy, were two of the reasons we used to help encourage your mother to be baptized. But I will tell you, it was a struggle haha. We arrived here in São Mateus, opening the area myself and my brand new son! surely can imagine that it was a little difficult for us in the beginning, or at least it should've been. Wonderfully, it was not that hard. I think it helped that I was here LZ of Penha before and had come here before to interview and do splits and knew the area a bit. So I had even heard of your mother long before I came to this area, the elder who was here was also trying to work with her to baptize her but didn't manage to. When we got here, we just called her and by chance, we had lunch with her that week. So we went there and met her and such. We were there again almost every day, about 4 or 5 times to week, usually the afternoon, about 2 hours for 5 weeks. We talked with her about various things, the Book of Mormon, the prophet Joseph Smith and such. We made goals for her to quit smoking, we gave a blessing, we wrote a list of things that she is losing because of cigarette and things she will lose. We gave her some pictures of the temple, we managed to encourage her to throw away the cigarettes at various times. We also took the photo of the pamphlet of the gospel of Jesus' baptism and put the goal for baptism that it was in the beginning type 22 March and also some things for her to do when she felt like smoking (read the scriptures, pray, go to church every Sunday, drinking water, do not be left with nothing to do but get busy). And we also made the goal with her to read the Book of Mormon every day. She said that after she read, she didn't have the desire to smoke for like 3, 4 hours and then the desire returned so we made the goal for her to read every 3 hours haha ​​we followed up well and she didn't always manage to read but she tried. We also tried to fill in the baptismal form to give more strength to her baptism. We filled out everything but her signature because she thought that writing the signature was saying that was about to be baptized. She also said that it's no use to be baptized just to return to do wrong, that you have to continue. This was one of her concerns and we just spoke to her that we should not let the possibilities of what might happen prevent us from doing the right thing. We should do the right just because it is the right and then do our best to remain firm.

Wow, saying all this, I realize how much we did, it really was a lot of stuff wasn't it? We were applying all that and suddenly we were there the week before general conference, and she had not smoked on Monday and it was Wednesday or something. We got excited and kept going there and watching and marked her to be baptized at the conference between sessions but they ended up not going, I think because of the distance. We did not give up and even so it was cool too because we wanted to baptize a Friday or Saturday and then confirm on Sunday. We follow her and we arranged the interview and it was all good for her to be baptized and she was wanting and everything. But when we got there with Elder was going to do the interview, the first thing she said "I changed my mind, I don't want to be baptized" and then came that despair that I think you should know ... despair and sadness ... but what are you gonna do? I talked to her for about 15 minutes trying to understand why and convince her that needed to be baptized. If you ask her, she will tell you that I have spoken hard things, that "I gave her an earful (the translation of google, I thought it was really funny haha)" And it's true, I said things that were hard to bear, just like Alma 5 or prophets of the Bible or the Book of Mormon. I do not like doing this, but sometimes it is necessary for one's salvation. Even after I talk to her, she hadn't agreed yet, I told her at least to do the interview that he was going to say as an authorized representative of the Lord if she could be baptized or not. We wait we wait we wait and the elder left, with her signature on the baptismal form and hope rose within me and I asked her "It's all good for tomorrow?" "Yes" I was relieved haha. I still continued with a concern that she gave up the day of baptism. We went there and spoke to her to strengthen her and asked "Hey sister, it's all good for you to get in the water today?" "I signed the form, now I have to be baptized" haha ​​I never would explain to her then that could give up still, even having signed the statement "yes, that's right sister, your baptism will be awesome! We told the entire ward by facebook and by cellphone about your baptism! “So thus we see an interesting thing, the same thing that kept her from wanting to be baptized at first, was helping for baptism in the end (talking about the signature) interesting right?

To answer your question "Was it very difficult?", yes it was haha ​​but it worked out and it was worth all the effort. She is very firm in the church along with Joseph. Last week we didn't manage to pass at her house because my companion was sick and she and Joseph still were in the church! Joseph is very firm, he received the priesthood and has really changed for the better. I believe that Sueli will stay firm as well because she always said that no use to baptize only to become less active. So now, she is going to stay. Another example of something that prevented her from being baptized but that will help her to stay firm.

