December 30, 2019

Feliz Ano Novo

2019 is coming to an end and so are the goals, but new ones are being created to make this year a good one too.


Christmas was really special talking with my family, I love them! It was a blessing being able to be together after the passing away of our sweet and dear dog, Zuko. God is merciful and kind for giving us such sweet spirits to be our friends for all eternity.


A neat experience I had this week was yesterday! (by the way Sister Conceição and I gave talks in church yesterday about Ministering and serving our brothers and sisters like Christ showed for us, it went well!) As we left lunch, we felt the Spirit whisper very quickly that we needed to visit our investigator Rafael. We walked to his house and he came down and he began to explain how he was doing. He is having problems with his mom and with life. As we listened, I felt that God was really watching over him and that Rafael needed us there to hear him. So we set goals with him to talk for 10 minutes everyday with his mom and to pray together with her every day. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings so much peace and love in our hearts. What a blessing it is to know that God is our loving and caring Heavenly Father and that His Son, Jesus Christ, lives!


I encourage you this new year, 2020, to set goals on ways you can grow closer to Heavenly Father this year and how you can learn and become more like Christ. I testify that He will help you achieve these goals and that you will be more happier in all aspects of your life.


HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!


love, Sister Giles


1) we had splits with the Sisters on Christmas eve
2)an apple pie by Irmã Sirlete
3)our district did a Secret Santa- I got lots of chocolate
4)I love church!
5)us with Rafael

December 23, 2019

Happy Christmas!

What a special season and a special week we are in! As Ron Weasley once said, ''Happy Christmas, Harry.''


Yesterday the twins received the gift of the Holy Ghost and are officially members of the Church of Jesus Christ! I was pondering on how powerful the influence of the Holy Ghost is in our lives and how much happier we are when we follow His guidance and counsel. He really testifies of Christ and the Father. At this Christmas time, I feel the Holy Ghost testify more clearly and fully about the birth and ministry of Christ here on the earth. He was born in a manger to earthly parents who would do all in their power to raise Him to reach His full potential as the Son of God and Redeemer of the World. 

One of the greatest gifts that Christ gave us was His example of Love. He served endlessly and with full purpose of heart. I think my favorite book in the Book of Mormon is 3 Nephi because the people here in the Americas really had personal experiences with Christ. He taught them the same things He taught in Jerusalem and He blessed them tremendously. I encourage you to read about the signs and marvels given to the people here on the earth in preparing for His birth in Helaman 14 and read about His ministry in 3 Nephi 17 to 26.


With the busy time of buying gifts and presents for family and friends, don't forget to give Christ a gift that only He can receive from you - giving your all to Him. 

'' Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.'' 

May you have a very Merry Christmas and light the World with His Love and testimony. Love to all!


-Sister Giles


photos:
1,2) a member family have a Banana tree so we got to cut down the bananas, it was super heavy and the bananas were super good freshly picked
3) service project
4) a holiday food tradition here in Brazil
5) pretty flower

December 16, 2019

A Covenant making people

Hello!!!

This week was crazy, but special!! As Sister leader I am doing splits with every set of Sisters in the zone, so the Sisters came on Tuesday but it ended up pouring rain in the evening so our work was cut short. For Christmas I made little presents for the sisters and they seemed to all like them.

Then Thursday we went to the São Paulo Temple for our Zone Conference and it was full of revelations which was incredible!! I love the temple! It is a place of peace and a place to remember the strong covenants we made with God. Also, the SP temple is super tiny. but it has a cafeteria. On the ride in the bus back President and Sister Miller had us all sing Christmas songs using the hand bells, it was a little off-key but it was fun hahaha.

Saturday the ward had their Christmas party and the little kids did the nativity which was super cute. Hahahha Joseph came in pulling pregnant Mary on a toy horse on wheels and ended up bumping into the chairs lined up, so it was a very graceful entrance.

On Sunday the twins João and Maria were baptized and it was awesome! Right before they got into the water they played shoots to see who would go first, João lost so he went first, they are adorable. BUT that morning we were not sure if they would be baptized that day......because Sat night their mom, Adriana, stayed to help clean up after the Christmas party and ended up falling on the stairs and twisted her ankle and went to the hospital. Sunday morning we get the call that she had gone to the hospital and in that very moment Sister Conceição and I said a prayer together that everything would go according to the will of the Lord and that Adriana would be okay. We arrived at church and during the Sacrament we prayed unceasingly that a miracle would happen and that her and the twins would show up. 5 minutes after the Sacrament, she comes hopping in and the twins helping her. Thoughts of peace and joy and gratitude flooded our hearts and I knew that God is a God of miracles and a God of love. Adriana is a super incredible example to me, to have gone through with this for her kids to make a commitment sacred with God. She told them,when you guys are baptized, you are making a promise not with me, not with the Sisters, but with God. So you will keep your side of the commitment and will every single Sunday go to church for the rest of your lives.´´ Their parents are not members but their aunts and cousins are, and their mom made a comment about her baptism in the future so we hope one day they will all be sealed. It was a crazy week, but ended up good.

I was pondering about this, how well do we keep our side of the covenants we make with God? How prominent are theses promises in our lives? I want to show to God that I did my side of the promise when I go to meet Him at His feet and say that I followed His Son, Jesus Christ, in all things and in all moments.

I hope you all will think about your covenants of baptism and the temple and set goals on how you can better improve your worship, especially this Christmas season.

Have a special week and remember the gift of Christ!

love, Sister Giles

1) I love this Christ statue!
2,3) photos of the temple
4)playing the bells on the bus
5)can you spot the giant frog?
6,7)baptism of João and Maria

December 9, 2019

Miracles This Christmas Season!!

Olá!! Merry Christmas!

What a humid week we had, but it ended with incredible little miracles!

Yesterday was the Primary Program in our ward and it was so cute and special! This last week we were able to invite all of our investigators to the program to hear the children sing and share what they had learned this past year. And God touched their hearts and a majority came, it was very special!

We were able to meet a less active, Cristiano, and his grandmother was super receptive to us and they came yesterday and she loved Relief Society! Rafael´s parents, who we have been trying to get them to come to church for 5 months, came to Sacrament meeting and loved the children singing about Christ. The twins, João and Maria, participated in the program and were so awesome! All the songs and all the scriptures talked about Christ and how we can learn to be like Him. The spirit was especially strong when they sang ´´I'm trying to be like Jesus´´ because it is true! 

We are all trying to be like Jesus! Especially with this Christmas time to really remember Him and His ministry, we can put His example into practice with little things everyday with the LightTheWorld initiative and other ideas. I encourage you to follow this daily pattern, not just this season, but year round. And you will see His Hand in your life and will feel more of His peace and love. 

I love you all! Have a great week! Remember to Light the World!

Helaman 14:1-8
1 And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written.

2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.

7 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.

8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

Love, Sister Giles


photos:

1)the girls did so good in the program

2) we went Christmas caroling with the ward choir

3)when we were teaching Rafael in a park, a random man came by and made this for him

4)a Mango tree (try to spot the red mangoes!)

December 2, 2019

Olá! Happy December and Christmas season!

1 YEAR on the mission!!! Yup, i am speechless. It by far has been a year of adventures and learning.

 
We did splits with a few Sisters in their area of Bela Vista on Tuesday and it was fun, but very hot! (also, I cut my hair, it is so short now!) I was talking with Sister Jeppson, she is from northern California, and she ran cross country too in high school and we found out that we both ran at the Mt. Sac race together for a few years hahahha it was fun reminiscing about Poop-out hill and the switch backs. 

Thursday was a special day to chat with my fam and we were all wearing our matching Giles family t-shirts!!

Saturday and Sunday we joined our ward choir that went caroling for members, less actives, and a few of our investigators and it went so incredibly well!

Sat night my 3 little amigos were following me- cock roaches! One followed me up the stairs to an Irmã´s house and while we were singing it came up and my companion killed it, the 2nd was switching back and forth in the street when we were walking back to the cars so I had to jump over it, and the 3rd was doing circles around our group while we were singing in front of a members house. All in all the cock roaches here like to make friends with humans.

Also, Sunday was very special with the last testimony session of the year. A random guy came into the building and decided to bear his testimony- singing a song in English- and then said ´´my name is erick´´ and our dear bishop got up and told him he had to speak in Portuguese and that singing did not count as a testimony. Oh, it was great. But the rest of the testimonies were really special and a few talked about the many miracles that happen when we have faith and exercise that faith in Christ.

