tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20495237142873098412024-03-21T07:44:42.991-07:00Elder Ben Ralph Missionary MusingsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-91662729761313382122014-06-28T21:18:00.000-07:002015-08-11T21:53:16.559-07:00Homecoming Talk on Sunday - 29 June 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Elder Ralph's homecoming talk brought many family members and friends to church. Brian and Ruth with Daniel and Shawnee, Jessica Salcedo came as a surprise along with Ben's niece Hadlie. Doug Guptil and his family along with Br. Gary Sabin and his daughter Heather.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Jenna Face" made popular in the Ralph Family.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting everyone ready for the pix takes times and organization.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally a good shot of the siblings.</td></tr>
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Hadlie had her first meeting with her Uncle Ben. Not sure about smootching just yet.<br />
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Doug Guptil and his family were there to hear Elder Ralph speak.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebecca Kozy came too!</td></tr>
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Gary Sabin (5th cousin???) and his daughter came to support the newly returned missionary.<br />
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<span id="goog_1933418032"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-35872851384381332602014-06-25T17:23:00.000-07:002015-08-11T21:51:41.208-07:00Homecoming for Elder Benjamin Lowell Ralph - 25 June 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's takes quite a while to get home from Brazil to Washington State. Elder Ralph flew into the SeaTac airport just after his brother Jonathan flew in from California to surprise him. Brian and Ruth and Daniel came to the airport along with Rebecca Kozy. Rebekah and Samuel, Stephen and I had balloons and posters for Elder Ralph.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candy poster always makes a big hit!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvYS3nkFXvVL4nqn2Mr87joLhWj7XG_SDaJrk1al1hLtySBdORJiF9BwzIdCPZvX1fNdQUGHPPAYkT1S4slbDMohUC5Qf16MAGAhPNCagpWn79oZ1JAE2Ch-zqLy2olXd-guS_hhbEC0/s1600/pic7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvYS3nkFXvVL4nqn2Mr87joLhWj7XG_SDaJrk1al1hLtySBdORJiF9BwzIdCPZvX1fNdQUGHPPAYkT1S4slbDMohUC5Qf16MAGAhPNCagpWn79oZ1JAE2Ch-zqLy2olXd-guS_hhbEC0/s400/pic7.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs from Elder Ralph. Mom got the first one</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samuel liked to take pix.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon wanted to surprise every one...he did.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So nice to have Elder Ralph home after 2 years!!!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-88559112164572883602014-06-24T10:28:00.001-07:002014-06-24T10:28:19.729-07:0023 June 2014 -- Last messages from the Mission FieldDo you know what time I get home and everything? --- 11:10, Wednesday morning! <br /> Hey mom a bunch of people sent me e-mails saying that they are super excited to see me but I don't have a lot of time to respond so if you could send them all a love note for me and thank them for everything that would be great!<br /> We're gunna need to stop by Wendy's and buy a smoothie and fries!<br />11 elders are going home with me but I'm the only one going to Washington from my mission. If there are other Elders that are coming home from other missions, I don't know.<br /><br />I just had my final interview with the Mission President! weird!<br /> Anything else that you think I will want to do just go for it!<br /><br />Do you know who will be there???? Anyone can come! Kelly if she is there!<br /> I gotta get my talk ready too, haha. But I'll have plenty of time on the plane... too much time.<br /><br />I wanna go to the temple when I get back deal... <br /> I'm going now, thank you for everything. I love you so much!<div>
Elder Ralph</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-25315866985867964392014-06-16T12:21:00.003-07:002014-06-16T12:21:30.087-07:0016 June 2014 -- A scriptural messageFor my letter this week I will send you a scripture.<br /><br /> 3rd John 1:13-14<br /><br />"13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:<br /> 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name."<br /><br />Love it! :)<br /> <br />Are you excited to see me!!!!<br /><br /><div>
Speaking of taking care of myself... last night I almost died! When I went to bed I was super, super cold but my whole body was hot, and I had a huge headache. I tried sleeping in a little ball the whole night but it didn't work. I got up several time to drink water and take medicine. and during the night I kind of freaked out. While I was laying there I started looking around and I noticed that I couldn't see anything, my hand in front of my face, light coming from under the door nothing! I started thinking that I was blind! But I managed to find the cell phone and I pushed a button to see the light from the cell phone light up the whole room. While I was laying there thinking that I would die of hypothermia I thought to myself... I want my mommy! haha, but lucky today is p-day so I got to take a little nap, but my heads still killing me! Love you! </div>
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Elder Ralph</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-78587691284849311242014-06-09T11:28:00.002-07:002014-06-09T11:28:17.036-07:009 June 2014 -- 2 more weeks <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well this week was really quite nice. One of my favorite experiences was with the Book of Mormon. This past month, during my personal study I have been a little different. I have been studying in topics according to the difficulties of my investigators. Or I've been trying to answer questions that I have. But to say the least I haven't been reading the Book of Mormon as I should have. But during this past week I decided to start reading it again from the beginning. And from the moment I started reading it through the whole week I have been feeling so much better, so much more energy so much more life and happiness. I know that the Book of Mormon really is the word of God and I don't want to go one day without reading it. It fills me up. <br /> This Sunday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting on Love. The branch is in need of a lot more love. I've been here for six months and I have heard a lot of stuff. Rumors, grudges, anger. So I talked a little bit about that, and how we need to improve as children of God. I liked it. It flowed.<br /> Yesterday we went to contact a referral from the ward of a friend of a member who accepted to receive a priesthood blessing, she and her daughter. It was an amazing. The spirit was so strong, after the blessing I didn't want to say anything. The experience was very marking. It was interesting explaining about a blessing to someone who wasn't a member of the church. <br /> I love being a missionary!<div>
Elder Ralph</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-45675880746551513852014-06-02T13:03:00.000-07:002014-06-02T13:03:01.469-07:002 June 2014 -- a really slow week Well this week was kind of strange. We started out on Monday in Maceio, one of the capital cities of our mission for a zone conference. The President gave me permission to go to Maceio one day early so I could visit some areas that I already passed through. Going and visiting people that I was able to help recognize the truth. It was really rewarding and I felt like I really made a difference in the lives of these people. It gave me a lot of energy to work even harder to baptize more people. During our visit the mission secretaries called us to inform Elder Lira that he was emergency transferred and had to go back to Penedo to get his stuff and come back to Maceio to meet his new companion and to go to another area. That was a downer. I really liked Elder Lira. But we got another companion. Elder Bispo! I was companions with Elder Bispo for one transfer in my fourth area, Lagarto. And now we're back together again in the end! <br /> At the Zone conference, all the newbies gave their testimonies and all the oldies who are on their way home gave their testimonies, that included me. I didn't plan anything. I didn't have anything on my mind, just blank. But after a few seconds things started coming to my mind and I was able to give a decent testimony. To tell the truth I don't even remember what I said. But I think it made sense. <br /> My companion got really sick this week so there is really not much to tell.... But this coming week will be much better, you better believe it!<br /> Sorry I don't have a lot of time today, so this message will be super short. But know that I love you guys SO much and I can't wait to see you all!<div>
