"Today was an experience I absolutely will not forget for the rest of my life..."

-"Today was an experience I absolutely will not forget for the rest of my life. So this past week we’ve been visiting Jaque, an investigator of ours, constantly as we marked today for her baptism. We’ve been praying so earnestly and living exactly obediantly for her and for her baptism to go well and happen this Saturday, today. We even fasted all day Wednesday for Jaque and her baptism…really doing EVERYTHING in our force and faith for her baptism and conversion to happen. Our faith was great. We planned for the baptism inside and out. It was going to happen, in according to our faith. Lesson went great with Jaque with member and all was settled and planned for her baptism Saturday. Confirmed...filled out baptism record member form and everything. Gave her baptism invitations, and that moment she already began to invite people to her baptism. How marvelous and joy! So Friday spent day focusing on inviting members and investigators to Jaque's baptism Saturday. Friday night Jaque said she´d call to confirm little details. Nothing...so all must be well and settled. We ask sister Lidiane (wife of Fort) to call and tell Jaque to bring a towel and extra set of clothes for her baptism. Perfect, all settled. Saturday morning we get to the chapel early, 10:00 and began filling up the baptismal font so has time to heat up. We are happy as can be in chapel, while font filling up, when we get a call from Jaque. Never been so devastated and discouraged. The baptism fell and she cancelled on us. Speechless. Phone call ended not knowing how to respond or what to do, both shaken of our faith. We decide, no, we’ve done ALL of our part. We need to use our faith. (finally get a chance to practice gift of faith I’ve been praying for) and Jaque will be baptized today. Just trust in The Lord. So we call her back and she tells me the same thing. She´s not "canceling" on us, but just moving to next week or another time bc her mom says she needs to be more sure and visit more times before she can be baptized, and that Jaque doesn’t want to do anything against her mom. Only sadness to our missionary ears....-"

-"We ask if we can speak with her mom today and she tells us that she will advise with her mom 1st to see if we can talk with her other time and left us a little unsettled, saying she will call if we can visit her later. Phone call ended. Elder Eduardo Souza and I had nothing else to do but fall onto our knees and pray, cry, and plead unto our Heavenly Father. My prayer went something like "Father, we’ve done all we could do for Jaque to be baptized today. I know only Thee can make the miracle happen, to touch their hearts, for her baptism to happen. Please show us the way for Jaque to be baptized today, become a member of Thy true church, and receive all the many, wonderful blessings." We arose from our personal prayers and told one another, there will be a baptism today. We left the baptismal font running and heating, still inviting all to baptism, to show our faith. Now it gets tricky. We had the decision after lunch to go to the house of her mom and talk with them, risking pushing the trust and boundaries of Jaque, maybe risking her baptism even happening at all in the future, or sit in the chapel to wait and do nothing. I remembered "!faith is nothing without works." If we don’t visit her house, guarantee no baptism today. But even if we visit, we might get kicked out of their lives forever, and no baptism never at all. We decided to act. We went to house with intention of knocking and speaking with them, but neither one of us had the courage to do it. We have no idea what we would even say or do. We´ve got nothing. We kept walking and spoke with member (Fort) for a bit. That’s it, I’ve got the feeling we just need to go up there and do it. Heavenly Father can’t work His miracles through us if we don’t act. We had fear and lack of faith. Either The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and The Lord will make a miracle happen (baptism today of Jaque) Or the church isn’t true and everything will go wrong with visit with Jaque and future I thought. And yet, even as a missionary, and representative of Jesus Christ, I still had fear/doubt, or rather diminished faith. Then the feeling hit. Just trust in The Lord. Go and Do... And so we went. For the 2nd time up the mountain hill to the front of her house. This time, had the courage in me to clap my palms at the front gate. Wellp, there’s no turning back now. Jaque's mom answers the door, we both were speechless and unsure what to do. We asked her if she was the mom of Jaque. "yes" she says. My comp quickly asks for a cup of water, not knowing what to say (the both of us), allowing more time to think. haha! She surprisingly let us in, and then woke Jaque up. Jaque is sleeping!? Oh no, now she will be grumpy, tired, and for sure angry! we thought. We agreed to speak nothing about the baptism, just converse a bit with family we hoped for. I can´t explain how, but the rest of the story gets blurry. Only miracles. I testify, we were instruments in the hands of The Lord purely. I can’t remember what was said, or how it happened, but through the convincing power of God, THE BAPTISM was back on for today, 5:00. I remember Jaque looking at the sun and saying, "man, would be such a nice day for a baptism" ... and then The Lord took over and control, via instruments and two missionaries. Spirit was so bold and strong, even invited Jaque’s mom to be baptized when she’s ready... pure miracles and spirit really. I remember when I invited her again to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and be baptized by somebody with the Authority of God, today, at 5:00, it wasn’t me speaking it felt like, but the Holy Ghost speaking through me. She said "YES" and the baptism was on. When my comp and walked out of that house, down the street, we looked at one another, tried to explain, and we couldn’t even speak to one another and didn’t even need to... shared the spiritual experience together. I could only smile and laugh, rejoicing in true joy... bringing souls unto Christ. My smile was as big as could be. The strong spirit changed our countenances... one of the strongest spiritual moments of my mission and life. True purpose of a missionary, and an answer to my prayer... weeks of praying for that gift of faith. The baptism this following afternoon was incredible and went perfectly... well planned, lots of people showed up, special musical, strong spirit, etc. I then had the privilege to baptize Jaque. I will never forget this entire spiritual experience. Dressed in white, filled with spirit and authority of God. True joy. 1st time on mission the water was actually warm too! The water was even more than warm; hot! haha. I was nervous bc Jaque is fairly large and heavy. What if I can’t lift her back up I thought!? Where was my faith again? I know the power of The Lord. I planted my feet in the water (before saying a silent prayer) and baptized Jaque by the priesthood authority of God. Another miracle on the side note: never had a person feel so light during the baptism, submersion of water. Light as a feather and went so smoothly. Once again, The Lord provided and gave me strength. This time physically and spiritual strength. I saw and felt a completely clean and new person leave that baptismal water. How incredible. I will never forget this spiritual experience, for the rest of my life...strengthened my testimony so greatly, and so much better than a normal, easy baptism haha. Today was "THE BAPTISM" oh, and after leaving Jaque’s house before, confirming her baptism for tonight, we went straight to the chapel to get on our knees once again, but this time only to thank our dear and wonderful Heavenly Father. We can only thank Him for everything and all. It wasn’t us, only Him. I’m so grateful for such a spiritual experience and opportunity. I will cherish these principles of faith and all for the rest of my life and eternity. Also, this journal entry doesn’t even come close to how amazing the experience really was. Un-explainable, true doctrine. I testify that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. And this is His true doctrine and salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

