Life in Bosque

 Well hello there my most favorite people in the universe!  Thank you so much for your emails and just for being the best ever!!! I am so grateful for you guys and the blessings that you are in my life. I love you all!

So another one of them fancy long weeks have been put into the books. Haha!! I am doing pretty well. I am pretty happy and I am loving the learning that is happening here in the good ole Bosque. This week I will be doing a split with my american friend Elder DeYoung, who has been put into my District... it is gonna be so nice and something that is much needed. (:

Speaking of necessities... how about them delish Peanut Butter M&Ms that I finally opened this week that was sent in my Easter package. Oh my goodness... I literally teared up. They were so amazing!! You don't realize how much you miss something until you are separated from its goodness and then it is replaced back into your life. I never thought something could bring me so much joy... like some of those PB M&Ms that were sent straight from Heaven.

São Paulo is getting crazy and it isn't because of the World Cup that is coming up (but that is going to be pretty dope)!!   Right now there are some pretty big problems that are happening. All of the truck drivers that carry all the goods and necessities are on a strike against the government. So the stores are like being cleared out and not being refilled due to the strike that is happening. Also... nobody has gas and people are getting crazy!!! It kind of reminds me of `I Am Legend` when everyone is getting all of the goods and storing it up in their houses hiding from the zombies.  Brazil is crazy!!  I am proud to be an American and proud to have the freedoms that we enjoy. Ü

As for the work the rejection is unreal here!! Yesterday... we knocked doors for 5 hours and were rejected THE ENTIRE DAY. Some people were nice about it and others were rude. Some people yelled at me in Japanese and others told me how much they hate me and the Church in their broken up English. It really was one of the craziest, most tiring, and hardest days on the mish. But we didn't give up and we pushed through. As were were about to head home... we ended up deciding to knock one more door. This last door around 8:55 at night was the answer to our prayers and worth the day full of rejection. José opened up the door and he invited us in. We shared with him the Restoration and it really went well. He seemed to be pretty interested and told us that he will pray and ask of the truth. He told us that it just `feels right`and that he could tell that we were testifying of the sincerity in our hearts. It was such a cool experience and really made me feel just so blessed. It is crazy how real our Heavenly Father is and how perfect He knows us and the way He works. I don't know why we were rejected all day yesterday and I don't know why we literally had no one who wanted to hear our message. But it really just makes those that accept the message so much sweeter. 

As we were walking home a scripture popped into my head that described it perfectly. It reminded me of Alma 36:21 - "there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter were my pains... yea again I say unto you, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as my joy." 

I know that we are a part of the only true and living Church on the Earth today. I know that we have the Gospel in its fullness and that the Gospel truly is our only way back to our Heavenly Father. Without the Doctrine of Christ we are nothing and we can not live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ after this life. But luckily we have the Doctrine of Christ... we know what we need to do and we have the knowledge and understanding of its importance. I sure do love you guys and I love the way that you all live your lives. Each and every one of you play such a huge role in my life and are THE greatest examples. I hope that you have a wonderful week and that you know that I love and miss you all so much!!!  Have a wonderful week! Ü

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

Post Mother's Day Skype

Well... you guys didn't say it... so I am guessing that you are waiting for me to say it... WAS THAT NOT THE LONGEST NEVER ENDING WEEK OF YOUR LIVES!!! Goodness gracious... I mean... I felt like it was never going to end haha. This is what happens to the missionaries after they talk to their families on Skype. Seriously... you like suffer for the next P-day and time just doesn't pass. Its rough.. but it is whatever because it is finally here.

This past week was alright. Started out pretty solid with my birthday. At our District Meeting.. my homies surprised me with brownies, pizza, and coke. It was awesome!!  Also... we played some basketball which was a lot of fun and made me realize just how terrible I actually am. Luckily enough... basketball is a sport that you play with your hands... so I ended up winning haha.  I sure did miss you guys!!  I really miss partying it up on the birthdays with you all. It was something so simple that I took for granted. It doesn't even have to be my birthday.. I just wanna celebrate SOMETHING with you all. (Side note: The 24th of July will be lit next year) Ü

The people here are just not wanting to listen. We finally brought our first investigator to church yesterday. Actually... he has been visiting the church off and on for the past 60 years! You know the new apostle Elder Soares from Brazil. Well it is his mother and father in law that are investigating. His mother in law was baptized about 6 months ago... and now we are working with his father in law. You think to yourself... if Elder Soares is unable to do it... how is Elder Abel gonna do it Ü  But... God works in mysterious ways... ya never know what will happen. Pray that his heart will be softened and we will see what we can do. This should be a neat experience. (:

So I am sure that you people are sick of the crazy stories and wonder if I even work. But there were a few things that happened this past week that blew my mind. First was a lunch with a member. We went to this house and the member answered. (I didn't know them so I just was like whatever and entered) She was a super nice lady and told us to take a seat as she finished preparing lunch. I didn't think anything of it as another walked in and started talking to me. She was her IDENTICAL twin. I was mind blown!! But it is normal right... twins like that who live together. Well... we started talking to them when one of their sons came walking down the stairs. He was pretty cool and he chatted with us and then went into the kitchen to help his mom finish cooking. Then I heard someone else walk down the stairs.. and as I looked at him my mind was blown the second time within 2 minutes... another SET of identical twins!! I was literally going crazy... it was like everyone was duplicating... and they were wearing the same clothes as well so I was trippin out... it was like I was living in a mirror haha. Well... then to finish the craziness... an older women walks in and I ask her if she has a twin as well... she then goes on to tell me.. no... but that she is 98 YEARS old!! It was nuts!! She was doing everything on her own! This family has some crazy genes!! So there's the secret peeps... have twins and you are granted more life haha. Also... to make it wild... the two married twins and the other two are dating a set of twins!! Goodness gracious... when it was said... `Multiply and replenish the earth..`.... I don't think it was meant to be done so literally and quickly like this family is doing haha. Was wild... defs a moment where you had to be there to understand.  Twins upon twins!

Sooo before I finish it up here... how about them transfers? Nothing happened here in the Bosque. I will be staying here with Elder Mendes and will be DL as well. The district moved a lot... so that should be fun! It is getting `cold` here if you call like 55 cold. Everyone is wrapping up like it is going to snow haha. It is funny... but I am excited!!! I miss the cold and the pure joy that it brings to my soul... (: I also spoke in church this past week for the first time. They gave me a topic to speak on Missionary Work and it went well. Definitely something that I don't wanna do again... it is sketchy giving a talk... then you add the language and you just wanna cry haha. It was cool though... I am still alive.

This life is full of its ups and downs. It is full of its sorrows, difficulties, trials, and rough times. But the trick is... it doesn't have to be hard.. it doesn't have to be difficult and you don't have to suffer. I am learning SO much in every situation that I am put in. More than anything... I am learning how to be humble and how to accept the will of the Lord, despite knowing the `Why` or the `how come`? Often times... we as humans blame God for our trials... for our difficulties... and we just want to know why us..? But the key that I have found to my happiness on my mission... is to thank Him. To thank Him for the opportunities that I have to learn with every new experience that He gives. Of course I am not perfect... of course I have my moments where I want to cry, give up, ask for an easier route, or just ask myself... `why me`. But luckily enough... like I said before... I am not suffering. I know that I have a Savior that has already done the suffering. I know that He is there for me in every hardship and that He will NEVER leave my side. When we lean on the Savior and rely on the will of God... everything is made better and all is made well. I know that God knows us more than we know ourselves and I know that He has a plan for us even if we don't have the right `glasses` to see the plan in the moment. He is full of love and mercy and He wants what's best for us. 

I love you so much and miss you more than I missed you after hitting that dang TORTUROUS end button on Skype this past Sunday... seriously... that's a lot of miss!! haha!!  I love you so much... you make me happy and bless my life... (:

Love, Elder Abel! Your happy... Sky! (:

Happiest Birthday to our 20-year-old Sky!

Well hello there my absolutely amazing people!!

How about the crazy of the week? There was a lot of crazy and not a whole lot of success. I will focus on the crazy this week because it is my Birthday and I kind of just wanna zone out of the stressfulness for a minute haha. Just know that we are preparing a few people, but not a whole lot of movement as they are not going to church or just denying all of the answers that they are receiving haha. 

So the crazy?! So last P-day... I decided to get my haircut so I can look all good for my favorites. All of the haircuts here are ridiculously expensive (not really... but as a missionary with no money... pretty expensive!) So this older man was the ONLY one in the salon to cut my hair. It was super sketchy!! I walked in there and the first thing that I noticed was that HE HAD NO HAIR!! Okay... wait right here... this is like going to the dentist and talking to a dentist who has NO TEETH or who has some nasty, unclean, not taken care of teeth. If you don't have hair... do you really know how to cut or do hair? It doesn't make sense to me... but maybe it makes sense to you all..haha! So it was pretty sketchy!! He did a pretty good job, but at the end he grabbed a razor blade and placed it against his comb. I thought to myself... `oh great!!! Now I know how he combs his hair and the reason why he doesn't have ANY!!´ He then started to comb my hair with this razor blade and it was like the sketchiest moment of my life. I just prayed in my heart... in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and whatever language... to make sure that Heavenly Father knew of my seriousness hahaha!! Well... as you guys saw yesterday... all is well haha. The dude did a pretty good job... haha. Prayers are answered!

Another craziness that comes from the good ole Bosque... is our house. It blows BIG OLE´ CHUNKS!!! LITERALLY!!! I was washing my WHITES this past week... and as I have mentioned before... we are having some problems with the plumbing. Well the wonderful news is as I was washing my whites... the house decided to blow some big ole chunks of  sewage into our washing machine. Luckily... missionaries are blessed and all of it came out... but it still psyches me out to even wear my shirts now... knowing that these have touched with unsanitary particles haha.

Another craziness is your favorite Elder Abel has officially hit 9 months and that he also has hit 20 years of age!! Yes I am getting old... but I feel like I have been reborn due to the 9 month missionary mark. Coincidence... I think not haha. If I blew your mind... feel free to let me know... (;

Also... I had splits with an American this past week. His name is Elder Alcorn and he is from Colorado Springs, Colorado. You know how it is... once Elder Abel is with an American.. things get wild and happiness is shared. We played some AMERICAN FOOTBALL. It was amazing!!! Made me realize just how special the U.S is and how we actually have REAL sports haha. 

The highlight of my week was talking to all of you!! You guys are such great examples to me and I am so grateful for you and the love that you guys share with me. You all play such a big role in my life and I can't wait to chat with you on Christmas, Mothers Day (next year), and then face to face. Time is going to pick up here before we know it... and we will be partying it up like the good ole days... WAHOO!!! I 

I really am so grateful for all of you women in our family, and I hope that you had a wonderful Mother's Day, and that you were able to relax and feel of the love of our family and our Heavenly Father. You all have such a great part of the plan of our Heavenly Father and I don't think that it is fair to give you guys only one day to celebrate. You deserve at least one day each month!   I absolutely loved our family prayer yesterday and I do not regret doing it. Even though it was through a weak service and through a camera.. I really could feel of the love of our Savior and Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for you guys. I am grateful for your examples in my life. We are so blessed! Thank you all for being there yesterday and for showing me your love and support. Each one of you just means the world to me and I am eternally grateful for all of you and the relationships that we hold. Although we may be split up into separate families of our own and may live miles upon miles away from each other... we are never separated. We are always close no matter the distance. We are tied together heart to heart and bound with love, service, care, and shared happiness. Seriously... We are all so blessed! I am grateful for my family that I have now and that I am able to have a family of my own in the future with such AMAZING examples of how to live a Christ Centered life and just with such strong testimonies and powerful spirits that you all have and are. I hope you know how much I love and appreciate you and I hope that you never forget that I pray for you and that I think about you. You guys are my everything and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank my Father in Heaven for each and everyone of you and how you are all perfectly placed in my life!! 

I hope that you have a wonderful week and that you know that I love you so much and miss you like crazy... in fact... I miss you more than you guys `missed` your opportunity to roast me on my birthday... hehehe!!  Now you all have to wait another YEAR to roast me!

Love, Your favorite Sky... who is counting down the weeks until Christmas... Elder Abel! (:

Baptism Blessings

Well hello there my absolute favorites!! 

This week I will be skyping my favoritest people in the whole world!! It is looking like I will be skyping 5:00 Brazil time... so I think that is 2:00 your time! I hope that that works for you guys! I will probably hop on at 4:30ish and try to get things set up. Sound good...? I hope that it doesn't interfere with any of your plans with church or anything. If so... I can try and do something a bit better. Just let me know if it needs to be later or a bit earlier. I will try and check Sunday morning and see what we can do. But I am so EXCITED!!! I have a few rules though... Everyone has to be there and everyone has to bring a question to ask. The question can be small or big and I will try and answer it to the best of my ability haha. I hope that I can speak English. I am struggling to speak English to be totally honest. I sound like I am 5 haha.. at least that's what one of my american buddies told me. But anywho... I. AM. SOO. EXCITED.!! I love you all so much!!

Not a whole lot of crazy has been happening here in the new area. Bosque is a pretty big city and is full of all sorts of people. Tons of apartments and a pretty busy place. It is very very different and is pretty hard to get people who are interested in the Gospel. But we had a few miracles this past week that was pretty sweet. I will tell a couple stories. So the first story was when we were knocking doors. I saw a sign at a house that said ´American Country` and I instantly became happy haha. I knocked on the door and asked if the man spoke English... Unfortunately... He didn't speak English but he is very passionate about the United States and everything about them. He wants to live there but loves his family too much to move away. But it was a way to get into his house. He loves Americans and has a lot of respect for Americans. This was the first time that he had ever talked with the missionaries and he was just so excited. (Side note: His house made me a little homesick because when I walked in there it was like I walked into the the United States haha. His house was decked with Ford cars, and other English signs. He had the statue of liberty sculpture.. the american flag... and everything. It was awesome!! But it was neat to be able to teach him the Restoration and to explain to him the importance of the things that we believe. He was so interested and he explained to me just how it makes so much sense! It makes sense that it was in the USA in that time and it makes sense that it was there due to the safety that we have and he went on to say that if God really was to restore the Church it would be in the United States. It was like he was building a testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel within seconds of hearing the message. It was so neat and it was nice to have someone actually want to hear and understand our message after tons of rejection here. But unfortunately we haven't been able to get in contact with him since. We are hoping that he prayed and that he has a desire to learn more. It was really neat and it was one of those... `I swear I have met you before` moments. He even said the same thing haha. Super neat! We will see what happens. His name is Oswaldo.

The work is going well and I am enjoying this area. Although it is hard... it makes finding someone to teach just so much sweeter!! I love teaching this gospel and I love helping others find the truth that we truly have here on the Earth.

I will share one more story that was really cool too. We were teaching some people as we knocked doors. We knocked a door and a pretty hardcore catholic answered the door. (Her name is Ana) She wasn't interested at all about our message but said that she really respects our service as missionaries. I felt prompted to teach about Baptism and how Baptism is an important step in this life. She went on to tell me that she was baptized in the catholic church and she knows that it was valid. I decided that I would still teach her what we be(KNOW)leive to be true and leave an invite to ask of God. She was a little bit iffy, but decided to accept the invite. We went back to her house yesterday to see how she was doing and she went on to tell us a pretty neat story. She said that she said a prayer that night that we came to her house and she didn't really feel anything. She went to sleep that night and woke up at 2:00 in the morning and couldn't sleep. She woke up worried about her baptism and if it really was valid or not. She wasn't really mad at us but you could see the fear in her eyes. I went on to share my testimony about the Truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how this is His Restored Church. She was pretty interested and said that she would like to learn more.. so this week we will be teaching her and her family. 

I would just like to say that I am so grateful for experiences like these that strengthen my testimony and make me realize just how amazing the Gospel truly is. I love the Church of Jesus Christ. There are so many false teaching in the world but it is so cool to know that we have nothing to hide. We are truly a part of the only true and living church on the earth today and everything is in the scriptures. We have nothing to hide and we HAVE the fullness of the Gospel in its full and complete form. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. We are the Saints that are living in these latter days and it is such a blessing to KNOW and LIVE the truth. Our road is paved for us to Eternal life... we just need to stay on the road and make sure that we are aligned with what Heavenly Father wants from us and for us. I am so grateful to be a missionary and help others find or stay on this road. It is a privilege and is blessing my life each and everyday.

Love, your happy... and PUMPED for Mothers Day Sky... Elder Abel! (:

 UTAH Football Fan in BRAZIL!

Coke = Happy Elder