The Example of Jesus Christ

Alright.. this past week was pretty crazy!! After emailing you all last week I got a call from the assistants here in the mission telling me that Elder Lopes has been transferred. We had an emergency transfer take place on Monday. President put me with Elder Guilherme from Minas Gerais.. and Elder Lopes went to a different place to finish up some training with an American. President Acosta expressed his trust in me as we were making the transfers with him. So this past week I have been adjusting to the change and helping my companion become the missionary he needs and wants to be. We have worked pretty well together and I am learning a lot from him as well. He is a great guy and has a great desire to work. We will have to see what happens this week. This Sunday we have transfers for real. President told me he has some plans for me. I am interested to see what happens, and excited to submit to whatever Him and the Lord have planned for me. Truly.. this mission is a great blessing and I have faith with what is to come. But anywho... we are good! We also had Zone Conference this past week. That was super good because that means that I get a Snickers bar. I don't buy snickers here, because I wait for Zone Conference and it is amazing!!. Seriously.. Snickers are a piece of American Heaven!! I literally shed a tear this past week while I ate a Snickers Bar.. You could say that I miss America, English, and GOOD chocolate haha.

Another wild thing that happened this past week.... I taught my first English Class. It was really quite neat and I bore my testimony at the end in English which was kinda cool. It was cool to see that people light up as I bore my testimony. They had no clue as to what I was saying but one of them cried and told me after that they have never felt the spirit so strong in their life!! Pretty neat to be able to help others feel the Spirit. Although she has no idea as to what I said, the Spirit touched her heart. The language of the Spirit is neat and truly is what helps others be converted to the Gospel. I know that it wasn't me, and I am glad that it wasn't my words that touched her heart. So grateful for this experience that I had to help this investigator, and to learn of the importance of the Spirit.

We are working hard on getting two baptisms this next week. Alexandre and Jacks have a date to be baptized on this Sunday. They both have so much potential and I am hoping we can get them in the water this week. The resurrected lady told me that she would go to church... we aligned a car ride and everything.. but when the members arrived there she told them that she would not be going. So her date will have to be moved due to not going to church. But people seem to be moving and progressing.. so that exciting!

I would like to close with an experience that I had with an investigator.. Alexandre.  I had a pretty neat experience this past week on Saturday. I shared with him my testimony and a scripture in Luke 9:57-62 about following Christ. The spirit was so strong as I was bearing my testimony on the importance of following Christ. After I closed my testimony.. Suellen and my comp went on to tell us that they had studied the same scripture that VERY day. It was so powerful and the spirit was so strong!! I just want to bear my testimony on this scripture in Luke 9:57-62. It says in 62.. `...No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.´ I love this!! The example of Christ is so amazing!!I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to help others follow the example of Jesus Christ as I myself try each and every day again and again to follow the example of Jesus Christ more fully. I know that it is no easy, but I know that we are blessed as we follow Christ in all ways. I am grateful to have been born in this Gospel. I am grateful to have parents and family members to look up to as I have grown up in the Gospel. I am grateful for the examples everyone has been to me in being baptized, holding the priesthood worthily, taking on church callings and responsibilities, and serving. I have learned so much from everyone and I have really grown a strong testimony thanks to your examples, love, and support. Now as I am here in Brazil.. I am relying on my own testimony and my own experiences and trials. I have grown by following the footsteps of you all and I am so grateful for it.. but I am also very grateful for the opportunity that I have now to follow the footsteps of our Savior. I am here in Brazil on my own, and I have nobody's footsteps to follow but our Savior, Jesus Christ. He truly is the perfect example and I have learned so much on what is needed to be done to follow him more fully, and with more focus. Although at times it is hard, this scripture helps me to keep pushing through. Keep doing what He needs me to do, and keep being (or trying to be) what He needs me to be. I know that God lives, He loves us, and He cares for us. I am grateful for Him giving His son for us and for the opportunity that we have to follow in faith the footsteps of our Savior. The path is simple.. if we just keep our eye on the Savior. I know that He leads us through our darkest times. He cures us of our hardest trials... and He loves us
when it seems we are alone or forgotten. More than anything.. I know that He carries us when we cant walk through this life ourselves. I am so grateful for a loving Savior, and I am grateful for the perfect example and follower that He is. Because of Him.. I am out here in Brazil. I am grateful to be able to walk in faith as He leads the way through His perfect example and trust in the Father. I love you guys so much and I am so grateful that you all have CHOSE to follow the example of Christ. We are all pushing the plough together, and I hope that we never look back with regrets, as we strive for the highest kingdom of God. We just need to continue to push forward with faith and Christ will do the rest. You are in my thoughts and prayers... I LOVE YOU!!!

Love, your favorite Sky.. who is attempting to be a better follower.. Elder Abel!