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

7 Semanas

I have some kind of throat infection that is not getting better. It’s terrible difficult to eat and swallow. And I´ve been to the doctor twice and have bought about 100 reais (50 dollars) in medicine that is not working,

I´m getting a little frustrated. I have about 4 red-white, inflamed holes in my mouth that look like popped blisters. Sister Castro told me to find a specialist here in Pelotas. The trick is the mission might not be able to pay for the visit; I would pay and then be reimbursed later. A consultation is like 250 reais (125 bucks)...let see what happens.

I didn't get to work a lot this week because we had some days that were difficult to talk so I stayed home.

I´m also trying to help my companion work more and be obedient. Transfers are next week, one more transfer and it’s all over. I think I need to work more. I getting so tired, but I will try to sprint to the finish.

Elder Willard

8 Semanas

Rosa was baptized and confirmed; we are super happy for her.

This area is a little difficult; we are talking with lots of people, but they aren't that interested in our message. But we are motivated and excited to keep going.

I´m getting really tired...

My companion is going through a tough time. His mother as apparently left home, had a fight with her sister has run away. And this isn't the first time this has happened. When he was 16 his mother abandoned him for almost two years, alone at home with two brothers, one with Downs.

We are trying to keep him motivated and focus on the work. Please pray for Elder Bispo (Beespo)

`eu irei cumprirei as ordens do Senhor...`

Elder Willard

9 Semanas

Well Rosa is gonna be baptized on Saturday and we are super happy. She seems to be excited as well; sometimes people that are close to baptism get really nervous.

This week was tough but we got a lot of work done with some good numbers at the end of the week. 

I went on a division (splits) with a missionary that goes home in 3 weeks and we talked about jobs and work after the mission.  I don't know what I want to do anymore; so many different things I can do. 

But I won't worry about it right now. I´ll figure it out at home...just have to keep working.

We are getting excited for Christmas to call home on Skype. Mom you don't need to send me anything, I´ll be home 4 weeks after Christmas and one week after my birthday.

Falta pouco,

Elder Willard 

In Tres Vendas

Well it rains a lot and it’s super humid all the time. We had some really cool people appear at of nowhere.

We were knocking doors and we taught a little old lady who accepted the challenge to be baptized and went to church on Sunday and has already got an answer from her prayers, just needs to stop drinking coffee.

Also we were deceived by a women on the street who said the following,

“I want to go back to your church and want to get baptized and I want to baptize my daughter, what do I need to do?” Obviously we got excited and invited her to church and everything. But later learned that she is already baptized and tries to scam the church, asking for help financially. She is involved in prostitution, drug trafficking and other crimes...apparently. She has already scammed many other missionaries and we have been asked to not visit her. Got to be careful.

But other than that we are working a lot, some baptisms are coming and we are happy. 

See you all soon,

Elder Willard

Switch 'em up

Well we had a little accident.

On Tuesday morning, I was standing at the bus stop with my companion and all of his luggage, waiting for the bus. Well, a missionary called me and said that my companion wasn't transferred and it was me that was. The missionary that called me likes to joke around so I didn't listen to him. And so we got on the bus and went to Porto Alegre, then I got a call from the assistants that it really was me that was transferred. And so I had to go back, pack my bags super-fast and go back to the station in Porto Alegre. There apparently was some miscommunication. But for everyone to know, I was transferred to Pelotas, again, with Elder Bispo and the area Tres Vendas.

The area is good and the ward is kind and helpful.

We had a really cool experience with a member who was having lots of problems. She was starting to doubt that God was helping her and that she didn’t know what to do. And we didn’t know what to share with her to help her.

I heard my companion say, “Me ajuda” and then he opened his Book of Mormon to a random page and read two scriptures in Mosiah about faith and miracles. After he read them the member started to cry and my companion as well (I didn’t because I´m made of stone).

Two days later we returned and learned that a huge problem she had was resolved and that the aid was of heaven.

We are really excited to start working here and to baptize.

Falta só um pouco.

