January 22, 2009
Let's see, update of the week: just got back from the hospital where they’ve been helping me with this whole nail in the toe deal, the doctor there did a little surgery a couple days back and I’m currently just going into get the bandage switched up cleaned etc. It appears to be healing well, and quite quickly to boot. I’ll be heading back to work finally tonight after p day.
Pray for Creuza,we baptized her son a little while back and she’s really struggling to stop smoking. One of her sons was murdered a while back and this vice of smoking has-been tied maliciously into her depression/sadness I think. Also pray for Marcia: her husband and her family of three kids, Vanessa Valmar, and Venisius. Her three kids were just baptized this past Sunday and they’ve been really pretty excited about the church, but as I am ever learning and seeing more, Satan is always working to desanimar and drive away. Marcia and her husband are working towards getting legally married at the moment which is a bit strenuous here, but they´re willing to make the effort. Jailton and his wife could also use your prayers. He went to church last Sunday and has been reading the Book of Mormon, but again, Satan is always working, it’s kinda nuts how quickly he moves in.
Just got back from Zone conference where Pres. Silva gave a talk on faith and the way it works and grows in our lives. How it’s really a trade with the Lord for greater testimony, works of faith for testimonies of the spirit, and just how and what it means to trust and have faith that the Lord knows all and has all power to do His will here on earth. Kinda puts a diff. perspective on everyday work here in the field, to trust and know through faith, the Lord has and is preparing his elect out there, and that we are here to gather them in. We just have to put forth the effort to find them, and to be guided by the spirit.
I know this is the Lord's work, that this is His church in the latter days, because He called Joseph Smith to be a prophet, and that through him God has restored the Authority to act and perform ordinances here on the Earth in His name, that we have a living prophet today guided by God to help warn and guide us away from the perils and temptations of the world we live in. I know that Christ lives, that he Suffered for every single one for us out of a love I can’t comprehend. I am grateful for Him, for a loving Heavenly Father who sent Him, and for the knowledge I have been given of this. In the name of Jesus Christ, amém.
Jacob
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
January 14, 2009
Sweet deal on the talk, I gave one too. A bit before the meeting started Brother C. came up and asked me to speak. I spoke on the restoration and our responsibility to share what we know with the world, in an attempt to get the members to get some references going or invite friends to come to church.
The past couple days I haven’t had a whole lot going on in the front end of missionary work . I've been confined to quarters, more or less trying to heal up an ingrown toenail, may need surgery. I’ll get back to you on that one. I had chance to do a little extra studying, launder the baptismal clothing and cook a bit extravagantly, (take today for example, think Uno's pizza, but ten times better without the nasty chunks of tomato, less grease and homegrown to boot. Twas exciting.) The pizza here in Brazil is a bit diff. then what we have in the states, and Elder J. made up a little spice magic to bring the whole thing together. All enjoyed the tuck immensely. Twas a lot of fun working with the yeast, watching my little baby dough grow...
Something I’ve been trying to get a better feel for here on the mission is how to effectively study, and I think it’s been improving. I want to get to the point where I can have stellar study every morning; where the world disappears and I'm just absorbed in the words of the scrips. I think that’s what is meant by feasting on the words of Christ, being able to study like that everyday . But what might obstruct that from happening? Outward distractions, music (practically always blasting in the plaza near our house ) mosquitoes, whatever, or an inward preparation. I don’t remember the scripture at the moment, but the principle /idea that we need to live up to the light we have now before we can expect more to come, and what a blessing it is that it only comes line upon line, precept upon precept. If it all came at once, overload, where to start? held responsible for it all , it would just be too much. And how do we live according to our light? Utilize our agency, till we've proven our faith in that area. Christ, through the spirit, changes our heart, and we can move on to the next level, a bit higher, and thus a bit more is seen that before was beyond the horizon ... make sense ?
Jacob
Sweet deal on the talk, I gave one too. A bit before the meeting started Brother C. came up and asked me to speak. I spoke on the restoration and our responsibility to share what we know with the world, in an attempt to get the members to get some references going or invite friends to come to church.
The past couple days I haven’t had a whole lot going on in the front end of missionary work . I've been confined to quarters, more or less trying to heal up an ingrown toenail, may need surgery. I’ll get back to you on that one. I had chance to do a little extra studying, launder the baptismal clothing and cook a bit extravagantly, (take today for example, think Uno's pizza, but ten times better without the nasty chunks of tomato, less grease and homegrown to boot. Twas exciting.) The pizza here in Brazil is a bit diff. then what we have in the states, and Elder J. made up a little spice magic to bring the whole thing together. All enjoyed the tuck immensely. Twas a lot of fun working with the yeast, watching my little baby dough grow...
