Monday, July 23, 2018

Week #100 - Pedra Branca/Palhoca - Episode #15 - Combati o bom combate

The mission was certainly the hardest thing I´ve ever loved to do as I learned it would be from a letter Uncle Paul forwarded me while I was still in the CTM. I have had countless incredible experiences, learned many life lessons, met so many people, and have developed a love for a country and culture that I once knew so little about. When I opened my call, I had no idea what the mission would be like but I truly felt the Spirit confirm to me that that´s where I was supposed to go. As I finish my mission, I am filled with peace and gratitude knowing that I have met the people I was supposed to meet and have done my best to serve as an instrument in the Lord´s hands to help bring others unto Christ.

Ever since I entered the CTM, I have been put through the refiner´s fire having to put my pride aside and sincerely rely on the Lord´s help. I remember my first week in the field feeling extremely unqualified; not understanding what people were saying, not knowing how to teach, feeling lost, having to walk more than ever, but always trusting that the Lord would be by my side. I am thankful that the Lord has trusted in me as well despite of my weaknesses as he said he would in D&C 1:23, ´´That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world...´´.

I am more thankful than ever for Christ´s example and for His eternal sacrifice. There have been many moments when I have been extremely tired or frustrated but I would think of Mosiah 15:7 which says, ´´Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the son being swallowed up in the will of the father.´´ This scripture has helped me many times to do the Lord´s will and not mine. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that He took upon Himself the sins of the world. I know that He resurrected and was victorious over death. Because of Him, we can be clean from our mistakes and cleansed of our impurities. We will be resurrected and we can live with loved ones again. ´´Which of the founders of major world religions declared himself to be divine? Buddha did not. Muhammad did not. Nor did Lao-tzu, Confucius, Abraham, or Moises. Only one religious leader made such a claim and then backed it up by the way he lived, the things He taught, and the miracles He performed - Jesus Christ.´´ (Brad Wilcox).

Usually when I talk to strangers I ask them if they have ever thought about their purpose here on earth or if they think there is life after death. Some would say that they have thought a lot about it and others would say that those questions have never crossed their minds. I am always happy to testify that our life does have purpose and there is more after this life. A philosopher said, This is the terror; to have emerged from nothing, to have a name, consciousness of self, deep inner feelings, an excruciating inner yearning for life, and self expression - and with all these yet to die. It seems like a hoax.´´. It has been an amazing experience to teach people about the Plan of Salvation and see them fill with understanding and hope as the Spirit testified to them of these truths.

I have felt the pure love of Christ as I have learned to care about so many other people. I will never forget the people I have met and the relationships I have created. People who were once complete strangers turned into eternal friends after knocking on their door or talking to them on the street. People would tell me their life stories and ask for help just because I was wearing a name tag that says Elder. Many humble members would act as if the Savior was in their house and make us a feast. Being a representative of Christ has been a very humbling experience. Although my love does not come close to that of Christ, I´m thankful for the opportunity I´ve had to feel a portion of what he feels for each of us.

I will surely miss this place, but as the apostle Paul wrote, ´´...the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.´´ Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. Thanks to all those who read my emails!! You guys are the best and have helped me so much. I love you all!!

Elder Scheer






Week #99 - Pedra Branca/Palhoca - Episode #14

Hey guys! Sorry for not writing much this week but next week I will write a good letter.

Have a great week!






Friday, July 13, 2018

Week #98 - Pedra Branca/Palhoca - Episode #13 - The First Vision

Sad week here in Brazil with the loss to Belgium... but we had a great week as missionaries. 

2 highlights from the week:

On Tuesday we got to teach an awesome young couple named Thomas and Breda that was a member referral. We taught them the Restoration and I think it was one of the most spiritual lessons of my mission. The Spirit was almost tangible. When I shared the First Vision, Thomas almost jumped out of his seat. The member that gave the referral said that after the lesson he told him that the room was vibrating with energy haha. Brenda went to church on Sunday and loved it. Sadly Thomas couldn´t go because he plays music at noon every Sunday, so that will be a challenge.

On Sunday we were in front of the chapel welcoming everyone and waiting for investigators to show up when out of nowhere Diego and Adriani show up! They are a family that I have been visiting since I got here. They were all set to get married and then Diego didn´t want to anymore or even go to church. But I really felt that I shouldn´t give up on them. I have been praying so much for the Lord to soften his heart because he really lost all desire to live the gospel. When they showed up I was so happy. That afternoon we went to visit them and they said they talked to Bishop and have decided to get married!! So hype! Sadly I won´t be here but it´s alright. It was incredible to see how their semblance had changed just for making that decision. 

Time is passing fast and I´m trying to take advantage of what I have! I love you all!!

Elder Scheer



Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Week #97 - Pedra Branca/Palhoca - Episode #12 - Go Brasil!!!

Today President let us watch Brazil vs Mexico since it´s Pday. It was pretty hype! It´s not as crazy here as I thought it would be, but it still is a good time. 

This week was super tiring, but a good time. We have been going out to work earlier than usual and getting home at 9:30pm everyday. We are really just working hard to try and find new people who are interested. This week we were hoping for a bunch of new people at church and we had 6 show up, which was pretty good. We are hoping to help some of these people progress even more this week! 

Elder Santos and I are working really well together. We have been able to feel the Spirit very strongly in our lessons. This week we were teaching a girl named Juliana and she was telling us how she is going to a church but she always goes to different churches because she doesn´t know which is right. I got so excited haha. She understood the Restoration really well and showed a lot of interest. 

I´m also learning all about documents and certificates in Brazil because we are trying to get a divorced man married with a widowed woman. Haha so many documents! 

This week I was able to bear my testimony for the last time in testimony meeting. I talked about how I´ve seen how the Book of Mormon has blessed and changed the lives of so many people. I know that it is truly another Testament of Jesus Christ. 

A quote I heard this week: ´´It´s not necessarily how much we read, it´s what we do with what we read that matters.´´ If we seek to apply what we learn, we will be so much more happy and successful. 

Love you all!! Have a great 4th of July!! 

Elder Scheer

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Week #96 - Pedra Branca/Palhoca - Episode #11 - Birthday in Brazil, 20 Yrs Old!

I have written so many of these letters hahaha. But I´ve had a great first week with my new companion Elder Santos! He is a great guy and likes to work. 

This week we worked a ton to contact and find new people to teach. We were able to have a good amount of success and on Sunday we were rewarded with 3 great references!! Best thing ever when a member brings a friend to church haha. So we are super excited to work with these people and help them learn more.

We were able to have a few people progress this week as well. Raimunda is ´´married´´ to a member in the ward and she moved here recently from Fortaleza. This week we taught the Restoration and invited her to pray and she said that she has been feeling a lot of peace. She said she feels really good during our lessons, when she reads and at church. This week we are going to mark a date for them to get legally married so that she can get baptized! 

Also Jenni is the smartest 11 year old I have every taught. She lives with her grandma and they both want to be baptized but sadly her grandma can´t because she´s not legally married to her husband. And if she were to get married, she would lose a pension that she recieves and she needs that money to live. But this week we are going to mark Jenni´s baptism! 

This week I turned 20 which is pretty crazy!! We didn´t really do anything special haha but it was a good day! We got to teach a good amount of lessons. At night a family came by our apartment to give me a present which was super nice! And on Sunday, the family that gave us lunch sang to me and made me the best dessert called torta de bolacha. 

World Cup is has been a good time here! During the games everything stops, even banks close haha. But so far we have been able to teach people during the Brazil games! 

Have a great week! 

Elder Scheer



20 Years Old!!





Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Week #95 - Pedra Branca/Palhoca - Episode #10 - Farewell to Elder Anderson

Hey everyone! 

This week was great! It was also Elder Anderson´s last week in the mission which was crazy. As he was packing his bags I got slapped with a reality check that that will be me in 6 weeks.s My new companion will be Elder Santos and he has a year and 2 months so I´m excited to go as hard as I can and leave everything out here. 

The highlight of this week was definitely Victor Hugo´s baptism! It was a super spiritual experience. Elder Anderson and I sang 'Come Thou Fount" and I played the ukulele. I also got to baptize him! Sadly I forgot my camera at home so I´ll have to send pictures next week. But after his mom came up to me and said ´´who knows if that will be me in the future´´. So cool! She really felt the Spirit.

The bummer of the week was KauĂȘ not getting baptized. He decided to tell his parents two days before and they weren´t having it so he decided it would be better to wait a little. So we are praying for them to soften their hearts!!

This week in Elder´s quorum we talked about Elder Robbins´ talk ``Until Seventy Times Seven´´. I really loved this talk and it gave me a different perspective about making mistakes and using them to get better. He uses the example of someone learning to play piano and how they have to make thousands or even millions of mistakes to become an expert. Same thing with learning a language. If we never messed up we wouldn´t be able to progress. I'm so thankful that through the Atonement of Christ we can always be forgiven and constantly replace our errors with light..

Lastly, happy Father´s Day to my amazing dad!! Love you all so much!

Elder Scheer

                            

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Week #94 - Pedra Branca/Palhoca - Episode #9

Hey everyone! 

This week I don´t have very much time to write because today is Elder Anderson´s last pday and he wants to do a few things. But KauĂȘ and Victor will be baptized and we are hyped! Everything is going great as usual! 

Love y´all!

Elder Scheer