Conference was fantastic!

Another week gone and out in the good ole Santa Cruz. Sorry that I didn’t send a main email last week, but this week, I’ll leave a solid message. Conference was amazing last week. Many questions and doubts were responded to. Conference had many highlights. I loved D. Todd Christofferson’s thoughts on Christ’s atoning sacrifice. I loved his commentaries on the sacrament. Every piece of bread is unique like every partaker is unique. God and Christ know all of us perfectly. I loved Elder Rasband’s thoughts on God’s perfect plan. God’s plan doesn’t contain coincidence or chance.  It is perfect. Quentin L. Cook’s talk on humility showed me the importance in forgiving others, serving with only others and God in mind, and how every church calling requires humility. Neil A. Andersen’s quote on “we don’t know everything, but we know enough” was an answer to one of our investigator’s prayers. Overall, conference was fantastic, and I could talk about the talks forever. Man, I’ve really come to appreciate the words of the prophet, apostles and General Authorities. To make the conference even more sweet, we had the baptisms of Henrique and Helena. After twenty years of waiting, studying, and pondering, Helena was baptized by her son, Bruno, who has waited forever for this moment. She cried throughout the meeting. Henrique, on the other hand, was baptized after just 2 weeks of getting to know the church. Despite different backgrounds, both had huge desires to enter the waters of baptism and be cleansed of their sins. It’s funny here in Brazil, everyone thinks that you have to be nearly perfect after your baptism, but that simply is not true. We know that after we are baptized, our lives will still be hard, we will be faced with the same temptations, and none of us will be perfect. What matters are the desires of our hearts. If we desire to chose the right and learn with our inevitable mistakes, we shall fulfill God’s plan for us. This week, I did an in depth study on desires as members, missionaries and non members. I learned that many types of desires exist whether they are good or bad. I could really take a step back and look at my desires and how these desires affect my life. I know that God wants us to have excellent desires. Look at Peter and John the Beloved. Peter’s desires to return to his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ was great, but John’s desire to remain on the earth preaching the Gospel was excellent. Excellent desires bring more responsibility, happiness, and spiritual growth (Doctrine and Covenants 7).  Look at Alma who had a desire to be an angel to announce God’s word to all. I know that excellent desires allow miracles to happen, make us more loving and humble. May we all have excellent and righteous desires in all aspects of our life. The week was great and ended with the baptisms of Henrique’s brothers, Marcos and Vitor. How sweet the joy to see God’s children follow His son through baptism. I know that these things are true.

Love, Dave

baptisms of Marcos and Vitor

Early mornin run to the blue cruz

hiking in the mato

just chillin

lots of catholics here in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz looks like down town Paly

White Conference

Baptisms of our Branch this Sunday after Conference

With the family of Bruno, Bira, and Bira´s mom for Helena´s special day

Henrique´s baptism with his bros Marcos e Vitor who will get baptized next week

Had a crazy storm and forgot about my pants that I put out to dry.... ja era

P-day da Zona Paint ball

Zone photo with Presidente Campos

Authority is undeniable

This week had highs and lows and many inbetiveins. This week, I was doing my daily language study, and I decided to open to a random chapter in the Old Testament. To my luck, I opened to Deuteronomy 10. So I began to read out loud to practice my pronunciation. Let’s just say the chapter struck me. In verse 12, the Lord tells Israel that all he requires of him is to love and serve Him. The Lord also requires him to keep the commandments. However, this love/service is not an easy task. The Lord implores Israel to serve with all his heart and soul. As a missionary, this is my goal that I can dedicate and sacrifice my weakness (Omni 1:26) to develop more Love for my Savior, Heavenly Father, and all his children. I love verses 14 and 15, “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.  Only the lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them” The Lord created EVERYTHING that we can imagine and more, but of all of his creations, he finds Joy in his children’s love for him. These few scriptures filled me with the spirit and gave me a greater desire to be more grateful, loving, and kind, because I want my Lord to rejoice in my love for him. Overall, a great language study!

