Still building my testimony

This week flew by. There were many moments that built my testimony. First off, Patrick, whose baptism was marked for the first Sunday in February, decided to get baptized on this Sunday. His baptism was amazing, and he said he felt the spirit super strong. Also, an inactive family that we have been working with a lot went to church. We called them up on Sunday morning, and they were sleeping. But to my surprise, they told me that in 30 minutes they would be at church. They showed up, and the members loved seeing this family return to the ward.

Here in Caxias do Sul, my comp and I have both been focusing on working with members. I have learned on the mish that working with members is the best way to find people who are ready to be converted. With members working in on the fight, these investigators will have friends and members to depend on in times of need. One way we have been working with members has been visiting them at a time different than our planned meals. I remember as a member before the mish receiving visits from the missionaries always for dinner. Now that I think about it, it was rare to receive a visit at a different time. As a missionary, my comp and I have been visiting members spontaneously. So far, the results have been awesome. It is great to see the members desire to work. To help spark this desire, we have been inviting members to remember their first feelings of being with the missionaries, being baptized, and gaining his or her testimony. We always leave the message of the restored gospel, explaining how Christ’s perfect church was put on this earth once again through the prophet Joseph Smith. At the end of the message, we bear our testimonies and invite members to once again pray and ask God if these things are true. I know that God will never leave us without an answer. When we ask in faith, he wants us to know and reaffirm the truefulness of this gospel. Truly this has been a wonderful experience, and I invite you all to once again, or for the first time, ask if these things are true. He will show you. Thanks for the love and prayers.

Elder Bodine

 First time in a fusca (retro bug)

Baptism de Patrick

My comp said, "Man i love americans" as i took this photo. All of his comps have been Americans
pictured with a capybara

With the house mates Elder Lima e Elder Gomes

Mission Caxias

Well one week here in Caxias, and here is a little update on the week, area and comp. The week was solid. Physically, I’m tired. Mentally, a little stressed. Spiritually, I’m feeling edified everyday. Caxias is a lot like a mini San Francisco. The center of the city is very similar with many apartments and tall buildings. Also, the city is on top of some small hills/mountains so there are tons of hills here. The people are a little cold hearted. I’ve never been denied so much doing street contacts. Everybody is Italian in Caxias so that makes things a little more difficult. But, there are always amazing people to find. For example, my comp made a street contact with a young adult named Patrique. We got his contacts and showed up at his house the next day. Turns out, he had already frequented the church for a year, but his parents never let him be baptized. He loved the messages, went to church, and accepted to be baptized on February 3^rd. Overall, Patrique taught me the importance to speak with everyone. The members here are great. I already knew the Bishop and Pres. of Young Men because they lived in Canela. The trickiest part about the members is that the majority work which means lunch in restaurants. One of my fav parts is having lunch with members because that is how you get to know them, gain their trust, and receive wonderful referrals. The comp: My comp is Elder Martinelli. The guy is amazing. He is incredibly chill, obedient and focused. We are going to work amazingly together. He has got 8 months on the mish and is from Minas Gerais. He plays the piano, got huge knowledge of the scriptures, and is super sarcastic which I love. Overall, we are trying to do things that have never been done in Caxias. Big change and many converts coming our way.

One of my fave chapters in the Book of Mormon is Alma 26. I love it because it’s the ultimate missionary pump up chapter. I was reflecting a lot on versiculo 30. Sometimes on the mission we suffer, in life as well, but through suffering, we can change the lives of others and have personal growth which will lead to eternal joy. I love this work, I love being a representative of Christ, have a great week and share the Gospel with somebody.

Love, Dave

Streets of Caxias

Elder Martinelli and Eu

Good Bye Santa Cruz

Well it looks like my time here in Santa Cruz has come to an end. Between Canela and Santa Cruz, I’m not sure which area I love more. Let me tell you why I love Santa Cruz. First off, the city is surrounded by nature. Waterfalls, forests, monkeys, and so much more. Second that the church is small, but it is growing quickly. The members here are amazing. They feed us banquets on the daily, pick up our investigators, go teaching with us, support our crazy ideas (noite Americana), and treat us like representatives of Jesus Christ. Thirdly, it was the area where I saw the most people enter into the waters of baptism. The Lord blessed us to find prepared children of God. Fourthly, I became super close to so many missionaries including my German/Argentinian running buddy Elder Abretch, Guitar slaying Elder Southwick, 2 of my fave comps Elder Rocha Neto e Queiroz, e American bud Elder Tate. Overall, the last months have passed so fast because I have lost myself in serving the Lord. I can’t wait for the day to return to this city and visit and remember some eternal memories.

This week was once again amazing! We saw various miracles and saw much success in the zone. We started the week off with an awesome dynamic. We did an Easter egg hunt but with hand out church cards. The cards represented baptisms the Lord has been preparing for each companionship. It was awesome to see the excitement and desire to find these “baptisms.” I know that the Lord is constantly preparing his children to hear the message of the restored gospel.

