June 3, 2013

Hey All!
So J.R. is almost done with his mission (about 2 1/2 months!!) and he decided that he'll probably only send pictures home from now on. If there is any big news that he sends to us, I'll let you know! Thanks to everyone who has kept up with J.R. and supported him these last two years!
-Jenae

May 27, 2013

And I have finally left Jaraguá! They were an amazing 5 months and like always there was that feeling at the end of not wanting to leave but at the same time wanting a new area. It was super hard to say bye to the people I baptized but it's already gone and in the past now. I got the phone call on Monday night from President and joked with me about all the time that I stayed as a zone leader, which were 9 months. And now I am in Itapevi which is a city close by Sao Paulo and I'm a District Leader again. It's weird not being a zone leader anymore I feel like I'm not doing what I should be to know about the whole zone but I don't need to anymore. Also my new companion is Elder Paixão, he's from Salvador Bahia. He's got about 9 months on the mission.

So my new area is fulll of huge hills and I can't lie my legs are killing me but I'm sure I'll get used to it and hopefully it'll help me get a little skinnier to come home. This is most likely my last area. Here in this area they haven't had Americans in a long time, the only other american was here before me and he only stayed for 3 months. Before him it's probably been about 2 years. And it's weird to have to tell people that this is my last area. But I just want to go out with a bang and be able to baptize a ton to finish off the mission. I want to be able to help this part of the Lords Kingdom grow as much as I can in this short time that I have left.

Hopefully in these next couple weeks I'll be sending home a lot of pictures of baptisms like I was able to in Jaraguá.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Mni 10:3-5 (the most important scriptures to know how to gain a testimony of The Book of Mormon) and Mal 1:6; 3:8-10, 18; 4:5-6

 

 J.R.'s last picture as a Zone Leader

J.R. and Elder Paixao

May 20, 2013

Another great ending to our week, this week we had 3 more baptisms and an amazing ward activity! We baptized 2 more young men that are brothers Gabriel and Rafael. The youth here in this ward are probably one of the strongest organizations here now. It's amazing to see so many youth, I just keep imagining how many future missionaries there are going to be here in about 6-8 years. It's awesome how strong they are and they're bringing their parents with them. It has been a great example for me and everyone here in the church. Also we baptized a lady named Miriam who we have seen change and grow in these couple weeks and she she has been super well accepted by the ward and has felt the love from everyone. Unfortunately her daughter wasn't baptized with her yet though, but hopefully soon she will be.

As for the activity we had the "Pancake Challenge" on Saturday night and it was super great. We had a turn out of about 80 people or so. Both members and non-members with all sorts of pancakes. We were pretty worried that there wouldn't be enough food for everyone but in the end everyone ate and was satisfied. It was like Christ and the 5 loaves and 2 fishes with the 5000 people haha. It was funny because I read that part on the same morning of the activity.

Also this past week I finished the Book of Mormon for the 4th time here on the mission, this time in Portuguese which was yet again another great experience. I truly love the Book of Mormon, I have no doubt whatsoever that it is the word of God. I love reading the Book of Mormon and every time that I do my testimony strengthens.

Well today I find out about transfers and we´ll see what happens it's more than likely that Iwill leave Jaraguá but we´ll see what the Lord wants with me during these last 2 transfers of my mission. So weird to see that so little time is left.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Mni 9:6, 25-26; 10:20, 23, 27, 29, 32-33 and Mic 4:1-2; 6:8; 7:7-8 and Zch 13:6

 The best picture. Yesterday at church J.R. had 19 recent converts that he baptized in Jaragua

 Baptism of Gabriel and Rafael

Baptism of Miriam

May 6, 2013

And another week that ended with more baptisms and confirmations! And it was another group of 3, there is nothing better than ending the week like this with baptisms. This week we baptized Luzia, Kelly and Larissa. Mom, Daughter and Granddaughter! 3 generations all on the same day. It was such a great experience. When I was on the division with Elder Vincent about a month and a half ago me and him did a contact with Kelly and Larissa. The family was all over the place and everybody going to different churches. But now they are all members of the true Church of Jesus Christ. And Kelly is pregnant as well! My first person that I baptized that was pregnant, pretty great experience. I baptized Luzia, who is the oldest and was extremely Catholic, after her baptism she said to me that she NEVER imagined leaving the Catholic church and even less being baptized in another church. But mircales happen and the Lord touched her heart to help her realize that she needed to be baptized by someone who had the Priesthood here on the earth. Elder Moyano baptized Kelly (pregnant) and a YM in the ward baptized Larissa. It was his first time baptizing and he was so excited. Overall it was a fantastic baptism and our hard work with them all payed off.

We also have a few other people who we will still baptize this transfer before it ends, Jaraguá is baptizing like it never has and the members are all super happy. The ward is growing really fast and it's so great to see the chapel fuller and fuller each week. Its a good thing when you have to search for a place to sit and not try and pick from all the empty benches where you want to sit.

Also this week we had yet another mission council. It was so great to get to see all the missionaries again. Especially because now the original 4 from the MTC are all ZLs. Me, Elder Tatafu, Elder Horrocks, and Elder Vincent is the Assistent.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Mni 8:8, 10, 16-17, 20, 25-26 and Amos 3:7, 4:13; 5:14-15; 8:11-12

 Baptism on Saturday 4/5/13 of Luzia, Kelly, and Larissa

3 Generations!! 

April 29, 2013

Well this week was another blessed one that ended with more baptisms! I have been super blessed to have been here in Jaraguá for all this time and we have had a lot of success. This week we had 3 baptisms and we had the baptism service with the other ward that uses the same chapel, Taipas, and they had 2 baptisms. 9 people in white. Man I love pictures with so many people in white at the same time. The week went by really quick and was a rushed one to get everything ready but in the end everything went great and everyone was baptized that we prepared. Priscila and Suellen are mom and daughter, and they accepted the truth extremely quickly and were baptized. It was amazing to see how quickly they progressed. And Luis was the same way, he's Bolivian, my first baptism that isn't brasilian! And he progressed quickly as well. I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to be a part in the lives of these people.

Also next week we have 3 more baptisms marked with a mom, daugther, and granddaugther. 3 generations! We´ve been working with them for awhile and they accepted the goal this past week and were super excited. We have quite a lot of people that we are working with to be baptized during this transfer. This area has had a ton of success with the youth and its awesome to see all the young men that I baptized and how they all want to serve missions. They all talk about what their names will be on the mission.

I LOVE THE MISSION. There is nothing better than being able to help people be baptized!

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Mni 7:13, 19, 26, 31, 33-34, 41-42, 45-48 and Dan 12:2-3, 10 and Hos 13:4; 14:9

 All their baptisms, plus the Taipas wards too

 Elder Moyano, Priscila, Suellen, Luis, and J.R.

J.R. at the Pico de Jaragua a few weeks back 

April 22, 2013

Well I am still here in Jaraguá! We got transfers last week and my comp Elder Souza ended up leaving and I stayed for my 4th transfer here now. No one was expecting it, everyong thought it would either be us staying or me leaving but it wasnt either of the 2. It always happens like this on the mission, the unexpected always ends up being the ending. So I'm here in Jaraguá and my new companion is Elder Moyano and he's from Argentina. My second Spanish companion. I should probably work a little harder and try to learn Spanish at the same time. But it's tough. He has a little over 10 months on the mission.

This week was a good one and we worked our butts off and went home tired every day. We want to baptize a ton during this transfer so we need to find more people than we have right now to guarentee that we´ll have more baptisms. However we do have some that are already marked and ready and some other people that we´ll mark dates with this week.

One of our baptisms for next week is a Bolivian young man that just got here in Brasil a couple weeks ago so he barely speaks Portueguese. Elder Moyano has basically been teaching in Spanish. I can understand a little bit of it but not very much. Its pretty tough, everything is a lot quicker.

Also one lady that we've been teaching when we went there last week said that she recieved a really strong answer that she needs to be baptized and that this was the right thing that she was doing and she went to church for the 2nd time yesterday. We're really excited to keep up all the baptizing that has been happening here in the Jaraguá ward. And the ward is really excited as well with all the baptisms. The Lords work will never stop!

Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason

P.S. Mni 6:1-3, 5-6, 8; 7:5, 11 and Dan 2:20, 34-35, 44-45; 6:10, 16, 23, 27

 

 Elder Moyano and J.R.

The zone from last transfer

Baptism of Caio

April 15, 2013

And another baptism! For the highest total that I have had in one transfer on the mission, 9 baptisms! It was a little bit of a rush to get everthing done but in the end everything went right and we baptized a man named Caio. He had went to church 2 times already and goes to whatever activity there is at the church. When I was still with Elder Ahmed Caio talked with us in the bus and gave us his phone number but I can't lie I didn't think anything of it. But after a few weeks and when Elder Souza got here in Jaraguá we saw him again in the street and went to his house. And now he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ. It was a really great experience. I don't have the pictures because I forgot my memory card in the house but next week or in the furture I'll send the picture home.

This week we also had another couple families that we're teaching at church and they loved the meetings and already said that they would be there again next week. It was really exciting for us because we've been teaching them for a couple weeks now. It was cool because the mom brought her 3 kids with her and they're 3, 4, and 9 yrs old. The kids loved the primary. And they all call us by Elder when some adults don't even remember who we are haha.

There's not too much other new news, but tonight we find out about transfers and if I'll stay or go. I've been here in Jaraguá for 4 months already and now I only have 4 months left on my mission. So it's very likely that wherever my next area is will be my last. But we´ll see how it all turns out.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Mni 1:3-4; 2:2; 4:3; 5:2 and Ezk 33:4-6, 13: 34:11-12, 31; 37:16-17, 19-20

April 8, 2013

Well this week didn't have the exact same amazing results as last week but people sure kept talking about it haha. All the missionaires in the zone make jokes about it and the members dont stop talking about it. It's kinda cool to hear and we're doing our best not to be prideful about it because without any doubt whatsoever it was all from the Lord´s help that these miracles happened. And this past week we also had our Zone Leaders Council and at that meeting the other missionaries already knew about it as well before we even got there. But the day has come and gone and now we need to work at having another day with even more baptisms at the same time. Leave an even bigger legend.

However, this week was a little difficult because of so many things that we had and we ended up with only 3 full days to be able to work. This time for general conference I wasn't able to watch it in our own chapel but we had to travel to go to another chapel a little far away. So we ended up spending saturday and sunday watching conference in another area. Only coming home at night to try and do something extremely quickly. Cnference was amazing and I received many answers to questions that I've had, and I hope that it was able to do the same for everyone else as well. I have no doubt whatsoever that we have a living Prophet and 12 Apostles that have been called of God to lead us in these last days. Listening to their inspiring messages was another confirmation about that truth. I truly love listening to conference. It's weird to think that the next one I'll be at home to watch and who knows maybe even in the Conference Center. It's weird to start having the "lasts" of things on the mission.

This is the last week of this transfer already and I'm not positive about what will happen but we´ll see next week. Its crazy to think that I've already been here in Jaraguá for almost 4 months now. Time is flying by. But my legs definately let me know that I've been here for so long with the hills that I've been climbing this whole time haha.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Eth 8:26; 11:8; 12:4, 6, 27, 32-33, 41 and Ezk 18:20-21, 26-28; 20:20

Pictures From the Last Month!

Mike's baptism on March 2 

Some graffiti J.R. found with Moses parting the Red Sea 

J.R.'s zone last transfer

Popcorn night from a few weeks ago

Elder Souza and J.R., his "new companion"

The 8 Baptisms on March 30, 2013!!

With Cicero and Regiane

With the 3 YM they baptized. Right to left: J.R., Yann, Renan, Ruan, and Elder Souza

J.R., Yngrid, Kethylen, Vitor, and Elder Souza.

They are Stefanny's siblings (she was baptized last month)

After the baptism!



April 1, 2013

Probably the best day of my mission until now was this past Saturday. We had 8 baptisms!!! It was amazing! We only had 7 marked last week but then last Monday night we went by a ym´s house to talk to his parents who has been going to church for awhile now and she authorized his baptism as well, which made number 8! So the week was pretty hectic with baptism interviews and making sure that everything went right with the people until Saturday. And in the end it all went perfectly and we had 13 people in all white. And I had the first baptism of a married couple on my mission.

So our 8 baptisms were Cicero and Regiane, the couple, Yngrid, Kethylen and Vitor, who are siblings of Stefanny who was baptized last month, and Renan, Ruan and Yann, 3 young men. They're all amazing people. The youth here in Jaraguá are really strong and are bringing more and more people. All 4 of these ym that we baptized are already talking about when they serve missions in the future. They're still pretty young but they already have that desire to serve. And the couple we baptized are family of another member and are already talking about their temple marriage.

So it was a great ending to the week and I was extremely excited and happy. As far as I know it is also one of the biggest groups of people to be baptized in one area on the same day in the mission.

I can't believe April is already starting and March is gone. Today's April Fools day but all this wonderful news definately wasn't a joke and there are pictures to prove it haha.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Eth 4:7-8, 11-12, 17-19 and Jer 51:15; Lam 3:25-26

March 25, 2013

I don't know when I'm going to be able to send pictures home because the area that we're in has very few lan houses that are close to where we live and the one we go to looks like they're gonna have a problem with their system for quite a while. Which is really annoying but what can ya do.
This week ended up being a lot better, we didn't have any baptisms like we were hoping for but now we have 7 strong dates for this week. So this Saturday we should have at least 7 baptisms!! It's going to be awesome having so many people all in white. The most I've ever baptized on the same day was 2 and Elder Souza was 4. We're really excited for this Saturday. And the ward is too.
Also this week we did a division with the Assistants to the President and I was with my good old companion from the MTC, Elder Vincent. So we spent the day working as companions again. A lot of things have changed since we were in the MTC, we talked a lot about how we taught our very first practice lesson with our fake investigator, good memories. We also found a few really good families that we started teaching now. One that has 6 kids! And 5 of them with the age of baptism! We're really excited for this family because they're excited as well to learn more about the gospel. The oldest daughter, who is 15, read the chapter we left 2 times and understood it perfectly and explained each detail to us.
One thing that I also have learned a lot here with Elder Souza, that we are using a lot more in our teaching, is how little people know about the Plan of Salvation. Where did we come from? Why are we here? and Where do we go after this life? Very few people have the smallest idea about the answers to these questions. But the true gospel of Christ has all the answers. I love the gospel so much!

Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason

P.S. Eth 3:4-5, 14, 16, 19 and Jer 18:6; 23:23-24; 29:12-13; 32:27

March 18, 2013

Yet another week that the Lan House isn't working with sending pictures home. They're taking forever to get this thing fixed, hopefully they will get it all set as quickly as possible. So this week we got new news about our emailing from the First Presidency, now we can email family and friends! So if anyone wants to send an email you can hit me up at james.gleason@myldsmail.net!!! I cant promise that I'll respond but I can print it out and write back letters a lot quicker than waiting for letters to get here and then responding to them. So if anyone wants to they can feel free to email me now!
This week was a decent one, but definately not the best week I've had here in Jaraguá. It had its extreme ups and downs as well. This week we were able to mark 2 baptismal dates with a couple that is really awesome!! They're family of a member and have been going to church for awhile now and have finally decided to be baptized! So we're really looking forward to that and along with that a few other people as well.
Also this week we had a zone conference and me and Elder Souza gave the training on how to invite people to baptism. We studied and practiced a ton and we had the success that we wanted in the end. It ended up being a really good training and the other missionaries liked it as well. It's pretty fun to be able to give trainings to so many missionaries at one time, it's definately a priviledge.
Yesterday at church we had 170 people there!!! My first weeks here it was around 120-130. When Elder Ahmed left it was at about 140-145 and this week out of nowhere we had 170. And we were missing quite a lot of people that we were waiting for. And just to clear that up it wasnt 170 investigators but just 170 people, members and non members. The ward is really getting excited.

Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason

P.S. Mormon 9:14, 21, 23, 27 and Jer 7:23, 25; 9:23-24; 17:5, 7

March 11, 2013

First off unfortunately yet again this week the lan house isn't working with the computer to send pictures home so it'll have to wait till next week. Hopefully it'll start working by then.

Also I now have a new companion with me here in Jaraguá. Elder Ahmed was transferred to Alphaville on Wednesday and Elder Souza is now here with me. Elder Souza is from Recife, my 3rd companion from there, I feel like its the Utah of Brasil haha. Elder Souza was in Guapira before here and he stayed there for 6 months just like I did. He went to Guapira 6 weeks after I left and did the same process I did, junior, senior, trainer, and district leader, all in Guapira. Its been nice because I can ask about the members and the area and all the stuff that I miss from there.

As for the week it was a decent one, a little bit crazy with the transfer and having to re-adapt with a new companion but it's all part of the mission life. I also found out that my accent has gotten really bad after being with an American for 3 months. We didn't even speak a lot of English but my accent went into the dumps. Elder Souza watched a video that I had down in Itu with Elder Messias and he said I was speaking a lot better when I was there. But with time I'll start talking better again... I hope. But at least everybody still understands me and my grammar is still good.

This Saturday we also had a ward activity and it went really well. We did a popcorn night and set up a little movie theater and we made the popcorn. It was crazy and running all over the place to make the popcorn and hand it out but everybody loved it and there was quite a lot of people there as well. I'd say it was a success. It was the first activity that the ward here has done in quite awhile. And many more are to come.

We have quite a few people that we're working with right now and could have baptisms whenever, nothing is marked but there are a good amount of people that want to be baptized. We're praying and working to have at least a couple baptisms this Saturday, hopefully everything will go right.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Mormon 8:14-15, 17, 22, 26, 32-33 and Isa 53:4-7; 55:8-9; 59:1-2; 64:8

March 4, 2013

I feel like this week was a complete repeat of last week. It was tough but then in the end the Lord blessed us yet again. This week however we also had a conference with Elder Jairo Mazzagardi and it was really great. I was able to learn a lot from the things that were said in the conference. He talked a lot about the covenants that we have made with the Lord and how we must honor those covenants. Also how we need to help many many other people make these same covenants. It gave me again even more desire to baptize as many people as I can before the end of the mission. I just want to help a ton of people before my time runs out. Today is the last Pday of this transfer and tonight we find out about transfers. It's amazing how fast the time has passed during these 2 transfers with Elder Ahmed. They have been awesome. I now have only 4 more transfers before I come home. It's crazy how the time is going by.
This week we had the baptism of a young man named Mike. Unfortunately the computer isn't working to download and send pictures so I won't be able to send the picture of the baptism. I baptized and confirmed him. It was really great and he's super happy with the decision that he made to follow Christ. It has been awesome to see how much he has changed during this time that we have been teaching him.
Also Elder Ahmed and I have had the amazing oppurtunity to see many of our recent converts change in front of our eyes and see their testimonies grow. This week we continue to hear the stories from them, along with some less actives that we helped return to church. It has been a fantastic few months here in Jaraguá with him and we´ve seen many miracles.

Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason

P.S. Mormon 5:21-23; 7:5-9 and Isa 43:10-12, 25; 45:22; 49:14-16

February 25, 2013

This week was a pretty rough one, but in the end the Lord blessed us with yet another baptism and one for next week that we weren't expecting whatsoever. Its amazing how the Lord helps us in this work. The whole week was difficult on us and we were just teaching a bunch of people that weren't interested and we got very few addresses and we were pretty down, not gonna lie. And we were supposed to have 3 baptisms this last weekend but for one of them the parents didn't authorize the baptism and the other girl said she wasn't ready yet even though she passed the baptismal interview. So out of the 3 siblings only the oldest Stefanny was baptized. She's really awesome and has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. And at least her whole family was there for the baptism. Who knows, maybe them being there will help the parents feel more open to let the younger brother be baptized as well. And I think it helped the girl who said she wasn't ready yet feel a little more prepared. We´ll see what happens this week with her. Especially because this is the last Saturday of the transfer and we want to baptize them before hand. We don't know what will happen with the transfers but we both want to be here for all these baptisms.
Also, yesterday the Lord blessed us with our baptism for next week that we weren't expecting whatsoever. Yesterday we went by a guy who we've taught a few times already and he's been to church twice as well but always said he wasn't ready to be baptized and that he wanted to keep going before this decision. Yesterday we went by his girlfriends house, who is a recent convert, and he said that now he's ready and has accepted to be baptized this coming Saturday. We were kind of takin aback and we tried to figure out how we would get it all done in time for Saturday. So we left their house and taught another person that we had a commitment with and then went back like an hour later and taught the 10 commandments and he agreed to live all of them and understood it very well. So this Tuesday he's going to be interviewed and then on Saturday he´ll be baptized. And hopefully we can help these 2 other siblings of Stefanny be baptized this week as well and we´ll have 3 to end the transfer.
So we're pretty happy with all this stuff that's happening even through all the tough days that we've been having. The Lord is blessing us for our efforts. Oh and the baptism from last week, Luan is super strong. He's inviting everybody to come to church that he sees to "be saved" as he says. Tonight we're going with him to one of his friends houses. SO awesome to see our recent converts strong with testimonies.

Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason

 

P.S. 3 Nep 30:2; Mormon 2:13-14; 3:2, 22 and Isa 29:14; 32:17; 40:5, 31; 41:9-10

Baptism of Luan from last week

 Baptism of Stefanny from this week

February 18, 2013

Well this week was another crazy one with a fantastic ending. During the week we had to run all around with some problems we had in the zone which made it a little tough on us. On Thursday we had our interviews with President and it was another good one, it was really simple but I learned a lot like always. Then that same night we ended up having some problems with one of the areas and a whole mess of things ended up happening. Luckily now everything has been resolved and is all set in place with a couple of changes in the zone now. One of the parts of being a Zone Leader, gotta deal with these types of things.
However, this weekend we had a baptism! It was Luan which I've talked about a few times in my last few emails. He is so awesome and really firm with his decision. He was telling everybody about his baptism and inviting all his friends. He's 24 years old and had his birthday yesterday on the day he was confirmed a member of Christ´s true church on the earth! We told him it was the best present he could receive for his birthday and he agreed really quickly. So on Saturday he was baptized and then on Sunday when we were waiting in the front for everybody to show up and everything how does he get there? In a full blown suit. So sick. Elder Ahmed baptized him on Saturday and then I confirmed him on Sunday. And he's already thinking about serving a mission as well.
Also we have 3 more marked for next week but they're all underaged so they have to have parents permission. We're still working with the parents and it looks like it could be a bit of a battle right up until Saturday but they're all super awesome. They're going to church, reading the scriptures, praying and everything. Now all thats left is to get the parents signature. But I have faith that the Lord will help us and bless us so that it happens.
We're working really hard still and its crazy how time is going by, we've already passed more than the half way point of this transfer because it's only a 5 week transfer this time and its already coming to a close. Time flies by in the work of the Lord.

Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nep 27:16, 19-20, 29, 33: 28:11, 34 and Isa 17:7; 18:3; 25:9; 26:2-4, 19

February 11, 2013

Well this week we were supposed to have the baptism of the guy that stopped us in the car, Luan, but we ended up moving it to next week because this week was Carnaval and there were pretty much no members at church. During Carnaval all the youth go camping along with pretty much all the leaders as well. And all the Single Adults have a camping place as well so it was empty this week. But he was already interviewed and passed and is really excited for the baptism next week, he's even going to make a Facebook event about it. Yesterday we ate lunch with him and his family. His mom, who is really catholic, asked if there was a problem with him being baptized and we didn't even have to respond, he responded for us and said to her "I'm not being baptized again, I'm being baptized in the right way". It was crazy. I looked to Elder Ahmed with a shocked face, thats for sure haha.

Also this week we did a division with Morro Doce and I went there and in English, morro means hill. Yeah the area is full of hills. And as we were walking down a staircase made of mud after just raining I slipped and fell, as it shows in the picture. I was talking to Elder Ahmed on the phone because he just had to talk to me in that moment and I wasn;t paying attention as much as I should have been and boom fell and got extremely muddy. It was pretty funny not gonna lie, and luckily I didn't get hurt whatsoever, just really dirty. We got lucky and we were close by a members house where I went and cleaned up and they gave me a different shirt to wear.

Also this week I got my "trunky letter" which comes when you have 6 months left on the mission asking about what airport and stuff like that. It was pretty weird to get after seeing so many other missionaries get them during my mission. The time is passing by really quickly.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nep 26:5-6, 9-10; 27:5-9 and Isa 1:16-18; 5:20-23; 7:11-12

 

 The zone from last transfer

 J.R. and a turkey. He had never seen one as a pet before

J.R. after he slipped in the mud. He said, "Not the funnest thing that has ever happened."

February 4, 2013

So obviously transfers were last week as I had commented about... buttt me and Elder Ahmed stayed for another transfer together here in Jaraguá. However this transfer is only 5 weeks instead of 6 and 1 week of that has basically already passed. Pretty crazy. But we're both happy that we stayed here for another one together. The zone basically stayed the same as well with very little changes. Basically the only changes were the 2 elders that finished their missions, so obviously they left.

The week went pretty well and we had a few more great experiences, but at the same time unfortunately a few people that were interested have lost that interest quickly or literally don't have time to let us go over with work and college. (here the college year starts in February and ends in November). So it was a little tough on that side of it. However, this time we have been together here in Jaraguá has been filled with answers to peoples prayers, unfortunately some haven't followed those answers but others have. This week we went by an address that we had found of a member that we didn't know so we went by. When we were there towards the end of the visit she said she had prayed the day before asking for Heavenly Father to send angels to help her with what she was going through. And the next day we showed up. She also has a younger daughter who's 12 yrs old and hasn't been baptized yet and wants to be baptized so we're working with them. Also we went by a family that was taught 4 years ago by the missionaries and we had their address. We went by and the mom of the 2 kids that were being taught passed away recently. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation and it was extremely spiritual, it was an amazing experience. We're working with them as well to help them remember the stuff they were taught before. They're interested and it helps because their mom loved the missionaries so that will help a lot with the whole situation as well.

Well today we're going to 25 de Março which is basically like Chinatown in NYC, we're pretty excited. Neither of us has been there yet and its time to buy all the souvenirs of Brasil haha.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 23:1, 5; 24:8-10; 25:5-6 and Ecl 4:9-20; 8:12-13; 11:5

January 28, 2013

And another transfer has come and gone and tonight we wait to hear about the transfer calls and whats going to happen. We're hoping and I'm thinking that nothing will change with us, but you never know what could change. President has done some pretty crazy changes in the mission that we haven't expected so we´ll just have to wait and see.

This week we had the oppurtunity to have a Mission Conference for the 2nd time on my mission. It was really sweet to have the entire mission together at the same time instead of just seeing people here and there. Elder Christenson from the 70 Presidency came and visited our mission. It was a really great conference and I was able to learn a lot from the things that were talked about. Also the Sao Paulo Interlagos Mission was at the same conference which was pretty sweet because I knew a few of the elders from the CTM that were there as well. Its crazy how much time has gone by since we were there. It was fun to think back on some of the stuff that happened in the CTM.

As for the week it was pretty normal, unfortunately we didn't have a baptism this week because we haven't found too many people lately that were really interested. But this week we found some really awesome people. Including one young man who stopped us in his car and asked for some kind of paper that gave information about the church. We ended going up to his house the day after to teach him. He had a friend that served a mission in the US that invited him a ton of times to church but he never went and decided to stop us when he saw us that day. Long story short we marked a baptismal date with him and he's super excited and went to church yesterday and already made friends as well. Hes 23. So sweet. And we taught another lady who we talked to her son and ended up meeting her. Her husband died almost 2 years ago and she never knew what happens after this life and was confused by all the different churches telling her different things. But when we explained the Plan of Salvation she knew it was true. She's super happy to know she will see her husband again after this life and she's really excited to learn more. She even called us angels to some members that we brought to her house.

