Pictures December

Dec 17

As for the week,

The week was quite fun.  I enjoy teaching and helping others.  My vision of Heavenly Fathers plan changes by the day.  My understanding continues to grow.  I don´t know the phrase in english but in portuguese it´s called "Scribture domination".  I like know where everything is in the scribetures ha.  It´s pretty cool the gifts of god you recieve on the mission!  We are still working a lot in the condominium.  My kid, Elder Pinheiro, is doing good.  Training is quite the experience.  I love watching the growth of a missionary.  They truly become instruments in gods hand, that increases by the day!  We are trying to lock in more baptisms.  The invatations are direct and simple, "will you follow the example of the savior Jesus Christ and be baptised how he was?"  Simple and to the point.  I love it.  The gospel makes so much sense.  Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the gift of the holy ghost, are perfectly ordered to give you the highest chance of success that you can have in life.

I´m starting to learn the game of life, I see it a lot on the streets, people walking, franticly going from place to place.  I see a lot of people walking without purpose and that truly makes me sad.  Dodging the three biggest questions in life, "where am I from?, why am I here?, and where are we going?" .  I hear people try and make things up that give a sense of direction but something is missing.  We are so blessed to have the gospel that  gives us answers to these three questions.  The doctrine is simple.  Anyways I think to much haha. 

Good news, Kelson was baptised this week.  A man truly prepared by the hand of the lord.  I loved seeing his process of change.  Watching him at his baptism, I saw a light in him that I didn´t see when I first clapped his door.  His daughters are AWESOMEEE!  They visited him sunday.  He was in sacrament meeting and was sitting with his daughters.  I got there a little late with my comp because we were looking for others.  The person to interview him for the baptism was already there, so I called him and he went out to be interviewed and I sat with his daughters.  I thought at that moment what it is going to be like when i´m going to be a dad.  I reached in my bag, and pulled out some cookies for them to eat, I offered and saw their smiling faces.  I don´t know what it was, but at that moment, I wanted to have a family.  I got really excited to be a dad.  When Kelson returned, his daughters greeted him with a small hug in sacrament.  I just thought, "I WISH I WAS A DAD" ha.  The spirit of a family is wonderful!  How conforting it is to know that family can be together forever!  I´m SO thankful to take part of the conversion process of kelson.  To be permited to see a change of heart, as nephi says in 2 nephi 31.  I know that my family will be eternal.  I know that the descisions I make will affect my future family.  I´m going to make the right ones.  Jesus is the Christ.  He is our savior, and i´m so excited to celebrate his birth.  I testify that he is the son of god.  His life, his mission, was and is real.  

Elder Diamond

Dec 10

As for the week,
This week was great, setting aside the sickness that I was fighting with.  It started on last p day and got worse during the week.  It sucks because you basically just have to man up and keep working.  I miss being able to be sick and sleep ha.  But i´m better now so it´s all right.  Fortaleza was extra hot this week.  I´m sweating as i´m typing this email.  

We taught a hand full of lessons this week.  The guy I was talking about, kelson, accepted the date to be baptised this sunday.  It was a really neat experience.  We asked about how his experience was at the church and he said he liked it.  We continued to teach and I felt it was time to invite him to be baptised.  When I invited him to be baptised he started crying and accepted the date instantly.  He really does fufil that promise that the lord says that people are kept from the truth, only because they know not where to find it.  I´m enjoying the mission

We are preparing four people to be baptised this week.  I hope it will all go alright.  Lauriçete(29) and her daughter.  Kelson (30) and Jamille (11).  Prayers would be appreciated for these people!  Thanks for the support.  This is the lords church!  

Until next week.  

Elder Diamond! 

Dec 3

As for the week,  this week was pretty good.  My head is pounding due to a headache, I think i´m walking to much in the sun.  I´ll get better though.  We met a man named Kelson this week.  He was a reference and wanted to know more about the "mormons".  We passed his house and he explained how difficult his life has become because of drinking.  He has a hard time controling himself and is trying to find the cure.  Repentence is the only thing that popped into my head.  A change of mind.  The changing of ones life to the will of god to feel his supreme love again.  He went to church sunday,  I see the spirit working in him.  I see the change that can be brought just by one touch or whispering of the spirit.  It´s as if the countanence of the person changed.  It´s quite a thrill to see.  We will continue working with him and keep you all posted.  

To close, I would like to thank everyone for the support, and prayers.  It helps me get through each day in the mission.  It helps me walk in the streets in the 90 degree weather of Fortaleza, it helps me to know I have a father in heaven who has blessed me with so many things.  Much love!

