You will never find homesickness in the waters of baptism!

Excerpts from João's email to his mother on June 29, 2009

Thank you for you e-mail. Even during the moving you find time to write me. I love you. I pray all goes well with the move to Europe. This is not the first time you do this from continent to continent. Only the Teixeiras.

I had a great week of missionary work. On the 4th of July I am going to be in the waters of baptism, this time is really going to happen! I am happy. Elder Oaks promised in the MTC "You will never find homesickness in the waters of baptism" Not that I am homesick at all, I know my place is here!


During the preparation day I am going to see a bit form the city and take some some photos to send you, next week I tell more about the weekend and the baptisms!

Love

Elder Teixeira

It's in the simplicity of it all that we can learn the most

Extract of João's e-mail of June 22, 2009 

Happy Father's day! I thought of you this last Sunday, and of all the good moments we have had together. I thought of the times of learning and good fun. Thank you for being able the "Family" and "Book of Mormon" exhibit files on a CD, I've already talked with the bishop and counselors. This could be a big missionary event. I'm excited for this. It will be effective...I know it! The files to produce the exhibit will obviously be very much appreciated. There is a member here who could provide the printing I think.

This last weekend we received the last transfer calls from President Bennion. I will stay with my companion here in this area. President called me to be the District leader. I'm hoping to be of good service to the district. The Midwood zone and this district is famous for success, and I want to keep that up.

This last week we had 5 new investigators at church. It was wonderful. 3 of the them attended a baptism we had after Church for a young man that plays professional basketball. It was a wonderful baptism. The Spirit was felt. And it was a good introduction to all of those investigators.

I've been reviewing all of your latest insights. I love them. It's a great source of help. My personal journal is beginning to fill with great things to remember.

My companion is coming along fine. All is very new to him, and we are working on teaching with real unity. Good teachers bring understanding, understanding allows the spirit to confirm truth! The spirit cannot work with disorganized teaching and scattered lessons.

I love Preach My Gospel and love how much we can learn from it. Absolutely incredible. It's in the simplicity of it all that we can learn the most.

I Love you Dad, thank you for all that you do. I see that you are very busy. I hope this next weeks moving and visiting family will run smoothly and you will be able to relax a little.

Busiest days of my life!!!

Excerpts from João's e-mail of June 8, 2009

I apologize for the lack of e-mails. Indeed it has been the busiest days of my life, never have I had to pack so many things to do in such a little amount of time. Nothing to worry today I was able to write each of you a nice letter. I figured I would go old school.

Thank you for your e-mails and letters. They make the week so much sweeter. I love you all so much. Last monday we had to help a member, so I was unable get to you guys. Sorry.

Tonight we are in charge of the Family Home Evening, it will start in about 30 minutes. We will have a book of Mormon Trivia! Prepared by us of course.

This last week has been extra special for me. It was a week of spiritual growth. This last weekend, one of the less-active member that we work with passed away. He was a convert to the church, and a good friend of mine. He was also very sick with cancer. I wrote more of the details in the letters. We held his funeral this last weekend. His wife and extended family was present and were very impressed with the way we carried a service.

The wife, who was not a member expressed this last weekend during a testimony meeting how grateful she was to the members of the church. She said in her testimony how much love she had for the missionaries who worked with their family, expecially me who organized the funeral. To me it was truly touching. She also added how she wanted to come to this church and really find out what the mormons are about. It was wonderful.

Stay on my toes and move fast

Excerpts from João's e-mail of May 26, 2009

Zone conference was very inspiring and touching. It was the last Zone conference with President and Sister Bennion. They're are such good people. My companion, Elder Saeyang was asked to quickly share something he has learned from his companion: I was happy inside as he said " I learned to stay on my toes and to move fast. We have to run to busses and talk to people at the same time." I got a thumbs up from President Bennion.

Frantic about losing this appointment

Excerpts from João's letter to his father of May 18th, 2009

This week with my new companion that I am training was great. He is a good Elder. We took the work to a higher level and it was one of the best weeks I ever had. Let me share with you one of the miracles that happen this last week. I've come to be very familiar with the area we work in, so rarely I do get lost. The other day as we are headed to our appointment I don't think I've ever gotten so lost, I'm pretty sure that we weren't even in our boundaries anymore. Frantic about losing this appointment and also wasting time I was overcomed with a sense of safety and peace. I began walking and we finally approached the street I was looking for. But that wasn't the miracle just yet. A young men possibly in his 20's, stopped us and asked us if we were Latter Day Saints? There were some many people around, that it couldn't have been a coincidence. He said he was a member, but became inactive for one reason or the another. He said his baptism was phonomenal, and he wants to return. He asked if that was possible? We happiply nodded our heads with a YES! I know that the Lord's hand is in this work.

