Last week in Plymouth MA

Carla Germinero, Elder Knowlden, Meghan & Leadro Lecerda

Brother Volpetti

Brother Wood in Plymouth

Sister Wood in Plymouth

Plymouth Rock sign

Dressed in Mayflower Attire

Plymouth District P-day

Plymouth District P-day

Plymouth Statue

Plymouth Statue

Plymouth Plaque

Don, Diana, Jimmy Maynard-Plymouth

Hovey Family-Plymouth

Plymouth Rock

Beautiful Plymouth Sunset

Plymouth Church

Plymouth District

Plymouth District

Dinner Lesson

Elder White, Knowlden, Leite

Tim Ballard

Jimmy Maynard

Thompson Boy

Saying goodbye to the ladies Food Pantry

Saying Goodbye to ladies Food Pantry

Saying goodbye to the ladies Food Pantry

Week 5  Nov 19th 2019
13 Months
     Monday was a pretty fun day, it was our District P-day! We hurried up and got the things we needed done. (shopping, cleaning the apt, and laundry). We then met everyone for lunch at Chick-fil-a.  It was a long line! One of the companionships were late so they went to Chipotle instead. With the long line it took longer for our food to come out so the management got us some complimentary fries. I got a side of mac and cheese instead, it was so good! We then came back to the apt then made our way to the Jenny Museum.  We then started our tour. Leo the tour guide took us on a wonderful guided 2 hour tour of downtown Plymouth.  He let us know a lot of the history.  We learned it wasn’t ever at the beginning Indians vs Pilgrims. They actually had a treaty and they helped each other out !  I will add it at the end but my Companion Elder White took a lot of notes that you can look over. One of my favorite things I learned was that the first Thanksgiving was a three-day celebration, and before they ate they all shared one thing they were grateful for! After the tour finished we came home and got ready for dinner with the Hendrerson family. We had a fun time and at the end we shared a message about the First Vision. After dinner we drove to North Plymouth area and did a few stop byes then came home for the night.
     Tuesday as soon as I woke up I took the first shower so I could get the hottest water. I spent most of the morning listening and reading the Book of Numbers to catch up, because I was a couple days behind. I ended up finishing it and I am now in Deuteronomy!! Elder Leite wasn’t feeling to well, so most the day we were inside. I then had my appointment with my doctor and all is well! After we did some more studies we got outside and it was raining. We took the car to the gas station to vacuum it out and fill up the car with gas. We then had to run to the store for a couple things. After we got out of the store it started to snow!!! This was Elder Leites first time ever seeing snow and he was in awe! We came home to drop a couple things off then made our way to see the Hovey’s for dinner. Now at this time there was a lot of snow on the ground and Elder Leite made his first snowball, he didn’t have gloves and he quickly realized snow is very cold Haha. After dinner with the Hovey’s we did some tracting in North Plymouth and met Paulo, he let us right in and we had a Restoration lesson with him!!! When we got home we then did a deep clean to prepare for apartment inspections tomorrow morning.
     First thing after we were all ready for the day, Elder and Sister Lott came over. They made sure that everything at the apt was working along with if we had everything we needed and it was a safe place to live. They even made sure that the car was the same way. Right after they finished we made our way to the Food Bank and did our service there. Most of the time we were in the front just organizing everything around and making sure it went to the correct spots. We were moving the whole time and were kept busy. When we got back we all had lunch and I took a needed nap it was so nice! Shortly after we were back on the road and we helped rake leaves at Leo and Nancy's home (owners of Jenny Museum) they have a huge yard but we didn’t get it all done, so we will return to finish up. We then drove to the Chapel to meet with Brother Volpetti for Missionary Coordination, it went really well.  We then made our way to Lobster Hut for dinner and I had fried Lobster tail and Shrimp with Clam Chowder. After dinner we made some stop byes and brought Brother Gould the Sacrament. He was so grateful!
