Missiontime Issofast

Since I got a little behind, here are three weeks of letters. Daniel lost his camera so there won't be pictures for a bit.

November 4, 2019

Another week bites the dust,

     Just gonna say two words. Missiontime Issofast. Yep, two words. The weeks are starting to go by so fast and I can´t seem to do everything I want to everyday. So blessed here in Campos. 

     One of the highlights of this past week was waiting for the bus in front of this elementary school. The school had just gotten out so naturally there were 1038285 kids and 27854 moms frantically looking for their kids. While we were waiting I just felt eyeballs and when I turned, no joke, 50 kids were all just staring and pointing at me. Finally, one of the kids was brave enough and starting to talk to me and was like "are you American?" After responding yes, all the kid ran over like a rampage. Some of the kids got real comfortable as some girls with 15 years kinda approached and were like "take me with you to the US. wink wink." ha. ha. ha.

     But after 20 mins and having all the kids ask "HOW DO YOU SAY MY NAME IN ENGLISH" we were able to make 150 new contacts and supersede our goal that day ;););)

     But this week was so amazing picking up my little trainee, aka son, and starting a MUITO BOM week. We contacted so many people, found a bunch of brothers and sisters here in Brazil, and are moving forth the agenda of the Lord! 

     So grateful for the sacrifice I can give for a short 24 months! What a blessing it is to feel just a sliver of the pain AND JOY that Christ felt as he atoned for our sins. No place I´d rather be right now

Sempre Vermelho,

Elder Gardanier

November 11, 2019

 Here was one of the highlights of the week as I was walking the hot streets of Brazil with my companion...I´ve been teaching him English and he´s starting to understand the lyrics to all the songs that he loved in English. Turns out...most of those songs aren´t the greatest...especially as a missionary. He turned to me out of the blue and said "is the line 'Smoke weed everyday' bad?" hahahahaha. I explained to him in Portuguese and he got kinda shy and sad because his favorite tunes are promoting drugs haha.

     BUT. I constantly see the hand of the Lord in my life everyday...whether it's a person I meet, a food I eat, or being able to sleep through the night without waking up dripping sweat haha. The Lord is so so good. 

     As I was playing the piano for a primary program for a different ward, (because no one knows how to tickle the old ivory here) I got thinking as the cutest kids were singing about their Savior´s love, belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and remaining faithful to their testimonies every day. What a powerful statement it was to me that as I asked myself "Do they even know what those powerful words mean?" and realized how similar I am to those kids as I bear testimony that through TRUE faith, God WILL provide a way to overcome your trails, smoking, and drinking addiction. I´m sure we are all kids in our spiritual knowledge of how amazing and magnificent the Atonement and Love of Jesus Christ is. BUT while we may all lack true understanding of what it means to be "fully converted to Christ," we can certainly declare our desire to everyone every day. Because the key to change and repentance all starts with a seed of Desire. 

There is a church song that I love that says "if all you can do is want to believe. and you´re asking down on your knees, then little by little, though it´s covered in scars, he will change HE WILL change your heart."

Let this week be a week of proving your discipleship!!

Elder Gardanier

November 18, 2019

BOLD

"What if blessings came as rain drops..." BUT FOR REAL. It dumped buckets instead of rain drops and it was quite the treat here in humid Death Valley #2 in Campos. We had many days just soaked to the bone--and a little chilly I´m happy to say--just knocking doors and spreading the good news. 

     My companion and I decided to be a little bolder here in Brasil because the precedent is to be on Brazilian time (give or take 1 hour) not hold appointments very firmly and just go with the flow. SO. When the time presents itself to teach, YOU GOTTA CAPITALIZE. (You get it, capitalize in all caps#). 

     But we knocked on João Luis´door for the first time and he opened it timidly and only a sliver. I quickly said we are missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and quickly commented (on the three leaves I could see behind him) and said "What a beautiful garden you have..." and then I walked in haha. He was kinda confused but hey, a compliment is a compliment, so he just got talking about all the plants he had. I quickly scanned the house and saw his fam and got them all talking about this garden and without them knowing I was like, "Oh look, you have some chairs here. Let´s all sit real quick and share a message that is so unique and will change your lives to feel more happiness and peace." They all consented and legit within 30 mins we turned a knock on the door into 2 new investigators. (This was my little Riccardi moment for all who get the reference ;)

     But if Christ told me to PREACH the gospel I´m gonna preach not passively ask for their number to hypothetically return a time that they are never in their house. This message is unique, IMPORTANT, and everyone needs to hear it so why not hear it right now, you know? 

Funny experience. More of a humbling and wanna-leave-right-now kinda experience. While playing the organ this past Sunday, I quickly ran up to the piano after the last speaker and opened thy hymn book to a song that NO AMERICAN HAS HEARD. I was like, "well shoot." But I played the intro and started with everyone on the first line. I was so overwhelmed with getting the fingering right, playing the song that I´ve never heard, and trying to smile too that when I looked up after finishing the song--kind smirking that I did it--my stomach quickly twisted as I heard everyone still singing. I quickly found where they were then picked up again realizing I was playing too fast and then I finished again relieved BUT THEY CONTINUED TO SING. Legit I tried three times then kinda laughed/cried and just gave up...I was very humbled. Luckily these bold Brazilians were too nice to remind me of that fun time this past Sunday. But I just keep with the line "no body´s perfect. I gotta work it.."

Love ya all! Go gather that Israel

Elder Gardanier