Music Man, Papai Noel (Santa), and Bees. Mission week 9; Area---Asa Sul

 Goooood new week to everyone!

What a week it has been, my goodness. But as always, what I wonderful week it has been as well. Between Christmas, two hospital trips, and 100+ cookies, it's been an adventure to say the least. 

Primeira coisa: Christmasssss

First Christmas as a missionary and away from home, but it was pretty great to say the least. A big tradition here in Brasil is to have like the big Christmas meal around 11-12 pm, and then to open their gifts right as Christmas comes around. So obviously we couldn't go to any members houses that evening, so we just celebrated in our house. I made a little Christmas tree for us to put our gifts and whatnot under, and then around 10pm we made crepes and played Skull king, it was a fun night, even if I did loose, Presidente said we could stay up to talk with family and celebrate. Buuut, come Christmas day, it just got better. We ended up making about 100 cookies (and then some), to give out to people that we were teaching, members, new members, and just about anyone we saw on the street. It was wonderful seeing their eyes light up cuz who doesn't love cookies and a message about Christ on Christmas. It was kind of like being like Santa. 

Bees?

The very next day, my companion and I did a division with the Zone Leaders, which pretty just means the zone leaders split us up, one of them comes to our area and the other stays in their area and one of us goes there. Soooo, I got to spend the day in São Sebastião with Elder Da Cruz, one of the Zone Leaders, and Elder Porter stayed here in Asa Sul with Elder Oliveria. The sad thing for me though, was that Elder Da Cruz was like dying, he felt so sick. He slept until lunch, then after lunch we spent pretty much the rest of the day in the Hospital, not awful though because I got to study a lot of the Book of Mormon in Portuguese, awesome. Buuuut, while we were at the hospital, Sister Santos, the wife of the mission President, started calling and asking about the other Elders going to the hospital cuz they got stung by bees. And a lot of them. Pretty much a whole beehive of bees went after them and they both got stung a bunch and had to go to the hospital. So, all in all, it was an adventure of a day for the four of us. 

The Music Man:

Michael Jackson anyone? Not in Brasil, at least that's what I thought. I got to church on Sunday and there was this member who started talking to us in English, but like with and American accent. Come to find out, he is American, born and raised in Hollywood. He served a mission here way back when, and married a Brazilian. As he was talking about his life as a professional musician, he told us that he had worked on the Book of Mormon cartoons, stuff for Bible videos, and was Michael Jackson's music director. Like just such a random person to meet in Asa Sul, and he had wonderful insights into missionary work, too. 

The work:

Speaking of the work it has been amazing. We've been able to talk with and teach so many people this past week, especially because it had been Christmas time. One thing that we told a lot of people, is that we need to keep our focus on Christ and His Atonement throughout the entire year, not just at Christmas or Easter. Those times of year are incredible and the gift to be able to celebrate the significance of these events with family and with loved ones is incredible as well. Just having this opportunity to be a full time servant of the Lord is incredible without description. (More in my spiritual thought.)

People:

So Brasil is like awesome yall. If there's one place I'd live other than the Grand Ol' US of A it'd be Brasil just cuz of the people, some of them at least. One thing that is just awesome about the people here is that no one ever turns away a prayer. If you ask if you can pray with them or for them real quick they almost always say yes, and it's such a blessing to be able to pray so many times throughout the day with so many people. We have this one lady who we've now started teaching just because we asked if we could pray with her. And there's this family we're teaching, who should get baptized soon, who are just always so excited to have us over and the first thing they always ask to do is to have us pray for them. That aside, the other people we've been teaching have been awesome as well, and it's never without a story. There's this one guy, who's not a member of the church but his brother is and the brother who's a member has a daughter serving a mission in Italy and so the brother is excited to have us over because he knows more or less what we do since his niece is serving and he's excited about the church. 

Menu:

A lot. 

