Elder Anderson, the World Cup and Commandments

So, I was thinking that we weren't going to get an email from our Elder this week.  I was wrong.  Yay!  Sounds like he had a good birthday and a wonderful conference with Elder Anderson.  Also, I know that he is starting to write in Portuguese first. Let me know if I'm missing something good!
From Elder Darke:

   Este Semana e muito bom! :D.  Nos missionarios tem um renuao come Elder Anderson (muito bom!).  Tam ben nos fazendo pocino servico, e nos andar para o oltro lado de nossa area para encontrar menos activo membros :D.  Eu e meu companeto nao sabe onje nos estamos. :D.  Tam ben todos pessoas em brazil estando preparando por o cupo do mundo, issue vai seu loco de mias :D.

    Sabado Quasie todos os missionarios ir para o capela em aza sul para ovir discursos de elder Anderson para o missionarios :D.  Eu e meu companeto e quase targe por que o onibus esta difficial :D.  Mais o renuao e muito ben.  :D.  Elder Anderson falo muito coises este vou ajuda nos seu bom missionarios :D.  Todos o brazilados e muito muito animado por que para muito de eles, issue e o primero vece eles vou ver um Apostolo :D.  Todos esta ben e todos o missionarios esta muito ben por o renuao :D.

    Nos Ajudando um membro em nosso ramo paintar o casa dele por pocino tempo.  Este semana tam ben :D.  Mais esta ben, e issue e ben por que nos tem um oportunidade para ensinar o espoca dele, por que ele nao e o membro de nossa agreaja :D.  Ele quer seu um membro, e nos vou ajuda ela :D.

    Tamben nossa area e muito grande.  E tem does partes.  Eu e meu companeto trabalio em um lado muito dias, mais nos tem menos activos em o oltro lado.  Nos decidir para andar para o oltro lado e trabalio e encontrar o menos activos.  Nos nao tem muito successo em encontrar o menos activos.  Mais nos conese nossa area muito melhore :D.  Mais por como does hores, nos nao sabe perfectaments onje nos estamos :D.

    Tam ben nos encontrar o enduresso de um pescesador nos tem um muito dificual tempo encontrar :D.  Como does meses para encontrar.  Mais agorda nos sabe o enderreso e nos podemos ajuda issue pescesador agorda :D.  Ele ir agreaja como mais de 6 veses, e nos preseso batisar ela :D.

    Todo mundo e preparando por o cuppo do mundo aqui.  commo decoracaos em todo rua, e decoracoa em todo markarda.  E muito loco.  Mais E muito sheeky tamben :D.  Eu estou quasie cetcerteze nos preseso ficar em casa por partes de issue cupo :D.  Mais Eu sei nos vou seu protegido, entao eu nao tem muito meidio.

    Tam ben eu estano ver o importancia do o mandamentos.  Issue mandamentos esta para ajuda nos seu protegido, e tam ben para ajuda nos seu feliz em este vida.  Um maso menos membro activo aqui comecar quebro o palavra do sabadoria.  quando comecar so um pocino.  muito pocino.  Mais depois tempo ele usar mais e mais, e agora, um familia dele e que brando.  ele e muito triste, mais eu sei o mandamentos esta importante por feliz e protecao em este vida.  Nao que bro o mandamentos, ou voce vou seu triste.

    

  ENGLISH (sort of) :D

    This week was super fantastic!  We Had a Meeting with Elder Anderson (amazing!) did some service (super fun :D) and we traveled to the far end of our area to find some less active members :D  Neither of us knew where we were, exactally :D.  Also everyone is preparing for the world cup, its going to be crazy :D.

    Saturday almost all of the missionaries went to the chapel in Aza Sul to have a meeting with Elder Anderson specifically to the missionaries.  My companion and i were almost late because the bus that we needed to use was being really difficult and it didnt pass by our city.  So we had to get creative :D.  The meeting was really amazing :D.  Elder Anderson talked alot about how we could be better misionaries and it was really helpful :D.  All the Brazilians were really excited to see Elder Anderson becuase this is probably the first time for many of them to see an Apostle. :D.  All of the missionaries were really well beheaved for this meeting though, so it was really good :D.

    My companion and I have been helping a member in our Branch paint his house for a little bit of time.  This week as well :D.  it went really well and we also have the chance to teach his wife about the gospel becuase she is not a member but she wants to be :D.  So we will help her :D.

