082/022 101227 The Christmas Phone Call

Picture: Elder Eyring via Skype

We spoke to Elder Eyring for about an hour. The mission president gave permission to use Skype. What a joy to spend an hour talking face to face!

081/023 101220 The Christmas Transfer

Picture: The Family & the Elders
Elder Eyring was transfered today. However, he is now district leader over his old area. As a result, he will be able to spend Christmas Day with a family he has been teaching. The Márcio de Souza Perecmanis family.

Elder Eyring moved from Macaé (on the coast) to Conceição de Macabu (north and inland), a distance of about 50 km (31 miles).

080/024 101213 Pending

Picture: Only 12 more days until Christmas!

079/025 101206 Pending

Picture: Mission president's bishop & family

Macaé became a stake! YAY!!!!!!

(The area that I'm working in)

078/026 101129 Pending

077/027 101122 Pending

076/028 101115 Márcio de Souza Perecmanis

Dear Sir,

I am writing this message to let you and your wife know that your son Eyring is doing a great job as a missionary here in Brazil. The other day I received him and another Elder in my house. I gathered my family in our living room to listen to them and I must say that he’s words brought peace to our hearts because his words poured forth from his feelings and emotions not from his tongue. Judging from his behavior it became clear to me that he was brought up very well, you’ve done a very good job. Me and my wife we’re recovering from a very difficult financial situation and on that evening his words really touched me. We liked him so much that I want you to know that he can count on us to help him any time he needs during his staying in Brazil. I am 48 years old and I see hi m like a son. I want to congratulate you and your wife for having such a good kid and thank you for letting us have him here, so far away from home and bringing peace and hope to our hearts and souls.
Best regards,

Márcio de Souza Perecmanis

075/029 101108 I Love You Grandpa!

Picture: Elder Eyring & Grandpa

Grandpa Wendell Haws Eyring passed away November 7, 2010, at the age of 92.

074/030 101101 A funny thing that happened at church

There was a funny thing that happened at church this Sunday. I was in the baptismal room after church helping set up a baptism that the sisters were about to have. They are in another branch that uses the same building. And while I was doing that a kid came in and I decided to ask him his name. After a little bit someone said he was the one getting baptized and I decided to tell him congradulations, and asked him if he was getting baptized. He replied, "Yes, and you'll baptized me!" I got kinda confused. But he insisted. I didn't really believed him. He then grabbed my arm and took me to the sisters and told them I was going to baptize him. They threw up their arms because apparently I was the 5th person he had chosen to baptize him. Well, he insisted, because I was American, and he wanted to get baptized by an American. He wanted to get baptized by the American sister, but she can't baptize, so I did. Lol. Funny kid.

After that he then showed me where the baptismal clothes were, tried to pick one out for me, and then told me what to do. Lol, funny kid.

I don't mind baptizing people though of course!

Lol.

Until more!

Elder Eyring

073/031 101025 Crazy People!

There is one family I'm teaching that lives at a restaurant they own and one day we passed by real quick we left from behind to hear some guy start yelling at us. "I can see the light leaving from you! You are two angels of the Lord!" At that moment we were setting goals with someone to stop drinking coffe and so my companion went on setting the goals, and I started talking with this guy.

"I see the light leaving from you! I must be saved!" and then a whole bunch of other stuff, lol.

I asked him to wait a moment and then I started talking with the guy we were helping to stop drink coffe and then the crazy man came up and said half screeming to them, "These two are messengers from God! Listen and obey everything they say!"

Keep in mind he's saying this with drool halfway out of his mouth.

I thanked him for the help, then finished with the other guy. The crazy guy had allready set up a table with three chairs and motioned us to sit down.

We sat down and he started talking about a lot of things, and then said, "but its not I but you (all) that are greater. Please, give me some of your wisdom!"