Spiritual thought:

Something that I've really come to realize is just the magnitude of my calling as a missionary and as a disciple of Christ. In light of the passing of Jeffery R. Holland, I had been listening to his talks, and one that really stuck out to me was his talk titled The First Great Commandment from October of 2012. He recounts the story of shortly after the Savior's death, the disciples decide to just go back to fishing, and, after a long night of nothing but water and not a fish in sight, they see a figure standing on the shore. The figure then calls out, "And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." (John 21:6) With nothing more than a few words from their Master and Savior, they immediately realize who had called to them, and did as commanded. They then were unable to retrieve their nets due to the vast multitude of fishes. (153, they counted.) The Savior then asked to Peter, "lovest thou me, more then these?" Peter was of course quick to respond, saying " yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." He, the Resurrected all knowing Savior of all mankind, asked Peter again the same question, drawing the same reply. And yet again, He asked, for the third time, and for the third time Peter's response was just the same. In reply to this, Jesus spoke the words, "Feed my sheep." Elder Holland gave his own commentary on perhaps how Jesus may have responded, saying: "What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.” Elder Holland later then commented on the fact that nothing ever will be the same, nor was meant to be the same, after hearing and knowing the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is meant to change and to better people, and it is meant to be preached to every human creature on the Earth. It is this following promise given in Doctrine and Covenants section 90 verse 11 that missionaries are called: "For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ." Every person will have a chance to hear the majesty that is the plan of our Heavenly Father for all of His children, that is His promise to us. He just needs disciples, people to feed His sheep. That's why every missionary world wide is doing what he or she is doing, to help this great work move along: they're putting their shoulders to the wheel, and they're pushing along. (Hymn 252.) Because they love their God, and God loves each and every one of them. And you guys too! 

With much love and happiness and prospect for a new year to come,

-Elder Hyatt

Elder Holland's talk: 

The First Great Commandment

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng

The Reason for the Season: Hammock Edition. Mission week 8; Area---Asa Sul

Gooooood wonderful new week to you all where ever you may be, may you all find as much joy in life as God intends you to have. Firstly, Merry Christmas to all!!! Never forget the reason for the season: our Lord and Savior, the Redeemer of Mankind, and the only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ. 

Buuuuuut what's new Scooby Doo?

News:

First off (for the second time) we had a baptism this past Saturday!! It was such a wonderful experience for everyone there, once it finally happened. So, here's the story: She had been being taught by missionaries for around 8 years, and just never wanted to get baptized, until now! She absolutely believes in the gospel and the church, she just hadn't wanted to get baptized, but now she felt ready. And it all worked out for her. Her husband is a member and so he got to baptize her, and so it was just such a happy day for the both of them. What a wonderful opportunity it was to be able to help that family. 

Fun fact, her husband is named Andre and he is originally from Formosa, which is where my aunt Clarice is from. His family was one of the first families that supported my aunt when she decided to be baptized when she was younger. My aunt explained to me that his family is practically family to her and they have known each other for a very long time so it was so cool to see the connection between my family and those I help come unto Christ. 

People:

More about our recent convert Paulo, he is absolutely awesome yall. I thought I saw him excited about the gospel and the church the week before, but it was like nothing then. He has just such a strong love for Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all that his Savior has done for him so far in his life. He's about 65 years young and has definitely lived quite the life up until he got baptized a few months back, and every time he tells a story about his life, and how his life has changed because of Jesus Christ, he just tears up, and every word he says is said with just pure emotion (he also like always sits in his hammock whenever we go over and teach him, hence the hammock edition). Another guy who reminds me of him a bit is this older member named Ricardo. Ricardo is probably about 70 or so years young and just loves helping the missionaries. At least two times a week he drives us around to lessons and helps teach the lessons because he just absolutely loves sharing the gospel with every person around him. And boy does he. He talks with everyone he sees, and just does so in such a way that everyone wants to talk to him, too. He really just has that pure love of Christ for each and every child of God out there for sure.

