March 23 - Happy Birthday Elder Hamstead!

(Me, Elder Feliciano, Elder Carneiro, Elder Farias)

Surprise Birthday Party - 20 years old on 3/20th

Transfer week! Fortunately, Im still in Araripina (Got called as the group President!!). Unfortunately, my comp was transfered.... To be an Assistant!! Thats my second comp to be called as Assistant!! CRAZY! My new comp hasnt arrived yet and Ive never met him before but Elder Hershberger told me a bit about him. Hes a cowboy from São Paulo named Elder Azevedo, he has about one transfer less than me annnnnnnnd hes black!! Thats two black comps in a row! I feel so lucky!! :) The paperwork to become a branch was sent in a couple weeks ago and we´re still waiting for the response. Im hoping and praying that it comes soon! My health has been great ever since I arrived in Araripina (Except for that chunck that they had to take out of my forehead haha).The Lord is really blessing me a ton! My birthday was really cool. I had a suprise party! My comp didnt even know that it was gonna happen. We had marked to go with a member (Mateus) to his friends house last week and showed up at his house about 7ish. We got in the car and headed to his friends house.... Or so I thought haha. We ended up going to a different members house where we found the suprise party haha. All in all, it was a pretty great week. 

P.s.

We just got the news that an Apostle is gonna visit the mission in a couple weeks!!!!!!!
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P.p.s.

Mom, the package arrived and its waiting for me in Fortaleza. Im gonna ask Elder Feliciano to give it to one of the transfered Elders to bring to me tomorrow :)!

P.p.p.s.

Elder Page was transfered from Pacajus and is gonna go to Iguato! Thats one of the other areas really far from fortaleza, so Ill be able to see him soon when we have conference with President in Juazeiro!!

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Elder Hamstead

I love our message...March 9

This past week was awesome! My new comp (Elder Feliciano - from João Pessoa (where Sam Loveland is serving)) found a ton of awesome people! One family that we found is super awesome. The moms name is Rosi (Pronounced Hosy) and shes super cool. She works as a volunteer helping underprivaleged children and also as a teacher. So ya, we found Rosi´s family on Wednesday and taught them the restauration. They are a very Lutheran family and I actually was nervous at first that it would just turn into a big bible bash... Something that I really don't like. But fortunately, the Spirit was with us and at the end of the lesson, she even agreed that everything that we taught (especially the priesthood) actually makes sense! It felt like such a victory! 

I love being able to help people see the truth and the light. But even more than that, I love our message. It really does make perfect sense! I am convinced that there isnt one doubt that cant be answered by means of studying and pondering the scriptures, praying and fasting. God wants us to be happy but, "God isn’t about making good things happen to you, or bad things happen to you. He’s all about you making choices—exercising the gift of free will. God wants you to have good things and a good life, but He won’t gift wrap them for you. You have to choose the actions that lead you to that life. (Quote from Brother Cardens email. Not sure who actually wrote it). If we want to be happy in life and walk the path that Jesus walked, we have to act. God loves us so much that he gave us the ability to obey him, or not. Only we can decide. Rosi and her family acted. We left 3 Nefi 11 with them. They read, prayed, and God heard them. Their baptims will be on the 22 of March :). I know that God loves all of his children. All of us have things that we need to get better at. Make the tough choices today. Read. Pray. Change. :)

Good news! I told President about our goal for men last week and without even passing the 15 of March, he decided to make us a branch!!!!! We´ve already filled out the paperwork and its on it way to Utah (Or maybe the area presidency.. Not sure who decides). We should get a response within the next month or two!!!

Happy Anniversary Mommy and Papa!!!!! I love you guys so much and am so greatful for your decisions and your actions which have guided our family over the years. I am greatful to be able to say that I am your son :).

I love you all so much!

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Elder Hamstead