I talked quickly about how he said he wanted to be saved and showed him a picture of the baptism of Jesus Christ (the same that is on the cap of Preach my Gospel) and asked him what he saw. He grabbed the picture, looked deeply into it, and then slowly leened in and kissed it. He then whispered out, "Jesus." Half laughing, I told him good job, and he then added "John the Baptist". That was good enough for me. I started talking a little about baptism and he said, "So I need to stop smoking, and stop drinking?" Yes! was my clear reply. And then I asked about if he was married, and he was just living with someone. I asked why he didn't marry her. He replied about how he truly loved her, and followed with a huge discourse about what love is. After I asked, "So, ok, you love your wife a whole lot, so why don't you marry her?" He answered to get married you need to have a good relationship and understanding. "For example," he then said, "I left my house right now by crawling though a window. My wife locked me in the house!" I lauged a while at that.

After this he shook my hand for some reason and then tried to kiss it. I took my hand back, because, well, I am not that use to men kissing my hand. He got seriously mad and looked at me. "Why would you not let me kiss your hand?! Was it because of, maybe, evilness?!" I laughed and apologized.

He almost wanted to kiss our feet. We asked him not to, and he went on about how he greatly respected us. "I respect you for you have less sins then I do, or, maybe, I have less sins then you." Sadly, I was prideful and thought it was certain I had less then him. I have been baptized though, and take the sacrament, so I guess that is a good enough guess!

At the end of the lesson he ended up kissing my companion on the head and on the hand, and then me on the head on on the hand. He then grabbed our two hands, knelt down, and prayed silently for about a minute (which felt like a hour). He finished almost crying, stood up, and left.

Lol, yay, crazy people.

Oh, then we met a drunk guy from Peru. He started calling us and walked over to us, and out of no where started talking to us in English. Then his friend came up and the one from Peru started talking to his friend in English. I asked the friend if he knew english, which he didn't, and I explained that this crazy guy from Peru was speaking in English. Apparently this guy from Peru always knows the church really well and his uncle is a bishop. We tried to stop him real quick to take him in the church, get him over his beer, and baptize him, but he was too busy to go get drunk. The next day was monday, so he had to hurry up and get drunk some more! Then lie down to die because he was so drunk.

Lol, I love Brasil!

Have a good week all!

Elder Eyring

072/032 101018 This week has been interesting

This week has been interesting. There is a family that I'm teaching, that as well happens to be of Jewish decent (which for those of you that know me well enough makes me even happier). Its such a good family! Really! I love it so. God has been preparing so much. I don't have time to write more, but I'll write more this next week!

Elder Eyring

071/033 101011 Young Brazilians to serve missions

Oh, cool thing happening in Brazil. Brazil is losing a lot of full time missionaries, so the Area first Presidency decided that at least for now any young man that is 18 will be able to serve a mission. Yes!!!

070/034 101004 In Rememberance

Picture: Jim Reams

This past week, Jim Reams, long time family friend, and mentor to Elder Eyring, passed away.

Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary: Obituaries
James Aubin Reams
(October 23, 1956 - September 28, 2010)

James Aubin Reams self-less, giving, husband, best friend, dedicated father, great example, hero, number one fan, our rock, friend, and adored Papa, finished his work on this earth and returned home to his Heavenly Father on September 28, 2010. Jim was born October 23, 1956, in Newport News, Virginia to Marshall St. Aubin and Betty Jean Reams. He is the oldest of three boys, he enjoyed a wonderful childhood filled with fun and adventure. He was an Eagle Scout and always outdoors.

He served an LDS mission to England, South London. Shortly after completing his mission, he left his family in Virginia, returning to Utah, and completing his Masters of Public Administration at BYU. While attending BYU, he met and fell in love with his soul mate and best friend Susan Hansen. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Temple on June 23, 1979.

Jim was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and particularly loved scouting and working with the youth. He was a strong supporter of many charities and served in several volunteer positions.

Jim always made his family top priority. He never broke a promise, made a commitment he couldn’t keep, and would drop absolutely anything to help anyone in his family. He always took the time to make each individual feel special.Every member of his family knows how much he loves and adores them. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, his father, Marshall St Aubin, his brothers Fred and Edward. His six children, Jennifer Elisa (Mitchell) Greene, Emily Sue (Eddie) Traxler, James Clark (Hannah LoRene) Reams, Andrew St. Aubin Reams, Zachary Edward Reams, and Kimberly Anne Reams. He is also survived by his two grandchildren Christian Xavier and Hayden Lincoln Traxler.

