Love you!!
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Email received April 27, 2015
I am feeling a lot better this week! Things are back to normal with me! I never drink the tap water here! It is really really dirty. I don't need to see the source to know how dirty the water really is! We are drinking filtered water all the time. And things as I said are back to normal! I did get the email on the 22nd! Got the pictures on the internet I assume? (I sent him a picture of one 25 centavos representing that he is 1 quarter of the way done with his mission already) 1 quarter of my time here has come and gone! And boy did it come and go... But I am making the most of the moments I have now with the people I have to spend them with. So things are going great here! This last week was a good week! We were finally able to get back to work as normal and we worked well! We ran into some good people and families to teach! We taught some great lessons and had a good time doing so! This week we went to visit a young man every day so that he could be ready for baptism on Saturday. We were there every day at 4pm to teach him and his mom. We taught them both all the lessons and accompanied their reading of the Book of Mormon and it went great! The young man was baptized on Saturday! He's 15 years old and was a reference from one of the young men here. We started teaching him this week and he progressed until baptism on Saturday. His mom is still a bit unsure, but we are working hard with her to help her be baptized too! She even stopped drinking coffee! We will see what happens this week with her! We are teaching a couple families now that are great! One invited his parents and sister to hear us too! and when we go there tonight, he said he will have some friends there too! Will be interesting! Maybe we will get to teach the whole street! I got to pass (spend) Friday and Saturday with my District Leader teaching and for him to interview a couple people. He is a really funny and at the same time powerful missionary! Great guy! This week was a good week :) For those who are reading this, I would ask that you all take a few minutes to hear and watch a talk that was given at this last Conference by one of the members of the quorum of the 12. The talk was given by Jeffery R. Holland and is one of the most powerful talks I have ever heard. It is relatively short but very interesting and amazing. Take a few minutes to watch the talk on the site LDS.org and you will not regret it! After watching that talk, try to do all you can to remember the Savior every moment of the day and in all things. Remember the sacrifice, and the love that He demonstrated in the Garden that night. And do all you can to exemplify Him and be a disciple of Him. I love you all and miss you all! But soon enough I will be coming back! But for now, stay safe and always remember the Man that gave meaning to Life itself.
Love you!!
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Love you!!
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Email received April 20, 2015
This week was good. Not a lot of exciting though. We went about our business slowly though because I am still having some trouble. It´s not the water though. We only boil our water now and I still have this problem. I´m not sure what it is.
Crazy to hear that you are going to go get Conner so soon! Time really passed quickly! Be sure to send a hug to Sister Knotts and Sister Risch! They are very supportive of not only him but me as well. On Wednesday a quarter of the mission has come and gone! Really crazy how fast it is going by! But I am now doing more than ever to be the best I can be and to do the best work I can. I am truly loving being with Elder Oliveira! He is an amazing missionary and a really happy guy. He is helping me a lot to be better and better every day! It is great to hear that the brach had another baptism! Hopefully this will help the members get excited about missionary work to finally turn the branch into a ward! That would be sweet! I know when I get back, if there are Elders there, I will be going with them every single day to work with them! I will put them to work! Same if it´s still sisters. I will do what I can to be able to go and do the work there to help the branch and stake grow! Too long the work has been almost stopped there. As my mission president said, "there are no ´soft` people, only soft missionaries". And by this he tells us here that when we feel that no one is accepting us and no success is being had, it is not because the people are not prepared. It is because of something amiss in our lives. Because if we truly have the spirit to teach and testify with us, people would flock to the baptismal fonts. There would still be rejection as there always was and will be, but success will without a doubt be found when we truly have the spirit when we teach.
I have the same goal as Conner. Because here the people are lucky to go to the temple 2 times in one year. So we all need to have a goal of weekly temple attendance in a place with so many temples so close!
Gotta go on and write a couple other emails! But I love you! Have a good week and stay safe!
Love you!!!
