April 29, 2013

This week was really awesome it was kinda like the first time this month that we haven't had a mtg to plan or some interruption, it was quite nice to just do missionary work.

The miracle that happened (not counting the baptism) is a family that Elder Petersen found while i was on division. Their names are Conceição and Ribomar. they were taught 1 yr ago by the elders but like the elders didn't make a record or maybe it just got lost. They were found when Elder Petersen went knocking on doors... the first door he knocked there came a man with a smile and a woman greeting them and asking them to come in. They later went on to find out about how they had been found before, the story i described above. They also met their son Mario who was also taught and declared to the elders "I read the book of Mormon and I know it is true." They taught a lesson about families and spoke about baptism; when i returned with my comp the next day i sat awe inspired as Conceição spoke of her desire to be baptised and to be a more obedient daughter of god. We shed tears together after which Ribomar declared " we have been together since we were 15 year old, more then 50 years ago, its time for us to get married!" That night they went to the baptism where they were well received and adored the meeting. Then on Sunday they went to church and were so in love with the whole meeting that after they had left they had to return again to tell us. Truly the lord is preparing his children ALWAYS!

Other news I am going to be transferred to Imperatriz, as zone leader there. It's a smaller zone, only has 7 sets of Elders (no sisters) but the thing is, my comp and I are going to be new in the area... and the zone. My new comp is Elder Rais. He is just getting out of the mission office as secretary after 9months serving there. I'm excited to work with him, but at the same time i will definitely miss this ward, my companion and this city. It has been an awesome 5 months here of hard work and great success that the lord has given me.

Well I hope you all have an awesome week... please keep me in your prayers as I go to this new city.

Love you all!

--
-Elder Howe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 22, 2013

WOW what a week.

So we hada crazy time coming up with tables and chairs and everthing for the meeting with Elder Godoy. At 7pm the night before we still haden't even found tables to eat lunch on.. IMAGINE eatting lunch and making Elder Godoy sit on the floor! hahah that would of been HORRIBLE! hahah but the lord always provides a way we found tables and everthing.

He taught us about the importance of the book of mormon, studying (just like dad talked about in his talk) and also using it to invite others to come to christ though baptism. Elder Godoy is a very spritual man, he reminded me a lot of Brother Updike, just very intune with the spirit, able to call down the spirit at any time. As he read the introduction to the BOM I became teary eyed.. I know that this man is called of god.

We had a good divison with the Assistants to the mission President, they payed us some very nice complements. It is nice to see my leaders so concerned and involved with my progress as an Elder.

All three, Weber (son of Isais e Da Paz), Gabriel, and José passed thier baptism interviews!! so next Saturday is BAPTISM day!!!

Love you all, sorry I don't have photos this week, I forgot my camera.

April 15, 2013

BATISMO!!!!!!!!!!!

We had such a good end of the week that all our problems melted away in the São Luis heat hahah. Everything went swimmingly with the weddings and the baptisms. It was such a neat experience to see them dressed in white and enter the waters of baptism.

We have been teaching Isaias and Da Paz since JUNE 2012!!!! That's like forever ago and I feel honored to have been a small part of their eternal progress. The best part is that this week we were able to set a baptism date with Weber, one of their 9 children! He will be baptised on the 27th and isaias will be able to do the baptism! All the BETTER!!

Joelma was so happy at the baptism because her son, Ian did the opening prayer at the baptism and it was quite a special moment for her. Her husband, Jose who was also at the baptism decided that he wanted to be baptised too.... when I hear that my jaw almost dropped off. Our Ward Mission Leader was talking to him about how he has to go to the temple with Joeloma and get married there too because in the Temple the wedding is 1000x better there and lasts all eternity! And he was like alright, well yeah, I'll get baptised then... hahaha so the 27th we will also baptise him. The other amazing part was that he came to church on Sunday, usually he always used the excuse of watching soccer, but this Sunday he just went to church (idk maybe his team wasn't playing haha)

So those are just some of the miracles that we saw last week.

This week the assistants will visit us, they are coming in tonight and will stay for 2 days!!! On Thursday we have a meeting with Elder Godoy of the 70, so we will have to plan and prepare the chapel for that visit, AWESOME!!! I'm excited to get to hear what he has to say to us.

Well thanks and have a awesome week!

-Elder Howe

April 8, 2013

Hello.

 

Well Conference was AWESOME!!!!!!! here they still do it by satellite not internet... and Sunday morning the satellite was not working or something... so we didn’t get it in English ha-ha but all the rest was super sweet. I loved the p-hood sesh talks by McAllister and also Beck.

 

Joelma was interviewed and passed so all will go according to plan for her Saturday baptism. Isaias and Da Paz were also interviewed... they didn’t pass because of some past problems... this family has gone through more hardship and obstacles to get baptized then I have ever seen... but president said that they can still be baptized this week they just have to re-interviewed, so we are going to mark it and pray that they can also be baptized this week. Their weeding is on Friday. I AM SO STOKED FOR THIS SATURDAYS BAPTISMS!!! This ward has truly been a testimony to me that when the leadership of the ward is doing its best (even though it’s not perfect) that the lord will still bless all those involved and the salvation of his children will go forth.

 

We had our zone meeting on Friday that went well, we have some awesome elders here and I’m excited to be able to work with them... even though the transfer is half way over I feel like it just started.

I had the chance to do a division this week with Elder Davis (he was from my group in the MTC) he is now a district leader/ trainer here in São Luis. Basically I just sat down and taught him his responsibilities as a district leader (seeing as he has never been one) I really wish someone had done the same for me when I was called to be a district leader... I have definitely learned that it is so important to truly help those who are under our responsibility, to sit talk and converse with them to love them.

 

We had a cool experience this week. Bruno a 22 year old who was a reference from a member, we went to go teach him for the 2nd time this week. The first time we visited him he told us his family (he his "wife" and his daughter) were passing though problems. We taught them how the gospel would bless their lives. He loved it and knew the things we taught were true because he had seen the change in his member friend´s family. When we returned this week we learned that he and his "wife" had separated and that he truly was feeling alone. He teared up many times during the lesson as we explained to him the book of Mormon and how it helps us come unto Christ to have happiness with our families. Forever. He had not only read the pamphlet that we left with him the first visit but had answered all the questions in the back! This Sunday he went to conference with his daughter. We will continue to work with him and mark a date with him this week.

 

Well I love you all and miss you hope the conf weekend went well! LOVE YOU!!!

 

April 3, 2013

Transfers went well all is safe and sound Elder Petersen is AWESOME!!! He is from Washington the state. He is like 6’ 4’’ so I feel small around him... imagine our investigators hahah when we stand up at the end of the lesson some people feel very small. haha

We have been working hard this transfer we got four new district leaders, seeing as we only have five district leaders a lot changed, three of them have never been district leaders... so we are working on training them sometimes the means forgoing our studies and visiting them in the morning or sometimes just calling but all are awesome and I am excited to work with each one of them.

We had some cool lessons with Leilani this week she accepted to be baptized on the 4th of May so we will have a marriage baptism on the 4th of May. She read the Book of Mormon and the next visit she told us... I know it’s true. It is quite awesome to see someone so willing and ready to follow the lord’s voice.

Sunday Dom-Dom passed the sacrament for the first time... it was quite a powerful moment for me.

Saulo received the Priesthood and will bless next Sunday. I’m excited!

We went to Teresina and it was good to go and just meet with the other leaders. Something that the mission is really teaching me is how to set goals and ten achieve them, the process of becoming better.

Well I love you all so much and hope the snow wasn’t too cold.... hahah