Ferraz De Vasconselos

I had an amazing oppertunity to visit Ferraz De Vasconselos yesterday which was my old area and where I passed about 7 months of my mission.  It was fun walking the same roads and visiting members.  There were two kids that I helped out and their faces were priceless when they opened the door.  We had a family home evening at night and it was amazing to hear the testimonies of some recent converts and how much they have grown in a short amount of time.  I honestly had such a great time and was really happy to be able to see all my friends.  A lot of times we do not understand the difference that we make in the lives of others.  Sometimes it may seem like nothing is happening but people are always watching us and that is why we need to be examples with everything that we do.  It is a blessing to be on a mission and serving the Lord.

Love Elder Visser

A great temple trip

We had a great experience to go to the temple this last Tuesday.  We had to wake up at 5 in the morning to get a bus, then a train, and another train, then we walked a good 30 minutes.  It was totally worth it.  There are a lot of others who sacrifice a lot more than this to go to the temple.  It was so peaceful there and honestly made the week so much better.  I’m super excited to go to the temple whenever I want and also to be able to visit other temples.

We also had a devotional last night that was broadcasted to all of Brasil.  They had it in the MTC here and talked the whole time about serving a mission.  They talked a lot about how much your life will be blessed for serving a mission.  That sometimes its a sacrifice but its also a privlige and a blessing to be able to serve the Lord with all of your time.  We never know how many seeds we have planted during our mission.  You are able to count the number of seeds in an apple but its impossible to be able to count the number of apples that will come from one seed.  I love serving the Lord and I know this is where I am supposed to be.

Love Elder Visser

Just a few thoughts to share

I always get emails from my friends in the mission and it surprises me how much they write every week.  I’m not too good at writing and talking but I’m a pro at sitting and listening to someone talk.  My emails may not be long but I hope you can understand what I’m trying to get across.

This week we had the chance to have interviews with our mission president.  We have personal interviews with him once every 3 months or so.  President Silcox is my fourth mission president.  He has a lot of love for the missionaries here and you can feel that everytime you talk with him.  He talked about how satan and his angels are watching our every move.  They watch and wait until they find that chink in our armor.  A lot of times we fall but whats important is whether or not we get back up and try again even harder.  Every Sunday we have the blessing of taking the sacrament.  Every Sunday we can be completley clean of our sins.  The message the Savior brings is of peace and hope.  As a missionary we see a lot of people with a lot of problems, we even see a lot of members or less actives.  Whats important though is that we do our best and put the Lord in first place and in the end we will be happy.  Serving a mission is a privilege and a blessing.  Thanks for all the love and support.

Love Elder Visser

Another week has flown by

Another week has flown by here.  This week was a hot one with a ton of walking.  When Sunday came around it seemed like everyone we invited did not show up but I was extremley happy to see a couple less active families show up and a recent convert invited his brother who after a few months of inviting finally showed up.  I was happy with the results and know that the Lord is happy with our work as well.  We also had an activity this last Saturday.  In our ward we did 40 day fast to help out the missionary work here and to end the 40 days we had an activity here.  We watched the movie Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration and we made popcorn.  We planned to start at 7 but at 7 oclock no one showed up.  I was pretty sad but after about half an hour a group of people ended up showing up which made it all worth it.  I love being on my mission and being able to help out other.  It is interesting how much confidence people have in two kids who are 20 years old.  I’m grateful for the time I have and for everything I have learned.  I know this next week will be even better and we have the chance to have interviews with the mission president which are always great experiences.  Thanks for all the love and support.

Love Elder Visser

General Conference was GREAT!

I really enjoyed conference.  I won’t lie, after the sessions on Saturday my brain was pretty fried.  The preisthood session started at 9 and ended at 11 PM and watching in portuguese you have to pay a little bit more attention.  Everyone here was expected that we would have a Brazilian apostle but turns out they are all American.  They are apostles for the world and they love everyone.

Our week was pretty hectic with transfers and meetings and conference.  We spent a lot of time on the bus and train.  The week passed by fast and I really enjoyed it.  I am staying with my same companion which made me happy.  We are excited to work even harder and help more people.  This week we talked with a lot of people in the street and knocked some doors.  At the begining of the week we had a lot of great people to teach but at the end no one was interested in our invites.  We our doing our part though and we will be blessed for it.  It’s a blessing to be able to invited people to change their lives and to invite people to be baptized.  I love my mission and everything that I have learned.  Thanks for all the love and support.