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Crazy to hear that you are going to go get Conner so soon! Time really passed quickly! Be sure to send a hug to Sister Knotts and Sister Risch! They are very supportive of not only him but me as well. On Wednesday a quarter of the mission has come and gone! Really crazy how fast it is going by! But I am now doing more than ever to be the best I can be and to do the best work I can. I am truly loving being with Elder Oliveira! He is an amazing missionary and a really happy guy. He is helping me a lot to be better and better every day! It is great to hear that the brach had another baptism! Hopefully this will help the members get excited about missionary work to finally turn the branch into a ward! That would be sweet! I know when I get back, if there are Elders there, I will be going with them every single day to work with them! I will put them to work! Same if it´s still sisters. I will do what I can to be able to go and do the work there to help the branch and stake grow! Too long the work has been almost stopped there. As my mission president said, "there are no ´soft` people, only soft missionaries". And by this he tells us here that when we feel that no one is accepting us and no success is being had, it is not because the people are not prepared. It is because of something amiss in our lives. Because if we truly have the spirit to teach and testify with us, people would flock to the baptismal fonts. There would still be rejection as there always was and will be, but success will without a doubt be found when we truly have the spirit when we teach.
I have the same goal as Conner. Because here the people are lucky to go to the temple 2 times in one year. So we all need to have a goal of weekly temple attendance in a place with so many temples so close!
Gotta go on and write a couple other emails! But I love you! Have a good week and stay safe!
Love you!!!
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Email received April 13, 2015
This last week was so so so much better! I was feeling great health wise! I have been having a bit of intestinal problems (see Jeremiah 4:19-21) and have been for some time now. Nothing serious, just some discomfort. I think it is because I have been eating only bread at home. I need to get some fruit soon. Will buy some tomorrow! The allergic reaction passed and has stayed away, so all is well on that front.
Well President and the Lord must have a lot of confidence in me, because with a little more than 5 months on the mission, I am now a Trainer! My past District Leader got the call with the transfers Monday night, and he told me that I would be training a new Missionary... I couldn´t believe it. How could a gringo with less than 6 months on the mission become a trainer???? I thought he was joking with me at first, but he wasn't. My comp went to an area far away from here and I now have a NEW companion. Literally. So on Wednesday I went to the Mission Library to the Meeting of New Missionaries and Trainers. The name of my new comp is Elder Oliveira! He is from a small city close to São Paulo! He left the CTM on Tuesday and I picked him up on Wednesday. Totally new! He is SOOOOOO much better than my last one! He basically knows everything! We just need to practice and work a little bit to expand and deepen his knowledge of the lessons and doctrines. But he is able to teach everything! And being Brasilian, he already speaks the language fluently, so that helps a lot! He is going to be a very powerful and amazing missionary! I am still here in Timon. But it turns out that the city isn't as horrible as my old comp made it seem! Elder Oliveira and I are focusing our work closer to the chapel and are finding a ton of new people to teach! There really are people to teach close to the chapel! My old comp was just not the kind of missionary to really try to find those people. But now we are having great success! (What special missionary moments did you have this week?) Special moments would just be the success we have been having. I told my new comp that in one day with him, we did more than an entire week with the old comp. Things are truly so much better! And today I had an interview with President. I really needed it! I feel so much better now and can continue to work with more peace of heart and hope! I will attach pictures in a separate email! As I said before, I was truly surprised by my new assignment! I never expected to be training with less than 6 months on the mission. And now it will only be onward and upward... But I am truly humbled and blessed to have this awesome experience. President explained very clearly the resonsibility that I have. Whether this man becomes an amazing missionary or not is on me. His future it in my hands. It truly is a massive responsibility and also blessing. I am looking forward to this transfer with Elder Oliveira!
Glad to hear that Shane is doing well! He will be better off going staight to BYUi instead of staying home for any amount of time. He´ll find his wife sooner!! Haha
Have a good week!! And stay safe!
