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

Week of Miracles

Brazilian holidays and district meetings has got me writing this email on a Wednesday.

This week was sweet!!!! hahaha. My comp and I saw so many miracles. It was awesome. Of late I have been praying a lot to find people who are really prepared to receive our message. This week we found so many great new investigators. My testimony of diligence and hard work has grown immensely over the last couple of weeks. I know that we have to focus on our purpose to see miracles both small and large. Focus = Progression.

First miracle was Josue. Josue is the son of a member in the church who started visiting a couple weeks ago. The other week he came up to us and asked us if he could be baptized... so we said of course. The last week we spent visiting him and his mom prepping him for baptism. His life story is pretty tragic. He got in an accident when he was about 13 years old and his mental state has stayed the same since then. Or in other words he is 50 years old but has the thoughts, ideas, and energy of a teenager. Overall he is an awesome guy. And his baptism turned out stellar. I said he was beyond happy the day of his baptism. His dad tried to stop his baptism, but he pressed forward firmly and said that there was no way that he wasn’t going to be baptized in the true church. His mom was unbelievably happy on the day of his baptism. 

One of the young women in our ward in our branch invited two friends to church last week. They are amazing. They have so many questions want to know what church is true, and have been attending seminary, church and ward activities.

This week while doing contacts in the street, we found a middle aged man who had little interest in our message. He told his wife about it and she went online to mormon.org to search about our church. She ended up chatting with a woman in Sao Paulo who sent us her address. We showed up at the house and found the same guy who we had mad the contact with... it was kind of trippy finding the same dude that denied us in the street, but we ended up having one of the most powerful lessons of my mish preaching about the power of the Book of Mormon. Everybody was feeling the spirit in that lesson. 

One investigator we have been teaching forever has a son who in the beginning had no interest in our lessons or god. He was actually atheist.  But he started to listen and his perspective changed. Last week he went to a stake dance and when he got back, he told me that everyone there was so happy and that he wanted to feel that same warmth. He will get baptized this week. Denner is such a stud haha. I never thought I would be so grateful for a  stake dance... just kidding stake dances are awesome. 

I can’t even begin to explain the countless miracles that happened this week. Thank you so much for your much needed prayers.... I love you all and hope you guys have an amazing week. 

Love 

Dave

Baptism of Josue.... I´m a giant here. 

P-day hike to the top of Monte da Fé

Everyone on the top of the mountain enjoyed our headstands... 

Monte da Fé 

It was freezing at zone conference with presidente... hoody and suit