Email 08/21/17

Thank you for letting me know about Great Grampa giving up the ghost. I received a bunch of information from Grammy about this in her email. I had forgotten that Great Grandpa served in the Korean War. I can view the video (you sent).  The main problem is finding a computer with sound that works. I will have to view it next week. Yes, Jeffrey is starting the High School Experience. I hope he is ready. Thank you for this information. I am happy to hear that so many of the family could be gathered at one time.

The importance of missionary work is great. The Lords need it to happen to save the righteous and condemn the wicked. Without missionary work the judgments that the Lord wishes to send on the wicked would not be just seeing as they do not as yet have sufficient knowledge to condemn them; but on a lighter note it is needed to gather the Lord's elect from the four corners of the earth. The blessings from fulfilling missionary work are tremendous. As it says in my Patriarchal Blessing: "As I accept and fulfill responsibilities within the priesthood, I will be approved and worthy of the blessings of Heaven." I have been already receiving many blessings as I have been fulfilling my responsibilities with the priesthood, I have been called to fulfill. I have grown much since I left our house on Nickel way. The Lord gave me much light and truth, since then until now. I am understanding the scriptures even better than I was before.

Things are going pretty well. Our investigators are progressing. We had two baptisms this last Saturday in our ward. They were investigators of Elder Mendez's and mine before he transferred to his new area. He came back with his new companion and baptized one of them. Their names are Renata, and her son Lucas. The Father of the family has not as yet accepted the invitation to be baptized, but he is still attending church meetings with his wife and son. We will be need to visit them more and persuade him to be baptized little by little. The Lord is still blessing me for my endurance in Rondonópolis. I am very grateful he was keeping watch over me. I need to continue enduring for in the future the tribulation will only get greater on the elect until it becomes so great that the Lord must shorten those days in righteousness, or no flesh would be saved; but for the righteous' sake those days shall be shortened.

My new companion, Élder W. Silva, is from the tribe of Judah. This may make things a bit interesting considering the fact that our tribes were historically rivals, but so far he has been chill. I am grateful for the variety of companions I have had.

I forgot to mention I finally baked my birthday cake and I have photos in Drive. I hope you find it a little amusing. I know the Brazileiros found it a bit. We did our best with the resources we had. It turned out delicious. Thank you for sending it to me. I may be able to eat the pasta during the duration between now and the end of the transfer.

Thank you for the scripture. I have been thinking about another scripture, from time to time, within the Bible dictionary under shewbread; the last line. I like it. Thank you for the photos. I hope you are taking well the passing of your Grandfather to the world of spirits. He will definitely do well as a missionary. I will miss our Grandpa. Até mais.