Arriving Home!

From Mom: Howard arrived home with another missionary to the SeaTac International Airport on Jan 23, 2014. Both families had a great number of family members so we caught quite a bit of attention. Posters are always good, too.

Our home was once again alive with energy. Howard showed us all his treasures from Brazil and even some clothing he had picked up.

We are excited to catch up and hear about his adventures and his testimony.

1 Semana!

It's getting real everybody; I think this will be my last email on the mission....AAAAAAHH!!! CRAZY!!!.

I will miss Brazil for sure, the people, the language, the culture. But it's over. But I´ll be back...

This week was different. As we were working, a member called us that a relative of hers was going to die unless she got a blood transfusion from a rare blood type...which I have.

And so we ran to the nearest hospital to try to donate and we called everyone to get permission to donate. Missionaries are not allowed to donate blood, but we decided to give it a try. 

We went to the hospital and they checked my blood to see if I could donate and they told me to come back the next day to donate, but as we walked home Sister Castro called us and we explained what was happening and she said that we couldn't donate. And we got really nervous and sad that maybe she´d die. So we just went home, trying to contact president. He called us at like 10:40pm and told us that he had called the area doctor to get permission to donate and we got approved. 

The next day we donated and relaxed at home for a bit and thankfully nothing bad happened. The sister who needed the blood received it and is almost all better.

Other than that the week went good and we are trying to baptize one more time.

I'm excited to see you all soon

Elder Willard

Two Semanas

Its almost over.....

This week was very spiritual with lots of feelings of love for members and our investigators.

We had lots of great meetings with the spirit and I will miss the mission a lot for sure.

I'm realizing the I will not miss walking in the sun, hearing people say no, dealing with people that chew us out and treat us badly, but I will miss teaching people the gospel of Jesus Christ, the eternal truths that bring us happiness and eternal life.

I, as a representative of the Lord, invite all, member or non-member, to read and ponder about the 

Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true. I testify that it is true, that the Lord wrote for us, and that it teaches all men to do good. And I promise that all those that sincerely seek an answer will find one. I want all of you to be happy forever and only Jesus Christ can do that for us.

See you all soon,

Elder Willard 

3 Semanas

Well only one baptism happened, but it was great anyway. Malvina is 73 years old and got baptized on Saturday by my companion, Elder Bispo.

This week has been terrible hot with little success because of the Holiday, everyone was or is traveling to visit relatives or to escape the heat. But we got another baptism next week (we hope) with Juliana. I´m getting a little trunky, as we say here when someone is think about home more than he should. It’s also becoming super difficult to sleep at night because of the heat. But it’s alright, it’s almost over.

Hope everything is going good back home.

A Expiação é real, o poder cura vidas e muda nossos hábitos se deixarmos. Senti na minha vida e preciso ser mais humilde para mudar meu atitude para ser em harmonia com os ensinamentos do Senhor Jesus Cristo. Ele já pagou o preço, vamos receber esse presente com braços abertos.

[The Atonement is real, the healing power lives and change our habits if we let it. I have felt it in my life and I need to be more humble to change my attitude to be in harmony with the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. He already paid the price; we receive this gift with open arms.]

Love you guys,

Elder Willard

4 Semanas

Well, it’s Christmas time and it’s super hot....que triste.

A women at church asked me if I have O negative blood (which I do) and asked if I could donate to a women in the hospital who has been waiting 2 weeks to do a surgery and I happily agreed.  I went to the hospital today but they didn't accept my blood because I took some antibiotics almost a month ago...dang it.

Last week we had our Christmas conference and it was about obedience and the importance of keeping the commandments. Everybody, I think, left a little burned and with a desire to be better, which is good.

I think we have 3 baptisms on Saturday WOOHOO!

I´m getting a little annoyed with missionaries that apply their own understanding of the scriptures and not what the profetas have taught us.

Pray every day, read the scriptures every day and you will not go astray.

Elder Willard

Merry Christmas (Feliz Natal)

5 Semanas

Well this week was difficult. It was terribly hot and lots of people are traveling so it was difficult to find people at home. It’s still hot.

Sister Castro has started a new rule that all missionaries have to take showers two times a day because of the heat. I won’t complain, but I live with 3 other missionaries.

Sacrament meeting didn’t have lots of people because of the holidays, but it was cool because I got to sing, Pequena Vila de Belém (O Little Town of Bethlehem) which was pretty spiritual.

We are talking to lots of people and inviting them to hear our message and to get a free DVD about Christmas, but not many leads yet.

Learning more and more how the spirit works and how it helps us to do what’s right. I feel like I´m at the top of my game, right before I go home, which is sad.

I would really, really like to be home for Christmas but I’ve got to keep working.

Arrependimento é real, Nós podemos ser purificado de pecado se nos arrependermos. A Expiação foi feito, temos que só arrepender-se. Tenha a coragem de arrepender-se e encontrará paz.

[Repentance is real, we can be cleansed of sin if we repent. The Atonement was made, we only repent.

Have the courage to repent and find peace.]

Falta pouco.

Elder Willard

6 Semanas

Well Our Zone leaders got transferred; one went home and the other become assistant to the President. He was my junior companion about a year ago: I’m so proud.

Well I was not transferred and I will die here with Elder Bispo, which will be good I hope. My throat got better...all by itself.

We are struggling to find people to teach but we´re talking to everyone. We are learning that the most important part of our work is quality not quantity.

Anyone can give a one minute lesson about something important but what counts is finding a quiet, calm space where you can teach in a way that helps a person feel and recognize that we are servants of the Lord and that he called us to do his work.

Someone has got to get baptized soon or I´ll go crazy.

Falta muito pouco mas no mesmo tempo...bastante.

Até logo

Elder Willard