Hello Dearest Family!
Alas, the time has finally come for me to be transferred from Caldas! I found out yesterday that I will be serving in Carregado with Elder Hansen. Strangely, Carregado is still a part of the Santarém district itself, but missionary-boundary wise it is part of a different zone. Weird, but oh well, if there is another district conference while I´m in Carregado I´ll get to see a bunch of the wonderful members and investigators I´ve met and served here! I truly do love serving the Lord and His children!
Well, also leaving will be the Parkers, since they have come to an honorable end of their mission service. They have been a great example to me, and I have learned a lot from working with them. And luckily Elder Bell and whoever his new companion will be are also great Elders to carry on the work here in Caldas!
Well what a great week! Sandra Paz and her daughter Neuza Viera finally got baptized, and it has been a pleasure and a joy to see their progression towards their Heavenly Father! Haha, and right after Sandra was confirmed she was called (and sustained) to be the branch primary president. Talk about hitting the ground running! Well, life is great! I hope ya´ll have a fun time at Aspen Grove, for those of you who are going. I love you and am praying for you! Tchau!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Howdy Ya´ll!
Hey everybody! It is always a treat to hear from everyone!
Happy (belated) Golden Sweet 16 Birthday to Emily!! I really do wish I could be there to chaperone you as I know you want me to, but I´ll just keep praying that all the great running you´re doing will help you out run the many boys clamoring for your attention. ;)
Thanks Joy and Grandma Turtle for inviting me to Facebook, but I am already on Facebook under my regular email of modernstriplingwarrior----. Emily, would you please take care of adding them on my Facebook for me? Thanks!
Well life is great in Caldas da Rainha! This Saturday our investigator Sandra and her 10 year old daughter Neusa will finally get baptized! It is so great to see others of God´s wonderful children progress to realize their divine potential and come closer to Him! There´s been a little bit of a squabble over whether she should be baptized at Foz do Arelho beach (like `everyone else has done´) or at the baptismal fonte in Santarém (as President Terry has directed). But all is well, and she´s gonna get baptized in Santarém! Great stuff! And Elder Bell and I hit a record for both of us in member present lessons this week (14) and overall lessons (23 total)! Anyways, I just thought I´d share some of the success and joy we´re having in working harder and harder at helping God´s children.
Today was a blast! Being probably the last P-day we´ll have to do stuff with the Parkers, we went on a castle loop and saw the castles of Tomar, Fátima (not really a castle, but hey, it´s Fátima!), Batalha, and Dom Pedro. I think that´s it. Fun stuff.
Pass on my thanks to Caitie for that great drawing she did for me - I loved it! And holy cow, Brian is such a stud in his baseball stuff! Where did my little cherub nephew go?? Well, I love all of you and am praying for you. Tchau!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Happy (belated) Golden Sweet 16 Birthday to Emily!! I really do wish I could be there to chaperone you as I know you want me to, but I´ll just keep praying that all the great running you´re doing will help you out run the many boys clamoring for your attention. ;)
Thanks Joy and Grandma Turtle for inviting me to Facebook, but I am already on Facebook under my regular email of modernstriplingwarrior----. Emily, would you please take care of adding them on my Facebook for me? Thanks!
Well life is great in Caldas da Rainha! This Saturday our investigator Sandra and her 10 year old daughter Neusa will finally get baptized! It is so great to see others of God´s wonderful children progress to realize their divine potential and come closer to Him! There´s been a little bit of a squabble over whether she should be baptized at Foz do Arelho beach (like `everyone else has done´) or at the baptismal fonte in Santarém (as President Terry has directed). But all is well, and she´s gonna get baptized in Santarém! Great stuff! And Elder Bell and I hit a record for both of us in member present lessons this week (14) and overall lessons (23 total)! Anyways, I just thought I´d share some of the success and joy we´re having in working harder and harder at helping God´s children.
Today was a blast! Being probably the last P-day we´ll have to do stuff with the Parkers, we went on a castle loop and saw the castles of Tomar, Fátima (not really a castle, but hey, it´s Fátima!), Batalha, and Dom Pedro. I think that´s it. Fun stuff.