    Estancia, our area, is huge.  Normally we work in one side of the city (it is split into two parts by a river that runs in the middle of it).  We have less actives on the other side of the river though so we decided to walk to the other side and find these less actives.  Though we didnt find many of these less actives, we did get to know our area a lot better, even though we were really lost for a good portion of that day :D.    We have an investagator here that has been going to church for like 6 or more weeks.  However she doesnt know her address, and every time we tried to go with her to find her house she was doing something else, or something came up.  Anyway it took forever to find her house.  We finally found it the other day though so we are going to teach her, and then if she wants, babtise her (it will be great). :D

    Everyone is preparing for the world cup here though.  All the stores have banners and flags hanging from the ceilings.  In the streets people are hanging flags in the air.  People are getting excited.  Soccer is really popular here, like really popular.  When The cup actually starts i am not sure if we will be able to leave our house,  Its going to get really crazy.  However i know that we are being protected by the hand of the lord.  Everything will be all right :D;

     I am really seeing the importance of obeying the commandments.  We have a less active member here that we have been tying to help recently.  He started breaking the word of wisdom.  At first it was small.  After a lot of time it got to be a bigger and bigger problem.  Now his family is breaking.  Its really really sad.  I know that if we keep the commandments, we will be happy, and we will be protected from many problems in this life.  Its really simple, the Commandments are to help us be safe, and to protect us.  When we follow the commandments we will be happy.  We just need to follow all of the commandments.

:D

-Elder Darke

We Love our Elder!  Write him, he would love it!  Almost half way done already, wow!
Love, Melanie (Mom)

Portuguese, Man Cakes, Elder Anderson and the rest of his email.

Post mother's-day letter!
Elder Darke:

  Este semana e muito bom!  Nos faz muito servico e tam ben nos vou tem elder Anderson visisar o missao sabado, e todos o missionaries estao preparado por issue.  Mais meu aniversadio e quarta feita e eu estou feliz por que quasie todos pessoas este email eu falo sobre issue :D.  Entao eu estou animado :D.  Nos estamos encontrar muito pessoas esta Eletos, o eles esta muio preparado por o evengelio tamben, o problema e muito de deles preseso casar! :D.  Mais todos e muito bem :D.

    Por muito tempo nos estamos fazendo service em um casa de o membro.  Ele esta painte o casa dele e nos estamos ajudando :D.  este e muito bom, e ajuda eu sentir feliz depois nos estamos terminando :D.  Mais meu bracos esta consado depois nos ajuda :D.  um esposo dele quer seu batisado! nos estamos muito animado :D.

    Sabado, Elder Anderson vou visitar o missao e fala com todos o missionarios, e eu animado para ovir o palavras dele :D.  Para preparar todos o missionarios estamos focolizar especialment em cetcertaza coises como contactos, ou novo pescesadors para ajuda nos seu preparado.  Todo o missao e fazendo muito, e todos estamos animado :D.

    Meu aniversadio e quarta feida e eu esto muito animado.  Probablamente vou seu um normal dia, mais eu e elder estamos prepara para faz muito sheeke coises para lembrar este especial dia :D.  Nos fazendo FRENCH TOAST!  e syrup.  E tam ben nos tem MAN CAKES!  Entao eu estou animado por issue :D.

    Nos encontrarmos muito pessoas este animado e preparado por o evengelio.  Este e muito animado e sheeky para ver o trabalio do senhor progredido :D.  Pessoas presseso faz todo coises para aprender este agreja e verdade por eles mesmos, mais este pessoas esta fazendo issue, e este e muito sheeky e eu estou muito feliz :D.

   Eu sei este agreja e verdadairo.  Eu sei Jesus Cristo vive, e ele e nossa salvador e redentor.  Eu sei pai celestial e nosso pai, e ele amor todos nos :D.  Eu tamben sei o poder o sacerdocio e verdadaderio, e issue i por o bencao do todos pessoas em o mundo.  Eu sei este e verdade.  Em o nome De Jesus Cristo, amen.