     Thursday morning after we got ready and had studies we made our way to visit with the Thompson Family. While we were there we helped out with flooring in his attic. I was able to hop in a body suit to avoid the insulation. I helped pat it all down and even screwed in some boards! After we finished, we had Mamamias Pizza for dinner with them. We then went to go pick up Elder Whites Suits from the dry cleaners. We had a lesson with Ollie, Peyton and Myana. It went really well. We went over the Gospel of Jesus Christ and few of the commandments!  Then we did a few stop byes and made some calls then came home for the night.
     Friday went really well, it was the last District Council of the transfer, and we had a guest speaker Phill come and give the lesson. Phill is not a member but he loves the missionaries, he gave an awesome lesson on being happy! He took two sides of it. The first was 10 ways scientifically we can be more happy. The second part was using 4 scriptures from the Book of Mormon to be spiritually happy. It was very well done. A little bit before and after District Council we said our goodbyes and signed each other’s journals. We then went out to Chik -fil -a for lunch with the Brewster Elders. It was really good, and we had a good time. We went to the projects to visit a couple people, but no one was home. With met with Eric and set up a time to visit him the next day. We came back home after that to have some studies then made our way to visit the Calas and Jimmy.  We were going to help with some service but it got to dark outside. We ended up sitting down and getting to know them even more and we had dinner with them as well. We watched a Book of Mormon video with them. And shared a powerful message on the importance of the Sacrament, It was a day well spent .
     Saturday morning the first thing we did after studies was meet up with a member to help get some stuff out of her storage unit. Right after we went to Cumberland Farms to visit Sister Hovey. She hooked us up with some food, and it was really delicious. We then had a good lesson with Eric, we watched the first episode of the Book of Mormon videos, and he really liked it. The rest of the day didn’t go as well as we hoped, all 4 of our appointments canceled, we ended up doing a lot of stop byes. We even helped take the Sacrament to Sister Conway. She was so grateful for it. We talked to a few others while on the street and all in all we got through it.
     Sunday we were running a little late after we all got ready. We barely made it to Church on time to partake of the sacrament. It is hard to be ready on time with 3 elders and only 1 bathroom. Church went really well, we had three friends there and 2 amazing talks. Both were on the power and importance of the Book of Mormon, and the truths we can learn from it. I feel like it was what our friend Pam needed at the time. Second hour was also really cool, it was a lot about faith. We ended up having two surprise visitors Tim Ballard (founder of the "Underground Railroad Project") and Glenn Beck. After Church they made an announcement because they are trying to have a big project for next year with the 400 year anniversary for Plymouth. They want to help others know that the Pilgrims truly came for religious freedom. It was really cool to hear from both of them. After Church we said some of our goodbyes because transfers are this week and we still don’t know who is leaving. With some things going on in my life some anxiety has peaked and I was able to get a beautiful blessing from Brother Volpetti and my companions. We came home had a quick study session and made our way to our first appointment. Sadly when we got there no one was home. We ended up leaving a copy of the Book of Mormon by their door. We made our way back to the car and talked to Elder Leite about what he needs to know as he takes over the area. We also made a few calls to our friend's. Then we drove over to the Lacerda family. They also invited the Germaneros, and the Calas. The house was full! For our lunch/dinner we had a Brazilian Thanksgiving. By the end of it I was so full! It was so worth it though. We had a lot of fun and a lot of food! We then were able to share the Paper Cross message about the Book of Mormon.  It was pretty cool, all the kids were amazed. We came home for a nap because all of us were really tired. After we woke up we had a lesson with Al and just caught up with him and asked how he was doing. We them met with Brother Gould and checked in on him as well. To end the night I was able to talk to and meet with my Therapist again, it really did help! One cool thing about today is, it is my 13 month mark as a missionary!

     This week I want to share a question that was asked by Tim Ballard in Sunday School. "What is your Mayflower?"

