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