Week 74 - Eternal Families

This was a wonderful week for Dallen.   One of the families Dallen taught went through the temple Saturday and were sealed together for eternity.   It was a very special day.

We claim Elijah has returned and restored priesthood keys Malachi 4:5-6, D&C 110:13-16. We declare families can be eternal when sealed by an authorized holder of these priesthood keys. 

Marriage and families are fundamental to our Heavenly Father's plan.  The Family: A Proclamation To The World.

   -- A few thoughts from Dallen's Father.

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Saturday was sweet!  I went through the temple with Marcio and his family.  I don't have words to describe my feelings and joy. I saw a ton of people from my previous area, Mogi das Cruzes, too!  It was a special day!

Marcio, Itacila, and their daughter - used by permission of the family.

The Sao Paulo Temple.

(Marcio posted an album with many more pictures of their special day on Facebook)

Week 73 - Cuiabá to Vatapá

My new companion is way cool.  His name is Elder Gustavo Medina. He is from the hottest city in Brazil called Cuiabá. It's 125 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.  He has one more transfer then I do. He will study electrical engineering after his mission.

We are opening up this area.  I’m new and I wasn’t left with any investigators.  We were able to find seven homes to teach in this week. Some are families which is always nice. I like teaching families. A couple of the people we teach have a lot of problems. The gospel of Jesus Christ is needed by all.

The bishop here is a super good speaker. He is the institute director.  The other day we planned to meet with him but our meeting was canceled.  Two members of the quorum of seventy showed up to speak with him.

I’ve had so many amazing experiences on my mission.  I couldn’t even give a talk anymore without sharing some of them.

I’m losing a ton of weight here in this area.  I can’t eat like I use to.  After the food contest in Mogi I haven’t eaten as much anymore.  I don’t think it is possible for me to win the t-shirt at Spock Burgers.

The picture of that orange soup is called vatapá.  It’s north eastern food. You would probably love it. It’s Brazil’s take on curry.  I think the food is way good here.  It’s not weird or sketchy.  A lot of dishes use rice and beans.  You can’t go wrong with those ingredients.  The BBQ here is the bomb! Pizza is different, but I like it too.  I often eat beans on top of spaghetti.

Week 72 - Transfers

I’ve spent the last day of Elder Faustino's mission visiting the families he taught.  Elder Faustino asked to spend his last day with me so I have been with him all day.  We have been traveling all day long -- since 5:00 in the morning. We are stopping by people he taught and talking about the mission and stuff like that. It has been a blast!

Elder Faustino and Elder Hammond surrounded by Sister and President Ferrin.

I do not know who my next companion will be, but I am told he will be Brazilian.

Transfers are tomorrow morning. What’s sad is I still don’t have a photo with Elder Mika who has been my companion for the past week. He is going home too.  I’ll try to get a picture with him tomorrow.

I’ve got to go.  I’ll be traveling again some next week, but it won’t be as crazy and chaotic as today.