So Monday was tricky and we weren’t able to get in to use a computer! Yesterday I went to have lunch with President and a bunch of other missionaries that won (last transfer) a competition. It was really GH (glória dos homens/glory of men), but it was fun! The companionship that baptized the most in every zone and had the best numbers went to the lunch, but Elder Dayton wasn’t able to make it because they live really far… It was a ton of fun and I learned quite a bit from Sister- she talked to me for a long time about marriage and family… There should be pics on the mission facebook page!
I am now in Samambaia, and once again, in the Taguatinga stake. 3rd time hahaha the Lord has a work for me to do here.
My theme for this transfer is this: “Obey like Nephi, serve like Ammon, love like Christ.” I’m still learning and I’m grateful to the Lord for that. I’m dying as just a missionary, and that is the best way to go out: with your head down and hitting it hard.
Transfer day 9/20/16Transfer day 9/20/16Transfer day 9/20/16Transfer day 9/20/16special lunch with President Lundgrenspecial lunch with Pres LundgrenPresident Lundgrenspecial lunchspecial lunchspecial lunch browniesspecial lunch cookies
Transfers are this week and I’m leaving Posse, so here in a little bit I’ll be leaving the middle of nowhere to civilization. So this will be rushed again with pictures, and next week HOPEFULLY I have some time to write a letter or send a real email since I’ve been owing you guys one of those for a long time now. Almost two years haha but know that I love all of you!
This week we were able to end the transfer with 4 baptisms! The rest of the families are all soon to come, Dayton will send me pictures as their time comes. We’re waiting for Eliene and Rodrigo AND Leonel and Vanete to get married… haha they’re two incredible couples, especially Eliene… She is a special lady. I’ll update more on their story when I have more time!
I’m happy and I love this work!
Peace be the journey
an american flag and one american eldernotesAdams and Dayton w/Hauedy, Hullian, GustavoHauedy, Hullian & Gustavo with mom ElieneHauedy, Hullian & Gustavo w/Eliene and RodrigoLeonel and Elder AdamsLeonel baptism daymore Leonel
I always get here with really awesome things to tell you guys and then when I sit down, Will Smith swoops in and wipes my memory with his sick alien pen from MIB and I forget everything. At least that’s what it feels like.
Alright, so to start off updating all yall from about two or three weeks ago, I’m still alive and healthy. We got robbed last week when we down to Brasília for mission conference so now I don’t have my USB or memory card with all my talks, we don’t have a phone anymore and the dude swiped our phone while we were sleeping. Sem vergonha. But we’re both okay and the mission conference was awesome! Here’s a little bit of what I got from it:
We must look at our own lives and fix what is already under our control before we start to look out and point out the falts of what we can’t control yet. As we are an example of the believers in word, in thought and in doing the rest will surely follow. In due time, but it’s the Lord’s time and we can’t complain about that.
We are here to establish the kingdom of God on the earth, not just to work and baptize and teach. Work and establish are two different things. When we establish we build what is necessary to be built and we leave it better than we found it.
How would my future family relationships benefit from my missionary conduct right now?
We should teach, pray, testify, love and serve as if for the very first time.
Teaching the children of God about His eternal gospel plan is the single most important thing we can do with our lives; whether it be as a missionary, a Sunday school teacher, a neighbor, a friend. In 1 Corinthians 12:29 it lists three things: first, apostles. Second, prophets. Third, teachers. We have to do everything in our power to make sure that when we have an opportunity to teach that we take advantage of it and turn it into a truly spiritual experience, and we can learn to do that in chapter 10 of Preach my Gospel. And then if our hearts are right, if we have prayed and studied and cried and worried and prepared until we do not know what else to do, the Lord can say to us what He said to the sons of Mosiah to go up unto the Lamanites and He will give us success!
We gave Elizabeth the Book of Mormon less than 3 weeks ago and she finished it yesterday… And has a testimony. And she’s the greatest, she’s just stark crazy. I think she might have Alzheimer’s… But she remembers everything from the Book of Mormon, it’s an interesting deal! She is super prepared and we’re helping her out this week to stay strong so she can be baptized on Sunday!
Carol and Luisa have fallen off the map, it’s sad. But it happens! It’s still not their time. But they’ll get baptized for sure.
We met a lady named Eliene knocking doors and she has three sons, two are old enough to be baptized. We have been working closely with them, as they have an incredible potential to do incredible things as members. Eliene isn’t married, but her “husband” lives in Brasília and visits one weekend per month. She tells us she thinks about separating and it’s a really odd deal with them. But she is a wonderful person and she’s super sincere with us, which is a blessing. We’re working with her sons to get baptized this weekend as well!
Tailane came out of nowhere, she’s a little buddy of some recent converts and has gone to church 3 weeks in a row. It’s impossible to find everyone at home but we’re doing everything in our power to help her prepare for baptism this weekend as well! We have high hopes for the end of this transfer!
