Monday, November 24, 2014

Feliz Dia de Ação das Graças!

Olá!

Well, things are going. I´m loving my new companion. I found out that he loves to experiment with new types of food (me too!) and is a great chef (I'm not). Today we will celebrate thanksgiving and we will make pumpkin pie!! (That's if our neighbor lets us use his oven) Thanksgiving here is called "Dia de Ação das Graças" but they do not celebrate it here.

The work is going well.   Its changing. So Gracia is reading the book of mormon, feeling great, wants to be baptized and went to church yesterday! She is leaving to Rio tomorrow for some medical appointments and won't come back until the next week.. So we are praying that it will all work out. Adriana and Miguel have also been in Rio. Miguel's mom died, and there isn't any knowing when they'll come back. Please pray for them.

Other than that, the work is really picking up! Finding many new investigators, lots of great ones and references from members. It was another week of feeling so happy to be a missionary. Because truly, there is nothing happier than the Lord's work.

Thats it for now. Love y'all!

Élder Hamilton
Missionário d'A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias
Ala Cabo Frio, Estaca Macaé - Missão Brasil Rio De Janeiro
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Fiquei!

Bom dia!
 
The long trip from Cabo Frio to Botafogo and back is over now. We've survived transfers.
 
So I stayed in São Pedro (halelujah!!) and my new companion is Elder Dieffenback. He is 20, from Wisconsin, and has just a little less time than me on the mission. He's a legit and good missionary and we are off to a solid start. Today is our first offical day of work, and we will remark the 5 baptisms we had marked. Yeah, this will be a great transfer! Forever São Pedro
 
Fotos:
 
 
 
Hey look dad they have Rotary here!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






Lunch with Adriana and Miguel






Rio das Ostras
 
 
 
 
 
 
I taught LeSueur to make this knot. He goes home tomorrow, weird stuff!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Well that's it for the week. So I was cut short and now I'm going to eat lunch. Until next week!!
 
Com amor e fé,
 
Élder Hamilton
Missionário d'A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias
Ala Cabo Frio, Estaca Macaé - Missão Brasil Rio De Janeiro
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, November 3, 2014

Meu Proposito (My Purpose)

Meus queridos,

Wow, what an unanticipated week. Don't know how this happened, but this was probably one of the roughest and greatest weeks of my mission.

So, more about the area. São Pedro is in "A Região dos Lagos" or "the lake region" of Rio and there are many beautiful beaches, the ocean and lakes. We are trying to concentrate our work here around the town center in the neighborhoods where it is more likely to have a new church. Me and Elder Morales are starting together really well. We've really gotten to know each other. I've never had a companion like him. I'm really learning to make sacrifices to help my companion be the better half and the love is rubbing off on our investigators.

After almost a year and a half into the mission, I finally cried for the first time while teaching investigators. We are working really hard with this family, Adriana and Miguel. We set dates for them for this coming saturday, when their circumstances became really difficult.  Miguel has spent this last week taking care of his mom who had an emergency, and their family has been going from some rough times. When we taught Adriana about fasting, I shared my testimony and experience of how fasting has blessed my family, and it was one of those moments where the spirit was so strong and we could see and feel her change of heart. Now we are fasting together to help their family become prepared for baptism.

Well my time is dying. I wanted to say so much more, so I will give a quick version of the weekend that I truly learned to love and work with my mission president.  You can ask me more about it when we meet again.  These last 6 or so months have honestly been really rough and I have been full of questions and sometimes even doubt about my purpose here. This weekend I was privileged to spend even more time with him between interviews, trainings, and a missionary activity with our zone. I have learned how truly inspired he is. The trust and gratitude he has expressed in the work I am doing. And as much as my head has been spinning and feelings of doubt that the inimigo throws at me, I have come to understand the unique purpose I have in the team of the Rio mission. And I am so greatful for my loving mission president and the honor I have to work with him.

That's it. Love you all!
 
Élder Hamilton
Missionário d'A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias
Ala Cabo Frio, Estaca Macaé - Missão Brasil Rio De Janeiro