26 August 2009

First off, I still don't know if you ever received the letter I sent for Grandma. Please let me know if you have.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for the package! It was absolutely wond=
erful. I had totally forgotten that Life Savers existed. Also, the conference reports are a welcome gift. I hope I can ask for more of those in the future. And I think Lyn would like it here: there are no ice cream cakes.

I was holding out my hope that I would return to the same bishop I left. Oh well, that means I can call him Jay wherever I see him now!

As far as my mailing address is concerned, you can all just send any letters to the mission office. We live with the district leader and he goes by there every Thursday because we're so close.

Okay, so I know a little more now about where I am. I am serving in the city of Curitiba in a bairro(buy-hoe) called Novo Mundo, which name I have already explained. The equivalent of a bairro in English I think would be somewhere in-between a suburb and a city district. We are very close to the center here, and the people are great. This is my first time serving in a stake and in a ward, and we actually attend church meetings in a chapel! Outside of that, I don't really know what more to write right now, but I'm sure some stuff will pop up this week.

For this week's message, I would like to turn to the 143rd Semi-annual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held on October 5, 6, and 7, 1973 (report courtesy the Floyd family). Elder Sterling W. Sill, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve, spoke about laying up in store earthly treasures. Says he,

"Someone said, Money ain't everything," and his friend said, "Just name me three things that it ain't. But we also should think of some of those things that it is. Money is preserved labor, it is industry made negotiable, it is stored up accomplishment. It is the medium of exchange that we can trade for things that we can take with us and a great many of them we can actually send on ahead. We can take our families with us. We can take our education with us. We can take our great character qualities with us. And money is the medium that we can use to share the treasures of the earth with others who need our help."

The point I would like to make here is exactly how we can manage to be both missionaries and normal people. In today's world, it would be almost impossible to leave behind all your worldly possessions and become a full-time missionary. Even the missionaries of the Church today need a constant supply of cash sent to Church headquarters. God does not ask us at this time to sell all that we can, but we do have our time. We can lay up treasures on Earth if we have our eyes on how that will help us lay up treasures in Heaven. We can be missionaries while working, while studying, and while resting. It just requires an effort on our part.

I pray that we can use our earthly treasures to buy heavenly treasures (which includes laying up souls). I know that I am not very eloquent in writing, and this whole thing is probably a little scattered, but I also pray that the Spirit may testify of the things I write. Time is up now, but I will write again next week. Tell Amanda I say hi too.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

19 August 2009

Two more baptisms tonight (Tiago and Joce)! You can understand my excitement as that means that Elder S. Costa and I have kept up one baptism per week on average until now. The sad news is that I will not be around to see it, and here comes to big news:

I have been transferred!

In fact, I am not writing from Guarapuava at this moment, but from the city of Curitiba. I received the news on Monday night, so I had a couple of hours during the day yesterday to say goodbye to many of the members, recent-converts, and investigators that I have grown to love. It was not, however, fun to leave on a bus at three o’clock in the morning.

My new companion here is Elder Gonçalez. We live in a house with two other missionaries: the district leader Elder Hewitt and his companion Elder Pettigrew. I am now serving in the Novo Mundo Ward, which, being translated, is the New World Ward. New world indeed, Curitiba is very different from the interior from what I can see.

Thank you for the birthday e-card. It was a welcome treat. Also, I’m glad Amanda arrived safely, and I hope that she settles in nicely. Does this mean I won’t have a bedroom to come back to?  :) 

While preparing a lesson for the grandparents of a recent-convert this week, I viewed a set of scriptures in a way that I had never thought of before. I would like to talk about the time when the Savior came to visit the inhabitants of this country shortly after His resurrection. The people were all recovering from the great destructions that had taken place, and they began to gather at the temple in the land Bountiful. I would now direct your attention to 3 Nephi 11:3-7:

      3  And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

      4  And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

      5  And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hearit; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

      6  And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

      7  Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified
    my name—hear ye him.

As we read here, the people heard a voice three times. The first two times they did not understand it, but they heard it! They knew that it was speaking; they felt that there was something different about it, but they did not understand it. It was only the third time that they *all* began to understand the voice and when they *all* turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

Oftentimes, we talk to our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, etc. about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not as official representatives of His Church and usually not using missionary lessons, but we talk to them. Our Father in Heaven many times does not talk directly to His children. He does that through the Holy Ghost and through His servants on the earth. When we talk to others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (even in the smallest ways) we are testifying, “Behold the Beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased, in whom the Father has glorified His name—hear ye him.”

And yet they do not understand. They do not know what the voice is saying. They know that a voice is speaking, and they know that it is different, yet they do not understand it. That does not mean we should desist. Had Heavenly Father desisted after the first time with the Nephites, many people would have been unprepared for the appearance of the Savior. We must continue testifying. We must never withhold the invitation, “Hear ye Him!”

Unfortunately, my time is up, but please know that Jesus Christ lives and that the Father is testifying of Him. He is speaking through His living prophets today. This is the testimony I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

12 August 2009

Okay, here we go again. As with all emails at the end of a transfer period, this could be my last here in Guarapuava. I hope that I can stay, as I was moved around a lot a couple of weeks ago, but I’ll go where the Lord wants me to go.

Thank Vinnie for the birthday e-card. I laughed out loud, which really isn’t a great thing to do in a lan house in Brazil.

I realized this week that I really haven’t been keeping you posted on baptisms here. I think I told you about Everton. After him Elisue and Elton were baptized while I was in Prudentópolis. Then we baptized Junior this last Wednesday, and he was confirmed in sacrament meeting this last Sunday. He is the boyfriend of a member we have in the branch and really has a lot of potential.

I’d also like to share with you something that President Vincente, a counselor in the mission presidency, shared with our branch this last Sunday. When was the last time you had a spiritual experience with Jesus Christ? I don’t just mean a small thing, I mean a BIG experience? When was the last time you kneeled down before bedtime and asked God to give you a little free time to chat with your Savior? When was the last time you asked permission to ask a question of Joseph Smith, or Adam, or Moses, or John the Baptist? If we ask, we shall receive, and as I have said before, I cannot promise you all any kind of vision, but all things we ask for in faith will be given us, whether for our blessing our or condemnation (I’ll whip up a scriptural reference for that one next week).

Please remember that this work is the most important work on the earth and that we are to give our all to prepare the world and the Kingdom of God. Please know that I know this church is the Church of Jesus Christ. Please know that the Book of Mormon was not written by a man, but by many ancient prophets that wrote what God commanded them.

Tell Elizabeth I miss her humor, Lyn I miss her constructive nagging, Dad I love him, and Amanda I’ll write to her soon and that I’m praying for her success. Also, like a really bad brother, I forgot to wish her a happy birthday (she’s 22, you know). Send my love to all the family. Also, I realize that I forgot to wish Dad a happy Father’s Day back in June. It’s not until August here (it was last Sunday).

Until next week,
Élder Daniel Floyd

5 August 2009

Hello, Floyd Family!

Okay, I will start off this time by saying that I am much, much happier than I was last week. It’s really hard to be moved around a lot. One day you’re working in Guarapuava, the next you’re working in Prudentópolis, and ten days later you’re back in Guarapuava. Boy was that interesting. If you didn’t catch it, I have been here back in Guarapuava since 12:30 in the morning last Friday.

It was really interesting going to church and having to explain to everybody why the heck I was back. I can understand their confusion because I only saw this happen once with Elder Tonkinson, but he returned to Santa Maria after a years and nine months, not ten days. Testimony meeting was not the place to relate my experience in Prudentópolis, but I did say that I was grateful to be back and that I would in fact say goodbye before I leave again.

Thanks for the updates on Gram’s progress. I will get a letter written this week and send it through MissionTies to you (how many times have you heard that sentence?).

Not much to write about this week, just that we keep hearing a lot of stuff about this Swine Flu. They made announcements about how to avoid it at the mission conference and in sacrament meeting. We also get getting reminders about it in our weekly emails from President Araujo.

My little thought for the week comes from the mission conference: As humans, we always have the capacity to improve. One of our purposes in this life is to progress, so we much always improve, even when we are doing our CURRENT best. The Lord, while not being ungrateful, always asks us to do a little bit more than we are currently doing, and if we ever stop progressing, we start on the wide and easy path to you-know-where. So, to sum this up as President Araujo did: we can always do a little more and a little better. As a missionary called to serve in the Brazil Curitiba Mission, I have no right to invite any of those who read this to do a little more and a little better, but I can promise that it’s truth. And here and now I pledge to do a little more and a little better for you too (including these emails).

As always, I hope that all is well at home, that Vinnie is alive, that Elizabeth had a good summer break, that Lyn is not having hot flashes, and that Dad is able to stay on top of his every-increasing responsibilities.

Love,
Elder Daniel Floyd

29 July 2009

Hi Everyone!

I’m returning to Guarapuava! I’ll try to do my best right now to describe everything that happened: Last Monday (20 July 2009), I received the news that I would be involved in an emergency transfer. That means that for one reason or another, a transfer is taking place in-between the normal six-week transfers. I don’t know what happened, but Elder Teixeira who was serving in Prudentópolis was transferred to some place near Curitiba. That left Elder Pierce in Prundentópolis without a companion, so I was transferred to fill in that gap. I was able to move because both Elders S. Costa and Avis remained behind in Guarapuava.

On Tuesday I left Guarapuava and arrived here in Prudentópolis, and I have been here ever since. Because we will be having a mission conference tomorrow, President Araujo came on Saturday to interview us all. I was told then that I would be returning to Guarapuava. Elder Avis will be going home immediately after the mission conference, so when we all return from that, I will be back to being Elder S. Costa’s companion. President Araujo said that this was more of an extended division than an emergency transfer. Unfortunately, we still don’t know what will be happening with Elder Pierce.

He really is great, you know. You said he looked like a party guy. From what he has told me about life before the mission, that could be right, more or less. I don’t think he was negligent or anything like that. He’s been on a mission for about nine months now, and he’s from Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Miracles? I don’t know about that right now, but I do have something I’d like to share, but only 2 minutes to do so. I discovered from this little surprise transfer that I really, really love the people here. I never had time to say goodbye to my investigators and recent converts in Guarapuava, and my heart hurt just as much as when I left you all at the airport. I don’t have time to complete the thought right now, but know that I miss you and love you, and I love the people here too.

Until next time,
Elder Daniel Floyd

22 July 2009

I have been transferred.

Yes, I know, transfers are not for another four weeks, but nevertheless I am here now in the city of Prudentópolis (about 1 hour east of Guarapuava) with my new companion Elder Pierce (yes, an American). I received the news about 5:00P.M. on Monday that I was to be involved in an emergency transfer. I don’t know what happened to cause it, but I have taken the place of Elder Teixeira here. I am in the same district (proto-stake) as Guarapuava, but I hear the branch here only has about 60 active members. Before

I am really not sure of I will be staying or not because I was informed that these arrangements would be official only for ten days. The truth is I really want to head back to Guarapuava because I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to anybody, only Daniele and the family of Eliseu. I was really looking forward to attending the baptism of Eliseu tonight, but I guess the Lord has other plans.

I’m not really sure what else to write.

We have our mission conference next Wednesday, and I received news from President Araujo that a general authority WILL NOT be presiding. Interviews are this Saturday.

Let Lizzie know I love her and miss her.

Sorry I don’t have more to write, I’m just a little in shock. I hope all is well at home.

Love,
Elder Floyd

15 July 2009

Before I forget, here is the address of the mission office where you can send packages:

Élder Daniel Wells Floyd
Missão Brasil Curitiba
Praça Joseph Smith
15 Portão
Curitiba-PR
80610-210 BRASIL

Things have been interesting here in Guarapuava. Elders S. Costa and Avis have been a great blessing for me, and we are having a lot of success in finding people to teach. We have another baptism today for Everton, a member referral. He was the one who tracked us down because he wanted to be baptized. The baptism of Elton has been pushed back until the 29th of this month. I think one reason we have had so much success in the last week is that fact that we have three missionaries here. We only need one member to make two companionships, and you can do twice the work of one companionship with two, so you can probably see my point. It has been really interesting living the life of a missionary without Elder Cacio, but it has been a good experience.

I heard from both you and Sister Achiu that she will be serving again in Germany. I have not yet written her, but can you let her know I'm really excited for her?

This Saturday will mark five months on the mission for me, not that I'm counting. Please know that I am always thinking about and praying for you.

I know with a surety that this is the Lord's work. I want to share a short experience that happened yesterday. With a member, I was contacting people that we had spoken to on the street, and all I really managed to do for about an hour was schedule to stop by later. After leaving one doorstep, and as I was passing in front of another house, I felt impressed to stop and talk to the resident there.. When I clapped my hands (which is, as you know, the standard and necessity here), a woman of probably 55-60 years came out. When I explained that we were sharing a message about Jesus Christ and that he had called a prophet in our days, she let us enter.

We talked for a little while, and after a prayer we started the lesson. It went very well and she listen very intently and commented very intelligently. When I began to recount the First Vision in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, something began to touch my soul. As I explained that the boy Joseph had seen a pillar of light, I began to feel overwhelmingly that the words I was recounting were true. I knew in that moment that the Spirit was testifying to the woman, Solete, that the things we were saying were true. Something touched her as well.

After the lesson concluded, we set a time for us to return. I really don't know where this will go. I have no idea was lies in the future for Solete, but I know that the Spirit testified to her that we spoke the truth It is now only a matter of accepting or rejecting.

Thank you for all you are doing there in the United States to make my mission a  success. I'm out of time now, but I will write you again soon. Thanks for all the updates. I hope you are all safe and sound.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd