week 50: Preparing for Baptisms!

    California, Itabuna still has lots of potential despite it being a crazy city. We have to use our faith to find the elects, because it seems as though, during this season of São João festas, everyone is too ´´distracted, busy, drunk, or whatever excuse, to give time to hear our message. we are working with our investigators who have baptismal dates to get them baptized soon. We did a verification this last week and found 3 new investigators ( irmãos)  that are wanting to learn and are very interested. Their names are Dailan, João and Ismaíne. They already have 2 older siblings that live in São Caetano and are inactive so they know a little about the church. They accepted to learn and  follow Christ by being baptized  on the 10th of June. We also have 3 other investigators (Lorena, Kauane, and Alessandro) that with faith, fasting, and prayer will be baptized on the 10th.

   My companion and I are doing well together. I liked what President Bangerter told me about elder Thevenin and I.
 He compared of us to Nephi. He said, ´´ May you and Elder Thevenin - be able to do the very practical things necessary - that Nephi did - make tools, pray, get up, think and ponder, cut wood, make a bow, hike the trail - aim, shoot, kill, carry food back. It was a lot of work - that required diligence. After the trial of his faith - he received his more sure witness. So it must be. Elder Thevenin needs to do all those things too. He has yet much to learn and you should teach him - must teach him. ´´

   Elder Thevenin and I need to do all those things that Nephi did. We both must learn to work as hard as Nephi worked. We need to be even more diligent and obedient to see even more miracles. Elder Thevenin yet has much to learn and I should teach him - I must teach him.  I hope I can be the best example possible for Elder Thevenin these last two weeks of this transfer. I am definitely not perfect, but if I try my best, it is enough in the Lord´s vision.

killing some time waiting for the sister missionaries for district meeting

  I know that this is Jesus Christ´s church that he established.  He is the head and leader of all of us. I hope i can learn more about him everyday. I know that through studying the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the words of the prophets, I will better understand Christ´s role in my daily life.
My testimony of the Book of Mormon is constantly growing. I learned something that motivated me to study it more and learn from its stories and principles.
In D&C 84 the Lord said that if we do not know and use the Book of Mormon we will be condemned! He said it is vanity and disbelief that can cause people ,including missionaries, not to use the Book of Mormon in their lives and teaching. He said unbelief will darken the mind. (D & C 84: -58)
In order to draw us from the risk of condemnation, the Lord said that we should produce WORTHY FRUITS OF THE KINGDOM ... OF THE FATHER. These fruits includes reading, knowing, using, and presenting the Book of Mormon! I have realized that there is no shame to be found in sharing the Restored Gospel and the Book of Mormon with others. It is what brings real happiness in our lives and in the lives of others. I hope that we all may do the same, and see the promised blessings of Heavenly Father flow into our lives.

-Elder Hilton

papagalho (parakeet) my new friend

The well I fell into.  Ouch!!!  I stepped forward to give a lady a book of mormon and I stepped into the well.  I went all the way in until my back stopped me.  

these guys from the other Ward always buy ice cream for us when a new elder arrives. It took 4 weeks after but we still got ice cream

 

accompanying our friends with their work (Anderson & Robson)

 

fixing the bathroom

teaching a recent convert in her humble home

 

CUSCUZ with QUEIROZ!!

Week 49: Disciples of Christ

  My whole week was awesome. We taught lots of lessons and taught with power. We also had Zone conference, which went really well. Zone Itabuna and Zone Ilheus met in our chapel in California, Itabuna. We received some great training from the Assistants, zone leaders and president Bangerter. President asked me to play the piano last minute, like usual. I accepted, knowing that it wouldn't be super pretty considering i never played one of the hymns. I TOTALLY butchered the first hymn and it was a little embarrassing, but the rest went smoothly. The conference must have been inspiring, because i stayed awake and attentive throughout the trainings despite the little sleep i had the night before. I really learned a lot, even though i´ve already heard a lot of the information and principles that were presented. But as we learn in the Book of Mormon, there is a difference between hearing and listening. To HEAR and to LISTEN.

Elder Thevenin got me addicted to Quibe and Guaraná. It seems like we eat and drink this EVERY DAY. Its great!

Sundays are the best, but also very busy. We had a priesthood meeting at 8:00 am. and also ward council later that afternoon at 4:30 pm. Good things are happening in this ward with our new bishop, Bishop Ivan Oliveira. I am preparing lots of people to be baptized and i have 7 people with a baptismal date. This week begins the 4th week of the 6 week transfer so we are already over half way. Lots of my investigators´ baptismal date is for the last Saturday of this transfer. My companion and I are really pumped and motivated to accomplish these goals and help these people come unto Christ and be baptized. We will pray and fast that our goals will be realized. I love Sundays because it´s the day we see who shows up to church. During the week we find, teach, and invite numerous people to visit the Church of Jesus Christ and lots of them say they will go that Sunday. Only very few actually go, so its always a joyous surprise when someone we invited shows up. Its the best day to coordinate with members, mark days to teach investigators, and organize divisions. This Sunday we had 4 investigators present and good retention. There were 8 recent converts in church, 5 of which i taught and baptized these last few transfers. I was truly happy to see everyone that arrived to church, because i know it isn't easy for everyone to be there. Some people live far away and have to pay a taxi or bus to arrive. Others wake up really early to walk. I was also really happy to see my friend that i baptized, named Anderson Reded, passing the sacrament with the Aaronic Priesthood that he recently received. I also saw good ol´ Paulo at church that i baptized two transfers ago and snapped a photo with him.  It was a great Sunday.

     We learn in the Book of Mormon in 3rd Nephi chapter 11 that when the Nephites heard the voice of God they didn't understand the first 2 times. But the 3rd time they listened and comprehended the voice. The voice of God said in verse 7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him. We all know the rest of the story how Jesus Christ manifested himself unto the Nephites and how they learned His Doctrine and were blessed. We learn right there in the Book of Mormon that there is a difference between the words ´´hear´´ and ´´listen´´  i realized that, yes, i do hear the words of Christ, and his living prophets and other leaders of his church, all the time. Everyday in the mission and throughout my life i have heard them. But recently, in this past month, i have started to truly listen to the words of Christ. And by listening, I comprehended them! in a way i never had before. I feel very grateful to have the opportunity to set apart 2 years of my life to study, learn, and listen. Doing so i have learned a lot about what is important in life and what really isn't.  The fruits of the work are real and bring true happiness. This makes me grateful to be a disciple of Christ. I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. A prophet in the Book of Mormon named Mormon wrote these solemn words. The meaning and value of these words are penetrating. The complete sentence is:

BEHOLD I AM DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD. I HAVE BEEN CALLED OF HIM TO DECLARE HIS WORD AMONG HIS PEOPLE, THAT THEY HAVE MIGHT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. (3 Nephi 5:13)

    No one can say these words insincerely and not be hypocritical. No one can say these words sincerely and have no power! A missionary who can speak these words solemnly when leaving his house, and when entering the house of an investigator will have power to change lives. He will have the power to touch people's hearts and overcome obstacles. How? because he will be full of charity, hope and faith. This is the type of faith and courage i want to strongly develop. The kind where, regardless of the situation, I can say, looking directly into the eyes of the person, and full of the spirit: ´´ I am a servant of the Savior, I am not perfect, but I am his servant, speaking in his place, and I look at you with my eyes and I declare - HE is calling you to be baptized - IN HIS NAME I SAY THIS. Do you accept this invitation?

   I hope we all have the power and courage to declare frequently and solemnly, always, throughout all our lives: I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. I WAS CALLED TO DECLARE HIS WORD TO HIS PEOPLE, SO THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. We as members of the church of Jesus Christ are the true full-time missionaries. We are member missionaries. We serve our whole lives through. The elders are only part-time, full-time missionaries, who serve for two years. Without the members, the work of us Elders would be without effect.  I love serving a mission and i love the Lord. Im grateful for the promises that i know He keeps. I hope all of us can live every day more worthy and anxious to receive those great blessings.

Love, Elder Hilton


After we all ate a tasty meal, Sister Reis popped some chicken feet in the microwave and ate them like candy. I´ve never seen that before and I was blown away how she continued to describe how much she loves chicken feet.

Seeing some good friends and former companions at zone conference

Wednesday night, lots of elders arrived at our house to spend the night because the next morning was Zone Conference. Elders from the cities São Caetano and Una arrived around 8:30, but 4 other elders from a distant city called Valença arrived at 2:30 in the morning. Including my companion and I, there were 10 elders in one house. crazy. We all ate Quibe, coxinha, etc and took a picture with those funny glasses that my mom sent me a while ago for Valentine´s day. 