Elder Diamond

photos November

11.26.12

As for the week. . . . .

This week yielded great results.  We worked hard.  Tuesday was pretty difficult though.  EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING fell through.  We basically walked in the street all day and couldn´t get anything to work for our own good.  But the rest of the week got better.  Taught some.  Invited to baptism and we had  2 baptisms this week.  Nilda, 26, and Elvis, 14,  It was pretty great.  Nilda has been investigating the church for a long time.  She was almost baptised when the other Elders where here but she went back to her boyfriend who isn´t to good for her.  After watching her suffer a lot because her boyfriend is extremely wicked, she finally moved out, found a home for her and her 12 year old boy.  We didn´t see her for like four weeks when I was with Elder Armoa but she appeared one day in the condominium and we marked a day to pass her house and she accepted the date for baptism and yeahh... Went pretty well.  It was great because Elder Dias, the last Elder that passed this area, came back and did the interview for Nilda.  She passed the interview and was baptised.  It was very nice watching her progress to baptism.  Elvis used to go to church a lot.  He was never baptised because something always came up on the day of his baptism, at the start of the transfer I felt inspired to pass his house and reinvite him to church.  He didn´t go the first sunday, but this sunday he went.  Elder Dias interviewed him, and was baptised.  A miricle if you ask me ha.  

The sisters also had a baptism, of a woman named Cledina.  She is great, photos will follow.  And basically that is it.  We are hoping to find a family to baptise this transfer.  I love finding the people of whom the lord prepared.  It´s a wonder to watch the process of conversion.  You truly see the faith of the person grow each visit as they progress towards the waters of baptism.  The gospel is real

Elder Diamond

11.19.12

As for me i´m doing good.  The week was pretty interesting.  After p day, we had a family night with the recent convert families in this area.  That was good.  The next day I went to work in another Elders area, it was sweet.  The area has mountains and looks like utah.  After that day we went to the office and grabbed our "sons".  My kid is named Elder Pinheiro.  He is from São Paulo.  He is kinda quiet but he is just nervous and is a bit timid.   I get along with him though.  Apparenty when he opens up he is pretty crazy.  It´s funny seeing a missionary fresh out of the MTC.  They have a great spirit about them and they don´t understand anything but they have the will to help.  When he shares what he studied he is always talking about how excited he is to be and help others.  I forgot how like new I used to be ha.  As time goes on you slowly learn more and more every single day and looking back on who I was when I got into the field.  The growth is really really big ha.  It doesn´t seem like it but i´ve changed a lot spirtually, I like to think for the better.  

The rest of the week was good.  We taught a lot (more of just me teaching because he has to learn it all) and invited to baptism.  We hope to have at least 3 baptisms this week.  Nilda ( 27) Rafael (12)  and Caio ( 11).   Caio was going to be baptised this week but he got sick saturday night and had to go to the hospital.  It´s kinda funny Brazilians love to go to the hospital when they are sick.  Even if it´s like a cold.  They take their kids to the hospital.  I laugh...  

I´m feeling great, quite happy at the moment and feeling good to watch my weekly disney movie.  :D  i´m such a kid haha

Elder Diamond

11.12.12

I can´t believe there is ALREADY snow!  I´m not gonna lie, got a bit trunky looking at my car.  Oh how excited I am to drive again haha.  I hope all is a well back in the 801. 

So about the week.   This week was quite good.  I really enjoyed the result of the week.  We taught pretty good and ended the week, and the transfer, with three more baptisms (will attatch pictures).  Everything is going pretty well for us.  We taught a lot and should have two more baptisms this week... But one thing.   Elder Armoa got transfered!  I can´t believe that 6 weeks came and by already that fast.  My new companion is.... I don´t know yet haha.  I was called to train.  So I will be in José Walter 2 for the next 3 months at least.  I´m excited to say the least.  It´s going to be quite the experience.  This has been one of my best transfers that I have had spiritually speaking.   I really started to get along with my comp the last 3 weeks and what happens. . . . He gets transfered ha.  But it´s alright, I created a good bond with him and i´m sure the Lord accepted our transfer. 

Jaquilene, Emanuel, and Rafael were baptised.  The baptismal service went well and the spirit was present.  It never gets old preparing for a baptism and seeing the difference of the investigator before and after the baptism. 

Love you
Elder Diamond

Nov 5

Thanks for the letter, as usual, it´s always nice to hear from you.  I´m so jealous the cold season is going to start here in a bit, I miss the cold so much.  THE BEST.  It was funny I was at the bank (has air conditioning)  and I stood right under the cold wind and closed my eyes and imagined myself walking down Hackamore circle.  Ahhh good times.  

