12/30/24 - Christmas and Transfers

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! This really is a special time of year.  

Every families Christmas traditions are different and it's escpesialy different in another country. For my family, on Christmas Eve night we all settle down get into pajamas which we get as our first Christmas present, and read stories. Some stories we read are "Davy and the First Christmas", "The shiniest star", and "The Night Before Christmas". But, here in Brazil, at least the family we spent Christmas with, Christmas Eve night is more like a New Years party. We stayed up till midnight eating, singing kareokie and talking, and did a count-down for midnight. Towards the end of the countdown everyone got in a circle and help hands. When the clock struck midnight everyone shouted "Feliz Natal!" And there were songs sung as we hald hands and swayed like the Whos from The Grinch. After everyone went around and said feliz natal to everyone in the circle. Some of them kissed. And then everyone went and opened presents.  

For Christmas I was able to call my family and for Christmas Eve too, so I wasn't really homesick which is good. I brought a box full of presents with me since Christmas was so close so I had some presents to open. Also my parents sent a package with a bunch of candy and other things for Christmas so it's felt farely normal. I've also been worried about eating all my candy because of transfers, don't worry though, it was taken care of. One of my presents was a keyboard which will be realy nice to write emails on, sadly, I had to write most of this one without the keyboard cause and I'm writing this in the Uber on the was to our new area. but I was able to finish on the keyboard. It is really nice.

Guess who is out of training!! I guess I'm a full fledged missionary now. Still the junior companion, but I'm out of training!

Transfers are today. Yep, right after Christmas and right before New Years. A little weird, but there's nothing I can do. But I'm moving again. I am also staying with my same companion, which is not very common to stay with a companion and move areas. We are going over to Magine B which is in the Mauá Zone. I've heard there's a ton of hills over there so, bring it on.  

So, that's basically my week.  

Christmas is such a special time of year. You should go watch the Christ child. It's am amazing depiction of the first Christmas and how special. The spirit is so strong while watching that video.

See you all next week, tchau!

Elder Bliss

And as always, here's the google photos.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQG3K68BLWXZWLEz8

Old square body trucks are everywhere here.

First burger in Brazil. (12/24/24)  I've had better, but it was pretty good!

The aftermath.

12/23/24 - Polícia!

Alright this weeks been very Interesting. 

Also, it's almost Christmas already? How'd we get here

On Wednesday we got to go to the Temple with Daví's family to visit the Vilazinho De Belém (little village of Bethlehem) exibit they have going on there right now.  A ton of lights a massive Christmas tree, and the Temple. It was amazing.  And Daví's mom and a bunch of questions we were able to answer. It was a really amazing experience for us and especially for them.  Also, Daví was baptized yesterday!! It was so amazing.  Daví chose the Bishop to baptized him and then I had the great, but scary experience to confirm him a member of the church, give him the gift of the Holy Ghost and give him a priesthood blessing.  I didn't find out I was going to do that untill a few minutes before.  Also, as a reminder, everything had to be in português. The bishop saod that he would help me out, so that was really nice to have him there, but along with him the gift of tounges was right there too.  It was an amazing experience.  I'll put photos of both the Temple and the baptism on the email and also the google photos (https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQG3K68BLWXZWLEz8)

The other exciting event this week happened on Friday.  We found out Thursday that we would be doing a division (an exchange as it's called in other places)  and I would be going to the Polícia Federal to do all the leagal work so I can stay here in Brazil for next couple years.  So Thursday night I packed my bag for an overnighter and got in an Uber with another greenie, Elder Zaehringer at around 10:30pm.  We got to the house of the office secretary missionaries at around 11 that night and ot wasnt untill around 12 that we finally went to sleep.  And then at 5am we got up to get ready to go to the Polícia Federal to be there by 7.  I think there was around 13 in my mission that went that day.  We went there with the missionaries who are in the Brazil MTC and a few other missions including the Campinas mission who there was a Sister from my MTC district there Sister Nelson.  Most of the Polícia Federal was waiting around and it didn't take too long so it was good.  Then after we went and got lunch with the secretaries at a buffet near the mission office.  The food was pretty good, but I don't know if buffets are truly buffets if they run out of food.  Overall the expected was really fun.  10/10 would recomend.

