Tenha Fe'

7/1/2009

Maybe another direct quote from the Elder Clark will help set the mood for us 

today.... ´´And again lets do that thing where you guess how long ive been with 

out water. This time if you guessed less than 6 weeks you would be wrong.... i 

might die.´´  Lol, i´m pretty sure i might have cockrotches in my house who 

shower more than he does, haha i imagine he must be rotting. (And yes i can´t 

help but laugh and wear a giant smile while saying that)
 
But how was your day?
  Here ion Estância after making a little Macarrâo Nada lunch with smoothies for 

a family who lives close by, me and my comp decided to maybe take the day easy 

with some massages from a local member.  Lifes rough, eh?
  Sexta-feira futebol hit and all time ridiculas attendance number this week 

with easily more than 30 ppl.  If my ball had gotten kicked over the wall one 

more time that in did i tihnk my mind would have lost it.  Luckly no harm no 

foul.  HOwever trhis week will be a little different seeing as only those men 

who attended sacrament meeting will get to play (I think that totals about 5)

along with all the members who committed to come this week.
  I realize as a missionary maybe pride isn´t something i should posses to 

much of, but when i get to see ones of my recent converts (Arthur) passing 

the sacroment to me and him cousin (who was baptized this past week) following 

right in his foot steps i can´t help but grin and think ´´É isso íe!!!´´ 

Truely working with recent converst and inactive members is one of the best 

ways to work.  This past we i believe we were able to re-solitify an inactive 

family, who, just so helped us bring an entire other family to church on 

Sunday as well.  To top everything off each one of the nine visitors we had 

in church left with a new friend.  Without even mentioning a thing to any 

member, i walked into sacrament meeting to find none sitting by themselves. 

Def an exemplairy ward.
  Well, lastly, i must admit i am deaply addicted to reading conference 

talks.  Elder Peason´s talk on faith struck me more than any other this 

week and it´s amazing to see how important it became to me throughout the 

week.  You see we have investigators who often (especially this semana) 

carry doubts or fears about the church but don´t open their mouths.  The 

fact is alwayts apparent but not always so easily over come.  But success 

came our way though every time we encountered this fear this week.  
  You see fear and faith cannot excist in the same place, nor in the same room, 

house, our family entirely.  unfortunately everything in this world gradually 

moves to disorder when untouched untreated or just plain forgotten about. 

Truly our faith is the same way.  When we are not properly and consistently 

using it, or excirsing it, she starts to faid away.  Non coincidentally at 

the same time we become spiritually numb and may to even reliese just how 

weak our faith is becoming.  At this point it is easier than ever for the 

seed of doubt to be planted, and thats where everything can dramatically 

start to go down hill.  to quote Elder Pearson, ´´Doubt, is not a principle 

of the gospel.  She does not come from the Light of Christ nor the influencia 

of the Spirit.´´ Alma 5 leaves it clear that everything good come from God. 

And all those other not so good things come from the adversary.
  In closing i think it would be beneficial for everyone to be uplifted by 

the words of Elder M Russel Ballard, who says, ´´The voice of the Lord is 

clear and unmistakable. He knows you. He loves you. He wants you to be 

eternally happy. But according to your God-given agency, the choice is 

yours. Each one of you has to decide for yourself if you are going to ignore 

the past and suffer the painful mistakes and tragic pitfalls that have 

befallen previous generations, experiencing for yourself the devastating 

consequences of bad choices. How much better your life will be if you will 

follow the noble example of the faithful followers of Christ such as the 

sons of Helaman, Moroni, Joseph Smith, and the stalwart pioneers—and choose, 

as they did, to remain faithful to your Heavenly Father’s commandments!´´ 

(in my liahona it has an excalmation, is that not the case in English?)
  I too love and hope the best for each and everyone of you.  I know how 

hard it is to follow the comandments at times, I´ve been there.  But luckily 

i can tell you the He, Christ Our Savior, has been there too.  I know he lives 

and is watching out for us.  Have faith in that.  Have faith in Him.  And 

remember to stretch your faith a little more everyday.  I testify that 

through faith all things are possible.
  ´´We´re on the winning team!´´  And i wouldn´t ever wanna miss an 

opportunity to thank everyone who ever taught me so. Thank you all, and 

you to remember to smile always.
 
Mateus 13:31-32,
Elder Neuberger