They had elections here a little while ago, it´s funny how they do it.  Hahah I laugh just thinking about it.  They have cars with huge speakers on top of them drive through the streets playing a little music theme song that each of the candidates made.  The last week before elections it´s just a mess of stickers and music.  Roberto Claudio won this election to be Governer of Fortaleza.  Was pretty cool seeing how it works here. 

So the week was pretty good.  Lots of good things happened.  To start, i´m getting a long a lot better with my companion.  I´m seeing the best in him and he is a great kid.  We work quite well together now.  The test still comes everyonce in a while but it´s all good haha.  José Walter 2 is pretty hot here.  This week their wasn´t really any wind.  I was burning my face off....  Oh well I just close my eyes and do what my trainer taught me.    It´s just a hot shower.... Extremely hot.... We taught a decent sum this week and the Lord is preparing prepared investigators for us.  We were going to have a baptism yesterday of Jacqueline and her son Emanuele, everything was ready to go she was at the church ready to go and guess what happens.  She had like a stomach problem and had to go to the hospital like 10 minutes before her baptism!  Oh well this week will be alright!  

We found some new couples and families that have a lot of potential.  We had 10 investigators and sacrament meeting and we have 9 possible baptisms this week.  Please pray these 9 souls that are EXTREMELY precious in my eyes and the eyes of our heavenly Father.  I love you all good luck! 

Elder Diamond!

Nov

This week was very good.  I feel as if i´m pretty focused on this work.  I am really starting to enjoy the mission and teaching.  It´s becoming my life ha.  I can feel myself changing each day.  The change comes in a different way now.  I feel the influence of the spirit very close to me throughout the day.  Looking for divine inspiration to help others is a joy that always brings light to my heart.  The darts of the adversary still come everyday.  But when you are thinking of others it´s not so bad.  My understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is growing by the day.  I´ve realized that ever choice I make brings me closer or further from the Savior and his Light.  It REALLY helps me make descisions.  I have this huge desire to study and learn, which I thought I would never have.  I´m on an up at the moment, so I am quite happy. 

 

Things got better with my comp this week.  My patience is still being tested but I´m learning to be better and better!

 

We had a baptism this week.  Gabriel (17) made the descision to be baptised and join his family.  It´s funny when I first got here he didn´t really want to be baptised.  So we gave him some space and let the lord work with him one on one and the lord did his part.  He prepared him and he made the descision.  About half of his family now are members.  The mom, dad, youngest son, and now him are baptised.  Just two more to help.  The other son (maxuel)  made the descision to clean up his life and go to church to follow the savior.  He is great, we are helping him to quit smoking and follow the commandments of the lord.  The last to be baptised I think is going to be Karina(14)  she is in a rebel phase at the moment and has no desire to go to church.  I can see the spirit of the lord already working in her though.  I see her observing the change that happend to this family over the last couple months when Elder Armoa and his last companion found them.   

 

We should have three baptisms this week.  Rafael (12) great kid, he SHOULD have been baptised yesterday but he went to another part of the city to visit his family.  He gets home tomorrow.  Jackalyne (28), she is great, she wants to be baptised along with her kid Emanuele (10).  Haven´t marked a date with the latter two, we are going to try to shut the baptism this week.  Prayers are greatly appreciated as always. 

 

This work is true!  This is Christs church!

I´ll send photos next week

Love

Elder Diamond!

Oct

As for the good part of the week, we found some good couples and people that are being prepared to be baptised.  We unfortunately didn´t have a baptism this week but i´m basically 100% sure that we will have one this week.  I love this mission and this first year has helped me grown leaps and bounds.  My testimony is STILL growing each day.  I´m STILL learning new things and trying to change myself for the better!

Have a good week.  

Elder Diamond

Oct 8

So the week was pretty darn good.  I love preparing for conference.  I also love this new area that i´m in.  I´ve got some information about the area now that i´ve been here for a little ha.  So i´m in an area called José Walter 2.  It´s a small strip that has had A LOT of success in the last two transfers.  My comp and his trainer ( Elder Dias ) baptised 20 people in 3 months.  Elder Dias is now assistant ha.   Fun fact he was my first zone leader when I got in fortaleza.  My comp is from paraguay and has been out in the mission for 5 months.  He speaks super fast and isn´t QUITE fluent in português.  Their are some big differences between spanish and portugues.  At least in the accent.  It´s enough for people to not under stand what he is saying.  I remember how I felt when I had five months and people still couldn´t understand me.  It was frustraiting.  Anyway Elder Armoa has A TON of energy.  He is always smiling, laughing, and just happy.  I´m hopping to grab some of that happiness from him.  For the people who know me i´m not usually SUPER excited 24/7.  

