New Companion

OI TUDO MUNDO!!!! 

Last day of transfer 2 is here, and tomorrow I will be getting a new companion. President Ferrin called Sister Waite this weekend and told her she was being transferred, but didn´t know where. Soooo I´m really anxious to know who will be coming in her place. It´s funny how things work out. Once you finally build a relationship with someone and finally get to really love them and know them, things change and you have to say goodbye.

This last week has been really good. We have so many progressing investigators who are actually reading the Book of Mormon and who are actually looking for an answer. It´s been hard to schedule all the people we need to visit because we have so many. It´s really so much easier and funner to teach people who are sincerely looking for the truth and sincerely want to know about the truths of Heavenly Father. I know that with patience and hard work and lots of prayers this next transfer will be a success!!!!

This week was a lot of fun. Donizete and Adriana´s (Mom and Stepdad of Bruna) divorce from other spouses are finally progressing. And soon enough they´ll be married and baptized and in one year they´ll be sealed in the temple. They are so awesome and they already have such strong testimonies of the church and they aren´t even baptized yet. I truly feel like their my family here in Brazil. One night this week we left their house after dark and they were so worried about us they walked us halfway home. We stopped in a soccer field and played tag for a few minutes, it was awesome. 

I read a talk in an old Liahona this week that really helped me have a more positive attitude and helped build my faith. Hope you all are trying everyday to become more like Jesus Christ and are working hard at achieving your dreams. My dream was always to serve a mission and now that I´m finally here I want to try my hardest to live every moment the best I know how and work hard to help other people have the same happiness and hope that I have. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

``Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past, but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the high priest of good things to come. Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness of trust and divie love that will transfor your life today, tomorrow and forever``

 - Jeffrey R. Holland 

Desi

Shaking in the Presence of Sin

I can't believe all the news I've heard!!!! A lot has happened this week for me too. Tuesday's devotional was awesome, Elder Piper from the seventy spoke on agency and how even though Satan can tempt us to make bad choices, he has NO power over us. We make our own choices. It was cool because earlier that day I was reading in 2 Nephi about when Nephi feels horrible about his iniquities because he knows and is grateful for all of his blessings, but he still has allowed Satan to tempt him. He asks GOD to make it so that he shakes in the presence of sin. Reading that chapter and then hearing that talk was so powerful to me because I've def. felt how Nephi did, and I know that I have the power to say NO to satan!!! I too pray that I can be disgusted when around sin, or when Satan is trying to tempt me. The next day, Wednesday was a super emotional day. My new companion and a lot of the newer elders going to Brazil got their visas in the morning. I didn't want it to effect me, but I was a little bothered. I kept thinking WHY is my visa not here yet? Am I going to go stateside?!?! Anyways, after giving it some thought, I really got my hopes up that and convinced myself that I really wanted to go stateside for a transfer before Brazil. NYC or Boston would be awesome!!!! But then I ended up getting my Visa that same night, and I was actually really devastated. I just starting crying. I love everyone here in the Provo MTC. I feel like I've really grown close to the people in my district and zone. I spend everyday all day with them and I'm going to miss them so much. But I'm also really excited for the opportunity to go the Brazil MTC on Tuesday for 2 weeks. Definitely Bittersweet. I know these next few weeks are just going to FLY by, and before Christmas I'll be in the field teaching REAL investigators and be speaking only in Portuguese. Sooooo Stoked for that. Thanksgiving was really nice as well. It started out by going to a devotional where ELDER HOLLAND was the speaker. We got to meet his family which was really cool. He is such a powerful speaker. He made me realize how lucky we truly are to be living in this dispensation where we are destined to win!! So many people in this world have lived in previous dispensations with no hope for their people, knowing it would just end in apostasy. I'm so grateful to be living in this amazing time, where the gospel will just continue to grow and will never be taken off the earth again. I'm so grateful for Joseph Smith too because he has done so much for the human race, and for me personally!!! The rest of the day was pretty fun as well. We did a service project for the people of Mali, putting together hygiene kits. Watching videos about them, and hearing about the humanitarian aid branch of the church really made me want to be pro-active about serving. If you can ever spare an extra dollar I would suggest donating on your tithing slip to humanitarian aid, It definitely is used to HELP people around the world. We also got to watch 17 miracles and eat popcorn. SUCH A GOOD MOVIE. Never seen so many elders cry haha. Anyways I hope everyone's having a good holiday break. I'll be in BRAZIL by next week so Dear Elder me letters to the Brazil MTC, send me letters to the mission home. KEEP ME POSTED!!!! Love you all!!!!! Sister Deseret Bruno

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Admonishes Missionaries This Is Deadly Serious Business

Dear Family, The chismis or gossip here on the mission is that I will be opening another area and training the transfer call hasn't come in but President says that my next area is going to be challenging which means I am going to be 100% stressed out... I heard I am going back to the city but I have prepared my self for the worst hehe.. At least if I train this transfer I will have one more area! If I go back to the city hopefully that means my last area will be Bais or I will return to Bohol! President told me to stay strong in his last email that means that this next assignment is going to be extremely hard arg... Okay I am willing and ready for anything BRING IT ON!!

