Batismo de Mateus and My last full week ah!

Hello everyone for the last time...

Yep that is right, this coming week is my last full week on the mission!  I don’t expect to have an opportunity to write again before I leave.  I can’t believe it either.  It went by pretty quickly, didn’t it? I think so.

Week 99 - Batismo de Lucas Emmanuel

Hello everyone,

This week we had the baptism of Lucas. His mom is a recent-convert in Jardim Massangana (my first area in Brasil).  Lucas lives with his dad Heleno here in our area. It has been a few months that we have been teaching him and finally he had the opportunity to enter the waters of baptism. He is seriously super smart. He understands the doctrines of the gospel so easily and has acted on what he has learned. What is super cool is that his dad came to church and the baptism and he really like it. We taught his dad before, but he decided not to continue on. But now he has a whole different perspective of the Church, so hopefully we can help him to be baptized too.

Week 98 - Batismo de Adailton e Ayana

Hello all once again,

This week was pretty filled with lots of things to do. First of all we had our December mission council. That went honestly super well. It was my last council. We talked about lots of big things that are happening in the mission right now. Everything was focused on how we can get this mission moving forward and continuing to achieve higher goals.

Week 97 - Missão missão missão - Building a House

 oi

Well this has been another great week with tons of things that I won’t even have time to count. So I will be pretty quick and share some experiences.

Week 96 - Thanksgiving e Batismo de Ruan Vinscius

Hey everyone,

The weeks are passing by quicker and quicker.

This has been one of the most tiring weeks of my mission haha. But it went super super well! We had a little thanksgiving celebration eating a pizza from Dominos. That was obviously great.

Week 95 - Maria Carmélia

Hey all,

This week was filled with lots of exciting things, but I would just like to share with you guys about one investigator we are teaching named Maria Carmélia. Maria is the mother of Fernanda, one of our recent-converts who was baptized with her family.  Maria came to the baptism of her daughter and when she entered into the church, she was overwhelmed with emotions. She started to cry and came over to Elder Gasparelo and started talking with him.

Week 94 - Casamento e Batismo de Beto e Karine

Hello everyone once again,

This week was pretty fast and great. We had lots of exciting events.

On Wednesday, we had something called "Dia dos Finados" which is a holiday here every year, where people go to the cemeteries to visit their loved ones who have passed on. We got to go there again this year to teach people about the Plan of Salvation, family history work, and we also got to sing. It happened in like 10 different cemeteries here in Pernambuco. We were able to get a ton of referrals and lots of people loved the hymns.

Week 93 - O milagre do Batismo

Wow gente this week was incredible. I don’t even know where to start. 

We had so many miracles happen this week and honestly, I feel so humbled to be a part of this great work. The Lord has continually blessed our area over and over and well, I just honestly don’t want to leave here ever!

Week 92 - Plano de Salvação

This week had a ton of miracles. And sadly I don’t have time to count them all!

I feel like this week was pretty centered on the plan of salvation. We taught two different families about the plan of happiness and wow they just loved it so much. One couple we taught asked about life after death. We explained lots - from the spirit world to the Celestial kingdom. And the wife says, "wow, I have gone to so many different churches and they have never ever clarified exactly what will happen in the next life. I feel so at peace now."

Week 91 - Felicidade

Hello everyone,

I am missing my hair. But taking showers this week has been very efficient.

Yesterday was a holiday so we get to email today. Yesterday we went to Alto da Sé in Olinda with the assistants and it was the bomb.

This week we had ward conference. So with that the ward did a family home evening night and a movie night during the week. During the movie night, they played "Juntos para Sempre." This was a very 80s church film with some rocking clothing and haircuts. The movie was perfect for our investigators who went. One family that went is literally amazing. I love them so much. They are an eternal family in perspective. They loved the movie and are so excited to learn about the Plan of Salvation.

Week 90 - Batismo de Marluce e a Vida Careca

Hello all,

This week was pretty interesting. First of all, last p-day, we decided that my hair was definitely not acceptable and well I shaved it all off. haha yeah seriously. And well let’s just say, I miss my hair. a lot. But it is funny because we had mission council and all the missionaries were like "what the heck Elder Waters, what did you do?" And all the members asked if we were taken by the police or if I have lice. And everyone asks me about my scar.  That is often times funny to explain because most of the people here have never seen snow and don’t really know how sledding works.

Week 89 - A week of Adventures

Well this week has been great and strange and lots of things have happened actually.

Firstly, General Conference was awesome. When Elder Eyring got up there in the first session, I felt so good. I thought about how I have gained even more testimony and conversion since last conference. I think every missionary in the world was just like rooting on Elder Neil Anderson and Elder Oaks. Their talks were incredible and I know that missionary work is seriously only going to move forward if the missionaries and members work together.  I really hope that the members understood their message. We are all missionaries at whatever age with whatever amount of time we have in the Church. Preaching the gospel is so important.  Elder Oaks made it so easy giving lots of ideas of how to get started.

Week 88 - Batismo de Claudineide e Transferências

Hello everyone!

On Thursday was Claudineide's baptism. It went so awesome. She is so cool, I just love her so much and am so grateful to have met someone with such a sweet heart. Elder Gasparelo baptized her and her kids came to the baptism.  We are working with her kids Adailton and Ayana.  Ayana already knows that the Church is true. She just needs to take another step of faith. She is worried about her boyfriend and how he will react.  But it is just another great test of faith.

Week 87 - Fogo

Dear friends and family, (if you still read these updates)

This week went pretty chill! Today we had a p-day with President and Sister Bigelow with our whole zone about exercises.  It was really great and I made some good goals to lose weight before I get home! So you can disregard the photo of the Domino’s pizza my companion and I ordered on Saturday and the Coca-Cola limited edition I found this week lol.

Week 86 - Conselho de Missão, Mãos que Ajudem, Conferência de Zona

Hello everyone!

This past week was jammed packed with things to do. First of all, we had our mission council on Tuesday. It went super well. President Bigelow taught us about becoming one as a mission. Becoming a Zion mission and not have "ites" (4 Nephi). We talked about topics of the mission and things that needed to be resolved. 

Week 85 - Batismo de Marília

This week went ótima!

We had the baptism of Marília. She and her sister were encountered by my companion and his other companion. She has been so open and accepting to fulfilling compromissos and progressing. But her sister was like the opposite. Her sister thought she already knew what is best and right.

Week 84 - Batismo de Vanessa

hey all,

Since the temple, this week went pretty chill. We had a baptism on Saturday of Vanessa, who is the mom of a recent convert. The bishop baptized her and it went super well!

Week 83 - Jardim Brasil

 

Hello all,

This week went well in my new area! In this area it has been a lot easier to encounter new investigators, which is a plus. We also have some really amazing members that I am excited to work with. Elder Gasparelo and I are doing great. We have such a great relationship already.

Week 82 - Transferências-Zona Norte!

Hello everyone!

So I was transferred!  I was kinda expecting it because Elder Omar is in his last transfer now and President wouldn't keep me for 2 more there. I was transferred to Jardim Brazil, which is the Zona Norte. I had already served here in this zone when I served in Abreu e Lima.  We are here in Abreu e Lima right now to use the LanHouse and play some board games with the other elders. It is honestly freaky being here haha. It brings back so many memories! A lot has actually changed here since a year ago.

Week 81 - Casamento e Batismo de Rosângela e José

Hello everyone! this week was awesome!

We had the wedding and baptisms of Rosângela and Zeca (José). It seriously was amazing. I don’t think that I have worked so hard for a baptism on my mission than these. Every single thing that could´ve gone wrong, went wrong. But it all came together in the end.

Week 80 - Agosto

Hey all,

I cannot believe it is already August.

This week was another chill one. Our investigators are progressing a bunch. Rosângela and Zeca (josé) will be married this Saturday. They are super excited about it. Rosângela is helping us encounter new investigators and she seriously is a missionary.

Week 79 - Fogo

Hello gente,

This week was pretty chill. Nothing too exciting like last week's wedding!

Elder Omar's hair was getting pretty long this week, so I offered to cut it. He said alright and when I started he asked, "have you ever cut someone's hair?" And I responded "no..but I have seen hair being cut like a thousand times already so it can't be too hard." He got a little bit nervous, but it turned out great!  I only cut my finger a little bit.  I think I am going to start cutting missionaries' hair for $5 reais (about $1.50). JK

Week 78 - Casamento E Batismo De Cleverson E Rute

Hello everyone!

This week was jammed packed! Cleverson and Rute got married and baptized!! We are super stoked. The marriage went super well. It was at the church and there was a red carpet and a three level cake and lots of salgados. What was also cool is that there were many non-member friends and family there, and so it was a great opportunity for them to visit the church in a more relaxed way. Bishop Percilio bore testimony of marriage and the restoration of the gospel.

