Elder Slaugh my Second Son; Mission Weeks 41 & 42; Area: Dalcol; Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil

 Yoooo, so a lot has happened so let's get into it.

 2 weeks ago

It was my last day with Elder Cutler and we went to a place called Buraco do Padre. Which was really cool. Some members took us out there and we had a great time. Definitely will be going back. Then the next day I said goodbye to both of the Elder Cutlers and I received my new companion…Elder Slaugh. Elder Slaugh is a pretty cool dude. A little quiet but absolutely funny when he speaks. He is from Draper Utah and is a State Soccer player. He has been fitting in perfectly down here. That week was basically walking around, easing him into the mission and helping him get his bearings. We visited many people and we practiced talking and grammar. It's been pretty fun to see his language growth in the past two weeks.

 Batismo!!!

Yo we had our first baptism of the transfer. Our friend Apolo ran up to us last week and said he could be baptized. To explain, his brother João Victor was baptized on the 30th, but his mom wouldn't let Apolo because she said he was too young. Well, on Wednesday, we walked down to the park where we always teach all the kids and he runs out saying “ELDER ELDER ELDER EU VOU BATIZAR, MÃE DEIXOU!!!” He was so excited and we were too. We got everything planned and everything went perfectly, we got him and all of his friends and some family to go and watch. He was so happy after and I gave him a shirt and a tie to wear. They are all great and wonderful kids, and it was Elder Slaugh's first baptism. So, pretty lit!!

 Flying Talk

On Sunday I gave the following talk to the ward. I had basically one night to prepare it so don't judge too harshly, lol.  I'll also send the version in Portuguese:

Good Afternoon brothers and sisters. I'm pretty sure everyone already knows me, but to be safe. I'm Elder Hyatt and I really love Planes. I love them so much that I'm going to talk about them briefly.

A few years ago I was training and practicing to receive my pilots license. A pilot's license is different from any other license because once you have it you are a pilot for the rest of your life and will never need to get a new card. In order to get your license you need to pass 3 tests: first the written exam, second an oral exam, and the last being the actual flight exam. I failed the written test the first time. My dad was not very pleased. However there is a nice thing about the aviation test, it tells you in bold all the things you are horrible at and need to do better. I felt sad and embarrassed because not only did I fail, I failed my dad who was helping me and guiding me and telling me what to do. My dad had paid for the test and to get me the resources to study, but I didn't do everything I could have and I fell short when the test came. It wouldn't be till many months later when I went to college that I would pass the written test after being placed in a large classroom with more people who were all trying to learn. How glad I was after all the effort I put in which allowed me to be a pilot today.

Brothers and sisters I tell this story not just to talk about planes, but because there is an interesting lesson I learned that can be applied to all of us. We are all taking these tests now. Our lives are us taking these tests which our Father in Heaven has paid for. He has given us the resources to study and to practice so that we all can live in the Celestial kingdom with him, but what if we fail in this life. What happens if we finish the written test, but never take the actual flight test? What happens if someone moves on into the next life without ever making a covenant with God? Are they lost forever destined to never return to the presence of the Father? No, they are not. We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints know that our Heavenly Father had a plan for them and that plan included Temples.

Temples are the House of the Lord. They are the holiest place on the face of the Earth. Their purpose is to help families be eternal, and to help those who failed their tests or who never had the opportunity to take the actual flight test. We know from the scriptures that Christ after his death went and taught those in the Spirit world. I imagine they were probably all sitting down in a classroom taking notes learning so that they could pass the test afterwards. We know with assurity that God loves all his children and wants us all to return to his presence. The Temples are sacred places where we can help our loved ones by performing ordinances on behalf of them. I remember the time I had the opportunity to be baptized for my grandpa Valdo. The strong feeling of joy and peace that I felt, I will never forget. At that moment I knew that he had passed the tests. 

I have been very blessed to be a Missionary here in Ponta Grossa because every 3 weeks we get to go to the temple and I have the opportunity to do the work for my ancestors. When we are there I feel the peace and power of the Lord as a radiant testimony saying, “If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” 

Brothers and Sisters we have a mighty work to do. We need to not take for granted the resources that our Heavenly father gave us. Not just here on earth but for our ancestors as well. They too need our help so they can pass their test and live as an eternal family with us in the life to come. I urge everyone to try and visit the temple as often as possible, for I have received many answers and blessings every time I have gone. I promise you all that you will come to a greater understanding of the beautiful Plan of Salvation the more you do family history and temple work. I'm forever grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who gave us all a second chance so that we may inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. I leave with you these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 Traveling

As of right now I am on a 2 hour bus ride to Curitiba to meet with President Bikman tomorrow morning…well not exactly. All new missionaries have a training in their first transfer to ask questions to President. So yeah we will be staying with my good friend Elder Araujo who was my Zone Leader, how fun it will be to see him again. Anyway that's basically it for today. Here are some pictures for you all!!

Until next week!

Elder Hyatt

Natal, Ano Novo and Mr. Invincible; Mission weeks 39 & 40; Area: Dalcol, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil

 Wow the last two weeks have been interesting, so let's get into it, but first…

Google photos Link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RsbD9gUFvaoUHSvJ6 

Week of Christmas

It started off with us visiting quite a bit of members the first day and then the following day we left with Luiz Thiago. That day was incredible because we taught 5 of our friends (Apollo, Danillo, João Vitor, Leonardo, and Luiz Paulo) and they all wanted to be baptized on the 30th of December!! It was such an exciting and fun day. We also we back the next day to talk to their parents and it went well, we were even followed by Luiz Paulo who is now saying that he is Elder Hyatt III. It's so cool. The day after we passed by again and talked to them briefly about a Christmas dinner at the church.