---

Statement from Mayor Jerry Washburn:

The Mayor and City Council of Orem are deeply saddened to announce the passing last night of our beloved city manager, Jim Reams, from a heart attack. Orem City has lost its great friend and champion. Jim was a wonderful person who led our city administration with skill and foresight. His enormous contributions to this community will be felt for decades to come. He also served with distinction on numerous boards and committees throughout the state. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family, his friends and to all of the Orem City employees.

---

Statement from City of Orem:
Jim Reams
Orem City Manager

It is with great sadness that the City of Orem mourns the loss of our dear friend and leader, Jim Reams.

James Aubin Reams was born on October 23, 1956. He was raised in Virginia. He moved to Utah in 1974. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and has spent his professional career in Utah. Jim has been the City Manager for Orem since 1996.

First and foremost, Jim was dedicated to his family. He and his wife, Susan, have six children and two grandchildren. Jim was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and particularly loved scouting and working with youth. He served an LDS mission to England. He was a strong supporter of many charities and served in several volunteer positions in Utah County.

At the City of Orem, Jim was greatly loved and respected by his employees, Mayor Jerry Washburn, the Orem City Council, and many professional colleagues. His kindness was legendary, and he was a friend to all. The Council and Staff are grateful to have had the privilege of working with a man of Jim’s caliber for so many years. He will be greatly missed, and our hearts are with Jim’s beloved family.

---

Statement from Nick Eyring:

Many years ago I was the Scoutmaster of Troop 560. I felt I was well qualified because of my great love of Scouting. Sometime later Jim Reams served as Scoutmaster. Not only did Jim’s love of Scouting exceed mine, his love of Scouting was exceeded by his love of the boys.

When Jim was replaced as Scoutmaster, his continued to work with “his” scouts and encouraged them on their trail to achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. As time passed Jim became a great mentor to all of the young men in Lakeview 5th Ward. His love and encouragement resulted in dozens of young men achieving that rank. For example, in 2008, thirteen scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

In the last e-mail I received from Jim Reams, on September 26, he talked about 3 scouts who had recently completed the requirements for Eagle Scout.

When I mentioned to Sue that my son Nathan had presented his “Mentor” pin to Jim, as the person who most influenced him to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, Sue replied, “I know, a lot of boys did that.”

069/035 100927 Pending

069/035 100927 Pending

068/036 100920 Pending

068/036 100920 Pending

067/037 100913 Pending

Picture: Another view from the "Y"

066/038 100906 Memorial Day

Picture: A View from the "Y"

065/039 100830 Pending

Picture: Fully Invested


Pending

064/040 100823 Politics

Picture: "Mister" Gavin

Pending

Title: Politics

This week there were a couple of interesting things that happened. There was for one thing a man we were teaching who for a little bit before the lesson started talking about politics. How he hated Bush, loved Obama, and stuff of that sort. I simply kept my mouth shut, because, I'm a missionary and I don't have opinions. Then he talked about how Fidel Castro was incredible. I nearly smirked a little . . . My inner side felt justified a bit. Lol.

Then later that day we were talking with a man that sells corn on the street when some drunk came up to us. He started asking if we eat pork. We said yes. Then he went on about how Ben Laden is killing us because we eat pork, that the Mormons don't drink coffee so why would we eat pork? Ben Laden is killing us because of the pork, he knows our thoughts, he knows everything. And continued on that for a while . . . Lol, that was funny.

Oh, the fun of Brazil!

Have a good week everyone!

Elder Eyring

063/041 100816 Mission is Truly Wonderful!

Picture: Elder Eyring & sister, Nicole

Quick letter!

I just wanted to say real quickly how the mission is truly wonderful! There is no better place to learn and to grow!

I hope the best for all of you at home. God always is there for you, always. Any difficulty passed is for your own good, and always you can hope for a better world.

Happy is he who serves the Lord!

Elder Eyring

062/042 100809 Bishop - Micheal Scott?

Picture: I love you too!

Hi!

What to say this week.

Well, elections are going on right now in Brazil. I have a lot of commentories I would love to give, but I can't really! It's against the rules. But I'll simply mention one of the things that goes on here and try to leave out my opinion.