There is this RM that leaves with us every day at 3 o´clock to teach people with us.  His name is Diego.  It´s awesome we are like a trio that goes around teaching.  My teaching pool is basically in the complex where Elder Dias and my comp have been working.  

Oh yeah some good news.  I got a call Thursday night.  Cristiane was baptised!  I was so happy getting the call.  I´m glad she took the descision to be baptised.  Extremely special convert to me.  She is awesome!  I hope she can endure to the end and one day be reunited with her mother.  

Conference was very good.  The prophets, I feel, really focused on families and the gospel of Jesus Christ this conference.  It´s true that the only source of real happiness comes within the bands of family, and obeying the Saviors gospel.  It´s difficult at times but our savior and heavenly father know we can get through our difficulties and use them to make us stronger.  It is my hope and prayer that we will all be able to apply what we learned this october!  

Hugs, kisses, all that stuff.
Love Elder Diamond!

October 1

Woooo this week was strange.  To start abregato means thanks and it´s spelled obrigado hahahaha.  Second, fortaleza temple already broke ground, how exciting is that ha it should be done in like three years.  I´m pretty darn tired this week, and this keyboard on this computer is rediculous....  Anyway.  

So this week was pretty crazy, the start of the week was good, teaching a lot and we were preparing cristiane for baptism.  Then came friday.  Her mom died.  It was crazy trying to help her.  It´s hard to help confort someone when they are affected by death, and it didn´t help getting her baptised either.  We went over and tried to help out.  Testified  that she would recieve an answer if she went to church sunday.  She ended up going to church.  But could only stay for sacrament meeting.  Know whats the kicker??  The only subject that was talked about by the first two speakers was about enduring to the end.  The final speaker spoke and testified of the ressurection of ALL..  It wasawesome.  The answer that Cristiane really needed.  We passed by and spoke to her and she still didn´t know if she was prepared.  An Elder Ended up passing and interviewing her.  Long story short she is going to be baptised this week!  I´m super excited for that.... but one thing.... I was transfered!!! hahaha...  Oh well, the name of my new area is called josebalter.  Or something like that ha.  My comp is named elder Armoa.  He is from paraguay and has been out 3 months and speaks spanish.... It´sgonna be a fun transfer hahaha.  And that´s about it for the week....

I wasn´t to sad about this transfer.  or being transfered for that manner.  I felt that I was going to be transfered.  Heard a funny phrase that said god will transfer you when you´ve done what you needed to do!

That´s about it for this week.  I´ll write more next week but this keyboard is killing me ha.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Diamond!

Pics Sept

Sept 24

Anyway about the week.  The week was pretty good.  We walked around a lot.  Unfortunately didn´t find a lot of news.  Cristiane was supposed to be baptised this week.  Everything was ready to go for sunday and at 7:01 in the morning we got a text from her saying that she got called into work again and she said she feels like god doesn´t want her to be next to us.  I was suprised how hard I took this text.  This is like the most prepared investigator that I have taught on the mission.  She is already in Alma, wants to be baptised, but she always has to work ( works at a hospital ).  I couldn´t hold back my tears.  It was a pretty silent morning for me and Elder Barreto.  I hope she gets baptised this week though.  I hope she doesn´t have to work.  Please pray for her, that would help out a lot.  

As for the rest of sunday it went pretty good.  We had 6 investigators at sacrement with the possibility of getting baptised.  Our mission made the challenge of 6 baptisms in the month of september.  We have only gotten 1 until now, but we have been praying every night that we can reach that goal.  It appears very possible.  We are going to give our maximum to hit this goal.  

Cool experience or an observance that i´ve seen in my mission until now.  We were teaching cristiane and she always has questions ( good questions ) about the gospel.  And we respond.  She asked one this week and after we responded she said "wow I think you guys have studied all your lives for this huh??"  I started thinking and realized that i´ve never been able to not answer a quesiton.  The promise that is found in the Doctrine and Covenants holds true that you will "not be confounded before men".  I shrugged and pointed to the sky and said "it´s all him" haha.  I absolutely love the gospel.  And it´s even better to have the spirit.  The knowledge that I have has grown at least ten fold since i´ve got here.  It´s all because of the promise.  ITS AWESOME!...  Jesus is the Christ

Anyway that´s about it for the week.  Gotta go but I LOVE YOU!