Love Elder Visser

What is it that we need to learn?

This week was one of those weeks.  We worked super hard but it seemed like we did not have a whole lot of success.  We did our best visiting our investigators, calling them too, but it seemed like no one was home or wanted to answer their phones.  It is pretty interesting and I was talking with my companion, it seems like the transfers that you work the hardest are the transfers when you see the least sucess.  I think this happens because we need to learn somthing, it could be that we need to learn humility or hard work.  I have grown a ton this transfer and honestly I am not sad at all because we did our best and our part.  We worked hard everyday and I know that this next transfer we will be blessed for our hard work.  I am super excited for conference this Saturday and Sunday and whatever question or doubt that we have will be answered.  It is a huge blessing to be able to hear our Prophet and Apostles talk.  Thanks for all the help and prayers.

Love Elder Visser

How much do we really understand?

We had a great week.  We were able to do an exchange with the assistants and I was able to work with one of my old companions for a day.  We found a lot of new people to teach this week.  We taught a family who had a son pass away a few months ago in a car accident and we had the privlige to share a message with her.  We bore our testimonies that she will have the opportunity to see him and live with him again.  The spirit was super strong and was an experience that will stay with me for a long time.  Something I have been thinking about a lot lately is how many people do not understand our message of the restoration.  There are times when we explain it so clearly but it still does not make sense to them.  I know that God prepares people for us.  There are a lot of people who do not understand.  It makes sense to me and I have a testimony and that’s why I want to do everything to help others, it is worth the sacrifices to help others really understand that families can be together forever.  I love this work and I know it is true.  Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Visser

Cold and Rainy...but that's a good thing

My foot only slowed me down a little but that’s because it is tough walking in sandals with socks when its raining. My foots all back to normal though I am pretty sure it was because of my shoe but I am not 100% sure. I am super excited to hear about Logan and what he thinks about Brasil, he is going to do awesome.

Our week was really good. Its been pretty cold this week with a ton of rain but Sao Paulo is really needing it so I can’t complain. We had Elder Mazagardi who is a Seventy and in the area presidency visit our mission the other day and that was a great experience. He talked a lot about how we can’t play around with the commandments. He also talked about eternity which is pretty difficult to imagine. He told us to imagine a bird getting a grain of sand ever thousand years, Whenever this bird finished getting every grain of sand from every beach and desert that eternity will just be beginning. It helped me imagine it a little better and to really put in perspective if things are worth it. Is it really worth it to break this commandment or is it worth it to go to church for a few hours every week? I know that we can be happy with our families for eternity but it depends upon what we do now during our life. Thanks for all the love and support.
 Love Elder Visser

Trying things a little different

We had a pretty great week working hard and doing our best.  It seems like most of our investigators are either not super intested or those that are have to get married first.  It’s pretty frustrating but were excited for a new week and were going to be doing things a little different.  I heard a quote that I really liked that goes like this, If you do what you have always done you will receive what you have always received.  It’s true so were going to continue working hard but at the same time try things a little different to see if it gets us anywhere.  On Sunday one of our recent converts whos 17 got up to bare his testimony and that was a way cool experience.  This Friday we have the chance to hear from Elder Mazzagardi whos in the presidency of Brasil so that will be way exciting.  It seems like sometimes when we are doing our best we dont have many results but I know if we continue doing our best that the Lord will bless us.

Love Elder Visser

My swollen foot came back this week but I’m sure it will pass quick.  We also had a bbq with the youth which was way fun today.  Today was the independence of Brasil.

A 40 day fast

We had a pretty eventful week.  We had the opportunity to help a couple here get started on the process of getting married.  We walked in the rain for a good hour early one morning this week to get all the information needed.  On Saturday they went and now we just have to wait until the 24th of October.  It will take a while but in the end it will totally be worth it.  I know that they will one day go to the Temple and be sealed.  We have been working a ton this last week to find new people to teach and we have been seeing a lot of results.  We are also are doing something here called 40 day fast.  40 different families signed up to do a fast for one day so our ward will be in a fast for 40 straight days.  The purpose is about missionary work, I am super excited to see the fruits that come from this.  Sorry my email is short but thanks for all the love and support.