Secluded from the busy city

Excerpts from João's e-mail of May 11, 2009

Soon we will be leaving to hold a family home evening, where we are going to invite the last non-member family member of the family to be baptized: the Grandma! She came to church, and is finally taking the steps. She said she read the Book of Mormon, and found it very interesting that the Father testifies of the Son, when he is being introduced to the people in the Americas.

I absolutely loved to talk with you during mother's day. Made me feel so much better. Having you behind me to support me makes all the difference. Today we had a pleasant picnic with the rest of the Zone in a beautiful spot of Prospect Park. It is secluded from the busy city, making a peaceful place to rest and ponder.

An eventful week

Excerpts of the João's e-mail of April 6, 2009

I had a week full of miracles. It was really a weekend to celebrate. I loved Dad's talk in General Conference, I laugh with the GPS analogy and cried listening to his testimony of our Savior... All the missionaries said that Dad and I look alike, it must be because of the eyebrows!, but also hope it is because of the Spirit brought to the conference.

General Conference was indeed a spiritual banquet I will wright a letter with some notes and thoughts I during the various sessions. I have renewed my testimony in many ways. The words of prophets surely come from our Father in Heaven.

This week some one break into our apartment while we were away and several things were stolen, including my camera!

I have a great respect to you all, I am not going to lie... it would nice to see Tio João and Neia and my cousins. Miguel is a great example to me, it always gives me encouragement to continue to work hard always!

João

Amazing Italian Dishes

Excerpts of Elder Redden (João's companion) letter of March 16, 2009

Elder Teixeira let me say, is one of the more talented missionaries I've met so far. You should see him work with people when he first walk into their home. He connects so quickly with them. They relax and open up and allow us to teach them. They can tell he loves them and has sincere interest in them. He is very genuine and honest, and they can tell.

Yep rest assured, Elder Teixeira is one of the more dedicated I've met. Hard worker too.

Workout Plan

Excerpts of Joãoºs letter of March 10th, 2009

I have been on a rigorous workout plan with my companion. We decided to wake up at 6:00 am and have the time to do a good exercise. He is a tought kid from Wyoming that grew up working on the field. We work well together, He's been in the area for a while... I hope that we can stay one more transfer together. We shall see!

This last Sunday we had a baptism. It was wonderful. I've realized how involved the Lord is in this work. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost. I am working hard and it is good to see the miracles of the Gospel!

"One beam of light can consume a room of darkness"

Love,

Elder Teixeira

P-Day helping those in need

Excerpts of João's e-mail of March 9, 2009

Thank you so much for your e-mails. I don't think I've had such a busy and exhausting week, both spiritually and phyysically. Very good very good. I don't have too much time to write e-mails to everyone. Today we had an emergency move of family in the ward, and of course the missionaries are the ones available. So we had to dedicate our P-day to help that family. There is so much to share with all of you but no time today.

I love you all!!! I'll be sure to send news...I have witnessed such wonderful miracles. The tender mercies of the Lord are incredible. We are called to serve a mission and watch how the Lord works. And while we are at it we can have the name of Jesus Christ on our chest.

Snow in New York City

Excerpts from João's e-mail of March 2nd, 2009

You are not going to beleive but there was a great snow storm here in New York City, there is snow all over, it looks more like Rexburg than New York. None one in the streets, looks like the city is dead!

The more I get to know this area the more I like it. We are working hard... these are the days I will be speaking of when I will be an old man! This next Sunday we will have two baptisms.

I am enjoying this transfer in this new area. I really feel like a missionary every day, not that I have not felt that before... I just don't know how to explain, I just feels right!

Dyker Heights

Excerpts from a letter to Miguel on Feb 23rd, 2009

The chapel here is really good looking. It is not a classic chapel, it's an old "cathedral", and I will send some pictures. Today I went to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. I used to go there when I was in Staten Island. It's the "Chinatown". They have these Chinese bakeries with the most delicious treats. They have this one pastry with black beans that is really good! And then I played some ping pong with the Chinese Elders ... ha-ha... I still got it!

This last week was good, the city is a different place, you can always talk to someone, plus we receive in average 3 media referrals everyday!! We have 60 to contact, lots of work to be done. I was really happy this week we hit the mission goals.