Well thats about it, the amazing experiences are continuing to happen here in Jaraguá with Elder Ahmed and we´re hoping that they dont stop and that we keep going for another transfer.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 20:8, 39; 21:9-10 and Proverbs 28:5-6, 18; 30:5

January 21, 2013

And another baptism for the New York team haha. This week we baptized a young man named Igor who is the son of another lady that Elder Ahmed and I baptized a few weeks ago, like I explained in my email last week. Everything went really well for the baptism and he picked me to baptize him. It's definately one of the best feelings to be able to baptize someone. He is really happy and enjoying being a member of the church and him and his brother both have the full white shirt and tie combination. And their mom, Simone, is super strong and is so happy that now her whole family is a member of the church. She's already starting to help them prepare to serve their missions in the future! A really fantastic family. I'm so glad that I could be a part of 2 of the 3 baptisms.

As for the week it was decent but definitely not the best, unfortunately we have been finding a lot of people who aren't very interested and after going by once or twice we have to leave them behind to try and find others who will be baptized. We have had some great experiences though, that is for sure and we have seen people receive answers to their prayers and we have even been that answer a few times already. Unfortunately even receiving these answers a few people have chosen not to follow what God has showed them. But thats where the free agency comes in, we can't force anyone to do what they don't want, just help as much as we can so that they can realize how big the blessings that they could get from following christs true gospel.

Also, I called Elder Messias on Saturday night to see how things were and because it was the day that Tiago and Daniele had marked to get married. Everything went perfectly and they were married in the chapel in Itu and he said that everything was super organized. Next week theyre going to be baptizedddd. So awesome!! Unfortunately I will only be seeing it all by pictures but I know that this is all the Lords will. They also have another 4 baptisms marked for this week and another family that Elder Messias and I found are really animated and getting closer to baptism as well. Also, the lady that we baptized, Mari, is super strong! She visited the temple the other day. And her family found out that she was baptized and they told her she had to choose the church or them, theyre all Catholics, and she chose to continue following Christ and His church instead of her family. I can't even imagine how hard of a decision that must have been. But I know the Lord will bless her imensly for it.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 18:6-8, 11-12, 19-20 and Pro 22:2, 6; 23:17; 24:19-20

 Igor's baptism on January 19th

 

Some more cool graffiti that J.R. found. In the top one its hard to see but J.R. is making the same face that the soccer player behind him is making 

January 14, 2013

Last week on our pday we made a trip to the Pico do Jaraguá, which is one of the highest points in Sao Paulo, maybe even Brasil, not too positive which it is. But it was definately high up there. It was an amazing view from the top and you're able to see all of the Sao Paulo city which is ginormous. It was really sweet, it was also pretty crazy because from one side all it is is city and from the other side its all just hills and trees like the Adirondacks in New York. It was a pretty rough climb to get up there but in the end it was all worth it for the view we had. However, it also had its after affect seeing as I didn't put any sun screen on, not the best decision I made. Seeing as with my white shirt it covers more of my neck and with a regular everyday tshirt theres more neck showing the sun burned the crap out of my whiteness. Including my legs. The next few days after were full of a lot of aloe vera and pain walking in the streets haha. But it was for my own stupidness that it happened. Overall it was a pretty sweet pday and I included some pictures of our hike up there.

Also this week I went to the federal police to update my visa which has been expired for a few months now. So Wednesday night we went and slept at the mission office and then on Thursday morning way early we went to the federal police. It was cool to see so many people from all over the world that were there as well for visas. I even met one lady who was from Rochester, NY, what are the chances of that. It was a neat experience and I was able to talk about the church in English a little bit, which was ridiculously difficult and I'm not sure how it turned out haha.

However this week we also had an enormous disappointment. We had 5 weeks in a row baptizing and this week the streak stopped. Our baptism for this past week was super strong but then at the last minute fell. The guy that was preparing to be baptized was so amazing and already thinking about serving a mission but in the end his wholeee family starting persecuting him about the church. Even cousins that lived in Europe found out that he was going to church and were calling about it. He unfortunately couldnt handle it and didn't want to have to have his family divided and asked for some time to get things settled. It was extremely hard on us. He was an awesome young man and so strong but his family couldn't accept it and was rejecting him because of religion. Its so ridiculous. I was really aggravated yesterday night after he told us about all the stuff that was going on. People choose religions like its some kind of sports team and fight about it when you're thinking about changing. We're not bringing another church or another religion to people, we're bringing the Kingdom of God on the earth and salvation!