I might get transferred here in a couple days I think! (hope… pray…) haha but I am super grateful to be here in Posse and to be learning the things that I am learning everyday. The Lord has shown His hand to me in this area and my testimony is stronger for it. I have learned to truly learned to pray and love and serve others and my God. I can never deny these things!
unidentified plant itemis it a sunrise or sunset??hiking selfiehiking againmore hikingAaron and ?hiking viewhiking with RobertoBrasilia mission conferencePosse Rangers reunited at Brasilia mission conferenceElders Batista, Adams, Dayton at Brasillia mission conference
We have continued to take fat strides as a companionship, and my companion floored it this week and has been progressing immensely! He’s a great kid and I have been fighting for the last 5 transfers to help him- yes, 5 transfers. 3 in the same house and 2 as comps haha it’s been a trip with the brotha. But as I said, his progress has been incredible as of late and I’m really proud of him.
Carol and Luisa have been hard to get a hold of, and they can only go to church if their parents go and everything and it’s confusion and stress. They’re great, and Carol has a testimony of the Book of Mormon. It’s tricky business but we do what we can and we fast and pray a lot! As for Iaciara, Elder Martin and I are doing splits to go out there with some members of the quorum to hit it hard and try and open up a group there! We’re going on Thursday, so I’ll send an update on it next week for sure this time!
We found this older lady named Elizabeth (normal English name I know, it was nice to see that) and she is just a sweet lil child of God and wants to do the right thing! She took a taxi to church yesterday and was the first one there and the last one to leave she LOVED it. She promised that til the day she dies she’d be there every Sunday so we’re super excited with our newest addition to our cute grandma club. She’s been reading the Book of Mormon more frequently now.
I know my emails aren’t always super detailed or anything, but know that I’m doing okay! Things are better, I’m happy. I’ve been listening to a lot of talks lately (lately meaning since I got to Brasil) and they give me a lot of comfort. To top it off, I testify of how vital our daily scripture study is and can be in our daily lives. And as we read and ponder and pray and find the truth, the obedient application of that truth is the surest way to make it eternally yours!
I love you all and pray for yall always!
Peace be the journey
Doug (the dog from UP)Elder Dayton???Dwan’s baptism day
It’s another short one with a lot of pictures this week, but I hope yall know how much I love and pray for you every week.
The Lord has been kind to us this week with wonderful people to visit and teach, even if sometimes we weren’t able to do everything we could. I have been having some problems trying to help my companion be more obediente and udnerstand our purpose as missionaries, so the work is slow most of the time. But Heavenly Father has not ceased to help and guide us! Carol is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and she has received na answer to her prayers that it’s true. We met her friend Luisa that already has a Book of Mormon, and we started to teach her as well. Referrals are coming, and President gave us permission to travel once a week to a city about an hour from here (Iaciara) to try and open a group there, we’re really excited to work!
The sisters has a baptism this week and I had the honor of doing the ordinance!
I love yall so much, and I’m grateful for what yall do for me.
Peace be the journey.
Elder Adams & ? on Parrot MtnParrot Mtn selfietop of Parrot Mtn to watch the sunriseParrot MtnParrot Mtnmore Parrot Mtninfested with beautiful tropical birdsnot that drink again“Posse” shoesWeverton baptism dayw/Wevertonw/Wevertoncat I found sleeping on the street
It’ll be nice to sing that at a BYU football game sometime in the near future. But anyways! This week has been good! Our best one since we arrived in Posse, even if we get to do a ton. It started off really well.
New missionaries here, not the same deal as it was with the Posse Rangers but they’re still great kids.
The miracle for the week was Carolina. Carol is 11 years old and is probably the cutest little girl you’ve ever seen. We met her and her family on the street and gosh dang I have no time. To sumarize, she gets after everyone for not reading or praying and she’s so AWESOME we love her!
I’m doing okay I think, prayers are definitely accepted this week.
I love you all, peace be the journey.
Our favorite person Elzira and my new blow up friend.
I finally built the courage up (within my comp) to do the gym with me, so maybe I can regain a few of the almost 30 pounds I have lost in Brasil.
Another week in Posse and another transfer! Since we’re so far away from everyone we get transfer calls a day early, and Season 1 of the Posse Rangers has ended. Next week we’ll have updates on the new season that starts Tuesday night, 8pm. It was a heck of a ride with those kids and we really became a family, it was hard to see half of the district go.
This week was alright though! We found two sisters that were kind of our saving grace as far as GOOD investigators go. Keylla and Kettlin! They’re awesome, and accept everything so naturally. They read the Book of Mormon almost daily, but where there’s almost there’s room for improvement. But they are willing to improve and willing to become who their Heavenly Father has in store for them. And I know for a fact that they will be incredible sister missionaries, because that’s what we see in them.