p.s- and at night when we returned to our apartment the power went out! so had to write all this in the dark with flashlight haha!"- 

hope you guys enjoy! I love you all and have a great week my beloved family!

With Faith and Love, 

Elder Jairus Ero Sargent

August 25, 2014

Family,

This week was pretty busy and great! We have zone conference for our mission this week as well as stake conference for the church. The conferences were great and spiritually strengthening! The weather here in brazil is starting to warm up already and some days it’s HOT! I was waiting for winter to arrive still haha but it already passed! The more challenging part for me I think will be the hot, humid summer haha. But man the time is flying by fast bc I arrived on the mission in the summer! crazy haha. So this week I had an interview with Presidente Parrela. It was great. He made me promise that I would tell you that he told me he´s proud of me, I’m a great and obedient missionary, I will lead soon, he trusts me, and that I’m making every penny count of my mission! wow, I hope I can live up to all those things he said of me bc I know I have great room to improve! But it meant a lot, and he made me promise I would share with you. This week was a great week! We are finding lots of new investigators and teaching a bunch! This is great! I love sharing the true gospel… lots of investigators for potential baptism here soon. We created a map of the city the other week and sure got lost a few times, but now we’re pros of the city! almost. haha. Being a missionary is the greatest thing ever! After the mission, when I grow up, I want to be a missionary still. haha and I know I will. bc we are all member missionaries! My comp is great and we are working diligently and obediently! Pres. said we probably won’t be together very long bc we both need to lead in the mission. I just want to go and do the Lords work! I will go and do what the Lord wants me to do, wherever he wants me to go. overall a great week. I love you family and have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Sargent

August 18, 2014 

Minha Família,

So lots has happened this past week! And it was a new, great week too! So Elder Alves was transferred to São Borja. Across from the bus station is a SUBWAY restaurante. The first American restaurante I’ve seen on my mission! so of course we all had to eat there before elder alves left on bus! man it was nice to eat some American food ;) haha! but it was super expensive! yikes! subway is cheap in united states but expensive in brazil haha. but was worth it.

 So last p-day I was able to pick up my box and there were 2 of them for me! I received both the boxes you guys sent I believe! that was fast! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! the boxes were an awesome surprise! we are loving the candies and once again, had things in the box that I really needed and don’t even remember asking for. thank you!! The best part is, I get to eat peanut butter honey or jelly sandwiches 3 times a day!! oh how much I’ve missed peanutbutter! it is getting put to great use! thanks so much family!!

 So my new companion is Elder Eduardo Souza. He’s great!

 I’m loving being exactly obedient and working so hard all day everyday! The mission is never easy, but it is so great and worth it! I’m loving every moment of my mission! and I am learning so much everyday! My comp and I are learning every time more about Christ´s infinite atonement. This week had days we clapped at doors all day, walking miles up and down the giant mountain several times; an entered into none of the houses at the end of the day. some days are hard and test our faith. but really it only strengthens our testimonies as we get to experience a little bit of the trials Christ went through, as His representative during this time, and understand every bit more Christ´s infinite atonement and sacrifice. And I’m loving every moment of it! The hard times, and the good times or rather joy that comes from helping bring souls unto Christ. This work and gospel is so perfect and true! Family, I love you all and I want you to know that I’m doing great and I know this Church is true! I love, pray, and fast for you guys always. Have a great week my family!

Love,

Elder Sargent

ps-

funny- elder carino has a police tazer shock flash light that we all put to the test. yup it works. we all took a taze or two. have some funny videos.

oh and also really funny that during dinner one night we were eating when out of nowhere brother antão falls to the ground as his plastic chair explodes! we couldn’t stop laughing after we realized he was okay. but think ya had to be there on this one. haha

-oh and said good bye to Rafael this week as today he leaves for Provo mtc and after Japan! gonna miss that funny man. he will do great.

-oh and saw elder pierce for first time again our same mtc district and group. was cool.

love you all! :)