HUMP Day Package Delivery.....finally!

We are here in the good ole Ribeirão Pires and it is a pretty good area and zone. We are a part of a ward here and the ward is pretty solid. Our mission is pretty much just wards. We met a pretty big family this past week and another married couple that are pretty interested in our message. I always wanted to teach a big family, so we shall see what happens this week as we teach them and help them to understand the truth. Me and my companion are getting along pretty well. I just think that I need to humble myself a little bit more and realize that there is a reason that we are together. Luckily the two elders that we live with.. make it ten times easier because we are always laughing and having a good time. The zone is doing pretty good. Not a whole lot of success this past week, but it should be an interesting week with what looks like possible baptisms. The work is good and I am happy and healthy!

I GOT MY HUMP DAY PACKAGE!!! What happiness!! Seriously... it was so nice to get a package and put a huge smile on my face!! It was full of love and I absolutely loved the Camel... he has became one of my best friends this past week. haha! Also... the dryer sheets... Wow.... classic package!! I introduced dryers sheets to the Brazilians this past week and they went crazy at how delicious they smelled haha. We don't have a dryer here or anything... but I put them in my drawer and my drawer smells delicious! Now I can finally wear the rest of my shirts that I haven't worn in a year because of the yummy smell that was placed on them haha. (I may or may not have smelled my clothes for the past year when I wanted to smell something from home... I am so weird! Don't ask me why I admitted that...) But the package was so nice!! Thank you so much for the package Mom and Dad and for the love that you guys have for me. I am so grateful for you both and I love you both so much!!! Thank you soooo muchhhhh!!!! Ü

I love you all so much. I am so grateful to be an Abel and to have such a great family and friends in my life. I am grateful for the love that you guys have for each other, for me, and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When I think of the joy of the Gospel... it always brings me back to the first step in my life which is my family. I am grateful for the love that we share and the closeness that we have, I am grateful to know what it is liked to be loved, and to know how to love. I feel so blessed to be raised by such great parents and grandparents... as well as have such great brothers and sisters and in-laws. I am grateful for my cute Kaytlin, her family, and the blessings that they are in my life.  As I teach families and other people... I realize how hard it would be without a family... without support, and without the Gospel. Truly... I don't have a doubt in my mind that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives forever and that will always bring blessings!!! I know this... because I know that if we didn't have the Gospel in our lives, that we would be a very different family and that we would have really nothing to center our lives... as the Gospel is the center of our lives. Maybe our life would be centered around music, boating, vacations, fun, sports, shopping, money, or other things of the world... but when it is all said and done, that doesn't carry us very far. If that was what we were centered on.. then we would be lost and not have a purpose. But as we have a life centered on Christ and His Gospel... the other `things` in life take their place and finish up all of the ´gaps´ that we have in life to be entertained and to find the promised joy. Life brings us happiness... joy... give us memories... and shows us the love that God has for us and the blessings that He has given us. I am grateful to have a life centered on the Gospel and to have Christ as my anchor in life... because I know that Christ will lift me and YOU to a better place. We will have more joy than when our favorite team wins, when we buy new things, when we go on a vacation, when we spend valuable time together... because there is a life after this one. A bigger and better world where there are less worries, less struggles, less trials, and a lot more happiness. God lives and He loves us. For this reason... we are here in families and have all of the many blessings that are given to us as we center our lives in the Gospel. Christ is our Savior and when we center our lives in Him... He will bless us through His Atonement and shape us into who He needs us to be. This is His Gospel and I am so grateful for it in my life and a wonderful family to share it with. I love you guys and appreciate all that you do! Thank you for your examples and the love that you have for me! I hope that you have a wonderful week and smile lots for me... because we are blessed more than we can imagine. You guys rock my world!! I love you!!