Another random experience this week, we were walking to the store on Saturday to grab some bread and this drunk dude at a churrasco told us to come grab some food and some drinks (they had soda).  Also, it's really hard to understand drunk people in foreign toungs.  Half the time he tried to communicate with me he just looked at me with a drunk smile and noded his head, then he'd point at the food.  Really strange but interesting experience, also 10/10 would recommend.

I've started reading Saints this week and it's such an amazing reminder of what the early Saints did and the sacrifices they made. There are so many examples of people who literally gave everything they had to offer for this restored gospel.  We can learn so much from the early Saints.  They were such good people (in general and not indidualy).  They had to have so much faith to give everything up, they really had an eye single to the glory of God.  They were hard working, you had to be to travel thousands of miles by foot/waggon.  There are so many examples of good traits that they had that we, especially me, need to work on in our lives.  My invite for you this week is to pick a trait and think of it like a pioneer, try to live with that trait like your life depended on it, it was like that for them. And as always this Christmas season remember Christ our Lord.  Remember he is the reason we celebrate Christmas and the day he was born is one of the most important days in history.  

Have a very...

Elder Blissfull Christmas

Daví's baptism!! 

The Christas at the Temple with the Christmas tree reflecting on the glass

Christmas Tree!

Tiny lizard i caught in the chapel.  Just look at the light in his eyes. After I grabbed him he just chilled on my arm for about an hour untill I went to play soccer, then I let him go. 

Massive moth I caught also in the chapel

Grabbing strange animals/insects is fun.

12/16/24 - Partys!

This week has been reallly fun, but really slow with the work.  I'll explain later.

Tuesday we had our Christmas Zone Conference, basically a party.  It was so fun! There was food, a talent show, bingo, games, a video compilation from our families at home, presents and a special guest.  I've got videos of it on my Google photos, go check them out *subtle hint* https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQG3K68BLWXZWLEz8

Presendent Queiroz and everyone else got really into the bingo game and everyone was yellling.  Presendent Queiroz had a blast running the game and it was so funny to see his face while we were playing.  I got a new tie as a Christmas gift from Presendent Queiroz to all the Elders, also on the google photos if you want to see. It nice to have another tie to choose from now.  The special quest played Moana in the Brazilian version of Broadway.  She also sings in the Portuguese youth album.  She is a really good singer.  She sang How Far Ill Go from Moana in português it was super cool.  Her name is Nicole Luz.

Wednesday was a slow day cause Elder Marçal got sick and was dying.  We got some work in that night but he was dying the whole time so it wasn't a lot.

Thursday he got a little worse cause he pushed himself too much but i got some good studying in.

Friday was pretty much the same.

Saturday was the second party of the week. The ward Christmas Party.  It was super fun. Tons of food, a special message about Christ, a ton of investigators (huge win for us) and a bunch of desert after.  And some members gave us a Christmas gift of a bunch of candy.  The gift of toungs really came in cluch for this party.  I was able to talk more português than I ever have in my life.  I was chatting it up with all the people there, which is great cause I'm a pretty quiet person, so it was more than just the gift of toungs in a language sence. One of the members even said to me, "I came here to eat not to talk, go get some more food" (he speaks English)  that's one of the first times that's happened to me so massive blessings this week over here.

Sunday:

I mentioned last week that we had Daví on date for this Sunday but it got moved to next Sunday, so next Sunday will be good.  And the other Elders in our ward had a baptism yesterday so that was amazing to see. There really is a special spirit there when you get to witness someone making their first covenant with God.

Spiritual thought:

This week I've been reading a little bit in Genesis.

