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.