ENGLISH VERSION  (sort of :D)

    

This week was really amazing!  We did a lot of service and Elder Anderson will also visit the mission on saturday.  Everyone is preparing for this.  Also my virthday is on wednesday and i am really happy becuase almost everyone that emailed me talked about it, and said happy birthday! :D.  So i am really excited.  We are also meeting a lot of people that are prepared for the gospel.  the only problem is they need to get married!  But everything is going well :D.     So we have a member here that we have been doing a lot of service in his house becuase he is painting his house and he asked for our help!  Service is so much fun though and it helps me feel really happy!  After we are done my arm is always really tired becuase the service we are doing is amazing!  however i am doing really well :D.  The members wife is going to get babtised here soon so i am really excited about that :D     Saturday Elder Anderson is gong to visit the mission and talk to all of the missioanries.  I am really excited to hear his words and learn things ;D.  All the missionaries of my mission are getting ready by focusing on aspects of the work, like contacts, or new pescesadors.  We are doing this to help us prepare for Elder Anderson! :D.  We are all really excited :D

I think his letter got cut off !  Here is what I can read on my phone:

My birthday is wednesday and i am really excited!  Wednesday itself will probably be a normal day, however my companion and I are preparing some really amazing things to remember this special day:D Like we made French roast the other day! with syrup!  it was good and we also have MAN CAKES!  So i am excited to eat the meal of a MAN!  maua ha hah :D 

This week we have been meeting a lot of people that are just prepared for the gospel.  The blessings of the lord are amazing, and frequent as the days fly by :D.  These people still need to learn the church is true for themselves, however these electos are learning these truths very quickly, and its really cool to watch.  I am also really happy that these things are a happening. :D

I know that this church is true.  That Jesus Christ lives, and he is our savior and redeemer.  I know that Heavenly father is our father, and he loves all of us.  I also know that the priesthood is the power of god on the earth, and it is for the blessing of everyone on the earth.  I know these things are true.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

That about sums it up.  I don't know why it went wrong on my email.  Anyway, thank you for wishing him a happy birthday!  It means the world to his mom!
Love, Melanie (Mom)

Elder Beaty, Davi, and the Plan of Salvation

Sorry, folks!  I just couldn't seem to get caught up last week.  Today's special two for one Missionary week with pictures, yay!!
From Elder Darke:

April 28th, 2014:

Baptism of Pedro and "Steve"

This week was amazing!  we had an actividade de zona.  a babtismal.  I will tem um new companeto.  and I will probably be in estancia por um transfer but thats ok becuase i really like estancia! :D.

    So we had a babtism!!!!  The story of this person is really cool though.  Irmao steve (his name isnt steve, but im changing it for this letter >:D) is devorced and his son wasnt a member.  When he joined the church he decided that he wanted his son in the church as well :D.  So at first it didnt seem to be working.  However he prayed for his son for better part of a year (i think).  Two days ago his son was babtised and he is awesome!  I am really happy for them also!  They are my friends!  (everyone here is my friend now, i just decided :D).  

    Today i am kindof sad though becuase as i was thinking and i realized that my companion (elder alves) is going to leave on wednesday!  I dont want him to leave!  He is my friend...  I am going to get his email and keep in touch, but i dont know when i will see him again!  Its a really weird stur of emotions at the moment.  Everything will be fine though, becuase im going to make him promise to email me :D.

    Mikey was wondering if i was running into more obsticales and i just wasnt telling anyone.  As i think about it i can proudly say that i dont remember any :D.  I think this is not becasuse i havnt had any, but more that i know what i am doing.  I am on the lords errand, helping all come unto him.  I have a message for all to hear.  Also I try to think that everything is a learning experience.  When i think of things like this the bad times dont seem so bad, and i end up forgetting them :D.  Also I have felt so many blessings of the lord, how could i possibly dwell on the bad when there is so much good that i can rejoice about? :D 

Estancia Chapel

    Estancia has been my home for a few months now.  I really like it here!  The members are really amazing, there are a lot of people here that need our help, and I am finally starting to remember the names of people :D (names, dates, and these things are really challenging for me to remember :D, I am so glad i have a planner to write everything down :D).  Its also a very unique experience to find someone you know you can help, and then actually help them.  Its perhaps one of the best feelings that i can remember :D.

    I just want to say that I know the book of mormon is true.  I know the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints is the true church on the earth, and by abiding by its teachings we can one day be with heavenly father again, with all our family as well :D.  I know these things are true.  I also know that Heavenly father loves us and will answer our prays.  He loves all of us that much.  Its truly amazing :D.

May 5, 2014:

  This week was crazy!  and Fantabulous!