Elder Willard

Surprise, no Transfer

I am not being transferred. I will stay and the missionary I trained is going to Pelotas. My new companion will be Elder Bispo (Elder Bishop...hehehe)

I don’t know anything about him but I´ve heard that his cool. Vamos ver. He might be my last companion.

I asked the President to leave me here in this area until I go home; looks like he will do it. I only have 2 transfers left. 12 weeks.

It feels weird that I’m almost going home. I feel like I just got here.

The family that got baptized got confirmed and are all happy. They have a few questions still and some doubts, like why we believe that God has a body of flesh and bone. But we are helping them out.

Elder Murilo is really happy to be transferred to Pelotas. He´s already tired of the area. It’s been 6 months since I got here and there is still a lot to do.

Hope everyone is happy.

Elder Willard

Last week in Aguas Claras

Well the family that was baptized didn't get confirmed on Sunday. Apparently Dad had to work but we learned later that the wife Danny had visited some anti-Mormon sites on the Internet...we don't really know what happened but will do are best to get them confirmed on Sunday.

We didn't have much success this week, but it’s part of the work. Well, that's great that Frazier is going back to the mission field in Florida speaking Portuguese.

Halloween is not celebrated in Brazil.

They have a holiday to visit cemeteries to see passed away family members.

I think it’s my last week here in this area. I’ll be transferred for sure. Even though I asked to stay. Vamos ver.

Only 2 more transfers and it’s all over, and no way to go back.

Thanks for the help and support,

Elder Willard

Lost Kittens

The family got baptized and everyone is happy; they are excited to get started with everything as members of the church. They just need to build a house on the property that they bought recently in Aguas Claras.

All Sunday morning we had a thunder storm with lots of rain and when we woke up we heard a baby kitten crying outside on the neighbor’s property. My companion jumped the wall and grabbed him; he was completely drenched and very little. We grabbed a rag and wrapped him up with the heater on. We left him on my bed because we had to go to church. 

After church, the baptism and lunch, we got home and we heard the kitten crying again, and two more baby kittens we at our doorstep as well, his brothers. It appeared that mom had brought them to the front door to keep all of her kids together. We opened the door, picked up the kitten and his brothers and we tried to give them milk.

A few minutes afterwards, mom showed up wanting her kids back and of course we gave them back.

Mom grabbed each of them, one by one, by their necks and carried them home. Very cool.

We are really excited to be here serving the Lord and to help people come unto Christ to be happy and to have eternal life.

 It’s getting difficult to write, talk and think in English.

 All is well here.

 Elder Willard

Miracle

Yesterday at conference, a family that has been investigating the church told me the 19th of this month is no good. I got confused, “What do you mean, 19th?” and they said, “Oh for our baptism, isn't it marked for the 19^th?”

We had invited the family last week to be baptized but they didn't accept. But now they have accepted and want to be baptized this week on Saturday. It’s a conference miracle.

Beyond that super miracle, this week was normal. Conference was great, but on Sunday I got frustrated because we showed up an hour late.

On Sunday we went to lunch a little earlier than normal to be able to get to church before 1 o´clock. When we got to lunch we learned that the family´s car had two flat tires. And the last bus to conference left right when we got to their house. No bus, no ride, no way to get to conference on time. So we walked to the nearest bus stop and got a bus. When we got off the bus an older women got off too walking with a cane. It was irmã Maria, she saw us and got excited and asked if we were going to conference. We said yes and she said, “Oh good because I’m always scared to cross the street alone. Can you guys help me?”

I think the Lord made us late to help her cross the street.

But it’s all good here, we are excited for the baptisms and a new week.

Elder Willard

Worst week of the Mission (so far)

It has been the worst week of the mission because we didn't teach anybody, really nobody. I got a migraine which was terrible, and stayed home for 2 days, then we worked in another area for a day, then a service project. Then we passed 2 days trying to contact all of our investigators but nobody was home or was busy.

It was pretty sad but we are happy; it’s part of the work. I got the package a few days ago, THANKS MOM YOU ARE SUPER FLY.