Something I’ve been trying to get a better feel for here on the mission is how to effectively study, and I think it’s been improving. I want to get to the point where I can have stellar study every morning; where the world disappears and I'm just absorbed in the words of the scrips. I think that’s what is meant by feasting on the words of Christ, being able to study like that everyday . But what might obstruct that from happening? Outward distractions, music (practically always blasting in the plaza near our house ) mosquitoes, whatever, or an inward preparation. I don’t remember the scripture at the moment, but the principle /idea that we need to live up to the light we have now before we can expect more to come, and what a blessing it is that it only comes line upon line, precept upon precept. If it all came at once, overload, where to start? held responsible for it all , it would just be too much. And how do we live according to our light? Utilize our agency, till we've proven our faith in that area. Christ, through the spirit, changes our heart, and we can move on to the next level, a bit higher, and thus a bit more is seen that before was beyond the horizon ... make sense ?
Jacob
Sunday, January 11, 2009
January 7, 2009
(answers to questions)
The meeting was only with the missionary ward leader and the ward missionaries, as of yet we have never met with the bishop, but I plan and hope we will be changing that soon. He has been out of town for a couple weeks but will be returning before this Sunday (I think. The ward missionary leader has chosen to focus on retaining the new converts that are still active and those we are baptizing each week rather than reactivation. We have our second meeting tonight, as of yet I haven't seen a whole lot happening, but as its been only a week and we'll be giving our first report to them tonight. It's not that surprising. We'll also be doing a couple training sessions with them to help them prepare to teach the lessons to those recently baptized. As for the home and visiting teaching, not sure how those are working out at this point, plan to talk to the relief society pres. tonight at the meeting and also hope to see that begin with the male end of things, though at this point we are lacking an elders quorum president/quorum, and as this is under the responsibility of the bishop, we'll have to talk to him but I trust the Lord will prompt him how to figure that out as we don't have to keys to revelation on that end.
Thankfully I have been blessed to have been prepared relatively well on the topics of the missionary lessons and have been able to dig a little more into the Atonement of Christ, and also His attributes. More recently I've been studying humility, chapter 1 in Preach My Gospel and am working on a plan to have consistent well rounded growth in knowledge. I have been somewhat categorizing it into a couple diff. categories:
Things I need, to know to be a better missionary (teaching techs doctrine etc.) Things I need, to have greater testimony and be a greater tool in the hands of God, Atonement, Christlike Attributes, praying and listening to and recognizing the Spirit etc. and also just a greater grasp and familiarity with the scriptures, knowing of various stories that could be used in teaching, scriptures to memorize etc.
Recently I've begun reading the Book of Mormon marking examples of different Christlike attributes in specific colors, and also taking note of Christ's names, and the prophecies of Him. It's been interesting to note just how many there are, but I thought today to look into when certain names are used and perhaps the significance behind why they were used in certain points of time. I've gained a greater appreciation for the Plan of Salvation in my life as well, and in teaching it especially. In fact, in the teaching of all these aspects of the gospel points I hadn't thought about before have been brought to my attention, and just in speaking of them many times a day helps to learn more about them as well, and develop more questions as well to direct study to learn more about them.
Well, the work continues on here in Itapetinga. I'll be staying here this transfer. It's been a little interesting teaching recently as we've been out of materials, (haven't had any Books of Mormon) for maybe two or three weeks, pamphlets for Restoration or Gospel of Christ as well) but we've invited people to pray, and as promised by the prophets of old and in our days, the Spirit will and has testified. That's something I've come to think a bit about recently, having the Spirit with us in the lessons and living so that we can be guided by it throughout the day. Something I used to do, and have been doing at times here on the mission was worrying so much about checking the state of my worthiness, that I divided against myself. I kept myself from doing the things I could and was supposed to be doing because I was so often looking inwards. The way we come to have have the spirit with us as our constant companion is by righteous living, actions, doing our best each day to do as the Lord has clearly commanded us, and trusting that as we do our best, the Lord will "go before us".
Jacob
(answers to questions)
The meeting was only with the missionary ward leader and the ward missionaries, as of yet we have never met with the bishop, but I plan and hope we will be changing that soon. He has been out of town for a couple weeks but will be returning before this Sunday (I think. The ward missionary leader has chosen to focus on retaining the new converts that are still active and those we are baptizing each week rather than reactivation. We have our second meeting tonight, as of yet I haven't seen a whole lot happening, but as its been only a week and we'll be giving our first report to them tonight. It's not that surprising. We'll also be doing a couple training sessions with them to help them prepare to teach the lessons to those recently baptized. As for the home and visiting teaching, not sure how those are working out at this point, plan to talk to the relief society pres. tonight at the meeting and also hope to see that begin with the male end of things, though at this point we are lacking an elders quorum president/quorum, and as this is under the responsibility of the bishop, we'll have to talk to him but I trust the Lord will prompt him how to figure that out as we don't have to keys to revelation on that end.