Elder Diamond

Sept 17

Dear mother,

Good day.  One more week already came and went.  This letter is going to be kinda lame because not to much new happened this week haha.  But i´m doing great as usual :)  Good to hear everything is ok back in the U.S.A.  I don´t think i´ll ever hate the cold.  It´s so good I love it.  Can´t wait to dance in the snow when I get back haha.  

 

As for finding people to teach.  It´s going good.  We should have at least two more baptisms before the end of the transfer.  Cristiane still hasn´t been baptised yet because of work but this week she is going to be.  She is really excited.  She has a difficlt time understanding why god lets people suffer.  The other baptism will be aurelio.  He is 25ish and he is geetting married to a member (less active)  they are so special.  I love them!  The best moment on my mission.... That is a difficult question.  I have a lot mom but probably when we have baptisms and I recieve spiritual confirmation that I KNOW isn´t my imagination.  My testimony of the Gospel has grown Mile stones.  I still have the same mission president.  He actually gave me a call yesterday.  It´s funny I can understand everything he says now.  Even with his funny portuguese accent.  I make him laugh.  I think he likes me.  I´m pretty obedient mom ha.  I don´t sleep in, I study, I go out and STAY out all day.  Yeah, don´t really have any thing to bad haha.  I´m not toooo trunky.  Like I love the mission it´s great.  But I don´t think i´ll ever be that kid that like LOVES the mission and never wants to come home.  I won´t lie, I miss you guys and I miss the things i´ve had.  But I will never, ever regret doing this.  It´s been and always will be a privelige to bring souls to the master. 

As for the week it was great. 

We walked around a bit more then usual.  Our numbers are going up which is good.  Hit a bit a wall recently but we are getting past it.  I feel as if we all hit walls in our lives, in EVERY aspect.  Work walls, family walls, hobby walls... Just everything ha.  The important part is to just keep going and keep your eyes on the prize:)  

Teaching is great.  Got a family that we are teaching.  Vagner, marta, and vernaciou.  They are great but vagner and marta have drug problems and vernaciou LOVES to leave with his friends and go drinking.  They have so much potential to be happy, they just need to put down the substances.  It´s more with vagner and marta.  They are brother and sister or cousins or something, but yeah it´s kinda sad how drugs and substances can stop ones progress so much.  I´m so thankful for the word of wisdom haha.  

Anyway good memory this week i´ve been thinking about was Beaus wedding.  How cool it was.  It´s weird to think that one day i´ll be having my marriage.  Hope it´s as cool as my brothers wedding haha.  

Love you mom, until next week

Elder Diamond!

Sept 10

As for the week.  It was good and bad at the same time.  These last two weeks have been like pulling teeth out to find people at home to teach.  I go crazy when we mark with people and it falls through.  We taught very little this week and I get frustraited when i´m working but not seeing results.  We had a baptism though!

Zilda was baptised this week :D.  She is totally awesome.  Very very prepared,  unfortunately Cristiane wasn´t baptised because she had work :/  ..   Oh well we are going to try tomorrow.  Went on a division with my buddy from my district back in the MTC this week.  That was pretty fun.  We talked about memories and how fast time is going by.  I feel like I was there yesterday learning.  It´s all just a blur for me haha.  Anyway that is about it for the week.  

 

I find the little experiences with the spirit through out the day help me keep going. 

With love,

Elder Diamond

Sept 3

As for the week, 

This week was pretty good.  My body is officially accustomed to the heat...  I don´t remember the last time i´ve actually felt cold haha.  Me and Elder Barreto are walking around, doing contacts, and teaching.  No baptisms this week unfortunately but we should have two this week.

1. The first is Cristiane.  She is 24 and is the sister of a member.  She is AWESOME!  Already is in the last part of second nephi.  She reads and actually does the things we ask her to do.  She is excited to be baptised.  She tells me that she thinks heavenly father has abandoned her family due to her mother being in bed 24/7 due to cancer.  It´s hard to answer questions as to why heavenly father would do that.  I answered it how my stake president answered it in church this sunday when he was bearing his testimony.  He said that "certainly heavenly father can take away our trials in a heartbeat.  He can do what ever he want, he is god.  But I know that he won´t, he won´t take away our trials because he loves us. He knows that the reason we are here is to learn and grow and I believe that each one of our trials is an oportunity to grow."   I really liked that and found a lot of peace knowing that although their are times when I don´t feel my best.  Or even when I´m at my all time low.  Heavenly Father still loves me and he is there.  I know without doubt he exists!
2.  Cool this comp went haywire and now it´s listing numbers >.>  oh well.  The second possible baptism is Zilda!  She is 18 and was a reference from a returned missionary!  She is also really progressing well.  She went to church this week and she really liked it.  I´m pretty sure she will be baptised this week.  She believes that the book of mormon is the word of god but she feels that 2 weeks is pretty short time of preparation to be baptised.  So if you guys can please pray for Zilda to make the right descision!  

