March 4, 2013

Family,

I am sorry that my english is kinda crappy and that there are a lot of pauses, but this week was really special. We baptized probably my favorite investigator, Stella and it was amazing. Her fiance baptized her and i confirmed her at church on sunday. My comp is going home today and actually, he already left for floripa. he has his interview today and then dinner with president. tomorrow he flies home. it was a really, really neat week for all of us. i don't think i have ever felt the spirit so strongly in my life you guys. at church on sunday... i don't know houw to explain it to you guys. during my testimony i felt it so strongly. i don't know everything and i have questions sometimes, but i know what i feel. and what i feel is that these things are true. moroni 7- moroni taught us that we won't pull bitter water from a good font, and we won't pull good water from a bitte font. if we feel good it's because it IS good. "and all good things come from God."
I love you all so much and i really hope that hannah listens to the spirit. we cannot rationalize eternal truths. a finite mind is unable to prove/ comprehend eternity. but we can believe. if we trust, the Lord with answer. we have to take one step into the darknes and trust that the Lord will illuminate one more.
i have a new companion from spokane! yes ANOTHER american hahaha. so much for serving in brazil right? he is dope. we have already served together in the same zone and were already friends before so this transfer will be great. he is a hard worker, so i am feeling really good about this month.

Amo vocês,

-Élder Grondel jr.

February 25th, 2013

February 25, 2013

YESSSS!!!!

Brady is coming to brazil and is going to a very VERY VERYYY HOT mission. I don't think he has ever seen weather like he will when he gets to the field. I knew that he would come to brazil. I am here, baxter is here... logic clearly states that the 3 b's will stick together haha.

Wow what a relief. i was thinking about him this week, but i was sure he would come to my mission here. i wanted to train him. I don't know how to express to you guys what i am feeling right now... i would have to use the words of nephi and lehi when they were surrounded by a pillar of fire and the voice of the Lord came to them in the prison... "and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory." there are so many good things happening recently... lexi going back to church, getting her GED, brady finishing his papers and getting his call, the little ones living life to the fullest, and here we had 2 more baptisms! :)

I am so stoked you guys. i am really, truly greatful for these many blessing the Lord has given to me and to my family. Even though i am weak, arrogant, and it seems like i shouldn't be so blessed... i am! The Lord loves me and he really loves my family too.

I read helaman 5 today and i loved the chapter! it was soooo good! i was impressed with the examples of just and righteous fathers. In chapter 5 it says that nephi and lehi remembered the words of their father... and the counsel he gave them was amazing and very touching when he explains why he chose their names. He saw heroes inside of his children before they were even born! I love the book of mormon.

I am glad that you liked the letter(s). thank you for the photos!

Amo vocês,

-Élder Grondel jr.

* we did a combined baptism with the first ward... :

February 18, 2013

One word- impressed,

Our family is changing for the better and progressing! That is what the gospel is all about! If i have learned one thing on the mission it is that we must always change and improve. We taught a lady yesterday who, rather sarcastically, asked me: "Do you really think that we need this book of mormon? isn't the bible enough? For me i am satisfied with the bible." ... Do we 'need' the book of mormon? what a funny question. I responded that it is not a question of need, but want. I WANT more words from my father. Imagine if Dad raised me until i turned 18, wrote me a big long letter, and said "well bryce, i love you so much that i wrote this letter for you. so when you need me you can read this letter and you will find the answers you need. i won't write more, i won't talk to you, but you'll know what to do. Good luck!" haha. God is MY heavenly father. He wants me to be happy and successful.

Our lesson on Sunday was about the spirit and following the promptings of the spirit. We are studying the life of lorenzo snow and i really am liking the manual this year. I liked the story of the two friends that saved his life by performing CPR in the 1860's... almost 100 years before CPR was developed by doctors and adopted by the medical community... Interesting huh? The Spirit teaches, reminds, and He guides.

I will be giving a training in our district meeting tomorrow about the importance of asking questions and i remembered a tuesday tip that dad sent me a little while ago. we have to ask brave questions that go beyond the surface. I am so greatful for you guys going above and beyond with quotes, scriptures, pictures... you guys don't have to send extra stuff but you do! i love you so much and hope that i can do the same for my investigators. Pray for Fabíola (Fa-bew-la) and Higor (Ee-gor) they will be baptized on Saturday! :)

The church is true!!!

Amo vocês,

-Élder Grondel jr.

February 11, 2013

O time bem amado,

I am glad to hear that everyone is doing so well. I worry about you sometimes and i want you to know that you have been included in my prayers. The Lord answers our prayers. I know that He does.

I had a dream that brady came to Florianopolis and i trained him in my last transfer... if everything goes as planned, the timing is perfect and this could really happen!

We had lunch with a "less active" family. they are more like slackers with testimonies you know? The oldest boy is 20 and is moving to São Paulo to play soccer professionaly- it is more like a minor league team, but he has made it clear a mission is the last thing on his list of priorities. His mom tried to blame the members, the bishop, and even the home teachers, but me and my comp, we did our best to defend everyone. The problem is dad likes soccer. he likes is so much that in his free time he works as a referee. but his free time includes sundays and more specifically sunday mornings between 9 and 12 (our meeting hours). They even have coffee in the house. And it isn't hidden, it is on the counter for everyone to see. I learned once again the importance of our example. We can't point and tell others where to go. We have to lead not with our finger, but with our body! If you drink coffee, don't go to church, aren't holding family night, and don't do family scripture study or family prayer... why would your son have any desire to serve a mission? It would be surprising if he did.

I have learned so much until now. I don't know where i would be or who i would be without my mission. We taught a family this week about baptisms for the dead and we taught them that their loved ones are not lost. and better yet, they can be the ones that rescue them! They can go to the temple and perform these sacred ordinances for their loved ones. The gospel is perfect. It changes people. we have a family we are reactivating and baptizing and it is amazing to see the changes! They have a light about them. We marked 2 visits with them this week and they both fell through because of sickness and scheduling conflicts. we werent sure if they would be at church, but sure enough they were there :) The church is true.

Amo vocês,

-Élder Grondel jr.