Here, cars can go around with loud speakers on top to advertise and stuff like that. Well, in election season each candidate is picked out by the name and by their number. This makes it so right now there are loads of these cars with loud speakers going around the street playing a little jingle for different candidates. The music is meant to get stuck in your head, and has the name and the number. The music is at times made very well to get stuck in your head, but it is not made with the purpose of being actually enertaining. Its just to make people know the name and number of the candidate.

More than that, just think of me walking in the street with this music and you can guess my personal opinion ;)

Oh! I will tell everyone about this too. So, my current bishop is incredibly similiar to someone I remember so well before the mission. Michael Scott, from The Office. Lol, yes! My bishop looks similiar, and how he acts at times, lol, yes! My bishop is just less obsessed with certain sins . . . . the rest is so similiar! He always calls his wife "amor", or love, like Michael Scott did with Jan. The other day we had a family night and very tragically only children were able to come. So my companion and I decided to abreviate the message and show the film "The Restoration". So, we started to show the film, and before I could press play the bishop interrupted and started to teach his lesson. He teaches incredibly well, but it was hillarious to see how good he was with kids. In the same way as Michael Scott is almost . . . . Lol.

My Bishop is Michael Scott! How God blesses!

Well, that's all for this week! Thanks!

Elder Eyring

Oh, and for everyone to know, I now have a year in the mission field. Wow. That is so exciting. I know how to work, and now I can work even greater miricales (or better put, God can work greater miricales because His tool is now a better tool). Yay!

Have a good week everyone!

061/043 100802 Pending

Picture: Bridey & Nathan - Bowl Game


Pending

060/044 100726 One if the Best Elders

Picture: AZ Temple - Endowment day

I'm excited to one day meet Roberto! And what a nice thing to hear what president thinks of me =). Its amazing the blessings of God.

059/045 100719 Pending

Picture: Top of Mt Tempanogos

Pending

058-046 100712 A Really Nice Baptism

Picture: Hannah Eyring, Niece


Hi,

So story to tell this week, hmmm,

Well, I just had a really nice baptism. There was a 19 year old kid that a member gave us as a reference, and we started to teach him and all. And he was a golden reference! He came to the church to be taught by himself, he agreed to follow all the commandments, everything. Last week, he stopped working at 5 in the morning, and still went to church. I was so happy to be able to be a part of the process of his baptism. He was such a refreshing person to work with!

That's all for this week. Almost nothing, but at least something!

Until more!

Elder Eyring

057-047 100705 Happy Independence Day.

Picture: Mike & nephew Gavin

Today I have pretty much no time for internet. Sorry. Happy Independence Day.

056-048 100628 Oh, What A Story To Tell!

Oh what a story to tell this week! Lol. Apostasy!

So, this week I passed by a reference from the church of someone who had asked for a DVD. Well, she lived in this really ghetto apartment building that was falling apart, for example the handrails were mostly fallen and taken away. Then, when we got into her house we find out she is a rather large lady. Its some kind of sickness, and she is a good person and all that, but she even herself said that she would need a van emptied out for her to be able to fit in and get to church. Well, we get there and find out her mother is a inactive member that is now receiving visits from Jehovah Witness. Well, we start teaching and then the apostasy comes. We talked about Jesus Christ, and they started talking about how Michael the archangel is Christ, and my companion decided to say it was Adam. Then when they heard Adam they started cursing him for the fall, which is more normal. But the thought that the fall had something to do with a sexual sin between him and Eve. Then the mother went on and talked about the sacredness of sex for a while, which is true, but funny to have this old lady talking about. Then the subject of Cain came up, and how there must have been other people before Adam because Cain married someone from a city. So, apparently Adam was simply the first prophet. There were plenty of people before him, but he was the first person God put on the earth to serve him. But there already were loads of people. And what about the dinosaurs! Well, I now have an answer. Apparently, they were the animals on the earth BEFORE Adam. See, when God put Adam on the earth Adam named all the animals of today and God killed the dinosaurs and put these newer animals on the earth. Alright, then we went on and talked about the foundation of the church. I said how without a foundation, anything would fall, like the apartment for example. Then the daughter talked about how the building didn't have a foundation, and in fact one other building in the complex had already fallen because there wasn't a foundation. AND, that this building already almost fell, but then it didn't for some reason. Lol.

That was a fun lesson.