I love you!!!!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Well President and the Lord must have a lot of confidence in me, because with a little more than 5 months on the mission, I am now a Trainer! My past District Leader got the call with the transfers Monday night, and he told me that I would be training a new Missionary... I couldn´t believe it. How could a gringo with less than 6 months on the mission become a trainer???? I thought he was joking with me at first, but he wasn't. My comp went to an area far away from here and I now have a NEW companion. Literally. So on Wednesday I went to the Mission Library to the Meeting of New Missionaries and Trainers. The name of my new comp is Elder Oliveira! He is from a small city close to São Paulo! He left the CTM on Tuesday and I picked him up on Wednesday. Totally new! He is SOOOOOO much better than my last one! He basically knows everything! We just need to practice and work a little bit to expand and deepen his knowledge of the lessons and doctrines. But he is able to teach everything! And being Brasilian, he already speaks the language fluently, so that helps a lot! He is going to be a very powerful and amazing missionary! I am still here in Timon. But it turns out that the city isn't as horrible as my old comp made it seem! Elder Oliveira and I are focusing our work closer to the chapel and are finding a ton of new people to teach! There really are people to teach close to the chapel! My old comp was just not the kind of missionary to really try to find those people. But now we are having great success! (What special missionary moments did you have this week?) Special moments would just be the success we have been having. I told my new comp that in one day with him, we did more than an entire week with the old comp. Things are truly so much better! And today I had an interview with President. I really needed it! I feel so much better now and can continue to work with more peace of heart and hope! I will attach pictures in a separate email! As I said before, I was truly surprised by my new assignment! I never expected to be training with less than 6 months on the mission. And now it will only be onward and upward... But I am truly humbled and blessed to have this awesome experience. President explained very clearly the resonsibility that I have. Whether this man becomes an amazing missionary or not is on me. His future it in my hands. It truly is a massive responsibility and also blessing. I am looking forward to this transfer with Elder Oliveira!
Glad to hear that Shane is doing well! He will be better off going staight to BYUi instead of staying home for any amount of time. He´ll find his wife sooner!! Haha
Have a good week!! And stay safe!
I love you!!!!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Elder Cole Gunnoe and his new comp - Elder Oliveira :)
Elder Gunnoe and the other Trainers
Fresh Mango
Packet of instructions for Trainers of new Missionaries
Email received April 6, 2015
This Easter weekend was the most spiritual I have ever had! It was truly a blessing to be able to watch and listen to our Prophet and the Apostles and other General Authorities speak to us. There were a couple talks when I really felt as if the speaker was speaking directly to me. I really loved Elder Holland´s talk! Instead of taking notes as they spoke, I just wrote down the name of the speaker and the session so that after I could get the talk on paper and audio to study it more in depth. I had to pay a lot of attention because it was in Português and the general authorities have a tendency to use bigger words than I am used to hearing. But I was able to understand all that was said! It was different not hearing the actual voice of the speaker, a little sad even. The translator doesn't convey the emotion that the speaker often does. But it was still good! We watched the Saturday sessions at the stake center in Teresina and the priesthood session here in Timon along with both Sunday sessions. I will definitely be getting my hands on many of the talks that were given so that I can use them personally and in my teaching! And I am not sure if you noticed a couple of things. From the way President Packer was talking at the end of his talk, I think it might be his last conference. Don´t know for sure, but he made it sound that was when he was talking. And I am quite worried about President Monson. He spoke 2 times instead of the usual 4, he didn't close the conference like he ALWAYS does, and he was having a bit of trouble walking and even almost fell on Saturday! Not very good signs.... But there was a talk for just about everyone in this conference. And a lot of talk about the Church´s stance on marriage. Best conference yet!
(I emailed him and told him about what Alton and I had done on Friday and this was his response) Sounds like a pretty good Friday! It´s always good to go to a ball game! Good times with the Angels!
(I told him we might be getting some rain this week) You can have some of the rain that´s been coming down here! There sure is plenty of it! And yes, hopefully the drought ends soon! Will be nice when it does!
(Where did you spend Easter and where did you watch conference) We basically spent Easter in the chapel. 1pm to 7pm there. Conference here is 1-3 and 5-7. Bit different!
(What did you eat) Nothing special. Just a normal lunch.
(Did you have a favorite talk) As previously stated, Elder Holland is probably the favorite talk!
