THE. BOOK. OF. MORMON. IN. MY. LIFE.

Hey!!

I hope that everybody had a good week! My week went really fast! 

First off, this past week here in the Bahia, there was a big party called the São João. It is where they put stacks of wood in front of their homes and light them at night! So the city has been filled with smoke and fireworks. 

What is São João?

We also had a meeting in Salvador and while we were there, I was able to do my first split time teaching in Salvador. 

This week it has rained a lot!! And we are still living in our same house and it has gotten worse.  Every room but one bathroom is leaking water! Haha, so we searched for another house and hopefully we can switch here soon.

 

We were able to have a couple family home evenings this week and we got to make pizza. We were also able to leave a message from The Book of Mormon. I am sure am grateful for the opportunity I have to have The Book of Mormon in my life and to be here in Brasil serving our Lord. I know by reading the Book of Mormon we can get nearer to our Father in Heaven. I also know that God hears our prayers when we take the time to talk to him. 

This is the last week of this transfer and I think my companion is going to be leaving after this one, so I should be getting a new companion here soon. That means I will be here for about another six weeks. That is about it for the week.  I did get to eat duck and crab this week and both tasted pretty good.  

 I hope you all have a good week. Talk to you guys later.

If you have some time, you should read this talk on the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do.  It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity.  Unlike the Bible, which passed through generations of copyists, translators, and corrupt religionists who tamper with the text, the Book of Mormon came from writer to reader in just one inspired step of translation.  Therefore, its testimony of the Master is clear, undiluted, and full of power.  But it does even more.  Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior.  They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection.  The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all those.  It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement.  Truly, this divinely inspired book is a keystone bearing witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ.

Love, 
Èlder Nickerson

GRATEFUL. TO. HAVE. THIS. GIFT.

Hey Everybody!!

This week has passed by really fast!! First off, last week after we got done emailing, we went to the beach here! It was really cool. The sand was almost white.

This week we also worked a lot with the less active members here, and on Sunday, we had 2 less active members come to church. They haven't been to church for the whole time that my companion and I have been here. It was really neat to see them walking in the doors of the church again.

Something that I'm starting to realize is how strong of influence the Holy Ghost can have on our lives and lives of others. I'm so grateful to have this gift and Spirit in our lives.

We also helped a lot with the English school and are helping people here learn English. This week here Brasil has another big party called the São João.  It will last a couple days and at night time they are going to start putting big stacks of wood in front of their houses and lighting the wood on fire. It's part of the tradition I guess. I am excited to see what it is all about. 

We also did a split this week and this family that we taught had an iguana, it was cool!!

Well, that's about it for the week. Hope everybody had a good week. Talk to you guys later.

Haha!! One more thing, we found this giant spider on our walls this week!!

Love,

Elder Nickerson

 

 

The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of the gospel.

 

He “witnesses of the Father and the Son” (2 Nephi 31:18) and reveals and teaches “the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). We can receive a sure testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only by the power of the Holy Ghost. His communication to our spirit carries far more certainty than any communication we can receive through our natural senses.

 

As we strive to stay on the path that leads to eternal life, the Holy Ghost can guide us in our decisions and protect us from physical and spiritual danger.

 

Through Him, we can receive gifts of the Spirit for our benefit and for the benefit of those we love and serve (see D&C 46:9-11).

THE. COASTLINE.

The beach was fun! I took some pictures, it was pretty!  Sure love you guys!! Dad, be careful with the hay.  Hope all is working out ok with it. Be safe and don't stress too much about it. It will all work out. Love and miss you guys! I'm feeling good.

Talk to you guys later,
Elder Nickerson

MORE. MY. DESIRE. GROWS. TO. SPREAD. THE. GOSPEL.

Hey!! 

It's been a good week!!! We had zone conference in a city an hour away called Feira De Santana. It was a really good meeting, as zone meetings always are. 

We have also been helping with the choir here. Sunday we sang in church because it was ward conference, and while we were singing a lot of people started crying. Everybody could feel the spirit really strong.

We also got to help with a wedding this week and help them set up a lot of things. We received some referrals this week and we started teaching them.  We had one of them come to church, so hopefully she will keep progressing.

But, that's about it for the week. I'm grateful to be here!! The longer I'm out, the more my desire grows to spread the gospel. I'm so grateful for prayer and I know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers and will help us with everything.

Dallin H Oaks said, "Let us remember that desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. In addition, it is our actions and our desires that cause us to become something, whether a true friend, a gifted teacher, or one who has qualified for eternal life."

Thanks for all. Talk to you guys next week.

Love,

Elder Nickerson

HE. IS. THERE.

Hey guys!

Here is a picture of my Jomafa Zone Meeting.

This week was a good week.  The week really went by fast. We found out that we aren't able to move into the new apartment we found.  It is not quite big enough for all six of us.  So we are back to hunting for a new apartment.

We also found some new people to teach this week.  We were able to get them to come to church with us.  We always find a lot of people through out the week in our travels, but it is sometimes disappointing when they promise to come to church and we don't see them.  I know that just means we have more work to do and that is why I am here, but there are times it gets discouraging when people don't show up on Sunday.

But I am really amazed at how the Lord is so much aware of all of us. He definitely is the light in our darkness and he leads us missionaries to where we need to go and  to the people that need to hear what we have to say.

I have a quick story from Elder Hugh Brown.  Before Elder Brown left on a mission, his mother told him: "Hugh, you remember when you were a little boy and you would have a bad dream or wake up in the night frightened?  You would call from your room, 'Mother, are you there?' and I would answer and try to comfort you and remove your fears.  Now as you go on a mission and out into the world, there will be times when you will be frightened, when you feel weak, inadequate, alone, and have problems.  I want you to know that you can all to your Heavenly Father as you used to call to me and say, 'Father, are you there? I need your help.' Do this will knowledge that He is there and that He will be ready to help you if you will do your part and live worthy of your blessings.  I want to reassure you that He is there and will answer your prayers and needs for your best good.

I still haven't been able to see the coastline in this area.  This has been my seventh week in this area.  Today we were going to go to the beach and maybe even go fishing, but the sun never came out.  It has still been raining a lot here. It is really hard hard rain. I guess I better get use to it because they tell me that is what happens here in the winter months.

The elders and I are still getting along.  But just like everyone we all have our up and down days.  It always helps when we are busy, teaching, and doing service.

I am grateful for the gospel and the opporutnity that I have to serve a mission.  I know the Lord knows me and he helps me everyday.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss home and my family, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than where I am.

It is pretty crazy to think that I have a little over a year left out here.   Some days are fast and some days are slow, but before we know it my mission will be over.  I try to make the most of it while I have the experience.

Thanks for all.  Be safe.  I sure do love you guys and miss you guys.  Have a good week.

Much love,
Elder Nickerson