March 16, 2020

Prince of Peace
Olá family and friends!


Yup, we have had a big shock here in Brasil with this Corona virus. Presidente is making Food-preparedness kits for us and we have been told to try and avoid public transport. Church in the member´s house was AWESOME!!! Our investigator, Daniel, went to the church building, but we were able to pick him up and his first church meeting was in the house of a member! Legendary.


Not much happened as I was sick this week and my companion as well, but we read a lot about the Restoration and I was renewed with a sense of love for a Kind God who has brought forth the restoration of the true Church of Christ in these latter days. I am so grateful to be apart of His church and to be a missionary serving Him and His children. Also, I know that we have a true prophet of God here on the earth, Presidente Nelson, who receives inspired revelations from God to help lead and guide us through these difficult times.


God lives! Jesus is the Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. Come unto Him if you are stressed, worried, anxious, or doubtful about the future or the now, He is the one who will bring a peace and calming to your heart. And watch this video, it always brings a comfort to my soul!
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?lang=eng



Because of Him

Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. Because of Him, death is conquered, our lives have meaning, and we can live with God again. http://www.mormon.org/becauseofhim
www.churchofjesuschrist.org



Keep being a light to those around you! Love you all! Be safe and have a great week.



love, Sister Giles


fotos: 1) we did exchanges with the sisters I take care of and we did comp study in this nice park 2)one of the sisters had lice, so we helped her wash them out :) 3) Açai!! 4) beauty and a book

March 9, 2020

Olá family and friends!!

We had a busy week here Pinda! Lots of people to visit and the area is huge so lots of buses and car rides from members. Seriously. We can´t walk to some areas because it is just straight farmlands and no side to the road and it is super far. We are blessed with really great members who understand this and are super nice to help out!


Friday was the baptism of Guilherme and Yasmin! It was super special! Guilherme had been waiting for permission from his parents for 7 months and finally received it from his dad and Yasmin is the sister of a recent convert Vinícius who the other sisters had clapped at their door almost a year ago. The fruits of hard labor and sacrifice are real and the Lord blesses all those who participate. Guilherme shared with me after he was baptized, that he felt incredible. That literally all of his bad feelings and sins were gone and that he was filled with a joy so strong. His experience strengthened my testimony in the Atonement and the importance of baptism. As in Come, Follow me this week, we learned about baptism and that it is not the end. We need to keep going on this straight and narrow path to reach life eternal. The last words of Nephi (chapters 31-32) that explain the gospel of Jesus Christ so clearly and elegantly, are what we need to really study and put into practice. Continue on the path of righteousness that leads to everlasting joy and happiness, follow Jesus Christ.


We had stake conference yesterday and it was super spiritual! The old stake pres is moving so Elder Aíduikates and one of his counselors (the pres of the area seventy in Brasil) came and called a new one and everyone bore their testimonies of how they were converted to the true church of Christ and they shared their experiences. It was super pretty and touching. The Spirit was super strong and we had our investigators there which was a blessing. A family from Venezuela that we will teach on saturday, came and really liked it! The dad is called Julho and his wife is Rosa and their 4 year old son is Jesus ( in Spanish), he is super cute and doesn't speak any Portuguese, but the parents speak pretty good! They have been here in Brasil for 5 months. After the meeting, we were talking to President and Sister Miller (our mission president) and he told us he got to meet this family before the conference and had invited  the dad to be baptized. And we were like ``what! okay great!!!`` He said that Julho accepted but didn't feel like it was the time still, but that he would think about it. Thanks Pres for helping our investigators :)


Love you all! I bear my testimony that this is the true church of Christ and that it is restored on the earth.


love, Sister Giles


photos: 1) PINDA! 2&3) baptism!!! 4) we were doing contacts in a park one day and a hippie dude made us these rings

March 2, 2020

Welcome to Pindamonhangaba

Ola everyone!!

A little info about Pindamonhangaba:
Literally, we are closer to Rio de Janeiro than to São Paulo.
It is a small city, but growing.
Super country side and lots of pretty, green mountains.
Was a Branch for 30 years and became a Ward only a little over a year ago.
Lots of people being prepared to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.


P.s. In about 10 weeks, I will give a candy to the person who can pronounce the name right :)


We had a great week getting to know the area and the members and the investigators. Lots of members live on Ranches so they all live a good distance from one another. 

This Friday will be the baptism of Yasmin, who is 13 years old, and Guilherme who is 17 years old. 

Yesterday, after church we went to teach a friend of a member and taught about the Plan of Salvation. But in specific, about the relationship we have with God and Jesus Christ. The importance and blessing of prayers because at any moment we can talk and communicate with our Father in Heaven. And HE ANSWERS. Always. I shared 3 Nephi 18:19-21. 

I am infinitely grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith who asked, and received. By his example, we can do and know the same. We have a loving Heavenly Father and a Savior who want us to return and life with them in a state of happiness without end. 

Be courageous and share a Book of Mormon with someone. It will change their life.

Have a fantastic week!!


love, Sister Giles


fotos! with Vinícius and Feijão who will be baptized this saturday! With Juliana, she is super cute and we already miss her. And with Adriana who went to a family night our last night, we love Vila Ema! And now photos of the new area - Pinda.

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