(Where did you watch the Priesthood session) We watched the Priesthood session on Saturday from 9-11pm in the chapel.
(Did you watch conference in English or Portuguese) All sessions were in português in the stake center and the chapel here.
(Have you heard about transfers yet and has there been any progress with your companion) I have heard unofficially that my comp is for sure leaving! Oh joyful day! But the transfer hasn't happened yet, but it is for sure that he is leaving. Beyond that, I haven´t heard anything. The opposite of progress...
(How has your weather been) Weather has been VERY hot and humid! It´s a killer combo!
(How have you been feeling) Explained the health situation below. Beyond that, everything health wise is good!
(Have you bonded with any families in Timon like you did in Parnaiba) It´s a bit harder here because the members are a lot more spread out and we only go to a member´s house for lunch. So it´s hard to get that connection here with anyone really.
Seeing as I have given a lot of detail here, this will also be the blog email for the week. What´s written above including below!
This past week would have been the worst yet if it weren't for general conference...
At the start of the week I had some kind of allergic reaction to something that I don´t know what it was and got a rash on my whole body that was super itchy! I went to the doctor on Monday to see what was going on because it was getting a little worse. The doctor just took some blood and told me to come back the next day. He told me everything was normal and just that. Didn't say what it could have been or anything. But a couple days later it was gone. I think it was just an allergic reaction to something in the water because a bunch of people are getting the same thing. But as I said, it has completely passed now! Things didn't get any better with the comp this week. Since I passed Monday and Tuesday almost totally in Teresina with my District Leader, we didn't get any work done those days. Wednesday we had a division the whole day. Got some decent work done with the other elder! was a pretty good day. Then Thursday came... My comp wasted our time being a slacker in the entire afternoon. Then we went to a recent convert´s house and spent 2 and a half hours there... We get back to our house at 10pm. I told my comp that we didn't have any more time to stay when it was 9pm. Almost an hour later we left. He just kept talking and talking when he KNEW it was passed the time for us to be home. That made me upset. So when it was finally time to close the day at home, I prayed and basically repented for having wasted an entire day visiting 2 people. Because it truly was against everything a missionary should do to spend the whole day until after the hour to be at home in the house of 2 different people. So as we were writing down the numbers for the day my comp wanted to count a lesson with that recent convert when it wasn't a lesson. I told him that according to the rules and guidelines given to us, it was not a lesson. So he told me that he counts it as a lesson. But I didn't because I know it wasn't. That too left me even more upset. Friday we did nothing in terms of teaching. All 4 of us had gone to the chapel after lunch to get ready for the baptism of the other companionship. Turns out that my comp and the comp of the District Leader are more lazy than I thought. They both sat in an air conditioned room while the other elder and I did all the work to get everything ready. My comp and that other missionary just sat there and talked about things that are not worthy of missionaries. We passed the whole afternoon in the chapel until 7pm when people started to get there for the baptism at 7:30. The baptism went great! a lot of friends and family of the 2 people being baptized! was great! Saturday morning was a general cleaning of the house for transfers. Turns out my comp and the comp of the DL are even more lazy than before!!! They didn´t get up until 8 or 830. And they were just as helpful asleep as awake! They went and cut their hair, bought some food for themselves, layed in bed, and right at the end cleaned the garage area of the house that was hardly even dirty. THEY DID NOTHING!!!!! And while my comp was laying in bed after he had woken up, he was listening to some type of rap/reggae mix of music that I know is no good. So I reminded him that we were advised by our leaders that we should only listen to Hymns and EFY music. He proceeded to demonstrate the lack of desire he has to be a missionary when he said "But I like this music". I just about lost it. He basically said that he puts his own desires and interests above the things that a missionary and a man of God should do. He clearly demonstrated how much he lacks the desire to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I have spoken less that 50 words with him since Thursday last week. I can´t look at him or talk to him without loosing my patience. I tried to help him to be a better missionary and he flat out rejected the help. I tried. But I couldn't say anything to help him without him turning around and attacking me for the few things that I do wrong. He is so prideful that his reaction to someone trying to help him is to attack that person.
