Week 39 ~ Guess what Sickness I've got this week :VWU

It is always good to email Elder Vester. He seems to be doing OK this past week, he has challenges but I think that comes with serving a mission. He just keeps moving forward, I am very proud of him.
Enjoy his email:

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So, I found this club in downtown central; lol

Lol, so, I'm sure you've all forgotten my now. But several months ago, I was living with my good buddy Elder Christensen. He had to go to the states for surgery, and when he came back, he was infected with a skin bacteria. It caused rashes, blisters, redness, and lots of scratching.

:D I caught it, and after 5 weeks of suffering, I finally verified it with the medic, and I'm infected, and contagious. 

YAY MEEEEEEE~

We baptized this little girl, Mayara, (long story)

So, this week, we got to teach and baptize a wonderful little girl by the name of Mayara, (I don't have enough time to attach photos, hit up the blog, my mom has them.) We had lots of opposition for this little girl to be baptized. It seemed as though the very jaws of hell had opened to prevent this little girl from being baptized; I could go into detail about all the stuff that happened, but that would just be a long email full of complaining. lol And we all know I'm the best at complaining. So, I wont burden you.

But, this girl is awesome. She knows the answers to many questions, and remembers all the commandments.

In fact, on Saturday, she was literally crying for her grandpa to take her to her baptism early. (It was at 3, and she showed up at 2.)

But, we had to heat up the water for her. lol

If there is only 1 thing I have learned this week, it's to trust in the Lord, but, that having faith is not enough. You need to act, too. As we learn in James, Faith without works is Dead. I can have all the faith in the world that I will be lead to the people who will accept the Lord's Restored Gospel, but if I do not put my faith into action, and talk to as many people as I can, I will never find the Lord's Elects.

The commandments are a perfect example of this. For example. I have faith that if I keep the word of wisdom, that I will have better health, more stamina, and greater physical capacity, but if I don't have enough faith to live this commandment, I'll never enjoy the blessings the Lord has for us.

I can have faith that I will teach a lesson with the guidance of the Spirit, but if I do not study the scriptures, and let virtue garnish my thoughts, I'll never be able to understand the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

And so, my invite to all of you is this.

Exercise your faith.

If you're a non-member reading this, I ask you to take the courage to find out why I left my wonderful home, of cushy comfort, to one of the hottest countries in the world, to walk all day long, and to have doors slammed in my face.

And to you members. trust in the Lord, and ask one of your non-member friends to come make a visit with you.

I've seen the worse that can happen, and you guys have it easy!

Love you all, and pray for you often. <3

Com Amor

~Élder Vester

 

 And some other random silly photos.

Week 38 ~ The Hills are alive, with my blood and sweat~ VWU

Thank you for all of your happy thoughts, I think it worked. Elder Vester seemed much better on Monday, at least he didn't seem too overwhelmed with everything.
Enjoy his email:

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Hey Yall.

This week has been good!

Lots of doors knocked, lots of people in the street contacted, lots of new people taught, and lots of sweat spent hiking up these hills.

So, I really don't have any fun stories or whatnot to share. So, Let me teach you a parable.

There was once a gardener. This gardener was very wise, and knew what was best for his garden.

This gardener had many children.

The duty of the children was to help their father in the Garden.

Many listened, and answered the call of the gardener, and many did not.

The work of the children was to tend the garden, and to plant the seeds.

The children had to first repair the earth, removing the weeds, and turning the soil. Then, they had to plant the seeds.

However, the children found that some parts of the soil was richer then others.

The children would dance with delight to see the first shoots of the plants come forth, and would water them, excitedly waiting for the plant to grow.

However, the children learned after time, that because of the nature of the soil, seeds would grow at different rates, and some, not at all.

And after enough time, the children would leave the garden, and the younger children would take their place, learning from the examples of the other workers, and learning by their own experience; 

The children that left were always sad to leave the seeds they had planted, and cared for, for so long, and much love, or too see the plants wither, and die.

This, is much how Missionary work is.

Only the gardener, Our Heavenly Father over sees the fruits of all our labors.

The seed, is the word of god, and the children working in the garden are the missionaries.

The soil is the non-members, and the water is the spirit.

Every day, I see the seeds I plant. Some, are growing, and becoming strong plants. Others have sprouted, and withered, some I have yet to see grow.

But all the same, we are planting seeds.

How does the parable end?

Only Heavenly Father knows. 

But my work I've been given is not over; Not even close.

I have only been here for 8 months, and I am so grateful I still have many more months to work here in Brazil, teaching the people of our Savor Jesus Christ.

I have a bus trip tomorrow to Vitória tomorrow, so I'll be getting letters from the last 6 weeks!

:D Yay!

I love you all, and wish you well.

<3

Com Amor

Èlder Vester

I bought new headphones~ pretty, yes?

