A great week and temple session 01/27/18

Hey guys!

So this week was great, I have learned a lot. I am training a senior missionary how to be financial secretary. I have started creating a manual for all of the different tasks and responsibilities. After this is done, any secretary will be able to learn his job just by looking up what he wants. The manual will be in english but if i get a chance (i doubt i´ll have time), i might translate it to Portuguese. Elder Sherman is very cool. He is from Victor, Idaho and loves to go backpacking in the Grand Tetons! It is so beautiful there, i miss the beauty of nature. The city is so gross, i dont care if there are cool looking buildings and a lot of people and cultural things, it is just dirty and smelly. I almost want to live in the rockys after seeing pictures of where the Shermans live and hike! Mayby after we all get rich and older, we can all move to the victor, idaho! I still havent taken a picture with him and his wife, i need to do that. The mission is a lot of culture shock for Sister Sherman, being her first visit to Brazil. We bought a cake and some icecream and celebrated her birthday with her this week. We sang in english so she could feel at home a little bit. It was fun!

We had a great miracle, Besides Caio´s baptism, we also contacted this girl in the street one night. Thais is her name. She wanted to get to know the church and was very excited. We gave her a chapel tour the next day! Then realized that she is from the Sisters´ area that is right next to ours. So then we invited the sisters to our next appt with her in the chapel to teach the first lesson. It was awesome. She will be baptized the 17th of Febuary in the sisters´ ward!!

I had a great experience at the temple today!! We went just because it is in our area! I learned that, for sure, our purpose here on earth is to recieve and learn to live with a body! I  though it was so cool that everything in the temple refers to the body and to Christ´s body. It is so physical and literal the means by which we can return to God´s presence. The only part of the creation that God personally accompanied Jesus and Adam to the grand work was when they created man (The body of man)! I thought that was so cool that God personally oversaw that part of the work. That shows me how important we are to God and how important this lifetime is for us.

I know that God and His Spirit reside in His temples! I felt that today! I know that the veil is thin and the work is accomplished here and on the other side. I know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. I love the quote by Elder Holland from last conference when he said "...Because i need mercy, and because the world needs peace...". I need mercy and we all require mercy to have peace and to return to our heavenly home!

Love you guys! Pray that i can be guided to write good essays even with a mind full of portuguese grammer structure haha!

Elder Sanchez

You guys rock!! 01/20/18

I have not gained any weight on my mission. I have had times where i lost weight. Here in the office, my eating schedule is totally whack. We like only eat at lunch and then this week we bought pizza 3 times. I am out of my mission allotment becuase of that haha! But it was totally worth it. I cannot find my personal card. It has been like a week and a half. I am surprised that i lost something like that. I dont think that it was robbed becasue i have kept my eye on the account and the value hasnt changed. I will keep looking for it here at the office and let you know if i feel that you should cancel it. Maybe you wont have to send me a new one because i only have a like 2 more transfers here.

I hope that you guys can go to the super bowl!!! If they make it, i will go downtown SP to take a picture with my Brady Jersey just to represent all the way from south america!!

What did you guys think of the first presidency?? I am so grateful for them. I was notified about what the new york times did about the death of president monson and i hope that they come to understand one day why we need a prophet and why we follow. We are blessed because we can listen to our prophets! It is amazing to see the miracle of health and long life that was given to President Nelson to guide us after President Monson had passed away!

We will have a baptism tomorrow and we are planning on four more this transfer! I have started trying to be more obedient here this transfer. I will be honest that sometimes i dont feel like a missionary here in the office paying bills and resolving financial conflicts. I understand that that is because i personally can loose my focus of Jesus Christ here sometimes. I am excited to leave and to work for two transfers as a missionary. My companion (the executive secretary) will indicate me to train at the end of my mission! I think it would be a good thing for me, to have a more constant motivation to be obedient and to work hard because my impact will be lasting on that new missionary. I would love to really rely on the Lord and teach my companion as i learn for myself how to pray and return and report to the lord in the last two transfers. I really would like to baptize and teach others how we can have weekly or biweekly baptisms in our mission, which is a struggling truth among some missionaries here in SPO. 