Last night, we sang to quite a few families and every time we finished with Silent Night and everyone got emotional because the Holy Spirit really does testify of truth and that Jesus Christ was born in this world in humble circumstances, to goodly parents, and that He had a sacred mission and purpose to accomplish.

I am grateful for the Christ child and this special time of year to really reflect upon His birth and ministry. I encourage you all as a family to watch the new Nativity video and ponder how you can share this video with someone else. It will give light to your life and you will have a stronger testimony that Christ is the Savior! here is the link: https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world



#LightTheWorld is an invitation to transform Christmas into a season of service. Join us as we follow the example of Jesus Christ by ministering to others one by one—just like He did.
www.comeuntochrist.org


love, Sister Giles


photos:
1)splits with Sister Jeppson and Sister Beck
2)our district
3)ONE YEAR BABY
4) açai to celebrate 1 year
5)everyone is getting the Christmas decorations up, even a giant apartment building

November 25, 2019

A good week

OLÁ!!!

Well, this week was a one to remember!


We had some really great lessons with some of our progressing investigators! We taught Rafael and his mom Maria about the Plan of Salvation and they really liked the part about the Spirit World and the 3 Kingdoms of Gory. She still will only let him be baptized at the end of January, but it is close so we are happy for Rafael because he still has a strong desire to follow Jesus Christ.

On Tuesday and Wednesday we had two young women come along with us and they did an awesome job talking to people and helping us with the lessons. Thursday we had Zone Conference and wow, it was perfect. Presidente Miller talked about the afflictions and trials that the missionaries in the Book of Mormon were faced with-being expelled from cities and towns, beaten and spit upon, cast into prison, mocked, and a lot more. He made us look at our own trials in our areas and to see them as a blessing because of the miracles that will follow if we continue working with faith and resilience as disciples of Christ. I know that with difficulties and trials, we have a chance to grow closer to Heavenly Father. We are also encouraged to teach about repentance and to change in every contact and lesson to really help people see the glory of God and feel more of His infinite love. 

Friday we were constantly praying to Heavenly Father to help us to know how we could help Sabrina and Carlos receive an answer about baptism because they got married recently and are now following all of the commandments. We felt impressed to invite them to talk with our Zone leader and ask him questions. So the Elders came and Sabrina and Carlos talked with him and she came out saying that it was super helpful and that they have a strong desire now to be baptized. We are thrilled and are waiting for them to receive a confirmation from God. 

Seminary ended so they threw a pizza party and Rafael took the seminary test (with the help of Sister Conceição and me) and only missed one! He is super great with the gospel and loves the church! 

And Saturday we got to go to the temple with Manoela to do baptisms for the first time, it was incredible! She loved the temple and we had a special time with her! It was our first time going to the Visitor Center and it was AMAZING!!! Super beautiful and the Spirit is super sweet there. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He lives! He loves us and we are His disciples. This is His true church restored on the Earth.

 
Love you all! Have a great week looking for ways to serve others! Happy Thanksgiving!! 

love, Sister Giles


1.) me and Néfi :)
2.) my California buddy
3)we bought a Christmas tree for our place!
4,5,6)the Christus, mini me and Christ, and my comp and I
7) Manoela
8, 9, 10, 11) pics of the temple
12) seminary pizza party
13, 14)the girls that went with us

November 18, 2019

Christ is our eternal friend

Olá!!

Animal sighting: My comp and I were walking in the street, around 11 o'clock in the morning and in the gutter we see this rat eating Cheetos......it wasn´t that huge but still, it was my first time seeing a real rat I think and it was during the day, so all in all, it was a strange and gross experience.

Monday morning I went to Sao Paulo to renew my visa for 1 year!!!!! It is strange, when I talk to my family next Thursday it will be exactly One year! Crazy..........
They don't have Thanksgiving here, but because the USA is such a big influence down here they have decorations up and some people will celebrate next week.

We met a new investigator, Cassiano, this week! He has already received the lessons about 3 years ago but lost interest, but the Sisters in the area next to us made a contact with him and sent the reference to us because he lives in our area, and we taught him about the restoration and invited him to church and he had to leave his work early to get there in the morning, so that was pretty special to see him sacrifice to come to church. He liked it and felt good there! We will teach him again this week.

