Week 42: Ministering like the Savior

Hey everyone! I want to tell you about some cool experiences we had this week. We have had some cool opportunities to be like Christ this week.

Clothe the naked: We bought and ate pizza with a homeless man, and with permission from our Branch President, we let him use the shower at the church and we gave him some new clothes.  He was so much happier that he was before.

Feed the hungry: This morning, a guy on the street asked for money for food. I asked if he was hungry and he said yes. I told him my companion and I would go across the street to buy him food and he said okay. When we got back, however, the man was gone. We don't know where he went, but we left the food and water bottle there where he was sitting with a note that said "For whoever needs."

I know this email is shorter than usual, but I just want to bear my testimony to all of you that when we serve others, we are filled with so much joy! We are really able to feel Jesus Christ walking with us. I promise that He is walking with you. I know God knows each of us and our situations. He is aware of everything that is going on. If we trust him, everything will be okay!

Be safe this week, everyone! Love you!

Elder Tolen

Trying on some hats
C

Week 39: Transfer to Conchal

Hey everyone! A lot has happened since I've last written! Lemme tell ya about some of it!


Day to Day

Transfers: So I was transferred and now I am about 2 hours away north of the city of Campinas in a little city called Conchal. It is a lot like Ephraim, Utah if you have ever been there. My companion is Elder Gonzales. He is from mexico. He is actually my first companion since the MTC who isn't Brazilian! He's from Mexico, and he's awesome! He and his companion arrived at the transfer location (bus terminal) late because they missed their bus. So when they got there, the only bus that would take us back didn't leave till like 4 or 5 hours later. So we waited at the bus station for a while. While talking, we found out that both of us have the same birthday! May 18, 2000. But I am older by about 6 hours! Also while we were waiting, we talked to some people. An atheist came up to us and talked to us and tried to question us and prove us wrong and got all mad at me just because I´m American. He talked a lot about wars and stuff so I asked him if he likes stories about wars and offered him a Book of Mormon. Eventually I got tired of him and started talking to the ladies listening next to us. They were like, "Hey we will be right back we just have to go get something!" They never came back. But it's all good!

The scare: So before I was transferred, like I mentioned in my last email, we gave a good scare to a couple missionaries! Me, my companion Elder Correia, Elder Gochnour and Elder Gomes all planned a great scare to give to the other elders who would sleep at our house the night before transfers. I was dressed in what looked like a white dress with a creepy white mask and long black hair. My companion was dressed as a clown. Elder Gochnour and Elder Gomes went to pick up the other elders. When they all finally got back, the plan was when they walked in and turned the lights on, my companion would turn the power off to the whole house and I would come crawling out really creepily at them. That went well. The plan was they would run out to the garage where they came in where my companion dressed as a clown would be waiting for them, but the other elders just froze. But it was still fun. Afterwards, the other elder was like, "Welll I´m gonna go now. Bye! I´m not gonna sleep tonight." It was fun.

The REAL scare: When we got to our house in Conchal my first night, my companion said, "A while ago someone lit black magic candles in here so if anything weird happens, you know why." I was like, "This guy better be joking." And then while we were talking in the front room about it we both heard a "*sssiiiiiiiiiiiggggghhhh*" come from our bedroom.  I was like, "Oh flip no." So my companion and I cast out whatever spirit was in our apartment, and we rededicated the house. But then I heard a paper slide across the floor right next to me, even though there was no paper there, so we did it again and again and then we kept hearing little tapping sounds outside the window. At this point I was thinking, "I'm not moving. I´m staying right here and if everything doesn't get better NOW, I´m leaving." The tapping noise kept coming back, no matter how many times my companion cast it out. Finally my companion looked out the window, and it turns out that the neighbor's dog was running around outside. But hey--I'm confident that we at least heard that breathing from the other room. The paper and the other stuff might have just been because we were scared.

Bikes: The area of my district leader is the only area in my mission that has bikes. Our district leader let me ride his after district meeting on the way back to the bus station. It was really cool. Funny story: Elder Barragan used to be in that area with bikes and after district meeting he started to get on a bike. One of the elders said, "Elder Barragan, wasn't it you that always fell on the bike?" "Yep!" He responded. Then he fell. Don' worry--he didn't get hurt. It was just really funny. He was like, "Never again."

"Do You Have The Time?": One day my companion and I were speaking English and there were 2 kids sitting in front of us and I noticed that were listening to us and talking about how we were speaking English. One of them said, "Let's see if they speak Portuguese." He turned around and was like, "Do you have the time?" We both replied in unison "Yep we do!" Then I chuckled and said "We speak Portuguese, too! 😂😉".They were kind of embarrassed and they left.