I read the part of King Benjamin when he testifies a Christ a few times this week and i think it is amazing. He truly feared the Lord! and Loved the lord! I want to fear God like he does!

Love you guys! Have a wonderful week! hope the pics were good! I will cut my hair today and probably clean the shower box!

Elder Sanchez

Semana ocupadíssima no escritório! (Super busy week in the office!) 12/16/17

Hey family!!

I am so happy to hear your funny stories!! They are pretty great! Especially the "You´re a cat guy" and "I found the unbold button". David, may the force be with you in these finals! I am so excited for you guys to see the new star wars. Some elders are freaking out because they are breaking family traditions by not going to the opening night haha. I am totally fine with it. Right now i am more worried with finances and trying to keep my desk organized. We had the mission christmas party (the pics have not gotten to us yet) That took me out of the office for two days (CRAZY!!) I had some cool car rides with just President Thomas and I. We were able to talk about a few cool things. I asked questions about how he raised his children and talked about how i would like my home to be. We went to burger king and spent R$600.00!!! 

After all the christmas party stuff, i was behind in my office work. We only went out to work in our area yesterday with our Ward Mission Leader, Irmão Lazaro. It was pretty sweet. Tonight is our ward christmas dinner, we went around inviting a bunch of people yesterday and it looks like it went pretty well, we will follow up today and see how it goes. I am pretty excited to eat some good christmas food. I just really hope they have gingerbread cookies there, it´s been a while!! My box arrived mom and dad! I receive the notification yesterday. I have to pay $36 dollars to get it out of the post office. I am super excited!!! I will get it on monday on my lunch break! 

Tomorrow we are going to do something super cool!! You guys know the little pass along cards this year for Light the World. Well i went to the area offices yesterday and asked for the archives of those graphics for the portuguese campaign. They gave it and asked for a banner to be made. The mission paid for it!!! The area offices also gave a bunch of other church materials like Liahonas and christmas music videos to give away. (Perks of being the mission with the temple and area office!!) We are going to set up a table with the christmas campaign on Avenida Paulista (the times square of Brazil!) We will contact and sing and give out church material for an hour and a half tomorrow after church!!! I am soooo excited!! I will take pics and spread the good word of God downtown!!!

My companion gave me an eggnog chocolate from his christmas box, though i am not very fond of eggnog. I really enjoyed and appreciated that chocolate.

Yesterday i bought a vuvuzela from BRASIL!!!!

I am reading in the scriptures about Jesus Christ in the Americas. I love reading his own words! How He loves us is fantastic!!! I love Him and am trying to get better and become more like Him each day! Have a great week! May the force be with you, Always!

--Incluído, há algumas fotos de minha mesa no escritório, minha vuvuzela, e meu companheiro morto depois de três semanas de reuniões consecutivas--

Elder Sanchez​​​​​​​​​​

Peace with Christ!!! 12/9/17

Hey!!

Thanks you guys for sending me emails!! I read them. Dont have a lot of time today. I spent a large part of my pday working. The Mission Christmas party will be Teusday and so i am trying to help Sister Thomas get everything ready. It is gonna be really cool. We (the office staff) will do be part of the spiritual message, we will sing and do a little acting as we sing. It will be interesting. My voice is in pretty rough shape because of a cold that i have had this week. I was in bed on sunday and then during the week it has gotten better.

This week we actually only were able to work like three times in our area. My companion had to go to zone conferences every day with President and his wife. So i was in Trio in the office and had a soon-to-be missionary take me to the lunches in my ward. I got a lot done this week, but i still have a bunch to do. I am gonna work on bettering my schedule to recieve more money in a week instead of only once or twice. I also made the certificates for the master chef competition and i made 3360 thank you notes for the missionaries to give to members and the their ward leadership after eating lunch or passing through an area

My favorite part of the week was that the music of next year´s youth theme came out!!! With the video too!! It is sooooo awesome!! I have listened to the album like 5 times a day here in the office! If you watch the video there is a really cool part. The girl that is walking in the rain is from my ward, Morumbi!! We are actually going to teach her friend in her house on Sunday!!! It is so cool that i know somebody from a worldwide youth church video!!

My invitation to all this week is to listen to this awesome album and remember that when there´s no peace on earth, there is Peace with Christ!!

Love ya´ll, good luck closing the town house and business travel and gaming!!

Elder Sanchez

Miracle

He is now the financial clerk for the mission.

So yesterday we left will some cool guys, Jiorgio and Tito. I stayed with Jiorgio, he is 17 and speaks fleuent english. He did a foreign exchange in Colorado! It was so cool. So Elder Eggers and I had only planned for one set of appointments instead of two for two companionships. Elder Eggers and Tito went to our appoinments and Jiorgio and i just though, "lets find some middle class homes and go tracting". We went and we got to a certain part of the area and Jiorgio said, "I think that i remember a couple that the missionaries used to visit here." I was so excited to go and try it out. We went there and the couple did not live there, but there was an 18 year old girl that ran to us at the door with a huge smile. We said we were missionaries and that we had a message about Jesus Christ. She then said that she was a less active member and said that her dad was in the house if we wanted to enter. We entered and talked to them about the Book of Mormon and Ether 12:27. Then here dad had to leave so we went to finish the message with her in the street with. We testified that we did not find her by accident and then she said that she already knew that. ´She said that she was on the couch and feeling really sad about a variety of things in her life when all the sudden she heard us clapping at the gate. She went out and saw us and just felt like she had been remembered. She started to testify of the love of our Heavenly Father. She bore a great testimony, i meanshe had already been through the young womens program of the church. She spoke and began recognize the love and need of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through her words. She started to cry as the spirit testified to her of the truths that she so much wanted and needed to know and feel. She committed to read the book of mormon and to return to church.  Her name is Carol!

I testify that revelation can come in many ways! This young man, Jiorgio, doesnt even live in this ward but through prayer and and worthiness, he remembered of that very house where we would find that person in need of our help.

I testify that we are children of a Divine Father who loves us and knows us and that makes Himself manifest unto us through His Spirit and His faithful followers. He knew that Carol needed help and know how and when to help. He loves me and knows me. He sees who i really am, even when i have a difficult time seeing who i really am.

I testify of the power of prayer. It is direct communication with heaven.

I testify of the power of the holy priesthood. We can be strengthened and comforted through and by it. It makes and seals our covenants with our Father. And without a doubt, it is the power of Son and Savior, Jesus Christ, given to men to help all become more like Him and live with Them, the Father and the Son, again.

Missionary work is His work.

I testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I testify that He paid our price, individually. I testify that there is not a dark corner that He cannot enter and illuminate with pure light, if we will be humble ourselves before Him. Humility includes honesty, sincerety, simplicity, and obedience. I testify that He lives and activily looks to lift us up off the ground! He is the Life and the Light of the World!!

I testify in His holy and sacred name, amen.

Check out the video for this christmas. #LightTheWorld. And participate this christmas season! Be the light of the world with Him!!!

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_VRN7hcL_8

Campaign Link: https://www.mormon.org/

Love you all!!!

Elder Sanchez

Hello Everyone!!

This week was great. I am learning alot about my imperfections. Being a leader is harder than i thought. I cant relax. I have to love and learn and be obedient. If i dont, i can loose the trust of others and of the Lord. We are having miracles. We cant do prosyliting in our condominium but we, through the hand of the Lord, have entered into many houses in our condominium and taught the gospel. People give us rides to the center of town and we ask if we can visit them. Its sweet! We have to give a training about the Ward Mission Plan to two zones this week. My companion is amazing. He was able to take the story of Ammon and connect it very well with the concept of creating and carrying out the Ward mission plan. I am excited to see where this will go. The whole mission is creating stronger bonds with the wards and stakes so that the fruits of the work can be greater and lasting!! I love President Thomas. He is such an inspired man. Today i will go to the church farm here in the middle of nowhere. It is the last p day of a sister in my district. She and her companion are amazing. They have left an amazing legacy here in Caucaia. We will miss her service! I love you guys. I dont have much time today. The box arrived in São Paulo and i will pay for it this week. I love you guys and am so excited to work another week here in Caucaia 2 Zion!! I have goals to get to know better my Savior Jesus Christ. 

We were leaving the house one night this week to get food that a member had brought for us and as i opened the door, a HUGE spider fell on me and freaked me out. It is super big. We put a bowl on it and then messed with him. He was in all sorts of defensive positions and then my companion taught me how they kill spiders in Mato Grosso (his home). He got cleaning alcohol and drench the spider and the ground around it and then lit it on fire. The little devil ran and ran on fire. I felt like i was in a game of Pac-man World 2 running from the flamming spider! It was a great brazil experience. I have pics and a video but i wont be able to send them today.

Getting back to spiritual things. I am so grateful for repentance that is possible throught Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who literally intercedes for us to the Father during our mortality. They want us to be happy and through the Holy Spirit we can be pure and clean and happy. We have to be worthy of this spirit. I love to feel close to my Savior and i can feel closer to Him by living His teachings and by following His example. You can do the same. This is my challenge to my friends and family this week. Do something that will bring you closer to Jesus Christ. It could be through greater obedience, stronger and more sincere prayer, or by studying about His great and eternal sacrifice! I love you guys and miss you! Have a wonderful week!

Elder Sanchez

Hey everybody!!!!! I am still alive!!!

At the Mall


My new house!!


My new companion, Elder Melo!!

We had transfers and i left my swole companion, elder Nascimento in Giovanni Gronchi Sião!!! He will destroy there. He is a great man and i loved my time with him. I will miss living with the Assistants too. Elder Bartling and Elder Meira and Elder A dos. Santos were great roomates!! But here i am in Zona Cotia as a zone leader. My companion is Elder Melo!! The best missionary in the world. The guy is incredible and i love working with him. This ward is the Caucaia 2nd Ward and it is amazing. So much love. The family of Felipe, Waldisa, Kauanny, and Kauan was baptised in Giovanni. I couldnt make the baptism because my area is so far away. We are over the zone of farmers. It is amazing. The first time that i have inhaled pure are, non polluted in eleven months!!! We are finding so many people here and so many families. We are planning to have a mission-wide baptism on the 10th of June called the Waters of Mormon!! All of the missionaries in the mission will baptize in their respective stakes that day. Now is the part of motivating our zone to get every companionship at least one person to baptize! It will all work out! I cannot believe that i am a zone leader. I was never even a district leader. I am new and a little nervous but i love learning how to follow up and talk to people. Sisters are intimidating but i will figure it out haha! My first day in this area we moved into a new house!! This new house is amazing (almost too much for missionaries) but i think that these are the blessings for cleaning all my other houses with so much enthusiasm in my other areas! I love it!
I love the Lord. I am learning about prayer. God want us to live good and abundant lives. We have to be worthy and then we just have to ask for it with faith. I know that we are in our second home here on earth. We were taught at prepared before this world to come here and fight against the wickedness of the world. It is amazing to me! I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer. Now you guys can enjoy the pics of this week!!! I was given a talk assignment in church about the general conference talk of Elder Holland from this past conference. I am working a lot with english with my new companion. He is great. I miss you guys and love you guys!!! I will do my best in this area!!

Love, Elder Sanchez