Rain

After the rain

We have entered into what is known as the rainy season, probably… it’s just been raining a lot... Well not a lot has happened this week, just Trump got elected; he is a worldwide phenomenon. So I walked a lot this week, one day I’m pretty sure I walked 13+ miles.  Been on splits with a fellow American, which is good because he can understand English.

A Mango

Oh, and ALL Brazilians have this circular scar on their right arm (because of the polio vaccine) just an observation. And you know the movie Rio and all that crazy driving that goes on in it? That’s exactly what it’s like here, especially with motorcycles, just swerving in and out, passing at will, and everyone ignores stop signs and most speed bumps. And last night when we were walking there was a stray dog that started to follow us. It followed us for about a mile. It was pretty great.

Word for the week serpente voadora flamejante- fiery flying serpent

Love you all miss you!!!!!

Elder Hilchie​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Ty's companion in the apartment

The Light of the Gospel

OI FAMÍLIA!!!! 

Well this week was super awesome! We were able to find and teach a lot of people who seem real interested in learning more about the gospel. This is the best feeling ever! When you are teaching and the person's face just lights up as you are talking, and they just want to learn more and more. I love it! And this week, it happened a lot. 

We visited a family of three (Thamiris, Ana Lucia, e Fernando) who want to learn more. They really want the whole family to go to the same church. Thamiris, who has 23 years, goes to church but her mom and brother don't. But they are searching for somewhere where the whole family can go! We are super excited to visit them this upcoming week and teach them more about the gospel and how it can change their family life and faz com que(makes) their family is mais united. We also started to visit a little girl named Ingrid (has 11 years) that lives with her grandma and older sister and cousin. She went to a church activity that we had this Saturday and loved it and também went to church and loved it too! She loved the primary and how she was able to stay and learn with the kids her age. She said that in the church she goes to with her grandma, she has to sit there the whole time and listen to the preacher talk and doesn't really learn a lot. And in the Church of Jesus Cristo, it's a lot different because everyone learns according to their age. There is a sala(room) for everyone to feel comfortable and learn the gospel in a way that they will understand! Just one more thing I love about the church. 

This week we had divisão(splits) and I stayed in Parque Bristol with Sister Gutierrez one day and Sister Nascimento the other. Recently Presidente Broadbent wants us to do divisões for two dias so that we can get to know the sisteres better and how we can help them. But Sister Gutierrez is from Peru and Sister Nascimento, Bahia, Brazil. They are both really sweet and concerned with everyone they meet. They have this desire to share the gospel with everyone. They both have just about a year in the field so it was nice to work with them because they too have a lot of experience. 

I was also reading this week in Jacó,(Jacob) and he was really having a serious talk with the people and how they were not buscando(seeking) first Heavenly Father. They were all caught up in the world and obtaining riches that they completely forgot about the Lord and everything He had done for them. And as a result, they were not as happy and they were before when they always searched Him first. Then Jacó tells them to search first the reino de Deus(kingdom of God) and then everything they need will be given to them and with all the wealth they will have, need to use it for good and not be selfish. Hoje em dia(everyday) we are seeing a lot of this....a lot of people just want to be wealthy and have the latest technology and gadgets and aren't worried about doing the things that will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father (going to church, reading scriptures, praying) and really not thanking Him for everything He's done. I know that when we put Him em primeiro lugar(above everything), everything will turn out just how it should. We will have everything we will ever need and when we share this wealth with others, we will be even more blessed.

I love you all so much!!! Thanks for all the support and prayers!!! Have a superly duperly fantastic week!

Love, 

Sister Hilchie :)   

Language, Rice and Motorbikes

Tyler and his Trainer

Yep, a lot of the music down here is in English, not Portuguese. Which is weird because a lot of people do not understand English. I guess the music in America is just that good. Oh, and the people here do not like referring to Americans as Americans, they prefer estados unidos(united states), cause South America and all. But their country is not named America. I just don’t understand people down here. Oh, which reminds me, the language down here is the worst because pronunciation is everything. Like you know in harry potter, the first one, when Hermione corrects Ron on his pronunciation? Yeah it is exactly like that. Like ovó and ovô, they mean grandpa and grandma, just a very slight difference in pronunciation. Oh, and a costa is coast but as costas is back... well in time I’ll get it all right. 

One thing they do have right here is the rice, I am not sure how they cook/grow it, but America should learn how to do it. Because it is delicious. 

Oh, and another thing they have down here, motorbikes. Not motorcycles, these are regular old bikes where they have put a small engine on to help them get up hills and whatnot. And when the engine starts up, it sounds like a gunshot. Startled me quite a few times.

Pokemon GO is a worldwide phenomenon! There was a random familia playing it in front of the church! Kinda funny actually, they were just standing outside the gate on their phones and you could hear the theme song going on. Pretty sure they took over the gym...

Spiritual thought: so yesterday we listened to a talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland. Well, I listened, everyone else read the subtitles. The title was "The First Great Commandment" and in it Elder Holland talks about how in the judgement day, he will be very surprised if we are not asked "Did you love Me?" and do we love Him? The Redeemer of our souls, The Almighty God. The Prince of Peace? He who Atoned for all of our sins and sufferings and laid down His life so that we may eternal life. Will we be like Peter and answer "Lord, thou knowest that I loved thee" I sincerely hope that at the judgement day, I will be able to look Christ in the eye and tell Him "I love thee".

I love all of you guys and wish you all the best week ever!!!!! Miss you all, with all the love in the world.

Elder Hilchie

Ouro Branco