Spiritual Highlights

"Let´s go get ice cream?": We have been teaching this couple (lets call them Jack and Stacy [not their real names]) that a while ago had a lot of problems. A couple weeks ago we gave them a Book of Mormon and I testified of its power. A couple days later, we went back and they were so different! They bore their testimonies to us about the power of the book. This week we went by to visit them and Stacy was having a really hard day. She was talking about how her family was abandoning her and how she felt alone and sad and I felt a prompting to invite them to get ice cream. So we did, and while we were walking she encountered her sister and her nephew and they talked for a bit and her nephew actually ended up staying with her and Jack for the night! Stacy was so so happy. It was cool to see how Heavenly Father always has something prepared for us.

"Give him a blessing": We went to the hospital because my companion hasn't been feeling super well. He did a blood test and while we were waiting, a kid and his grandma walked in. My companion suggested we say a prayer because we had been waiting for 3 or 4 hours. In the prayer, he asked that we may know God's will and asked that we could have patience. After the prayer, I looked over at the kid and felt a prompting to give him a blessing of health. I went over there and explained to them the Priesthood and the authority I have to give a blessing of health. I offered and they accepted. So, I gave the boy a blessing of health and right as I was ending was when my companion´s results finally came, and as we were walking away, I heard the boy and his grandma talking about how his pain went away.

I can testify to you all that miracles do happen! God is so aware of us and our situations. He loves us. Trust Him!

I love you guys! I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Tolen

	C

Week 36: The Savior's Healing

Hello everyone! How was your week? I hope you´re all doing well! If there´s anything I can do to help you, shoot me an email!

Day To Day

Transfers: So, tomorrow we will have transfers. The only thing I know is that I´m being transferred! I don´t know where I´m going or who my new companion will be! I will let you know how everything goes!

Housemates and Scares: So for a while now, me and my companion have been trying to scare the other elders we live with, and they've been trying to scare us. It´s practically become a nightly occurrence. It´s really fun! I purchased a creepy white mask and a long black wig that I've been using. We have something really great planned for tonight. I´ll let you know next week what happens.

João de barro: So there´s a bird in Brazil called João de barro. By the way, João translates to John. We were visiting someone and he started telling this story. "Have you heard of João de barro? He" (in Portuguese the conjugation for it is the same as he and she) "lives on this street. He built his own house and he kept a lady there until she died" (talking about how they live together until they die). Then he looked and me and said, "Does that happen in the United States?" I, thinking he was talking about a person that kidnapped a lady, quickly responded, "Yeah it does! There was this one girl named Elizabeth Smart..." I then proceeded to tell the entire story of Elizabeth Smart. He and my companion were very confused.

Splits: I went on splits a couple times since my last email. Both times I stayed in my area and the other missionary came here. I was with Elder Cowan and later with Elder Barragan. I have been on splits with both of them before. It was fun!

Spiritual/Uplifting Experiences

"Do you guys have dinner?": While I was on splits with Elder Cowan, a car pulled up next to us and a lady stepped out. "Hey, Elders! Do you guys have dinner?" We found out that she is from a different area and was just wanting to see if we had dinner. We did have food to eat already, but I was grateful for her willingness to do that for us!

The Clinic: So there´s someone we have been teaching for a while now, but he is always, always drunk. It didn't seem like we were going to get anywhere with him because he won´t stop drinking. This week we went to his house. He wasn't there. I was a little worried. I asked his family where he was. "Oh he´s at a clinic!" I was so happy to hear that he is finally getting the help that he needs!

Translation Miracle: One evening while we were walking, we came across a member in our ward. He is American and doesn't speak fluent Portuguese. He was talking to someone but wasn't able to understand perfectly. We went over there and I was able to translate. It was a homeless man who wanted food (the member understood that part). We were then able to buy him food and make him happy. The next day this guy passed us on the street and talked to us for a second. He called us his friends and talked about how he actually lived in the U.S. a while ago. He told us that he thinks Mormons are super intelligent. That member took us to pizza later that week. It was cool that we were able to be at the right place at the right time!

Baptism: We were blessed with the opportunity to baptize a 14 year old boy named Renan. He has great faith and a great testimony. He is always praying with such a sincere heart. He is such a great kid!

I want to tell you guys a story. This is a story I read in a book called "The Missionary´s Little Book of Inspirational Stories":

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the mysterious array of black filing cabinets. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.”

