Elder Scott Passes/Music and the Spirit of God

Man I´m trying to think of the cool stuff i wanted to tell you that happened this week, but I forget a lot... lets see if I can remember while I write. . . Well, this week I went on splits with an Élder from Bolivia in his área, it was awesome! we visited a family that I had taught in Gospel Principles Class when they visited our branch with a relative. It was not funny as we were teaching them or trying to teach them, they were drinking this hot drink called chimarao and the woman spilled and then the man spilled and they both got there Books of Mormon wet. oh we tried to make it work to our advantage and tell them it was a sign that they

should get married, but the man was a little less excited than his girlfriend. However, even with the distraction of the spilled herbal drink it was sooo cool to see how excited they were about reading The Book of Mormon and the pamphlets together, they really could feel the Holy ghost and they were so happy about it. èlder Fernandez and I ended up marking 6 baptismal dates that day= super awesome. He was stoked and what is better is that of the 6 dates that we marked 4 went to church on Sunday. While I was away my companion confirmed a baptism for Domingo and I ended up Baptizing him, it was awesome. It was Sunday the day of the Branch Conference and the choir that we had been preparing went so well. I was on the piano another Élder on the Strings and we felt the Spirit so strongly especially during the hymn I´ll go where you want me to go dear lord. I remember feeling such a powerful spirit and after the meeting I heard that a young girl of 11 years who sang in the choir was crying because in the front row of chairs where no one was sitting she saw angels and even Jesus Christ. I believe that this work is the Lord´s work and that we are never alone. Today we had a Zone meeting and activity. We ate Cachorro quente which means hot dog in portuguese and you can imagine how different it is and them multiply that by 12. I still haven´t the handle of eating it without getting my hands all dirty. They cut up the hot dog, pút it in a tomato sauce and you stick it in a piece of bread. it isnt to bad but it has got nothing on the real american hot dog- oh man just got trunky. . . okay lets keep moving. So we played with water balloons and soccer, too, gotta wup up on Isaac when I get home you know, ahhaha ya im still not too good. Man when I heard that Élder Scott passed away i grabbed my liahonas and started studying his recent conference addresses and found some great counsel that I felt was just for me. I think that is when we really know that we are feeling the Spirit is when we feel something is just for us, I love that feeling and I know that we are guided today by men of God and I am soo thankful to be a member of this church and share my testimony with others. This week my companion and I taught a girl whose father is a pastor. We invited her to read the Book of Mormon and she said she would read it out of curiosity and from a historical viewpoint, you can imagine the red lights that went of in my head and I was able to bear my testimony to her about The Book of Mormon and the influence it may have in our lives if we would but open our heart to the message it offers and seek this Jesus from the words of His prophets living and dead. Well I love you all, I hope you are enjoying the fall weather, I believe we are going to start seeing some serious rain here pretty soon. God Bless you all

Filling up the Branch to Qualify for New Chapel!

Man I don't know where to start. . . 

Well first of all we had two baptisms yesterday. Two brothers of 14 and 11 years. That was a real trail of faith to get them baptized, but in the end it all worked out just great. They both chose me to baptize them and I tell you what I don't think I have ever tried so hard to help two people be baptized. On top of it all my companion and I weren't feeling to well, with stomach pains and weakness, but the lord prepared a way and they were baptized. Before the baptism we had our second-to-last rehearsal for the choir, branch conference is this Sunday and the branch is excited to fill up the building in hopes to qualify for a new chapel!! After the baptism we had a special training by the missionaries about retention, we split everyone into two groups and chose team captains who will be responsible for retention efforts for converts with the last year. We are going to accompany the effort for the next 5 weeks. It was pretty exciting and I believe those who participate will be blessed along with those are receive their services. Member missionary work is the key. 