Menu:

As far as food goes this week, delicious is about the only word to describe it. Tuesday night we went to a members house for dinner and they made hamburgers, delicious. We also went to that sushi place Tuesday for lunch, delicious. (turns out a member owns the restaurant and always gives missionaries lunch every Tuesday just because he can, and boy am I grateful). Today for lunch we made burritos and I made guacamole: avocado we got was just about the size of my head yall. It made so much guacamole we'll have guacamole all week, and I sure won't complain one bit. 

The razão:

Okay yall, it's Christmas time, but why? Why Christmas? I'll tell you why and you all know why: Jesus Christ. Of course we all wake up waiting to go open presents, see what the people we love got us this year and if the people we love love what we got them. And it should be the exact same thing with Jesus. Except, it doesn't have to be once a year. The gift that Christ gave us, gives us, has no comparison. It is without end because He loves us. He gave all He had, and then He gave Himself. Jesus Himself taught that, 

"13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15:13-14) He is our friend, because He laid down His life for us., so that we can pick our lives up. So that we don't have to be lost to the enemy of our souls. So that we can, through our Greatest Friend, Jesus Christ, return to live with our Perfect Father in Heaven once more. Because of Him, the Son who was sent to die for us. 

Christmas wish:

Buuuut, everything He did for us was done out of perfect love, the Perfect Gift, because He is Perfect. Although we aren't perfect, we can still give Him a perfect gift. The only thing He doesn't have, is what we choose to do, so let's give Him that. Let us all find a way to give back to our Savior by giving back, by serving, to those around us. Not just for this holiday season, but for all seasons, and let Him be the reason. Do it to love our Lord, and do it to love our neighbor. We're all on this Earth together, let's try to make it a better place: together. Because of love yall! And I sure love you guys. Have a wonderful Christmas this week!

Until next time, with many mangoes, and much more love, 

-Elder Hyatt

p.s. You guys can email me anytime at peter.hyatt@missionary.org

Out of the frying pan and into the air conditioning. Mission week 7; New Area---Asa Sul

 

Wonderful bright new week to all out there reading this. I sure hope all is well with everyone. 

First transfers happened! Of course I knew that I'd have a new comp, his name is Elder Porter, since Elder Miner went home, and I knew I'd be leaving Ocidental since I was told at least that, but I didn't know where to. The Big Reveal happened at our mission Christmas Conference where everyone got their transfer news. It was a sight to see all 170-180 of us missionaries all in one place, and even more so excited about transfers. ANNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDD I'm in an area called Asa Sul. If you ever find yourself looking at a map of the City of Brasilia, you'll see there's an airplane lookin part of the city: I'm in the south wing and adjacent part of Brasilia. It's a really nice part, which makes sense of course since its the Capital. The best way to describe it would be it's kind of like America: there's even a Samsclub. And our apartment even has air conditioning in the rooms. Some about my new comp: Elder Porter is from Virginia, and has about a year and three months on the mission already. He knows the language pretty well, and is a very obedient missionary, so I'm thankful for that. It'll be an absolutely fire transfer for sure.

News:

First item of business: Brasil is not real, I'm now convinced of it. It's all straight out of a movie, in most of the best ways. People here are just straight up living the life they want to, more or less. One time we were on a bus going to a different part of the city and saw this little band with like trumpets, trombones, clarinets, saxophones, etc. all playing in the middle of the highway just like between cars. Like what? And some people live a little to free... We saw this old, probably 60 year old guy, wearing nothing but underwear and a pair of rainbow wings... I don't want to know. We have also taught a Buddhist drug trafficker, too. Life is never short of suprises, but I love Brasil and the people here without a doubt. More about the apartment: it used to be a sister area and there's still lots of remnants of them here in the apartment. Flower drawings on the whiteboard, a lot of pink, nail polish (someone was probably sad to loose that), and lots of fancy Tupperware. I certainly won't complain about this apartment, though. It's pretty nice, bigger than Ocidental, and we have couches. 