     I have been pondering on this question myself the past little bit, and I thought to myself what does that mean. Well I thought of what the purpose of the Mayflower was, and it was to bring the Pilgrims to a better future. They knew the risks involved but they still chose to go so they could have religious freedom and believe what they wanted! As a missionary we try to teach this principle to everyone we come across.  The closer we get to a better future the more temptations are put before us. Satan does not want us to be happy, nor does he want us to come closer to Christ. I invite you all to find your “Mayflower” and leave for a better tomorrow. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Exchanges in Plymouth

Helping with the 7000 lb food delivery

Elder Leites Birthday

My new Quill Pen

Exchanges 

Sister Manos and her husband

Elder James

Fun picture of my name tag in the water at Plymouth Beach

The woods Plymouth 

Brigham Hovey Plymouth

Plymouth Beach

   WEEK 56   N0V 11-2019
Let's start with good ‘ol’ Monday, we didn’t do too much but we checked out some stuff in Plymouth. In a couple weeks we will be returning to have a tour of Plymouth Plantation.  (A historic sight of the Pilgrims here in Plymouth Massachusetts) While I was there I got a nice quill and ink pen. For those of you who don’t know I honestly love writing letters, so this made me even more happy! This week I officially have written 200 letters on my mission! That night we had dinner with the Hovey’s and had some good home made breaded chicken. After that we made a lot of calls and did some stop byes, but no lessons. We did try to go see Pam but she wasn’t feeling to well at the time.
     Tuesday, not too much happened. We had studies and later on helped the Hovey’s move a freezer from the basement up into their kitchen. We had to bring it from outside and it was raining and we had fun. We came home changed and made our way to the Chapel for Ward Correlation. After we went to Olive Garden for dinner it was so dang good! I got the Zupas, Tucanos Soup, my Sister Tiffanie made it all the time back hone and I love it so much! To end the night Elder White needed to work on his my plan, so Elder Leitch and I hung out with the young men.
     Wednesday was a double service day. We had a fun time at the Food Pantry they got a large order come in so we did a lot of organizing. We helped cut the Jenny museum mowing the lawn. Shortly after that we came home had lunch and made a cake for Elder Leites 24th Birthday, parabéns Elder Leite! We then drove to meet the Brewster Elders half way to do exchanges. I came back with Elder Despain to Plymouth and half way we realized we didn’t have the sim card. We lucked out for this exchange. With us not having the Sim card we had Elder White text us whenever there was a text or a call. When we got back it was time for dinner. After dinner we went to visit Sister Conway and Brother Gould to give them the Sacrament.  With both of them we talked about the importance of it as well. The last little bit we went to North Plymouth and did a couple stop byes.
     Thursday morning we went to the Saint Bonaventure Catholic Church to help out with a food order. They received 7000 lbs of food! We helped out a lot and had fun doing it. After we finished Neila gave us a tour of the Chapel. It personally helped me have a better understanding of other Faith's, and will help me personally understand how to help them strengthen their faith in Christ. After we came home had some studies and then lunch. We then called people and did some stop byes. With one guy Jim we knocked on his door and he let us right in. We talked a little bit about what he remembered from last time he talked with the missionaries.  He has a lot of awesome questions and we plan on returning there next week!  We had a great lesson with the Forsburgs about preparing spiritually for the sacrament each week. After more stop byes we made our way to the Snells home for dinner. I got a surprise and the other elders who still had the sim card told her I love pumpkin spice, and I do not like pumpkin spice. She made cookies for me thinking I would like them. We had a fun time with them and they have two boys who wrestle! I had a fun time talking to them about that. We then went to north Plymouth area and met a few Brazilians with interest!
     Friday morning after we got ready the other Elders drove back to Plymouth and we made our way to West Bridgewater for District Council and interviews. We had a really fun District Council on following the spirit and our missionary purpose! Interviews went really well, but I might be getting transferred but we will see! After we Elders went to Little Sammies for lunch and I just love their mac and cheese!  We did studies when we got back and then had dinner. To end the night we had a couple different lessons. One with Al, Dick, and Sherri on the 10 Commandments. The other one was with Larry, Ollie, Peyton and Myana. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That night when we got home we stayed up later and we had a heart to heart to heart conversation and a companionship on how we can better help love and support each other. It’s different for Elder Leite coming from a whole other culture and now adapting to living here in America.
     Sunday it was so hard to get up on time because we were up late last night. But luckily we just barely made to church on time! We saw that Pam came and we decided to sit by her. We had three really good talks, and they were truly centered on a loving God and we should do what we can to be closer to God. During the second hour we were helping out the primary teachers set up for a program for the kids getting baptized/kids turning 12 next year. We also swept out the Baptismal Font. After Church we talked to the kids turning 8 on how they can prepare for their own baptism. They were also able to see the font. Before they came to the room we were able to show Pam the Font and talk to her a little bit about baptism! When we got home I took a small nap and had lunch then we went out to North Plymouth for a lesson. It went really well, and after we did some tracting and some stop byes. We have a new family we hope to start teaching soon. On the way home we stopped by Lori and set up a time to meet with her and her husband this week. I know we will get along well, she loves animals!!! We then came home to get a couple things then left to dinner with the Middlbrooks. It is a nice family in the ward that just moved here from London England 3 months ago. She and her two kids are also Chinese the husband is not a member. We had a good time getting to know them more and helping out the oldest son Sonny. He is thinking about what he should do after he graduates from high school. He bore our testimonies on missions and how it has helped us in our own faith.


