June 26th 2012

You are the best!

I love you guys. This week was so much better. We went above the standard of excellence this week for lessons, investigators at church, and we marked 2 baptisms for this saturday 30/6/12! We are very excited, but it was not easy haha. We worked really hard, planned better, and i found a new confidence this week. I talked to my companion about a few things that were negatively affecting me that he was doing (which i NEVER do, i keep my mouth shut and put up with it) and it really strengthened our companionship. Yesterday during comp inventory we had a really good talk and i am hearing the words of my 3rd companion Elder Martin: "If you serve 2 years, baptize like crazy, but don't learn to love your comp like your brother... you served in vain." I really want to love and this week i really felt like we grew together and individually. Dad, you are a super star. I am impressed every week with what you are doing, where you are going, who you are meeting... and i see how the way was prepared for you. But you had to get up and walk the path. THanks again for your example in hard work. That is the key.

"JUST KEEP SWIMMING!" -Dory (Finding Nemo).

I love you all so much! Sorry for not having a recording, we had 0 free time this week (like it should be haha). But i sent my talk from sunday. I was translating so i hope the grammar and spelling is right :)

Mom and Dad,

Here is a copy of my talk that i gave last Sunday:

An old man going a lone highway,

Came, at the evening cold and gray,

To a chasm vast and deep and wide.

Through which was flowing a sullen tide

The old man crossed in the twilight dim,

The sullen stream had no fear for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,

“You are wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day,

You never again will pass this way;

You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at evening tide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head;

“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,

“There followed after me to-day

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been as naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”

(This is a poem that zack sent me)

We don’t know who is preparing our trail. That young man will not know that the bridge was built for him. He won’t be able shake that old man’s hand and thank him. So how will he show gratitude? How can he show gratitude? Finishing his journey! Enduring to the end. While enduring to the end he will take advantage of the sacrifice that was made. And this, is gratitude. But what happens is that kid doesn’t want to use the bridge…

Brothers and Sisters I owe everything that I have to a 19 year old boy and a 21 year old girl. They stopped everything to serve missions. They built a bridge for me. They learned and knew that one day a young boy, ME, would pass by that river that is the danger of the world today. They stopped everything, turned around and built my bridge so that I could grow up in a secure household full of love and truth. And so that I could avoid the dangers and pitfalls of this life. I can thank them, hug them, compliment, go on and on! But the best way, the way they want me to thank them- what they want me to do? Use the sacrifice that was made. Continue until the end. (Enos 1:1 & 3) Enos is grateful for what? The teachings of God that his father past onto him. What did he want? Forgiveness… And who taught him how to pray? Repent? His dad. (2 Nefi 2:4 & 6-7). Heavenly Father Provided a way by which we can have a life of joy and peace here on the earth and eternal life after. He wants us to use the sacrifice that was made for us. Heavenly Father wants us to accept and use the atonement of Jesus Christ to get to our final destination… His presence. What happens if that kid doesn’t want to use the bridge? What happens if we don’t use the atonement of Jesus Christ? We choose to walk to the river and try crossing alone in the dark. But what does that feel like? (Alma 36:16) We, like alma will recognize the need for the atonement and desire to be cleansed as well (Alma 36:17-19 & 24).

Testemunho…

Sei que Deus é nosso pai celestial. Ele nos ama. Jesus Cristo é nosso salvador. Ele Tomou sobre si nossos pecados e dores. Ele pagou o preço. Ele sofreu a penalidade por pecado para nos resgatar da morte. Ao usarmos a expiação, receberemos a remissão de nossos pecados e nos tornaremos mais semelhante a Cristo. Ele vive e Ele me ama. Em nome dele, Jesus Cristo, Amém

Abraços pra todos!

-Amo vocês!

June 11th 2012

Oh grondels

Hey. What's goin on? I am sitting in the LAN house after a semi crazy week feeling anything but competent. This week i got really sick with a cold. You know sneezing, coughing, blowing your nose until you get that really attractive dry skin around the rim of your nostrils. I think it's sinus infection. remember that whole butterfly thing i used to do when i would blow my nose? hahaha. Yeah. my face hurts. I am going to ask for a blessing today, because it is affecting my ability to teach. the other day i sneezed during a lesson. cool right? WRONG! i sneezed a FAT mess onto my sleeve. i looked at my comp and asked- "pode continuar para mim? faz favor?" then i looked at the family and said: "Com licença" hahaha. i went to the bathroom, cleaned up and came back. it was rough, but a really good family night. We did a trust fall example with faith: Close your eyes, fall, and stay rigid so the other person can catch you. OR... Trust in the Lord and his love. We taught 2 principles- 1: We have to trust no matter how low we feel (how low we get to the ground) & 2: We have to know the person behind us (we have to know the master if we are going to trust in him)

Then i asked: "How can we trust someone that we don't know?" i think this is a good question for all of us. HOW? And then we left the invite/ commitment- what are you going to do to know jesus christ better? What would you be willing to do to know the master?

I was a solid week :) rough, but solid. I had a really neat experience with finding by the spirit this week. We walked by a house that we have already contacted, but a woman was walking into the house and something felt familiar... she paused momentarily and entered the house. We passed and went to the house we had planned to visit. But the lady wasn't home. So, we turned back around and again, something pulled me to that house. So i said: "Elder, A gente tem que bater aqui." Before i could explain who we were the lady asked: "Quer entrar?"- "would you like to come in?" ... YES! She loved the lesson and said that when she saw us pass by, something touched her heart and she knew we would come back, so she waited patiently for us. She accepted the baptismal invite and we will visit her tomorrow!

The church is true you guys. SO FREAKING TRUE! I love this gospel and I love my savior. Heavenly Father loves me.

Amo vocês,

-THE Elder Grondel

June18th 2012

Jacob you are such a super star and i love you! Lexi, you are not allowed to date until you are married. Why don't you understand that?

Hey so you will be able to tell in my recording that this week was my mental break down week. I feel sometimes like i am just the worst missionary. And then i think, "no, you just put more pressure on yourself than any other missionary" and i am so tired of it.

I feel like missionaries are supposed to be happy, right? well then how come i don't feel happy outside of lessons? this sunday we had 5 investigators in sacrament meeting and we a prepping one family for baptism. But that wasn't enough. i was thinking about the families that didn't come, how we could have taught or followed up better. critique is good up to a certain point, but i am killing myself with my expectations. If your really study preach my gospel, there are SO MANY things you can do to be a great missionary. So when i forget to make a call, bring a document, update a teaching record... i get on myself.

I think that i got sick because of stress and the cold. Also, i have been getting acne because of my stress... what in the world? haha.

I want to be happy, i really do! So i believe that your emails were inspired mom and dad. I will try to keep my head up during this week and i will be waiting for that package. Get it out as soon as you can. I still haven't received that package that you sent for my b-day... it usually takes 1-3 months to arrive so get it out soon or i will get gloves and a winter jacket for summer haha.

We found some real neat families this week and i was reminded again the importance of our testimonies. Knowledge is great! But if you don't have a strong testimony of the atonement, why do you need to study calling and election? where is kolob? What happened to Cain? if you don't know the timeline of the book of mormon you have no business trying to study anything else! Our testimony of Christ on the earth will be His testimony of us in the eternities. How can we trust in someone that we don't know?

Elder Bednar gave a fireside here in the Florianopolis area and told everyone, EVERYONE to read Mosiah 20-Alma 50. He said this section of scripture would teach about the life of alma. While reading, he said, become what you read and what you learn... WOW! right? an apostle of Jesus Christ gave us a reading assignment. Lets start tonight! I would for sure read, wouldn't you?

But the people didn't like that too much and left dissapointed. The assignment was "too easy" and "too basic." in the words of one member: "He's an apostle, he's supposed to teach something cool something different or new."

The Gospel isn't something complicated! Faith repentance baptism holy ghost endure to the end... The Lord won't ask us to do something crazy! We will not be instructed to embark on an indiana jones adventure haha. All the Lord asks is a little bit of our time. Sacrifice- Visits (home teaching), prepare your lessons, study the scriptures, go to church, pay your tithing, fast, go to the temple (PLEASE!), renew your covenants and understand them.

I love you guys so much and i will be better this week. More obedient, more smiley, more willing, and more committed!

Amo vocês,

-Elder Grondel

 

 

May 28th, 20012

Not a ton of news, but i have a companion that i have been praying for... forever! He is native, he was the secretary in the bishopric, and he is here to work. He has tons of ideas from his ward and working with members of leadership. I have been praying for help with finding new ideas to teach, find, and to baptize. And all of them came in the form of a nervous Elder from Fortaleza =] He is great, a little timid, but his desire is great. He reminds me a little of Elder Rampton from my district in Provo and São Paulo... except he talks more. I am really excited to work with him. This week we taught some very powerful lessons and he said to me he has never felt the spirit so strongly in his life. Que benção! Without knowing it he told me that he trusts me, that i teach by the spirit, and that this work is real. Today my brother is going to get married. He left the church 5 1/2- 6 years ago but he started to accept the missionaries again. and you know what? today he is starting a journey that doesn't end. He will get married to his beautiful wife, then she is going to be baptized, and after one year (and a little becase they love me and will wait for me to get back) they are going to the temple to be sealed for time (this life) and all eternity (forever!). I have never been so happy in my life and i have never felt the spirit so strongly! This church is truly the church of Jesus Christ! If you have any question or any doubt ask your Heavenly Father! My brother did, his girlfriend did, I did! and we all received the answer and undeniable confirmation that this is the church of Jesus Christ. A única igreja verdadeira na face da terra! The only true church that is lead and guided by a living prophet of God. God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