       So First thing that happened this week was my companion returned home (becuase his mission is over).  So i had like 4 days where i combined with another elder that is in a city really close to ours.  So we were working double duty and going and working in estancia, but also working in his city as well.  It was a busy time :D. however it was really fun :D.  Elder Alves (my old companion)  Was an amazing, diligent missionary.  Even though he was going home he worked to the very last second.  I want to do that to :D.

    We also had a babtism!  His name was Davi.  He is a really awesome kid.  He has about 8 years but he is part of a part member family.  His step dad is recently returning to the church and he is bringing his wife and 3 kids with him :D.  So this is really exciting! :D.  The members were really amazing as well, they brought juice and cake to the babtism, so i hope it is rememberable :D.

    I also got a new companion, his name is elder Beaty.  He is really awesome!  He is an american so he speaks english but we have a goal to speak nothing but portugese!  that was i can learn better portugese.  Because i can understand almost everything people say but when i talk people are having a hard time understanding what im saying.  So i am going to really work on my grammer this transfer! :D.

Estancia Branch

    I am also still in estancia!  This is going to be my 4th transfer in estancia and i am really excited!  estancia is progressings really well and it is by far my favorite area in my mission so far :D.  We have a lot of amazing investagators and i can wait to keep teaching them :D.  Helping other people learn about eternal happiness just never seems to get old :D.

    Also Today and this week especially i have been a little sad.  Not all the time, just in the quite moments at my house.  Today i finally figured out what it is.  I am making a lot of friends, meeting a lot of people and all these things give me great joy.  However as some of my friends start to go home, or go to other areas I start feeling like i will not see them for a really long time!  However I know its all right.  Also i have time on p P-day to email them so I will be able to keep in touch even today :D.

    Also i have been thinking about the great and glorious plan of salvation.  (becuse its really fun to teach to people :D).  However Its really a perfect plan.  I cant find a flaw in it.  Free agency is given to man, and the oportunity to return to the prescense of god is offered.  If we just follow the commandments we can be happy in this life.  Even the commandments are given to us that we may learn, and be protected from many of the plauges this world has.  However i feel that by far the best thing is simply the knowledge that death is not the end.  We will be with our family again.  The sorrow of death is swallowed up in christ.  But what does this phrase mean?  its simply means that Christ over came death, that he lives again, and becuase he lives, so shall we all.  So all those that have lost a loved one, and need some comfort.  Or just need help feeling better.  I have two suggestions.  First, pray for comfort.  For when we pray with faith, it will be given to us :D.  Second, study about the plan of salvation.  It has eternal principles that are amazing and can give us comfort.  We just need to know the plan.  learn from it, becuse it is a perfect plan :D.  I know that this is true.  and so can all you, through prayer, faith, and the loving power of god :D.

:D

-Elder Darke

I'll update y 'all after I get to talk to him on Mother's Day, next week.  YAY!!  I also sent his birthday package. Thanks to all for your additions to that, it should be fun for him. Also, BIG thanks to those who are helping to support Elder Darke's mission. We love y'all!
Melanie (Mom)

Pasco, Our Dog Friend and Family History

Happy Easter, everyone!
Here's our message from our Elder:

 This week was super fantabulous and amazing!    We meet with the mission president, Had a lot of people attend sacrament meeting!  We also had another dog friend for a day! :D.  All in all, the branch here is growing, both with more people, and with the determination of the members to be great members :D.  Also Brazil celebrates Pasco (Easter)! :D

    So first I want to talk about our dog friend :D.  We were walking between appointments sunday and a dog of one of the members started following us.  At first we though it would soon leave and go back to its home.  It didnt.  It followed us from one side of Estancia to the other.  We were pretty sure it was lost and we didnt know what to do becuase the member wasnt home, and it wouldnt stop following us.  It was fun to have a dog friend though :D.  Eventually it stopped following us, but we still dont know if it made it back to his house or not.  This is the second dog that has done this :D.  

     Becuase of Pasco many people went on vacation, or to visit family so many people were not home :D.  Even so we had a lot of people at sacrament meeting! :D.  So This week was really exciting!  We are also going to have a super frequencia, or we are going to try and have an activity to bring as many people as physically possible to church.  We did this a little while ago and it worked really well.  So we have a lot of hope for this super fruequencia as well :D.