I´m having some problems with my companion. It seems like everything has to be done his way which is tiring me out. I just let him make all the decision and I don't say anything. If I critique him, he shuts down and stops talking. But it will get better...I hope.

Yesterday I shared some of my peanut butter (that came in the package) with Marlene. She said, “Que delicia.” Brazil doesn’t have peanut butter (that´s good and cheap). They have some kind of peanut butter that is terrible and expensive.

I´m learning new things every day, and I’m learning that I don’t know almost anything.

Go back to the mission field Frazier

Elder Willard

Semana Farropilha

Rain, rain, rain.

This week was a holiday here in Rio Grande do Sul.

Apparently a long time ago, the south of Brazil, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul wanted to separate from the rest of Brazil and be their own country, much like Texas. And apparently had a little mini war. But they ended up staying with Brazil. This holiday is called Semana Farropilha. Everybody walks around in their tradition `Gaúcho` clothes, eat barbecue, riding on horseback, dancing traditional `Gaúcho` music, and drinking Chimarrão.

But the rain pretty much destroyed the merriment.

Emerson was confirmed and received the Priesthood yesterday but it looks like he´ll get married and will move back to Canoas with his ex-girlfriend and be a member there. It’s great that he´ll be happy and get married and keep the commandments but...sad that he´s leaving.

We had the opportunity to work in another area last Friday and while we were knocking doors, we found a little old lady, who will turn 80 next month. She offered us food and shelter from the rain. She revealed to us that much of her family are members of the church and that she isn't. She also was very sad about her son-in-law who is dying of bone cancer. We shared with her how our families can live together forever and the importance of baptism. She readily accepted the invitation to be baptized and said that she would call a relative to baptize her.

It’s neat how the gospel cures us emotional and spiritual, if we let it.

I love you all.

Eat your vegetables,

Elder Willard

Baptizing in a Swimming Pool

We had a baptism in a swimming pool, I´ll send the pictures next week. His name is Emerson and he’s progressing a lot.

We had stake conference and 3 of our converts received the Melchezidek priesthood, which was awesome to see that the ward is helping out a lot.

We miraculously found a less active who has been trying to find the church who was asking everyone she knows if they have heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But no luck until we knocked on her door. She went to conference yesterday and is becoming active again.

We had transfers today and I will stay with Elder Murilo, so I will stay here for 6 weeks. I would like to stay here for the rest of my mission but I don’t know if it will happen.

I AM SUPER HUNGRY.

We had a lesson yesterday with a family that is having lots of problems with a rich aunt. The aunt claims that the dad of the family beat her. And without evidence, he has to go to jail for 90 days. Dad didn’t do anything and is terrified to go to jail and ran away, which makes matters worse because innocent people don’t run.

So we counseled the wife that we should keep the law of the land and that the dad should turn himself in. And after the truth come out, justice will be served. Apparently there are a lot of witness and evidence to support that the aunt is lying. It´s super crazy to tell an innocent person that they should go to jail.

The gospel was made to bless everyone, we just have to live it.

Get better mom,

Elder Willard

Monkeys!

I saw monkeys!!!!

He was on the side of the road eating leaves in this tree with 3 other monkeys.

We are teaching a man who was forced to leave his wife (really girlfriend, not married) because of problems with respect and disagreement in priorities.

The wife works too much and the husband wants time to be together. Emerson, the husband, is now leaving with his Aunt and Uncle and we are teaching him. He discovered for himself that the church is true because his whole life he has had doubts about the bible and lots of questions that no one could answer. But he told us that all of his questions are being answered through the Book of Mormon and now he wants to be baptized.

Emerson has also been struggling to know want to do about his wife; should he go back and try to live the gospel and marry her or get baptized and start over here. He told us yesterday that he is going to stay because he won’t be able to follow Heavenly Father and keep the commandments with his wife, because she doesn’t want too.  Truly a huge sacrifice on his part to keep the commandments.

The word of Heavenly Father helps us change, if we let it.

I’m very grateful to see the changes in the lives of the people we teach, and to see them become even happier.

Elder Willard