So Jessica came back from her vacation! Jessica has been to church like 1000 times and has a testimony of the Book of Mormon. She understands
it, she reads it, she BREATHES it. She’s a special kid. But the deal is that her mom still thinks that it’s okay to deprive others of their own agency and won’t let her follow what the Spirit tells her is right. We pray for her all the time that she will be able to find the courage to talk to her mom. If you guys want to pray for her too, I’m sure that would help a ton.
They say that if you tell yourself something positive enough times you start to believe it… “I love Posse” still isn’t working. But we live we learn and we move on!
The sisters’ water pipes burst and flooded their apartment so we went in and fixed it up ourselves because WHO NEEDS A PAID SERVICE WHEN YALL GOT TWO HANDS AND A ROLL OF DUCT TAPE?! Naw I’m kidding we fixed it up right. I skinned my hand in the process but now I have cool battle scars and their water works!
I have learned millions of things here so far, but the number one thing I think is commitment and sacrifice. To be committed to something we must sacrifice other things- as President Monson said in the last conference- “the easier wrong for the harder right”. We know what is required of us and we know who will win the battle, so sometimes it’s hard to grasp that not everyone understands that. That (like Moses and the brass serpent) we’re shown what is necessary and it’s right in front of our faces, but a lot of times we look right past it. If you want someone to commit, you first must commit and understand the why it is so important. We must evaluate and correct our personal lives before trying to help others do the same. And after doing so, we do not look back. And the Lord will bless us immensely!
I LOVE YOU ALL
PEACE BE THE JOURNEY
HERE ARE PICTURES
Our favorite girl (Reis Kelly) got baptized on Saturday 🙂
Hope everyone had a great week this week. Down/up here in Posse it was normal; sand, lazy Baianos and more sand. But life is really great and I can’t complain about anything. The Lord has been incredibly merciful with us these last few weeks. Every time it seems like we have no one left to teach He provides us with someone really special to help plant the gospel seed. My testimony of prayer and the priesthood has increased immensely in these last 5 weeks, as we have been exercising both bastante in this area.
I also got news today that Ana Paula is now the Relief Society secretary in Valparaíso!!! I’m so proud of her and I love that family so much.
I just need a favor from everyone that really reads my emails: if yall could send me your favorite chapter of the Book of Mormon and/or favorite talk from Conference, that would be awesome!
This week (once again) is going to be a super short email, as I do not have time to do anything with my personal life anymore. Haha it’s been ridiculous up here in Posse, not a whole lot of success. I won’t go into details because I really can’t, but our branch is super difficult and we see a lot of hypocrisy and corruption among even our own brethren and sisters. The Church of Christ is absolutely perfect and without flaw; but unfortunately within her chapels there are those who have not totally delivered themselves to this marvelous self-sanctifying work.
We are super stoked for this week and I actually mean it this time, because we have been praying and fasting to know what we should do. And now we have a plan and we’re stoked out of our rockers to get this thing rolling.
We are the Posse Rangers.
We are the Brasilian Breakfast Club.
We’re really funny.
AS FOR RECENT EVENTS THAT HAVE PASSED THIS LAST WEEK:
My cute lil mom Sally Adams had her birthday on Saturday, and I wrote the letter for this week but I forgot it at home so now she can’t see the picture I drew for her. Just like kindergarten. So tell her happy birthday and give her a hug. Let me know if you want her phone number just in case you want to call and sing to her or something.
I love you all!
peace be the journey
The District 3: PosseDoug, the dog from UPone more of Dougbrushing your teeth is pretty funny
So we’re gonna try something new this week. I wrote down what happened these last few days and I scanned everything and I’m going to send it this way… So we’ll see how this goes*.
This week has been pretty tough but super rewarding as well. My companion and I have been working super well together, and we’re learning a ton. Our branch here in Posse is super small but we have the means here among the missionaries and the leadership and even some of the less actives to turn it into a very strong ward. Our theme has been Moroni 9:6 for the last couple of weeks:
“And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay,that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.”
Our challenge for my missionary friends this week is to do an Empty-handed Monday! Go out after pday with nothing but a Book of Mormon and a pamphlet from every lesson (one of each for you and your companion) and you both have to return home with nothing in your hands! We’ve started that tradition here and it’s been going good!
I love you all!
peace be the journey
*click on the numbers 7:18:16 at the very bottom to read Aaron’s handwritten letter he refers to.
Go go Posse Rangers. Get it? Posse… Rangers, like Power RangersPosse Rangers (Aaron’s comp Elder Dayton is wearing pink tie)A parrot landed on my headHorse by the lakeA sister investigator made an “Elder” salad for lunch and I almost cried because fofura puraFishing guuuddddsss
elder aaron b adams 