Well, thanks all!

Until later

Elder Eyring

055-049 100621 Pending

Picture: Ken Higa
055-049 100621 Pending

054-050 100614 Mission of Miracles

Picture: Brother - Allen
So, this last week we did incredible in the mission and so today the whole mission was in celebration. It is incredible to to be in this mission with such miracles.

053-051 100607 The world is losing missionaries!

Picture: Costa Rica Money
Nathan's friend, Jeff Rowley, received his call to the Costa Rica, San Jose Mission. He reports on July 28, 2010.

So this week I want to tell everyone about something I've been seeing in my mission, something a little bit sadder.

The world is losing missionaries. Today there are missions closing and many wards without missionaries because of the great lack of those leaving for the mission. This is tragic!

I just got transfered from one ward to another, but the two are in the same building. When the first ward I was in found out they didn't have missionaries any more, it was tragic. Its hard for someone in Utah to understand, I realize that, but there was so much sadness in their looks. They did not do anything wrong, it simply was that the other ward had gone a year and a half without missionaries. They were needing missionaries as well.

So what does that mean, well, I know that there are those of you out there that can serve missions, but for whatever reason aren't. The Lord needs you! Imagine how He feels. Because of the agency He has given us, He must use servants, us here, at times to talk with His children. While all can go to Him in prayer, not everyone knows or realizes that. He wants with all His heart that His children can speak with Him and be with Him, but of necissity His arms are tied behind His back. He needs each and every one of us. He needs His children to help the others. Without this, all would be lost! There are so many people out in the world without the chance of hearing the good tidings of the gospel, simply because there are not enough workers in the field. The field is white and ready to harvest, but where are the workers!

I might have ranted a little, but I have created some strong feelings on this. I have learned where God needs us, and knowing what He did for me I want to do what I can for Him.

I hope all are well.

Elder Eyring

052/052 100531 - Half-way Home

Picture: Utah Taco Sunday
Celebrating ove the hump.
Sunday 100613

This week marks the half-way point. It only gets better from here on.

051/053 100524 Transfer to Area #4

Picture: Google Map - Area 4
Hi all!

Not must time, I'm just saying hi. I got transferred again to a place called Itaguaí. Its out of the city a little bit, but all is well, I'll return one day.

Well, have a good time all!

Elder Eyring

050/054 100517 The Ugliness Has Left

Hi all!

What to write this week. . . . . .

Well, this week wasn't to eventful. Well, it might have been and I just forgot. I got sick a bit, not so much that I couldn't get out to work, but enough that while I was working nothing was getting registered. I feel so bad for my companion! He's pretty much had to take some things over. The other day I was calling up one of the missionaries and he asked me if something seriously wrong happened. My response simply was no, I'm just so sick so I have a voice sounding like everything must be wrong. Lol, I loved it. I should have gotten a picture of myself too. It was kinda funny. I got an eye infection and I didn't sleep well, so my eyes were HUGE and such and my whole appearance looked sick. I was at a conference with other missionaries and when I went up to talk to them they all were slightly taken aback. It was quite funny. But I'm all good now, the ugliness has left. How nice!

Well, have a good week all!

Elder Eyring

049/055 100510 All Because We are American

Picture: Happy Mother's Day!
From Elders Eyring & Painter
What to write this week . . . . . I don't really know. I just figured I needed to write everyone a letter!

I hope all is well for everyone. I hope all had a good Mother´s Day, especially the mothers!

So, I'm doing well here. There of course are all the trials of a mission, but life is good, life is happy.

Ummmm . . . . . Ok! I'll write about this:

It at times is wonderful to be a foreign missionary. In my area, right now all of our investigators are our investigators because me and my companion are Americans. We went into a little run down area where there is never Americans, and once a couple of kids saw us, they started following us. We talked with them and then this group of youth started freaking out talking to us. Now we are pretty much famous there. We just started talking with the parents of these kids and now we have a lot of families that we are teaching. All because we are American. I love it! Lol, what a good life. The only problem is that I'm have SO much food being stuffed down me. How horrible! . . . . ;)

Well, that's all for this week. I hope you all are well!

Elder Eyring

048/056 100503 Eleven Months and counting

Picture: Mt Timpanogos Temple
Today marks 11 months since Nathan entered the CTM (MTC) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This past Saturday, May 1, his friend Brittany Williams got married in the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

047/057 100426 Shots and Saints

Picture: New Temple Location - Brazil
There is now a holiday that I don't like, lol. St. George day. It has a lot of parties, and 3 days straight of fireworks. I never have disliked fireworks so! Fireworks all day, all night, repeated, just is not fun. Or the continuous parties. Lol, that is so Brazilian though. I laugh so hard with Brazilians, they really know how to party. Lol

And also, that H1N1 Swine Flu vaccination, I took it. Guess what, I got a bad reaction. Surprise! That was horrible. I was pretty much dead with the mini flu I got from it. I'm almost better though. But its truly incredible, when I worked still having this mini flu God blessed me so. There were like 40 young men that I talked with that night and we now have loads of people to talk with. An entirely new teaching group. There will be so much to do now! It's awesome!

Moral of the story: When things get tuff, keep on working and God will bless.

Well, that's all, because I have no time.

Have a good week!

Elder Eyring

046/058 100419 Letter from the President's Wife

Picture: I-15 CORE project Started
This is a portion of a letter from Sister Bezerra, the mission president's wife

Hello Dear Elders and Mission Wonderful Sisters!

What a privilege it is to write to you. I hope everyone is well, enthusiastically, happy and with a strong faith. Never forget that serving our Heavenly Father is a great privilege, and a mission is even greater. Sacred opportunity that this time we are living and seeing the great miracles that the Lord God has granted us these days. his is the time to learn, change, improve, overcome great challenges. Learn from the Master and become great men and women of God...

With love
Sister Bezerra
B. Mission Rio de Janeiro

045/059 100412 Missionaries are Safe

Picture: Flooding in Rio de Janeiro
There were many deaths in Rio de Janeiro because of floods caused by torrential rainfall (13 +/- inches in 24 hours). We know that the missionaries are in the hands of the Lord, so we do not worry. On the other hand, we do not cease to pray for their safety and success.

We were pleased to get an e-mail from the mission president, letting us know all the missionaries were okay.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Dear parents of the missionaries of the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission

We are writing to inform you that all of the missionaries in our mission are well and did not suffer any type of physical danger. Please be calm. God is with us. We thank you for sending your Sons and Daughters to our mission.

President Bezerra
President of Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission

044/060 100405 Temple

Picture: Salt Lake Temple
So I have had a lot of people asking me in letter about suggestions with going through the temple, so here they are!

Preperation
1. Read the Book of Mormon. All of it. If you just have one week, fine. Read it. If you don't have time, find it. You need an in depth scriptural help. One thing in place of the Book of Mormon I would accept is Jesus the Christ to better understand our savior.
2. The day before you go into the temple, make it a day of fasting and prayer. If you are getting married, go ahead and spend some time with your future spouse, but in large make it a day of just you with the Lord. You'll have the eternities with everyone else, so give one day with just you and the Lord to prepare.
3. Don't freak out. The temple is wonderful and if you are worrying before hand you'll miss the point.

During
1. Just watch and let everything soak in. Its not to be forced. Like the last scripture in section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the doctrines of the priesthood shall distill upon your minds once through your virtue you are in the presence of God. It shouldn't be any more or less than this. Just let you spirit accept it all. Don't have your mind drift or something like that, but you will lose something if you freak out trying to remember every single thing.

After
1. Remember a lot is symbolic. You won't understand it all. So go back. Stay calm, its not bad that you didn't quite get everything.
2. Pray with more spirit and faith. If you let it, the endowment will fill your body with light and knowledge and you will recieve spiritual gifts. That is the promise.
3. Never forget the covenants that you made.

Hope that helps!

043/061 100329 Letter from the President

This is a portion of a letter to the missionaries from President Bezerra:

Our goal is to reach an average of 75 baptisms per week. I'll show you how it is possible. I'll give the recipe:

A good dose of faith added to a lot of obedience, add about 10 hours of hard work during the day, and added 30 minutes of daily planning, plus much prayer, a dose of unity and a great desire to baptize the elect of God...

President Bezerra

042/062 100322 Baptisms

Picture: US Constitution Page 1
So I have happy news, there were 4 baptisms yesterday! I love the work!

