Miracles

Hello. How is everybody? I hope good! This last week has been good. I am working hard. The language gets better and better everyweek. No worries there.

I will tell you a little bit about the area. It is very hilly. Up hill both ways. None of the pavement is smooth. Actually I rolled my weak ankle the other day so I am limping around. But it feels better today. The area has some good resturants . I particularly like this place that has what is called a x-tudo (shees tudo). It is like a hamburger with egg, salada, tomate, and like 3 different meats. Reminds me a little bit of Texas. It is very good. The people are awsome! Very nice unless you talk about the gospel. =) No normally they listen to the message.

We are working hard here and the people as a whole are coming around. The Lord blesses us no matter what happens as long as we work hard. It´s cool because Sunday we had a investigator come that we didn´t even know and she wanted to get baptised. It´s really cool because President said if you work hard, conversion just happens in weird ways. We are still teaching Luiza. She is planning on going to conference with us. We commited her to the 15th of April to be baptised. We also commited a women named Juliana for baptism. Juliana is very smart when it comes to the scriptures. At first she was very prideful, but we asked her to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and she finally did it. We had a lesson with her on Monday and she was very receptive and humble and she told us she had recieved an answer. Another miracle is that the ward members in our ward have been bringing more investigators than we have. They are really excited about missionary work. Which is wierd because this ward is not known as an outgoing ward.

President told my companion that he sent both of us here because we can work a miracle. The whole time my companion was telling me that I was thinking he doesn´t even know me. Then I thought but he is called of God and He knows me. I have been totally worn out. Tired, hungry just worn out. But today was a good preperation day I got to even take a little nap. And I bought 72 R$ worth the food which is about 35 $ american. We bought alot of food today. I am so happy!

Well my Dad went to Australia! I am very happy for him! What a good Dad! Smart as an ox and almost as smart! Mom is thinking about moving to San Diego. I think that would be Great! All is well here. I have a feeling it will only get better. The hard part came and went! Now is the harvest! I have been reading the Saviors ministry in the Bible. It is amazing the things he says when you really look at it. His teaching are amazing! Of Course they are right! Hah that´s what I thought till I started reading them! Totally amazing! I know that this is his church. Because HIS WORDS say so. HE has called a prophet in our day, Joseph Smith, who has seen Face to face as the prophets of old. WE have a prophet today who leads and guides the church of Jesus Christ, by the will of Jeus Christ. If you don´t believe me Conference is this Sunday. Go and see for yourself!

Oh also if you are going to send packages or letters here I need you to do something wierd. You have to put PRESIDENT BARTASO and the mission office address Rua DR. Batista pereira 165, 05517-080 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Then put as the return adress my name, Elder Tossey and your address.
Ok any questions just ask!
Well got Work to do.
Love
Elder Tossey

Rejection with a good message

Oi!!!!Como Vai, para o povo do U.S.A Todos coisas este bom aqui!

Wow what a week. I don´t think I have ever been so rejected, but never have I felt so much peace. Kadi Bazemore sent me a great quote that I got today in the mail. I know that life is hard and from all of your letters I know that life is wearing on you. Here is the quote "I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerating force against religious bigotry, priest craft, lawyer craft, doctor craf , lying editors suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs , blasphermers, licentious and currupt men and women -- all hell knocking off corner here and corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty, who will give me dominion over all and every one of them, when their refuge of lies shall fail, and their hiding place shall be destoyed, while these smooth polished stones with which I come in contact become marred" (Joseph Smith)

Also You can read 1 Pet 1:7 . While we are in the life we have things we have to do. One reason we are here is so we can gain experience. You can have knowledge 2 ways. From your own experience or from someone elses experience. We can have faith on something as much as we want but as soon as we excercise our faith in that thing and plant the seed and look to see what grows we can come closer to having that perfect knowledge. God is a god because he Has perfect Knowledge in Many Many things. All trials are only oppurtunities! I want all of you the next time you face adversity to say,"ok, this is an oppurtunity to increase my faith now what do I Do." Then seek revelation. It could be instant it could be a long wait. But faith. Evidence of things not seen. Hope for things not seen. Have any of you found any of the 5 levels of faith yet? I see that Kadi has. Keep it personal and make others seek as well. Those are treasures of knowledge to be sought after personally!