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ELDER RALPH</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-27742532656408271852014-05-27T09:03:00.001-07:002014-05-27T09:03:27.186-07:0026 May 2014 - HEY! Hello my dearest family and friends. This week was full of little great experiences, miracles and moments of learning. One of our recent converts who is probably the “youngest in heart” ladies I have ever met in my life was at a Ward activity at a member's house. There wasn't any more room inside so we sat outside talking with her about life, family, and all that was new. She said that she talked with a friend who is a less active member of the church and the friend told her that she left the church when she heard that we can one day become Gods. The recent convert told her that she probably understood wrong or the person who was teaching didn't know what they were talking about because she hasn't heard anything about this teaching. Silence.... haha I then had the pleasure to explain to her about this doctrine that was restored during the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was something that I had never explained once in my whole mission. But it seemed as if it was something that I taught every day. Scriptures, examples, explanations and questions came so quickly to my mind. The spirit, in that critical moment of the spiritual progress of that member, helped us to teach with power and conviction something that was never trained into us or rehearsed beforehand. The spirit really does guide us as we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.<br /> Something really special that happened this week was to see one of our recent converts give a talk in Sacrament meeting about obedience. He did a great job. I asked him afterwards how he felt and he said “I feel great!” and I asked, “do you wanna do it again?” and he shook his head "no."<br /> This week I will admit that I had a slip with patience. It was during the Ward council meeting. We were instructed by the stake presidency that we need to have Ward council every Sunday for half an hour and that we would talk about the progress of our investigators and our recent converts and less actives. The presidency passed a great training about what we should do and what we should say. So we got together with our Ward mission leader and filled out all the records and the whole deal. But when we got to the meeting it seemed like no one was paying attention to the stake presidency. They started talking about the same old problems that the branch is having, cleaning the church and few people singing. I got really tense and I wanted to say something really bad. I was able to control myself until one of the members started complaining to the president about something that he did and everyone was arguing about random stuff. That's when I lost it and I raised my hand and got the attention of every one and told them what the purpose of the meeting was and how they were not doing their part. I said a few things that I don't remember anymore. But my heart was pounding. The president said a few more things and then turned the time over to our Ward mission leader. He said, “you have 8 minutes to talk about missionary work”.... I wanted to get up and leave. Eight minutes. Eight minutes to talk about the salvation of God's Children. Eight minutes to talk about those who are coming to know the true gospel of Christ. Eight minutes to talk about those who have let go of the iron rod. Eight minutes to talk about the progress of those who have entered in the straight and narrow path. I was so mad. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. Nothing depresses a missionary than to know that those who he has helped enter into the fold of God WON'T be nourished by the good word. We got a lot of work to do....<br /><br />ELDER RALPH<br /><br /> PS We were almost robbed this week. But we have a friend who is a security guard.<br />I love being a missionary. There is nothing better! Love you guys so much Keep it real.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-82429173659646145242014-05-19T13:43:00.001-07:002014-05-19T13:46:08.387-07:0019 May 2014 - Ups and Downs! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN"> </span>Elder Ralph will be finishing his mission in a threesome! I am now with Elder Lira and Elder Alves. Elder Alves was with Elder Luis and Luis was transferred. So now we have the whole city of Penedo to ourselves, hahaha! <br />
Well this week was full of ups and downs. One day was amazing and the next.... not so amazing. We were able to find some amazing people; members introduced us to their friends. And it seemed like almost everyone wanted to be baptized, haha. We are getting pretty excited and the members are too. This Sunday a member of the stake presidency came and he passed a new way to do Ward Council. So now EVERY Sunday, the council will meet to discuss how they can improve and what progress is being made in the missionary work, the work of salvation. <br />
So after one good day we had a rather BAD day haha. We marked a whole day full of appointments and referrals and less actives and recent converts, the whole nine yards. And everything fell through. We went a whole day without teaching a single lesson. I don't think I've ever had a day like that in my whole mission. I ended up being so sad that it was funny! But one bad day doesn't knock down the three musketeers! We have some great people that we are working with. One of them is Everton. Everton is a referral from a member. The missionaries have already taught Everton some time ago but they lost contact because he moved to another city for a couple months. When we started teaching Everton he said that he was reading the Book of Mormon still and was really enjoying it. He said told us about Lehi's dream and how he partook of the fruit of the tree of life and that it was the most delicious and sweetest taste he had ever tasted. Everton was very detailed to tell the truth. But he said that he wanted to know what the fruit means, and how HE can taste such a fruit. WoW! Holy moley! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. We went on teaching him about salvation and eternal life and how he could taste that fruit. We explained about Christ and how He showed us the path to the tree of life, we explained about baptism and how it is the key to salvation, but when it is done by someone who has the restored priesthood Keys of God. It was really good and we're excited to teach him again. Another sweet surprise this week was when two members brought their friends to church! Love it when the blessings just fall from heaven. The work is coming along great. We're all super excited and working hard. <br />
Thank you all for your love and support! God Bless!</div>
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Elder Ralph<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-28647497757685405662014-05-12T15:06:00.003-07:002014-05-12T15:07:25.321-07:0012 May 2014 <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprK18MwhQugHgEQ2UmSGNJV_8kZHCywz7sY9Bk42JfRACqb0OOWory1D6yBdSNMStfsd3hiTs3P-WViGWCAVrY9-ArZG3K_lSrUAiHm4pw7OYmXP8A5wK4Jz1egmPhSfkKxqE6SJe3F8/s1600/11May2014.2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprK18MwhQugHgEQ2UmSGNJV_8kZHCywz7sY9Bk42JfRACqb0OOWory1D6yBdSNMStfsd3hiTs3P-WViGWCAVrY9-ArZG3K_lSrUAiHm4pw7OYmXP8A5wK4Jz1egmPhSfkKxqE6SJe3F8/s1600/11May2014.2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Hello Family!<br />
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This week we were able to find a young man named Alex. He was a contact made by the other elders in our house. He is really cool and full of light and respect and is really bright. It was interesting talking with him because he had a lot of doubts about religion, which one is right and how he can know it. While we were teaching him he was called in to work so we gave him a watered down version of everything that we had to teach him and we did it in less than five minutes! But he understood everything and said that he would come to church this Sunday. At the end we invited him to be baptized, which is something we do in every first lesson. And he accepted and asked what he needed to do to get himself ready! He is a really good guy. During the week we arranged to go to his house in the morning to help him finish plastering the side of his house with cement. We arrived at his house around 8 o'clock and he was still sleeping, haha. Bummer. But we let him sleep. We had doubts if he would be able to wake up at 8 o'clock to come to church that Sunday. But he came! All spiffy and clean and ready to hear the good word, haha. He's really a great guy and we are super excited for him. It is amazing to see how the lord has prepared him to hear and accept the gospel. I love being a missionary!<br />
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ELDER RALPH<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-12791577009597323672014-05-05T13:23:00.001-07:002014-05-05T13:23:53.232-07:005 May 2014 -- HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain, rain, go away...</td></tr>
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Hello Family and Friends,</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting started on a service project.</td></tr>
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Well this week it rained, rained, rained, and rained. All my towels and clothes are soaked and starting to smell funny haha. But the work still goes on. There's nothing better than walking in the rain to go and teach the gospel to someone. This week we have been working in a new area. We got the names of all the members that lived in this neighborhood and we are visiting one by one. And it's been working quite well actually. We have found a lot of people who needed a few words of comfort because of family members that had passed away. And we were able to tie all the experiences that these people were going through to the gospel and how we can all one day return to the presence of our Father in Heaven as families eternally sealed and exalted. And my new companion and I are getting used to each other's teaching habits, which has helped a lot. Elder Lira is really good and he can bring the spirit into the lesson so well. And what are we without the spirit? Nothing! This week we needed the spirit big time to help one of our investigators with the fact that God has a body of flesh and bones. It was great! She was having a lot of trouble with the concept until… Ding! The spirit hit here like a bumble bee in a dog house…. Ha! But everything just started clicking for her and she started talking positively about the principle and just kinda sat there thinking. Then she nodded her head and agreed that she will pray and ask to be certain. Milagre!! Love the Spirit it's so AWESOME!<br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roof repair needed...the posts were eaten through.</td></tr>