Thankfully I have been blessed to have been prepared relatively well on the topics of the missionary lessons and have been able to dig a little more into the Atonement of Christ, and also His attributes. More recently I've been studying humility, chapter 1 in Preach My Gospel and am working on a plan to have consistent well rounded growth in knowledge. I have been somewhat categorizing it into a couple diff. categories:
Things I need, to know to be a better missionary (teaching techs doctrine etc.) Things I need, to have greater testimony and be a greater tool in the hands of God, Atonement, Christlike Attributes, praying and listening to and recognizing the Spirit etc. and also just a greater grasp and familiarity with the scriptures, knowing of various stories that could be used in teaching, scriptures to memorize etc.
Recently I've begun reading the Book of Mormon marking examples of different Christlike attributes in specific colors, and also taking note of Christ's names, and the prophecies of Him. It's been interesting to note just how many there are, but I thought today to look into when certain names are used and perhaps the significance behind why they were used in certain points of time. I've gained a greater appreciation for the Plan of Salvation in my life as well, and in teaching it especially. In fact, in the teaching of all these aspects of the gospel points I hadn't thought about before have been brought to my attention, and just in speaking of them many times a day helps to learn more about them as well, and develop more questions as well to direct study to learn more about them.
Well, the work continues on here in Itapetinga. I'll be staying here this transfer. It's been a little interesting teaching recently as we've been out of materials, (haven't had any Books of Mormon) for maybe two or three weeks, pamphlets for Restoration or Gospel of Christ as well) but we've invited people to pray, and as promised by the prophets of old and in our days, the Spirit will and has testified. That's something I've come to think a bit about recently, having the Spirit with us in the lessons and living so that we can be guided by it throughout the day. Something I used to do, and have been doing at times here on the mission was worrying so much about checking the state of my worthiness, that I divided against myself. I kept myself from doing the things I could and was supposed to be doing because I was so often looking inwards. The way we come to have have the spirit with us as our constant companion is by righteous living, actions, doing our best each day to do as the Lord has clearly commanded us, and trusting that as we do our best, the Lord will "go before us".
Jacob
December 31, 2008
The work here is going well, we've recently had our first meeting with the up and coming ward missionary group in the ward here. If things go according to plan there will be a big jump in the retention rate. Home teaching is a mystery, though I hope to talk to the bishop when he gets back about it. Had two baptisms this morning for two great guys here. Leandrew 13 and Alisandro 16. They've both had a rough time with life and Leandrew has a lot happening in his family right now. It looks like his parents are going to be separating, his siblings and mom are interested in the gospel as well though and I hope we'll be able to help them out here . Alisandro has had a rough time as well, he's had several family members murdered and when we met him he had many questions about life, and what happens after. His mom seems interested as well and hope to make some progress there as well. We also have another family who as of yet aren't married, but it seems they are willing, or rather I should say the mother is more then willing (she's been a great ally in the home,for example with the word of wisdom, she decided not to make coffee (a big thing here) and as such pretty much eliminate the drinking of it as I got the feeling she was generally the one who made it) and Marcus her husband is more a bit hesitant as yet, but I'm not sure why as they've been living together for many years now and have two kids around 10 years old . This Sunday they will be coming to church and their two kids will be baptized .
Happy new year,
Jacob
The work here is going well, we've recently had our first meeting with the up and coming ward missionary group in the ward here. If things go according to plan there will be a big jump in the retention rate. Home teaching is a mystery, though I hope to talk to the bishop when he gets back about it. Had two baptisms this morning for two great guys here. Leandrew 13 and Alisandro 16. They've both had a rough time with life and Leandrew has a lot happening in his family right now. It looks like his parents are going to be separating, his siblings and mom are interested in the gospel as well though and I hope we'll be able to help them out here . Alisandro has had a rough time as well, he's had several family members murdered and when we met him he had many questions about life, and what happens after. His mom seems interested as well and hope to make some progress there as well. We also have another family who as of yet aren't married, but it seems they are willing, or rather I should say the mother is more then willing (she's been a great ally in the home,for example with the word of wisdom, she decided not to make coffee (a big thing here) and as such pretty much eliminate the drinking of it as I got the feeling she was generally the one who made it) and Marcus her husband is more a bit hesitant as yet, but I'm not sure why as they've been living together for many years now and have two kids around 10 years old . This Sunday they will be coming to church and their two kids will be baptized .
Happy new year,
Jacob
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