Challenges bring growth

Well, this week overall was challenging. But challenge means growth, which is always good. Let me tell you some of the challenges of this week:

First off, huge respect to missionaries who served or are serving or will serve in parts of the world with rain. It rained 6 out of 7 days this week. I’m not complaining, but I can officially say that knocking doors in the pouring rain isn’t my fav activity. One of our investigators, Yara, is awesome. She’s 19, super smart, and reads super fast. She is already in Alma. We marked her baptism date and had her ready to be at church for the first time, but…she got in a fight with her mom and ran away to Porto Alegre. We haven’t heard anything from her. Another one of our investigators was psyched for her baptism this last Sunday. We had taught her and her family all the lessons, she has friends in the church, and she already was living all of the standards of the church. We called her Thursday to mark her baptism interview, and she told us that she doesn’t want to be baptized, and that she has no reason for her to join the church cause she never received an answer. As I pleaded with her to think about her decision and help her think about the answers she had really received, but she told me there was nothing that I could do to change her mind. As she hung up, I felt a lot of things…heartbroken, shocked, confused, broken, spiritless, and tricked. I had put everything into teaching her and her family, yet there was nothing that I could do to change her decision or agency. It took me a while to accept what had happened. But when I eventually did, I could say that I had put everything on the line, and there was nothing more I could do. I was reading in Philippians this week and several scriptures helped me feel at peace and regain focus. Verses 5-11 helped me see how Christ’s life wasn’t fair, but he still did everything for us because of his love. And like Paul, I can say that I can rejoice in Christ because I have not labored or run in vain. Through the mission, I can help others rejoice with me through preaching the good news of Christ. Overall, I see this week of challenges as inspired growth. We need the hard times, rough patches, and grind it through moments to become better in all things. It’s funny because I feel like pre-mission Elder Bodine would just be frustrated, impatient, and angry with a week like this. But after a year of a mission, I can happily take positives our of the negatives. Learn with this moment and move onto the next day with a positive attitude on everything. Thanks for all the love and prayers.

Dave

Brazilians fam who is moving to boston baptism... i made banana cake it was divine

My collection of coins over the last year.

Taquara sunsets

The beginnings of a french fry tower.....

The cooks

The fam with the final project... national monument

it was worth three hours of frying/cutting potatoes

Shout out to RIO..

Christ-like Love

This week was a solid missionary week, but not anything super memorable happened. Here are some of the main highlights.

            One of our investigators has been waiting to be baptized because her mom won’t give her permission. This week her mom came to church and really enjoyed it.  I’m hoping and praying that they can both be baptized.

            We got poured on 4 times this week, which made proselyting a little tricky, but we still managed to find some good investigators.

            I went on a division with Elder Soares, my companion in Canela, and we relived the glory days. We taught one of the families he is teaching, and I was amazed by how prepared they are to become members of the Church. They are also moving to Massachusetts in a month, so I was able to psych them up about the US. I was also able to tell them how hard it is when you go to a country where you don’t know the language (none of them speak English). They were an amazing family and will make awesome members in the US!!

            Made cheeseburgers with my comp, which brought me back to American food.

            Fixed the water system in our house so that we have hot water for the first time in 8 weeks.

            And learned a lot about seeing those I teach through the eyes of Christ.

Overall, this week was pretty forgettable, but I look back at it, and there are some pretty sweet highlights. This week I focused on the Christ-like attribute of love and tried to get out of my comfort zone and serve/love others. I loved reading in 1 Thessalonians chapters 1-3. Paul was an awesome, exemplary missionary. I honestly wish I could give you an in depth thesis of what I learned and discovered, but I do not have the time for that, so here is my take away. First off, be bold in what you preach. This gospel is true, and the work of God has power and brings the spirit so be bold in testifying, promising and inviting (1 Thess. 1:5, 2:2). Teach your students with love, gently, cherishingly, and affectionately, so that they can see God’s love for all his children (1 Thess. 2:7-11). Thank God when those you teach make progress, whether it be big or small (1 Thess. 2:13). In helping others become followers of Christ, we will find joy (1 Thess. 2:14, 19-20). As we love others, they well love us, and therefore, more will follow Christ, and we to can feel more joy. This week my desire to work was so great because of my focus on trying to love all.  I was happier than ever and could feel great joy when those I taught took one step closer to being a follower of Christ. I invite you all to be bold and be an example of Christ’s never ending love. Really think of how you can treat and love all those around you. Thanks for the prayers and love and have an awesome week!

Love, Dave

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there.  This week I received the wonderful opportunity to speak with my mother. She has always been such a great example to me. I am truly grateful for the never-ending love and support she gives to me. I love the story of the 2000 stripling warriors in the final chapters in the book of Alma. As we read verses 18-21 of chapter 53, we learn of the strong standards, characteristics and firmness these young men held and were examples of. It is only till chapter 57 that we learn that these men practice exact obedience because of the teachings of their mothers (verse 21). This story has shown me the priceless importance of having a loving and caring mother with a firm testimony in Christ. I can truly say that my mother’s example and testimony have carried me so far and molded me into what I am today. But most importantly, she has let me decide who I want to be and who I want to become. And like the young stripling warriors, I want to have a firm and focused testimony in Christ, trusting in him and His father continuously. I want to try my best to follow him with exact obedience. Overall, I love my mom and the wonderful person and example she is to me. I hope all you mom’s out there felt super special on your special day. But never forget that there is never a day where you stop being mom and therefor never a day where you stop being loved. Once again, thanks mom for being so awesome.

This week was pretty normal and of course had its ups and its downs. One of our investigators we had prepped to be baptized this week didn’t show up to church. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to have her baptism this week, but I hope and pray that it will all work out in the weeks to come. One awesome event this week was when we found a family with a daughter who is extremely interested. Her name is Yara, and she promised us a church visit, to read the Book of Mormon, and always pray. She is incredibly smart. Also, we met an extremely religious family who loved our message which took away some doubts about their church. They loved the message of the Book of Mormon. Overall, it was  a week where I could see progression in myself.

The highlight though was a wonderful talk home with the fam and mom. I love you all and thank you for the support and prayers.

Love, Dave

PS Keep praying that we find people who are prepared to hear our message and make covenants with Heavenly Father.

Happy May!!!!!

Another great week in the books. It wasn’t quite as eventful as last week, but it was still awesome. Some of the highlights included heading back to Porto Alegre, teaching tons of people, and the baptisms of Dener e Rainer.

Dener and Rainer are awesome. Let me tell you the story of them. Dener and Rainier are the 2 sons of Alini, on of our investigators. When we first taught Alini, Dener barely talked and Rainer hid in his room. Alini told us how Dener was an atheist and Rainer had little or no interest in church. We slowly started to talk to them about music, soccer, work and build an amizade (friendship). Then we started to throw in small messages. Eventually, Dener went to a stake dance, and everything changed. He started to have a desire to hear our message and pray. His example helped Rainer see the importance of God’s plan for us. This week was awesome because we met with them everyday and conversed and clarified questions. Then, Dener told me he was ready to get baptized leaving his old habits, coffee addiction, and beliefs in the past. Rainer quickly followed his decision. Their baptism was awesome. Super spiritual, and they were smiling the whole time. Also, they set an awesome example for their mom who has been having problems with the law of chastity. But I know she received an answer at the baptism and has a new desire to keep the commandments. Overall, highlight of the week was Dener and Rainer’s baptism!!

One other cool experience was when we returned to Josue’s house to reteach the lessons. Before his whole family hid from us when we arrived and even his 85-year-old dad cussed us out and told us we were going to hell because of our malicious actions. We got there, and mean pops was waiting for us at the doorstep.  He started off by saying a few rude things and to leave, but I just told him that we were at the house to share a message about God and his love for you, your family and me. He immediately calmed down, and we entered the front gate. Immediately after, I felt a new spirit in their house. The whole atmosphere had transformed only a week after his baptism. We got to share an awesome lesson with several members of the family including his crazy dad.

This week had so many other highlights, but overall, I learned a lot about gratitude. The mish is great because I can see my progression.  I love 1 Peter 2:21. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, the ye should follow his steps.”  Christ suffered for me and left his eternal example. How can I become more like him everyday? Be grateful for his sacrifice, apply His atonement in my life, and help others come to know the saving power of His suffering in Gethsemane. I would say that’s my mission in a nutshell. Through accomplishing or a least giving my absolute power to achieve this purpose, I can slowly progress to become like Him. It is never easy but it is always worth it. In verse 23 – 25, we are taught to live unto righteousness. What does it mean to live unto righteousness? (rhetorical question) I think for every person the answer could be different, but I know Christ is our pastor, and we are his sheep. In any high or low, struggle or triumph, He will be watching over us, showing his perfect love, and giving his eternal example. He truly is the author and the finisher of our faith, and through Him, it is so possible to sit beside his side (Hebrew 12:2). This knowledge is why I’m grateful. How blessed am I to share this knowledge with others. Thanks for all of your love, care and support.

Elder Bodine

With my good bud Elder Maciel whos now in his house..

My new bff in taquara

Alini is next 

Dener and Rainer baptism extravaganza

Baptizing Basics 101