Templo

Querida fam bam

We walked a whole lot this week. Like, a lot. I'm learning a lot about humility, patience, and faith in this area. There aren't a whole lot of results, but we are doing our best, and I know the Lord is watching over us every day.

Elder Ruzi's birthday was this week, and I planned 3 different surprise parties for him... he found out about only one beforehand haha. I told him we were going to contact Jefferson, a reference, Thursday night and we showed up at a member's house and he got super confused until they brought out cake and we started singing hahaha.... Afterwards he asked me if the Jefferson actually existed. Unfortunately, he wasn't actually a real person, but hey, free cake.

We had an awesome experience on Tuesday with an investigator who's working to make huge changes in his life. He has lots of obstacles, but the spirit was super strong as we taught him the Restoration. He accepted our invite to do a church tour the next night. As we toured the church building explaining about the restored church of Jesus Christ, he was astounded and intrigued. We entered the chapel and explained about the sacrament and he said he felt a strong peace within him and asked if he could say a prayer. It was one of the sincerest prayers I've heard in my life, and I was deeply marked by his good heart. He still hasn't come to church yet, but I've seen the great progress he's had in his life since we first started meeting with him, and it's amazing.

Saturday was one of the best days of my mission. Larissa We left our house before 6am to catch the bus to São Paulo. We arrived at the temple 10am to participate in the session that a member from Jardim Odete was getting her endowment. In the session I saw a member from Penha. Afterwards in the hall, I saw some members from Mooca. Then after eating lunch, Larissa (from Cohab Juscelino) got there. I saw people from all of my past areas. It was super cool. But the best part was being able to watch Larissa pass through the temple and receive her endowment. In 2 weeks, we're going to watch her be married for time and all eternity to a wonderful returned missionary in the São Paulo temple. What a blessing to be able to see the difference and light in her. It's an amazing privelege to see such a miracle. I love the temple.

Much love to you all too!

Elder Merrill

Feliz birthday boy 

Surprise!

We tried contacting an old investigator... this was where we ended up

*cue Gollum voice* "The staiiiiiirs!" (the pic doesn't show, but the stairs in the background are really steep and long

Me: "Nooooo I'm tired of walking... just leave me here to die"

Surprise!

April, what? Already?

How did this happen? Weren't we just in February?

Saturday, April 1st didn't end without Elder Merrill pullin some pranks... Most of them aren't really funny to non-missionaries, but one included me calling the assistents to have them call our zone leaders to fake that Elder Ruzi was gonna be emergency transferred.... Poor Elder Shamo believed it and got sad... But no one was hurt haha

This week we committed to work even harder and smarter than ever since conference was going to fill up all of our Saturday and Sunday... We were able to see some miracles every day, even though we're still at a loss for a solid teaching group, but I know the Lord is watching out for us.

General Conference was, as usual, stellar. We even had one investigator that went to the Sunday morning session! (still difficult to help people go to church) I enjoyed most the Priesthood session and noticed the enfasis on the difference that sincere service makes in our lives. The focus needs to be on others if we are to receive the promised blessings and change our very nature. I love the opportunity to serve God full-time and to help others learn about what makes me so happy and content. I love being a missionary!

Amo todos vocês! 

Elder Merrill

We made district t-shirts

Zona Guará!

Zona de Macho

I love brazilian birthday parties

Esta semana

Querida fam-

Holy smokes, this week passed quick even though it was a little difficult....

One day we got home and Elder Ruzi asked, "what did we do today other than walk a ton?" And I told him, "I don't know..." But not every day was like that... We found new people (constantly searching, since pretty much everyone we've talked to until now has little to no desire in really listening to us... 

But we're working with the members to try and make that better. Almost all the members are getting pretty excited about missionary work and helping out, so that's the positive side!

On Saturday we had a lesson with a member's friend, who was driving by us during the week and stopped and called us over to tell us that he wanted to us to teach him the gospel. We were like, "we can make that happen!" and he marked the day for us to visit with him. It was an awesome lesson. He said he has a desire to change his life around and to follow Christ, and when we taught the Restoration he said he felt it was true. Next week he'll come to church with us:)

General Conference is already upon us! I can't wait to listen to the prophet and apostles that God has called to guide and direct us. What a blessing! I hope you all watch as much as you can, prepared to receive answers and inspiration.

I love you all!

Elder Merrill

We watched the Esquadrilha da Fumaça that was here in Guará! They do a ton of tricks in formation and stuff.... in airplanes (google it). Super cool. 

Semana de sicknesszinhos

Hey fam!