Week 48: Surprise Transfers and MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!

This post has last weeks email that he didn't finish with loads of pictures and also this weeks email with even more pictures!!


SURPRISING TRANSFERS! (May 8th), Week 47)
ITS TRANSFERS! everyone thought i was leaving for sure. the ward was already ´´saying goodbye´´ to me. i even received some presents, some cards, and other gifts. That Monday was a holiday and everyone said that everything was going to be closed so we emailed at Samuel´s house. When my cellphone rang, i knew it was for transfers so i quickly pulled it out of my pocket. i was so anxious to hear where i would go, and in the act of whipping it out of my pocket it disassembled and the battery fell out. NOOOooo!! I returned the call and learned that i would stay a third transfer in California and train a new elder. I was told also that Elder g. Souza would be transferred to São Caetano to be zone leader (my zone leader... its pretty funny) I prepared to leave to Salvador for the trainer´s training and said goodbye to Elder G. Souza. That Monday night, i took a bus at 10:45 pm to Salvador to the trainers meeting.

     I arrived Tuesday morning and took a taxi to the mission home where all the trainers received training and received the new missionaries that arrived later in the afternoon at the Salvador airport. They are all newbies  from the CTM in São Paulo.

We had various trainings and interviews and a break for an awesome lunch, then everyone together received more training and we got assigned our new companions. After, without delay,we took a van to the mission office to pick up the newbies´ bags. I also had a surprise waiting there for me. I don't know when it arrived at the mission office, but it looked like it had been waiting for me for quite some time. I was expecting only a few books that i had been wanting, and i was gratefully surprised when i picked it up and felt how heavy it was. My family loves me! haha.

 Then we left the office with my companion´s bags and went to the bus station and waited a for our scheduled time to leave. i couldn't wait to open the box, so i opened it right there in the  bus station. Then we snapped a few pics, boarded the bus, and spend the night driving back to Itabuna. of course i hardly slept at all. i sat next to my new ´´son´´ that i would be teaching, training, and taking care of for the next 6 weeks, so i was curious to get to know him. we had to switch buses at 4 in the morning and we arrived in Itabuna at 8:00 am. we took a taxi to our house, unpacked and settled in a bit then left to work. we had lessons marked, people to visit, and repentance to teach. As we were leaving i thought of the song by Cage the Elephant - ´´Ain´t No Rest for the Wicked´´.  we were both completely tired, but we were full of the Spirit and anxious to get to work. I didn't want to give any ´´rest for the wicked´´. I was ready to help and teach everyone in Itabuna! I told my companion that no one is going to ´´escape from us´´; that we were going to have an awesome transfer together and baptize.
     I really love my companion. His name is ´´Elder´´ Brayam Isidro Thevenin Gomez ( Elder Thevenin) . He is from Dominican Republic.

His dad is a successful urologist and his mom is a  dermatology specialist. He is a cool guy even though its hard to understand sometimes. He reminds me of a mix between Moto Moto from Madagascar and Roger Reid. He physically looks like Moto Moto and has the passion of cars like Roger Reid. His car before the mission was a Honda 2000 civic hatchback ek4, but he put a Toyota Supra 2JZ engine in it. I thought that was pretty cool, even though i didn't know exactly what it meant. He said it one of the same motors as Paul Walker´s car in Fast and Furious. Like i said, i think him and Roger Reid and all car lovers would get along well. Elder Thevenin speaks Spanish so I've been learning Spanish by teaching him português. I am so happy to be his trainer and know that we will both learn a lot this transfer together. My goal is to teach him everything that i know that will make him a successful missionary. everything i know about obedience, diligence, planning, etc. I think i really wore him out because he crashed on his bed after.