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This week we got to help with a service project at a widow's house. Her house was basically collapsing but the Mormons came to save the day, haha. Termites had eaten in the support beams and cross beams of her roof! So the branch bought the wood and called the troops and we started taking the tiles off her house. We were about halfway done when we saw a dark group of clouds coming towards us. Yeah it dumped rain and the poor ladies house was all drenched. But she didn’t seem to mind a bit. Better than the roof falling on her during the night. And I was having a blast using work clothes in the rain. Nothing stops a Washingtonian from working in the rain, isn't that right dad? And I learned how to lay down shingles on a Brazilian roof! It was good to get out and help.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The São Fransisco river is famous here in Brazil. </td></tr>
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<br /> Everyday my testimony of Christ and his restored church grows. Every day I can hear the little inspiring voice of the Holy Ghost telling me to do something or to not do something or to talk to a specific person. My testimony of the Church and it's divine organization grows every day. I am so thankful for the opportunity that God has given me to serve a full time mission, to be a member of his church on this earth. I am so thankful for the testimony that I have which is something that I will cherish and nourish forever. I know that God lives and that He loves each and every one of us. I know that he has a body of flesh and bone and that we are made in his image. He IS our father and watches over us. He made a plan, a perfect plan so that we may gain a body, develop, learn, progress, return to his presence and become as He is. I am eternally thankful for all that he has done for me. Especially for the wonderful mother that he gave me. She has done so much for me and has helped me become who I am today. I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. I love you mom SO much and I can't wait to see you!</div>
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ELDER RALPH<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A homeless guy...dirty from a service project...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting help from an Elder</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rescued.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to start a car???</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is more like it...</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-52590386200584044012014-04-30T07:59:00.000-07:002014-04-30T08:41:42.784-07:0029 April 2014 -- Rained Out! <div>
Yesterday it rained a lot so the whole city didn't have internet But I'm here now! YOOOOOOO</div>
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Dear family and friends.</div>
This week was great. My new companion and I are working really well together, finding new people, teaching with the spirit and always striving to be more and more obedient. He likes to work hard and always finds things that we can do to be better.<br />
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This week we worked really hard to help a young girl named Tamires be baptized. Ever since we started teaching her, Tamires was always scared to make decisions and just go for it. Last week we almost unmarked her baptism because we didn’t want to push her more than we already were. But then we met Bia. Bia is Tamires neighbor and best friend that started coming to church with us and was absolutely loving it. Bia wants to be baptized so much and wanted to be baptized with Tamires. This gave Tamires a lot of gas and so we continued working with her. But unfortunately Bias parents wouldn’t let her be baptized because they don’t want her to be part of another religion besides their own. That was a major disappointment, but that didn’t get Bia down. She just kept encouraging Tamires every step of the way even to her baptism she was giving her advice and encouragement. It was really special for me to see all this take place. I really do believe that God is in complete control of this work and that he puts people in the right place at the right time. Without Bia I don’t know if Tamires would have taken those steps of faith to baptism but with the help of an inspired friend, she made it. I was touched when I saw what a difference a friend can make in the lives of others, made me want to be a better friend to the friends I have and always strive to make new friendships, always helping people come unto Christ.</div>
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Two of our recent converts came to church this past Sunday with a shirt, tie and black pants. They looked so awesome, haha. They came all dressed up because they wanted to bless the sacrament. So one of the Elders sat behind the bench and instructed them on what to do and what to say and it was really, really great. It was a great feeling to see those two blessing the sacrament and exercising their priesthood. They both want to serve missions and I think they are on the right road to get there. After the sacrament one of the boys, Cicero, gave a talk about service. He was super, super nervous but he prepared a great talk during that whole week and read it to us many times. While he gave a talk he just looked at me the whole time. He hardly even looked down at the paper but just spoke everything by heart on how we should serve our fellow men. It was great! I was sitting on the front row next to the other boy that blessed the sacrament and it seemed like we were all alone listening to him. Everyone was dead quiet, not even a baby made noise. Cicero has been a member for one month… The testimony of that boy is amazing! He passed through so much and is still passing through many difficulties, but he is conquering all of them! Everyone complimented him after his talk! Ahhh, tears, tears!</div>
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Something rather interesting happened a few minutes ago. We went to visit one of our recent converts, Sara, who came a across doubts. But the spirit has been taking away every doubt that she comes up with, haha! Got ya! Teaching her has been one of the most spiritually strengthening experiences of my mission. She's done philosophy, college, and has been taught a lot about religion. She's awesome, haha, and super smart! But not smarter than two boys called of God! Haha…. It's funny she goes on these little tantrums of doctrine or principles and says that she doesn't agree and so on and so forth and we just smile at her and start teaching by the spirit and at the end of the lesson she is either in tears or with a smile on her face. And it's not me or my companion, it's really the spirit. Because when we plan to teach her something and lay out a plan the lesson never goes according to plan, but the spirit always touches her, without fail. Today we talked about the fact that our loving Heavenly father has a body of flesh and bones which is something that her past did NOT teach, but taught that he is spirit because of one verse in the Bible. She was fixed on her train of thought and her own knowledge for almost the whole lesson until, at one moment the spirit touched her and she began to understand the magnitude and beauty of everything we were teaching her. The spirit is So real and really does testify of Christ and his eternal plan! I love this, I know this! <br />
Thanks you all for all of your love and support! Until next week!<br />
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Elder Ralph<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-24714865687463308652014-04-21T12:25:00.000-07:002014-04-21T12:25:24.633-07:0021 April 2014 -- New Companion Hello Family!<br /> Well as you all know my little boy was transferred and I stayed in the area and my new companion is..... Elder Lira! <br /> Elder Lira is a Brazilian, turned 19 this past week and has about 4 months on the mission. Newbie still haha. I'm his third American companion, haha, poor kid. He's really good I like him. He works hard and knows how to teach. He teaches really clearly and directly to people, he's very bold and doesn't have fear to say anything. When I started my mission I wasn't like that so it's good that he has already gotten over fear. The poor kid was kind of tired of his old area and has asked me to help him get his fire back, the same fire that he had at the beginning of his mission. So we're working hard trying to find those specific people that God has prepared for us to teach and baptize.<br /> We're working with two girls who are neighbors. One is super excited about the church, how it works, the teaching, the Book of Mormon, everything and she is kind of dragging along her friend who is trying to decide between our church and another. She says they are both the same and can't decide. It's really weird that she says that because the churches are completely different in doctrine principles, standards, everything! I think that sometimes a person looks at who is in the church or what activities a church has rather than what the church teaches and what is the organization of the church. We're still trying to help both of them.<br /> So this week we had interviews with the Big Boss, President Gonzaga. I don't know why but I felt a little bit more intimidated this time than others. I ended up asking him three questions that I wanted to know. Needless to say the interview which normally takes about ten minutes took around half an hour. But the answers that he gave me really helped. I actually think it was inspired because yesterday when we were talking with a group of our recent converts they asked the same question. YES! It is interesting to see how God works. He's great, haha.<br /> So we have had a lot of success here in Penedo these past few weeks. Now we are trying to find a new group of people to teach and share the gospel. We're trying to talk to more people and be more involved with the members so we can teach their friends and families.<br /> I'm so happy to be on a mission, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! Love this work :)<br /><br /> Stay strong!<br /> ELDER RALPHUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-24034404819469635612014-04-14T13:49:00.001-07:002014-04-14T13:49:27.182-07:0014 April 2014 -- Semama Maravilhosa! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great week for baptisms.</td></tr>