The Dinner

So apparently the church Christmas dinners down here are normally for just members because of some dumb reason. I even had a few members say not to bring our new friends to the dinner…well… I did. We brought 9 friends to that dinner and it turned out to be an amazing time where they were playing games and futebol and it just went well. I kinda felt like a single parent because out of the 9 the oldest was 15 and the youngest was 8 years old, so I was basically taking care of all of them alone as my companion was taking care of other things happening throughout the dinner. It was fun and exhausting. I almost wouldn't have eaten if it wasn't for Irmã Lina who noticed that I was doing 3 things at the same time and got me a plate a food. I was very grateful for her and her thoughtfulness.

Weekend 1

The weekend started off with heavy rain while we were at the chapel cleaning. As the downpour was occurring we get a call from Sister Bikman saying to open the back gate. We throw on our rain gear, which was not 100% prepared for the heavy downpour, and we walked outside and opened the gate. We then open the back of their car and President is in a state that I've never seen him before, No tie, top button unbuttoned. I know it's not that crazy, but it is for us when everything we see or talk to him he's in a suit and tie. Anyway we grab our presents from out of the back of his car and run inside. We finish cleaning the chapel, wait a little for the rain to calm down and then we went home to drop off the stuff and then to lunch. The rest of the day was going down with Luiz Thiago, talking to the kids and then yeah the rest of the day. Sunday was chill, all our friends went to church and then after a meeting we ate lunch, worked a bit then met up with Elder Dani Cutler and Elder Speirs for a dinner because the Boada family invited us both. After that we had a second dinner with the Leifields and it was more singing and talking than it was a dinner, but it was awesome. I truly enjoyed talking with their family and their friends who were over. It was a great opportunity to teach and have fun. It was a good Christmas Eve.

1st Christmas

Luckily for us Christmas fell on our P-day! So we started off the day like normal and had our district council meeting in person. After that we sang Feliz Navidad and ate cake and couscous. We then go back to the Leifields for lunch which was amazing as always. Then we met back up with Elder Dani Cutler and Elder Speirs and we went to a river in their area to look around for a bit…it was cool but not worth the time nor the walk, but we had great laughs and talked to a few strangers on the way. We then ate Acaí and called our families. Yeah, that was Christmas.

Week of New Year

Basically we spent the whole week with our boys. I wish I could say more but it's truly just been that and sending a bit of time with people.

Mr. Invincible

Had lunch with a one handed man. When I asked him what happened he began to explain a long and crazy story. When he was in his 20's he caught a grenade with his right hand, from a guy who wanted to kill him, and decided that it would do more damage if he threw it, so he held on and it exploded. (he was in the middle of Coronel Cláudio…a place where I worked…I know the place where it happened) He lost his hand, his body is full of holes, and he lost sight and hearing on his right side. This is just the beginning…he then goes on to explain how people were trying to kill him in the hospital and that he died four times there. He had to have a cow vein put into his left arm so that he could at least still have his left arm. Then he told a story as to how he went to the bank and was in the bus terminal going home when a guy tried to rob him and he broke the guys arm in 3 places. Then he pulls out some medals (all gold) from the Paralimpics where he throws javelin and shot put. He is truly a beast. He also is a president of an organization that I forgot what it is,

 but yeah. This guy was insane and I have an audio of him explaining it.

Baptisms!!

So our young friends all got baptized on the 30th and it was so great and funny. Our buddy Luiz Thiago baptized Danilo, Elder Cutler baptized João Victor, and I baptized Leonardo e Luiz Paulo. It was so fun and after I gave them white shirts and ties. It was lit!!

A Sad End to a New Year

Sunday was great also kinda sad. I received a call Saturday night that I'd be training again, but we weren't told anything else. On Sunday Elder Cutler began telling everyone that he was leaving and it was low-key depressing. We took a few photos and had a great Colombian lunch from Luis e Lina Rojas (basically Mr. and Mrs. Smith). We passed by the boys and told them bye before swinging by the Leifelds where we talked, laughed, and ate great food before having to leave because President said we all needed to be home by 6pm. We then raced to Luiz Thiago and told his goodbye and gave him a hug and then walked home. Within the next two hours we got a call from Elder Clawson (AP) saying that I'd be training here in Dalcol and that Elder Cutler would be transferred to Bonsucesso with Elder Canova. It was really sad because Elder Cutler got emotional and he slowly began to pack a few things with some tears in his eyes.

End of 6th Transfer

We have reached the end. Tomorrow I'll receive my new companion and begin his training and I'll sadly say goodbye to Elder Dani Cutler (he is being transferred to Curitiba and becoming a District Leader) and Elder Matt Cutler. It's kinda rough, but it'll all turn out as it should I'm gonna miss all the great and fun times that we all had on P-days. Oh well, I guess it's time to look on the bright side I fault 10 Transfers = 1 year and 3 months. That's pretty crazy. Anyway here are some pictures and I am wishing you all a Happy New Year!!! 

Spiritual thought next week I promise…

Elder Hyatt