March 26, 2012

Brasilians walk so fast. Yesterday we had to "walk" fast from one appointment to another that was a good 45 minute walk away at a normal pace. We got there in less than 30. But I'm pretty sure E. Vieira was walking and I was running beside him. Holy smokes does he book it without running. It was an amazing sight. So I got to the other appointment which was a family home evening with like the entire ward and was just drenched in sweat, it was disgusting. Everbody was laughing and asking if it was raining outside or something. It was embarrassing but of course funny as well. Americans do not do well with Brasil climate thats what I know for sure. But the week has been a good one, it's finally starting to cool off a little bit and at night it actually gets chilly. But with the hills we have here in this area it doesn't matter how cold it is, its still hot. I'm getting a muscle on the front of my calf that I didn't even know existed.

We taught like crazy this week and we're really seeing a lot of miracles, we had people that we found this week that started progressing really fast and reading the Book of Mormon and praying and everything was going great. Unfortunately though, yesterday for church we only had one investigator at church. I think its one of the hardest parts of the mission, knowing how hard you worked for each person individually to help them find the true church and then when the actual church meetins come around no one is there. It was extremely saddening to see, I was ready to punch holes in walls. But all that means is that we need to work even harder this week and we'll see results. So thats our game plan, of course, to just work even harder. I don't know how we will but we'll work harder and help even more people.

Also, today I finished the Book of Mormon again, 2nd time on the mission! Man it is so amazing. It doesn't matter how many times you read the same verses, you will find something new. This time I really focused a lot on Moroni's promise, the last prophet in the Book of Mormon. Moroni 10:3-5. We always leave or read the verses with our investigators but this time I really studied it out. I spent about 30 minutes on each verse. It lays it out perfectly for us. There is no way to trully follow the instructions that he gives us and not get an answer from Heavenly Father that the Book of Mormon is true. Its not possible. If each and every one of us in the world actually did what Moroni says we would all have the same answer from God. Of course we would each receive our answers differently and in different forms but hey would all be the same. That the Book of Mormon is the Word of God, with the Bible, and that His kingdom is here on Earth again. I have no doubt about it. I'm not here on the other side of the world just preaching another church and doing something "good". I'm trying to help people know for themselves the truth of God. I left everything at home for two whole years of my life to do this. I have no doubt in my mind that this is the true gospel of Christ and that the BOok of Mormon is Another Testiment of Jesus Christ. Test it!

Eu Te Amo!!

Elder Gleason

P.S. Of course the scripture is going to be Moroni 10:3-5

March 19, 2012

Wow, so time is passing by absurdly fast, I don't want to imagine how fast it will go by after the one year mark hits. Everybody says its just a huge down slope after that and you don't even realize whats happening. My companion is an example of that. He trully loves the mission and being a missionary, not a day goes by that when somebody talk about the fact that he goes home in a month he gets angry and upset. He really doesn't want to leave, hes the opposite of most missionaries at this point.

But the week was a good one, tough but a good one. Unfortunately one of the young men we were teaching moved back with his mom to a totally different area and his is so awesome. He was going to be baptized this Saturday that comes. But he might be coming back so we're praying ike crazy. He is such an amazing kid and has an outlook on life that most 18 year olds don't have. I loved teaching him and I hope that he comes back. We've been teaching quite a few families and my testimony of the church is being strengthened every time that we teach, it just reconfims in my heart through the Holy Ghost the truth of these things. Its not easy to live the commandments of God in this world, in our days but its possible and we'll be eternally blessed for it. We can't just think about our days right now, what we do now depends on what will happen for eternity, so its a pretty big deal. I'd rather work a little harder here and be happy and be happy after this life than just live in the world and be unhappy for eternity.

Also, yesterday we gave talks and I was able to see just how much my Portuguese has improved. It was my third talk already on the mission in Portuguese and it has improved every time. I actually enjoy giving talks now, maybe even too much. Yesterday I gave a talk for almost 20 minutes about the love of God an how we need to love everyone and see everyone as a child of God. Not just another person but as a true child of God. And that with this love we'll have faith and we'll be able to do miracles. It was a pretty good talk I think.. and quite a few members came up to me after and said thank you and that my Portuguese was reallyy good for only 6 months. Our ward missionary leader even said it was at the rate of someone with a year on the mission. But I'm not trying to brag because its all from the Lords help without a doubt. It also helps having a Brasilian companion. But I learned a ton from the talk I gave and that each and every one of us can have a little more love in our lives. If we had more love the world would be a much better place. I know this church is true. God loves each and every one of us individually and will respond to our prayers individually. But we need to ask to receive. I love this gospel and I love being a missionary to be able to preach it to the people here in Brasil!

