Os Tres Nefitas

WELL HELLOOOOO!

So right now, I'm in a trio with Elder Miller and Elder Barros. This week was intense. So here in São Gabriel, there are 2 branches. In the last transfer there were 2 companionships in each branch, and the area of the branch was split, giving each companionship an area to work in. But in one of the branches, the sisters were transferred out, and now there are only elders. So along with working in the area of Elder Miller and Elder Barros, we have to open the sisters area, AND my area. So basically, we're working in 3/4ths of the city...and it's not too small.  But it's way fun. 

So I arrived here on Tuesday night, but Elder Miller and Elder Barros were in Santa Maria for the mission counsel, so when I arrived, I was the only Elder in São Gabriel. The Sisters took the keys to the house and my cell phone to the bus station, and gave them to me, and then I took a taxi to our house and I was there all alone for 5 hours waiting for the other Elders to arrive. It was weird being alone, holy moly. I cleaned the house, reorganized everything, unpacked my bags, and stuff like that. Then they arrived. 

It's getting quite cold here, and we're all using sweaters and jackets. It's pretty scary when 3 guys in black jackets knock on your door to talk to you. But beyond this, we're working a whole lot. This whole week, we were just getting to know the city, and opening a bunch of the areas here. It's tiring but it's fun. We walk a lot. But it's all good. I'm just grateful to be here on a mission and be learning so many things. Every day, I learn so much. I wish I could send emails about everything that I learn and about all the experiences that I have, but the time is super limited. But just know that I love you all and I'm so grateful to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ! 

I love ya'll!

Elder Hintze

BIANCA e KITKAT

Wellllllllllllll I'dVE GOT NEWS.

So I'm being transferred! It's hard to believe that it's my last transfer, holy cows. I'll be the District Leader in São Gabriel and I'll be training a new missionary and opening the area (The 8th area that I will have opened on my mission). São Gabriel is a small city. For example, you can normally tell how big the city is by the amount of missionaries there are. Here in Uruguaiana, there are 20 missionaries. In Santa Maria, there are about 46 missionaries. In São Gabriel there are only 6. I'll be serving in a branch there. But good news, I'll be living with Elder Miller and Elder Barros! Elder Miller is from Washington DC too, and he goes home with me, and Elder Barros is the ex-assistant and is the coolest guy ever (and Katie's future husband). I'll be in a trio with them for 2 weeks while I wait for me new "son" to get to the mission. So this is a secret, but I'll be the first American missionary to train another American missionary in the Brazil Santa Maria Mission during the reign of President Parrela. My new companion has been serving in the US and has to pass through the MTC in São Paulo for 2 weeks before entering the mission. This is new for all the visa waiters who come to Brazil. I didn't have to do it. But I'll be waiting for him, and while I wait, I'll be in a trio with the champions of the mission! Woot woot!

So this week was pretty simple. We planned some family nights with a lot of families. I had a feeling that I would leave (because I've been here forever) and so I planned these family nights strategically. After hearing the news, we passed in the houses of a lot of families and said goodbye. It was sad and I will really miss Uruguaiana. The first time I passed here, I didn't like it. But I'm so glad that I came back so that I could learn to love this place. I love Uruguaiana so much! In total, I've been in Uruguaiana for 10 months, and I've passed in 3 wards in this stake. Holy guacamole. They've practically transferred my membership record here. But here in Uruguaiana, I was able to see the hand of God acting in so many people's lives. I was able to feel the Spirit of the Lord so strong, testifying of the truthfullness of the Book of Mormon, the Restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the truthfulness of the Lord's Restored Church that is today on the earth. I'm grateful for the things I've learned out here in the middle-of-nowhere-Brazil. I now know why when I looked at my mission map for the first time, I was so curious about that random city on the border of Argentina, "Uruguaiana". But man how I love this place. 

I'm grateful to be here on a mission. I know the Lord loves me and wants me to succeed, as he loves each one of you and wants you all to succeed. He's given me this chance to show him that I'm willing to work and serve him. I've been giving one the hardest callings in the mission....a District Leader, opening an area, and training someone who doesn't speak the language. Por favor, pray for me. I'll need it. 

I love you all so much! You all rock socks. Have a wonderful week, and don't forget to keep your thoughts full of good things, so that your words are clean and charitable, so that your actions are good and are in service to the lord. Keep your thoughts like this by your scripture study and daily prayers. 

I love you all so much and I hope your week is better than a lobster in Maine that didn't get eaten. 

ABRAÇO MUITO FORTE PARA TODOS VOCÊS, 

ELDER HINTZE

May 18, 2015

So this is gonna be super short but I just wanted to leave you with a cool story that I heard this week at Stake Conference. So the temple president and his wife of the Porto Alegre Temple came to Uruguaiana. They're Americans, and his wife doesn't speak Portuguese super well, but she talked and she told a really cool story that I want to tell you. She told us about her little grandson who went to Disney Land for the first time with his family. When he got there, he grabbed the map and started studying it and sat down. He studied the map for a good 30 minutes while his family waited in line. After a while, he looked up at his mom and said "Mom, if Disney Land is the happiest place on earth, then where is the temple?"