I´m a Nocturnal Day Dreamer
    Thursday came and went and the hour to sleep arrived. My mind wouldn't stop reflecting on the week. I was so happy that i received Elder Thevenin as my companion and i was thinking how good of a transfer it would be. I also pondered on my own progress since the beginning of my mission. Receiving my new companion made me remember how it was to be new, fresh out of the CTM. It gave me empathy and a strong will to be a good trainer. I wanted to know what i could do to be a good trainer for Elder Thevenin. I also wanted to know what i could do to be his FRIEND and someone that he can trust in. My mind also reflected on how i could help our investigators better as well as accelerate the work here in this ward and all the wards i would serve in. In my nightly prayers i asked for these things then tried to sleep. I couldn't sleep. Lots of ideas began to flow through my mind. i was tired and tried to say to myself ´´tomorrow i will think about this things.´´ but the ideas didn't stop coming. Some of them were so good that i couldn't just let them pass by and risk forgetting them. I got out of bed and began writing them all down. I stayed awake for a few hours into the night writing then went back to bed. The ideas kept flowing, so i got back up and wrote a lot more things. The last time i looked at my watch that night it was 5:30 am. I only got one hour of sleep, and when 6:30 am. came, i thought for sure i would be so tired that i wouldn't be able to work very well. But the Spirit of happiness, and will to work got me up and I worked like normal, without exhaustion.

     Friday was another great day. At lunch my companion Elder Thevenin started talking in Spanish with Brother Santos. He also accounted a dream he had the night before (Thursday night) to Brother Santos. Brother Santos told us a personal story and cried. Then he interpreted my companion´s dream. After this very special experience at lunch we had a great day of teaching people. One funny story. We were teaching this family that was given to us as a reference. We entered there house and quickly realized that they have some problems. Not only financially, but mentally. They are crazy. Almost everything they said and did, made no sense. Resumed, it was a disastrous lesson. The kids were going wild and hitting each other, and what ended the lesson was when the mom (the most mentally impaired) farted and everyone uncontrollably. She didn't even laugh or make ANY expression. We ended the lesson, decided to invite them to church and never return.
      Saturday was full of commitments and amazing teaching experiences too. At lunch we met three cool dudes at the restaurant we ate at. They are three traveling nomads that perform cool acts (circus acts) in the roads. Two are Argentinan and the third is from Chile. Their names are Jorge, Cristian and Martin.  It was really cool talking with them and showing one another where we are from. They were really funny had some cool stories. I showed them a picture of the Salt Lake City Temple and jokingly told them it was my house. Jorge responded sarcastically with his strong accent, ´´Ah. OK Harry Potter!!´´ and everyone busted up laughing. The whole restaurant looked over at us and it was super hilarious. The rest of the day we taught people and took care of lots of things. The miracles were these: Everything didn't go as we had planned, but God was guiding our paths. Through the commitments that fell through, the people we found, and the lessons we taught it was very clear that it wasn't coincidence. We arrived home exhausted. Before bed Elder Thevenin and I got into a really interesting conversation. He told me some very personal stories of him and his family. I was blown away and my vision on lots of things changed. I cant explain everything like i would like to because he asked me not to share it with anyone. What i can say is that he is a special witness of several  general authorities including Jeffery R. Holland, Boyd K. Packer, and Ronald A. Rasband. I feel it a big privilege to be his companion. I spent Saturday night again until 4:00 am. reflecting and writing some personal revelations. I began to understand more about my personal life and the significance of the Plan of Salvation.I felt my mind was clear. I felt happy and at peace, full with light, and the love for the Savior and others. I recognized the fact that my thoughts and actions should be open to the Lord in prayer. and when they are he will always help me and guide me throughout my life. I remembered some song lyrics that made lots of sense compared with what i was going through. they go like this:

 I got a homesick heart but a long ways left to go
I've been doing my part but I ain't got much to show
So I'masking you to show me some forgiveness
It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness

Chasing that life, moving on 'cause I had to prove
There ain't no life worth doing what I did to you
So I'm asking you to show me some forgiveness
It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness

I got dreams that keep me up in the dead of night
Telling me I wasn't made for the simple life
There's a light I see, but it's far in the distance
I'm asking you to show me some forgiveness
It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness

Sometimes you leave the ones you love
But if it's love, they won't give up
'Cause they know a war's raging and you gotta choose
These days are tough, these days are long
Sometimes it's hard, you carry on
But I hear a voice singing and I know it's true

I got dreams that keep me up in the dead of night
Telling me I wasn't made for the simple life
There's a light I see, but it's far in the distance
I'm asking you to show me some forgiveness
It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness

I LOVE THAT SONG!!