Anway, that´s about it this week.  Had some great spiritual experiences and I feel like i´m growing.  I´m still the same old Rourke (wow haven´t said my name in a while haha).  Just my priorities have changed.  Love you all have a good week!

Elder Diamond

Aug 27

Good to hear all is well back in the united states of america!  I love my country.  Brasil as well but nothing can compare to the land of the free and home of the brave haha.  Tell the family I said hi and give everyone a big hug for me.  Yourself included.  I felt something this week that I haven´t felt before in the mission.  That i´m truly away from home haha.  It kinda hit me when I was talking with a member that i´ve been out for 10 months.  It doesn´t feel like that.  I feel like i´ve missed a lot but I really haven´t.  My growth and development has skyrocketed since i´ve been here.  My intelligence is growing each day.  Not just with spiritual things but temporal and physical.  Português is going great.  My companion is awesome.  We are really confortable with each other.  At times to comfortable.  Almost like a brother to brother relationship.  We are hitting each other and things like that ( all joking ) .  We realized it this week and we are trying to  be less mean to each other haha.  We love to play around.  But yeah....

 

The week was pretty good.  A little frustrating but good.  We didn´t teach a lot of lessons this week due to the fact that no one was ever home and our planning just didn´t work out to good.  We are also trying to filter our investigator list and find new investigators that have potential.  It´s quite a fun thing.  I love doing contacts and talking to people.  First couple of times you get a little nervous, but if you just open your mouth the words appear.  

No baptisms this week unfortunately.  We have  a really good investigator whose name is Cristiane though.  She is 24 and she is progressing wonderfully.  She went to church the other day and enjoyed it.  She is already in 2 nephi and has already recieved an answer about the Book of Mormon.  I´m excited for her baptism.  I love teaching people that actually do the things the lord asks of them.  Makes everything that much better haha.  

Zone conference is this week.  Excited for that.  We will be receiving training from president and the assistants.  It´s always good to better your teaching:)  .  

Unfortunately nothing to new came out of the works this week.  I´ll keep you all updated though.  

The gospel is awesome and it is perfect.  I´m so thankful for the support that I recieve and the people praying for me.  Christ lives and this is HIS church.  Until next week

With love,

Elder Diamond!

Aug 20

Was teaching a group of kids that were 18-21 years of age this week.  They were of some evangelical church and they just didn´t understand anything even about there church.  The knowledge of what is god they couldn´t answer.  They didn´t even know who they were worshipping.  One of the kids said she didn´t think any of the things of Joseph Smith were true and she heard that we are a "cult".  I could tell that she didn´t seem to be moved by anything.  We answered every single question they had without fail.  I asked one question and they couldn´t give me an answer.  As I walked out I became really sad.  It suprised me actually...  It hurts when people reject the invitation to pray and ask god with real intention.  When they would rather stay blinded than try and find light.  

The rest of the week was good though.  We have some new investigators that have LOTS of promise.  I´m so excited for next transfer.  I´m becoming more and more focused with each transfer that passes by.  My testimony has become something completely different than it used to be.  The gap of doubt and knowing is shrinking.  God is real.  His priesthood returned.  The blessings are available to all who want.  The only begotten gave a perfect attonement to the father.  Eternal life is within the reach of everyone.  

Have a good week family and friends

LOVE YOU :D

Elder Diamond

Aug 13

So the week

The week was good.  We hit our goal for lessons this week (woo!), Teaching and finding, teaching and finding.  I love teaching I decided.  It´s fun to hear peoples problems and beliefs and try to help them understand the true and living Christ.  It´s a blessing and honor as well.  To feel the spirit work through you.  It´s quite a sensation! 

 

I can finally say that I haven´t fallen asleep one time during personal study this transfer (hands in the air!) .  I think my body has gotten used to the routine!  I love personal study.  The revelation that you can recieve when you study the scribetures is endless!  I love it!  The mysteries of heaven are being unfolded each day to me.  I started to study the book of mormon this transfer and not just read it.  Helps out a lot and you learn lots of spiritual truth when you study and not just read.  Only in 1 nephi 17 though >.>  Kinda a slow process but its all good!

