June 24, 2019

Transfers and Changes

Olá family and friends!

I was transferred to another area and picked up my new companion, Sister Silva, from the mission office, fresh from the MTC. Yup, two Sister Silva´s in a row hahaha! We are in Vila Galvão, Guarulhos, more of the São Paulo city feel here than the country side where my other area was.

It is a cool change, we have some really great investigators the other Sister´s left and we met some really neat people to teach as well! The members have been really sweet and have welcomed us with much love, we are very grateful! It was a week of getting to know the area and members and less actives and investigators and was crazy all around.

My birthday (20! wow I feel old) was Friday and Sister Silva made a fantastic American breakfast: scrambled eggs, bacon, and cereal. It was great! That night we met with the bishop and went to the seminary class there at the church building. The bishop´s wife taught about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, how really the Holy Ghost is a marvelous gift! He lends us comfort, warns, brings peace, and testifies of truths and of Christ and Heavenly Father! After wards they ordered pizza and sang several times for me both English version and Portuguese version, it was very sweet and fun! 

Yesterday, the Stake President came and reorganized the whole Bishopric haha so now we will get to know the new Bishop! It is so wonderful to see the changes the Lord has in store and to place people in situations to build their faith and testimony.

Trust in Him! Have a wonderful week!

love, Sister Giles

June 17, 2019

Hello there!

Another week and another transfer down! I will be transferred to Guarulhos, but I really enjoyed Villa Ema and my time here. The ward members were really great and we met some really incredible people! It will be sad to go, but part of the mission life.

This last week, on Friday, Elder Bassett (an area Seventy) did a tour of our mission and we had the opportunity to have a conference with him. It was really good!!! Only that same day the buses went on strike and we normally take 2 buses to the chapel where the meeting house is. But Heavenly Father paved the way for us to get there in time through many tender miracles. The other transit that we sometimes take are the Vans that do the same route of the buses, so we hopped in and only had our cards to pay for the transit, but all did not work on the machine. The lady was super sweet and said it was no problem. First tender mercy. Second tender blessing is that we fast walked for 10 minutes and went up this hill and at the top a member of the other ward drove by and asked if we needed a ride somewhere, we said yes and she was very sweet to take us to the chapel. Third miracle, we made it to the meeting on time, which Presidente had asked that we all come on time. I am so grateful for our Father in Heaven that is very aware of all of us. And even more special was that Elder Bassett talked a lot about and emphasized how each and every one of us are children of God, loved by Him. Moses 1:39 sums up the purpose God has for us: to help us be worthy of eternal life.
I know that God exists and that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that They are always with us and will lead and guide us through this life. Trust in Them. Have a great week!


-Sister Giles


1) drank out of a coconut for the first time, whoot!
2) we had lunch with Irmão Paulo and Irmã Angela. They are missionaries for BYU Pathways and something he said really stuck out to me:`´I learn and practice English because I tell myself that Christ will speak to me in English, so I really want to be able to converse with Him when He comes.´´
3)photo of the conference with Elder Bassett

June 10, 2019

Fé: the first principle of the Gospel
Happy Monday!

Wow, it is cold, folks! I wear a jacket during the day and a jacket at night because our house is cold!! Sister Silva and I drink lots of hot chocolate to stay warm haha

This week we met Maria, a woman with incredible faith! A few years ago she started losing her vision and had a surgery to get it fixed but it went wrong and she can only use one eye now and it is difficult for her to see. But one of the first things she told us was her unwavering faith in God. She reminds me of chapter 12 in Ether that gives the many stories of when people had faith in the Lord and acted, like Moses, Nephi and Lehi, etc. But the part I think is so incredible is because of the faith of the people here in the Americas that Christ showed Himself unto them after He was resurrected. How beautiful!

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

Maria invited Sister Silva and I to have tea with her and her daughter Sunday afternoon and we were able to share with them the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how faith is the first principle. Why is faith the first principle? Because without faith, we are lost. With faith, we will be able to see our resurrected Lord and Savior when He comes again. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share with others this glorious news of Christ, that through faith in Him, we can be saved and live with our families when we make and keep our covenants with Him.

Have a fantastic week! Love you all!

-Sister Giles

didn´t take many pictures this week, but here is one of Sister Silva with a churro. We gave the churro man a copy of the Book of Mormon last week and this week we followed up with him, so obviously we bought a churro :)

June 3, 2019

Bem Vindo June!

I think Camarillo weather followed me to Brazil because ever since June came it has been mostly overcast and rainy, but that might be because it is getting into winter here soon....

We are teaching some great people and are hoping they will come to church next week. Praying and fasting is our daily quest! I really testify that fasting is a gift from Heavenly Father and brings about miracles. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve! One restaurant we were passing by had these giant ribs cooking around the fire and I thought this would be a cool idea for your future bbq/smoker restaurant (Dadio)! hahaha

We had a good week of sharing the good news of the gospel! Tuesday Sister Silva and I were invited to the Relief Society activity which was a ´´Pajamas´´ theme, and had a good time talking with the Women and getting to know them better. They are so fun! Wednesday night we got a phone call to renew my vista the next morning in São Paulo, so we got up early and took the bus to SP. 

Then Friday Sister Silva and I went to visit William, a less active, and his mother was there and wanted to hear the lesson and understand what it is what we believe. She stopped smoking 14 days ago and is wanting a change in her life, she has a desire to have a better life and wants to come to church this next week! 