Week 77 - Batismo de Jó

Minha gente,

Yesterday we had the baptism of Jó. It went super great. We reactivated his mom and brother and we are still working on his dad. But he is 11 and still hadn´t been baptized. They were so happy to see the baptism and I could tell that Jó's dad felt the desire to return stronger in the church.

Week 76 - Transferências

 Hey all,

Today we had transfers! Surprisingly, Elder Villamar was transferred to Camaragibe for his last transfer. I thought that I was going to be his last companion. He was sad to leave the area, but he knows that something or someone needs him there in his last area of the mission. These past two transfers with him have been so great. Our companionship relationship was super strong and we got super close. I learned so much from him.

Week 75 - Conferências e São João e Templo

Hello everyone.

This week we had a zone conference and a Branch Conference.  In our zone conference we learned about how to do better invites. We learned that lots of times investigators don’t progress because of our bad invites. Inviting someone to act is so key and crucial in every part of the gospel. President Bigelow explained that many times we have a huge spiritual experience (during a talk, or general conference, or devotional, etc.) and afterwards nothing changes or happens in our life because we weren´t invited to change.

Week 74 - Batismo de Marileide e Jonas

Hello everyone!

This week went great because we had two baptisms. They were of Marileide and Jonas (Mom and son).  They used to be members of another religion, but after learning the true doctrine of the Restoration, they couldn't deny the truth! We were so happy that they were both baptized on the same day.

Week 73 - Rápido

Ten Kilogram Watermelon!

Hello everyone!

This week went by so quickly. The time just gets faster and faster. First of all, shout out to one my best friends Josh Davis for turning 20 this past week! Feels like yesterday we were passing sacrament together.

Week 72 - Junho

We have been working so hard that my companion needs to put his feet in a bucket of ice water while we study! haha

Hello everyone!

This has been another great week in Brazil!

I thought I would keep this email to more of what I have been learning recently. These past few weeks I have been studying the Plan of Salvation a ton. And I can truly say that it is a Plan of Happiness. I have learned so much about our purpose here and why we face such trials and problems in life.  I have learned how to have an eternal perspective on things - especially when we are faced with difficulties.

Week 71 - Semana abençoada

Hello world,

This week went super great! We have been seeing such blessings as we try to put more and more effort into the work. I think that is a principle of everything we do in the gospel or the Church. We were able to find some great investigators this week that have been so prepared by the Lord.

Week 70 - Transferências

Hello everyone,

Today is transfers! And well Elder Villamar and I will be staying together for another transfer! Woohoo! He only has two more transfers, so I image that I will be his last companion.  Elder Hammond was transferred out of our zone, so that was kinda sad.  But Elder Faria (my second filho) was transferred into our zone so yay!  He says that Silene is still firme e forte.

Week 69 - 20 Years Down, 80 To Go

Hello all!

So today is my birthday! Super lucky that it fell on a p-day. Means I actually get to relax a little bit haha. My awesome companion made me a cake! I didn't think he would because we don’t have a pan to make cake in, but that didn’t stop him! He grabbed our skillet pan for the stove and somehow made a super tasty cake in it. Today is going to be pretty chill like every other p-day. Except we are going to go to Subway for lunch because it is the fanciest restaurant in our zone lol.

Week 68 - Batismo de Jessyka e Dia das Mães

 olá pessoal,

This week was awesome! Mostly because we had an awesome baptism yesterday and then I got to talk with good old Mama R and Pops.

Week 67 - Maio

Oí todo mundo! I cannot believe it is May.  Usually April showers bring May flowers. But here it is just showers and showers and showers.

Week 66 - Primeira Semana em Coqueiral

Hello everyone!!

This week was a blast in my new area.

We are working with the Branch Coqueiral. We meet in a nice capela.  I am excited about not being in a galpão anymore! Our area is pretty big and it is a little more interior and rural. We went to the Moreno district meeting this week and on our bus ride we got to see more nature and open space. It was sweet! I really enjoyed being a little bit farther from the city.

Week 65 - Transferências e Batismo de Silene

Hello everyone!

This week was awesome!

To start, on Friday we got the opportunity to go downtown to the Prefeitura of Recife because the government of Pernambuco gave a big thank you to the Church and "Helping Hands."

Week 64 - Enchanted Lake

Oí! 

There are no photos this week due to a poor internet connection.