Pass on my thanks to Caitie for that great drawing she did for me - I loved it! And holy cow, Brian is such a stud in his baseball stuff! Where did my little cherub nephew go?? Well, I love all of you and am praying for you. Tchau!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Hello!
Hey beloved family!
Hey everybody! It's so great to hear from all of you! This has been a great week! We had a division where I went over to Santarem with Elder Fay and helped them finish on making their own map for their area. (Hard to work at full capacity without a map.) I also worked with Elder Bezerra (his dad is a mission president in Rio de Janeiro) here in Caldas on Monday, and all in all the Lord's work is getting done! We've especially been happy to see Sandra's progress with three lessons a week up to (at least) her baptism on June 20th. Life is great!
Thanks everyone for the updates. It's cool to see how great the nieces and nephews are doing. Sadly I can't seem to see the video clips and stuff, but oh well. Thanks for the update Rob and Christa about the invitro news. God speed!
Oh yeah, today was pretty fun. Elder Bell, Christophe (our branch mission leader) and I went bowling. Yabba dabba doo! Well, I guess that's it for now. I love all ya'll and am praying for you! Fica Firme!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Hey everybody! It's so great to hear from all of you! This has been a great week! We had a division where I went over to Santarem with Elder Fay and helped them finish on making their own map for their area. (Hard to work at full capacity without a map.) I also worked with Elder Bezerra (his dad is a mission president in Rio de Janeiro) here in Caldas on Monday, and all in all the Lord's work is getting done! We've especially been happy to see Sandra's progress with three lessons a week up to (at least) her baptism on June 20th. Life is great!
Thanks everyone for the updates. It's cool to see how great the nieces and nephews are doing. Sadly I can't seem to see the video clips and stuff, but oh well. Thanks for the update Rob and Christa about the invitro news. God speed!
Oh yeah, today was pretty fun. Elder Bell, Christophe (our branch mission leader) and I went bowling. Yabba dabba doo! Well, I guess that's it for now. I love all ya'll and am praying for you! Fica Firme!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hello Family!
Hello wonderful family!!
Well today was a nice P-day. Happy belated Birthday to Elle the Puma! Holy smokes, I remember when she was the little 6/7 month old little puma at Christmas time in São Paulo. And Rachel hit her 9 month mark! AAH! I am often thinking of the Ghost of Christmas Present saying `There is never enough time to do all that we would wish.´
Well this morning we took the pictures of me in my family reunion shirt - thanks Mom and Dad for the shirt and the paçoquitas! Sorry Mom, I´m gonna have to email them next week. I hope that isnt a problem. (And cool beans about the kitchen being remodeled - does that mean ya´ll are gonna get an ice machine like the one in Houston? ;D ) So after taking said pictures we got our shopping done and then headed out with the Parkers for our zone Pday activity - we all went down to the castle in Almoural, checked out the castle, and even got some Koub in! And we made it home in time to get our email done.
So in review of the week, some cool stuff has happened. Sunday morning while in Priesthood a man called who said he wanted to meet with us. So he came by our chapel and I was able to talk to him for a while. His name is Soares and he was really nice. Elder Bell and Elder Fay (one of our zone leaders) contacted him on Thursday during a division. Anyways, it was cool that he just stopped on by! We gave him a Book of Mormon and a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. More good news is to follow, I´m sure. And life with Francisco and Sandra has made some postiive changes. Since he moved out they´ve been able to calm down and grow up a bit, and now they´re officially engaged. They´re not gonna move back together until after they´re married (Yeehaw!!) and she´ll be married on the 20 of June. Life is good! Those two have also really made friends with José and Conceição, which looks really good. Well, life is great, and God´s work is moving onward, upward, and forward! I love all of you and am praying for all ya´ll!