Well as far as this week goes. I Have had Many OPPURTUNITIES. this Area is really hard. Many rejections. We have 3 families that are waiting for a response from the Spirit for the truth. Wow. I have experienced alot here in this area. My companion and I sometimes get sad and we lift each other. Most of the time it is him lifting me. But this week I had a chance to lift him. He always tells me what a good missionary I am. I tell him no he is a good missionary. He was feeling a little down and discouraged and beginning to lose hope. I was like "uh oh" so we stopped and talked. We have worked so hard and we feel like sometimes it is our fault that the people aren´t accepting. We always have to remember that we are here only to love and give the people a chance. All around me everywhere, have their agency to choose. Even Christ was rejected, (by his own people) meaning that Christ himself could preach a powerful message of the restauration of the church and they would still reject.

Today we went to the temple and I learned alot of things. Also today we went to the mission office near the temple. and my companion talked to the President. And when my companion told me the things he said I felt so much better. He said that the President said that he knows we are working hard. Even though the numbers are low he knows we are working hard. Our mission President is a great guy. HE IS INCREDIBLY INTELIGENT AND DEFINELTY RECIEVES DEVINE REVELATION. He then said something to the fact that this work is not about numbers (numbers are only to measure) but this work is about love and life. I wish I could share all I have learned in my deepest of hours here on a mission. All of you who are preparing to serve a mission, know that it is not easy. And that I was not prepared for what came. We are teaching the gospel from 630am-930pm (sometimes later). This work is that important. It is the work of Christ. Moses 1:39- "this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Immortality is taken care of but we must do our part for eternal life. It is not easy but worth it. I have work to do!
Love
ElderTossey

A hard week

Hey All!
Things are great here! I am totally worn out. This week has been extremely hard. Since we are opening this area we have been working over time because there was nothing to start with as far as refferals and investigators. We are now teaching some lovely families. I am very excited to see what happens here. I don´t know why they chose me to come here to open the area for my first area...you would think they would send somebody that had experience.

My companion and I are like twins in the gospel. He is an amazing guy. I am lucky to have him. As far as living well it could be better. We sacrifice meal time alot to teach or contact. But we bought alot of food today so maybe it won´t be so bad this week. He is just a little guy and doesn´t need much. lol. I am loving this work. I have already learned so much and am striving to work, work, work.

I only have one thought this week because of time ( we have to go teach a family right now) Here is the thought. " He only ask that we spend a little time with him in gethsemane." Jesus Christ is the center point. He is our light. Walk in obedience strait to the light. It is not easy. You will suffer, you will cry! But in the end will be your prize. Eternal life is not easy but it is worth it!

Love,
Elder Tossey

First Day in the Field!!!

Hey everybody. How are you? All is well here! I have had the longest day! I don´t mind. It´s great and all is well. I am with my new companion. We have great responsibility in the area because we are opening this area. It´s amazing! Obviously neither one of us knows much about this area! lol. He is Brazilian. He is also a convert to the church. He has such a strong testmony. We have so much in common. He speaks very good Portuguese! I can tell we wil have no problems getting along.

I also met our Mission President. ALL the greenies went to the very nice house and ate lunch yesterday! It was so good. Best of all, though, our president of the mission is so, so, so, so smart. Wow. He showed us how God is infinite and eternal compared with our purpose as missionaries. It was amazing! I don´t have alot of time! There is alot of work required in opening an area. We have a meeting tonight with the Ward Mission Leader. Great is the work of the Lord! I will give all I have to the work. Giving my life if nessecary!

I hope everybody is well. I am not sure about Mother's day right now. When is Mother's day? They don´t have that here in Brazil. Lol, silly question but I really don´t know! I am greatful for this work and His glory. I wish all the best and hope all may find peace in the scriptures, in prayer and in the thought of OUR Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Love you all!
LoveElder Tossey

P.S. I did recieve 17 letters today at the MTC. Cool HUH? Anyways I did get your letters Lesty Lou. I want to thank everybody for there support and prayers. Pray for those future missionaries. The prophet says we need more!

Aaron goes to the field on Tuesday!!

Hello all.
Oi! Tudo bem!? Tudo bem aqui.
Well, weeks are like days. I am going to be going to the field on Tuesday. I hope all of you haven´t sent me any mail in the past few days. If you have then it will eventually get to me. But start sending them to the mission home, NOT THE MTC (CTM). All is well here. The language is coming slowly. It will be boosted as soon as I get in the field, I know it will. I can´t wait to go. Today was my last time to go to the temple for a while. Wow. What an experience. So, I will miss going to the temple every week!

I guess I will tell more what it is like here. Somebody asked about the food. And how much I get to eat. Everymeal at the MTC (ctm) is a buffet, all you can eat. So that´s good! But most of the time it is very bland! But all is well. There are some good foods too. The fruit is 90% all good. Lots of meats and greens and fruits. We really take advantage of Wednesdays, we always go and eat out. I always get a pastel. I love them! Yum yum! THE BEST! I am going to learn how to make them.

Oh, the Package I recieved from Sister Phillips last week of 2 packs of double stuffed oreos was shared with the district. They loved them. They were gone in .2 seconds flat! I saved one package for me though. I plan on sharing them with my companion in the mission field. Earn some quick points! This week to Elders that I have grown close to left. The are going to Portalegre South mission. One guy in my district (Elder Sorenson) and I are going to room together at BYU Provo, or BYU , Hawaii. Elder Sorenson and I are like brothers! Lol The 2 Elders (Elder Adams and Elder Rivers) that left this week are planning on rooming with us also! Elder Rivers can sing so good. He is my role model. Lol.

Well I haven´t got any mail this week, not your fault though. In Brazil this is carnival week. Meaning in latin Carne- flesh and val- party. It is a crazy and abominal week. But, being in the bubble of the CTM we don´t see any of it. Which is good! Lol. But everything closes down for a week! Last Friday we went proselyting, it was very good. We switched companions this time and Elder Sorenson and I got together to go teach. He is a very outgoing missionary. We work great together. (numbers are not really what we count, but you have to measure success some how) We contacted 34 people and I think about 10 of them were good contacts. I got the oppurtunity to talk to a lady with a baby. I told her that she could be sealed to her family and be together forever! She was so happy to know that, then we told her of the message of the restoration of Christ´s true church. I had an amazing feeling sweep over me. And then I felt Joy. We also made a good contact with a girl coming from school (of about 18 years). She seemed very interested in the Book of Mormon. Part of the time we were in the Chinese district and we were speaking portuguese and nobody understood us. We thought it was our bad Portuguese till we figured out that we were in the chineese district. It was a good day. This coming weekend is mission conference . I will be singing in the choir and also in a small group of Elders for a special number. The song is going to be Lead Kindly Light, it is a beautiful arrangment.

Well Laura, I wish you were here sis. My back has like locked up twice. It was wierd and it hurt pretty bad. I didn´t know what happened. But all is well. It goes away quickly.

The responsibility of District Leader is going well. I have been able to bring the Spirit in to our meetings by sincerly asking questions. This week our meeting went well and the Spirit was great. I like involving the other Missionaries. It always brings a strong Spirit. So I will ask all of you the same question and I want you to write it down and share it with somebody. When do you feel the Saviors love the most? I would like you to add a scripture with this, one that really touches your heart about the Savior, Jesus Christ. You have to share it though.

I have been learning to play piano, or if you want to say practicing. It is coming slow, but maybe I will be able to play one hymn one day. I really love the work. I feel so much Joy and I feel the Spirit bear witness to me frequently of the importance of this work. To make these things known unto the inhabitants of the world. I am only a small part in this work. I am 1 man with an army of 55,000 missionaries. All of you future missionaries hang in there. President Hinckley said they would open 6 more missions if the just had the missionaries. The work is getting bigger. There is still alot of work to do. This week we have learned alot about faith. It seems to be the topic. I want to challenge all of you to study the Book of Mormon and find the 5 levels of faith. When you find them you will know what you need to do next. I won´t tell you what they are, but it is left to you to desire the knowledge. I wish the best for all of you! And God Bless all of you that support me! I love you all. I can´t wait to get my weekley pastel. I might get 2 this week!
Love,
Elder Tossey