    We also had a zone meeting wednesday and after we were able to have interviews with the mission president.  It was fun, but i didnt have many questions for him :P.  So i dont know if that is good or bad :D.  Everything here is progressing well though.  My companeto has a week and a half left in his mission.  He is determined to work his hardest to the very last day.  So I am trying to work even harder then him!  That way its like a competition of hard working! :D.

    I had actually completly forgotten about Easter.  However the members started giving us a bunch of chockolate and easter eggs.  So that really helped me remember :D.  Easter its really cool on a mission though becuase you are teaching people about Jesus Chirst, both his teachings, and how, becuase he lives, so shall we all :D  Then Easter comes along and its like ´´im trying to teach people about what they are celebrating!´´ :D.  So its super cool to think about :D.  

    As I have been a missionary i have realized something that is really cool.  This work i am doing is work for the living.  Its to help all come unto Christ.  However there is another work that needs to be done by all of us.  That is the work for the dead.  Family history, and temple work is essential to the salvation of all.  There are people that are waiting for us to do this work.  They need our help.  They need helping to do the work that they themselves can not do, and we have the great privlige to help them.  Take some time out of your day, no matter how busy you might feel, just a few minutes can make a difference.  Once you have this time do some family history work.  Become part of the work of salvation, and feel the spirit of the lord as you help others.  For these people need your help.  

    I know this is the work of salvation and we all must play a part.  I know that God loves us all, and I also know that Jesus is the Chirst.    I know he lives, and I know that as he lives, so shall we all :D.  This i know to be true.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

:D

-Elder Darke

All that I feel that I need to say is "Amen"
Love, Melanie (Mom)

Acai, Elects and Mr. Bean

From our Elder:

   This week was amazing!  i went on a trade, talked to some good friends, made some new ones, Had many people at church, and today i will eat some acai! wooo! :D 

    This week we also made a special atempt to find as many elects as we could.  We found a decent number :D.  We just need to keep in contact and teach them.  :D.  One of the families we taught, we taught on saturday, and extended an invitation to come to church. when we passed by their house sunday morning to take them to church not only were they expecting us, they were all ready to go!  how cool is that? :D.  When we arrived at church i saw the coolest thing, the family had a young daughter (not super young, but young)  So we walked her to primary.  when she entered one of the other girls in primary walked up to her, gave her a big hug, and lead her to an empty seat!  I was stunned.  That is a girl that knows how to fellowship :D.  I found out later that they knew eachother and they went to the same school.  But still that is awesome! :D.

    I also went on a trade to a different area the other day.  Wednesday i think. :D.  (hard to remember when everything happened).  a friend of mine from my district in the MTC is serving in that area so we talked and laughed and had fun! :D.  We actually were laughing so hard that my stomache hurt afterwards. :D.  The only problem was most of it was in english, so we will have to do better at that :D.

    OH and before i forget becuase i have forgotten to talk about this for like 2-3 weeks in a row now, I recently received a package.  Actually i have 2 now.  I got one from my mom!  it was awesome!  and there were chocklate chips in it that actually hadnt all melted :D.  they were in great condition :D.  Also i got a package from my G-MA!  Two days ago :D.  It had an awesome letter, and some skittles!   wooo skilttles! :D.  so i was really excited.  i have also been playing with the pop its that i got.  Trying really hard not to get in trouble :D.

    For church we have 8 people go to church!  that is awesome!  the members really helped us with this becuase only 3 of them were actually us, but the members helped out with the other 5! :D.  What a great example of members helping the work move forward!  :D.  One of the members here actually brought 4 kids to church!  that is 4 people that have the oportunity to be happier in life!  So we just need to keep working with them :D.  I wish i could tell you about the amazing efforts of all the members, but for now, this will do. :D.

    So acai is like the best smashed fruit/ice cream stuff ever!    For the last 2 transfers i havnt eaten any and i am really excited to eat more!  the best part is my companion will buy it for me :D.  Becuase today we went to another area to visit some of his recent converts :D.  It was fun :D, but he is still totally buying me acai! woo! :D.  (really excited) :D

    I have been thinking alout about the preestood this week.  A lot becuse of conference, but also becuase I want to be a better preestood holder :D.  One of the things that i wish i did more before my mission was use the preestood.  So that was i could understand how to use it to bless people better :D.  I still feel like i am a newbie in the preestood.  Not that anything is wrong with that, but the preestood is gods power on the earth to help us.  Every time i think of it that way i am just filled with gratitude for my oportunidade para use th preestood para help other people.  Este e a great oportunity, e a great blessings as well :D.  I beleive, every man that has the preestood, weither it be aronic, or melquesidic needs to use it often, to help those that stand in need of help.  In every way possible.  That the love of god can be shown through these obedient, and worthy men.