Love, your favorite Sky... Elder Abel! Ü

Good Food and Conference with Elder Ballard and Elder Soares

This past week was pretty good! I mean... what can I say.. I got to hear from two apostles of God... not much can be better than that. But other than that, it was actually a pretty normal week. It was full of some pretty cool experiences, and of course some pretty solid food! This past week I had some yummilicious TUNA FISH!!! Yeah.. you read that right... Tuna Fish sandwich here in the good ole' Bandeirantes of Maua!! So delish!! Also... how about you throw in some yummy food from a member who made some yummilicious tacos (it's been at least a year from the last time I had a taco).. and some Reese's Peanut Butter Cup dessert!! Yeah... they don't have Reeses here, but this members mom sent her some Reeses and she made a dessert out of it just for me. Wow... one way to make a missionary happy. Peanut Butter is so good!!! I will never take peanut butter for granted ever again.

How about the good stuff now!! I had the privilege of hearing from two Apostles of our God.. Elder Soares and Elder Ballard. Both of them were so good and I learned so much on Friday. Elder Soares spoke Portuguese (of course) and Elder Ballard spoke English and had a translator. Elder Soares spoke first and left a lot of time for Elder Ballard... but his testimony and sincerity really hit me. Elder Soares started off by almost crying and telling us how grateful he is to had the opportunity to be with us and to be in his own homeland. He told us with great gratitude and sincerity that we "are privileged to serve in the great country of Brasil" and that he is "so grateful for our service and our willingness to help God's children in the beautiful Brasil country."  It was sooo sweet and his testimony really blew me away. He said... "When you open your mouth and speak to others, the Savior Himself will manifest Himself to those that are willing to accept the message." He shared the importance of opening our months and inviting others to come Unto Christ and to not be afraid to share the Gospel. Then Elder Ballard focused on that same topic of opening our mouths and sharing the great joy of the Gospel. Elder Ballard said... "Is your faith in Jesus Christ deep enough in your heart that you are a ´fearless finder´..? The trick is making the move of faith from your mind to your heart. But when you do that, you will become fearless, and be changed FOREVER."  This really hit me hard as I thought about my own faith. As I was thinking about it.. I thought about the knowledge that I have and the faith that I think that I have. But that I really do need to make the change from my mind to my heart. I need to feel and to be passionate for the true life of our Savior and the blessing of His Atonement. I need to let my faith change me, so that it can in return.. change those that I may teach. I am grateful for the faith that I have and the growth that occurs each time I see a miracle, study, ponder, pray, and live life through the ups and downs. Faith is the first principle of the gospel and is the principal focus in our lives. Faith is the structure in which all of our belief is based. Elder Ballard also added..."It is my belief that if Jesus Christ was here, He would say... ´I love you. Thank you for your courage and strength to bring my message to the world........ now do you trust me!´.... I am a privileged special witness that Jesus Christ lives, and that He guides and presides over His Church on the Earth today.. which is TRUE!!  If you can kneel down at night after a long, hard day of work and say to your Heavenly Father... `I have done my best today' then you are a GREAT missionary!"  You guys I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to be there and hear some of God's true servants. 

I am grateful for the things that I learned and the spirit that I felt testify to me the truthfulness that was being shared. 

I love you all so much!!

Love your favorite Sky... and happy Elder... Elder Abel! Ü

Elder Abel & Elder Maia

MTC Buddies 

The Zone

Mud and the Holy Ghost

This past week was pretty good!! It was a full of lots of ups and downs... literally.... we flippin' live on a mountain and we have billions of hills in this new area. The joke's on me when they told me my new area in Ribeirão. I was thinking of another place... but the Zone Leaders actually live in Maua which is full of some ridiculous MOUNTAINS to climb each day... one being the mountain that we live on. haha. I went into Ribeirão Pires twice this week and it was so beautiful. 

We all united together in a meeting and President Acosta announced some pretty big news!! The big news is that we have two apostles that will be coming to talk to us on the 24th. It is going to be awesome!  All of the São Paulo Missions will join together and we will be able to hear from Elder Ballard and Elder Soares.... live as they are coming to teach and to train. It should be very good. I am excited to see what they have to say and excited to learn more from our sweet apostles. So I will be sure to let you know all about that in my next email... It should be AWESOME!!!