                              Job 11:4
     "4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes"

     As we listen to the words of the scriptures and the Prophets and Apostles they truly are coming from God. The ways of man have come and corrupted the land, we should take hold of Gods laws and his teaching for his Gospel Doctrine is Pure! As we follow them to the best we can, we will be clean  in his eyes. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Monuments in Plymouth

Miles Standish Monument. 

Food Bank

Miles Standish Monument with our Trio

Zone splits

A huge Oak Leaf

Splits with Elder Thompson

Beautiful Walk with the fall leaves

Pumpkin carving with the Hovey's

Daves Diner looks like your in the 50's

Service at the Food Bank

Fore Fathers Monument

At the Miles Standish Monument with my Companions

Miles Standish Monument

My Comps

On the Jetty with my comps

Hand stand anyone?

Week 55 11-4-2019
 It's been a pretty fun week for us here in Plymouth! Monday we actually did some stuff for fun! We checked out a couple of the monuments in the area and for one of them we took a short hike to get there. The first one is the Forefathers monument. The second one is Miles Standish Monument. We also took a hike out on the Jetty downtown. At the end of it Elder White and I did handstands and yes we were careful. For dinner we are with the Hoveys. We were expecting to eat the clams we dug up but last minute they decided to take us to a Brazilian Churrascaria! It was pretty dang good. When we got back we did FHE (family home evening) with them and carved a pumpkin.  I wasn’t feeling to hot all day because of a head cold so we came home and I took a shower and passed out!
     Tuesday I still wasn’t feeling the absolute best but I was doing a little better. The first thing we did was visit one of the Brazilians Luceana. She is a Hair Dresser and she had a cheap price for haircuts. We all needed one! After we came back home changed and got ready to meet up with Phil.  He is a non- member but is friends with the local missionaries in a few areas. He loved Elder James and wanted to meet the new missionaries Elder White and Elder Leite.  After meeting with him we came home to eat before our lesson with Pam, it went super well and we helped her better understand the Book of Mormon. After dinner we made a lot of calls to Brazilians with interest.
     Wednesday morning the first thing we did was head out to meet the Zone Leaders half way in between our areas. Both of us are in trio’s so we did a 3 way exchange. Two companionships in Plymouth and 1 in Central Falls Rhode Island.  I was with Elder Thompson who is Visa waiting for Brazil.  We were in Plymouth English today. When the 4 of us got back (Elder Thompson, Elder Brollo, Elder Leite and I) we changed and made our way to the Food Bank to do service. With 4 of us it helped them out a lot! When we got back we changed and got ready to do planning and studying for the day. After planning we went somewhere public for studies.  We were on a corner off of Court Street. After studies we dropped off Elder Brollo and Elder Leite (both Brazilian Missionaries) in North Plymouth because they worked with the Portuguese for the day. Elder Thompson and I met with Brother Gould and read from the Book of Mormon. He seems to be doing great! He met us outside and was walking all around! After a visit with him and walking downtown for a little bit we drove to the Woods home for dinner. We had baked potatoes, ever since I started my mission I've grown to love veggies so much more! It was a little longer of a visit but we also got partial missionary coordination done. On the way home we tried to make stop byes with less active members and due to road work we hit a large detour in the middle of nowhere and it was a forested area in the DARK! It was sketchy to say the least we eventually met up with the other Elders then came home for the night.
