October 17, 2011 (no pictures, sorry)

Another week flies by in the course of my days. Yes indeed, an R is pronounced as a "H," when he word starts with R, or when there are two R's in sequence in Potuguês. They have a Children's Day here in Brazil that just passed, and several random holidays, but the next big holiday is Christmas really. The Halloween here really isn't halloween and they don't really celebrate it. As for ward activities here, they have some good activities here, or so I hear. We have a talent show this saturday which should be cool. And here, we have Almoço with members everyday except Monday, our P-Day. That's nice for us, but it stinks when they fall through. Ha. Good news, Correios is out of strike! Yay. So as for David, he wasn't at church on Sunday because of some things that happened and it was pouring and he didn't have an umbrella. His Grandma laid down the law, and said he has got to be following this path, or not follow it. But if he wants the other type of life, he cant live with her anymore, and will go back to his family. David says that he really does want to be baptised and follow this path, and he really likes church and wants to get a suit and all. We also are working with a man who stopped us on the street when he was drunk, and we then came back and taught him. He wasn't able to make it to church, but he really likes the lessons, and wants to go to church when he can. His name is Anderson. This week really has been pouring and raining a lot. Its crazy. Ha. I also found out that I have Mini-snakes. There were several young girls that wanted me to play a game with them, and when I tried to leave they didn't want me to go, and tried to stop me. It was quite funny. I am so thankful for my opportunity to be out here on a mission. As I was reading the scriptures, I came across a scripture in 2 Nephi 2:7-8. It talks about how we are only saved through Christ. Because Christ suffered for us, I know that each of us has the opportunity to be saved if we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit with a willingness to repent. Truly this knowledge that we have is so incredibly important. I love the second verse of these two. Since we have this knowledge, we need to share it. Truly we have Brothers and Sisters out there suffering, and many don't even know they are suffering. All can be healed through Jesus Christ and the Atonement. I know this without a doubt. The Lord gave us a way, and its our choice whether we follow it and have eternal happiness, or if we chose another path, which leads to nothing more than sadness, no matter how good another path looks. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He loves us all so much, and we truly never will comprehend the suffering He went through for us. Believe in Christ, know that He is there through diligent prayer, and let others know of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. I love you all, and wish you all an amazing week. 

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman 

October 10, 2011

1. Family Night with David and his Family.

2. We are supercool. Ha. (my Companion and I)

3. Jesus Cristo,

Wow, another week passes. Opa! That's crazy news from back home, with Kat and Reese, and with Nelson. And I remember Brother Spencer, he always rode with the Salmons. The Rapaz that we are working with for Baptism, is for the 29th, the Saturday, and his name is
 David. He is awesome, he went to Church, and didn't want to separate from us to go with the other youth, but then at the end of church, he said, "whats next" and seemed to really like it. That was awesome. His cousin, Gabriel, didn't come to church, and we are going to talk to him tonight about everything. They do have waffle irons here actually, but they are different. More for grilled cheese, but it would work somewhat I think, we made pancakes that way once. Now for more about David. He lives with his Grandma, and his Grandma loves the church and is all for him going, and we talked to his mom, and she wants him to go to, she thinks it will make him much better. We are hoping that the example of David will affect all his family, as he also has younger siblings and cousins. I think that the culture is more relaxed here, depending on the church of the head of the home. Sometimes it could be difficult. And more and more Missionaries are joining the Ranks, that's super exciting. Wish them the best for me. And the chess set sounds pretty awesome. So I heard some very sad news, Steve Jobs has died. Even the people here in Brazil are talking about it. Before I continue more, I need to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER! So this week has been another week of missionary life. I am called "Super Capitão Paxman" here, and lots of people say I look like a Super Hero. Ha. And several people are impressed with my voice. Several kids at a place we go and visit always ask me what time it is all the time, just so that I can say it in "my voice." So this week, I was looking for a scripture, and I came across Mosiah 17:20. Its when Abinidi dies because he will not break the commandments. Truly the Lord gave us the commandments for our good, and he loves each and everyone of us. We all should strive to be more like Abinidi in keeping the commandments. We aren't asked to die, but we should at least stand up for what is right when something comes our way. Don't just "hide and sneak  out" of a situation, but always be willing to take a stand for what is right. We never stand alone, when you stand with God, you stand among many, whether seen or not. I love you all, and wish you a great week. 

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

October 3, 2011

About the pictures.....
1. Sunburn. Ha.

2. Lego Creations

3. Elder Lopez and I on Division

4. Package! Sweetness! Yay! Chic Demais!

Talk about a great week. It was amazing. Mostly because of General Conference and our Mission Conference with all 5 zones in Sorocaba. It was Òtimo!  As for the strike, its still going, so things still might take a while sadly. I received your Package Mom and Dad, thanks so much, it was awesome. I also got some letters too. So keep sending them to the mission address. I really do like the spae and feel of Sorocaba. I'm not a huge fan of big cities really. The ward seems great here so far, Im enjoying it, they are nice. As for sunscreen, I opened it just the other day, and because I know how bad it hurts to get burned (due to Mt St Helen's), I started using it. Ha. We are covering the Julio De Mesquita Ward and its a group of some bairros (neighborhoods) and it has just me and my companion. There are rare chances you cover more than one ward, but its rare I think, and rare to have more than just one companionship too. And I don't really know the areas you mentioned, and my companion doesn't either. Ha. About bikes, I hear that they aren't allowed in any Brazil Mission, I don't know, but not our mission for sure. Thats super awesome about Brady, say hi to him from me. So the mission conference was amazing training. Then General Conference, which was absolutely amazing. I loved it. There were so many great Talks. I especially liked Elder Hollands talk in Priesthood session. It was so powerful. I'm so grateful to be out serving a mission. There was so much good information in General Conference, and sadly it ended so fast, though this conference seemed to be here super fast. Crazy time thing again. Ha. Besides General conference being awesome, my companion and I are teaching a young man about the gospel, and he really likes all we have to say. He said he wants to walk around like us in a white shirt and tie, and so I challenged him to Baptism, and he accepted, and we are working on a goal for the 28th of October. He is really cool, and his cousin was less active, and we are working with him to start getting active again. Also, I went on a division with Elder Lopez that has the same time in the mission as me. He is from Argentina, and is really animated and crazy. That was fun, we were able to teach some lessons, and we "clapped" a bunch of houses which was cool. Sometimes people think its inconvenient to share the gospel, but really, what we have is worth so much more than any inconvenience. We hold the key to Salvation. We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the same church that Christ established when he was on the earth. The scripture that I want to choose this week is Alma 18: 12 ( I think, someone please check this before you put it out) where Ammon is so willing to help and do anything the King desires as long as it is righteous. We all should strive to have this love for other people. It is so important. Christ loves us so much, and we should strive to share that love, because love truly doesn't divide, it only multiplies. And once we share our love, we help each other to grow in friendship and in spirit. We may be just "men," but we are all Children of God, and all of us have the Light of Christ. I love you all and wish you the best.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman