Ware, Josh P

What's up gang! It's already been another week and this week was filled. I don't really know how else to describe it. Many things went really well. Many things almost didn't go well. And many things didn't go well. But let's get into it.  Marilene's Baptism On Saturday, we had the special priviledge of participating in Marilene's baptism! From the first contact where she asked for the Relief Society President's number, to the emotional temple lesson, to the solos I sang to help her choose music for the baptism, this has been a journey! And I wish that I could say it was an easy journey. But for the elect, it never is. She went from coffee to cervada. Stayed away from her unmarried husband. And went to the hospital plenty of times. Then on the day of the baptism, we received a message saying that she needed to reschedule the baptism, she couldn't leave her house, and she didn't want us to come over. So what did we do, grabbed a member, and wen...

What is up everyone! How are you guys doing? I had a fantastic week this week and got some not so big big news. Today is transfers and I'm staying here in Bayeux Alto! This made me so happy because I love this area, love the members, and love helping these people draw closer to Christ. To top it all off, I'm staying with my same companion and my district nearly didn't change at all. It's like it wasn't even transfers.  SPIRITUAL THOUGHT On Wednesday, I was studying for my day like we do every morning. And one thing that we also always do is say a prayer before our studies to receive guidance. This day, I said a prayer, asking God to help me find something very specific that will help one of our friends with some problems that he's been having.  No I didn't change what I was going to study. I just left off where I was yesterday and let the spirit guide me. During my studies, I came across this scripture: 2 Nephi 9: 29, 30 29 But to be learned is good if they ...

What's up everyone! Hope yall are doing amazing! This week was full of many up and many downs. So many hopes, disappointments, and then miracles! The work continues to grow as I have now been in the same area for 4 months now.  Baptism Fell Through One of the biggest downs this week was our friend João (I don't feel bad using his name because it's the name of literally 50% of men in Brasil). João was all set to be baptized last Saturday. He's been going to church for a month now, has all of the lessons, and passed the interview. Well... on Saturday morning we pull up to his house and remind him to be ready after lunch. I don't know what the adversary did that night but João didn't want to be baptized, didn't want to go to church, and didn't want to see the missionaries anymore. That was a bullet to the chest.  No Lunches To add unto the pain, nearly all of our lunch appointments fell through this week, so we were left eating cuscuz with eggs everyday (li...

Oii Tudo bem? I hope you all had a fantastic week! And happy mother's day to all of you mothers out there! Love you mom! This week flew by pretty quickly so let's get right into it.  HIGHLIGHTS alcohol: So alcohol is a hot topic here in my area. Starting off with the fact that every single Sunday, everyone gets absolutely wasted and it makes it so hard to talk to anyone. On Saturday, we were talking to this mom and her son on the side of the street. All of a sudden, her husband comes out of the house drunk out of his mind. We finish the contact, hand out a Book of Mormon, and ask for her number. The husband passes us the wrong number, I notice that it's wrong and speak up, she runs inside and grabs her phone, the husband gets all up in my face and says, "of course I gave you the wrong number, I don't want to talking to my wife." She then comes back in the nick on time and holds this dude back before he breaks me in half. Hey, but on the bright side, our friend...

What's up everyone! Hope you all had a great week! Not gonna lie, this was a pretty exhausting week. One of those weeks where you collapse through the door every night whhen you get home. We were also able to see God's hand many many times which was a blessing! There were also so really crazy things that happened this week, some of week I can ever include here, sorry. But yeah, let's get right into it.  SPIRITUAL THOUGHT Little Book of Mormon story that I like.  In the book of Alma, when Ammon meets King Lamoni, Ammon and the King get into a little fight and Ammon is in position to kill King Lamoni.  Lamoni says, "If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom." He was willing to give up half of his kingdom for his life.  Ammon spares him, takes nothing, and later his brother, Aaron, teaches him the gospel.  After Aaron teaches the gospel to King Lamoni, the king says, "I will give up all that I possess, yea...

What's up everyone! I hope everyone here had an amazing week! I'm already back at it again with another week in the life of a American Brazilian. This week was full of ups and down, highs and lows, and some down right crazy things! Only in Brazil! Let's set the mood with a spiritual thought. SPIRITUAL THOUGHT Something that I have tried to develope a ton on my mission thus far is my patience. Everyday, you meet a lot of crazy people, who do a lot of crazy things, and talk for ever. This week, I took it upon myself to study the gift of patience, and this is what I found.  Alma 34: 40-41: 40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cst you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them; 41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.  We know that...