Hehe well this week we have been mostly looking for dentist for Sister Canoneo because her wisdom tooth came in and she was in real pain. Thursday we looked for a dentist then by Saturday we found one that was a reasonable price, and we got an X-ray then Monday they took out the tooth. I watched them but I couldnt really see anything because I didnt stand right over them when they took it out but I did see the blood and tooth pieces being sucked up the tube. I convinced her to take the tooth home as a mission memory hehe. She didnt want to at first but gave in at the end. It was not long but rather fat... YUCKS JUD...ANYWAYS We were in the house all day on Monday and Tuesday after. I know that she is in serious pain we don't know what the next two days will be like, but Friday we will be going to Cebu most likely I will be transfered and she will take trainers' training..

So dad wanted me to send him the 20 October 2011 notes from the Elder Holland talk well here goes:

The first presidency and apostles have high expectations for the missionaries. There is no compromise--what is expected is to be happy and successful-- almost seems unfair but accepted call to serve the Lord. Don't take for granted that you are serving. We don't do icons people want to convey what church is... what is symbol of the church? Salt lake temple? What is more known is two latter-day missionaries--symbol of who we are. Ultimate image Savior but missionaries are those the people know. Bear responsibility of adoration and trust.People feel that you are perfect--You have no right to compromise that image... In this dispensation you missionaries stand next to Samuel Smith- 23 march 1830 book of mormon published 3 days before organization of the church and Samuel already was taking the Book of Mormon to the world... You have 200 years standing beside you.

Don't be anything less that you can be. We stand by our colors be part of that devotion. This is DEADLY SERIOUS BUSINESS. We do everything we can to change you over night. We are opening the entire kingdom for you missionaries we give that to you at 19 or 21. ;Accept it with generosity. Make sure you are hearing this! We know we expect a lot from you and we do not apologize;for age expectation or the pressure we put you under. Be kind of missionary your family thinks you are.

Preach my Gospel- background... It was a bold and daring move it requires a finer missionary. You now need to go to their level and not try to make them come up to your level. It can't be your way its about their way. ;John teaches Nicodemus and he doesn'tunderstand... Why? Literalism- if you say birth you mean birth. Women at well doesn't understand either because takes it literally. Don't expect them to be at your level. Find out who they are. He is going to teach everyone. Why cant I? You talk to everyone because that's what He did. Be persistent- Wallace Torranto story... You have to know the gospel. Basic scripture etc.

Be believing and obedient to have to spirit of the Lord in your life. White Hand Book--We signed on to do it His way. Don't whine about the rules or break them. This is the BIG time so square and stiffen your back and Be obedient. Obedience= Devotion Don't let people off the hook for not keeping commitments. ;We can not make any commitment slide because one day they are going to make temple commitments and they really can't slide on those. Teach with Power and Authority. They need to know that you know even if they don't know. Sizzle them right down to their Adidas melt their flip flops.

The power of conviction! Power of the still small voice will melt them. Spirituality not theatrics. -prayer - Scripture -Longing - know to be better missionary than Elder Holland Be better prepared and knowledgeable. If you are struggling with your testimony you hang on to mine!! This is the truth. Not a fable. That is the truth and I wouldn't tell you a lie.

Awesome talk!!

Nahigugma ko kaninyo!!