I love how the gospel of Jesus Christ is about bettering ourselves, every day. It is a progression, a constant effort to change. But with daily learning, we grow. A scripture that really stuck out to me this week is Moroni 8:25-26. I am grateful for the gospel of hope and how Christ is our Redeemer and Savior. I know He lives and will come again soon!


Have a great week everybody!


the last picture is at zone conference 2 weeks ago


love, Sister Giles

May 28, 2019

6 Months

Amigos e Família!

Well, folks, 6 months ago today I was set apart as a missionary, to preach the gospel to these wonderful people of São Paulo!! 6 months!!! When I look back, I think of all the incredible people I have met and will continue to meet. How I have adjusted to another country and to life as a missionary. What a whirlwind experience!! Thank you for all your support and prayers!


This past week we had Zone Conference and Presidente Miller spoke about the interesting use of words when we have hands laid on our heads to receive the Holy Ghost. At the end of the prayer the words are spoken ´´receive the Holy Ghost´´. Elder Bednar explained this in his General conference talk in 2010:
These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).


I love how he states that it is an ongoing effort, constantly, to be worthy to receive the promptings and guidance of the Holy Ghost. We must always renew our faith in our Savior, read the Book of Mormon, listen to good things, do good works for others, and endure to the end. Presidente Miller also talked about the meaning of `´enduring to the end`´. What does this mean? Well, it can mean endure this moment, endure this hour, endure this day, endure this week, month, year, and so on. When we have an attitude of enduring with faith that this hard moment does and will not be forever, we can continue on the path of righteousness and follow our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

I love our Savior! I love this missionary work! I love my family and am grateful for their examples in my life and that we can be together for eternity! (yay baby Penelope!) 

Have a great week!

much love, Sister Giles


photos:
pretty sunset, an açai tree, me with a cow, and a photo with a sweet Sister who finishes her mission this transfer

May 20, 2019

Obra missionaria!

Olá my lovely family and friends!

Man, it is getting cold here in São José dos Campos! More rain this week and we stopped using both fans at night, only one we keep on, so that´s when you know it is getting cold. This week I did eat tacos! For the first time in 6 months, and it was delicious. We had dinner at a member´s house Wednesday night and they have been to the USA a couple of times and to Rexburg for BYUI. So they cooked ground-up meat with a taco sauce and we had the soft taco shells with cheese and lettuce and pico de gallo and sour cream to add and holy cow it was so good! They also had brought back root-beer concentration to make root-beer, but they didn't make it that night hahaha! Next time. They have a lot of coconut things here and one day I want to try the coconut where you drink the water using a straw, they have a lot of stands for this. They have bananas that are more sweet and bananas that are less sweet and have different uses for each which is interesting. I think the US only have one type of banana hahaa!

We met some really great, new people this week and Sister Silva and I are excited to teach them!

One is a young boy, Everton, who received the lessons awhile back with some Elders, but stopped. Now he wants to hear them again! Our mission leader of the ward is a recently returned missionary so has been helping a lot! He brought Everton to church yesterday , so we are excited to teach him! He went to an activity on Friday we had at the church building for a young man, Leo, in our ward who is leaving for a mission to Mexico this week, and really enjoyed it! The mother of Leo asked us to bear our testimonies and what a special experience it was! I bore my witness of the greatness of God´s work on the earth and how this work is to bring His eternal family together, to live forever in His presence. What a joy! Afterwords, the boys played soccer and we had cake and these fried savory things called cadinhas!

Another investigator we met this is week was this lady who is a journalist and was really interested in missionary work.

Sister Silva and I have a great time together and I feel that my Portuguese has improved a ton! I have been helping her with English and her English is so cute haha!

I was reading in Mormon 9 where Mormon talks firmly about the only way to gain salvation is through Jesus Christ and following His example. It is so powerful how every prophet in the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and the need for repentance and baptism. I love sharing the gospel, what a tremendous opportunity and time! Sharing about our Savior and His example is so wonderful.


Love to all!


Sister Giles

May 13, 2019

Feliz dia das Mães!

Olá family and friends!

What a great week! Mother´s day was so fantastic talking with my family all together! Mom, Dad, Summer, Lucas, Kailee and Penelope, Hannah and Jake and Clay. (With Grandma, Aunt Becky, Uncle Jesus, Sofia, Alisa and Jerry & baby Nicolas!) I am so grateful for my wonderful mother and all she does for me and our family! 

Our Relief Society lesson was on the importance of sharing the stories of our ancestors with our families to strengthen and uplift them. What an incredible blessing families are! Heavenly Father created families for us to have joy in this journey on earth and for our eternal life. I love my family! I love our Savior and Redeemer!

Saturday Sister Silva and I had a neat experience of meeting a less active named William. He was excited to see us and was glad to hear our message of Helaman 5:12 which talks about Christ as our rock and foundation. He said that was exactly what he was needing and has been feeling the desire to attend Sacrament meeting again. It had been almost 3 years since he has been, and a very sweet member gave him and us a ride to church yesterday and he absolutely loved the meetings! He said he always had a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but just stopped reading it, but he was feeling like something was missing in his life and when we gave him a new Book, he was so joyful! Heavenly Father knows the spiritual and temporal needs of His children, all we need to do is acts on the sweet promptings of the Spirit and our lives will be blessed.

We had a fun P-day this morning with the other missionaries in our area and played futebol and volleyball and had a picnic! 

I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and be His representative!

Have a great week! Love to all!

Com amor, Sister Giles