Estou aqui

5/14/2009

If ever you find yourself pasting some time in Brasil, rememeber to carry around 

with you a couple essential items; Proof that the Wright Brothers discovered 

flight before Santos Dimon (almost three years ahead), that USA won 3 out of 

the 4 volleyball events during this past Olympics and a smile to rub it in 

their face.  Just kidding about that last won, that's mean....but really
 
What would you carry around in America?
  This week was pretty packed, enough that i didn´t get a chance to email 

yesterday.  Speaking of yesterday i went on one of the greatest hikes of 

my life!  Almost the entire zone met up at Itabiana to hike this Serra (of 

which someone lives on the top)  Anyways it was just gorgeous and i´m pretty 

sure i could see all of brasil at some parts.  The hike down was a little 

more technical than any of us anticipated.  In fact i think i´d give the or 

all hike some form of technial rating as we had to descend a couple of 15 foot 

rock walls with vines, yep awesome.  The entire thing was accompanied by 

constant cascading water falls, just beautiful.  I´d love to do it again 

some time.....anyone?

Random: I love all the little monkeys i see here

Also Random:  Why is zero plural?
  Still Random:  Doug Funny was a solid childhood cartoon character, but it 

still frustrates me that he never really gets the girl, UHG!!!
  Meet an elder who had returned this week after long sense finishing his 

mission 2 years ago.  It was fun to converse with his parents who are from 

Kaysville UT.  They were pretty suprised to find out i knew people from there. 

´´Know People!!´´ (thats an ashley p shout out)
  Our sevice project this week was building/reparing/fixing the fence of Danny, 

our recent convert.  The project took all morning and was well worth it even 

if just for the laughs.  Who knew you could use rubber as hinges? never woulda 

thought.  Anyways the thing looks hot now.
  Friday the sisters had a baptism of a couple that i´ve grown pretty close 

to here over the weeks.  The baptism was excellent and the wards members 

where even better in welcoming them in.  
  The  next day we had intergretion night with everyone.  Going into it us 

missionaries thought we would be incharge and had everything prepared only to 

find out the ward had set it all up on there own.  Regardless the entire thing 

went off without a hitch and was lovely.
  Well my 30 seconds of time is running out as we need to get to almoço but 

before i leave i just wanna share one more thing;
  The other day me and my companion were just finishin giving the first lesson 

to a family when the father got up and kindly said,  ´´But why do you think 

your church it true?´´ The question was of course one i heard many different 

times in many different ways.  I believe my favorite form of this question is 

´´What makes your church different?´´  Some how the presence of a question 

like this always changes the entire spirit of things.  It brings a warm feel 

of sencerity into the home that lets you know things truely have been thought 

about throughout our time there and that the message didn´t just enter on ear 

and exit the other.
  Pausing to think i decided to answer the question quite simply and refering 

back to our lesson.  ´´Senhor i know this gospel is true because of the way 

it is structured exactly the same as that church of Cristo when he was here 

on the earth, with a Prophet, Apostlos, and the Priesthood.  I know how 

essential each of these peices are in the foundation of our faith.  And all 

these things i know not because someone has told me, buyt because i have 

offered that prayer we invited you to make, and ask God, that all knowing 

Father, to tell me if what i am testifying to you now is true ´´
  I hope no one would ever go off my word or the words of any other when 

faced with a decission or proposition like this, but go to a quite place, 

just as that young boy did in 1820, and pray with a sincery heart whether 

or not the things you believe are true.
  I promise Heavenly Father will always answer these prayers.  I know The 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, and would never hesitate 

to invite each one of you to pray about it; to those you are member and to 

those who arn´t; to strengthen or build your testimony of such a glorious 

work and a wonder.
 
D&C 123:17
Elder Neuberger