:D

-Elder Darke

P.s. i also tried writing a letter on a bus today, probably one of the hardest things i have done in a while.  To write it no, but to make the writing ledgable, yes :D.

Elder Darke also says that the members in the ward he is attending have started calling him Mr. Bean.  He is taking it as a compliment, for now!
Also, Elder Darke asked me how our family was introduced to the church, or how we ARE acquainted with it.  I will send him the stories that I know, but I thought that it would be wonderful if everyone sent their stories as well.  Whether you are a member, active or not, just familiar or not with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, send Elder Darke YOUR story.  I know that he'd love to hear it and share with others as well!
Well, that about sums it up! Have a wonderful Easter, everyone! We hope that you take time to reflect on the beautiful resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Love,
Melanie (Mom)

Conferencia, "Remember Who you are" and "There's always hope."

And here's from Elder Darke:

CONFERENCIA!

    This entire week I have been looking forward to conference.  Telling everyone that i could about it, and preparing for it. So i am probably going to talk alout about conference. :D.

    Me and my companion started this week with few good people to teach.  My companion is going to his home after this transfer, So he really want to help as many people as physically possible.  So with this is mind we set out to find all the elects that we can find.  It was a tiring week, of walking and doing everything we could to find these people.  I am happy to say that after our efforts we have yeilded some fruit.  We have found a few amazing people.  I cant wait to teach them this week :D.  We need to follow up with the invitations we gave them, and just like it was said in conference, we are going to be very diligent in invitations and then following up with those invitation with determination.

    Unfortunatly i was not able to watch preestood session.  However I was able to watch the other sessions.  It was amazing.  I feel so upbeet, i feel like i can take on the world and do anything that i set my mind to :D.  Ever sense yesterday i have been thinking of the things that i want to be able to do in my life.  The first thing i want to be able to do is serve my mission with full dedication.  With a focused heart, and with everything i have.  I know that i am not perfect.  I know that there are many things that i can be better at, but thanks to the amazing power of Jesus Cristo eu can become better.  i can be the person i want to be.  I am not limited by who i am now, but i can improve to one day be who i want to be.     Something that i really noticed was that conference really talked about obidence.  In the mission, there are many rules that we have.  With so many rules there are many oportunites to be obedient.  I have seen the power of a missionary who follows the rules.  It is simply that they have the spirit.  A missionary with the spirit can do miracles.  Just as any person that has the spirit can be influencial. Remember that one of the things that will aid us in our obedience is remembering who we are.  I remember as i left my house many times i would hear my moms voice saying ´´Remember who you are´´.  I always thought i knew the meaning of those words.  I now realize how little i realized.  Just think of the legecy that we have.  We are children of a loving heavenly father.  We are decendents of adam, and noah, two amazing prophets.  and probably many more.  Jesus Christ gave his life for all of us, and in these recent generations, our parents, and family love us imensily.  This is only the tip of the iceberg.  There is so much more waiting to be discovered.  Waiting for our curious minds to find them.

    This is a generation of amazing things.  Amazing responsibilites, and blessings.  It is our time to take advantage of the many thing we have to help other people that are unaware of the things that are available.  This is one of the most remarcable time in human history.  It is our time to work with every things we can!  Dont fall behind, dont stop for a break.  Dont take a breather.  If you do you might miss countiless oportunities.  Besides, You can sleep, breath, take a break, and all these things when all is done, and when our bodies and spirits separate for a short period.  For there are to many people to help, things to do, and christ like atributes to aquire.  We must keep keep working!  If we have fallen, and feel as though we have blown it.  The amazing Atonement of Christ can help us get up again.  It is not who we are now that defines us, but who we are striving to be.  Who we are striving to be.  Be dilligent, Be kind, and Listen to the adivce of your leaders, all of them :D.  (especially your parents) :D

:D

-Elder Darke

P.s.  Please know that above all, there is hope.

