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

Success

Saturday night as we were walking home we found a young man that we were teaching and he said he wanted to talk to us, but didn't have time, that we would talk the following day at church. At church he told us that every time that he reads the Book of Mormon and prays about it, his heart starts beating fast and he feels at peace. 

He told us that he wants to get baptized. So we got super excited! We are excited and working hard for a baptism to happen this Wednesday. He has some challenges but we are confident that everything will be alright.

Elder Murilo is learning the guitar and I have almost mastered a Rubix Cube. What a huge waste of time.

It’s my companion’s birthday on Sunday. I´ll have to do something cool.

Anyway all is well in Zion.

Love you guys,

Elder Willard

Pictures are: 

1) Yerba mate plant used to make the drink Chimarrao

2) Windmills at the beach

3) Elder Murilo drinking Chimarrao from an ox foot

Frosted Flakes

We had a baptism on Saturday which was great, like frosted flakes. Marica and Cristian were baptized and are excited to get involved. Also Everton is going to get baptized on the 28th which is a miracle. Elder Murilo is doing great and learning quickly, and his birthday is coming up on the first of September, I think I’ll try to make some sort of dessert, which will be difficult without him knowing...because he´s always flippin´ with me!

We are finding lots of people to teach in areas we have visited before. I think I have the flu.

The summer is coming to an end for you guys and the winter is become a little more tolerable.

Every single day I learn a little more that the church is true and that if I keep the commandments I will have eternal life.

I love you all,

Elder Willard

Father's Day

Well the week went by super slow, but I think that’s because I got a new companion, Elder Murilo from Santa Catarina; he is super cool, kinda shy, but teaches well and is very funny. He´ll be a great companion and is helping me a lot.

We had another miracle in our area. There is an investigator, Everton, who has been visiting the ward for almost 2 years yet never wanted to be baptized. He told us yesterday that he wants to be baptized now on the 28th of August. His wife and son are members and have been for years and are really excited.

Yesterday here in Brazil was Father´s Day. Everton´s son, Daniel who is 11 years old, learned that his Dad wanted to get baptized. During the priesthood session between classes, the bishop put his arm around him and said, “All of us Dads got some really great gifts today, but Daniel got the best gift of all.” Then the bishop looked at Daniel and he started to cry and could barely say, “meu Pai vai se batizar.” The mission President wants to be there.

Well we are all happy and working hard and hope that you guys are too,

Elder Willard

Another Transfer Shakeup

Today Elder Jensen and I have 1 year and 5 months out on the mission. We are becoming some of the oldest elders because of the growth of the mission. Well we had transfers and my companion has been transferred...to another area inside the same city.

I will stay and train a new missionary. We have no idea who he is, but I’m hoping he will be an American. But will probably be a Brazilian, which is fine too.

We have a baptism all marked up this week on Saturday and we are super excited. My new companion is gonna be super happy about that.

I didn't go to church on Sunday because I was throwing up during the morning...which was brutal. And everyone got freaked out and wanted to know where the missionaries were. A member family came by the house and dropped off a huge amount of food and soda. And we are really thankful for them.

This same family took us to the beach and bought us milkshakes and lunch. The beach is amazing on the Atlantic Ocean.

But I’m all stoked to get started again in this area with a new companion and we are gonna tear it up.

I only have 4 transfers left...or 6 months, so I’m gonna make them count.

I love you guys,

Elder Willard

The last bit of Aguas Claras

In the past few months the majority of the missionaries are new. And everyone that has my time on the mission are in leadership positions. Some new investigators told us this week that they want to get baptized, which is great. They will get baptized on the 10th of August. Transfers is next week and I don’t know if I will stay or go. If I stay I might stay here for 3 more months or train or who knows what.

But this area is terrific; my companion and I are loving it. We are getting along super good. It looks like the other Elder Willard is kicking butt!!!

Time is passing by really slowly for some reason, but that’s alright.

I love you guys,

Elder Willard

Progressing

Well this week was very normal. We taught a little, but have some success with a women named Nara. She is progressing and we believe is going to be baptized.

Today I bought 9 ties for 15 dollars. Hurray!!! I really don’t have much to say; really nothing is going on.

(Mom don’t send me a Christmas package or birthday package.)

Hopefully I will have some cool experience to share with you guys.

Elder Willard

Francisca Baptized

Francisca was baptized and confirmed, she´s really a stud. It looks like the other Elder Willard is kicking butt in Manaus.

All is good here but we don't really have any more investigators. They all got baptized, we need more references from the members to continue.

I feel like my mission is slowing down, the first year went by really quick but now it’s really slow...probably because of the area we don't have much to do. But the weeks go by quickly.