Let´s just say that I am very excited for this transfer... I am looking forward to a new comp and a new and real start here in Timon.
General Conference truly saved my week. I hope that everyone was able to be uplifted and enlightened by the words that were spoken. Now we must apply those words in our lives and do our best to be better every day!
Times up, so I gotta jet. Have a great week everyone! And never forget our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!! Love you all!!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
PS
No pictures this week. Sorry!
(I emailed him and told him about what Alton and I had done on Friday and this was his response) Sounds like a pretty good Friday! It´s always good to go to a ball game! Good times with the Angels!
(I told him we might be getting some rain this week) You can have some of the rain that´s been coming down here! There sure is plenty of it! And yes, hopefully the drought ends soon! Will be nice when it does!
(Where did you spend Easter and where did you watch conference) We basically spent Easter in the chapel. 1pm to 7pm there. Conference here is 1-3 and 5-7. Bit different!
(What did you eat) Nothing special. Just a normal lunch.
(Did you have a favorite talk) As previously stated, Elder Holland is probably the favorite talk!
(Where did you watch the Priesthood session) We watched the Priesthood session on Saturday from 9-11pm in the chapel.
(Did you watch conference in English or Portuguese) All sessions were in português in the stake center and the chapel here.
(Have you heard about transfers yet and has there been any progress with your companion) I have heard unofficially that my comp is for sure leaving! Oh joyful day! But the transfer hasn't happened yet, but it is for sure that he is leaving. Beyond that, I haven´t heard anything. The opposite of progress...
(How has your weather been) Weather has been VERY hot and humid! It´s a killer combo!
(How have you been feeling) Explained the health situation below. Beyond that, everything health wise is good!
(Have you bonded with any families in Timon like you did in Parnaiba) It´s a bit harder here because the members are a lot more spread out and we only go to a member´s house for lunch. So it´s hard to get that connection here with anyone really.
Seeing as I have given a lot of detail here, this will also be the blog email for the week. What´s written above including below!
This past week would have been the worst yet if it weren't for general conference...
At the start of the week I had some kind of allergic reaction to something that I don´t know what it was and got a rash on my whole body that was super itchy! I went to the doctor on Monday to see what was going on because it was getting a little worse. The doctor just took some blood and told me to come back the next day. He told me everything was normal and just that. Didn't say what it could have been or anything. But a couple days later it was gone. I think it was just an allergic reaction to something in the water because a bunch of people are getting the same thing. But as I said, it has completely passed now! Things didn't get any better with the comp this week. Since I passed Monday and Tuesday almost totally in Teresina with my District Leader, we didn't get any work done those days. Wednesday we had a division the whole day. Got some decent work done with the other elder! was a pretty good day. Then Thursday came... My comp wasted our time being a slacker in the entire afternoon. Then we went to a recent convert´s house and spent 2 and a half hours there... We get back to our house at 10pm. I told my comp that we didn't have any more time to stay when it was 9pm. Almost an hour later we left. He just kept talking and talking when he KNEW it was passed the time for us to be home. That made me upset. So when it was finally time to close the day at home, I prayed and basically repented for having wasted an entire day visiting 2 people. Because it truly was against everything a missionary should do to spend the whole day until after the hour to be at home in the house of 2 different people. So as we were writing down the numbers for the day my comp wanted to count a lesson with that recent convert when it wasn't a lesson. I told him that according to the rules and guidelines given to us, it was not a lesson. So he told me that he counts it as a lesson. But I didn't because I know it wasn't. That too left me even more upset. Friday we did nothing in terms of teaching. All 4 of us had gone to the chapel after lunch to get ready for the baptism of the other companionship. Turns out that my comp and the comp of the District Leader are more lazy than I thought. They both sat in an air conditioned room while the other elder and I did all the work to get everything ready. My comp and that other missionary just sat there and talked about things that are not worthy of missionaries. We passed the whole afternoon in the chapel until 7pm when people started to get there for the baptism at 7:30. The baptism went great! a lot of friends and family of the 2 people being baptized! was great! Saturday morning was a general cleaning of the house for transfers. Turns out my comp and the comp of the DL are even more lazy than before!!! They didn´t get up until 8 or 830. And they were just as helpful asleep as awake! They went and cut their hair, bought some food for themselves, layed in bed, and right at the end cleaned the garage area of the house that was hardly even dirty. THEY DID NOTHING!!!!! And while my comp was laying in bed after he had woken up, he was listening to some type of rap/reggae mix of music that I know is no good. So I reminded him that we were advised by our leaders that we should only listen to Hymns and EFY music. He proceeded to demonstrate the lack of desire he has to be a missionary when he said "But I like this music". I just about lost it. He basically said that he puts his own desires and interests above the things that a missionary and a man of God should do. He clearly demonstrated how much he lacks the desire to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I have spoken less that 50 words with him since Thursday last week. I can´t look at him or talk to him without loosing my patience. I tried to help him to be a better missionary and he flat out rejected the help. I tried. But I couldn't say anything to help him without him turning around and attacking me for the few things that I do wrong. He is so prideful that his reaction to someone trying to help him is to attack that person.
Let´s just say that I am very excited for this transfer... I am looking forward to a new comp and a new and real start here in Timon.
General Conference truly saved my week. I hope that everyone was able to be uplifted and enlightened by the words that were spoken. Now we must apply those words in our lives and do our best to be better every day!
Times up, so I gotta jet. Have a great week everyone! And never forget our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!! Love you all!!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
PS
No pictures this week. Sorry!
Email received March 30, 2015 - Week 5 in Timon Maranhão
Another week come and gone just as quickly as ever. This week brought up's and down's and all around. Just like every other week since I got here, we didn't accomplish much of anything. We taught very little, found few new investigators, and was just another slow week. It's kind of hard to work hard when your companion doesn't really show that he wants to be here and doesn't work like he should. I am doing my best to help him and to help the area and ward, but it's not really working out that well. And because of this, I have little to write. All I have to say about this week is that things need to change in the next transfer. This transfer is ending this week and there will be transfers next Monday and Tuesday. So we'll see what happens.
This coming weekend is going to be a very special weekend. This weekend we will have the blessing of hearing God's living prophet speak to us along with His apostles and other General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This weekend will be truly special! I look forward to the opportunity of hearing President Monson speak to us and give us the guidance and direction we need as a world, as families, and as individuals. Through the words of the men and women who will speak to us, we will be able to be touched by the Holy Spirit and He will show us the answers to our questions. As we enter the coming weekend, I would encourage everyone to watch and listen to the speakers carefully and have in mind 3 questions that we may have in our lives. As we think of these questions, the Spirit will be able to testify to us and we will find answers in the words of those who will be speaking. And once we have received these answers, we need to apply them in our lives. We need to use those answers to be better men and women, disciples of Christ, and members of our communities.
As an ordained representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I testify that Thomas S. Monson is the living Prophet of Christ's church on the Earth today. I testify that President Monson receives divine revelation from God to guide His people on the Earth today so that one day we might be able to return to live with Him one day. I know that as we follow the words of the prophets of old and modern times, we will never stray from the straight and narrow path. This Easter weekend, I hope that we can all take some time to think about the nature of the Resurrection of Christ and what comes as a result of that victory. I hope that we may always think of Him, but especially this weekend.
I hope everyone has a good week and stays safe!
Brian and Tracie, Give Shane a hug for me!!!!
Until next week!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
This coming weekend is going to be a very special weekend. This weekend we will have the blessing of hearing God's living prophet speak to us along with His apostles and other General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This weekend will be truly special! I look forward to the opportunity of hearing President Monson speak to us and give us the guidance and direction we need as a world, as families, and as individuals. Through the words of the men and women who will speak to us, we will be able to be touched by the Holy Spirit and He will show us the answers to our questions. As we enter the coming weekend, I would encourage everyone to watch and listen to the speakers carefully and have in mind 3 questions that we may have in our lives. As we think of these questions, the Spirit will be able to testify to us and we will find answers in the words of those who will be speaking. And once we have received these answers, we need to apply them in our lives. We need to use those answers to be better men and women, disciples of Christ, and members of our communities.
As an ordained representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I testify that Thomas S. Monson is the living Prophet of Christ's church on the Earth today. I testify that President Monson receives divine revelation from God to guide His people on the Earth today so that one day we might be able to return to live with Him one day. I know that as we follow the words of the prophets of old and modern times, we will never stray from the straight and narrow path. This Easter weekend, I hope that we can all take some time to think about the nature of the Resurrection of Christ and what comes as a result of that victory. I hope that we may always think of Him, but especially this weekend.
I hope everyone has a good week and stays safe!
Brian and Tracie, Give Shane a hug for me!!!!
Until next week!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Email received March 23, 2015 - Mais uma semana em Timon!
Bom dia, boa tarde, o boa noite! Qualquer horário que você está lendo este email, Oi!
How is everyone doing? Fantastic I am sure since we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father!
This week went by pretty quickly and quietly. Another week with more difficulties to catch people at home. Why are people never home when they say they will be? Because of this, this week passed with little success. We didn´t have a baptism this week unfortunately. But we found a family and an individual that are basically ready to be baptized. The family is amazing! Very curious and receptive. They had heard a lot of things from a lot of people about the church but wanted to find out for sure. And we were able to visit them this past week and answer a good chunk of their questions! They truly liked what we had talked about and did their fair share of talking. The man of the house talked so so so so much!!!!! We´d ask a question and he would respond with a narrative. But still a truly amazing family! We just need to get them married and in the chapel on Sunday and they will be even happier! The father of this family reminds me a lot of Andy Mastro for those that have met him. Just his Brasilian cousin! haha
The individual we ran across trying to contact one of our contacts. She lives in the house that our contact used to live in. But he has since moved out. So we took the chance to teach her a lesson! She was very receptive and great! She believed what we taught her is true and wants to learn more. We marked a baptismal date for the 4th of April! If all goes well, we will baptize the weekend of General Conference! Hopefully it all works out!
Other than that, it was an uneventful week. My comp is being a slacker. He doesn´t wake up until 9 or 10 at times and doesn´t do his personal study often and we never do comp study. I always wake him up when I get up at 6:30, but he just goes back to sleep. Trying to help him, but it´s being difficult. But I will keep at it until it works out!
I hope everyone had a good week there! As we approach the celebration of our Savior´s resurrection, I would encourage everyone who reads this to take a few minutes each day to say a quite prayer and thank our Father in Heaven for giving His Son to suffer, bleed, and die for us. And also to ponder about what Christ did for us. Because when we stop to think about it, we begin to understand a little better what it means for each of us to have a personal Savior and Redeemer. Always remember Him and what He did for us, and then go and live worthy of His atoning blood that He spilt for each of us.
Have a wonderful week my friends! Work hard and share the gospel whenever and wherever possible! Because you are all missionaries too!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
How is everyone doing? Fantastic I am sure since we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father!
This week went by pretty quickly and quietly. Another week with more difficulties to catch people at home. Why are people never home when they say they will be? Because of this, this week passed with little success. We didn´t have a baptism this week unfortunately. But we found a family and an individual that are basically ready to be baptized. The family is amazing! Very curious and receptive. They had heard a lot of things from a lot of people about the church but wanted to find out for sure. And we were able to visit them this past week and answer a good chunk of their questions! They truly liked what we had talked about and did their fair share of talking. The man of the house talked so so so so much!!!!! We´d ask a question and he would respond with a narrative. But still a truly amazing family! We just need to get them married and in the chapel on Sunday and they will be even happier! The father of this family reminds me a lot of Andy Mastro for those that have met him. Just his Brasilian cousin! haha
The individual we ran across trying to contact one of our contacts. She lives in the house that our contact used to live in. But he has since moved out. So we took the chance to teach her a lesson! She was very receptive and great! She believed what we taught her is true and wants to learn more. We marked a baptismal date for the 4th of April! If all goes well, we will baptize the weekend of General Conference! Hopefully it all works out!