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told,” “Comfort I Have Given,” “Jokes I Have Laughed At.” Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in My Anger,” “Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To,” I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked “Lust,” I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore “People I Have Shared the Gospel With.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

“No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.”

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

I want to testify of the truthfulness of this story. We all have our filing cabinets filled with cards. I testify that each of these cards has the Savior´s signature. He suffered and died for all of us and for all of our difficulties. He knows us perfectly. He knows how to help you. I promise that if you trust Him, He will help you!

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.


Elder Tolen

District P-Day at the Zoo	P-Day at the Zoo
P-Day at the Zoo	A little refreshment
No. Just...no.	An homage to one of dad's missionary pics...
Lunch with Pres. Marsh	Pres. Marsh selfie with the district
Splits!
	Bus Ride to new Area (w/ Elder Gonzalez)
No...still not on bikes...but it's fun to try out!	New companion: Elder Gonzalez
Brazil Sunset
	When it rains...the tie bleeds...
Elder Tolen's new area (Conchal)	Photos in an old train

Week 33: Testimony of the Restoration

Hello everyone!! How are you all doing? How´s the new year going?

Day to Day: 

"You Know What the Sky is?": This week we knocked at one house and starting talking to this guy. He asked us, "Do you know what the sky is?" We were both a little confused. His answer was that the sky is Jesus´ eyeball looking at all of us. It was the first time I have heard that.

Tiptoe Through The Tulips: So this week, the other two elders that live with us have been scaring us like every night when we get home. But, the first night stands out the most. We weren't expecting anything to happen. While we were walking home, one of them called me and asked where we were. They said they were a little farther away and wanted us to go to the store before it closed (it was already closed). When we got home, the key was in a different place than usual which was odd. I leaned into the house and flipped the light switch but nothing happened, which was also odd. So I walked into another room to try to turn on the light. Nothing happened. I sat there for a few seconds messing with the light switch when, suddenly, on the other side of the room music started playing. The song was "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" by Tiny Tim. If you haven't heard that goofy song, go look it up. SO, I booked it out of the house and I told my companion, "THAT WAS NOT ME. THAT WAS NOT ME." He was like, "Oh whatever man!" And I was like, "NO SERIOUSLY" and I started leaving. When he saw that I was serious he started leaving too. Then we heard a loud bang on the door behind us, and then we heard the other guys start laughing.  This all started because a week or two ago, my companion and I found a random giant picture of some random kid and hung it up at our house and tried to convince the other guys we had no idea where it came from.

Spiritual Experiences:

"Be Still, My Soul": On Sunday, a member from my ward and I performed a special musical number during Sacrament Meeting. I played "Be Still, My Soul" on my horn and she played piano with me. I´m so so grateful for the many musical opportunities the Lord is blessing me with. It helps me to remember that there are many ways we can bless the lives of others.

I Love To See The Temple: This week, my mission had the opportunity to go to the Campinas Temple. I can testify of the power that comes through the temple. For any of you who haven't gone through the temple yet, please work on going through as soon as you can. For any of you who have already gone through, please make it a priority to go regularly. You will see many blessings if you do so. The temple brings so much peace into our lives. 

Joseph Smith: Last night at a family home evening meeting, we watched "The Restoration." I love the story of how Joseph Smith restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. I would love to tell the story of how it all started. In 1820, a young boy named Joseph Smith (being at that time 14 years of age) had a question. "Which of these many churches is true?" One day, while he was reading in the Bible, he found an answer, or better yet, he learned how he could receive an answer. He read in the book of James chapter 1 verse 5 which reads, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." Joseph said that never did any scripture touch the heart of a person more than that verse did to his. If anyone lacked wisdom, it was him. So, he went to a grove behind his house. He went there alone so he could kneel down and pray and ask of God. When he began praying, he said he began to be attacked by some very real, and very dark force. It attacked him so hard that he was unable to speak. He said, "But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction-not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being-just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared that I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw to Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

I testify to you all that at that moment, Joseph, a 14 year old boy, saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus answered his prayer and his questions, and over a period of time, and with help from more heavenly visits, he restored Christ´s church on the earth today! What a marvelous time we live in! We are blessed with the promises of eternal life! We are blessed with the guidance of the Holy Ghost! We are blessed with the help of a Heavenly Father, and we are blessed with the Atonement of our Brother Jesus Christ! I exhort you all to follow Him. I know sometimes it can be difficult, but I promise you, you will see miracles if you "choose the harder right, instead of the easy wrong."

Love,

Elder Tolen