Please treat your missionaries like adults and don't chew them out for meaningless stuff like not answering the phone when it’s broken or going to appointments when you have a fever of 40 degrees Celsius.

I did get the package the ward sent me...I hope Frazier got the letter and sent him... and writes me back.

Peace, Girlscout

Elder Willard

Happy Fourth of July

Francisca said she wants to be baptized. She said she had a dream. In the dream she was standing next to a baptismal font full of water she then say a child that she had raised in the water. Francisca has a terrible fear of water and worried that he would drown. She called out to him but didn't want to leave the water and then dunked himself in the water. When he came back out he was very happy and said, "I want to be baptized again." Francisca understood that as an answer to her prayer that she should be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Her Baptism will be Friday. We are super excited.

We are extremely blessed with the help of the members here and hope you are doing the same.

Happy 4th of July and happy Birthday to the other Elder Willard

Winter and Protests

The family got confirmed and they are all going to church strong, how cool is that? The ward needs more families, the ward deserves it. We also have been having a lot of protests in Porto Alegre and Viamão, but nothing to be concerned about. We work in a very rural area and there is not much that goes on around here. It’s starting to get really cold around and dark; it has finally become winter in Rio Grande do Sul. I'm really starting to like the culture, the food, the clothes, the costumes, even the different handshakes the Brazilians have here.

I´m getting along really good with my companion, unfortunately he´s been very sick, for weeks. He wasn’t able to take the flu shot like I did and is suffering for it.

It’s really incredible how the gospel changes people’s lives, they put their lives in harmony with Heavenly Father´s will. All because of the Holy Ghost which slowly molds the hearts of willing people.

Joseph Smith foi um Profeta de Deus, Ele O viu, Deus e o Filho dele falaram com Joseph. E por meio dele

a igreja de Cristo foi restaurada, não tenho duvida disso. Por favor, Orem, se tiverem. Perguntem a Deus com

fé se é. Ele os revelará pelo poder do Espirito Santo.

Guardem os Mandamentos e sejam felizes.

Elder Willard  

More Baptisms

We got to baptize another family here in Aguas Claras.

Cesar, Christiane, Alexya and Andrey. Andrey didn't want to be baptized with his family yesterday because he thought it was too soon, and so we challenged him to pray and asked Heavenly Father if he should be baptized. Yesterday he told us that he prayed and that he had a dream where his how family was baptized and that he was left behind, and so he asked to be baptized just a few hours before the baptism. Isn't that awesome!

We also had a great training with the Apostles and the Prophet about missionary work and how the members really need to help us out. We spend too much time look instead of teaching.

Eu espero que Vocês estejam ajudando os missionários nas tuas área e estejam levando pessoas à igreja. Testifiquem e compartilhem teus testemunhos para elas. A Igreja é verdadeira. Eu amo vocês.

[I hope that you are helping the missionaries in your area and are bringing people to church. Testify and share your testimonies for them. The Church is true. I love you.]

Até mais,

Elder Willard

New District Leader

The weeks are passing by really fast, it is surprising. Unfortunately, P-days are not, there is nothing to do on P-day here.

A family went to church yesterday, thanks to a member family and we will staring teaching them soon. They seem to be ready to get baptized.

Everyone in our ward goes to the temple which is great, but we can’t still... :(

I feel happy and care-free almost all the time. At college, I wasn’t and at high school, not as much. Truly the best thing a person can do is dedicate himself to the Lord and forget everything else. I also feel things that would have bothered me before don’t anymore. Don’t make problems and you won’t get problems.

The one thing that really bothers me here is people talk bad about other people behind their backs. No one can or should do that; you never know all the facts or how a person really feels. So just help, less complaining and more problem solving.

I love you all,

Elder Willard

Getting cold

Looks like Elder Willard (the one in Manaus) is killing it out there.

This week has been terrific with lots of success and we are find a lot of new people that seem really interesting. We are also getting into a really good teaching rhythm. It doesn't matter the number of people that you teach, it’s how effective you teach. We have to teach really, really simply because our message is a little complicated and the people are a little more humble here.

It’s been freezing cold here at night but so members gave us some blankets so it’s getting better.

I'm really starting to love the people here in Brazil, these people can´t not help. The people here offer everything that they have to us. And we don't even ask for anything. We pass by a member’s house and they decide to make dinner for us without notice, and are happy to do so. I hope I can emulate those attributes to better serve Christ.

This ward is really focused in missionary work, we are have a lot of success, thanks to the members.

I hope summer time is coming fast for you guys because it’s getting really cold around here.

Elder Willard