Other than that, it was an uneventful week. My comp is being a slacker. He doesn´t wake up until 9 or 10 at times and doesn´t do his personal study often and we never do comp study. I always wake him up when I get up at 6:30, but he just goes back to sleep. Trying to help him, but it´s being difficult. But I will keep at it until it works out!
I hope everyone had a good week there! As we approach the celebration of our Savior´s resurrection, I would encourage everyone who reads this to take a few minutes each day to say a quite prayer and thank our Father in Heaven for giving His Son to suffer, bleed, and die for us. And also to ponder about what Christ did for us. Because when we stop to think about it, we begin to understand a little better what it means for each of us to have a personal Savior and Redeemer. Always remember Him and what He did for us, and then go and live worthy of His atoning blood that He spilt for each of us.
Have a wonderful week my friends! Work hard and share the gospel whenever and wherever possible! Because you are all missionaries too!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
Elder Cole Gunnoe is in the second row back from the front and the fourth one in from the left
Baptism of Pedro
Scripture case Elder Gunnoe had made
Little friend that was living outside the kitchen
Email received March 16, 2015 - Week 3 come and gone
I start off this week's email with some words to those who send me emails on a weekly basis. I am sorry, but the majority of the time I will not be able to respond personally to everyone. My mission has a rule of 40 minutes on email every week. And I have not been following that rule. Because of that, I have been distancing myself from the Spirit and the power of speech that I need to truly convert these people. It is a great regret that I have been staying on email much longer that I should have, but I am starting today to follow that rule. I still love every one of you greatly! But we will have a whole lifetime and more to talk when my service is done. I need to help these people better so they can have the same opportunity.
This week was a slow one. Very slow. We lacked coordination and planning, so everything we tried to do fell through. On the up side, we had another baptism! A young man who has been waiting for a few months for permission from his parents finally got approval to be baptized! He was very happy and so were we! He was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. I had the privilege of baptizing him! What a great end to a downer week.
On Friday we had a mission conference where all the missionaries in the mission came to Teresina for a special conference with Elder Campos of the Area Presidency. The conference was great! He is a very smart man! I really enjoyed hearing him speak and also my mission president. It was the first time in quite a while that the entire mission got together at once! It was great to see all the missionaries I have met and gotten to know and also to meet new missionaries! I really learned a lot from that conference. Mostly that I need to be a whole lot better than I have been with respect to some of the rules. I haven't been a bad missionary by any means! Just got a little lazy there for a couple weeks. But now I am turning things around to be better and truly the best I can be!
I hope every one is well back there in the USA and enjoying everything you have! Because there are more people that you can imagine with much less. Always remember the small blessings. "Count your many blessings, name them one by one; And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
I love you all! Always remember that! I am here to become better, and that brings a lot of sacrifices. But I still love you all!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
This week was a slow one. Very slow. We lacked coordination and planning, so everything we tried to do fell through. On the up side, we had another baptism! A young man who has been waiting for a few months for permission from his parents finally got approval to be baptized! He was very happy and so were we! He was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. I had the privilege of baptizing him! What a great end to a downer week.
On Friday we had a mission conference where all the missionaries in the mission came to Teresina for a special conference with Elder Campos of the Area Presidency. The conference was great! He is a very smart man! I really enjoyed hearing him speak and also my mission president. It was the first time in quite a while that the entire mission got together at once! It was great to see all the missionaries I have met and gotten to know and also to meet new missionaries! I really learned a lot from that conference. Mostly that I need to be a whole lot better than I have been with respect to some of the rules. I haven't been a bad missionary by any means! Just got a little lazy there for a couple weeks. But now I am turning things around to be better and truly the best I can be!
I hope every one is well back there in the USA and enjoying everything you have! Because there are more people that you can imagine with much less. Always remember the small blessings. "Count your many blessings, name them one by one; And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
I love you all! Always remember that! I am here to become better, and that brings a lot of sacrifices. But I still love you all!
Love,
Elder Cole Gunnoe
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