I loved this story a whole lot, because it's so true! Disney Land is just another worldly attraction full of temporary happiness. But the temple is the place where we can really be sealed with our families forever and that's where the true happiness is. We all need to make the temple our goal because, we may be experiencing temporary happiness right now in our lives, but in eternity, the real happiness will come as we have our eternal families. I love the temple, and I love my eternal family!!!!

But this week was super simple. Nothing out of the normal happened. We worked hard, taught a lot, felt the spirit, and had some fun. I did go on a division with Elder Marin, from Paraguay. He speaks Guarani, the language of the Indians there, and I got to practice my Guarani. I was his District Leader in Santa Maria and now he's here in Uruguaiana with me, so it's cool to be able to serve with him again. 

But this was my week! I love this chance that I have to be serving a mission for the Lord! It is really a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm grateful that the Lord gives his children such a great privilege to be able to serve a mission. 

I love you all so much, and I hope you all have an amazing week!!!

I love you all!

ELDER HINTZE

Vocês são Profetas!

So this week was pretty great. I don't have much time so here's a highlight of my week. 

Monday. We did a family night, and everyone had to dress up funny and try to find the differences in the other people. It was super fun. 

Tuesday, we worked and it was fun. 

Wednesday, one of the assistants, Elder Dale, came and went on division with us. It was awesome and here's the commentary that I sent to President Parrela about the division:

"Nosso trabalhar aqui está indo bem. Elder Dale veio aqui para fazer uma divisão conosco esta semana. Com a ajuda dele, achamos uma família muita boa. Eu sonhei esta semana passada que eu e Elder Carlos de Souza batizamos uma família incompleto. O pai não era membro e a mulher dele era uma menos ativa e eles tinham uma filha. Quando Elder Dale chegou aqui, ele sentiu que deveríamos bater numa porta. Batemos e eles convidaram-nós a entrar. Entramos, conversamos, e descobrimos que a mulher era menos ativa e que eles tinha uma filha! Era exatamente o que eu tinha sonhado. Ensinamos e eles estavam um pouco resistente mas gostaram da mensagem. Convidaram-nós para voltar. O único problema é que a mãe dele é uma pastora da igreja quadrangular. Fizemos amizade com ela e ela nós respeita, e vai ser muito interessante ensinar eles. Vamos levar o bispo para ensinar conosco."

Google Translation  "Our work here is going well. Elder Dale came here to do a split with us this week. With his help , we find a lot of good family. I dreamed this last week I and Elder Carlos de Souza baptized one incomplete family. Her father was not a member and his wife was a less active and they had a daughter. When Elder Dale came here , he felt he should knock on a door . we knocked and they invited us in. we walked , talked , and found that the woman was less active and they had a daughter ! it was exactly what I had dreamed . we teach and they were a little tough but liked the message. they invited us to come back . the only problem is that his mother is a pastor of the foursquare church. we made friends with her and she respects us and will be very interesting to teach them. we will take the bishop to teach us. "

 

On Thursday, Elder Dale went back to Santa Maria, and we worked the rest of the afternoon. 

On Friday, we also worked. 

On Saturday, there was the Mother's Day Party at the Church. We stayed and help set up everything. It was awesome, and we stayed there, serving hot dogs and appetizers to everyone, occasionally secretly eating them in the kitchen. 

On Sunday, I talked to THE WORLDS GREATEST MOM EVER. I love you so much mom! I'm so grateful that the Lord let me be born into your family so that I could learn from you and be taught all of your wisely wise wisdom. You're amazing, beautiful, fantastically great, and there is no one in the world like you. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

Well, that was my week! Next week, I'll have more time!

Love ya'll!!!!

Elder Hintze

Yo Soy Loco por El Frio

ÓLA PESSOAL

So my week was super awesome. The baptism of Thalia was great. Her mom was crying of joy and it was such a spiritual experience. Now were going to work really close with her mom who's already been attending church for weeks, but just needs to go to Peru and get some documents to be able to get married and then be baptized! 

Baptism of Thalia

So at the baptism, we had a really interesting experience. Winter is arriving and so it's getting pretty cold. We went to turn on the water heater in the church, and it was out of gas, so the water wasn't going to be hot. So we started filling up the baptismal font, and then we got a big pot and started boiling water in the kitchen to pour into the font. Well, it ended up not heating up the water, and the water was freezing cold. My companion, Elder Carlos de Souza, baptized Thalia. He said when they got into the water, it was so cold that neither of them could move, but when he started saying the baptismal prayer, the water suddenly got warm. Neither him or Thalia were shivering or feeling cold. It was such a tender mercy of the Lord. Instead of just giving up when the water heater didn't work, we did all the we could to heat up the water. But when it didn't work, we continued with faith, and the Lord did his part. If we do all we can and show the Lord that we're willing to make miracles happen, he will make the miracle happen. 

