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.

11/25/24 - Planalto

Here's the google photos

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

Time is going fast. I can't believe that tomorrow I will have been a missionary for 3 months. 

The work in Planalto is fairly slow.  It's a very different are than Vila Luzita.  Vila Luzita has the most media references in the mission so we were running around everyday visiting media references.  Planalto is not like that, it's also tiny and really flat so we're not walking as much and the walking is a lot easier. 

My new companion is a lot more laid back than my last companion.  Which means that a lot of the time we're sitting around not doing much. Also transitioning between trainers is weird.  My trainer right now is very different.

This ward is amazing. There are so many people in this ward who want to help us. They're really involved with the missionary work and want to help spread the joy of the gospel.

This really is the true gospel.  And there is so much joy to find in this gospel. So go share it! There are so many people in this world who are looking for joy in all the wrong places.  Go and show them where they can find real joy. Because the only true and everlasting joy is found through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Em nome de Jesus Cristo, amém.

Até próxima semana

Elder Bliss

A picture of me and Elder Marcal

The church building of my ward, which is also the stake center so it is really big.

Elder Marcal sleeping on a bus

Delta

A photo of us (pretty self-explanatory)

Delta

Churrasco (BBQ) of another ward because our lunch fell through

More decorations to come

11/18/24 - Já uma transferência?

This week has been pretty crazy.  We got transfer news last night and I got to pack everything up that night and now here I am in Planalto A area in the Rudge Ramos (the R's are pronounced like H's zone. It's sad that I had to leave Vila Luzita, I was starting to get to know the members there more. But it'll be a fun adventure.  This area had Sisters in it last transfer so both me and my new trainer Elder Marçal will have to figure the area out. 

In Vila Luzita I was living in a fairly small apartment with 4 Elders, it was really fun and I'll miss it, but this transfer it is just me and Elder Marçal in a good sized house that was meant for 4.  And we have not 1 but 2 balconies if your not including the porch.  And our downstairs neighbors have dogs, so we'll see if I can make friends with them or if they'll just bark at us every day.  One of then already seems fairly friendly so we'll see what happens.  Also all of the dogs are wearing little shirts.  It's pretty funny.

This past week has been pretty great.  We got to teach Michael again and he is progressing very fast.  We taught  him the plan of salvation and he said his mind was blown.  

This really is the true Church on the Earth today.  There is so much about this gospel that brings joy to so many people.  So many people don't know the fullness of joy this gospel can bring to their life.  So go and share it!

I love getting emails from you guys, so keep sending!

Elder Bliss

Here's the google photos

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

Splits with two trainees who don't know Portuguese!  Me and Elder Wright.

Transfers.  I'm going to Planalto

My new area

Lunch transfer day.  My new companion, Elder Marcal, on the left.

11/11/24 - Opa

Once again we were not robbed this week.

This week has been fairly slow. 

My português is getting a lot better.  These last few days i have actually been able to understand a lot of people or get the jist( or gist, I don't know how it's spelled) of what they were saying. And I was able to respond and communicate well enough.

Yesterday we nocked at the wrong house and the people who opened the door are members who haven't been to church in a while.  The reason they haven't been to church is their 5 year old daughter.  While we were there she was literally bouncing off the walls.  It was so funny, they could not get her to hold still. She was jumping on our feet, stealing our tags, grabbing some of our stuff. We thought it was really funny so we were fine with it, but the parents kept telling her to stop but she wouldn't listen.  Hopefully we can help them come to church.

We taught Michael a few times this week and he came to church on Sunday.  He is progressing! During one of out lessons with him near the end I was bearing my testimony and I accidentally said that do not have the physical ability to poop.  Luckily he didn't hear the last word cause I said it quietly and my comp was able to correct me, but it was funny. 

Mormon 8:5 

I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.

The faith that Moroni had is incredible.  He was all alone but he had the Lord by his side too.  So whenever your feeling alone, just remember that Jesus is walking right beside you. He knows how you feel and he wants to help you. Lean on him.  Let him help you. 

Have an amazing week. Amo vocês.

Elder Bliss

PS. Thank you everyone who has sent me an email, I love hearing from you. And sorry if I havent responded, I'm trying to get better at that.

PPS. Here's the google photos

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

A funny sign

A chocolate filled churro.  It was really good.

This dog has the longest hair I've ever seen on a dog, and the owner doesn't plan on cutting it.  The dog also looks like an Ewok from Star Wars.

An Ewok for reference.

Giant bar of chocolate

11/4/24 - One more week down

Again this week there has been no robberies.

Time is flying by, there's only two more weeks in the transfer.

I don't remember most of what has happened this week, but I do remember a few times that I thought " I really need to put this in my email." What all those things, I don't remember, so I'll post some things I do remember.

Português: 

Pretty much every time we talk to someone I have no idea what is happening.  I can talk a bit, but I can't comprehend most of everything. I can kind of pick up what people are saying as soon as soon as they start talking about me. It's pretty much always the same thing, "How long has he been in Brazil?" And, "Does he understand português?"  I have been trying to talk to the natives more, and it has turned in to me asking people to do stuff for me instead of what I was wanting to say, can I do this thing.  At someone's house I wanted to ask if I should close the door, "Posso fechar a porta?" but it turned into "Can you close the door?" "Pode fechar a porta?" And at a members house I wanted to ask if I could fill up my waterbottle but instead I asked if he could fill up my waterbottle.

I did my first street contacts this week! It's kinda fun.  The second person I talked to is super cool.  His name is Michael. He's seems super interested.  We had a follow-up lesson the day after (I think) and he is super into music.  He produces his own music. He's got 2 or 3 synths a guitar, and a KEYTAR!! It's so cool!! After the lesson he started playing it for us.  It is so cool and he is crazy good at it.  I'm going to ask next time we meet with him if I can take a video.

We had the ward Christmas party this week! It was very different to the states. It was a barbecue and pool party.  The food was really good.  

We invited a ton of people to church this week, but sadly only one person came. 

Church history is super interesting.  There is so many crazy little things that happened to restore Christ's church on the Earth.  From a volcano on the other side of the world to an "unusual excitment on the subject of religion".  God is in the details because it is through the details that the end comes to pass.  There are so many little tiny things that make up who we are, how our day went, how our week went and then it just expands from there.  So make those little moments count.  Make the right tiny decision.  Our whole life is built apon those tiny moments, those tiny decisions. 

Have a good week and make it the best week of all.

Vai com Deus 

Elder Bliss

Here's the Google photos

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

Morning picture.  I have a hat.

Elder Graham in front.  Left to right:  Elder Wright, me, Elder Beaumont.

Morning picture. I have a hat again.

A little possum we found on the street.

The gross granulated milk stuff I talked about in my last email.