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Well this week was a busy one. We spent the whole week strengthening our investigators that were lined up to be baptized this week and trying to organize everything with the members. But it was all worth it. </div>
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This week a lot of our focus was on Rosangela. She received her answer and knew that what we were teaching was true. The answer came from someone from another religion. She got on a chat site and started talking with a man who said a lot of anti-Mormon stuff to her. She thought to herself that maybe this is the answer that God sent this man to warn or show her that what we were saying was false. But she said that she knelt down and prayed and asked our Heavenly Father. She said that the only thing she could think of is that the enemy does all he can to impede us from accepting or finding the truth. She knew that God responded to her and we invited her to use her faith that she says she doesn't have, and use this answer, being baptized. And she accepted! woot, woot!! So we made a goal to help her be ready to be baptized with her kids that Saturday. Her real trial was coffee. And man does she drink coffee. <br /> We decided to challenge her to stop all at once, to just cut the coffee. And she agreed. The next day she had a major headache and when we passed by she said she was gunna die or we were gunna die. Hahaha, she's kind of dramatic. But she did want to go to the hospital. We asked her if she wanted to receive a blessing. And she turned all serious and accepted. The next day she said she was feeling great, that her headache went away and that she didn't even go to the hospital. She said she was going to advertise us to people that she knows that have headaches, haha. She loves to joke about things but she really believes that her headache went away because of the priesthood that we hold. Rosangela was baptized with her two kids this Saturday :) She's amazing! I love that lady! <br /> The baptism was really great and the spirit was so strong. Rosangela and another lady named Sara were baptized together and they became friends at first site. They sit next to each other, hug each other, and laugh together. It was really cool. When we all went to the sacrament meeting to see the confirmations, Rosangel called Sara to sit next to her during the meeting and they gave each other hugs and congratulations. I felt really good at that moment. I felt like I was doing my job. These two ladies will support each other and are friends for the rest of their lives. Ahhhh gave me butterflies.<br /> The only downfall this week was transfers. This whole time I figured that I would be transferred because I have been training Elder Martins, and normally the trainer leaves the area. When I was trained this happened, the first time I trained this happened. But this time... Nope. Martins was transferred and I will stay in the area for at least one more transfer, or two. HA I only have two left!!!! Hahaha, Crazy!<br /> This week was really good. I love being a missionary, there's nothing better :)<br />Thank you all for your love and support. I love you all So much! Can't wait to see you! :)<br /><br />
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ELDER RALPH</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-9264945525416912712014-04-11T16:58:00.003-07:002014-04-11T17:01:28.127-07:007 April 2014 -- Happy Conference!Hello Family and friends that I love so much!<br />
I hope ya´ll had a great conference. I really enjoyed and was looking forward to it all week! Some of my favorite talks were by Elder Scott who talked a lot about loving someone enough to help them. Elder Uchtdorf on gratitude, Elder Bednar about our load, and trucks..... (honey, we need a truck) :) and Elder Cook who talked about the temples and baptisms for the dead.<br />
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We were able to bring quite a lot of people to church to see the prophets and apostolos that spoke to us on those two days. Sara, one of our golden investigators was able to come to 3/4 of the sessions. This week she was having a lot of doubt about the restoration, why the church was restored on the other side of the world and why we need prophets today when Christ left the Holy Ghost with us to teach us and guide us. After a rather long lesson with her and her niece she asked us these questions. To her it seemed like we were telling her that she has to go through the Prophet to get to God. That only through one man we can know God. It's funny at times we think that were teaching clearly but to another person we are mixing everything up. I ended up telling her a story about how my wonderful mother felt the impression to adopt my little brother Samuel. I told her that my mother felt the impression through the Holy Ghost, that came from God and not a prophet that she needed to adopt my little brother. We told her that the Holy Ghost will guide her to make the right decisions and the prophet will teach her and help her to recognize the spirit and the blessings. It was something like that. So she came and really paid attention to the talks. One thing that hasn't settled well with her is baptisms for the dead. She had never heard of it before and it's something new and different. Elder Cook gave a wonderful talk about Elias and the turning of the hearts to the fathers.... and it was everything that I have been studying and passing to Sara. I've never studied a topic of the gospel more thoroughly! And he said everything that I have been teaching her. She liked it and understood even more about the purpose, but it still doesn't make sense to her. Especially the part when Elder Cook said that we can't obtain exaltation without our ancestors... Ahhh so much to teach and so little time. But Sara really liked the conference.<br />
We are working with another lady named Rosangela. She is loving everything that we are teaching to her and wants to believe it. Her doubts are about prophets, that the world is so horrible that there can't be prophets today because there isn't enough faith. Her difficulty is faith, and she said it herself. "I've seen so many things, been part of so many religions that it's hard to believe, I lost my faith". She's really a great, spunky lady, but she gets down on herself easily. She really paid attention to the talks of the prophets and she really liked it. There was one talk, I forgot who gave it but he talked about the restoration and it really helped her.<br />
Hey I saw Carli's Dad and Sarah in the videos after the first conference. AND my mission president was called to be a member of the 70! WoW! And we're going to have interviews with him here in a bit.... woah... interview with a member of the 70..:D <br />
I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the third time on my mission this week! I love that book it awesome! :)<br />
This coming weekend we are hoping to have a few baptisms but it will sure take a lot of work to be sure that these people are ready to be baptized, but we're super excited.<br />
I love being a missionary. I love helping these people! I'm so thankful for the friendships that I have made, that love and spirit that I have felt from the members here in Brazil! I love my mission!<br />
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Elder Ralph<br />
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PS. I'm teaching Elder Martins how to play the piano.<br />
Hey thank Brother Carter for me... he sent me a package!<br />
and Melissa Meracich sent me a letter :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-25447730944134528042014-03-31T12:44:00.000-07:002014-03-31T12:44:01.319-07:0031 March 2014 -- A Great Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well this week was really good. Really rewarding. We taught Sara who is a lady who has been progressing ever since we started teaching her. She works on Sundays but can switch with a co-worker once a month. But in April she is on vacation So she can be baptized on the 12th of April. She has been coming along great. She has really passed through a lot of garbage in her life. But everything she passed through has helped her and prepared her to know that truth that the Church of Jesus Christ teaches. We have already taught her everything that the missionaries normally teach. Now when we visit her we teach about things really advanced haha like this last week we met with her and she asked about patriarchal blessings! It was cool. But because we had already taught and she understood everything, it was a really spiritual lesson and she got even more excited to be baptized and be part of the church. Now when people at her work say things against the church she just laughs because she knows with a strong certainty that these things are true. She sincerely thanked us this week for all that we were doing for her. It was a really great feeling. And I thought to myself. I don't wanna go home. I don't wanna stop helping people come to the truth.