We're teaching several people who live in your yard, Patricia, Larissa, Lourdes, and we want to teach more of them but gave no opportunity so far. We also need to be firmer with those people who have already begun to teach. I think I see them fleeing some of us when we go there but Larissa and Patricia have expressed a great desire and interest, but I think they're afraid or something. But I'm excited because when you come, we're just gonna baptise. It will be easier to get a water box and fill in front of your house because we will baptize all everyone, starting with your yard and then spreading to the whole street. Alright? That's what's waiting for you when you get here haha ​​get ready :) I hope I continue here when you get back, if anything happens, I tell my son to do this, I'm trying to teach him everything I know.

The awesomest thing that Sueli said: "... When I was a smoker ..." was! In the past!

I hope you liked my story

We do not – as far as dad and I know have a relative that served there – would it be a Horton or a Smith type of relative??
A Horton. Someone asked me because they said that they met a Horton in this time frame

Did you do your missionary thing with the young women this week??  How did it go??
Yes, yes we did! It was cool, the majority had forgotten :( but 2 remembered and as they showed up, they started to participate, the next week, it'll work out better. It was cool! they had some good questions!

What are your plans this week?
We have a conference with 2 general authorities and the mission sao paulo north

How did the visit to your old area go – I think it was a couple of weeks ago??
It was cool! I managed to visit Jussara and her family! but I didn't manage to see Bruna :( The young woman that I baptized with Cosme a year ago! But we're going again this week to see other people around that area

Who are your top 3 favorite prophets – from any era??  And why??
I'm not gonna say Joseph Smith because that's just cliche but he'd definitely be the on the list. Right after Jesus Christ, who also was a prophet. Outside of these 2 (Does "outside" make sense?...) I'd pick Enoch, Alma the younger and Nephi from 3rd Nephi.
Enoch because he managed to be such a great leader that the whole city was united in purpose and love and everything to such a point that they were translated. That's called success. The biggest success.
Alma the younger because he's a great example of how we can repent and become great instruments in the lord's hands and he was also a great missionary (I might've chosen Amon but I don't think he was a prophet, just a missionary)
Nephi from 3 Nephi because he was so full of the spirit and so righteous that the Lord gave him His power. Everything that he said was fulfilled. It's a great example of power and dignity.

Well my time's up
Love you all!
Elder Horton

4-20-15 Talk at Church

4-20-15

Hey family!!

ISAAC IS PLAYING SOCCER?!?!?! Since when??? It's so weird to think that Isaac is playing soccer..when I left, he was barely starting to walk and speak!

Letter to the president:
Hey President

Thanks for allowing me and Elder Oliveira to be together at least one more transfer, I'm really excited to work here with him. I see the Lord blessing us in many ways. I love new transfers as well because it's always a chance for a new start, a new beginning, a second chance, or in my case, a sixteenth chance haha. I really would like to end my mission in this area because the members here are awesome but I trust in you and in the Lord so I'll do what you want to do.

Thanks for everything!
Elder Horton

Do we have some relative that served here in Brasil São Paulo East from 89 to 91?

How was your week?
My week was good! In the beginning of the week, we were certain that we were going to baptize Clementino, a friend of the bishop that he presented to us last week. But then we discovered he'd have to go to the hospital on sunday :/ so he wasn't baptized yesterday but I have no doubt that he'll be baptized this week. The guy is elect. He has so much faith and is so willing to follow his savior. We've taught him about some commandments and told him that he'd have to let some things go and change some habits to be able to be closer to his Savior and every time he's just like "okay, I'll do it" We invited him to read and pray and at first he said he didn't recieve an answer but then we explained again how the spirit works and he was like "oh, that was probably the spirit then, yeah I got an answer" haha he's awesome.

Other than that, the week went well. Yesterday, a lot more doors were opened up for us at church, new people to teach and baptize and what not. I'm excited for this transfer
Oh I didn't even mention the transfer yet, nothing changed, so nothing really big or different.

Oh! And I remember that many people said before my mission that my height was a blessing and that I should use it to my advantage on the mission. Well I'd have to say that I've tried and really it has been a blessings. We had 2 instances this last week because of my height that could lead to families being baptized. We were going to the market and we passed in front of a house with the gate open and the man said like "wow!" as he looked up at me and I told him "I only have 6 feet 7 inches" in meters of course and his wife that was also outside said "I have a brother that's taller than you" And then I returned "I doubt that!" And then we started talking and they're really awesome! They said they live there 37 years and missionaries have always passed by there and they've always said good morning and what not but no missionary has ever stopped to talk with them. We're the first!