Oh, I just remembered. At the Almoural castle there were two or three French families/groups, and one group came to the castle right as we were leaving and we said olá and she said bonjeour (forgive my spelling if that was wrong, my beloved Frenchies). So yeah, that reminded me of my wonderful siblings that speak French! Love you!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Well today was a nice P-day. Happy belated Birthday to Elle the Puma! Holy smokes, I remember when she was the little 6/7 month old little puma at Christmas time in São Paulo. And Rachel hit her 9 month mark! AAH! I am often thinking of the Ghost of Christmas Present saying `There is never enough time to do all that we would wish.´
Well this morning we took the pictures of me in my family reunion shirt - thanks Mom and Dad for the shirt and the paçoquitas! Sorry Mom, I´m gonna have to email them next week. I hope that isnt a problem. (And cool beans about the kitchen being remodeled - does that mean ya´ll are gonna get an ice machine like the one in Houston? ;D ) So after taking said pictures we got our shopping done and then headed out with the Parkers for our zone Pday activity - we all went down to the castle in Almoural, checked out the castle, and even got some Koub in! And we made it home in time to get our email done.
So in review of the week, some cool stuff has happened. Sunday morning while in Priesthood a man called who said he wanted to meet with us. So he came by our chapel and I was able to talk to him for a while. His name is Soares and he was really nice. Elder Bell and Elder Fay (one of our zone leaders) contacted him on Thursday during a division. Anyways, it was cool that he just stopped on by! We gave him a Book of Mormon and a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. More good news is to follow, I´m sure. And life with Francisco and Sandra has made some postiive changes. Since he moved out they´ve been able to calm down and grow up a bit, and now they´re officially engaged. They´re not gonna move back together until after they´re married (Yeehaw!!) and she´ll be married on the 20 of June. Life is good! Those two have also really made friends with José and Conceição, which looks really good. Well, life is great, and God´s work is moving onward, upward, and forward! I love all of you and am praying for all ya´ll!
Oh, I just remembered. At the Almoural castle there were two or three French families/groups, and one group came to the castle right as we were leaving and we said olá and she said bonjeour (forgive my spelling if that was wrong, my beloved Frenchies). So yeah, that reminded me of my wonderful siblings that speak French! Love you!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Hello Beloved Family!!
Oh, it is so great and wonderful to hear from all of you! Grandma Turtle, I think that´s hilarious that Buddy tries to sit on the chairs like a diner. That is really cool Mom and Dad about the Church being honored by the São Paulo legislature! Thanks for the picture of ya´ll and cousin Elder Zach Ellis - I love that ridiculously tall studly cousin of mine! And I´m terribly sorry for forgetting about last week to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kit and Mama KK!! Ya´ll are wonderful!
Life is great! Elder (Christopher Lincoln) Bell and I have had a good week. Last Wednesday we had gone to Santarém to play soccer and ultimate (no injuries this time!) and then Elder Bell had to go down to Lisbon with the zone leaders for a big leadership meeting thing. And unfortunately we had to wait to do the division switch, and by the time we did there wouldn´t be another bus to Caldas until the following day. But as it turned out we would´ve needed to move those appointments anyway, so it was just frustrating. But Elder Bell and I finally got back to Caldas Friday morning and got back to work.
Our amazing investigators are doing great! José Mota and Conceição are really open and generous - they fed us and our ward mission leader dinner - and really are accepting everything so far! haha, and their friend Paulo came to Family Night last night and as we were leaving like a herd of turtles he asked along the lines of `How long does it take / what do I have to do to join the Church´? I was kinda befuddled but I think I somewhat understandably said come to church, hear the lessons, and keep going! He is leaving to work in England on a ferry for 3 months (he already speaks English and French) so we told him he could go on the church website to try and find a church building nearby where he will live. Hopefully all goes well!
Yesterday was a great zone conference - my last one with President and Irmã Terry. Then comes President and Irmã Torgan! I am so blessed to be learning so much from such great people on my mission! Well I love all ya´ll, and I pray for you. Later today I´ll be picking up a package from one `Ellis Family` so I have no clue who it´s from but I will venture a guess as to Mom and Dad and Emily. Thanks! Love you all! Tchau!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Oh, it is so great and wonderful to hear from all of you! Grandma Turtle, I think that´s hilarious that Buddy tries to sit on the chairs like a diner. That is really cool Mom and Dad about the Church being honored by the São Paulo legislature! Thanks for the picture of ya´ll and cousin Elder Zach Ellis - I love that ridiculously tall studly cousin of mine! And I´m terribly sorry for forgetting about last week to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kit and Mama KK!! Ya´ll are wonderful!