People:

Here in Asa Sul we get a looot of references whether from social media or from other missionaries, and so we have to track them down or try to contact them. We also of course make a lot of street contacts, but people here are a bit more closed off, but only by like 30 or so percent more I'd say so the majority are just fine and dandy. We alsoooo take a lot of buses here since our area is so big and the bus is cheap, and so we always try to talk to people on the bus, too. As far as people we're teaching goes, we've got some pretty cool people. There's this guy, Paulo, who's a recent convert, and he is awesome. His testimony is so incredibly strong and any conversation with him is just incredible. I've never seen a 65 year old man get as excited about something as he does, let alone getting to talk about the gospel of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. And then we have this one guy on baptismal date who doesn't have legs, but still absolutely loves Jesus Christ and the church, it's awesome. A lot of the people in the ward know a bit about the United States and so when I say I'm from Kansas they all say something about Kansas City or the chiefs, so that's pretty neat. 

Menu:

As far as food goes, nothing terribly new, but definitely pretty good. We've gotten pizza a couple times this week, and it was good but a lot. One time we got a pizza that was half chicken and cheese and half chocolate and strawberry, crazy, but good. And then also apparently there's a member here who takes the missionaries for sushi every Tuesday, and that's tomorrow yall. So updates on that next week 👀.  

The Hotel:

Since Asa Sul is so close to the temple and the mission office, a lot of the elders either passing through or leaving for home soon, get the privilege of staying in the apartment here. For example: having three extra elders in the house here with us this last week, it was crazy. Two elders were going home for medical reasons, and the other was traveling through to Missao Teresina (shoutout to Teresina Elders, se voces conhecem um Elder L. Santos, falam oi para mim). Elder Miranda, who has 16 months in the mission, has to go back home for a few months for medical stuff, but will be able to return. He isn't dishearted at all, and has been a wonderful missionary, and will be again once he returns. This leads me into my spiritual thought for the week. 

Spiritual thought:

“Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.” (Elder Hugh B. Brown January 1973 New Era.) Elder Hugh B. Brown recounts the story of when he was a young adult and had purchased a run-down farm. He went about repairing, restoring, and working as best he could. When he then came across a currant bush that had grown far over six feet high and growing in every direction it possibly could. Now currant bushes aren't supposed supposed to do that if you want them to be of any worth other than wood. So, he took to much cutting and pruning, and, after a time, had cut it all back to stumps so that it could bush out and produce fruit. As the sap ran from the stumps, he imagined it sayin, "How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” His reply was as follows, "Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’” He was the gardener, of course he knew what was best for the bush, even if the bush didn't agree. He then went on to explain how he was in line to be a general in the army, but because of his membership in the church, he was not promoted. He was wroth, and upset with God for this. He had every qualification, done everything he needed to, and yet was not promoted. Then those same words came back to him from those many years ago looking at a cut-back currant bush, "I'm the Gardener here, and I know what I want you to be." God had cut him back, not to make the other plants look down on him, not to stunt his growth, but to allow him to realize his eternal potential that God knew he had, even if Elder Brown knew not at that time what he could become. God truly knows our Divine Potential yall. He knows what we can become. At times it may feel like He cuts us down, but with a quick turn of perspective, we can become laden with fruit from the pruning we receive from God. He does not cut us back without reason. He knows the reason, we just have to put our trust in Him: His reasons, His timing, and His love. Just as is described in Ether 12:27 God "gives unto men weakness that they may be humble; and [His] grace is sufficient for all men," and when men "humble themselves before [Him]; for if they humble themselves before [Him], and have faith in [Him], then will [He] make weak things become strong unto them." God prunes us, gives us weakness, not to run from Him or to be wroth with Him, but to come closer to Him, and to realize our eternal, divine potential. God, our Loving Heavenly Father, has a perfect plan for us, we just have to do our part. That's the only caveat. We have to have faith in Him, and to have faith is to believe and to ACT. That is faith. We have to put our faith in Him and His gardening. When we do this, we can become laden with fruit becauseeeee HE LOVES US! He loves me and you and every member of the human family. And I love you all too! And I sure love to hear from you guys, too! 

Until next time, with much love from Brasil,

-Elder Hyatt

When limes fly... Mission Field: Mission week 6; Ocidental, Brasil

 

News: 

To get right into it, I found out I'm being transferred out of Ocidental, sadness, but it just means the Lord has plans for me elsewhere. The only thing now is I just don't know where that elsewhere is yet. We just found out who is leaving so they know to pack their bags, we find out where we're going on Wednesday at the mission conference. Talk about suspense huh. But it was a good run here in somewhat sunny Ocidental. (More about the somewhat sunny later). Okay, it's later. It rained for like a solid three days straight with just a few breaks in between: we got soaked. But that's just how the mango rolls. 

Dia de milagres:

I had my first division last Tuesday, which means that one of the missionary leaders, like a district leader, splits me and my comp up to help us out. Our district leader stayed here in Ocidental with Elder Miner and I went to his area with his companion, all the way over in Jardim Ingá, a solid 10-15 minute drive haha. The elder I was with for the day was Elder Hunter, another new missionary. It was a great day,  and that's putting it lightly. By the end of the day we had taught 9 good lessons, made 10 news (people we taught and marked to teach again), had three people say they'd get baptized, marked a baptismal date, and he got unrobbed. More about that last one: he had his bag stolen a week ago, but that day and older lady approached the other missionaries in Jardim Ingá and said she had one of their bags. She had found it in the street days after it had been stolen, recognized the Book of Mormon in it, and was going to drop it off at the church. In the end, she was able to taught by the missionaries and start reading the Book of Mormon, all because Elder Hunter got his bag stolen. (And all of his stuff was still in it). Just goes to show the little miracles that happen.

Menu: 

As far as food goes this past week, absolutely fire. More mangoes, of course,  but this time they were baby mangoes! And they were delicious. For lunch Sunday we went back to the churrasco family, and it was soooo good. There was steak, pork, chicken sausage, and chicken hearts again. Along with everything else, too. As far as the limes go, only as far as you throw them. We were at a member's house for lunch and for some reason we started playing catch with like 2 limes at the same time. And then they brought out more and I could show off my juggling skills 😎. (I dropped them on the floor). 

People:

We've had some absolutely amazing people we've started teaching here recently, which has just been such a blessing. This one lady filled out a form to get a Book of Mormon and meet with the missionaries. We didn't get a chance to meet with her before church Sunday, but she still went and brought her daughter, too. After church we met with her and taught her about the Book of Mormon and gave her one. Before we did though, we asked what caught her attention in the church and the Book of Mormon, and she said she had been praying to find what church she needed to go to. And then she came across our church on Facebook. She then said that during church she felt like it was just so right, it felt like she belong. She was sp emotional and full of joy as she explained it all, it was such a blessing to see how God touched her life. 

Spiritual thought:

One thing that is so very important about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the last part: enduring to the end. We have to have faith, we have to repent, we have to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, but then we have to continue until the end. Baptism isnt the end, this life is not the end. The end is when we are reunited with our Perfect Father in Heaven for all eternity and to live in joy for eternity. That is the end goal. This life is our time to prepare to return to live with Him. This is our time to grow, learn, and strive to follow Jesus Christ with all that we are. Of course we're not perfect, that's not what He asks of us. He just asks for our best, and He WILL make up the rest. That's the purpose of the Atonement of Christ, that's the purpose of this life. Our Father in Heaven wants to bless us, we just have to live our lives in a manner that allows Him to do so, and that is what it means to endure to the end. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not complicated, and it's not meant to be. The path back to our Father in Heaven isn't meant to be complicated either. But it won't always be easy. That's where Christ comes in. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. He did everything because He loves us. He made a way so that we are all able to return back to Him. We truly can yall. He loves you all, and so do I! As always try to find more ways to focus your life on Christ, it's always worth it. 

Até mais yall,

-Elder Hyatt