Oh, and having a president destroying the constitution and such actually will be good, because people won't accept it. They will fight for their rights. There will be an awakening. That prophecy that the constitution would hang by a thread, but it would be saved in the last moment, brings hope now. There will need to be a reconstruction, but things are always happy in reconstruction, and after life is good. I don't think the grand end has come yet, but there should be good. The awesome truth is that everything Satan does frustrates his own plan. Just as when he caused the fall, he helped God. The same thing happens now. The grand reality is that Satan only helps the plan of God. Without him, the plan of God would be frustrated. Satan never is able to truly cause harm, only we can when we choose too. But because he works, we have our agency. It is almost like a big joke on him. Silly devil, he just doesn't get it.

Elder Eyring

041/063 100315 The Book of Mormon

Picture: Conference CenterDear Elder GW,
Today the priesthood lesson was on the creation. It is wonderful that God created this earth for us so that we could could come to earth, and gain a body. As a result, we are candidates to receive all that the Father has; and even create worlds of our own someday. What a heratiage. What a future. Just choose the right, repent when necessary, and keep chosing the right. What a simple plan.
Love ya!
Dad

Dad,
I liked that lesson too. One person said something I liked when they were talking about how the creation is a example of God's love for us. He was talking about how in the wilderness with Lehi and his family that God made the meat sweet. So in reality, God even worries about the quality and taste of the food we eat. That is awesome.
I love you dad!
Elder Eyring

100314 - Recent Pictures - Scanned

... First companion, Elder Felix
... A Bird in the Hand...
... Second companion, Elder de Sousa
... Vera (loves my blue eyes)
... Third companion, Elder Santana
... Soon to be "Elder Santos"
... I love Bananas


Sorry. Scanned pictures are lower in quality.

040/064 100308 Testimony

Hi all!

So I don't have much time, so I'm just going to share my testimony. Lol, I'm a missionary, so what else would I do?

I have learned so much about how God blesses us in our trials. I remember how I was before my mission, and how I had specific problems that I never seemed to be able to resolve. Well, here on my mission I have been learning how grow. God has been giving me incredibly specific trials, trials that I can't deny are blessings from the hand of God.

I have had to learn how to eat more foods for example. I am now more liberal with eating foods than even some of my companions. I now can eat a lot more foods, and I can eat foods I don't like without nearly vomiting. Its wonderful! What a blessing it has been to receive cows feet, kidneys, liver, snout, and who knows what! God loves me so!

So yeah, that's all for this week!

Elder Eyring

039/065 100301 Isiah

So, I am going to talk about Isiah a little bit to everyone, trying to explain. So, to understand Isiah, you have to understand the great symbolism of how Christ is the bridegroom, and how each of us is the bride. So, throughout Isiah it talks about this slutty wife/bride (sometimes it uses both, just live with it =p) of that isn't loyal whatsoever. This can be applied to each of seeing of how in reality we are sinners and really, we afast ourselves of God so incredibly often without anything wrong that He did. It then talks about how God is always reaching out His hand to us in mercy, but if we do not accept He must punish us. Isiah follows the path of someone who waits to repent until the end, and t6usly God had to punish time after time after time, but always is extending His mercy. In the end, it talks about how when God and the Bride finally are at one in peace, and shows all the blessings that come when we are with God.

I don't know if I explained this well or not, but I hope it helps someone out there. To me now Isiah is simple, and it is simple because I look at in this manner. To any person, especially someone who is hurting, I would suggest read Isiah.

Weird me.

Have a good week!

Elder Eyring

100227 Happy Birthday Nathan

Picture:Doing what missionaries love to do!








Family & Friends gathered to celebrate.
20 years old today!

038/066 100222 What, a Carnival?

Picture: Carnival - Rio de Janerrio
I just want to tell everyone how Carnival was. It was incredibly nothing. It felt like normal. I was so sad!

Busy me. I hope the best for you all!

Elder Eyring

037/067 100215 Happy Birthday Hannah

Picture: Hannah Eyring
Happy Birthday to Hannah! I hope all is well for her on this special day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

So you'll probably want an explanation of why you have emails early (Friday 12th instead of next Monday 15th). Because of Carnaval, we are using the Internet today. There will be a load of crazieness, and as such we won't be able to use the Internet until much later this next week, so President told us to write now.