 

So Beatriz was confirmed this sunday.  And yesterday (sunday) was fathers day.  They celebrate it in august.   During the meeting the speakers were talking about how awesome fathers are and heavenly father.  Bea started to cry and left the meeting.  Come to find out her dad died saturday.  Me and Elder Barreto left the meeting to see what we could do.  It´s pretty dificult to find the words to say when someone lost a loved one.  It generally happens in the blink of an eye.  And you can´t really do anything about it.  She was crying a lot and was worried that her Dad was going to go to hell.  I thought what it would be like if we didn´t have the restored gospel.  What would I have said?  But thankfully we have the answers to these things.  We taught her a little about the plan of salvation and had her talk with the bishop.  Even with that it´s still difficult.  After church went to lunch.  We were walking home when we passed the funeral of Beatrizs dad.  Was pretty sad.  I saw lots of people mourning and saying why why why.  Not knowing an answer.  One more testimony builder that i´m so blessed to know where i´m from, why i´m here and where I´m going.  As an apostle of the savior said (forgot which)  We live to die and die to live. 

 

I testify that this life isn´t the end.  That Christ lives.  And because he lives, we will live.  I don´t have a doubt about this, and I know that everything, in the end, will be alright.  That God exists and he loves us.  Death will not have the last word. 

 

Have a good week, and count your blessings.

 

Elder Diamond

Aug 6

This week went by fast.  I´m working lots as usual.  Trying to work out heh.  But yeah the week was really good.  Thanks for the letter (as always)  I liked reading about your thoughts about the plan of salvation.  Good to hear.  We are so blessed to have the restored gospel in our lives.  As our prophet said last conference "it answers all of lifes biggest questions!" 

 

As for the question about if I drink any soda. . . . . Unfortunately yes haha.  We have lunch in a members house everyday and we generally get coke.  I freaking love coke.  It´s so delicous.  But yeah they only have like 4 types of sodas in brazil.  First they have sprite, fanta orange, fanta grape, guaraná antartica, and coke.  Not to much.  But they have a lot of good fruits that you wont find the the americas.  Me and my comp drank some açaí today.  It´s seriously the best fruit drink i´ve had in my life.... You would love it.  Did you know they don´t have lemons here?  Kinda strange huh?  They just have limes and lemon is the same word as lime . . . .Limão.  Lemonaid is really great!

 

 

So about the week.  The week went by WAY fast.  I think the fastest week in my mission.  I can´t believe the transfer is coming to a close.  We taught and walked a lot this week.  Found some good people that have potential to be baptised...  Then comes sunday.  6 houses we passed and each one gave a sorry or they weren´t there haha.  Oh well always have next week.  BUT the good news is that Beatriz was baptised!! :D  Was a great reunion and I can tell she is going to be great in the church.  Well all people are great in the church.  I love fast and testimony meeting now. (used to hate it)  But now I take the opportunity to reflect on the month and how my relationship with god is.  I think it´s pretty good at the moment.  It´s kinda funny how much i´m constantly talking with him.  I pray ALOT during the day.  Makes me think if I am praying this much how much do you think the savior prayed each day?  Must have constantly been communicating with his father.

 

Thanks for the support family and friends I love you all! 

 

Elder Diamond

July 31

We didn´t find to many new investigators but we set up a ton of stuff for this week.  I´m very excited to see what will happen.  Beatriz STILL hasn´t been baptised.  I know that she will be baptised though this week!  The mission is going a long pretty good.  Working a lot, and teaching a lot.  It´s really fun to teach. 

 

Oh yeah the bishop of expedcionarios was released this week and another was called.  He was bishop for 5 years.  A lot of members were very emotional during sacrament meeting,  I almost got emotional seeing him bear his testimony of how amazing it was being bishop.  Thought a lot about my bishop.  Bishop Feller.  How blessed are we to have him!  Helped me through so much, and I thought about how much time he has.. . . He is coming up on his 5 year mark.  Hope he doesn´t get released before I get home.  It´s sad to see people released but it has to happen.  Ohhh well!

 

Further developments next week.  Stay tuned ;)

 

 

Elder Diamond!

July 23

This week we had the baptism of Brigida (13) and Tiago (17) .  WOnderful people.  Brigida is the sister of Hercules and Tiago is the brother of Felipe.  Tiago wants to serve a mission and that makes me really happy.  Brigida is enjoying going to church and everything seems to be alright :)

 

The baptism went pretty good except we forgot to set up the chairs..  I totally spaced it and when brigidas family came it was a mess in the baptismal room.  Oops.. >.> 

 

Me and my comp are running around teaching, finding, and baptising.  I feel like i´m getting adapted to the mission now.  The routine is becoming more and more normal as each week passes.  My body is extremely tired always but it´s really satisfying to keep going and keep teaching.  I love teaching.  It´s a really really neat experience.  At times you litilarly feel a surge of the holy ghost when you are explaining a principle or doctrine and it gives the words a lot more power.  My knowledge is increasing,  I´m feeling good.  Life is good haha. 