We had many great experiences in the area this week. One included a lesson with Jão Luis. We were knocking doors when I felt that we needed to knock a door of a pretty rich house. I knocked and an old man with shirt off and bible in hand came to the door. He started to preach to us about his biblical studies, church experiences, and revelations… I’m not quite sure, but I know that the spirit provided a way for us to enter his house. In the beginning of the lesson, he was completely closed off, but when I recited the first vision, something changed in him. After he asked us, “But prophets can see God? Show me an example in the Bible.” After we found his doubt, we began to teach with POWER and AUTHORITY. Man the spirit was so strong. And when I thought he would get offended and defensive after claiming his church didn’t have prophets/authority, I learned an important lesson. When we teach and testify with authority, no one can deny because first off, the spirit is so strong, and second off, no one can deny this feeling of truthfulness sent from God. At the end of the lesson, he graciously thanked us and said we had answered a long time doubt of his. Another special experience was with Helena. Helena is a mother of 3 super intelligent kids, and had recently undergone a heart procedure. Her son got baptized last year, Bruno. He is 18, but she has been going to church here in Santa Cruz for 20 YEARS! On Wednesday, we decided to give Helena, and her husband, Bira, a visit. Never have I seen a non member with a testimony so strong. We asked her how she was feeling about the church and about being baptized. She lowered her head and looked to the ground, I expected the worst, but what she said shocked me. She told us that her time had finally come and that she had wanted so long to follow because of her desire of knowledge and preparation. She told us that a heart filled and humble prayer had given her a feeling or revelation from God that He doesn’t require us to be all knowing or perfect in anyway. He wants us to be willing to be imperfect and willing to use Christ’s sacrifice to become a little better everyday until the day arrives when we are perfected in him. Her testimony was powerful, and I honestly felt privileged to be one of the missionaries who has participated in her conversion. We marked her baptism for Sunday next week. Her son, Bruno, will baptize her, and she told us that in October, she will go to the temple. Let me tell you, these are just two stories of many miracles that happened this week. I wish I could tell you about all of them, but my time is up. My testimony was strengthened so much this week. I don’t know who reads these emails, but whether you are a member with a strong testimony, weak testimony, in-active or non member, God’s authority is here on this earth. He created the heaven and the heaven of the heavens, we are his humble children, and I know that we must love him. No trial is too great, no sin too grave, God’s love is forever provided through His son’s, Jesus Christ’s great and eternal sacrifice. These things are true and will forever be true. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

We made breakfast burritos for zone conference.... ten pounds of bacon

My comp with the bacon... hah

It was a week of gaucho holidays so we celebrated by doing an in house churrasco

Fruit salad with... Orange, mango, papaia, kiwi, bananna, apple, pear, melon, grape, and pineapple... all of the fruit totaled 8 dollars... I love Brazil!

Was up my family!!!!!!!!!

It's time to get started with the adventure in Santa Cruz. Let's see, where can i start... This week I will give you a little update on the area, comp, and investigators.  Well, Santa Cruz is nothing like the Santa Cruz in CA.... No beaches.... But the city is super pretty. AND LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE HILLS. Man 1 year on the mish, and I have never passed in an area with hills... well here in Santa Cruz, it is all hills. To my suprise also Santa Cruz doesn't look like your normal Brazilian city... it is more like Canela or in other words pretty americanized or europeanized in terms of style and houses. Everyone is german and catholic here which can have its difficulites, but we are creating a good group of investagators through working with the members. We found a great family of inactives that went to church this week and still have some members that need yet to be baptized... Also, we are teaching the boy friend of a member inactive named Albert.... Lol he is so ready to be baptized and said he was willing to completely change his life to follow god. This week we had the baptism of Paula.... She is the neice of a recent convert, and I have never seen someone so ready to be baptized. She literally accepted all of our invitations and commandments so willingly and knew that it would be a blessing for her and her family... We are trying to teach her mom but she is deaf so it will be a little complicated. My comp Elder Rocha Neto... Is hilarious. He is from Recife and has 1 year 8 months on the mish... We are always crackin up in the street and have a ton of similar interests. He has been out here in Santa Cruz for 2 transfers, and we got a lot of big goals for this transfer. We also live with another dupla of a crazy Elder from argentina and a verdinho (greenie or new missionary) from Kirkland, Ohio.... The dude sings let me tell you. Overall, that is the weekly update here in Santa Cruz... other sidenote, we are teaching an amazing family who recently moved from a small town in the middle of nowhere. The husband is a member inactive and served a mish in Manaus.... His kids got baptized a few weeks back, and now his wife is preppin to be baptized. They are the most amazing fam ever, and we are gonna have  FHE there today... Brownie time ahaha. Have an awesome week and know that you are all in my prayers ....