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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This week Lucas was baptized and we got to know his niece, Raquel who is a little fireball. She is fourteen but is very smart and way cool. She wants to be baptized too. This Sunday she came to church and absolutely loved it. She said she didn't want to leave and wanted to stay for the choir practice but her dad called and said he didn't want her anywhere near this religion. UH WHY! So this week we're gunna get to know him a little bit. She said that nothing will stop her from coming to church but we still need to talk to her father to see how we can help him understand our church. The youth have a big activity coming up and Raquel, Lucas and Cicero, our recent converts are already getting super involved in the activity, it's actually kind of funny to see. They have more energy than the members are used to, haha. We teach with Lucas and Cicero almost every day. They are so full of energy and want to learn more and more about the church, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. This week we walked to a little city that is super far away and when we got there we started teaching and a relative of the family came in and was super drunk. And we tried to go on but he destroyed the spirit and wanted to hear us preach. It was kind of funny.<br /> The work is coming along great! We are super excited! I love being a missionary!<br />Sorry the e-mail is short. This lady next to me keeps asking for help hahaha, but I love you so much! Have a great conference!<br /><br />Elder RalphUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-80991615882904297042014-03-24T08:58:00.002-07:002014-03-24T08:58:38.219-07:0024 March 2014 -- Cicero! its a big one :) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week was all about Cicero. We started teaching Cicero a couple weeks ago. First we were teaching his mom but we met him and he started progressing a lot! Ever since the first lesson he said that he wanted to know if God really called Joseph Smith as a prophet because it would make a huge difference in his salvation. We gave him a Book of Mormon and we invited him to read and pray about it to know if it is true. But something was still holding him back to be baptized. It was really interesting to see his progress because when we first started teaching him he was very defensive about his religion and what he had learned. He said that he was already baptized, that he was cured by the preacher of his church and his dad was cured of cancer, and he wants to be a preacher... Complicated....<br />
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But we stayed strong with him and how he could know which church is true by reading the Book of Mormon. He read and read and read, and now he knows that that Book of Mormon is true, that God restored the Church of Jesus Christ. But something was still holding him back. He came to church last week and the stake president gave a wonderful talk on families and how children need to honor their parents and a few other topics. At the end of the sacrament meeting Cicero asked if he could talk to the stake president. So he and the stake president talked for about a half an hour and me and my companion just waited and prayed. When they finished talking, Cicero told us what they had talked about. Cicero told him that his mom and family are completely against him going to our church, being baptized, reading the Book of Mormon, that they didn't even want him to come to church that day, but he came anyway. He asked how he could honor his father and mother and still come to church, be baptized and so on. He said that he wanted to be baptized in the church, that he felt really good at the church and wanted to be part of it, when he said that I couldn't help but smile. He got his answer and wanted to be baptized. The president gave him some good counsel and now it was our turn to talk with his mom. We didn't even notice that the mom was against us, because she always was there to listen to our lessons and always asked questions. Cicero told us that when we first came to his house his mom called their preacher over to her house and he said a bunch of stuff about our church! That was one reason why Cicero was so stubborn at first, hahaha. But his heart was softened through the Book of Mormon and he saw for himself that the church really is the church of Jesus Christ. So we went to talk to his mom and helped her understand a little bit more about the church. It was amazing to see how the Holy Ghost guided us, in what to say, where to go. It was really amazing to see. Cicero was baptized this past Saturday. The baptism was super special and his smile was SO big. I really felt the spirit when he came out of the water. Baptism is SO powerful. <br />
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SO this Sunday I was asked to give a talk on how the members can help strengthen the recent converts. And to help with this I asked a young adult, returned missionary and member of the bishopric to confirm Cicero, thinking that he would give an amazing blessing. I even told him that he wanted to serve a mission! So the time came and Cicero went up front. And the guy didn't give him a blessing, just confirmed to him the Holy Ghost.... I couldn't believe it. I was so frustrated at that moment that I couldn't even think! Then this feeling turned into sadness. The first blessing that could have been given to Cicero from someone who holds the REAL priesthood of God wasn't given. A spiritual experience that strengthens new members didn't happen. I don't want Cicero be become less active. I want him to serve a mission. For the first time on my mission I thought to myself.... I don't want to be here in this area. I can't handle this. And that's when the sacrament was passed to me, and I couldn't help but cry... It was as if the Savior came and called me to repentance. I felt something very powerful at that moment. Last week we taught a family home evening about the atonement of Christ and it seemed as though everything that we taught came to my head. I am so thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So once I calmed down I went up to sit on the stand and listened to the first speaker and I started thinking about my talk and about my family, which was part of my talk. I was going to talk about how I felt at home, how my family treated me, how they always supported me, how they always forgave me, how much I love my family, and... I was going to relate that feeling to how all members of the church, a family, should feel the same way. So I started thinking about that and I already had a lump in my throat. When it was my turn to talk I was basically already crying and it just got worse. Yeah my family already knows that when I talk about my family, I cry. That hasn't changed. Love you guys! And I got my companion and one another missionary to cry too, Wahaha. But it set the tone for the rest of my talk. I talked about the prodigal son and Mosiah 18: 9-10 how we are to mourn with those that mourn, comfort those who are in need of comfort... It was good. Many people complimented me afterwards.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week was really good I really learned a lot. I'm so happy to be on my mission, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! The mission is the best! :) <br /><br /> <br /><br /> Thank you all for all your love and support. <br /> Love Elder Ralph</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-59253672823693411912014-03-10T11:51:00.000-07:002014-03-10T11:51:12.514-07:0010 March 2014 -- Uma Semana Ultima! This week was really good. Elder Martins said that it went by really fast. This week we found some great people. We found a seventeen year old boy who is a member of another church. After teaching him about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I asked him how he was feeling or what were his thoughts about what we had taught (which isn't something I would normally say ). He responded saying that he wanted to know if the Joseph Smith really was called by God to be a Prophet or not, because through him and his teaching as a prophet of God, I can find my salvation.... I was impressed... I had never heard an answer like the answer that that boy gave. We taught him about the Book of Mormon and invited him to read it and pray about it so that he could know for himself if Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /> He accepted our invitation for baptism. It was great teaching him and we were really excited to teach more. The next day we went back and he was ready on the defense. He said that he talked with his preacher...(why?!) and he had a lot of questions, scriptures, and doubts against the Book of Mormon, the Church of Christ and the baptism that we had offered to him. It was interesting.... Everything he asked or accused us of we had a scripture that supported us. Something that hit him really hard was when we explained how a person receives the gift of the Holy Ghost. Many religions believe that the spirit falls upon a person in the act of baptism. But the Bible teaches that we receive it by the laying on of hands. The boy was calmed and we discussed the scriptures that he had read. The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is so amazing! I wanted to talk to this boy's preacher! haha. But he is sincerely reading the Book of Mormon and preparing himself for baptism. :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had a chance to teach Sara this week and we went to help her with her doubt about the Holy Ghost. We talked about a scripture that talks about the laying on of hands and we were having a hard time understanding her confusion. Then my companion said something simply or explained about the context of the scripture and it seemed like all the light just turned on. It was like..... WOW! Just one little detail, resolved all our problems. The Spirit is GREAT! I gave my comp a hug after the lesson. :)<br /> Sara now understands the correct way to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It's kinda funny because she is mad at her other church for not teaching her the truth but she also said that she feels the desire to teach her family about these truths or show to them the fullness of the gospel. A scripture came into my mind. She had read last week Lehi's dream and we explained to her the significance of everything that was in the dream. So I opened up Lehi's dream and read how when he had eaten the fruit he only wanted that his family partake of the fruit too. I told her that she has found the fruit, more white than any other fruit. The only true fruit and she already wants her family to partake of the fruit. We invited her again to partake completely of the fruit and be baptized... It was good! It's hard to explain what happens in lessons because the spirit isn't the same when you try to type it out on a computer, haha. She is so excited to be baptized! She came to a baptism that we had this week and she said that she wanted to cry. She is so GOLDEN, it's driving me insane! I love being a missionary! Thank you all for Everything! Love Ya!<br /> Elder Ralph</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-21227340431151993872014-03-03T14:06:00.002-08:002014-03-03T14:10:44.180-08:003 March 2014 -- Carnival!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioH6mdvTxzj0De46x1HO3mEy1NgKPE-BR_RjYc0pnrkVxkIZkNP20v1vztgzdeQpTM2q7yx1mhyh9pPxnhE5eCZdUi6vMdWbdG5TpnYHWoBI-Povf5in3qL_oK8lqJ6ZTk1QigiigC3nM/s1600/3Mar2014.3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioH6mdvTxzj0De46x1HO3mEy1NgKPE-BR_RjYc0pnrkVxkIZkNP20v1vztgzdeQpTM2q7yx1mhyh9pPxnhE5eCZdUi6vMdWbdG5TpnYHWoBI-Povf5in3qL_oK8lqJ6ZTk1QigiigC3nM/s1600/3Mar2014.3.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hello Family
friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbhsZ9QAbseEjQ6XzA6SHksYiWSydzAvOeCcKHIX5mKTJXG9bYfoT80xM7s9ZqTqeyZTFGaige-IjM1cWiPTUqLTLXrWO9qM_27ODzTqPZcb1lYr8LF62sJy6zJMwherUXA_dAjPn3TM/s1600/3Mar2014.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbhsZ9QAbseEjQ6XzA6SHksYiWSydzAvOeCcKHIX5mKTJXG9bYfoT80xM7s9ZqTqeyZTFGaige-IjM1cWiPTUqLTLXrWO9qM_27ODzTqPZcb1lYr8LF62sJy6zJMwherUXA_dAjPn3TM/s1600/3Mar2014.1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Well this week was rather interesting. We
passed the whole week trying to avoid the Carnival parades that have been
passing this whole week and this coming week. Because of the parties that have
been taking place it's been really hard to find people at home. Almost everyone
travels to others cities or goes to visit family. But it gave us an opportunity
to meet new people. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbhsZ9QAbseEjQ6XzA6SHksYiWSydzAvOeCcKHIX5mKTJXG9bYfoT80xM7s9ZqTqeyZTFGaige-IjM1cWiPTUqLTLXrWO9qM_27ODzTqPZcb1lYr8LF62sJy6zJMwherUXA_dAjPn3TM/s1600/3Mar2014.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I95BmX4xgQ9EiMtF2XQxrQNiBpDEhUQ5T5cULKgz4sRLC-EHyERf8fh7FnV8je_HprX-dXtr9IPFoKhaV8mMq9g8pBw391qTNtIzacNfVp2YBxZatliqKxFmV6e4crVstjNs9Hf3weg/s1600/3Mar2014.4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I95BmX4xgQ9EiMtF2XQxrQNiBpDEhUQ5T5cULKgz4sRLC-EHyERf8fh7FnV8je_HprX-dXtr9IPFoKhaV8mMq9g8pBw391qTNtIzacNfVp2YBxZatliqKxFmV6e4crVstjNs9Hf3weg/s1600/3Mar2014.4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt;"> This week I really saw a lot of growth in my son Elder
Martins he is getting really comfortable talking to people and responding to the
problems that they have. He said that at the beginning of his mission he always
got sad when people rejected us or didn't take us seriously but now he just
feels sad, and wants to do even more to try and help them. He's doing really
good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt;">This week we
found a lot of people who accepted baptism but need to get married, BUT! They
have a desire to be married... It's interesting. They know that it's wrong but
just don't correct their mistakes. But we will help them out :) I love
weddings! haha sometimes I feel like a wedding counselor, haha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt;"> One of our golden investigators had a doubt
this week and I found it really interesting what her doubt was. We have been
working with Sara for quite some time now and she has been loving everything
that we have been teaching her and she feels that everything is true and agrees
with it. But this week we talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and she had a
doubt. She believes that when a person is baptized they automatically receive
the Holy Ghost. And she has never seen the laying on of hands to receive the Holy
Ghost. We showed her some scriptures and she was stunned. She lived her whole
life believing something and then we show up and tell her that it's wrong...
She was really taken back. It was a great opportunity to bear testimony about
the fullness of the Gospel that was restored through Joseph Smith! She
said that she always felt that there was something missing inside her that she
needed. And it was the Gift of the Holy Ghost! I love this gospel it is SO true
and Full!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt;">ELDER RALPH<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /> Well this week was a good one. We contacted a reference that we received from a member in the ward of a man named George and his wife Eliane. They are great! The first thing that Eliane told us is that she was Catholic and won't change religion and then left the room, haha, it was funny but we started talking with George and got to know him and then we called Eliane back in a sneaky way haha. We got to talking with her and she really is a great person. We found out that there is way more to her that meets the eye. She is Catholic but doesn't believe in the Catholic church. She has already received answers to prayers that she needs to attend another church and that it will be better for her. She really knows that she has received this answer. BUT her family is catholic and she doesn't want to offend her parents or her family. She prefers to not offend her family and then offend God... And the funny part is that she KNOWS that she is wrong.... yeah it's very interesting. But during that lesson with her and her husband, I really felt like we were being guided by the spirit, that the spirit was guiding us in what to say and what to ask. We taught the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and at the end we invited her and her husband to be baptized and they accepted the challenge. It was great! And at church the member that passed the reference was thrilled! <br /> I realized this week that I need to be more patient. We had a baptism this week and boy did things not go smoothly. I know that patience is an attribute of Christ, He is patient. But how? how do you be patient when things aren't going right and could be so much better. My mission president told me once, be patient with the slowness of progress or slowness of people. Yeah it's something that I still need to work on. I don't react well when I get impatient.<br /> Well hello Family Dearest that I love so much. Thank you all for all of your support and prayers. <br /> This week was cut short because we had to go to Maceio for a Zone conference with the Presidente and the staff. It was a great trip and I got to read the Book of Mormon almost the whole time, until exhaustion got the best of me. At the zone parts, my little trainee, Elder Martins bore his testimony in front of everyone, which was really good and spiritual. We were passed a lot of trainings that both me and my comp need to improve on. And we have already been able to see the results of them. The President talked a lot about obedience and how when before this world we were all obedient to the Lord's plan and chose to come to this earth. But we were blinded by the veil and started doing things wrong. He said that it seems like there is a veil in the mission too. That before the mission no one decides that they will be a slacker or be disobedient to the rules, neither in the MTC or the mission home. But it's when we come into the field and start to live with other people and act for ourselves. It was really cool and TRUE. I think it really helped my companion Elder martins who is starting his mission. We have had a lot of talks about obedience and the importance of it and I feel that the president reinforced what we have been talking about being obedient.