I really like walking everywhere as well, it just has been cold lately, but I love riding the trains and buses, so much better to contact people, there are a lot of people from Haiti, so I am practicing my French, a lot of them have a different accent than I am used to and sometimes they speak Creole but I am picking it up.

This is foremost His work

Excerpt of an email of João of Feb 16th, 2009

For now i've got some surprising news... I'm getting transfered. It was a little unexpected but exciting nonetheless. I'm willing to go anywhere, everywhere...I'm going to miss the baptism of the family that my companion and I found together, and probably of the newer family that we found. 6 weeks is simply not enough I think to stay in a single area. But as long as it keeps growing then my work will not go in vain. I trust my companion to continue a good job, and moreover I trust in the Lord. It's a little sad, I worked very hard in this area. When I first arrived we had 1 investigator, now our pool has grown to over 15. The blessings that come from missionary work are wonderful. I've learnt as well here in this area, that hard work really brings an infinite amount of blessings. And although I will not be able to see the completion or fruits of my work here in this area I'm happy that I was able to be part of it. This is foremost His work.

An incredible experience

Extract from João's letter of January 19th, 2009

"... My preparation day is almost in the end, today we decided to go out just a bit earlier to work a little extra

I spoke in Church this last Sunday, the Bishop asked me to speak for 20 minutes. I prepared but felt not to write a talk, as I prayed I knew this time I was to speak without any notes.

With only my scriptures I began, as I open my mouth the words and sentences came naturally, it was an incredible experience..."

Now in Long Island

Patchogue is a waterfront village on the south shore of Long island in Suffolk County, New York, USA. João lives just a few minutes from the ferry that goes to Fire Island [see photo on the left of the Davis Marina in Fire Island]

Long Island is famous for it's Lighthouses, there are 24 to admire.

Here it is extracts of today's João's email:

My companion's name is Elder Merrill. I knew him at the University - BYUi. We're a lot alike and we've already had some great ideas rolling to help the work. We have a big white board to list all that is going on with our work, we have an organized map...and it was all done this first week we are together, the Lord has blessed us. Our theme of the transfer is "Willingness".

We shared our thoughts about missionary work, and found that it really is about how willing you are to work. We are willing to do what is necessary even if at times is not most effective. We are obedient, and the Lord blesses with member referrals...it's all amazing. I am motivated to knock doors in the cold and the rain... this week has been phenomenal... and it is the way missionary work is supposed to be I think. We can always improve and so we will but good things ahead of us.

The ward is not very big but we are already working with the ward. We announced how the ward and missionaries are going to work with each other. We made presentations in the Elders Quorum and Relief Society as well as with the youth. All my ideas are finally being put into action.

We had two confirmations this last Sunday. Two investigators who were struggling to come to church. In my last area that is all I did, work with people to come to church, so I knew exactly what to do... they came and were confirmed...SÓ ALEGRIA.

The still small voice

Excerpts from João's email of Oct 20, 2008

This was another good week with good spiritual experiences. Lately I feel very close to the Holy Ghost, this was something I always wanted, it seemed in past [before the mission] difficult to follow that still small voice that many missionaries talked about, now it is wonderful to have that presence. I love this area that I am working on, it is a beautiful place and the members of Church are excellent, very kind. I have a feeling I will stay here for a while, my companion has been here for 7 months. With faith I hope to see this ward flourish !

--------------------------

Esta ultima semana foi outra boa semana. Tive boas experiencias espirituais. Ultimamente sinto-me muito perto do Espirito Santo, algo que eu sempre quis, parecia-me [antes da missão] difícil seguir aquela voz mansa e clara que muitos missionarios falam sobre, agora é maravilhoso ter essa presença. Amo esta área. É muito bonita, e os membros da Igreja são excelentes, muito simpáticos. Tenho um sentimento que vou ficar aqui um tempinho. O meu companheiro já esta aqui faz 7 meses. Com fé tenho certeza que vou ver esta ala florescer!

Baptism

Excerpts from João's email of Oct 13, 2008

This last week we had a baptism. Wonderful man. His fiancee is a member and introduced him to the gospel. He was prepared! He's very excited to marry in the Manhattan Temple. The Bishop performed the baptism. It was a great meeting. The sprit was felt. It is wonderful to see yet another child of God return a little closer to Him. How wonderful is life when we have what we have. I really do not think I could live without the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. It is a great blessing and joy.