Best Family EVER!!!

This week, we also had the chance to run into Mariana. She had a baptismal date here a couple months ago, but she fought with her niece (who was also going to be baptised) and neither of them ended up getting baptised. Well, Mariana said that she was trying to say sorry to her niece and that she wanted to go to church and get baptised! She said she gave up the first time because, after fighting with her niece, she thought that nobody would support her in going to church, and she would become inactive. But we talked to her and she's inviting us to teach her and her friends! So it will be great. 

This week, on Thursday, we did an activity called "A Noite do Acampamento Americano" (American Camping Night). We had a competition to see who could put up the tents faster. We made a huge fire and we made s´mores (and yes, I magically found marshmallows in the middle-of-nowhere-Brazil). And we cooked hot dogs. And now every single member of my ward is obsessed with s´mores. It was fun and it was a great experience. 

Churrasco

This week was awesome, and I'm pumped for the cold. I'm also grateful for my amazing mother who I absolutely adore. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!! LOVE YOU!!!

I hope your week is better than the happiness of a child making the first jump on a new trampoline. 

I love you all!

Elder Hintze

Words cannot express

Well, I cannot express how happy I am to have been able to participate in the baptism of the amazing Batista Family. There were all baptized this week, and golly goodness, it was marvelous. They were so prepared before hand, and through all the opposition that came before their baptism, I'm certain that they are an amazing family that will do so much good here in Uruguaiana, and wherever they go. I love them so much!

THE BAPTISM OF TIAGO AND PATRICIA

Alex, who I baptized last transfer, asked me to bless his baby at church, so I gave the baby his name, Lucas Freitas de Aquino. It was a cool experience!

SO this week, was the bomb.

Wednesday we traveled to Alegrete for a Zone Conference, and it was sweet. We had a training by the assistants and then we listened to Sister Parrela talk about the importance of Olive Trees and what they mean and represent. It was super cool. Then we ate lunch as we watched "Meet the Mormons", (which is a great video that explains so much about what we believe) and then we listened to the words of our inspired mission president, President Parrela. It was awesome and I learned a whole lot about how I can be a better missionary and better prepare myself for the future.

Eu e Elder Matoso. CONFERÊNCIA DE ZONA

Almost everyone from my District in Santa Maria was at the Zone Conference! 

On Thursday, we did a service project and put up a fence for a recent convert. It was fun. Then we spent the day planning the baptism and organizing it all, visiting and inviting as much people as possible.

On Friday, we visited some people and were able to contact an investigator that we hadn't seen in a while. It was good to talk to her. The last time we had seen her, she was smoking 20 or so cigarettes a day,,,when we saw her again, she had been smoking only 1 a day! What a miracle! We've been working hard with her. She has a testimony. She's stopped smoking. She just needs to go to church, It seems like theres something always in the way and she hasn't gone to church in a while. But we'll keep working hard!

 Making CHURRASCO

CHURRASO WITH TIAGO AND PATRICIA

On Saturday, the amazing baptism of the best family ever happened. It was a miracle, and the baptismal meeting was celestial! I have no words, I'm just so grateful for them!!!

On Sunday, we had a huge churrasco (barbeque) and we were able to start teaching Patricia´s mom and brother....and it looks like Patricia´s brother wants to serve a mission...and he's not even a member yet! What a miracle!

Another family that I love a whole lot. 

I'm so grateful to say that I'm a representative of Jesus Christ here in the Brasil Santa Maria Mission! I love my mission! I love my Savior! and I love this gospel!!!!!!!

The church is true, people.

Have a rockin' week.

Elder Hintze

Twin Wedding

Conference....I have no words....it was amazing. I have such a strong testimony that Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God. I loved the talks about the importance of the family. If there's anything of most importance here on this earth, it's the family. In all your thoughts, actions, activities, and doings, always seek to strengthen your family.

Speaking of family, TIAGO AND PATRICIA GOT MARRIED THIS WEEK!!!!
The wedding was amazing, and we planned a little surprise....Patricia's twin Sister came from far away and they did a double wedding! It was pretty funny and pretty awesome. It was amazing to see the new couple be married and be so happy. It was so great. I'll send the photos soon. Also, my companion and I played a special musical presentation for them, and it was probably the coolest thing Uruguaiana has ever experienced. It was awesome,

This week was pretty slow, as we were planning and organizing the wedding and then conference. This coming week, on Wednesday, we'll be traveling to Alegrete for my last Zone Conference. Then on Saturday, Tiago, Patricia, and their son Igor will be baptized. It will be a really special week for me! Please pray for them that everything will work out right!

I love this Gospel. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the guidance and inspiration it gives us as we read it daily. I'm grateful for the orientation God gives us through his holy prophets. And I'm grateful for the perfect organization of Christ's church, restored today on the earth, and the ordinances of salvation that we can do through the proper priesthood authority. I love my Savior and I'm so grateful for the love He has for each one of us.

I hope your week is better than nutella on banana pancakes.

Love,

Elder Hintze