<br /> So I've been talking a lot about this lady named Sara. She is a sister of a member. She is super excited about the church and the teachings in the Book of Mormon. She started out reading the Book of Mormon about a month ago and has already finished 2 Nephi. She has been reading and comparing it to the Bible. Dates, teachings, the destruction of Jerusalem and the parts from Isaiah, she is really going in deep. And she now knows for herself that the Book of Mormon is true. She believes in it. She said that every time she reads it she can understand everything and learns so much. She really believes that the spirit is guiding her and teaching her. It is amazing teaching her because I feel like I'm learning too. I don't know how it happen but example come so easily into my head, examples that I've never used before that help her with her difficulties. She wants to be baptized so badly but unfortunately she works Saturday and Sunday every week as a NURSE! AH FREAKIN NURSES! (mom :) BUT she can switch one shift a month with another person. So once a month she will be able to come to church. We had the baptism marked for this coming week but she has to take a test this week to see if she can get a job in another city and will be able to come to church every Sunday! So we're praying that she passes this test and gets this job! YEAH! <br /> We are also teaching another couple who are really special. They always have a big smile on their faces when we come. This past week we gave them the Book of Mormon to read and pray about. When I was explaining about the Book of Mormon, I just felt like I wasn't making sense and that I was explaining things that were unnecessary. But they said that they understood and were excited to read and get to know the book. I got to thinking that it is really not us missionaries that teach people about the Gospel. It is really the spirit that teaches and guides the thoughts of the investigators. Sometimes I feel like I don't know what I'm saying but just say something, and everything turns out just fine. I know that the spirit really does work through the Lords servants. I learned that last night too. We decided to talk to our neighbor and give him a Book of Mormon. He asked us a bunch of questions about what we believe, salvation, doctrine... It was great! He even gave us mini bibles! Cool! He had trouble accepting the thought of the Book of Mormon being the word of God like the Bible but we will let the Book of Mormon convince him of that. He also showed me the first verse in John. They talk about the Word, being Christ and God. And that God is Christ that they are one and a few other scriptures too! <br /> I am so thankful to our Heavenly Father that we have prophets to help us understand the scriptures, because there really is a lot of confusing stuff written in that HUGE book :) I love this church I know it's true and I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!<br /> Elder RalphUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-22655486583506455722014-02-10T08:19:00.001-08:002014-02-10T08:19:43.826-08:0010 February 2014 -- HELLO! Well my dearest family! First off I just wanted to thank you guys for all the support that you give me. All your prayers, your thought and all the precious little things that you all have done on my behalf. They really do help. Thank you.<br /> This week went by really fast. On Tuesday me and Elder Luis, an elder that I live with, went to Maceio for a leadership meeting with the Mission President his wife the AP and the secretaries. The trip was very exhausting. We left Tuesday afternoon and got back on Friday morning. But as always the meeting was great. I love talking with the Mission President and Sister, they are so full of love and energy and they radiate it to everyone around them. And talking with them gives people a drive to work hard and baptize everyone! After the meeting I just wanted to get back home as soon as possible to get to work and find those special people that God has prepared for me and my companion to find and teach, Those elects. I know they exist. So I was full with this energy to get back home and… we missed the bus! We called the bus station to see when the bus would leave and they said 6 o'clock. But when we got there at 5:30 they said the only bus was 6 AM and not PM… Ahhh man! So we had to sleep in Maceio to wake up early and catch the bus. But the energy was still there.<br /> One of the bummers of this week was with a young man that we brought to church, we have been teaching him and his mom together. We think that this young man might not be all there, if you know was I mean. But this Sunday he said he could come but his mother couldn’t make it. Well we brought him to church showed him around a bit and he got to know some of the members and then we went to priesthood. About a half an hour into the lesson he got up and said he needed to leave. We talked a bit and he said he has been trying to find the right religion and that its not this our religion. He said he will just stay with the religion that he was with. We ask what happened and why and so on but it didn’t make a difference. He said that our religion is complex or complicated… But he couldn’t explain why. Needless to say it was extremely hard for me to handle. It was the first time in my mission that someone left the church with a decision made that the church isn’t for them… But I did my best. <br /> Another hard part of this week was seeing the principles of the Gospel class. Last week we had about 20 people in the class, which was really good. But this week we had 2. I got to thinking, what am I doing here, what difference am I making, what am I doing wrong? I couldn’t get these negative thoughts out of my head. It wasn’t until we went into the chapel and the sacrament was being blessed that I finally understood. Thinking of Christ and how much He suffered and how the people didn’t understand His purpose and didn’t accept Him and His teachings. It makes sense. At times I ask myself why things don’t go better, but then I remember Him and what He went through. It was easy for Him. I know that this church really is the church of Christ. He is our leader, our head, our example and our model. I am so thankful for the testimony that I have of the gospel and the work that I am doing. I know it's true.<br /> On a happier note one of our investigators is changing her work schedule to work every other Saturday and Sunday so she can come to church! We are way excited for her! And this Saturday we will most likely have a baptism of a teenage girl.<br /> I am so happy to be on my mission, I'm learning so much and loving it!<br /><br />ELDER RALPHUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-78349159465102161912014-02-03T10:50:00.003-08:002014-02-03T10:50:45.650-08:003 February 2014 -- YES One of the highlights this week was teaching a lady named Sara. She is a sister of a member of the church who lives literally a 30 second walk from the church. We went to this member's house to have lunch and guess who was there?, Sara. After getting to know her a little bit she told us that she wanted to learn more about her sister's religion and wanted us to teach her about it. (This normally doesn't happen). So we mark an appointment with her that week and gave her a pamphlet of the restoration to read until our next visit. And when we showed up later that week to teach her, she had read the whole thing and had many questions ( This normally doesn't happen). She understood everything about prophets and apostles and the church of Christ but when Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon came into the picture she became very confused and didn't know why or how. <div>
She really couldn't get a hold of it and wanted the answers and she asked us sincerely to explain it (This normally doesn't happen). She wanted to know details. So we gave her details. We taught in a way that I've never taught before. When we were talking about the Book of Mormon she still didn't understand exactly the purpose of the book, or why God had this book written. Then I remembered something that I read in the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago. It talked about how Lehi was a decendent of the tribe of Israel, the covenant people of God and how the promises were with him too! So I started to explain this to Sara and how Lehi brought with him a record of his fathers or the Old Testament (This normally doesn't happen). And that right there was the game winner, the Grande Salami, the final stretch! It seemed that everything clicked for her. </div>
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She said she always wanted to know how God treated the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. Why would God forget about some of his children and make covenants and promises with another group of his children. After that moment it was easy to see that her heart was opened and she just listened in concordene with everything that we taught. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. That it is the word of God, written for us, that we may know for fully the nature of God, who he is, and how he loves us.</div>
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The only problem with Sara is that she works every Sunday. 24 hours and goes to college during the week. She is a nurse and is going to law school! So she is super busy and can't come to church with us on Sundays. But God really is Good. We were waiting at church for our investigators to show up and out of nowhere came Sara! She said that she really wanted to see what the church is like so she switched her shift with a friend and will start working on Sundays this coming week! She came to church! And Loved it. The members really took her in well. </div>