This week went super dope. Way way better than last week!! Our investigators Silene and Fernando are progressing a ton. They are reading the Book of Mormon and came to church! They are marked for baptism this week and we are going try and help them achieve this goal.

Week 63 - General Conference

Hello All!

This week had its ups and downs, but Conference made everything so great! I know that this mission has been the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life for sure. I am reminded of that every day. The victories achieved make everything so worth it.

Week 62 - Feliz Pascoa

An Easter egg that an awesome member gave us!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Our Easter was pretty normal, but it was great because I felt like I was expecting a huge deal and 4 meals and a bunch of chocolate like last year in New York.  This year, I really had time to think about the Savior and grow my testimony stronger. On Sunday the Bishop asked me to give a talk 5 minutes before sacrament meeting started and honestly it was an answer to my prayer because I just want to talk about the Atonement with everyone! So that is what I talked about and I felt my testimony grow as I shared it with others.

Week 61 - Pop Tarts

Hello everyone!

This week went by extremely fast and I do not believe it is already p-day! The more time I have on the mission, the more time flies by! I only have 10 months left and it scares me. #never #want #to #leave #Brasil.

Week 60 - Elder Would Do

Recife, Brazil Temple 

Hello All! Happy Pi day! I will try to eat something similar to pie today.

This week was super great!

On Tuesday we went to the President's house super early. We got there about an hour early, so we decided to have a little personal study in the Temple garden. So awesome to just zone out the world!

Week 59 - Batismo de Adriana

Hello all!

This week went super spectacular!  Yesterday Adriana was baptized. She chose me to baptize her and it went super well. I have truly seen how the Book of Mormon  played the role in her conversion.

Week 58 - Batismo de Elaine e Vitória

This week was great and packed.

First of all we had two companionship exchanges with Elders: Thompson (MTC companion), Lucero (Paraná), Fialho (Rio Grande do Sul), and Parrish (Utah). Both duplas came to our area and it went pretty well!

Week 57 - Banheiro

Well this week had its ups and downs like every week of the mission!

Week 56 - Doente

Hello everyone,

This week was pretty eventful.

Carnaval ending up being a snooze.  There were so many people dying in our area that they decided to cancel all the blocos just to be safe.  So we pretty much returned at 5pm every night until Wednesday for nothing. But it was good to relax and study. They ended up having one bloco go on yesterday (which wasn’t even part of carnaval).  It was just a normal bloco - nothing crazy.

Week 55 - Carnaval

 

Package from my Brother and Sister-in-Law

We found a LanHouse! wayyy up in the other side of our area. 

This week has been pretty chill and normal.  There hasn’t been too much Carnaval excitement here in our area. Basically everyone has gone to the city center to get their party on. A member showed us pictures from the city and there were tonnnnnss of people at the Galo da Madrugada. I am kinda sad because I thought we would have to run and try to escape people throwing rotten eggs at us. Mardi-Gras would be the closest thing to Carnaval, but here it is like 100 times worse.

Week 54 - Paz de Fevereiro

Hello everyone!

This week went super great. We are still teaching Severino and he is progressing a ton! Unfortunately he couldn't make it to church yesterday because of his spine.  He is 71 years old. We visited him and he is doing great.  He makes these sweets that are made of honey, banana, coconut and other stuff. And it is so amazing.  He is my third grandpa.

Week 53 - Transferências e Um ano

Hello everyone!

So today is transfers andddddd I am going to stay here in Lagoa Encantada… with Elder Gimenez!  Yep we are staying three transfers together and we are going to rock it!  I was surprised, I thought one of us would go, but whatevs I am chill with it-didn’t want to pack luggage anyway.

Week 52 - Templo

Hello everyone,

Not much happened this week after the temple trip, but I will give you the run down:

Week 51 - Batismo de Dilma

Hello everyone!

This week we get to go to the temple so that is why I am emailing today!

I am super stoked.

This week went super rad! Dilma, our investigator finally got baptized. She started receiving the missionaries back in April of 2015.  Elder Azevedo started teaching her and taught her for about 5 months.  After that came other missionaries and finally us. She finally felt that the time was right to be baptized.  I don’t think I have been so happy as much as I was during this baptism.  

Week 50 - Dois Mil Dezeseis

Elder Waters has done this at home - time lapse photography and a flashlight.

Happy 2016 everyone!! Can't believe it. 

This week was pretty chill! Nothing too exciting because we had to get back home at 6pm on New Year’s Eve.  So we just partied at home..eh kinda partied. Studying and watching church movies kinda party - ya feel me?