 

Love Elder Visser

I've got nothing to complain about

This week was a pretty good one.  I had to have that one week of getting to know your companion all over again but he is really cool so I have nothing to complain about.  I will miss my other companion for sure but he is already home and probably already forgot about me.  So about a month ago we recieved a referal from a member for her cousin but the thing is they live in a different area.  They ended up getting a ride and coming to church with us in our ward a few times but the whole time we were thinking that sooner or later they will have to go to the ward where they live.  Turns out on Saturday we helped them move into our area and they are living in the house below their family who are members.  In the end everything turned out perfect and they are loving the church and are super excited.  We just have to help marry them and then they will be ready for baptism.  I know that the Sister who gave us the referral was praying a lot for them and I know the Lord answered her prayers.  I am super excited for this transfer and I know we will do a lot of great things.  

Love Elder Visser

I am still a zone leader

I am still a Zone Leader which means I helped out 6 other companionships, I don’t know who my companion is yet but I will figure it out tomorrow.  I am excited for a new transfer and I am ready to work hard.

 

This week was really cool.  We had both zone meeting and zone conference.  Zone conference our President was there and the spirit was really strong.  We gave a training and talked a lot about how we can do so much better because the Lord is helping us.  Lots of times we put a barrier up and think what were doing is enough but in reality we can do a ton better.  I also did an exchange with Elder Lamb who was my companion about 10 months ago.  That was really cool.  Our week and my companions mission ended with a baptism.  It was different because she already has 2 years in the church.  Her husband’s other marriage had problems and the divorce was not going through which means she could not get baptized until the divorce went through and got legally married to him.  They got married on Saturday and Sunday night she was baptized and it was really special with a lot of non member family.  She even shared her testimony at the end and it was and experience I will not forget.

 

Love Elder Visser

The more your work the happier you are

This week was pretty interesting since my companion will be going home next week.  He had a couple meetings to go to and he got to go to the temple but the companions of the Elders who are going home were not allowed to attend.  I got to go on a division with two other missionaries which was a neat experience.  One is brand new in the mission and I really enjoyed how happy and excited he was to work and get things done.  I spent a lot of time catching buses this week but I really enjoyed this week.  I’ve gotten close with my companion and it feels like were bestfriends.  We have one more week left together and I am excited to work hard and help others out.  We also have a zone conference with our President which I am excited about as well.  This transfer has definatley gone by way too fast but I have come to learn the more you work the happier you are and the faster the time goes.

 

Love Elder Visser

Open your mouth and share the gospel

We had a good week here.  We have been working just as hard but it feels like less people are wanting to talk to us.  It seems like no one has time to talk with us in the street.  Heavenly Father is always aware of our hard work though and this week we got a referal where someone wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon.  We ended up going to visit him and he lives in an apartment which is a lot nicer than other parts of the city.  When we got there we ended up talking to him on the bench because he had family over.  Turns out his friend at work already talked a lot about the church and loaned him a Book of Mormon to read.  When we talked to him he told us that he already plans on going to church every Sunday and that he wants to have a church for when he has kids.  This is what we call an elect.  It was a great experience and I know it was because of our effort and hard work that the Lord blessed us.  I know that no effort is wasted.  Even when people dont accecpt we never know what will happen just because we opened our mouth and shared the gospel.

 

Love Elder Visser

We never know how we help people on their earthly journey

This week was an amazing week.  We were able to have interviews with our mission president and were able to get to know him a little better.  We have also been preparing Carlos to be baptized.  My companion actually bumped into his less active wife about 4 months ago.  He helped them get married brought them back to activity and on Sunday he was baptized.  It was a stressful road but in the end turned out perfect.  President Silcox even came to watch him get baptized which was really cool.  After we had a bbq with a ton of food and was a perfect way to end the week.  Now we will prepare them to enter the temple to be sealed for eternity.  It has been a blessing to be a part of their journey.

Love Elder Visser

We had a great week.  We have been working really hard and I find that the harder I work the happier I am.  We did have one or two days this week that were tough.  No one was home and no one in the street had time to talk to us but days like these happen and the next day is always better.  This Sunday a friend from my last area came to my ward to visit me so that was a really cool experience.  We also had a baptism here.  It was a kid that my companion has been teaching for a while but he was excited and ready to go.  He is 17 years old and is really special.  My companion will be going home in 4 weeks and I will be getting another one but I am grateful for this chance to be in this area and to work hard.

Love Elder Visser

Being the district leader is a big responisbility

Thanks for the email and updates about home.  

I’m a little rushed today,  we ended up doing some shopping and my computer is pretty bad today so I will do my best to let you know what is going on in my life.  We had a great week.  The only down side was the my companion got a little sick which made it hard for him to work.  I did have the chance to go on an exchange this week and got to work and learn a lot during it.  Exchanges are a lot different now since I’m the district leader.  I get to set everything up and its my responsibility to help out the other missionaries and to help them stay happy and do what’s right.  We are working with two really great people right now and one will be baptized this next Sunday if everything turns out right.  Its been a great experience to stay in the same area for a long amount of time.  I feel like I have gone through so many things in my short time here.  I’ve had amazing experiences and some really tough ones but I am happy for the time I’ve had here.  There's a saying here that we say a lot that goes, “Tudo vai dar certo”.  Which means basically everything will turn out right.  When we put God in front of everything everything will turn out right and tudo vai dar certo. 

 

Thanks for the support and love.

 

Love Elder Visser

A good start to the transfer

This week was amazing.  We got in the area and had to help the other missionaries with there bags and help them find their houses.  That was a long day but a good start to the transfer  My new companion is Elder G. Santo,  he is Brazilian and he will be going home after this transfer.  We are working so hard though and it feels good.  I had several difficult companions in my other area so I have really been enjoying my new area and new companion.  We have the responsibility to take care of 6 other sets of missionaries.  I am still learning but this will be a good chance for me to learn and grow even more.  I gave a talk yesterday in church and I thought it went pretty well.  It was about being obedient.  We have a chapel here that is pretty big with a good sized ward.  Its been a good first week and we have been working super hard.  I am really excited for this next transfer and know that good things will happen.

Love Elder Visser

I am going to be transfered

So the transfers came in and turns out that the two of us our going to be transfered.  At first I was really sad to be leaving the area and all my friends that I have made.  At the same time though it will be a good new start and I am really excited to be going to a new area to make new friends and do good things.  After 7 months in the same area it will be really strange to leave.  If I have the chance I would love to return here one day and visit everyone again.  It was honestly such a great experience to be able to serve in Ferraz.  I feel like I have learned and grown a lot in my time here.  I hope that I made at least a small impact on the members here and helped them out.  I am ready to go to a new area and to do my very best.  I dont have a whole lot of time left on my mission and I want to finish out strong.  I am grateful for the trials that I have been given and because of them I have been able to grow and become closer to my Heavenly Father.  Thanks for all the love and support.

Love Elder Visser

We can learn from all the experiences we have

This week was really interesting for us.  My companion ended up getting sick and the presidents wife told us to stay in until he gets better.  This was dificult for me and I did not enjoy it one bit.  We were able to leave only a couple days this week but even that was hard for him because of all the hills that are in our area.  He asked me Elder why am I sick when I’m doing the Lords work and keeping the comandments?  I told him I don’t know but the one thing I do know is that there is always somthing to learn from every experience we have whether it is a good one or bad one.  If we make a mistake and sin clearly its not a good thing but we can do one of two things.  We can be sad and do nothing or we can learn from our mistake repent and do better.  I also had the chance to give a little talk this Sunday.  I got a call early Sunday morning asking if I could give a talk and I accecpted.  I talked about the Lords timing and plan for us.  Sometimes its very different than what we want and what we are expecting.  I told the story about the canoe trip I went on and how we wanted to leave before the group of girls because they took forever and slowed us down.  We planned everything even got up earlier the next day but for whatever reason we let them go in front of us.  About 2 hours later we found them trapped on the side because their canoes tipped along with all their food and equipment.  It was in the Lords plan that we did not leave before them even when we wanted to really bad.  Who knows if anyone else would have have passed by them that day to help out and probably they would have been stuck for days.  I know that a lot of time we want things to go our way and we want answers fast but we need to remember the will of God is different.  Thanks for the love and support.

 

Love Elder Visser