Life is great! Elder (Christopher Lincoln) Bell and I have had a good week. Last Wednesday we had gone to Santarém to play soccer and ultimate (no injuries this time!) and then Elder Bell had to go down to Lisbon with the zone leaders for a big leadership meeting thing. And unfortunately we had to wait to do the division switch, and by the time we did there wouldn´t be another bus to Caldas until the following day. But as it turned out we would´ve needed to move those appointments anyway, so it was just frustrating. But Elder Bell and I finally got back to Caldas Friday morning and got back to work.
Our amazing investigators are doing great! José Mota and Conceição are really open and generous - they fed us and our ward mission leader dinner - and really are accepting everything so far! haha, and their friend Paulo came to Family Night last night and as we were leaving like a herd of turtles he asked along the lines of `How long does it take / what do I have to do to join the Church´? I was kinda befuddled but I think I somewhat understandably said come to church, hear the lessons, and keep going! He is leaving to work in England on a ferry for 3 months (he already speaks English and French) so we told him he could go on the church website to try and find a church building nearby where he will live. Hopefully all goes well!
Yesterday was a great zone conference - my last one with President and Irmã Terry. Then comes President and Irmã Torgan! I am so blessed to be learning so much from such great people on my mission! Well I love all ya´ll, and I pray for you. Later today I´ll be picking up a package from one `Ellis Family` so I have no clue who it´s from but I will venture a guess as to Mom and Dad and Emily. Thanks! Love you all! Tchau!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Hello for May 20!
Hello everybody! It is so wonderful being a missionary! Thanks Dad, Rob, Mark, and Natalie for your emails and blog updates. Soo wonderful to hear from everyone! Hey Dad, I got your letter you wrote on May 10 (Mother's Day), on Monday May 18, just to let you know.
Well, life is wonderful! Elder Bell is yet another great missionary to work with. He is from Tulare, California, and has finally broken my Utah-boy companion streak. Not saying Utahns are bad in any way, but I think it's funny that only one out of five companions, including my MTC companion, is NOT from Utah. Anyways, he's another great, hardworking young man with a good sense of humor to top it off! He also likes to play chess, and bitter-sweetly, he's killed me at least 5 out of 7 games, so he can help me not be too rusty when I come back for the family tournaments! Ahem, all in appropriate time of course. :D
Well this week has gone well. We are so busy with people to teach that our evenings are always full, but not so many people are available during the day. But we'll find them! We had a good lesson with Sebastiao, Clemente, and their friends Adriano and Roberto. We talked about how having a testimony of the Book of Mormon means that we can also know that the Church is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet, and invited them to prayerfully ask Heavenly Father if they should be baptized, and to specifically know if this Church is true. I was disappointed that Clemente and Sebastiao were still reluctant of setting a date. I will keep praying for them to realize these truths and have the courage and faith to act with what knowledge that they have! (Their main 'excuse' was that they need to study more.) But I know this is God's work and He will provide for us to do our part His way and on His timetable!
Well, life is great. The Parkers only have a few more weeks before they go home at the end of June, so we're going to enjoy these last few P-days that we can with them. I love all of you, and am praying for you! Have a great week!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Well, life is wonderful! Elder Bell is yet another great missionary to work with. He is from Tulare, California, and has finally broken my Utah-boy companion streak. Not saying Utahns are bad in any way, but I think it's funny that only one out of five companions, including my MTC companion, is NOT from Utah. Anyways, he's another great, hardworking young man with a good sense of humor to top it off! He also likes to play chess, and bitter-sweetly, he's killed me at least 5 out of 7 games, so he can help me not be too rusty when I come back for the family tournaments! Ahem, all in appropriate time of course. :D
Well this week has gone well. We are so busy with people to teach that our evenings are always full, but not so many people are available during the day. But we'll find them! We had a good lesson with Sebastiao, Clemente, and their friends Adriano and Roberto. We talked about how having a testimony of the Book of Mormon means that we can also know that the Church is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet, and invited them to prayerfully ask Heavenly Father if they should be baptized, and to specifically know if this Church is true. I was disappointed that Clemente and Sebastiao were still reluctant of setting a date. I will keep praying for them to realize these truths and have the courage and faith to act with what knowledge that they have! (Their main 'excuse' was that they need to study more.) But I know this is God's work and He will provide for us to do our part His way and on His timetable!