I really like a message the an Élder share last week in the house of a very special member of the church. He said that our investigators aren't the only people that need saving, but the missionaries who meet special souls during their service in the field. I feel this is so true. There is an old lady that treats us so well in the branch, in fact we ate lunch there today and she presented umbrellas to each of us to help protects us from the hot sun. She is soo humble and shares all that she has with others regardless if it will benefit herself- she is a true disciple of Christ. 

oh my goodness I have to tell you something I had my first shoulder massage since I left the states. . . at the hands of a 4 year old girl! It was great, she wanted 2 reals for it which is Brazilians currency, but it was worth every cent haha, oh mango season is right around the bend, but many youth can't wait for it so what do they do they eat em green with salt and some other seasonings, I like it, but it may give you a tummy ache if you aren't careful. haha Love you family!

Well family here are some picuters for you to enjoy 

Have an awesome week!

Élder Anderson

I'm Still Standing!

Hello family, I have good news! I wasn't transferred. The other three missionaries in our house stayed as well. My companion and I are super excited about the missionaries that entered into the zone and are hoping we can baptize even more children of God this transfer. It is great to be a missionary! I liked a thought that was shared in the transfer meeting this morning in Asa sul, which means south wing, just a side note in the plano or plane which is the the heart of Brasília in the federal district was designed like a plane, with two wings and is extremely organized. Now that isn't to say that the rest of the mission is like that in fact the plane and parts of the federal district are usually more organized than the other mission areas. But I tell you what, I was born in the state of Goias and it feels like home to me. hahahh.

Any way so returning to that thought from the transfer meeting, one of the assistants to the president mentioned an experience from sacrament meeting in which a newly ordained deacon distributed the sacrament from the confines of a wheel chair with the assistance of his father. I felt so happy that even though we all have weaknesses some that can be seen and others unseen, God allows us to help in his Glorious Work. I remember as a young teacher in the Aaronic priesthood the example of my older brother Nolan as a Priest waking up early to prepare the sacred emblems of the sacrament each Sunday. He understood the principle of service and of the priesthood, What awesome examples I have in my life. you all included. My companion and I are different, but together we are having a lot of success in the work. We had 5 baptisms this transfer and are excited to help more families live the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm trying to develop some o the attributes that are promised to me of faith, wisdom , and courage through service to my fellow man. What a blessing I have to serve. I am called to serve all the time. That is sooo awesome! That is what Christ did. 

Well i love you all here is a picture of a member from the branch that loves to help out the missionaries, I was thinking she is a bit like mom, from the first picture she seems tall right? Look at the second picture and the plot thickens! ahaah

Prayer Helps Us Realize the Power and Love of God

I am well, we baptized a young man this week and he and a friend of his showed up in the church today where we were having a zone activity and said that his friend wanted to be baptized and that I should baptized him. I  felt honored and hope that we can help him prepare to be baptized soon and be part of the growing branch here in Planaltina. 

Yesterday was awesome! I saw God's hand in my life so much, prayer helps us realize even better the power and love of God for each of His children. We visited a man who I had spoken with the week before on the bus. It was kind of a mutual effort in the encounter I had asked him for help and later thanked him for his kindness and he asked me what I do. Needless to say we ended up in his house and man it was so great to help him and invited him to prayer about the Book of Mormon and the message of the Restoration of the Gospel. his family is super catholic, but he stopped participating in the religion and church of any sort because of doubts he had had about the many churches. It is clear the Lord waned us to find him, he has suffered 3 car accidents in the past 6 years in which the cars have been totaled and he uninjured. 

We had an amazing experience with a member the same day. An Elderly Sister called us and said she wanted to go with us on a visit that we had previously mentioned to her on Sunday. The commitment had fallen through, but we decided to go visit a recent convert that we had had a hard time finding the past few weeks in hopes to help you make more friendship with this member. I prayed in my heart that we would find her and the lord answered my prayer and we felt the spirit so strongly testifiing of members and missionaries working together in the work of salvation. we will have a family night tonight the the two families and some friends of the recent convert.I felt so happy: golden member.

Here are some pictures of the baptism and I will send some pictures of the zone activity