Some members opened a lanchonette, and I took pics~

Week 37 ~ Happy thoughts for Elder Vester ~ WVU

Well it has been one of those weeks for Elder Vester. He really needs your happy thoughts. He is experiencing the real world out there and doesn't like it very much. Him and his companion have anew location to be in charge of and it is always hard when there is change. I know the people in the area where he was serving really loved him, so it will just take time for the people in the new area to know and love him, and they will because he is very lovable! So transfers are this week and he in in the same location with the same companion just a different area.
Please remember him in your prayers and send happy thoughts his way.
There are just pictures from Elder Vester this week.

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The sky was pretty, and I was too, so I took a photo~

Dirstric Cachoeiro!

Dirstric Cachoeiro!

My little chocolate/ice cream bonbons. c:

I'm so pretty~

Taco Night with Lucimar

I've started drawing again!

And Lunch with Michelle and Ivaldo.

She burnt the chicken. lol

Week 36 ~ So, I'm all old and stuff now. VWU

Had a great time on skype with Elder Vester, it was wonderful to be able to see and hear from. The people in his Ward really love him, they kept going on and on about what a great job he is doing and that they call him there white son! They took up a half an hour tell us how wonderful Elder Vester is, something that we already knew.

A picture of us talking on Skype for Mother's Day.

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Email from Elder Vester:

 

 

So, what's new with the Vester?

This week, not too much. The work has come to a halt, and we're trying to find out what we can do better. Not every week can week can be hunky-dory as a missionary. lol

But, I'm doing well. I'm a little tried of falling commitments, and such, but, It's all good. 

I know the  Lord has a hand in everything going on, and that he's leading us to the people who truly want the Gospel in their lives.

Also, many thanks for all the birthday wishes!

So, enjoy my crazy photos; Cuz I sure do~

 

 

 

I found a possum in the tree in the church. Who knew Brazil had these things?

My big black Cachoeiro family. <3 They threw a party for me. WITH 3 DIFFERENT KINDS OF CAKE. #Loved it

I went shopping for my birthday last week. Lefoll took pictures for me. :D

and another one

and another one

I love the one with Toast. Just tell me that I'm not beautiful with overly burnt toast.

This is the view from where we had lunch on Sunday.

 

Week 35 ~ May is the Month of Magic! :VWU

What a sweet tribute to Elder Vester's momma. He made me cry. I couldn't ask for anything better than this, except maybe to be able to talk to him on Sunday for Mother's Day! We get to skype - can hardly wait! Won't be able to talk to him as long but at least we will get to see him and talk to him!

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Here is his sweet email:

Just in case ya'll forgot. VWU means Vester's Weekly Update.

So, as far as the work goes, this week has been very, very hard. Lots of rejection, lots of people not showing up, and lots of slammed doors. But, such is the life of a missionary. So, rather then focusing on something sad this week, I'll write about someone very special to me.

And Behold another part of my area. This Barro is called Baiminas.

It's FULL of mosquitoes. ew. - He told me he was being pretty!

My Momma.

This last Sunday was 2 anniversaries. 1, 8 months of mission for Elder Vester (6 months in the field.) and 40 years in the church for my mom and dad.

What a blessing it has been for me to have been born in the church, and to have been raised by the amazing mother I have.

She was born and raised in less then favorable circumstances, and she's come out on top. She is an amazing example to me of strength, inner-peace, and  pure will power.

I am nothing without my mother. Half of who I am, I owe to her. She has been so strong in the Gospel, and I could not have asked for a better mother.

because God knows that She was the only woman capable of putting up with my craziness. She's amazing, and I love her.

I've truly come to realize just how much my mother did for me when I was at home, and how much she continues to do for me here in the mission field.

Do you guys know, that every day she gets up at 4 in the morning, just to be able to chat with me as I write my emails? 

Do you know, that every week, she writes me a letter, and every week, she bares her testimony of the Gospel.

And every week, she tells me exactly what I needed, to get over the trial I was facing.

Do you know just how wonderful my mother is?

No. But you can imagine.

She's what makes the month of May magical. She's my rock, and knows exactly what to say; She's soamazingly close to the spirit, that she is able to feel when I am having a hard time, and somehow, it's always the exact moment when I feel like this is too much, and I cant go on.

I know that Heavenly Father hears the prayers of mothers, and he answers them. I know that every day, my mother pleads on her knees to Heavenly Father, to bless me with protection, and with people who would be willing to accept us into their homes, to teach the Gospel, and to have the strength it carry on.

And I know, that a huge part of the reason I am always feeling the hand of the Lord sustaining me in this work, is because of the tender love of my mother.

Like the 2000 stripling warriors, I doubt not, nor do I fear.

Why?

Because My mother taught me.

I love you mom.

We then went to the Young Men's President's house for a FHE and parteh~

T'was cute.

And I cant wait to talk to you next week.

Monday was my companion's birthday, he went fishing. Behold, his fish. lol

Stay beautiful everyone!

This is is what happens when I leave for 5 minutes, and don't guard my camera. Yay. Looks to me like he is getting into kissing the fish!

I love you all, and miss you all.

But mostly my momma.

:P

Tchazinho.

