February 29, 2012

Some pictures shared by Leticia's (new members) family:

Elder Wendel's 20th birthday

February 27, 2012

 Elder Fagundes and I!  Division!

 Leticia and her mom, at her baptism!  Yay!

Our Church!

Another Week flies by. So we started off this week learning how to cook with a member and her family. I'm pretty sure she is the only member in the family, but that was a good P-Day. We got to learn how to make some Brazilian foods. So really, Carnaval did not effect us at all out here in the "boonies." But this week has gone well, I went on a division with our zone leader in Jardim São Paulo, and that went great. Elder Fagundes is awesome. The Lord truly blessed us this week, as we found an elect. His name is Calisto, and he is awesome. He is a referral from a member in a different area, but he is looking for the truth, and is totally into exploring the Church. He went to the Baptism of Leticia, and also went to Church on Sunday. And as was mentioned, yes Leticia was baptised, and it was really great. Lots of people showed up, a little late, ha, but it was good. We are super happy for her, and hope that she influences the rest of her family. We are going to visit them tonight. Also, the day of the baptism was also special for another reason. It was Elder Wendel's Birthday! Yay! Oh, that reminds me, I'm sorry to say it, but I keep forgetting to tell you guys ...  I started speaking English again ...  It all started after Christmas, and got worse and worse. I have got to redefine my goal, as not speaking in your native tongue is very difficult. I still try and speak Portuguese when I can, and always pray in Portuguese (I actually have lots of difficulties praying in English now, ha).  I know that sometimes we can set goals and we wont always be able to complete them, but we all can do our best, and see what it is that we can do better, and what goals are truly best for us. We should always try and ask for the Lords counsel in our goals. A failed goal isn't a "Failure," its a way to improve. Do your best, and always make realistic goals that stretch yourself. I know that all things are truly possible with the Lord. We should always try to do things that Improve our character. An important thing that we need to remember is the basics. The basics are what truly builds up the Kingdom of God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple.  We all need to do all of the steps, and most important, the last step. "Perserverar até o fim." Or endure to the end. This is the one thing we all need to be accounted for. A good scripture is 2 Nephi 31:19-20.  I love you guys, and have a great week.

PS: They do indeed celebrate Easter here. I guess its pretty big too. Its called Pascoa.  But it means Pass Over. They do have huge chocolate eggs and thats the huge celebration here is with chocolate eggs. They have the Easter bunny too. I was in the CTM last year, so I couldn't see what it really was like, but I hear that its good.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

February 24, 2012

Some additional pictures taken by a member in Salto De Pirapora:

February 20, 2012

 My District!

 My Parrot!

Could it be?  I dunno ... is it dad, you would know? Ha.

Another week is already past? Craziness. Ha. As for the government of Brazil, I'm pretty sure it's one president with state governors too. All Brazilians are required to vote here, and that will be happening sometime late this year. We'll see how that goes, I just know that all of the Brazilian missionaries still need to go and vote at a place. And yes Dad, I saw the big huge sign in Pilar do Sul when I went there, its pretty cool. So, we have a baptism marked for this Saturday with Leticia, and we are all really excited. It will be good to have a baptism in this area since its been a while. She is really excited, and I think it'll be a big help to her family. Keti is doing well, and we just need to talk to her about completing the Law of Chastity, and that's all that is left, since she has changed her life a lot already. Viviane, the wife of Atiade, came to church on Sunday, though this Sunday was crazy. All of the youth and leaders went to a camp, so there were about 30 people there total, including our investigators. But anyways, Viviane liked it, and we'll have to talk more with her, and teach the whole family. They are really cool, and great people. Their kids are all 5 years apart, Agatha 13, Matheus 8, and Nathalia 3. This week, we have a lot of compromissios fall, but its still been going good. Its Carnival here, though we can hardly tell. It didn't really change much. The official Holiday isn't until tomorrow, so we'll see, but Carnival isn't really big out here at all. Most the people here left town, but otherwise, its a normal week. As for listening to the Spirit and recognizing the Spirit  --  I would recommend "Preach My Gospel," chapter 4. Ha. But truly I think its really important, that if you feel you should do something, and if its something good, then do it. Truly every good thing is from God. There are many scriptures on the Spirit, and though the Spirit is manifest different for all people, we all should strive to do what we can, and do what we feel if it is right. Sorry, I am running out of time, but also, look us Moroni 10:6. Truly all good things testify of Christ, and all good things are of Christ. I love you all and Hope you have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

February 13, 2012

Elder Sena and I on our division 

 Me with my new blue umbrella. Yay!