On Tuesday morning we helped clean the chapel and rearrange the chairs from stake conference.... Elder Ferreira wasn't feeling well but went to help as well... later that day, it rained and winded and my throat started hurting.... ugh. Wednesday I woke up a little strange, but nothing too much. We worked normal after lunch and were able to do our visits for the day. But on Thursday I had a fever and was sneezing like a sprinkler. Elder Ferreira was in similar conditions. So Elder Shamo and Elder Ruzi left us at our house in our miserable state while they went out to work. Friday, I was better but Elder Ruzi was ruinzinho but we had to go to one of the farthest neighboorhoods in our area... poor guy. But it all worked out. We sat down for him to rest after lunch and 4 people walking by stopped to talk to us... it was awesome, we did contacts without even having to stand up! One lady asked us if we could go with her to her house and teach her family right then! We really should try just sitting down and talking to people as they pass more often:)

We are starting to see some results here in Guará! Super happy, super busy, hope to tell more about it next week!

I love you all

Elder Merrill

Yummy lunch from Chefs Ruzi and Merrill

So funny story.. the bathroom door somehow broke and wouldn't open... we had to call someone to help us take the lil window off for me to climb in and open from the inside.... twas interesting, but deu certo:)

This week

Hey!

Great week for us here... Lots of walking, lots of sun, less rain, more smiles.

Ai there are lots of things that happen in a week but on Monday I seem to draw a blank... sorry I don't remember, I'm getting old and forgetful...

Zone Conference Friday was awesome. I love it when we're able to receive training from President. On Friday night we divided with 2 missionaries who stayed with us Friday and Saturday night. Super fun. I love divisions:)

This weekend we participated in one of the best Stake Conferences that I've been to. Elder Grahl was the Seventy that visited. His talks on Saturday night and Sunday were so powerful, I felt the Spirit more strongly than I have in a while. It was impossible to not know that what he taught was true, that the gospel and church of Jesus Christ really were restored. And one of the best parts? A less active couple we've been working with came and cried through the talks, and many many people came to greet and hug them and tell them that they'd been missed. AND a member of our ward brought a friend to the Conference who wants us to teach her more! Super excited, super happy:)

I love you all and desejo uma boa semana para todos!

Elder Merrill

Rio Paraíba

Division with Elder Cunha and Elder Alves

We made shirts.... the red one has my nametag, and the greenie has his haha:)

Week 4 in Guará

Hey y'all!

Well, there went another week. Hot, rainy, then hot again. We're melting. President told us that when we fast we have to drink water... But logo logo it'll cool down.

We worked hard the whole week to help everyone we're teaching learn about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and find out for themselves if what we teach is true. It's wonderful. But nobody came to church again. Ugh. But that's alright. We're gonna find new people this week, and somebody will have a sincere heart to desire to know if there's more to life than just the everyday problems and fleeting happiness....

But don't worry, Elder Ruzi and I are doing great, happy as two little fried clams. When we left lunch after church yesterday sad and slightly disappointed still, there was a little kid that was running down the street and went so fast that he lost control and fell on his face right by me. Before I could react, he picked himself up and ran into a nearby house, luckily unhurt. But when I looked back at Elder Ruzi and he had tears running down his face from how hard he was laughing. He then told me, "the Lord knew I was sad and sent that little kid to cheer me up. Now it's alright that our week was a lil disappointing. It's good to know He cares." God answers prayers in mysterious ways, and He always is there to cheer us up:)

I love my calling, my life, and my Savior. 

Have a wonderful week, people!

Elder Merrill

After a night of super strong rain and wind, we woke up to find our tree on our house....

Mom, I'm getting better at making my own food.... It's not just oatmeal and cereal when you're gone:) 

"... and preach the gospel unto every creature."

A vida continua...

Querida fam-

Wow, p-day again? The transfer is flying by!

HOT HOT all week until Friday, when it rained and gave us a little cool down... but today is heatin up too... We drink SO much water (and tereré:)

Finding pleny of cool new people to teach, but nobody has been to church yet.. :( We were certain that this week at least 7 people were going, but nobody showed up... oh well, next Sunday e'erybody is goin to church!

Our interview with President on Friday was good. Now we're going to have interviews every transfer, which I'm excited for! More contact with Pai Silcox!

So right now we're in the middle of Carnaval. For those unfamiliar with this Brazilian holiday, it's basically 4 days straight of crazy partying, drinking, and other festivities. But it isn't very safe to be on the street after dark here in Guará. So we're holdin in here. And Saturday we fled to the temple. It was wonderful. A recent convert from our ward went for the first time, so we went to accompany him in the bapistry. We (me, Elders Ferreira, Shamo and Ruzi) helped out with confirmations and got to baptize too, but there were a ton of people so we ended up getting sore haha. After we changed clothes, Elder Ruzi said to me "now that we've baptized the dead, I want to baptize the living!" Me too. I assured him that we will:) Also, a family of the Guará 2nd ward was sealed and we got to attend, which was super cool. But right after it was done, Elder Shamo turned to us right there in the sealing room and said, "Dude.......... I just want to get married soon...." We all couldn't hold in our laughter hahahahaha

I'm loving training again. We have awesome spiritual experiences every day. My testimony and knowledge grows each day, and I love being a missionary here in Guaratinguetá.

Amo todos vocês!

Elder Merrill

"Só...."

"... BATIZA!"