Elder Vester

Week 34 ~ Lia Lia Lia Lia Blessings~VWU

Elder Vester seems to be doing well. I am so blessed to have him serving the Lord. Just a reminder that his birthday will be May 11 ~ I know that he would love to hear from all of you, even if it is just a short e-mail.

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So, Hey ya'll.

This week was so stinking long. You don't even know.

 Here is me being beautiful. Like it?

It's at the secretary office lá in Vitória. 

Yeah, more bus trips. xD

Alright. So, this week, lots of good things happened. I've learned how much better Brazilian churros are then Mexican churros, and I have no idea how to make popcorn from scratch anymore. lol

Today is my companion's birthday. He's going fishing with Elder Lefoll, and Elder Paez and I are sitting at home. :D JUNIORS FTW. (for the win)

Tuesday, we went to Vitória for a zone meeting, and interviews with president. It turned out really well. :D I got lots of letters, and I loved it.We were totally exhausted that day, and when we got home, we grabbed another bus for 40 minutes, The edge of our area, in Monte Bello, and we started to teach Lucimar. It's amazing to see just how fast the spirit can work with someone's heart when they are prepared by the Lord to receive the fullness of the Gospel. I love this work, and I love being able to help other people come to a knowledge of the love of our savior, and be counted as one of his sheep, and be one with his fold.

<3 Lucimar. The newest member of Ala 1 em Cachoeiro, estaca Cariacica.

Really, that's about it that has happened this week. I bought me some silly t-shirts for my birthday, and I'll be sending pictures the Monday after. 

<3 I'm excited to talk to all the wonderful people I call my family in 2 weeks.

I really do miss all of you, and pray for every single one of you.

Lucimar's fantastic (That's him and Lara, his girlfriend.)

I'm so grateful to be here in the mission. It's by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But, I know that one day it will all be worth it. Up till now, It's the best decision I could have made. I have learned so much about myself, and about what I am capable of, and I encourage all of you who are considering on going, to go! The lord can't bless you if you stay at home!

Feijão check. My teeth are beautiful. :D

I have a testimony of this work. It will go forth till it has covered the face of the earth.

The church is True.

I know this, not because I was born in the church. But, because I prayed, and asked God for myself. I stand as a witness, that this is the right path. And I, in my weaknesses, have been made strong in the Lord's  hand.

Avante! Avante pra Vitória! (Advance, advance to victory)

Stay close, stay beautiful, and may god bless you all. <3

~Elder Vester

 

 

 

Week 33 ~ I’ve been singing “Tomare” ~ VWU

I just realized that I haven't posted Elder Vester's e-mail this week, please forgive me. Jacob seems to be doing well.
Just a reminder that his birthday is May 11, and it would be great if you received lots of mail or e-mails, wishing him a Happy Birthday, after all he will be 20!
No pictures this week, as you will read the internet was too slow.
Here is his e-mail:

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Hello everyone~

This week has been very long, and I am currently writing in English, in a Portuguese version of Microsoft word 2003. It’s cute, right?

Lets seeeeeee~

This week, there has been a lot of personal struggle, especially with what happened this weekend. Elder Quiroz and I seem to have a problem with our investigators vanishing right after they have accepted the Lords invitation to be baptized. The Zone Leaders called us Saturday night, asking us to visit everyone who had been to church last week, or anyone who had a baptismal date fall through, and challenge them to be baptized. So, we started with the people who had the least possibility to be baptized. We got there, and  Lucimara was there, with her cousin Aline. We taught the restoration, and when the spirit was at it’s strongest, I asked “How are you feeling right now?” Lu replied “Normal. As always. I never feel this spirit thing.” However, Aline said “ I feel this warmth, and inner peace, very tranquil.” So, we testified that the spirit was touching her heart, that she was being witnessed to, by the spirit, that our message was true. We challenged her to be baptized, on Sunday, after church. She accepted, and so, we made the plans, and got everything set to go. We visited the other 5 people, and no one else accepted the challenge, so a little dishearten, we went back to the apartment. The next day we went to her house at 8:15 to pick her up, and we knocked for 45 minuets, no one answered the door. We tried for so long, that the neighbors upstairs got angry at us, and told us to leave.

I’m not sure what Heavenly Father is trying to teach me from this experience, but I’m being positive.

I also caught come kind of bug last night, and I’m feel horrible. I was up till 4 this morning with diarrhea. So, I’m a little blah today. However, all is well, and I look forward to the week. I have a Zone meeting in Vitória tomorrow, and I’ll get letters!

<3 I’m all kinds of excited for that. I’ll be writing some letters and whatnot. <3

So, all in all, I can't complain too much. Just another day in the neighborhood. <3

I’m at a horrible Lanhouse, so I doubt I’ll get photos to yall this week. Sorry. D:

Love you all to no end, and think of you all fondly~

Tchaozino

Elder Vester

Also, I’ve been singing “Tomare” under my breath as a theme song for the last several days (From the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumya) –The one dub by Chrstiana V- just as a random side note.

I’ve yet to loose my anime nerdiness. <3