Amo vocês,

-Elder Grondel

April 16, 2012

I love you guys,

I am so glas to hear that gerrit is continuing the Grondel Athleticism. I started to think this week about our family and how blessed we are. I took 3rd at state, brady was part of a state championship team, lexi was part of dance and now is a track star, jacob and caleb have always been a little ahead of their generation, olivia is a dancing fool, even levi! And then i started to think on the spiritual side. We are a família escolhida! A chosen family! Why us? What makes us special? In truth, nothing. It is what we DO with that nothing that makes us different. We aren't like other families. I am seeing here in the field that i am not like other missionaries. We have been blessed by our Heavenly Father to be leaders among our generation. We are empowered by the Holy Ghost and the priesthood from the time we are born. People here always ask how my parents manage 10 kids!? And i say first, they are amazing. But second, they were great missionaries that learned how to work, plan, and gained maturity. We have a ton of missionaries here, unfortunately that have good intentions but have neglected to learn the value of work. The mission is amazing and is teaching me so much.

I start to recognize blessings that i never noticed before. Also, I am noticing the little trials the Lord sends our way to build us up and to test us. I am starting to love the book of mormon. I really love to read it! weird right? Most missionaries carry it in the back pack, but 2 weeks ago i started carrying it in my hands... the case duh haha. But it makes a big difference. Only 3 more weeks? maybe 4? And i will be calling you guys again! can you believe it? Tempo pass elder... Tempo passa

my city is called: Palhoça (pal-yo-suh)

Amo vocês!

-elder Grondel

PS: Remember who you are. You all ARE different, so act different! Read the scriptures, stay away from things that separate you from the spirit, work hard, be on time, be a leader in your actions.

*I challenge you guys to take your scriptures to school and read during lunch or those little breaks you get. 1 page a day and i promise you will notice a difference! =D

April 9, 2012

Hey gang, Pascoá foi muito legal. We have brazilian mommies here so we got a bunch of chocolate. We went to the bishops house before one of our appointments and he gave us some more chocolate... imported from switzerland... yessir. This week was full of revelation. I am keeping a little notebook for the little things that I receive everyday and writing them down. It's so neat to look back and see how much i have been blessed. The part that is difficult for me is that I wanna be able to share this with my investigators and we haven't had a ton of success teaching. But this week everything changed. The training that we received during mission conference completely changed my outlook on the mission, the work, my life! President Fernandes teaches so well and so plainly but with so much power. the goal setting and reinforcement of faith has pushed me to believe! I really am ready to commit to this work. Not that i haven't been. I have just doubted at times or been more concerned with the thoughts of others. "They aren't going to like this..." "They can't understand my accent" "I don't have the vocabulary to teach this principle" ... Doubts and lack of faith. So this week i received much needed counsel from on high.  I have been blessed with a LOT more patience than i had and part of my goals is my attitude. I still have so much work to do... and from you have said it sounds like i haven't made the progress i have been seeking. I love you guys and really appreciate the help with this. Never give up: good--->better-->BEST (rinse and repeat)

Amo vocês!

-Elder Grondel

 

March 26, 2012

A lot to reply to and not too much time, but i wanted to tell you guys how much i love you. And how glad i am that i grew up in a home of 2 returned missionaries. Not just missionaries though, 2 missionaries that returned with honor and didnt let the mission end at two years. I was reading in D&C a while back, i dont remember where, but i believe sidney rigdon was being called to serve and the Lord said: "Vão dois em dois pregando minha palavra" two in two preaching my Word. The mission doesnt end at two years! After you get back you are still called to find a worthy companion that will serve with you to teach your children. Two in two... we were teaching an incomplete family ( dad is not a member) and from what i saw he has no interest. he has received lessons from missionaries, bishops, mission presidents, his wife, his kids... nada. How dificult it must be for his wife. To walk the straight and narrow virtually alone. How can you teach your kids the word of wisdom when dad smokes and drinks? How can you teach them proper principals alone? I am running really low on time today! ughhh. But I had a really neat experience this week with a lady we ran into on the street. She told us about some problems she wanted to resolve before going to Jesus for help. For the first time in my life i literally had my tongue loosened. The spirit spoke through me in a way i dont know how to explain. It was like i was watching myself teach. the church is true and the recording i made is about lady who has not gone to church for 7 years. but yesterday she came and momma, poppa that is better than any baptism.