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Ether 12 and John 15:19

P.P.S. If you don't have a Book of Mormon to follor along with these scriptures..... Get one :)

March 12, 2012

Now the news that I know everybody has been eagerly waiting for and visiting the blog every hour to hear. I have officially been transferred. I am now in Guapira, Jacana. I found out late Monday night and got here on Wednesday morning. So it has officially been about 6 days here in Guapira. It is in the actual city of Sao Paulo, so I have finally made it to the actual city. Its on the outskirts of the city but I'm still here haha. I left the extreme heat of Soracaba, to come to the monstrous hills of Guapira. Holy Smokes. I might die here in a few weeks. The other day we climbed the staircase to heaven. I have never seen a staircase like it in my life. I'll try and send a picture of it next week. I almost had a heart attack when I got to the top. I thought the staircase at BYU was bad but wow. Nothing compares with this one. The steps are all different sizes in both directions, it was nuts. But basically our entire area is just made up of hills, I don't think I've ever sweated so much in my life. I will definately leave this area a lot skinnier when the time comes. The ward is awesome and I'm really loving the area, besides the hills. We have some really good investigators and the work is going really well. I am super excited to be here.

Oh and for my companion. Well basically I got everything that I was hoping and praying for this transfer. I asked to go to Sao Paulo, I'm here. I asked for a Brasilian companion, I got him. And I asked for a difficult area and I got it with the hills haha. But my new companion is Elder Vieira, and he is awesome! He's from Recife, and he is in his last transfer right now so no matter what next transfer I will also have a new companion. But he is a super awesome Elder and I'm learning a ton from him already. And its awesome not to have the English temptation anymore now its just straight Portuguese. But unlike what I was thinking there isn't less talking, we talk just as much as me and Elder Williams if not more but now its only Portuguese. Its really helping me improve a lot more. Although he has told me many times that I'm doing really well with the language and that I almost don't have an accent! Score! Oh and as for the crazy part for me and him. We have the same name. James, and in Portuguese its Tiago. We have the same birthday. We both want 5 kids, and neither of us drink soda. And there is other stuff too that we are finding out all the time. Its kind of freaky. I almost don't want to tell him any more stuff about me because he'll just have the same thing. He said earlier today that we better watch out or we're going to marry the same girl haha.

But everything is going really well, I'm super excited for these next 6 weeks with Elder Vieira and we're working like beasts. The ward is awesome, the food is good, the area is good, and there are hills so I'll be skinny. What more could I ask for? haha.

Last thing before I forget, the last 2 transfers before me had Americans being trained here and unfortunately both went home early, so now every lunch the members ask me if I'm actually going to stay. Its kind of sad to hear but I always just tell them yes I'm here to stay don't worry. I can't imagine going home from the mission, it is too much of a priviledge to be here and the oppurtunity of a lifetime to learn the things I'm learning and to gain the testimony that I'm gaining. I love this work too much to ever think about going home early. After 2 years here it will be really tough to leave Brasil. I love putting on my name tag every morning and reading "Elder Gleason.... A legreja de Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Ultimos Dias"... Nothing better in the morning than to be able to read that every day when I walk out the door. I am a representative of Jesus Christ, I am preaching the one and only true church on the earth today. What a blessing in my life.

Eu Te Amo!

Elder Gleason

P.S. Moroni 9:9 and Ether 11:8

P.P.S. Letter are starting to go into a slump, pick it up my friends :D

6 Month Mark Tradition

The tie to be burned.

His little fire.

The remains of his tie.

March 5, 2012

Months have officially come and passed con you believe it? On Wednesday the exact 3 month mark we were able to visit Boituva again, my first area, and Elder Williams did a couple baptism interviews there. I was also able to fulfull the 6 month missionary tradition and burn a tie. I sent a couple pictures of the before and after. It was a battle that is for sure, there was a ton of wind and the matches did not want to stay on fire. After a while we had the brilliant idea to just make an actual fire with paper and cook the tie like a hot dog. It worked out well and now I have a small piece left to keep as a souvenir. Now just gotta wait til the year mark when I will burn one of my shirts.

Well transfers are this week but we have yet to find out about them, I am hoping and we are both thinking that I will be transferred and who knows I might find out by the end of email time. Guess we'll find out. But it has been a great time with Elder Williams, we've had our ups and downs but we have become good friends. The only big reason I'd like a transfer is to get a Brasilian so I can improve my language quicker. Even though everybody and their dog in our ward likes to tell me that my Portuguese is really good. Its all the little stuff that a Brasilian would help with.

Also today we got to go to the pizzaria again. So good. I think I ate way too much though. My stomach feels like a rock from all the food haha.

Last thing before I download some photos is about our baptismal date again. It has been an amazing experience to teach him about the gospel. We have watched his life change before our eyes. In December when we first got here we tried to teach him and after 2 times he asked us not to come back that he was getting confused. About 4 weeks ago he asked us to come and teach him again. And just yesterday he said the closing prayer after the baptism of his step grandson and asked for help that we all could stay on the right path. After the baptism was over he came up to us and said "I believe that you are bringing me salvation, and I want to thank you for that." I almost died on the spot. The rest of the day I sat there thinking, wow, I was able to help this man recognize the spirit and the truth of the gospel. It was amazing. The gospel changes lives if we let it, I have no doubt about it.

Eu Te Amo!

Elder Gleason

P.S. D&C 20:17 and Mat 5:14-16