      First off Happy Halloween! Thursday morning after we all got ready we made our way to exchange back. We met up halfway at a Dunkin Donuts and everyone was in costumes. When we finally got home we did some studies and had some lunch. We then went back to go visit Eric to check in on him.  We visited Sister Conway to also check in on her because it has been a couple weeks. We then had dinner and went to Chick-fil-a, it was super good. The rest of the night with it being Halloween it wouldn't be effective to go out and tract, we went to the Chapel for Elder White to work on his My Plan. I was also able to call home and talk to my family. They were also at their ward Trunk or Treat, so I was able to say Hi to members of my home ward! It was a fun night.
     Friday was District Council, and we had a lesson on Faith in Christ, Charity and Love as Christ like attributes. We then did a role play with a focus on using both the Bible and the Book of Mormon together. Later we went to see Sherri and Richard (Dick) and had lunch with them. We also had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom, and gave them blessings to help them out. Dick is 12 weeks clean from smoking!!! That is impressive, and we are so proud of him. For the rest of the day we stayed in Middleboro and made a few stop byes but not much luck.  We then had dinner planned with brother Mormann and went out to Dave's Diner. It was super cool and looked like it was out of the 50's! To end the night we had an amazing lesson with Pam and set a Baptismal Date with her!
     Saturday morning we get a text from Pam saying she wanted to talk about the Baptism. We met with her for lunch after our studies. She said she prayed a long time and she got her answer that she needs to be baptized on December 7th! That was so cool to hear, she has had a concern on not being ready to be baptized and was told "she will never be ready enough, no one is" that gave her a lot of peace. We first had a date for the 16th of November but the date was changed to December 7th!!! After that amazing lesson we went to go visit a less active member who we wanted to meet. She has been stuck in her house because she had surgery on her leg. We got to know her more and even helped give a blessing. On the way home we made stop byes and invited our friends to Church. The last little bit we wrote our email for the Ward Leaders.
     Sunday was Fast and Testimony Meeting and we made a plan for all three of us to bare our testimonies. Before we did we all helped pass the Sacrament to help out the ward. It was Elder Leites first time baring his testimony in front of a big crowd. He did an amazing job. We sat by the Hovey boys and Brigham wore all three of our name tags. After Church we came home and had planning and studies. I am starting to slowly understand Leviticus. We then had a lesson with a new person Clieton who is a Brazilian! It was a good lesson. We then met with Pam to check in on her and give her a Come Follow Me Booklet for this years study on the New Testament. For the rest of the night we were at the Woods for dinner, we got to know how they met and to end the night we had coordination!

                       1 Nephi 2:15
      "15 And my father dwelt in a tent."

     I honestly love this scripture passage so much. To me it truly shows a lot of humility. Lehi is the father in this passage that Nephi is writing about. Lehi and his whole family lived in a very nice home full of riches in Jerusalem. Because of a commandment of the Lord they left EVERYTHING! Lehi left his wonderful palace to "dwell in a tent". As I have pondered on this passage a question has come to my mind. What am I willing to leave behind to make my life better and come closer to Christ?  As a Missionary I have already left my family, friends, work and school just to help others in their faith. Now I want to invite you all to ponder for yourself "What are you willing to leave behind and dwell in a tent?"
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen