Elder Chandler Hyer

Elder Chandler Hyer
Elder Chandler Hyer

Monday, February 29, 2016

Planalto - Asa Norte - Brasilia Week 6

SolarBeam, Transfers, Rogelina!!

Brasil, use SolarBeam!! Elder Hyer takes 50 damage!!

So this is how I feel, like Brasil is blasting me with the sun. P-day we had a zone activity and I just got destroyed. So apparently I have to use stronger sunblock, and walk during the day with an umbrella to protect from the sun if you can believe it (I feel like a girl), but oh well, it's helping.

In other news this transfer has come to an end, we are both, my companion and I, staying here in the same area which is great. I'm liking my companion and my area, so I'm looking forward to spending another transfer here. I learned a lot this transfer, I learned that the Atonement of Jesus Christ doesn't only pay for our sins but he can really help us, lift us up, to keep on working, to keep on striving when things are frustrating and hard and we just want to sit down and take a break. And more than ever I really learned the importance of studying the scriptures, "...for in them ye think ye have eternal life" John 5:39.

Anyways to finish up, we managed to Baptize Rogelina this week!! She started out not wanting to be baptized because she thought she was "too old to be baptized" she was found by missionaries 3 years ago and taught on and off for years! Finally, I think she has had an understanding and a desire to follow in the footsteps of our savior and it's amazing to see someone enter the Church of Jesus Christ and find the happiness that only comes from following God's commandments.

Love you all and I hope you have the most amazing week, bye bye!!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Planalto - Asa Norte - Brasilia Week 5

Rogelina, Prophecies, Interviews,

This week was pretty funny. To start off I'll talk about how awesome Rogelina is. She has been to church 3 times at this point and is pretty much our only progressing investigator. We had to reschedule her baptism to next Sunday because of her work but I'm excited and everything should workout just fine there.

Also this week we received a referral from a member that led to this elderly lady. When we walked in there were a bunch of people gathered, but we thought nothing of it. So we talked with her for a while (she is probably about 80 years old) and after we shared a quick message and ended with a prayer we asked when we could return, (we kept the message short because there was a weird vibe there). Anyway, it turned out that this old lady prays prophetically for peoples lives, and this is why there were people gathered there. Well she asked if we would like to participate in the prayer, we said yes, and she started to prophecy.... During this prayer she stood up and touched her head with mine and grabbed my shoulder and just said a bunch of stuff I barely understood, but it was hilarious, and then afterwords she went to everyone else in the room doing the same thing, quite interesting.

We also had interviews with the mission president this week which was great, our president is awesome. He always manages to help you out in one way or another.

Yes, this is a little short but the work is good. I've never been so happy in my life, and I miss you all.


Monday, February 15, 2016

Planalto - Asa Norte - Brasilia Week 4

Missions are awesome but not easy.

So work was a little slow this week, we had some success as always but a lot of times it's just not quite what I want. The other day the mother of one of our progressing investigators, Eliza, told us not to come back, which is really frustrating. But it does happen and we just have to keep on working diligently and have faith that the Lord will bless us with success.

This week we did a missionary exchange where I worked with Elder Viera for a day. It's always fun to spend a day with other missionaries and see how it is that they teach and work.

I bought caldo de cana which is essentially a drink that is made from fresh sugar cane which is pretty good, I quite enjoy it. Also I´m slowly getting addicted to agua de coco (coconut water). It is a delicia!

We didn't have anyone we are teaching at church on Sunday, and Rogelina, our top investigator traveled to Paranoa, so we didn't have a chance to visit with her either.

So if you can't tell, this week was a little frustrating to me but at the same time there are a few things that have never been better.

We have had a few really cool experiences here where during the day after a bunch of our appointments fall through and we are left with nothing to do, and we are feeling discouraged, we say a prayer together. And every time something good happens, sometimes very obviously. Twice this week we said a prayer asking for help, and within a minute we found someone who was willing to listen to our message, and that feels good to know that god is helping us.

I want to bear testimony about scripture study. It has carried me through these last few weeks that are sometimes a little hard. We all hear that to study the scriptures is a commandment of God, but sometimes we do very little about it. But I know that if we can obey this commandment, to not just read a little bit half-asleep but really take a small portion of our day and study, our days and weeks and life in general will go so much better. I know that it has been for me as I've really been learning what it truly means to study the scriptures.

Anyway guys love you all so much, have an awesome week!

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Planalto - Asa Norte - Brasilia Week 3

Trapped in an elevator...

So this week was full of adventure!!
First of all this week was the last week of Carnival, and then we also got trapped in an elevator...

So first the elevator. Tuesday we got invited by the sisters to have lunch at a member's house since our lunch fell through. They asked us to walk to their apartment building and they would lead us to the member's house. But when we got there they said it was going to be a while and invited us to wait in the lobby (which is on the second story). Instead of taking the stairs I decided to call the elevator (this was a mistake). We walked in and I pressed the button for the second floor, the door shut, and nothing happened, the elevator wouldn't move and the door wouldn't open. That is when I found out that my companion has serious claustrophobia (it was a tiny elevator). He started freaking out and after about ten minutes we managed to figure out that if we held down the emergency button we could force the door to open. So yeah that was a fun adventure.

As far as Carnival it's not too crazy here. I just saw a bunch of dressed up people, guys dressed up as girls ("Dude looks like a lady!!") and there was a fat shirtless guy that called out "Elders!" and started making profane gestures (I think he was drunk). But that's about all the craziness that I saw as far as Carnival goes.

One investigator is progressing well. Rogelina was at church again this week and all signs are pointing to her getting baptized on the 21st of February.

On the other hand most of our other investigators have had one thing or another stopping their progress which can be a little frustrating. But I don't want to sound like I'm not enjoying the area because I really am loving it. My companion is great, the group of members in the ward are awesome, and my Portuguese is better than ever. 


That's about it for this week, love you all bye!!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Planalto - Asa Norte - Brasilia Week 2

I <3 Brasilia

Well this week went rather well, we worked hard and generally had a good normal week of missionary work, with a few awesome results!

The area here is really great but with a history of little success. Knowing that the area is a little harder really makes us want to be obedient and diligent in all things, because it's through obedience that the Lord will bless us with success, and we are being blessed because of our efforts!

This week we found an investigator named Rogelina who has been taught by missionaries in the past. We had a quick lesson with her and invited her to church, and she came! The Ward welcomed her well and after church we managed to mark a baptismal date for the 14th of February, so pray that everything goes smoothly there.

Anyway, I know that the email is a short this week but not a whole lot else happened and I'm a bit short on time today, so I love you all and have a fantastic week!!

Elder Hyer