   Sunday was another normal Sabbath day. I marked 4 divisions for the following week.  This past week i thought of myself like Nephi when he wanted to know the meaning of the vision his father Lehi had. Nephi had doubts, and so did I. Like Nephi, i asked God to know, and he revealed many things unto me. I understood better how i can be a better missionary, a better companion, a better friend, a better teacher, and a better learner.  I want to explain something that i believe in. I believe that when Man talks to God it is called prayer. and when God talks to man it is called revelation. But i also believe we have to be prepared to receive personal revelation. Our preparation, i believe, is a thing we do called repentance. So all these late night ´´daydreams´´ (revelations) were given to me to help guide me, but before i repented to prepare. I am really grateful for all that happened this week. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ that HE organized anciently when he was on Earth. I know that he restored HIS church through the prophet Joseph Smith and that Christ is the chief and corner-stone of our religion.

-Elder Hilton

 

one day at lunch before we had divisions. and teaching a lady who´s grandma has a family tree on the wall. 

emailing my mom

MONDAY (P-DAY)  (May 15th)

    Summed up. this P-day we cleaned house, took a bus to the LAN House and emailed, and ate at PIZZA HUT! it was really funny. It was just us eating there. After i asked her a question, the lady worker there was curious about a few things . It turns out she knew some sister missionaries so i finished the contact and invited her to hear the sister´s message. We even left her a pamphlet to study. We took a bus back home, and i planned an awesome family night about Families and Temple. We were running a little late, so we paid a taxi to take us there. The whole family wasn't there so we didn't teach. I left them with a passage to read in preparation for the message that i prepared.  It was a great P-day. 

TUESDAY-SUNDAY

   Even more summed, here was my week.  

visiting the ice cream truck after division.  we had lots of divisions that i marked on Sunday. We taught lots of lessons.

One special lesson was when i taught Simar Andrade. It was a contact. He started out not wanting to hear ANYTHING. because he already has a religion and he doesn't need, or want, anything more. He told me his is a member of Congregação Cristã do Brasil (the tougher type to baptize. I didn't give up so easily. I asked him some questions that left him wanting him to know more, and before you knew it, i was teaching everything in detail. Exactly what he didn't want, hahaha. Then he did something that I never thought he would do when we first started conversing with him. He invited us to ascend the stairs and give a prayer. He put a shirt on then invited me to give the prayer. Then we marked a lesson for next week. 

On Sunday i got to FaceTime my family!!!

What i learned through my teaching experiences these last few weeks was that my testimony is the most powerful thing i have. It is undeniable and always growing and strengthening. I learned something very important about our testimonies. It is explained perfectly in 1 Timothy 4:16 ´´Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.´´ I know that we need to have confidence in our testimonies of Christ and NEVER be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. 

 This concept of confidence is well-explained in  2 Timothy 1:7-8

      7. ´´ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.´´

      8. ´´ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God ´´ 

      I loved these scriptures and made it real clear that we do not need, nor should we, have fear of what we know about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Why should we have fear? Our message is TRUE! Everyone needs to hear it and learn about the HUGE BLESSINGS that come from living its teachings and principles. So all you members of the true church of Jesus Christ who have this great knowledge, SHARE IT. Someone is waiting to find something greater and more true in their lives. It is our responsibility to share what brings true happiness! Doctrine and Covenants section 123: 12-14 says it perfectly, 

     12. ´´For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

     13 ´´Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—´´

     14 ´´These should then be attended to with great earnestness.´´

This scripture reminds me of my purpose as a missionary. I quickly realized in the mission that there are SO MANY people that don't know the truth, just because ´´they know not where to find it´´. Many are ignorant and are in need of the truth.  Now comes my duty. It is my duty to attend these people with great diligence. To do all that I can with my companion to bring these lost ships to the everlasting lighthouse of the Lord is my job. I have also learned that God doesn't send me or command me to do anything without giving a promised blessing. Commandments = Blessings.

In verse 17 God gave the promised blessing that we will receive if we accomplish this task.

     17 ´´Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

What was the blessing??? TO SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.  we will be saved! I know that God keeps his promises and that we are all able to be saved. But what do we need to do? we need to share the Restored Gospel with others. That's why i love serving a mission. I love it because i am doing my part by helping other people come unto Christ and showing them how they can follow Him. I hope each one of us can do the same and in doing so come to know our Savior Jesus Christ better.

-Elder Hilton