Well, life is great. The Parkers only have a few more weeks before they go home at the end of June, so we're going to enjoy these last few P-days that we can with them. I love all of you, and am praying for you! Have a great week!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I`m staying in the Hot Springs!
Hello beloved family!
Well this week a lot has happened. On Friday we had a great zone conference, where Elder and Sister Kearon (he´s a Seventy from England) were doing part of a mission tour of our mission. Great stuff! They focused on staying up on the moral high ground which comes from keeping the commandments 100%, which is all we can really control, as well as doing our part in the conversion process, which is doing what we can to create an environment where the Spirit can come and testify to our investigators. It is so important that they feel the spirit, because they will not likely remember what we say. Great stuff! And my favorite part from zone conference, I found out that Osvaldo da Silva Calunga and his son Carlos Daniel da Silva (goes by Daniel) were baptized on schedule and both have the Aaronic Priesthood, and are doing great! That bit of news made me feel joy beyond expression.
Sunday was Mothers Day! Happy (belated) Mother´s Day to all of you wonderful mothers - Mom, Grandma Turtle, Joy, Kit, Aup, Natalie, and Laura, as well as all my wonderful aunts who get this! It was fabulous talking to Mom, Dad, and Em (who dozed off during the call! Dorminhoca!) on Sunday. I am so blessed with goodly parents who have taught me true principles, and my wonderful siblings who are such great examples, and wonderful modern technology that enables such awesome communication! Life is great!!
Well, in other news, Elder Flint is being transferred to be a zone leader in Oeiras (just like Elder Prince was... I´m noticing a pattern), and Elder Bell will come to be district leader here in Caldas. I don´t know much about him, but I´m excited to work with and learn from another great elder in the Lord´s service! Well I love you all beyond expressionable ways. Ha, I don´t even think that made sense, but I´m sure ya´ll understood anyways. Tchau!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
Well this week a lot has happened. On Friday we had a great zone conference, where Elder and Sister Kearon (he´s a Seventy from England) were doing part of a mission tour of our mission. Great stuff! They focused on staying up on the moral high ground which comes from keeping the commandments 100%, which is all we can really control, as well as doing our part in the conversion process, which is doing what we can to create an environment where the Spirit can come and testify to our investigators. It is so important that they feel the spirit, because they will not likely remember what we say. Great stuff! And my favorite part from zone conference, I found out that Osvaldo da Silva Calunga and his son Carlos Daniel da Silva (goes by Daniel) were baptized on schedule and both have the Aaronic Priesthood, and are doing great! That bit of news made me feel joy beyond expression.
Sunday was Mothers Day! Happy (belated) Mother´s Day to all of you wonderful mothers - Mom, Grandma Turtle, Joy, Kit, Aup, Natalie, and Laura, as well as all my wonderful aunts who get this! It was fabulous talking to Mom, Dad, and Em (who dozed off during the call! Dorminhoca!) on Sunday. I am so blessed with goodly parents who have taught me true principles, and my wonderful siblings who are such great examples, and wonderful modern technology that enables such awesome communication! Life is great!!
Well, in other news, Elder Flint is being transferred to be a zone leader in Oeiras (just like Elder Prince was... I´m noticing a pattern), and Elder Bell will come to be district leader here in Caldas. I don´t know much about him, but I´m excited to work with and learn from another great elder in the Lord´s service! Well I love you all beyond expressionable ways. Ha, I don´t even think that made sense, but I´m sure ya´ll understood anyways. Tchau!
--Elder Ellis V
CM SBF FDP S&H
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