Love 

Elder Bodine

Paula´s baptism

Dessert at member´s houses (this is why Missionaries gain weight)

The Week is Gone!!

I honestly don’t know how this week passed so fast. I feel like I was here yesterday typing this email. The week was fantastic! We were hoping to leave the week with a couple baptisms but our investigators still need a little more time to prep. So next week we should have a couple.

This week I continued to focus on prayer, and we had a marvelous experience. On Thursday, all of our lessons had fallen through, and we were left with nothing to do at 7 pm. In our daily planner, my comp’s back up-back up plan was find a family. So we said a prayer and went off. I was feeling pretty in tune with the spirit and was praying constantly. I felt that we needed to cross Avenida dos Maias, and work a neighborhood we’ve never worked before. When we crossed the street, I knew that after the 3 roads we passed we needed to take a left. The third left we walked into a beacon (don’t know in English cul de sac). Then we arrived to a green house, and I had the strongest feeling to knock here. So we knocked (clapped), and a teenager named Alan came out. I chatted it up with him and asked if we could share a message. He said of course, went back out in the house and grabbed his dad. We talked with his dad Clairton who said that we could come in. He went back in the house and 5 minutes after, he came back out and let us in the house. After all the waiting, I was confused, but when we got in the house, Clairton’s wife, Isabella, told us that she had just got in bed to sleep, when we arrived at the door. Her husband wanted to hear the message, she decided to get out of bed and listen too. She told us that the “message” better be good.  After a super spiritual lesson, Isabella asked how we found their family? And how we convinced them to let us in? We explained about the prayer we said, and that we are truly messengers of Jesus Christ. After they excitedly received her new Book of Mormon, she told us we have to come back. They also gave us a reference of a family who lived across the street. The next day, we went and found a family of 6 who loved our message of the plan of salvation. The mom cried during the message. After this experience, I thought, “Why can’t I always be so in tune with the spirit, so focused?” In that moment, I was so full of faith and power that I knew what was going to be the result. I love 1 Nephi 7:12 that tells us God is able to do everything and anything for us if we exert faith. The miracle never comes before the faith. After reflecting on that quotation, I realized that I am able to always be super in tune with the spirit if I’m willing to develop more faith, pray always be obedient, and focused on my purpose as a missionary. I’ve always loved 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” We have to be firm, steadfast and immovable in God’s work. As a missionary no extra effort is in vain. I love this work and this Gospel. Nothing compares!!! I love the people and culture of Brazil! I love the power of prayer! I love being a member of my Heavenly Father’s army. I love seeing my own spiritual progression and the spiritual progression of others. I love my Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. Have an awesome week.

Dave

Division with Alvorada... I went out with Elder Romero.... from Arizona... super chill 

Lunch today

streets of Porto Alegre... pretty right.. not

E ai fam!!!

Another week in the Park done and out…Let me tell you the area is crazy. So many families, friends, and kids to teach. Honestly, I have never seen an area more blessed. Let me tell you about a crazy happening this week. Here in the Park (name of the ward), there are 2 companionships. The other day, I did a division with Elder Pariente from Uruguay and had an awesome day. The next day a stranger and all news programs newspapers showed 5 people who were murdered on the street we were working on during the division. Don’t worry mom, my half of the area is way safer. But I’ll always keep an eye out and testify that missionaries are protected when they are doing what is right.

