February 24, 2020

Transfers!

Hello all!


Well, Sister Mel and I are packing up our suitcases and moving to Pinda, Guaratingatá! It will be another adventure to finish up my mission. Yup, I have only 2 more transfers. But I think this last one was my favorite of all because we saw so many miracles, the ward was super awesome, and my testimony in our Savior and His work grew a ton. I love the mission.


Invitation in a Bar
During our planning on Wednesday, we felt impressed that we needed to invite Feijão to be baptized, and soon. So that evening we went to the house of the member, Filomena, that we normally go to, to teach Feijão and Vinícius, but she also owns a bar which is part of her house. We came up to the front and Feijão was already there and Filomena was sitting next to him and she says, ´´Í know why the Sisters are here.´´ and we look at each other and say ´´why?´´ and she says ´´because you guys will invite Feijão to be baptized!´´ And just like that, we invited him  and he accepted and then Vinícius came and said he wanted to be baptized too, so it was really special! We invited them to be baptized and we were in a bar! But it was super neat to see how the Spirit had revealed to Filomena that they are ready to be baptized and that we could feel that too.

I know that the Spirit is our constant companion and will help us have success in this life if we heed His counsel and listen to His still small voice.


Love to all and have a great week! Tomorrow is Carnival here in Brasil!


Sister Giles

February 17, 2020

Joy in Christ


Hello all!

This week we had exchanges with Sister Tatlow and Arevalo in Jacaerí and it was super good! We had fun together and it was nice learning a few more good things from other Sisters.


The ward had an activity Friday night and that was really fun! Sister Mel and I were asked to give the Spiritual Thought and we gave it on David A. Bednars talk in the December Liahona on Jesus Christ- The Source of Enduring Joy. He starts with ´´What is Joy? the Guide to the Scriptures describes joy as “a condition of great happiness [that results] from righteous living.” Interestingly, our gospel perspective helps us to understand that joy is more than a fleeting feeling or emotion; rather, it is a spiritual gift and a state of being and becoming.´´ Then he asks, ´´How is Joy Obtained?´´ Joy comes from exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, worthily receiving and faithfully honoring sacred ordinances and covenants, and striving to become deeply converted to the Savior and His purposes. Fun is the result of “amusement,” “playful [and] often boisterous action or speech,” or pleasurable diversion. A day on the rides at Disneyland is fun. Worthily preparing for and participating in the ordinance of the sacrament is joyful.´´ I am grateful to be learning this through the eyes of a missionary. It has been a long time away from smart phones and internet and worldly music, that when I am in the street and hear a good song, I think to myself, but this is not what has been giving me pure joy these last 14 months. The reason I feel so happy is because of my Savior Jesus Christ and His teachings that bring me pure joy to my soul and knowledge that it can last for eternity.

What things in your life bring you temporary happiness? What blessings give you pure joy for all time and eternity? Give value and time to the things that give you pure, righteous joy.

On Saturday we had a good reading and study session with our investigator Adriana who is loving the Book of Mormon! We read and discussed 1 Nephi 13 and it was super awesome to see her growing in the Book and really feeling the Spirit testify of its veracity. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is a true testimony of Christ and helps us to really know our Creator and what we need to do in this life to reach eternal life. The Restoration is still happening today and it is a wonderful time to help others taste of its joy. Have a great week! 

And hope you had a great Valentines Day!

love, Sister Giles

February 10, 2020

Miracles!

Hello fam and friends!

Yup, the bipolar heat then rain weather continues and we almost stepped on a snake last week, it was green and half way in the side walk, oh the country side. But I saved my comp from stepping on him and then we ran to the other side haha.

But miracles are happening with our investigators and they are progressing super well and we are thrilled!! It is fantastic!!

Sister Mel and I gave talks in church yesterday about Missionary work. My topic was on how we can better work with our leaders and Sister Mel talked about the importance of members. I shared my experience from BYUI with my bishop having us pray every night as a ward at 10 pm. I think our ward was really happy to see we brought investigators to church . Our ward is helping out a lot and it is really great to see and be apart of this great work the Lord is doing. One of the counselors to the bishop asked if we have a freezer in our house and we said yes, then he asked if we like açai (a type of ice cream smoothie) and we said yes and then he just smiled.......It is nice to see that they are noticing how much we are working. Blessings in the form of ice cream.

Feijão came to church and Saturday when we talked with him, we really felt he is almost ready to accept baptism! It is so neat to see the change that God has taken in his heart and that he wants to have a better life in Christ.

Also, yesterday we went to church with our investigators Marlene and Carlos and their 6 year old daughter Juliana who is the absolute cutest thing on this planet. 2 weeks ago we were clapping at doors on our way home and had just finished saying a prayer to be lead to the Lord´s elect, when we clapped at their door and Carlos answered and was very enthusiastic and receptive. We have gone back a few times to teach them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to read the Book of Mormon with them. They are super awesome and want to learn about the church. Marlene already has been trying to dwindle the amount of coffee she drinks when we still had not even mentioned about the Word of Wisdom. They are actively wanting to change. During the Sacrament, the little girl, Juliana, kept saying ´´when will Jesus go to the front?´´ (like the pulpit area) and she loved primary and wanted us to drop her off there.

Then our investigator, Adriana, came too with her son João, and she loved Relief Society and João really liked Primary too. During the sacrament he was coloring the My Friend that we gave him during the week.

With 200 years since the First Vision and the start of the Restoration, we live in a time of great revelations and turmoil. With Christ in our hearts and our thoughts and our actions, we can overcome the trials and enjoy the blessings of the gospel. I am so grateful to be here, serving the Lord and these wonderful people and I really want to give it my very all these last 3 months. But I know that I will be a missionary for the rest of my life as we all will, as members of His true church.

Share a Book of Mormon with a friend! Testify of Jesus Christ and of the First Vision with Joseph Smith.

Have a great week and Happy Valentines day!

love, Sister Giles

pics
1,2) exchanges with Sister Abilla from South Jordan, Utah
3) Brasil
4)Sister Mel had stomach problems so a visit to the hospital
5)a street called ´´Perfect Lovers´´

February 3, 2020

Sun, rain, humidity, repeat

Yes, it has only been sun in the morning, rain in the afternoon, and humidity the whole day. Thanks South America.

The work of the Lord continues! Sister Melquiades and I saw many small miracles this week and it was awesome! We did splits with 2 Sisters and it was super great! Sister Simplício and I went to teach Feijão about the Plan of Salvation and he felt and knew that everything made sense.

On Sunday, a member bore their testimony on the plan of salvation too and that we will see our loved ones again and he turned and looked at us and said, ´´Sisters, I want you to talk to my grandma about this, she lost her husband recently and needs this comfort.´´ We said of course and will visit her this week. 

We are teaching several people right now and a few of them are actually reading the Book of Mormon and that is thrilling! Saturday night a special blessing occurred when we tried seeing if Angelo (my recent convert last year here in the area) was home after trying 10 others times and he wasn't. He still wasn't home but his step-father was and answered us and said he would talk to Angelo to be there Sunday night. So Sunday we go there and Angelo comes out and you guys it was the greatest thing in the world!! He had the light of Christ and it was so awesome catching up with him. He hasn't been to church in 2 months, so we talked about the Book of Mormon videos and he will come with us to a family night tonight.


I know that the Lord calls us to certain places at certain times to learn and grow our own selves, and to help others too. God is aware of us and puts others in our paths to lead us back to Him. I love this great plan of happiness. I know it is true, without a doubt.

love, Sister Giles

photos:
1) Sisters Simplício and Mejia
2) the country side
3)1 year and 2 months! 

4) Zone Conference