I had a pretty amazing thing happen to me, that really humbled me from the simplicity of the spirit. This particular day was pretty rainy...and especially muddy in the area that we were working. As we were climbing a Mount Everest of hill that was ridiculously muddy... the clean Sky was taking his time to make sure that he didn't get mud on his pants, shirt, or rain coat. We got to the top of the hill and I was so proud of myself... I was clean and spotless from mud. Then we were making contact with a guy, and as we were explaining the importance of baptism to him, out of the corner of my eye I could see a car coming and I felt prompted to move. The noob Skylar just watched this car pass us and everything was good. We continued our contact and I saw the second car from the corner of my eye.... I felt it again... move Elder Abel.... and nothing seemed to happen. He turned before us and all was good. As this man was climbing the muddy hill the car started to slip... there was the voice again... "MOVE SKYLAR" and as I finally decided to move... the dude peels out and shoots mud from his tires all over me. My pants, shoes, raincoat, and white shirt got covered in the mud and the only thing that crossed my mind was how much I deserved it.

You guys... this story is kind of silly and really didn't do a whole lot of pain or damage other than a sad Elder Abel and some filthy clothes for the rest of the day. But it really humbled me to know of the importance of listening to the spirit no matter how big or small the problem is. If I would've moved the first or second time... I would've had more time than the third time when I finally decided to act. I am so grateful for the Spirit and really regret not moving when he warned me. I can't help but think that the Spirit and our Heavenly Father just laughed as they watched it all in slow mo of what happened in that very moment. It really was a valuable lesson as to how small and simple the Spirit is and how humble you need to be to hear its whispering. I am grateful that I was covered in that mud, to be reminded for the rest of the day of how important the Spirit is. I know that the Spirit is one of our constant companions. He will keep us safe, teach us, guide us, direct us, show us love, give us comfort, and do all that we need if we just stay worthy and always be humble to hear, act, and learn. To me it is a pretty neat thing. The Godhead is made of a loving Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ and our comforter the Holy Ghost. What a blessing and honor to have the sacred companionship of the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost. I sure do love the Gospel and I am grateful for the blessing it is in my life. I am trying each day to be more humble and to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ completely in my life.

I love you all so much and am thankful for all that you do for me!

Love your most favorite Sky... Elder Abel!

I KNOW It....I LOVE it....I want to SHARE it!

Well hello there my favorites!! Dang it is always nice to hear from all of you amazing people and to feel of your love!  I am just so grateful for each and everyone of you and I hope you never forget that. I am so lucky to have you all in my life!

This past week wasn't too shabby. It seemed to be pretty long as we anxiously awaited our transfers... but it was full of a lot of good and some pretty crazy miracles!!  How about them transfers!!!  It looks like my journey has came to a close here in Bosque as I have packed my bags and am moving to the other side of the mission. Literally... it is clear across the mission. But don't be deceived... our mission is the 2nd smallest mission in the world, right behind the Temple Square Mission.  It is only like an hour and a half travel between buses, trains, and subways haha. I am heading to Riberão Piros to the area of Bandeirantes. My new companion will be Elder Maia (who seems to be pretty cool, and a hard worker like Elder Fortes my trainer).  I will also be a Zone Leader. Pretty crazy news if I do say so myself.. I really didn't see it coming. But I am so excited for the new adventure. I have been wanting SO BADLY to go to Riberão Piros, because it is supposed to be the most beautiful part of our mission with tons of trees and some wild adventures in the forests. Ü Of course I am going there with a purpose to help the people... but I will for sure not lose the opportunity to have some fun forest adventures. I am pretty stoked to head there and to be able to serve those amazing people. I am super nervous to be a Zone Leader and all.. but I am excited to be challenged a little bit more as I put my faith in Heavenly Father.  Also... I will be the ONLY American in the entire zone... so that should make for a very fun experience. I guess I can just kiss my English goodbye now!  Ü  But I truly feel so blessed to be able to have this opportunity and to be able to be a missionary of our Savior.