The other situation was basically the same thing.

How do you feel about serving your fellow beings?
I love the opportunity I have to help in the salvation of the children of God. Sometiems it's hard but I'm glad that today, I'm better then I ever was and I have gained a great number of skills and atributes in the mission that help me to better help God's children.
In the beginning of my mission, I was scared to insist or encourage or try to convince the people. I understand now that what convinces is the Holy Ghost and people will always have their agency, but I also understand that we have to insist and encourage a lot sometimes to help people to make the right decisions. That's exactly what the prophets of the old and new testament and the book of mormon did. They knew the importance of what they were saying and they knew that the people needed to do that which they were saying or they'd be condemned to an eternity of suffering. One of the people that we helped to baptize these last weeks, almost didn't get baptized!!...man I got really sad but I encouraged her greatly and she was baptized. I was talking with her again the last couple days and I asked her "if I'd given up on you, where do you think you would be right now?" "Smoking and not baptized" And so I'm happy that I have power to be a messenger of God and to influence people for their greater good and salvation.

What made you laugh lately?
A lot of things! I laugh a lot, I'm a happy person. Some people call me criancão or like big child because I'm kinda goofy sometimes. I like it though, it's like one of the things I do to help people to like me. But always when it comes to serious stuff, I'm serious. I think it's a good combination

Were those YOUR holey shoes in last week’s photos??  I hope you have another pair that aren’t so holey!!
Those WERE my holey shoes in last week's photo. But I took that photo a while ago, when I was still in Penha. Since then, I've patched them up for 45 reais (about 15 dollars). And now they're good as new!...almost :)

Were those spiders, or crabs, climbing up the tree in that other photo??
Neither. Here they're called Cigarras but I think it's like cicaras in the states. It's a little flying bug that screams and screams and screams until it explodes! And so all those "crabs" that you saw, were actually dead carcasses of this bug.

Who are you teaching this week?
Basically the people that I mentioned up above and we're gonna teach a pastor and some referrals and some friends of members and what not.

This ward is so awesome, that the young womans organization asked us to be at church at 9 to be able to answer questions about missionary work like how to respond when their friends say certain things or how to talk about the gospel with someone. Yeah! This is going to work out very well. I'm excited for the future.

Oh and I gave a talk at church as well, we got there and we saw the bishop talking with his counselors about the talks for that day and they said "Dani will talk and who else?" "No It's just her..." "......Put Elder Horton down there too" haha so I talked, I like talking :) it was fun.

Well that's about it
I love y'all!

Elder Horton

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Caqui

4-13-15

I'm happy that Liz loves James so much :) I hope I find someone who loves me that much.

I'm happy to hear that you guys are finding time to relax and have some "me time". Where are you guys going on the cruise? It's not Brasil is it? Haha

So who did you baptize last week?
I think it's funny that you don't even ask "Did you baptize this week?" You just ask "Who?" And you're right! Because we baptized! Sueli! An eternigator of 9 years! I love baptizing eternigators because it brings a good feeling because you know that you finally helped that person and you feel a bit of pride too because you succeeded when many others did not. I know it wasn't just us and that the Lord helped but still :) If we hadn't gone there every day since we got in this area, she would not be baptized right now. It was a struggle and at the end, she almost quit, gave up but we managed to help her make the final decision to be baptized! At times I felt almost like Alma in Alma 5. Yesterday at church, the president of the relief society bore her testimony that she was grateful that the missionaries incentivized her so much to be baptized because if it wasn't for them, she wouldn't be baptized today.

Sueli's husband was baptized about a month ago too, and they have a daughter that was baptized like 9 years ago that's on her mission now and so I'm sure she'll be super happy to hear that her mom got baptized :) Blessings of the mission!

Are you in a hilly area now?
Yeah, where we work, is pretty hilly. But it's close to home and members so it's nice

Do you ever feel down?  If so, what do you do?
I felt more down in the beginning of my mission. Today, I'm more constant, I'm usually just constantly happy :) I have to be happy because if I'm sad, I don't have success. If I'm sad, the members don't like me and I can't get them excited to work and help us baptize and I can't excite the investigators about the church. A successful missionary is a happy missionary.

