Just a quick note this week. I have a busy day today and wanted to let everyone know I am doing great! Here are a couple pictures:

 

Foto um: I love the views here. Although my área is a little sketchy. My mom would not approve of it. Quite a bit of crime and violence around me here. We hear "tiros" quite often and saw a bomb explosion from across the street this week. I love Barreto:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foto dois: Élder Medieros and I made a new friend!

I´m really happy. So happy that its really bugging me. I should be more frustrated, desperate, and stressed because I am really struggling with the language and am practically of no help. I have the faith that I will eventually learn the language, and am praying for the patience to endure until that time. I wonder why am I the one who actually got a visa and what my purpose is right now.

 

Hope all is well. Love you all!

 

Tchau

  

Élder Hamilton

Missionário de A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias

Ala Barreto - Missão Brasil Rio De Janeiro

Bom dia!

 

This has been quite the week! Full of lessons and invitations, sweet and stressful and tranquilo and joy and all that great stuff.

 

I wish I had time to talk about all the great investigators we have right now, but that simply wouldn´t be possible. We have so many! It´s awesome. 15 mais o menos. We picked up 11 new investigators this week.  Brasileiros are the bomb! They are the nicest people I´ve ever encountered. They think with their hearts and are sensitive to the influence of the Spirit. They are open minded and willing to serve God. They also like to talk. A LOT. And they talk very fast. They are such fun people and I am falling more in love with the country and the people as I am better able to understand what they are saying.

 

The language has been quite killer. Practically no one here speaks English, and if they  aren't missionaries, they don´t like to speak it. With all the confusion and awkward encounters, I have had a lot of doubt floating around in my head. At the peak of my discouragement, I received a miracle. Stake conference was this weekend and guess who was there? Elder Steven Snow!! (of the 1st quorum of the Seventy.) He gave such amazing talks. And he spoke English! And strangely enough, he talked about learning a language on his mission! He served in Germany and struggled with the language.  He talked about how much compassion he has for missionaries learning a language. He said that through patience, faith, and diligence, he was able to learn German and that he was ready when he was needed. It was a struggle that was well worth it and has blessed his life. So I´m stoked now!! I feel revamped and ready. I know that I am one of thousands of missionaries who the Lord can trust to endure this challenge, and I know that no matter how hard it will be, it will be well worth it.

 

Well I´ve got to go... Até logo!

 

Élder Hamilton

Missionário para A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias

Barro Vermelho - Rio De Janeiro

 

 

Niterói Zona (best zone in the mission)

 

 

 

Oi tudos!

 

I hope everyone had a great conference weekend! If you haven´t watched conference yet, go watch it! I suggest watching Elder M. Russell Ballard´s talk on missionary work. We are in an exciting era of the Hastening Of The Work and time is more than ever for us to share the Gospel. It was a very inspiring conference and it gave me the comfort and direction I need to get through this time in my life that is even harder than I expected it would be.

 

So for those of you who don´t know yet, I´m in Brazil!!! I received my visa a couple weeks ago and am going on my 7th day in Rio. Out of the wave of 24 new missionaries (well at least new to the Rio de Janeiro mission,) I am one of the five lucky Americans that came this week.

 

My new companion is Elder Medeiros, and he is so legit! He has only been on the mission for 3 months (two less months than me!) and he is training me while taking on the responsibilities as district leader! He is an amazing missionary and I am learning so much from him. We are serving in the Ala Barelo in Barro Vermelho. I feel like I´m living the dream. I get fed the most AMAZING food and I can eat all that I want because by the time I get home from a long, fun day of hard work, I´ve already sweated all the weigh off! Yeah, doesn´t get much better than that! Rio is so pretty and fun and crazy and exciting! I have a feeling it will be hard to go back home at the end of my two years.

 

But great as this all is, Português is really hard right now. My companion is a Brasilheiro so we don´t talk a whole lot right now. And the people of Rio are so hard to understand! They talk a million miles and hour and add a "shh" sound to everything! Sounds like people are just telling me to be quiet. As slow going is the language is, I can´t help but to smile and be happy. One because that is about all I can offer right now, but I have so much to be grateful for right now! Through my patience and faith, I am witnessing God blessing me with the gift of tongues. I am so grateful for everything I currently can offer already as a missionary, and I look for to the rest of my time here in Rio!!

 

Because I am in the new mission now, here is my new address:

 

Elder Alexander James Hamilton

Rua Dois de Dezembro

78 Salsas 703/704

Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro-RJ

Brasil 22220-040

 

I love hearing from you all. So if you´d like, please write to this address, and I will right you back! Remember to use international stamps or 3 american postal stamps. While my email time is limited, also remember that you can always email me at alexander.hamilton@myldsmail.net.

 

Well I hope all is well! I love you all and godspeed!!

 

Amo,

Élder Hamilton

Missionário para A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias

Barro Vermelho - Rio De Janeiro

 

 

 

Notes & Letters!

We just received this e-mail from the mission office:

Irmãos Hamilton´s,

  

Informamos que o Elder Hamilton chegou na Missão em 01 de outubro. Seu testemunho e desejo de servir são contagiantes. 

 

Agradecemos por seu apoio e por suas orações. Estamos certos de que será uma época de muitas bênçãos para ele e para toda a sua família.

 

Com amor e fé,

 

Pres. Lima e Sister Lima

  

"O trabalho missionário é a seiva vital para o crescimento do reino."  Pres. Thomas S. Monson

 

Here is the translation (thanks google!):

 

Hamilton Family,

Please be advised that Elder Hamilton arrived at the Mission on 01 October. His testimony and desire to serve are contagious.  Thanks for your support and for your prayers. We are sure it will be a time of many blessings for him and his entire family.

With love and faith,
President and Sister Lima

"Missionary work is the lifeblood for the growth of the kingdom." Pres. Thomas S. Monson

 

 

The office also sent a picture of a letter Alex wrote while at the mission home:

 

I've made it to Rio!  It is beautiful here.  It reminds me of San Francisco, just more tropical.  I'm writing this from the stake center in the city (Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro).  I've already caught a glimpse of the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain.  I think I'm going to love it here.  President and Sister Lima are awesome!  They are so loving and welcoming.  They don't speak much english, so I will have to learn portugese quickly.  I am going to love having President Lima as my mission president.

 

Here is my address:

Elder Alexander James Hamilton

Missao Brasil Rio de Janeiro

Rua Dois de Dezembro 78

Salas 703/704 - Flamengo

Rio de Janeiro - RJ

22220-040/Brazil

 

 

 

Quick update

Alex was able to send us a quick message that he has arrived in Rio!

Rio is awesome! So pretty and cool. It´s raining today. My companion knows no english and I have no clue what people are saying, but I know I´m going to love it here.  I'm in a community just outside the main city called Barro Vermelho.  Here are some pictures from my apartment balcony:

 
My companion is Elder Mereidos.  He is from Sao Paulo and has been out for 3 months.  He is a great missionary and I am excited to work with him.  Presidente Lima is awesome!  He is kind and loving and very inspirational.

Please pray that I will pick up the language quickly.  It's rough trying to communicate and I feel bad for my companion or anyone who needs to talk to me.  I want to be able to do my part in sharing this gospel.

 

Élder Hamilton

Missionário para A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias

Barro Vermelho - Rio De Janeiro

 

 

Traveling

Alex is traveling to Rio today!  Next update 10/7.

Bittersweet Week

Oi tudos!

 

I'm sorry that this post will be so brief. I have a very busy day and want to get everything done this P-Day that I can to prepare for Brazil!!

 

I think I've worn my yellow Mormon Helping Hands shirt this last week more than I have white shirts and ties. We have been assigned to help with flood relief. We spent all weekend helping clean one home in Berthoud. When the missionaries first got there, the basement was flooded with up to 9 feet of water and mud. After emptying that out bucket by bucket, we disposed of everything. Drywall, carpet, valuables. You could tell it was a really nice home by the layout. It is such a tragedy to see all the people who have been affected and how so many people have lost everything. It's certainly humbling to be here right now and helps me realize how important it is to serve God and His children. I hope that this helps the people of Colorado to turn to what's truly important here on this Earth and to know that Heavenly Father is right there to bring happiness in this life.

 

Next time you'll hear from me, I'll be in Rio de Janiero! I can't believe the time is coming, and so fast. I almost don't want to leave... I am going to miss Colorado and the people here so much. But regardless, I am happy to serve the Lord where, how, and when He wants me.

 

How great is my calling!

Elder Hamilton

Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Centennial Ward - Greeley, Colorado