Leaving the District in Sul Saude

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview someone to be baptized this past week. It was a pretty good interview and she passed easily... but the only problem was that she just had so many doubts and just didn't really have the desire of being baptized this week. I tried to help clear her doubts and I did everything that I could to help her understand the importance of the Baptism and all of the blessing that she will have. After two hours of trying to help her... I realized that I was trying to convince her and wasn't trying to convert her. I realized that I wasn't really using the spirit as I should have been. She was kind of getting heated up and she almost walked out of the interview because she just did not want to be baptized. As she finally told me that she wasn't going to be baptized and told me that she would continue praying and going to church and search for her answer... I asked if I could just bear my testimony to her. Irritated she told me that I could and so I did. I bore my testimony on the life changing event that takes place as we accept the Gospel into our lives, I shared with her the importance of baptism, and made promised blessings if she would just act in faith and let the Savior do the rest. As I bore my testimony and stood as a witness of our Savior... the room filled with the spirit. It was so strong that it almost lifted me off my seat. You could see the change happening in her eyes and you could just feel of the truthfulness fill the room and the Holy Ghost testifying of the words that I was saying. After I closed my testimony and asked to say a closing prayer... she cut me off and explained to me how she will accept to be baptized and then bore her testimony to me that she had just obtained. It was a powerful moment and made me realize the difference between convince and convert.  I am so grateful for the Spirit and the converting influence that He has in each and every one of our lives. He is the teacher in a mission, lesson, talk, or note. As a missionary... I am really just an instrument and with the help of the Spirit... I am able to change lives. Sure... I can convince people that the Gospel is true... that the facts show there is a God that He gave His son and that we are a part of the only true and living church on the Earth today. But that is only a small conversion, until the Spirit takes over and testifies of what I am saying and touches the hearts of these people. I am not sharing this story to brag or build myself up... but to share with you guys the importance of the Spirit and how this story has changed me. I now know that I am literally nothing without the Spirit... but with the Spirit I am used as an instrument in converting these wonderful children of God into who they chose to be, and share the plan they chose to follow before coming to this lost world of doubt, fear, sin, and sadness. I am grateful for the Gospel and the light that it is in our lives. I am grateful for the love that I feel from the spirit as it testifies to me. I am so grateful for all of my many blessings that the Gospel has brought into my life and the opportunity that I have to learn and grow every day through study, prayer, and experiences. This is the Church of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know it and I love it... and that is why I share it. I am so grateful to have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel and be able to share it to these amazing people in humility and love. I know that testimonies can change lives... I know that, because your testimonies each week have changed mine.

Thanks so much for all you do for me.  I love you all like crazy and think about you daily. Have a wonderful week and smile lots!!

Love, your favorite Sky... Elder Abel! Ü

It's HUMP Day!

Well hello there my wonderful humans!!  It is so good to hear from you guys and I always am so grateful for your love, support, and the testimonies that you share.

So.... how about a shout out to me... because.... Guess what day it is everyone... Yep... it's HUMP DAY!!!  Wahooo!!! I will be hitting my year mark this week and I am so excited. I can finally start my race down the hill.. I have a lot to do, a lot to learn, and a bunch to grow but I am excited for the journey that I will have this upcoming next year.

This past week was pretty good. Not a whole lot of success, but it is August so that is pretty awesome!! It has been raining all week which really sucks because your shoes just don't dry here when it rains. So I've been walking in soaked shoes all week... so that's awesome. Also... I got a pretty awesome blister the size of my mission tag!! Wow... you know you have been a missionary too long when you start comparing things to missionary weirdness like that haha.  Another solid part about the week was some splits with Elder DeYoung and Elder Francis. Splits are always nice!!!