Genesis 25: 31-34

     31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 

     32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 

     33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 

     34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

It reminded me of Brad Wilcox's talk in October of this year.  He said members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are entrusted with a birthright.  A birthright is a responsibility to take care of others and because of the added responsibly we get more of the inherentance, extra blessings. Use those extra blessings to serve those around you and like Brad Wilcox said, Never give up this birthright you've been entrusted with.  My invite for you this week is to go read or listen to his talk, it is so powerfull, and then after right down what you're thinking and feeling.  And then act on those promptings!  

Tinha uma ótima semana!

Elder Bliss

BINGO!  Zone Christmas Party - Dec 10, 2024

Really weird looking 4 door Fusca

Wagonvolts?

Tie I got at the Christmas Zone Conference

These are the big things to get for Christmas here.  They are really good!

12/9/24 - Boa Noite

Join the google photos!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQG3K68BLWXZWLEz8

This ones gonna be short because... procrastinating. 

The work is moving on finally, we had a few lessons this week!!  We've got Daví on date for baptism next week!  

Scripture thought.  God loves you and he wants to help you.  Let Him!!

Have a good week

Elder Bliss

Outback Steakhouse that was in the mall.

Banana

Owl bear

I am safe

Getting ready for Natal (Christmas)

Christmas decorations (the deer move a little)

A beehive inside a tree

A lizard on the door of the chapel, you can see it better in the reflection

12/2/24 - The week of the slamming doors

Here's the Google photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQG3K68BLWXZWLEz8

This week the work has been pretty slow again, I guess that comes with opening an area.  But this week we have some lessons marked, so it'll start speeding up.

Thanksgiving was this week, I hope all of you had a great time.  We made l this Thanksgiving a Peanuts Thanksgiving. (Peanuts as in Snoopie and Charlie Brown like it's called here in Brazil) It was really fun.  Most of Thanksgiving day was spent at the mission tour with Elder Schmeil of the 70.  He came and talked to the mission.  Though it wasn't super effective for me cause it was entirely in português and my understanding is still not good.  It was really cool to see the entire São Paulo Sul mission in one spot.  And to see a bunch of people I knew, and didn't know, and to eat a whole ton of chocolate boarderd pizza. Seriously I don't know what I'll do when I get back to the states and the don't have chocolate borders.  It is sooo good.  I am grateful for chocolate, pizza, and especially chocolate in pizza.  BTW white chocolate boarderd pizza is best.

The reason for the title has needs some background, and a little ranting.  For all of you who are still in the middle/north part of the northern border, I am very jealous.  While it's getting cold for you guys, summer is just getting underway. A lot of this week has been from the 80's into the lower 90's and it's just gonna keep getting hotter. I am ready for some cold weather, but I've still got to wait for a while.  But back to the title.  There is no air conditioning here where I'm at, so the only way to keep cool is by fans and wind.  So whenever we're in our house, we keep the doors to the balconies open which cause glorious wind.  As a side effect, at times the wind will catch a door just right and it will slam closed really hard. It's happened a lot to us this week and get a little laugh when we're walking down the street and here a door slam in someone's house. 

Spiritual thought.  I've read a bunch of 3 Nephi about Christ's teachings to the people here in the America's. 3 Nephi 11 is such a good chapter it will bring the spirit when you read it, but what often gets overlooked, at least by me, are the chapters directly after it.  Those are the teaching of Jesus Christ, what he wants us to hear, and how his church is to be established.  My invite for you this week is to read 3 Nephi 11 and when you finish, just keep on reading.  There's so much good stuff in these chapters. And then always remember to pray about what you read and the Holy Ghost will testify to you that it is true. 

I love hearing from everyone, shoot me an email.

Tenha uma ótima semana

Elder Bliss

Missao Brasil Sao Paulo Sul

Pizza!!

Our Peanuts Thanksgiving

The baptism of Michael which I sadly wasn't able to attend.