I hope that you enjoy this Elder's messages as much as I do.  He is capable of uplifting me through my hardest days.
Love,
Melanie (Mom)

Elder Alves, Portugenglish, and Golden Referrals

A new companion, new adventures and forgotten places.  It seems his portuguese is getting better, because he's started adding it into his letters!  Good luck understanding some of it!  We love this kid!
  From Elder Darke:

Another amazing week!

    Transferes has come and gone and I am not leaving my area yet :D.  I did get a new companion though.  His name is elder Alves and he is super cool!

    For the branch we had something called superfrequencia which is when all the members invite all of their friends to come to church!  The turn out was very promising!

    We also had a really fun renuao de districto este semana!  Nos practicar doing contacts on the bus!  (but we werent really on the bus :D)

    Also this week my normal companion went on splits, so i was with a different companion for a day and we got really lost :D

        So first I shall talk about the split my copmanion went on this week! :D  So my area is called Estancia, and A mile or so to the east is another city called Planaltina (DF).  My companion went to planaltina for the day and i was with another elder.  We also had a bunch of special invites to give to certain members for an activity.  I didnt remember how to get to most of their houses, or even who they were (i had not even met some of them :D).  But luckily for us, Our lunch appointment didnt have a man there so we had to bring a member to lunch.  This member is awesome!  After lunch he stayed with us most of the day helping us find the houses of all the people we had invites to :D.  It took the entire day.  Mostly because every member we could we went in their house and gave a mensagem.  It was a rough day, and i felt really bad for not remembering, but we managed to get all the invites out, (thanks to the member). :D.  If that member had not been with us we would have been lost the entire day. :D

    For District meeting (our group of 6 missionaries) we practiced how to do fast powerful contacts.  We had a range of sinarious to do them in.  Like the super market, and the bus, and the rain.  We were in doors though so we had to do some acting to make them more realistic :D.  I especially liked being the bus driver :D.  Many people here drive fast and Trafic rules arnt exactally that important.  So it can get pretty crazy :D.  So for the practice i tried to copy that.  I am not saying i was a bad driver or anything, but if i was driving a real bus, i think we might have all died :D.  But it was super fun!  We also learned the importance of testimonies.  Becuase they dont have to be long, or elegant.  But they almost always bring the spirit, and the spirit testifies of what you say, so it is the most important thing you can have :D.

    Super Frequencia!  To help the member be more excited about missionary work we did something called super frequencia which is a day for all the members to bring their friends, family, everyone they could to church.  We have been talking about it for two weeks, and the results were very good :D.  For more things about the power of members in missionary work.  We got a referal from a memember to talk to someone.  When we said that their friend sent us their face just lit up.  They invited us in.  We were able to give a great message about the plan of salvation.  All becuase a memeber gave us a referal.  How awesome is that?  It just makes me think what whould happen if all the members gave us referals!  We wouldnt be so busy helping people attain eternal life that we wouldnt have any time to sleep!  and it would be totally worth it :D.

    So Tranfers!  My old companion had been stressing about it for weeks.  But he did indeed get transfered!  So he was happy :D.  He likes the area but he has been here for 6 months, and he wanted to go help other areas as well :D.  I got a new companion!  His name is elder Alves.  It turns out the his first area was Estancia as well.  So he is going to start his mission in estancia, and finish it in estancia.  I also get the oportunidade para moheo ele.  (i get to kill him, its a missionary turm for being someones companion when they die (also a missionary turm, for when they end their mission :D)).  He is determined to work as hard as physically possible for this last transfer though!  This is going to be so awesome!  We are going to visit all the people he helped when he was here!  And other we find! :D.  So i am super excited for this transfer.

    I just have one more thing to say.  All of the missionaries i have meet are amazing.  They work hard to help people.  However every single one that i have talked to has told me that a referal from a member is always a golden investagator.  I have seen that as well.  When a member helps missionaries, the combination suddenly becomes unstoppable, and the work of the lord starts progressing at an unbeleivable rate.  So my friends, what are you waiting for?  The time to do this is now.  ´´The best time to plant a tree, is twenty years ago, the second best time is now.´´

:D

-Elder Darke

P.s. For all of the members that are helping the missionaries, good job!  Keep up the good work!

Here's a link/picture to the area Elder Darke is and has been in.  It's beautiful! I've googled some pictures from there.  I need to bug him for more from him!
Love, Melanie (Mom)