One other highlight was the baptism of Tadeu. Tadeu was an incredible investigator. He started going to church because of our English class. Every Friday before the class I was able to teach and see the progression of this awesome young man. He read the Book of Mormon, arrived at church 30 minutes early, testified that he knew the church was the only true church on this earth, and marked his baptism date. He has lots of potential to be a future leader.

One of my favorite fams in Santa Cruz is Paulo e Linara. Paulo is active, served a mish in Manaus in 92, and trying to get his whole fam to be members of the church. 2 of his 3 step children have been baptized and none of his own children have been. Linara also has been waiting for 6 months for a divorce and the marriage to Paulo to get baptized. As I knew my time was coming to an end in SC, I was saddened by the fact that the family I most visited I wasn’t able to see be baptized. Everything changed when Paulo’s youngest daughter, Rayssa, and Linara’s youngest son, Guilhermo, came to live with them. They are both 12 and have an amazing enthusiasm for the gospel. Honestly, they were some of the smartest and most curious kids I have ever taught. After many challenging questions and a good talk with the parents, both Rayssa and Gi were ready to be baptized on Sunday. I have never seen 2 kids so excited to be baptized. Paulo life long member was thrilled to have his step son and daughter be baptized. The family is more united than ever, studying the scriptures and participating in family prayer. Their happiness brought me much joy. Unfortunately, a last minute family emergency resulted in the remarking of Rayssa e Gi’s baptisms. At first, I was saddened that I would be unable to participate in the baptism, but then accepted and acknowledged that what had happened was the will of the Lord. I love that family deeply and can’t wait to see the baptism photos next week.

Thanks for all the love, prayers and support. Sorry for the super long post, but I love Santa Cruz.

-Elder Bodine

PS I wil got to Caxias, the land of the Italians and hills.

FHE with Paulo Linara Guilherme e Rayssa

Finishing a 2000 piece puzzle

Tadeu Baptism

The week flew by!

Man the week flew by! We traveled to Porto Alegre and other cities nearby Santa Cruz. Overall, we spent just 3 days of our week in our area. Some of the highlights of the week included helping with 2 move ins of in-active members, a brownie/ice cream FHE, an amazing Friday night English class, a district attack (10 missionaries in our area) in a small city called Vera Cruz, and last but not least the baptism of Bira.

Let me tell you more about Ubirajara Freitos Soares. Bira is highly intellectual, successful in his work, and a born leader. People look to him and see power, authority, and success.  He is also an amazing father and husband doing everything to benefit his family. He was born and raised Catholic and had been a practicing Catholic for more than 48 years of his life.  About 20 years ago, Bira received a visit from the missionaries. After going to church and listening to all the messages, almost to the point to be baptized, Bira decided that he would stick in the Catholic church. 15 years after, his son Bruno began to investigate the church because of a close friend. After going to seminary everyday and Sunday church meetings, Bruno received/gained a testimony. When he decided to get baptized, his parents fully supported him and made him promise that he would stay active in the church. From then on and out, Bruno began to be a humble example for Bira and Helena. After 4 or 5 years of membership, Bruno began to fill out his papers for the mission. After his decision to serve a mish, his parents became more interested in the gospel. One week after getting to Santa Cruz, my companion and I could teach and mark a baptism date for Helena, Bruno’s mom. Her baptism was wonderful, and she is now a young women counselor. Bira, on the other hand, was quite a bit more complicated. After teaching for several months, bearing many testimonies, promising many blessings, resolving doubts, and imploring Bira to follow the feelings of the Holy Spirit, Bira decided to get baptized. The priest surprised him and told him to follow his heart and do what was best for his family. This family is easily my family away from home. They treat us missionaries like family and do anything for us. That is why on Saturday I felt so happy as Bruno baptized his father Bira. What a special moment that was to see a family filled with such great joy. Bira bore his testimony on Sunday that the joy was indescribable and that in one year his family would be sealed in the temple.

The gospel is so great because it makes families happy. Overall, the week was great. I was saddened to hear that our beloved prophet had passed away, but am thrilled to know that God will never stop calling prophets in these days. What a great blessing that is. One scripture that impacted me this week in thinking of how God, the prophet, and my leaders look to me was 1 Samuel 16:7. Here Samuel goes to the house of Jesse to choose the next king. After looking at and feeling nothing special with Jesse’s first 6 sons, Samuel asks if exists another. Jesse makes comment of his shepherd son David. I loved what the Lord says to Samuel, “Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” May we all learn to look and treat others as God would treat others. I love you all and I love this gospel. Dave

Baptism of Bira

10 Missionaries 1 area/ 1 lunch

House chapel

Elders of the District

 

The new band

Zone Activity