But one upside on the week, the son of Simone, that we baptized a couple weeks ago, decided to be baptized and will be baptized next week. It came out of nowhere. He was always leaving his house when we got there to get away from us and then we got a call this week saying that he wanted to be baptized. Trully a mircale.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 15:9, 16-18, 21-24 and Proverbs 9:10: 13:7, 9; 15:16, 29

 

January 7, 2013

Well this week was another good one, a little crazy with new years but it was good and ended even better. On new years night we went to a members house and ate a big dinner and had a lot of fun talking and joking around. But the worst part was midnight. As a missionary I really don't care about fireworks or any of that kinda stuff that happens. So I went to sleep as normal at about 1030 and it was tough just to get to sleep, then the worst part was when it hit midnight a million and a half fireworks went off literally right behind our house, I was going nuts. It was so loud and annoying and I just wanted to go to sleep. While Elder Ahmed woke up and took videos, I rolled around screaming in the bed, screaming for them to stop haha. I wasn't so happy thats for sure. So I didn't get much sleep that night which just made it worse the next day being extremely tired. However on my birthday things went well and at night we had a small family home evening with a member family and the lady that we baptized last week, Simone, and her family. It was great! And at the end they had a "surprise" birthday cake for me. So I didn't go without cake on my bday. And now I'm the big old 2-1. I also got 2 ties for presents from a couple members here and for some reason my companion got ties as well.

So the week ended greatly with the baptism of Riva. The area has now baptized 5 weeks straight and me and Elder Ahmed 3 weeks straight. And we have no doubt that all the 3 weeks were miracles and blessings from the Lord. Riva is an awesome old lady who is single without kids and treats us so well. She's our grandma here on the mission for sure. This week we helped her to give up smoking and now she has been baptized and confirmed. I had the privilege to confirm her and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Also next week we already have a firm baptism date with a young man named Carlos who yesterday showed up to church in a full blown suit that he bought just for church. It was awesome! And he's already thinking and seeing how it would work for him to serve a mission. The Lord is truly blessing us New Yorkers here in Jaraguá!

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 14:11, 14, 21-23 and Proverbs 1:7; 3:5-6; 4:18; 8:17

 Riva's baptism on January 5th

 J.R.'s birthday cake for his 21st birthday

December 31, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!! andddd Happy 21st BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So christmas day was fantastic, getting to see the fam on skype yet again and of course seeing pops with his beard and hair. I am definitely a fan. Everybody here thinks he´s crazy but they think its funny too. A few asked how it is when he eats soup and has to clean it out haha. It was pretty easy to get back into the groove again after christmas though because it really didnt even feel like christmas in the first place. But next year I'm at home for christmas woo! Also today doesnt feel like new years even, especially because we have to be home by 930 and sleeping at 1030, that is if we can with all the fireworks and parties that will be going on. We´ll see how it all goes tonight haha. And this Thursday I turn the big 2-1. And I'll celebrate byyyy doing the same thing as always haha. However I will have cake, maybe even 2 during the day. Here in Jaragua everybody loves to feed the missionaries. And its good but kinda stinks at the same time.

As for the week we had yet another baptizing week! And nows its been 4 weeks straight that this area has baptized and we don't have plans on stopping that streak anytime soon. Me and Elder Ahmed are really working well together and we´ve literally seen miracles. This week the lady that was baptized, we hadn't seen in over a week, and we figured it had fell. We finally went over to her house on Friday, the day before the baptism, and she was all excited asking how it was going to be and what time and everything. It was a mircale. She had went travelling and everything so we couldn't see her. It ended up being a super rush to get the interview done and plan the baptism but in the end everything went perfectly and she was baptized. Also this week on Wednesday we went by to see a lady that we had helped carry her groceries a week back and we were literally the answer to her prayers. We had thought about going by her on other days but it never worked out and the day it finally went right it was our Plan C. She told us that the night before she was looking out her window and prayed and asked God to help her and show her the way, and the next morning who showed up on her doorstep? We did. It was awesome!! And now she's preparing to be baptized. And we´re teaching another young man who is already asking about how it would work for him to go on a mission! It was a fantastic week and this week will just keep getting better. The New York team is doin work haha. So yeah we´re really happy and things are going really great.

Happy new Year to everybody! 2013! How did that happen already?

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 12:14-16, 20, 48; 13:19-21, 24, 33 and Psalms 128:1, 4; 140:13; 146:10

 

 Elder Ahmed and J.R.

The sign J.R. made for himself and Elder Ahmed for their house, the symbol on the bottom is the baptism symbol for missionaries

 Baptism on 12/29/12 for Simone

 Baptism on 12/23/12 for Gabriel