PADAYON LANG

Sister Bruno

Rejecting the Book of Mormon: Missionary Sadness

President Schmutz, This week I reached my one year mark. It has been the 'best year for my life' for sure. I have learned how to overcome weakness. I have learned how to live with another person for 24 hours straight. I have come to appreciate every blessing from Heavenly father. I have grown to love the Filipino culture, people, and food. My taste, desires, and life has changed on the mission. We are excited for this month, it's going to be busy, but it will be very enjoyable. We just got done with general conference, and then this Saturday is zone interview, and then district conference, and then the 20th of October we will have the once in a life time chance to go to listen to Elder Holland. If you didn't know before Elder Holland is my favorite speaker. I prayed in the MTC that he would be a guest speaker, and he ended up coming twice to speak. This really is a blessing to be once again in his presence. He is an awesome motivational speaker. In the MTC he spoke about if we ever wanted to go home or be disobedient to remember that we are examples to the younger generation, and that his grandchildren look at the missionaries as examples and that if we ever got lazy remember his grandchildren and that not to disappoint them. I still remember his words after a year here in the field. Here on the mission everyday is like a new chapter in life. Anything could happen! The mission is an adventure we can not guess what will happen. For example we were really excited about visiting a new investigator Sister Panga yesterday. We visited her just before lunch. &Because of the storm that was going through Bohol it was rainy and overcast. We reached her house mud speckled our legs. Sister Panga came out of her house holding the Book of Mormon and the restoration pamphlet. She explained that she and her husband had been fighting and that she wanted to work it out with him. She explained that he did not approve of her listening anymore. Our hearts just dropped. Our last visit she had been asking questions and told us she had talked to her husband. He had met us on a pjeepney before and said it was okay for us to visit. I just thought what had changed in those few short days. She wanted to give back the Book of Mormon. We testified. No change she insisted that we take the book back, because her husband told her to. She was kind about it and asked us to respect her decision. Sister Canoneo told her she could hide the Book of Mormon. Sister Panga was afraid if she kept the book that her husband would find it and be angry. We testified that one day her husband's heart would change and if ever that happened not to be shy to give us a call. Sister Panga did this in a very dignified manner and we were not annoyed or mad that she gave us back the Book of Mormon, but rather saddened and our hearts hurt. Walking away we just sang at the same time "magpadayon ta!" (we will continue) and laughed. The storms of the mission can either get you down or lift you up. I'ts a choice and we decided to count our blessings rather look at the disappointments. ;We treated ourselves to Payag restaurant, and got back to work. It was raining all day yesterday, and by inspiration Elder Fisher our fearless district leader sent a text that morning and I quote "Hey team! padayon sa inyong pagkakugi, hinumdumi ng ur effectiveness as a missionary is based on ur effort to find, teach, and bap... so go find dem souls! 'love Elder Fisher & Elder Narvasa'. " (Hey Team! Continue your diligence and remember that your...) His text was inspired because of the rain we were punted all day, but we continued in faith. Thanks to the encouragement of Elder Fisher. Despite being punted we taught Sister Jessie yesterday morning, and she seems to be progressing. She asked when her baptism was. ;Before she said that she wasn't ready for baptism. We also ended the night by having and FHE with the Ugboc faily and Brother Nelson about the Book of Mormon. Our investigators are progressing. The marriage of Sister Margie Casquejo is upon us. We are not sure of the exact date, but we plan that it will be 22 Oct. We will continue to follow-up. Sister Charity Ondoy is very excited for her baptism the 22 Oct. We can see that she really does has a testimony. All of our other investigators seem to be on again off again, but we will use your advise and return to restoration Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The work is progressing here in the Philippines and we are working hard to stay worthy to be blessed. Sister Canoneo has shown great leadership and has also been a great example. I am grateful for her up beat personality. For her words of encouragement, and for her small acts of kindness. I am enjoying the work. Sincerely, Sister Bruno

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland to Visit Phillipines Cebu Mission

Dear Elders and Sisters,

We have been traveling with leadership meetings and district conference all week, so I am not able to write each of you an individual letter. However, we have a very special event to discuss.

On Thursday, October 20, 2011, we will receive a visit with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of Seventy, and Elder Michael John U. Teh of the Seventy. Elder Holland wishes to meet with the Missionaries from 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. All missionaries are invited from each island. We will be using our preparation day for this visit, so we will be working on Wednesday and taking Thursday as our preparation day. Those traveling from the off islands will need to preserve their travel money to make sure they can pay the cost of transportation to Cebu. The meeting will be held at the temple complex stake center.

Elder Holland has requested that all missionaries are seated in their seats by 3:00 p.m., one hour early. We should quietly be reading the scriptures and pondering on things of the spirit. Missionaries should sit with companions.

Sister Schmutz and I desire that all missionaries are spiritually prepared to receive all the Lord would have us receive from Elder Holland, Elder Callister and Elder Teh. Therefore, I wish you to begin preparing now to purify yourselves and prepare your hearts. Make a commitment to be obedient in all things starting now. Study the scriptures and be prayerful to receive the spirit at the time of this meeting. There may be an opportunity to ask questions, so please give prayerful thought to any questions you might wish to ask. The questions should be sincere and respectful. Please fast on the day of the meeting. Those who are traveling please try to arrange to do all travel on the Thursday, the day of the meeting, if possible. Please work with your zone leaders and the assistants to travel together as much as possible.

This is such a wonderful blessing and rare opportunity to sit at the feet of our prophets and apostles. We are very excited that we were permitted to invite all missionaries on all the islands, but it is important that you sacrifice your preparation day on Wednesday for this purpose.

We love you and wish you a wonderful week. We look forward to seeing you on the 20th!

President and Sister Schmutz