What is your favorite “treat”?
Treat being like something sweet? And in Brasil or in the states? In the states....I hardly remember...that peanut butter chocolate cake thing with like peanut butter paste underneath and a chocolatey layer on top :) That was good. In Brasil...I likeeee Açaí with paçoca.  Açaí is more like a fruity soft ice cream and many times you put banana in açaí.

What did you learn at your last zone meeting?
Wow...the last zone meeting we had was when I was the zone leader still. We're going to have a zone meeting this week. 

How often does your zone meet?
About once a month usually

What do you like to think about in quiet moments?
I think about a great number of things but for me to recall right. Usually I think about current investigators, the ward, the mission and what not. Sometimes I think about home but I don't get trunky. Sometimes I talk with Elder Olivera about him and his life and what not, he's pretty interesting and has many secrets haha

A sister missionary returned home this last week to this ward and we ate lunch at her house and so that was fun to talk with her about her mission and what not. She even brought 2 young men to church this last week! 1 was already a member but less active and the other isn't a member for now but we're going to work to baptize him this week or the next :)

Elder Olivera is doing well, every day he's learning more and more, he has a lot of potential to be a good missionary. It's funny because the other 2 elders that we live with always play around with him and mess with him and what not and it's funny, everyone laughs even him so it's not like we're scarring him for life, he laughed so hard yesterday and Saturday that I was worried he was going to hurt himself

THE SEASON OF THE CAQUI HAS ARRIVED!!! It’s a delicious fruit that looks like a tomato but is really sweet and yummy :) I bought 12 fruits this last week and ate all of them. Caqui is more like....wow there's no way to really describe it. It's not as strong as mango but not as week as melon (like watermelon?)

The church is perfect! I see proof of this every day.

Lots of love
Elder Horton


PS - oh and I didn't even tell you guys in my letter, I'm visiting an old area today! Bras Cubas that a left a year ago! I was companions with Cosme and Mikulecky here and stayed here 6 months. I'm back today to see people while I can. There's a couple here that I helped to get married and be baptized, Delia and Francisco and they need to get sealed! Because it's been over a year so today or another visit, I'm gonna visit them :)














































Tuesday, April 7, 2015

4-6-15 Easter

4-6-15

Hey family!

This week was a good one with a great ending with general conference and baptism! We were the only elders in the zone to baptize this last week too...it's not a good thing for the zone but it's great for us!

Did you have any favorite talks from conference that you especially enjoyed??  
I really enjoyed the talk about the music and the gospel and also Elder Holland's talk about the atonement was very good to put it all in perspective. I downloaded the talks and will be listening to them again in the coming days and weeks.

Did you watch conference in English or Portuguese?
I watched it in Portuguese, as I always have

What kind of pepper was that?  Is it the hottest thing you’ve ever eaten?
I'm not really sure...    No

It was fun to see you and hear all that Portuguese.   Which family was that you were eating with?
It was actually a church activity where we ate dobradinha, or buxo, or buxada, it's like stomach. yum right!? I didn't like it when I first tried it here in Brasil but now I kinda like it :)

How was your week?  
It was good. It had some interesting moments. Including some pastors from another church which I won't mention the name that came to the house of an investigator when we were there and started to try and burn us. I found it very annoying because they just talked bad in a loud voice and often times in our face and then when we tried to explain, they interrupted us. There were many times that we "got" them, that they contradicted themselves (which I always find funny) like we said that the bible doesn't have all the word of God and they said that it's perfect and has everything we need after we had read the last verse of Luke that says that if everything that Christ said and did was written down, not even the whole world would have enough space to fit all the books that would be written. And we also showed them all the lost scriptures and books that are mentioned in the bible but that we don't have. I may or may not have compared them to the Pharisees indirectly.... :) haha But the family of investigators wasn't lost, they have the book of mormon and they want to know the truth so I believe that they will discover the truth

Did you have any investigators at conference?  
Unfortunately we did not :( It was a bit difficult because it wasn't in our chapel and because it was easter weekend and our investigators were either travelling or going to their other churches :/

What are the Easter traditions there?  
Instead of gaining chocolate bunnies, they do chocolate hollow eggs here with chocolate candies inside. I think thats it...

How’s your companion?
He's doing well! It's a bit hard for him sometimes to go up hills haha but he's getting the hang of it bit by bit.

I don't have a lot of time today :/ because we had to find a new lan-house because the other one was closed :(  and because I had to resolve some other things so this letter is gonna be a bit shorter, sorry.

Love,

Elder Horton