 

 

Elder Diamond

July 16

As for the week.  Was good, stressful.  Walking around a lot, trying to find people to teach, but I found that the lord is always watching and helping.  Everything is going great and we worked really really hard this week.  Had two baptisms and have 4 possibles this week.  We are gonna do a fast this week to see what number of baptisms we should work for this transfer.  I have a feeling it´s gonna be a really sucessful transfer! 

 

Baptised Jõao Paulo and Mikayele this week.  Was really good.  These kids are so great and have wonderful spirits about them.  They were jumping for joy before and during the baptismal service.  I´ve never seen someone so excited to be baptised!  They were arguing about who would go first and when the time finally came, they were both so nervous neither of them didn´t want to go first.  Ha,  Jõao Paulo went first and when he came out of the water he was so happy!  Great great kids!

 

This next week should be good stay tuned!  Much love to all family, friends.  Please give abby a hug for me, I miss her.
Good luck have a wonderful week

Elder Diamond!

JULY

So the week was extremely good.  Me and Elder Dos Santos prepared the baptisms and let me tell you... It was show ( really good ).  The baptism started out kinda normal,  Raquel (14)  and Felipe (13) were being baptised.  The Mother of Raquel is a member and she went to Church for the first time last week.  I think she hadn´t returned for almost 8 or 9 years??  The Church was always so far away.  But they went last week and when they were walking into the church ( me and elder d.s. were walking in to)   I knew that raquel was gonna be a baptism.  Grabbed her information and we visited her house.  The mom, Persiliana, has always been a member, just never was in distance of church.  The Church oppened about a month ago and is close to her house.  She finally did a visit.  Which turned into her daughter being baptised.  Anyway, the baptismal meeting was great, after the baptism the liders of the young men and women said some words, and Persiliana was crying the whole time and suprisingly some others.  Then a member went up and did a vocal solo.  About half way through it Elder Dos santos walked up and started singing with him.  Pretty soon 20 + people were singing the song and the spirit couldn´t be held back.  Everyone was just crying.  Just felt so much love.  Agh was so awesome.  Anyway, that was basically my week so i´m really excited for what this transfer is going to bring! 

 

 

He lives mom!

Elder Diamond!

say what?

Querido mãe

 

Como você está?  Eu espero que tudo está bem.  Eu tenho muito saudade de você!  Sabia?  Mas tudo está bem comigo.  Estou muito com sono, mas isso é normal.  Eu te amo! 

 

Whoops sorry was typin português haha. 

 

I love portugues it´s a lot of fun speaking.  A really beautiful language. 

 

As for the week it was really good.  We are just teaching a lot.  Me and Elder Dos Santos are having a really good time teaching.  I like him a lot, cool kid.  He just got a call though and he is going to be a zone leader :/   so i´m getting a new companion next monday.  We will see what happens.  It was a fun 6 weeks with him though, that´s for sure. 

 

We tryed to find quality new investigators this week.  It´s pretty difficult at times to find the elect, but when you find a family that is elect.  Well it just makes your mission haha.  I´ve come to the conclusion that I am really happy that I was raised in the right church.   I hear a lot of peoples ideas about god and religion and it just blows my mind how people can think like that.  Like at times it doesn´t even make one bit of sense what people are talking about.  But it´s chill, i´m teachin them hah. 

 

Still workin hard, still loving the mission, still tired, still happy.

  

 

 

He lives!

Elder Diamond

June 25

As for me mom, i´m doing great.  Teaching was the same old same old.  We prepared hercules for baptism.  He was baptised yesterday.  15 year old with a lot of energy.  Great kid though.  His name fits him as well.  I´ll send photos next week.  (forgot my memory card). 

Ahhh gotta tell you what happened this week.  Fortaleza just got wrecked with water, I think it was thursday?  But yeah like it litilarly didn´t stop raining all day.  It was the most I have ever seen it rain in my life.  We were walking in water almost up to my knees!  The work of the lord NEVER stops haha!  It was a fun day though.  We got home and we were soaked!  Not even my umbrella could keep the rain out. 

Fun times, as for my areas, they are good, still trying to figure out what I can do to help Gomes de Matos grow.  I´m sure we will find it.  My comp is good, he is a nice kid.  Hope all is well at home.  Tired like always but i´m having a good time.

Much love mom until next week

Elder Diamond

Pictures June