President Bezerra said, "The city will become a literal Babylon in those 4 days of carnival, then it returns to the wonderful city we love."

Things are good here. There was a baptism this Sunday (Feb 14) of a girl named Vitoria.

Note: Hannah is Nathan's niece and turned one year old on February 12. When Nathan turned in his missionary paperwork, he identified his available date to be just after Hannah's due date. Then, surprise, surprise, she came five weeks early, one day after Nathan opened his missionary call letter.

036/068 100208 Miracles

Picture: Baptisims are wonderful
My week was good. There was a baptism, that lady that loves my blue eyes, Vera. That was good. I am learning a lot here. It is wonderful. Look at Mosiah 23:21-22. Its a good one.

035/069 100201 I Love My Nation!

Picture: Zone Conferance 2
So this week we talked to a lady talking about how here in Brazil it is so hard for someone to change social rank. How people will do everything, they will study, they will do well in school, and will work hard, and still not be able to fully progress in society. When she was talking about this I became so much more grateful for my wonderful USA. It is truly wonderful that I feel like when I get back I am not going to be restricted to those people I know in order to progress in society. I will be able to choose the path I want, and if I work hard I'll be able to take that path, even if I don't know someone with loads of money that would sponsor me. It is a wonderful thing.

I love my nation!

That's all for this week!

Elder Eyring

034/070 100125 Incredible Experience

Picture: Zone Conferance 1
I had an incredible experience this week. There was someone that we have been trying to talk to, and it really was nearly impossible to end up talking to her. My companion and I ended up having a special prayer and afterwards when we went, everything went perfect with her (well, nearly perfect, as almost nothing is entirely perfect). The spirit was so strong, and you really could see the Spirit guiding us. So moral of the story, prayer works! Really, it does! That is so wonderful!

I think that's all for this week . . . . Thanks everyone!

Elder Eyring

033/071 100118 Things are good

Picture: Lucas Santos (center) with other missionaries.
Hi all!

So I have a funny language thing to tell you all. So, if you were to say “bads” in Porutgese, like “the bads of my life” (which is used at times in my scriptures in Portugese at least), it is “males”. So it would be ‘the “males” of my life’, or ‘os males de minha vida’. I found that kinda funny . . . . And thought I would share ;).

So how is life for everyone? Things are good here. There are many miracles being done in my mission, and it is incredible to be seen. I am feeling so much more comfortable with everything, and I am sure that I am already at the point that if I returned home tomorrow I would have those incredibly weird feelings every missionary tends to have returning. I guess I have already been out for a while, but time moves by so quickly that its hard to realize it at times.

I have been learning a lot recently how God gives each of us the opportunity to repent and come unto Him, but it is us that choose to reject Him when He is not in our lives. There is a scripture in late Isiah (I don’t have my English scriptures on me, so I can’t tell you exactly where) that says that God’s hand is shortened and His ability to help us is always there for us, but it is us that choose to reject His hand in our lives and reject His help. I have had to watch a few people do that here recently. God provides everything for us to change, and He provides everything for us to change multiple times. But it is up to us to choose to accept that help. If anyone is having a problem with a sin, problem, or anything, just go to God. He might tell you to do something you don’t want to do, but that’s all right, God will take care of you and your sin/problem/whatever else. I have had to learn that personally. Each of us will have to come to a point that either our desire will be like the father of King Lamoni where we will give all of our sins to know God or we will choose to reject Him from our lives. Choose Him! He loves us all so! If we only trust in Him, we will be happy, we will have joy in this life and in the life to come, we will have peace.

I remember how it was for those at home when I left, and I realize things might be different, but I am sure how things overall are still the same. I remember everyone had their problems, and some had greater problems. I want to encourage all of you, please, give all to God. The true blessing and opportunity of a mission, it helps show you how to give all to God, but all of you at home can choose to do that now. There is no greater happiness then giving all to Him, and in the end, when you do it, while your problems still exist, miracles happen everyday to carry you through.

I guess I ranted for enough . . . . I hope you all have a good week.

Elder Eyring