I will be hitting my YEAR MARK in just 3 short days!! I don't know if I should be shocked that a year has already passed by or if I should crawl up in a ball and cry because I have one more year haha. But I think there is a little bit of both with the emotion. Time is flying... but I still have a decent chunk of time left. I have really learned so much here in Brazil and on my mission. I have grown so much and I have realized the importance of our journey here on earth.  Something that I have learned and grown the most is my testimony and faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the plan that my Heavenly Father has for me and for you.  I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father. He lives and He loves us. He truly is there and He hears and answers each and every one of our prayers. He gives us the opportunity to be healed, forgiven, and have our sins, trials, mistakes, and weaknesses forgotten. I am so grateful for a loving Savior who paid the price so that we can utilize the atonement as an opportunity to obtain eternal happiness. The price is payed.. the suffering is done... the road is set... and it all just depends on our faith and our humility. I am so grateful to be here in Brazil as a servant of our Heavenly Father and a representative of Jesus Christ. I have the opportunity to share with these wonderful people that we have a Savior... that He is full of mercy and love. I am so excited to be able to have one more year to show my faith in the Savior and share the good news of the gospel here on the earth. I know that I was called by a prophet of God that leads and guides the church through prayer and revelation. I know that I am a missionary of the only true and living church on the earth today. I know that we are in the last days before His coming and that the preparation is happening each and every day.  That is why this mission is so important.  I have been truly strengthened this past year. I have learned more and more about our Heavenly Father and our Savior than I have in my entire life. My biggest regret that I have before the mission was the lack of prayer and the lack of recognition of our Savior and His infinite atonement. What I have learned this past year is that prayer isn't just for those that are in need, and the atonement isn't just for those that are sinners... the atonement is for every little detail in life that may bring us pain, hurt, or weakness. Our access to the atonement is through prayer... and through true humility and faith.

I love you guys so much and thank you for your love and support through this first year of my mission. You all have really helped me through the journey and I am excited to continue to learn and grow with you all. Thank you for your prayers, love, support, and faith... you guys strengthen me and I appreciate your example in my life.

Love, your happy and almost over the hill Sky... Elder Abel! Ü

Life Is A Blessing

Well hello there favorites!! How are my most favorite people in the whole entire world?! Dang I sure do miss you. I am not understanding the process of time right now.... It seems like it is barely moving. I will just blame it on the year mark that is coming up. Crazy stuff!!

This past week was long, but was pretty good. I have learned a lot of patience and a lot of humility through all of our fun mission adventures this week. Have I mentioned that missions aren't easy?

I really am praying for a change in the work..... I need like a little re-boost to make it through the next year haha. I was able to chat with President this week and it was pretty nice. He told me that he has trust in the strength that I have as a missionary and a child of God. He told me that the Lord has trust in me as well. President Acosta also made me aware of how grateful and happy he is with the work that I am doing here in Bosque.. with the house problems, district, and the area. It was nice to chat with him and see his plans. I don't know if I'm to stay or to go, but I don't doubt that President and Sister Acosta are called of God and that they lead this mission through revelation.

So not a whole to share with you guys this week, but I will share with you something that really helped me this past week as I am was reading the good ole' scriptures. Ü I had an answer to my prayer come as one of the Elders in my house told me to read Doctrine and Covenants 122.

I absolutely loved verses 7-9:

7  ...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

8  The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

9  Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

I know that all of this that I am going through is for my own `experience` and in the end will be for my good. But another answer to my prayers was in verse 9 as I have been praying about time and how I feel like this first year has been a waste.. `thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less`... there is not anything that could be more clear than to understand that this past year counted in the eyes of God. Although I may not have a whole lot of success in the work... I know that Heavenly Father is proud of me and the rest of his missionaries and the time that they give him. He is grateful for the love and the service that we all render... whether it be as a full-time missionary or a Latter-Day Saint who teaches the gospel through example and the day to day life. I know that we truly do have a God who loves us and cares about us. He wants us to succeed and he wants us to be tested and tried to show how strong we are and how much faith we have in him. I know that this past year has been such a blessing in my life. I am grateful for the things that I have learned and the growth that I have seen in me, my testimony, and my faith in our Father and his son, Jesus Christ. I just hope and pray that I have been able to help others understand the love that Heavenly Father has for us. I have been blessed with his love, care, and keeping in my life. God is truly aware of us and the situations we are in and what we are in need of. But... it always comes down to one little thing... Faith! Through faith we are able to be strengthened, molded, and changed. So when life gets rough we may just need to ask ourselves... do we have faith sufficient? I am grateful for your testimonies and you're examples! Thank you so much for all that you do and I hope that you have a wonderful week and enjoy life and its blessings!! I love and miss you so much.... more than Winnie the Pooh would miss honey if he was on a two year honey-less mission!

Love, your favorite... Elder Abel!

Come Unto Christ

Well hello there my absolutely amazing people in my entire life!  How in the world are you all doing and what’s new with my favorite crew?  I am so grateful for you all and really do appreciate the things that you do for me! Ü

This past week was a little rough. We used to have 2 sets of missionaries in this area and so we had tons of people to teach... like 60. So we decided to visit all of them this week... in fact we went by each house 3 times this week and like 10 of them answered, and of those that answered, nobody wanted to hear our message. We now have 5 people of those 60 that we are teaching now. Rough area with some pretty closed hearts. But all is well here... God is touching those 5 that are willing to hear our message and we are seeing miracles. It is worth knocking doors day in and day out... to just find one person to teach and help come unto Christ.

I am learning quite a bit. I am becoming more and more humble in accepting the will of the Lord. I am becoming closer to our Heavenly Father through communication through prayer.. and realizing of His love, care, and keeping that He has for me and for all of His children. I am finding my purpose as a missionary, member of the church, man, and as a Child of God. I am finally understanding the phrase of "Come Unto Christ." This past week we were at a Family Home Evening and we watched a video of the "Come Unto Christ" which really hit me!!

He's the One who healed the leper

And who brought the dead to life.

He's the One who fed the hungry

And gave the blind their sight.

He's the One who walked on water

And He brought the saved to shore

And if ever you may need Him,

He's the One you're looking for.

So let Him in and He will take away your pain.

Once you feel His love you'll never be the same.

Come unto Christ, Come unto Him

And by His grace be made holy again.

He's calling your name, He's waiting for you

With arms open wide-Come unto Christ.

He's the One who taught forgiveness

And who showed a better way.

He's the one who helped the hopeless

And those who've gone astray.

He's the Savior and Redeemer

Bread of Life, the Prince of Peace

If you're hungry, lost. or captive,

He's the one who'll set you free.

So let Him in and remember who you are

He will mold your life and change your willing heart.

Come unto Christ, Come unto Him

And by His grace be made holy again.

He's calling your name, He's waiting for you

With arms open wide-Come unto Christ.

And you will find eternal life.

I am here on this mission being `molded` into what He wants me to be. And there is no doubt in my mind that Christ and Heavenly Father are cheering me on through all of these ups and downs that life and the mission brings. Because they are truly "calling our names and they are waiting for us... with arms open wide" and all we need to do is come unto them.  Christ is our path. He is our life and light.. and he is our only way to perfection that awaits us. God is great and Christ showed how great he actually is by doing His will... the greatest action of love.

I love you all so much and I appreciate you all. Thank you for your emails and for the letters as well.. it is always nice hearing from you peeps.  I miss you like crazy... in fact... I miss you more than the Abel fam misses the good ole' Supreme at Lake Powell on a hot sunny day. Now that is a lot of miss!  Go swimming for me or doing something COOL because you guys deserve it.  I love you all so much!  I strongly believe that my mission is not only a call to the Brazil South Mission... but also the Abel, Harmon, Cottam, and Dowdell family. I am here to serve you peeps as well.. let me know if there is anything that I can do! I love you all so much!! Ü  Have a happy 24th of July!! So grateful for the pioneers and the blessings they are in our lives.  You are all modern day pioneers... so celebrate! I love you all so much and I miss you the MOST!!

Love.. your happy, healthy, and attempting to better come unto Christ Sky... Elder Abel Ü

Elders Cabral, Correa, Marques and Abel 

Hanging with his house buddies

Elder Torres

Food is LIFE!