A New City

February 4, 2019

Hey Mom, how's everything?! All good here in Ponte Nova. It´s a little town, but full of big hopes for the salvation of God's people. My companion's name is elder Anderson. He is from Eagle Town, Utah, and he's only been on the mission 6 months, yet he speaks the language really well already. This Sunday we brought a family to church and it was a miracle to our eyes. Anderson said that for the past year they´ve tried to bring her to the church, but the mom of the family has been really lazy getting up in the morning. However, last Saturday we passed by their house and I left message about the importance of going to church. I bore my testimony and exclaimed that if my mom is able to bring 9 kids to church in the morning, she can bring her family! Lol, she smiled and laughed and said that she will go, then she did and she brought three of her kids with her. I always remind myself that I wasn´t a very excited member before the mission, but 've changed and now I want to help the building of God´s kingdom here on the earth. I´m always excited to hit the pavement and start working! Ponte Nova is a perfect little town with lots of hills to climb and people to meet. Love you, mom. Say hi to the kids for me. See you this Mothers Day facetime! TCHAU!!

Good-bye, Juiz de Fora

January 7, 2019

Hey everyone! Well, today is our last day in Juiz de Fora. It was a blast, but the lord needs us in a different city. We are going to zone Leopaldina, to the city of Categuesse. I'm looking forward to it. It's gonna be awesome. We have done a lot of good here in Juiz de Fora, and we just finished packing up everything. I wanted to send some photos to you guys. This last Saturday we had a service project for a member. We built a concrete driveway for a family. We were working out in the hot sun for 5 hours. It was tough but rewarding. We had a lot of fun doing the project. I love you, mom and family. Thanks for everything.

8 Months In!

December 24th, 2018

Everything in Juiz de Fora is awesome! We are working hard, especially my new companion. He is Brazilian, and lives life with a purpose. He was baptized when he was 15, and he sold little snacks on the road just so he could go to the temple. He is the only member of his family, and he has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. We are preparing a family to be baptized, and this Saturday we´ll have a baptism. I´m learning a lot out on the mission field. The days are getting hotter, however the time of my mission is shortening  I've already been out almost nine months can you believe it?! I love you and miss you all. Te amo!

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Note from Elora: Christmas was especially amazing this year because I got to Skype Dorian for an hour from Juiz de Fora. He is looking well and happy and really mastering the language. Everyone in the family got to chat with him for a bit. It was a little funny talking to him because he speaks so much Portuguese that he would forget the English words at times. Evidently the Elders are not permitted to speak English even amongst each other in their home. He talked about the food (mainly beans and rice) and how he eats a big lunch most of the days and that's about it. He also talked a bit about the slums and the people he is teaching. It was so good to see him so bright and filled with the Spirit of Christ. He loves the Word of God and he loves the Brazilian people and his companions. He bore his testimony to us and it made me cry.

I now wish I had written down some of things he told us because he is not always so detailed in his letters and we got to talk so much. We all miss him terribly, (me especially). Please keep him in your prayers and write to him if you can.