Rubics cube!  I even got the middle color different!  Ha.

Another week is passed in this extremely fast life of a missionary. I'm sorry to hear about the sad news, of the deaths in Sammamish. It's always sad when it happens, but also we need to remember that God has a plan for all of us, and loves us all. So this week was basically an average week in the life of a missionary. We didn't do too much exciting. But as for what happened last week, we had a battle with cockroaches and it was pretty sweet. The full story would take a while so I'll wait to tell you. It was epic. Anyways, I am indeed sleeping fine, and it's not too bad in the heat. The Lord blesses us so we wont die. Ha. So we weren't able to meet with Leticia this week, but she came again and went to the Relief Society activity. That's pretty cool, we will go there this week. As for Keti, we are meeting with her tonight, and we are trying to help her with preparation for baptism, though we still don't have a date yet. And another family is Ataide, Viviane his wife, and their kids, Agatha, Matheus, and Nathalia. They are really cool. We also will visit them more this week. This past week, we did have a leadership training which went really well. Presidente and our leaders always amaze me with amazing treinamentos. I always love them. Also, we had a division where I went to Pilar Do Sul with Elder Sena. That went well. I did my first baptismal interview and it went well. Today, I would like to talk of a scripture that is is the last words of a prophet that he wrote for all of us in this day. It's in Moroni 10:32. It's a plead to come unto Christ. Christ truly was the only perfect person, and we are commanded to be like Him. Yes, we are all failures, but we all can be made perfect through Christ and the Atonement. He suffered for us, and we therefore can be perfected in Christ. This is our goal. We all fall, but we all have the chance to get back up again. We may not be perfectly perfect, but if we truly do our part, and trust in God, we can become perfect through Christ and His Atonement. I love you all and wish you the best. Have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

February 6, 2012

Another week flies by. As for the treinamentos that I give, there is a list of some things to teach, but really we should focus on what our district needs when it needs something specific. Some things are really general in the list to teach that will really help in all situations basically. So, this week, well, it was 90 degrees in a dark room with fans on, and so it probably got over a 100 outside in the sun that was blaring down. Whoo boy, that's hot!  I'm still alive though. Man, I feel bad for those Elders in hotter places.  I'm sure we all miss the good ol' snow back home. Ha. (Pryson doesn't yet know the privilege he has to sled. Ha.)   This week still went well though, ha. Not too much exciting happened this week ... well sorta. I'll tell you when I get home Mom ....  Ha.  We had a mini conference, and President talked about following the missionary handbook, and following the rules. Also, we had to stop visiting a family that wasn't progressing, and one of them was the only one that showed up in church on Sunday, so were going back to visit them!  Her name is Leticia. She and her Mom have been investigating the church for quite some time, and we just need to give a good push. They are awesome people. As for Ataide and his family, they still haven't been to church, but we're still trying to get them to come. Keti is doing awesome with not smoking, and she is doing great with accepting what we teach. We will see how all works out. One thing that truly you can recognize by living the gospel, and especially by being a missionary, is what brings true happiness. Obeying Gods commandments is not a limit or a restriction, but a freedom. The scripture for this week will be Mosiah 2:41. It talks about the true and happy state of obedience. When we are obedient, I know we are blessed spiritually, and also physically. The Lord loves each and everyone of us, and that is why he gave us commandments. We all have the opportunity and privilege to live forever in the presence of our Heavenly Father, and with our Families, for eternity. How great that is, happiness without end. And all this through obedience to God. I love you all, and hope you all have a wonderful and amazing week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman