Poder de Oração (Power of Prayer)

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you are enjoying it for me, because they don´t really have Halloween in Brazil. Eu terei falta pelo Halloween... Tanto faz.

 

So I almost died this week. Elder Medeiros and I got 2 referrals from members in the ward this week that were in the favelas. Because they were referrals we were permitted to go. So Friday, we went and looked for the first one. We were greeted by a kid (probably 17 or 18) with a walky-talky sitting on a wall in the alley. Elder Medeiros asked the kid if he knew a Carlos and where house number 105 was, and the kid responded "sei não, sei não" (I don´t know x2). So we kept walking to look for Carlos. I would´ve shared a quick summary of the restoration to let him know that we are legit, but it was too late. We found the house and were answered by a different man. While Elder Medieros talked to the man to see if Carlos was there, I happened to look back and made eye to eye contact with the kid while he was in the middle of a handoff. He then talked into his walky-talky and a motorcycle came racing down the hill. As the bike got closer, me, Elder Medieros, and the man we were talking to turned around to see what was going on. As I turned around, I stuck my chest out a little bit to make sure my name tag well seen. There was one guy driving and another guy on the back with a pistol checking us out as they were passed.... Luckily, he didn´t shoot and they drove away. Carlos wasn´t home, so we were happy to leave.

 

After that experience, I was a little reluctant to go into more favelas the next day. But I was so glad we followed up with that second referral, because we found a beautiful family of 3 who we are now teaching! All of our investigators recently have been either single or widowed and we have been praying to find just ONE family to teach, and how many new "legal" families do we have now? Four! The power of prayer is so awesome! I love how, Nephi teaches that as we have true righteous desires, the Lord will "consecrate our prayers". I am so grateful for that truth. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God". He is always there, He is always listening to the prayers of His children, and He is ready to pour out the blessings unto us. I am reminded of that every time I open my mouth here.

 

Ser Mórmon é ser feliz.

 

Élder Hamilton

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

Ala Barreto - Missão Brasil Rio De Janeiro

 

 

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.