Costa de Caparica

Photos

The cute little lady we take the sacrament to every week

P-day

A cool family

Me and elder Schroeder 

P-day

Costa de Caparica

Hey everyone!  One more shining week here on the east coast of Portugal!  I sent a few photos home of my new area that should show the beauty of Costa!  Nothing super duper new really happened this week other than one more week of Labor in the vineyard of the Lord!  It is prety crazy to think that my companion goes home at the end of this week and to think that 6 more weeks have passed by.  This transfer has passed by way faster than any other one!  But I am excited to see what next transfer will bring!  Right now we are really trying to find new investigators with portential because we are kind of in a slump right now but there isn't a missionary who doesn't experience all of that.  You just learn how to find a solution gain experience and become stronger.

Our mission president told us a few weeks ago to prepare ourselves for Easter by studying all of the material in the standard works and other sources about the last week of the saviors life.  It is amazing to see how many of the things Jesus did in the last week of His life.  When I get to the end of my mission I will have to remember that so I can stay lively as well!  But it really draws me closer to Him when I read and study about what he taught.  I love the Savior and I hope that you all can really feel the Spirit of Easter as we get closer.  Seek to strengthen your testimonies everyday.  We live in too dangerous of a world to try and live without spiritual strength and protection! 

Sorry this is short but I love you all and wish you all a wonderful week full of awesome stories and happiness!  Stay happy!  It is easier that way:)

With much love

Elder Eldredge

Pictures

A Portugal magnet on the fridge that Brandon sent

A good missionary quote

A picture of the last place he was able to visit on his p-day

One more week of struggles & miracles!

Hey everybody!  One more week of struggles and miracles!  Really being on a mission is the best place to be!  Me and Elder Schroeder talk sometimes and how he is going home in two weeks.  Someimtes I feel jealous but also I have heard that after about a week or so of being home you want to go back!  So I definitely want to take advatage of it while I am here and have this wonderful opporutinty to change and be perfected through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I don't have much time (what else is new) but I just wanted to share two things!

Always smile.  Always,  this week in sacrament meeting 

as our ward members took turns bearing their testimonies, I waited till there was a break and I decided to go up without thinking beforehand of a topic or experience I would share.  When I was up there I felt impressed to share the importance of being happy and especially smiling even when you don't want to using the frase "basta ter um sorriso"  or basically you just have to smile:)  As I bore testimony I noticed a woman in the back of the room light up as I testified and it made me even happier.  After I sat down in a few moments of silence I heard to footsteps and turned to see it was her walking up the pulpit.  She started by saying how she had been in a depressing stage for quite sometime and couldn't figure out why.  But she said as she heard my testimony it gave her a light in her heart and brought a long needed smile to her face and gave her the will to bear her testimony that day.  My eyes filled with tears as I witnessed once more the little tender mercies of the Lord in our lives that fill the soul with happieness and joy.  The Lord knows his sheep.

Second miracle that I recieved word today that Antonio (beatriz's husband from my last area) asked Elder Ricci if he would baptize him.  The spirit that filled my heart when I read those words was unexplainable.  The Lord knows us and no effort in a good cause goes to waste.  I am so happy to be a part of this marvelous work!  I don't know where I would be with out it!  I love you all so much and remember that God loves each and every one of you.  Pray to him, he is waiting.

Be good and happy everyone!:)

With love

Elder Eldredge:)