10/7/2013..Be an ANGEL to someone!!

10/7/2013

(Transfers came in) I'm actually staying right here! haha! I'm super super stoked! It's just gonna be amazing! What kind of stinks though is that Elders Vigil and Stephens are heading out, to Teratin and Idaho Falls. I'm gonna miss them but their new areas need them! What's gonna be really interesting is that now, I'm gonna have a new trainer and that HE is going to be training a new Elder. And Guess what! He's a Visa waiter! Going to Brazil! So we are gonna be able to do language study and be able to talk to each other all the time. Portuguese has been going mighty fine by the way. It really took off this week! I've been learning a lot of new vocabulary and grammatical principles and gaining confidence as far as conversation goes. I know that Heavenly Father blesses His missionaries. :) He is always there! And He loves everybody in the world so much, more than we can possibly imagine.

Also, I have decided that being a missionary and watching conference is like the super bowl. I was beyond excited! So pumped to hear everything! Especially from President Monson. I KNOW that that man is a Prophet and the President of this Church. I know that he is inspired and called of God. As we listen to his words, we won't go astray!

9/30/2013..Read the Book of Mormon

Things are going good with Sam! We met with her this week but one of the people living in the place where we were meeting kinda went off and was telling us that there is no way that we could know the Book of Mormon is true simply by the spirit. It got pretty crazy so we are gonna have to find another chance to teach Sam, maybe somewhere else! Haha! I'm not really sure what being a Mason entails actually! But, we got him a bible today and we are gonna drop it by! Whoo! That might actually be a good idea! He’s been pretty busy with football so we will have to see the next time we meet with him! This week I got to go on exchanges too with my district leader. I was a bit nervous but it actually was a really good experience and an awesome day! We got to walk a lot! haha! I have pictures so don't worry! Also, lately, we have been praying and fasting quite a bit for the success and baptismal dates to start coming! We've already started to see the miracles flow and it's been wonderful!

Pictures from Pokey

Hoorah for Israel!!! :D

This is my companheiro!!! :D And Elder Guilsane, one of the Zone Leaders in the back and off to the side, that's Elder Miller, on of the Assistants to the President! Whoo! :D 
(Looks like his companion has as big as smile as him..no wonder they work great together!)

these are my Zone Leaders! They are both super tall so that's why I look super small! ;)

Pic of me and Phil! He is an awesome guy! He's a member of the ward and commonly goes and teaches with us! He went to England on his mission! :D He's got my other name tag by the way, so we were both Elder merkley that day! ;)

9/23/2013..."We don't get strong by doing weak things"

9/23/2013

We sure have been busy! This week was a little slower than last week but we still had SO many opportunities to teach and testify of the beauty of this amazing Gospel! Things are going well with Sam! We taught her about the Plan of Salvation this past week and she has begun to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I know that if she is sincere, she will get an answer! The plan our Father in Heaven has for us is perfect and can bless our lives and the Book of Mormon is the key to truly knowing that ALL these things are true! I really hope it works out too!

9/16/2013 38 lessons!!!

9/16/2013

We have been having a lot of success! This week has been absolutely amazing! We taught 38 lessons!

Also, we went on a church tour yesterday with a girl named Sam and we invited her to be baptized on the 26th of October. At first she said, "Wow! I've only been at this for three days!" But, we talked to her for a little longer and shared a scripture with her. And........... she is preparing to be baptized on that day! She said, "I've got a lot of reading to do!" But, we have faith in her! We KNOW she can do it and it's going really well!

9/9/13..An invitation from Elder Merkley

Things are going so well!! My goodness gracious! There have definitely been hard parts, don't get me wrong but they are so very small and insignificant compared to the bright light of the amazing and beautiful times!  Pokie is where it's at!

Answers to questions/your email: I'm trying to be a little more organized so I'm going to break things down a little! Everyone we teach is our own age! They range from about 17-23! It's so crazy but so fun, amazing and I learn so many things every day! My companion, Elder Vigil is from Kansas. He is super into volleyball and wants to go into business and get his MBA. He wants to be a CEO! We are living about a minute walk outside of our area, AKA-outside of the apartment complexes that we go up and down all day ;). Also, Elder Vigil has been out 14 months! He is so awesome! I learn so much from him every day. He's also been super awesome with me learning Portuguese and willing to help me out! We walk everywhere as well and when we do need rides to dinner appointments we usually ask a member or go with other missionaries.

9/2/2013 From 'POKIE"

9/2/2013

Hello Fam-Bam! ;)

Greetings from Pokie where the sun is sometimes out and when it's not, it's usually pouring rain outside! ;)

I want to let you know that my time here has been absolutely amazing. I have had some very humbling moments and some very exciting and inspiring moments. The day I left the MTC seemed to be a whirlwind of train rides, talking to people, and my time on an airplane. I did get to hand out some pass along cards, eat some good food and talk to some wonderful people though! I also had to get up at 2 to say goodbye to Elder Alvarez and Elder Bradd and 5:15 to leave myself so it was a crazy night! ;) Overall though, arriving in Pokie was amazing. As you saw, I got to meet the mission president and his wife, be interviewed, play a bunch of games, eat a TON of awesome food (which seems to be common here in Pokie), also, I got to meet the Elders and Sisters in my Zone, go on a tour of Pokie (surprisingly, exciting and really fun! ;)). One of my zone leaders is actually from Brazil too! Crazy! Later that night, I got to meet my companion too and go to our new apartment! I was so excited! His name is Elder Vigil and he is so awesome! He is super knowledgeable, super bold, and super outgoing. He has taught me loads since we got here! I feel kinda like that elder from the best 2 years, constantly writing everything down! haha! Overall though, we have been getting along great! We are different, of course, but we are trying to use our different styles to teach the best lessons we can and be the best missionaries we can! I am really looking forward to all I'm going to learn during these next six weeks and just EVERYTHING!