With the approach of Christmas coming up, Sister Conceição had a brilliant idea to ask people that we talk to in the streets: ´´In all your life, what was the greatest gift you have received?´´ We got responses of ´´my washer machine´´, ´´my cat´´, ´´my bike´´, but one older man looked at us and with tears in his eyes said ´´my nephew´´. The power of families is real and is a blessing. We explained about the purpose of families and how we can be together forever and he looked at us again and asked if we could return and explain more. It was a really sweet experience!

We spent a few days this week visiting the Irmãs in our ward that are older and live alone, it was special talking and being a companion for them. We all need a companion to lean on and I bear my testimony that Christ is our dear companion and friend through all of our journey, from the very beginning, to the very forever.

Friday we had a lesson with our investigator Eliane and we explained to her about the 10 commandments and how they are not a blockade or barrier, but a door that really opens to greater blessings and joy. Our relief society president, Naiara shared with her and us the influence we can have on someone and the incredible feeling and gift we have to feel a love for those around us if we seek to do good.

The scripture in John 14:15 is perfect! Why do we have the commandment to love others? Why do we need to read our scriptures every single day? They may seem like little tasks or big ones that will impede our progress in the world, but as a matter of fact, they will open up the doors to greater progress and light. We will truly feel the peace of Christ and His great love more in our lives.

-Sister Giles

Shout out to Hannah and Jake celebrating 1 year!!

photo: our LD/DL joined us to interview Sabrina and Carlos

November 11, 2019

Marriage-Eternity

Another week in the mission gone and it was a good one!

Tuesday night we taught the twins João and Maria about the importance of the Sabbath day and how they can better focus on the Lord, like going to church, spending time with family, and visiting and serving others. They said they wanted to make that day a different day so they will do more activities as a family, how sweet!

We got to teach an older man named Marcio about the importance of prophets and that we have a prophet here on the earth, and we showed him a picture of President Nelson and Marcio had see him on the TV when Pres. Nelson came in September, that was neat. He also asked my companion if she was pregnant.....he is older hahaha so we both laughed and afterwards she said we really needed to start running in the mornings hahaha. 

We visited a lady in our ward who moved here from Germany when she was a baby and her house is full of pictures and trinkets from Europe, and pictures and stories of her family! Her mother, who passed away last year, lived in the time of Hitler and he had ordered every German family to do their family history work. He had different intentions, those of which were used for evil works, but for this Irmã she has information about almost all of her family so she has been able to go and take them to the temple to do their ordinances. The Spirit of family history is real and it is what connects us to so many power protections and blessings.

Thursday we visited our investigators Adelia and Eri who still need to get married, but we taught them more about temples and the unity we feel as a family through the gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraged them to put in the effort to get married so that they can enjoy all of the blessing and promises of God.

On Saturday, Sabrina and Carlos got married!!!! Whooot! They got married in the church building and the spirit was super sweet! The ward was super nice to help them out with the wedding and the bride was so nervous, she hardly smiled walking down the aisle but at the end she smiled so it was good. We are super happy for them! I felt it testify to me as she walked down the aisle and as they promised to love and serve one another, that really God wants us to make and keep promises, and that He wants to help us keep His commandments. His love is pure and the church of Jesus Christ is true! They are so cute together and can now prepare to make the covenant of baptism and prepare to be sealed for all eternity next year! Our Bishop gave the couple advice and it is the advice that President Hinckley gave, the 4 things for a successful marriage:
1) Respect for each other
2) Control your actions and serve the other always
3) Financial Honesty
4)Pray together as a couple and as a family every day

One day when we were clapping at doors, we clapped at a door and a man came out and he ended up being a member that had become less active about 5 years ago and now is going to another church, but he was open to us coming back so we went by on Thursday and read Moroni 7 with him  and his none-member wife and she really liked the Book of Mormon! They said we can come back again and meet their 2 kids! Super special!

It rained a lot this week which was nice for a break from the heat.

I know that God lives! That with our families we can be happy for all eternity if we keep true to our covenants and be worthy of the blessings of Heaven. 

Love to all!

 
-Sister Giles


Sister Conceição celebrated 1 year in the mission so we had Subway to celebrate!