This week I’m going to hit on the importance of prayer. As missionaries, our first invitation for our investigators is to pray and ask God if what we teach is true. I love an example of this in Doctrine and Covenants. In Section 6, Christ speaks with Oliver Cowdery about his request to translate/receive the gift to translate the Book of Mormon. After speaking/testifying to Oliver in section 6, Christ invites Oliver to pray unto Christ to gain a second witness of those things that Christ testified. If Christ invites Oliver to pray, we must as well. (3 Nephi 19:30) This week, I focused on having more fervent prayers and praying more often. Let me say that asking with an extra effort for God is always a great thing. Being more thankful, praying for others, and talking with God about my day and what I need to improve has made a huge spiritual difference in my life. On the street, I try my best to pray often. I’ve developed a habit to pray with my comp several times in the street a day. It’s funny cause we say the prayer walking in the street, eyes open, out loud, and it seems pretty loud, but for me, it’s a serious, focused, inspired conversation with God. On Friday, we were walking the street when I said a prayer to find a family who would accept all the invitations we would give them. We felt inspired to visit some people, who turned out being alright. But at the end of the night, we felt inspired to visit a member who had recently moved to the ward. At her house, we found her family and another family of 5 with 3 girls 12, 8, 4 years of age. Super awesome family who is legally married and accepted all of our invitations during the spiritual message. The power of prayer is real people. My testimony of this simple but impactful principle has grown so much this week. I know that this church is true and our purpose as members is to keep the commandments and bring this gospel light to all places of the world, establishing God’s kingdom here on the earth! Doctrine and Covenants 6:6. Praying to God puts people ready to hear the gospel in your path!

Dave

Hey Family

This week flew by. This week I started my study of the Doctrine and Covenants, and I’m super stoked to get into a deep study of the revelations of the church. Verse 26 of the first section showed me that we first need to search for wisdom to be instructed. Revelation comes to those who search, study, pray, and work to do God’s will. Section 4 is our mission scripture that we repeat at all the meetings on the mish. Verses 22 and 35 of Section 5 show that obedience is the first law of the heavens and will get us to eternal life. Everyday I’m learning that the Doctrine and Covenants is an inspired scripture in these modern days. I’m loving every minute of study!

This week had many miracles. My comp and I are going to work visiting inactives, members, investigators, and asking anyone for referrals. One of the miracles of this week was Junior. Junior is the son of a recent convert couple. He is 31, super chill, and smart. His mom told me that he is pretty timid and never had had much interest in the church/God. I told her to invite him to our next lunch in her house. When we had lunch with Irma Maria, Junior was waiting to eat with us. We broke the ice and invited him to hear a message. He accepted, and he told us how he never believed in God up until 2 weeks ago.  Two weeks ago, his best friend was killed in the streets. He told us that he would do anything to help his friend be forgiven and return to God’s presence. So we promised him we’d help him. After 2 weeks of constant preparation, Junior was ready to be baptized. When we thought he was ready to be baptized, opposition did everything in his power to prevent his baptism. Junior’s friends tried convincing him that the church is crazy, he woke up with a horrible back pain, and lastly, his dad did not want him to get baptized. His dad, who is a member, didn’t think he was prepared enough to be baptized, but luckily, Junior stayed firm and was baptized in the end. Elder Fernandes and I both needed to get in the water to baptize him. He cried so much when his dad gave him a huge hug after the baptism. Made all the work worth it.

The other week, I shared a scripture about setting goals in the Old Testament. Right after I sent the email, I realized that the scripture had noda ver or nothing to do with goals. But in Job 22:28, we learn that if we decree or declare a goal unto the Lord, his light will guide us to achieve this goal. On the mish, I have many goals, personal, companionship, ward, district, zone, and mission. I know that if we are obedient, exert faith, and trust in the Lord, we will be guided to the achievement of these goals and progress to the greater goal of eternal life. I know these things are true. I love the Gospel and being a missionary.

Dave

Junior's baptismi

I'm enjoying the double bubble that my mom sent me