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She really liked the testimonies and the prelude, "Ye Elders of Israel" sung by four missionaries... Yeah out of the blue a lady asked us to sing a prelude and we choose "Ye elders of Israel". It was really good except for the last word of the last verse. I totally said the wrong word! Haha oh Well :) I love being a missionary!<br /> <br /> ELDER RALPH</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-2573572044719533782014-01-27T15:37:00.002-08:002014-01-27T15:37:58.812-08:0027 January 2014 -- Penedo!Hello Family dearest! <br /> Well I'm sure you're all just dying to know where I'm at and who I'm with! So let's get to it.<br />At the transfer meeting I got talking to all the other zone leaders to see who was transferred and who would stay in the area. I had a pretty good idea of where I would go and with who I would be with before the meeting even started and boy, was I excited. The meeting started and I started checking off the possibilities. Then all of a sudden my name was called and they said that I was called as a trainer! Ahhhh, I couldn't believe it! I was stun struck! Haha it was really funny, I couldn't stop laughing! I'm training again! The thought didn't even cross my mind that I would train again. But at the end of the meeting it was obvious what the president was doing. He called 5 zone leaders to train new missionaries that were entering into the mission field. I am now training Elder Martins, a Brazilian from São Paulo. <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are in an interstate area of Alagoas called Penedo. Penedo is an older city, built over 300 years ago and it's built on the bank of a beautiful river. The buildings are all old and falling apart but really impressive. After sending emails we're going to go a take a couple of pictures. We are working in a branch that it trying to become a ward. They just need a few more men. So we're "men hunting," haha. But the chapel is huge! With air conditioning! YES! It's one of the biggest the I've ever been in on my mission, and the Church is on a corner where there is a lot of traffic so everyone knows where it is. And the church is new so many people want to see what it's like inside. The members are helping a lot. The Elders that were here in the area didn't leave anything to help us find our way around, but the work is coming along. We have built a good relationship with some of the members that can go out with us to teach, they help so much!<br /> Training near the end of the mission is so different than training at the beginning. I feel like I know so much more. I have so much more confidence, the language is much smoother. It's just way different. I'm trying to help my new little son as best I can. He's really good. Has a good spirit and loves to work hard and talk to everyone that crosses his path. He's given me so much energy, which is something I have needed these past few weeks. I really believe, I know without a doubt that my mission president is inspired by God. He always places the right type of person with me at the right time. Elder Martins is great. I let him begin teaching the other day and he kind of got nervous and just went right into the restoration and the first vision, which is something that I've never seen before but it worked out just fine! It's amazing how the spirit can guide you when you really trust in it. I am so thankful for the spirit and how it has been guiding me this past week. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to serve, to train, to teach, and to be a missionary.<br /> I'm so thankful for my family and everything they have taught me, for all the sacrifices they have made for me! I know that this church is true! I know that it teaches the truth sent from God to his prophets today!<br /> Elder Martins always makes me smile, always likes to talk to me, trusts me, wants my help and guidance and wants to improve. LOVE THE MAN!<br /> UNTIL NEXT WEEK!<br /> Love you all so much!<br />ELDER RALPHUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-39816651381925219912014-01-20T11:02:00.003-08:002014-01-20T11:36:46.141-08:0020 January 2014 -- Transferencias<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the front, middle leaning over a table with a Santa hat on, I've got my back to the camera.</td></tr>
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Well it looks like I've been transferred. Tomorrow I will know where I will be going and with whom I will work. This week was a good one! Especially with the number of investigators AND members who came to church. The church was full, which is always a good thing. But with that also comes a lot of Kids! There were so many little children running around here and there and everywhere. Haha, but it was still great.<br />
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This week a girl named Rose came to church and it seemed like she was already a member of the church. She came in a skirt with her scriptures and I little baggy and the girls in the branch swarmed her and I believe that she felt very welcome. The only hard part for her is that she lives far from the church it's about a 45 minute walk.... But her friend, the member who passed her as a reference, lives even farther! So she passes by her house so they can walk together! YES! This past week we presented the Book of Mormon to her. When we started teaching about the Book of Mormon we handed one to her and she fluttered through the pages curiously and she agreed with everything that we taught and showed her. But all of a sudden she gave the book back to us with a confused unsatisfied look on her face. We began to bear our testimonies and the members that were with us also bore our testimonies. Then Rose asked how much the book cost! Opps, she thought that the book would be expensive and gave it back to us because she thought that she wouldn't be able to pay for it. But after the testimonies she was willing to pay for the book to know if it was true or not for herself. When we explained that it was free and that we would give it as a present she exploded with joy. She couldn't stop smiling and was literally jumping out of her seat. We have high hopes for Rose. :)</div>
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These past few weeks we have been helping a less active young adult come back to church. He has been coming to church for the past four weeks and is super happy and super excited. He really has a strong testimony of the church but stopped going because of a social reason. And this Sunday he brought his older sister to church. We have been teaching the two of them together. His sister isn't a member. She really liked the church and the members really reached out to her. We are gunna help her get legally married and then baptized! Woot! Woot!<br />
These past few weeks were rather hard for me but I'm doing a lot better. There is nothing like scripture reading and fasting to help us get through our problems. I know that the scriptures are true. They are the word of God written for us. They have helped me so much these past few weeks. Helped me stay focused. Helped me resolve my problems. They are true. <br />
I hope you all have a great week and a Happy New Year!<br />
ELDER RALPH<br />
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This week we were able to find a number of new people. Both investigators and less-actives that we are helping come back to church. We also received a referral from a young woman in the ward that was great! This twenty year old girl is amazing she really has a desire to know the truth, but thinks that she has little faith. She had a great question. She asked about death and people who die from accident or murder. She wanted to know if God lets those people die, or allows a person to die. and Why?... It was a really good question and we're excited to continue working with her. The only trouble that she has is her lack of faith in herself, or faith in the faith that she has.... if that makes sense.<br /> This week I cut an elder's hair with scissors... I did a pretty good job. I was pretty proud of myself. Then I let him cut my hair and he totally botched it! Oh well.<br /> We are also trying really hard to help one family that is really special. The woman is more in tune with churches than the husband, but the wife's brother is really into religion and they all ask questions galore! Yesterday we taught them about baptism and the power that is required to have a true baptism. We taught about the church of Jesus Christ and how it was organized with that power and how the power was lost. We taught more detailed than I have ever taught in my mission. But it was really good. We taught how just one church can have the power that can seal on earth and in heaven. We invited them to pray, knowing that through diligent study and PRAYER they could receive an answer for themselves. This family is really special and we are doing all we can to help them know the truth and follow the example of Jesus Christ. <br /> I know that Jesus Christ is our savior that His love for us is eternal. It's infinite. His love can purify us of all our faults. I love him and I know that He loves me, too. I will do my best to follow him, follow His example and His precious gospel. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the earth today.<br /> <br />ELDER RALPHUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2049523714287309841.post-67473477670379783202014-01-07T10:11:00.000-08:002014-01-07T10:11:08.491-08:006 January 2014 -- A Weak WeekHello Family Dearest,<br /> This week was rather uneventful to tell the truth. This week we went to Maceio again. The training that was passed to us was really good and tomorrow my companion and I are going to pass the training to our zone. My companion is kind of stressed out about the meeting because it will be his first. I don't blame him. I was pretty stressed out when I did my first zone meeting. But it´ll all go well he´s good. One really great thing that happened this week was with a man named Edimilson and his nephew Felipe. They are two investigators that we have been teaching with a group of three other people. To tell the truth they were the least expected to come to church while everyone else that we are teaching were very strong with the appointment. And the two of them really enjoyed the meeting. And Edimilson who is a 28 year old already knows almost all the members of the ward. We didn't even have to stay with him because the members just took him away which was really cool.<br /> Really the rest of the week was spent traveling and studying for the training that we are going to give tomorrow. Sorry I really have little to say.<br /> My companion is good. He doesn't stress me too much, haha. Transfers are on the 20th, I think. I am mostly stressed about the work and how it's not going exactly how I would like it to go. We just have very few people to work with. And the people that we have aren't progressing how they could be progressing. It's hard to see potential in someone and then watch them falter. Yeah its just that.<br /> Next week the e-mail will be bigger I promise.<br />Well I gotta go. Have a great week!<div>
Elder Ralph</div>
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