He IS a God of MIRACLES!!!! 080816

Aloha Família!!!

I just gotta say that I've been sooo humbled by this week. God has been helping us out tons, and I'm sooo grateful because I totally know that without His help, it totally wouldn't work out.

Elder Nunes, Henrique, Fernanda, and Me

First of all...............BATISMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sooooooo happy!!! Fernanda and Henrique were baptized this past Sunday right after church!!! MIRACLES!!! They don't know how to read, and have some difficulties understanding stuff, but God totally blessed them and helped them understand what we were trying to teach them.

During the week we were trying to teach them tithing and it just wasn't sinking in. They were open to paying it, and had no issues with it, but they didn't understand the concept of 10 percent. We tried soooo many different ways but nothing worked. They were just like, "Tell me how much to pay!" I was like I'm trying!!! Finally, me and Elder Nunes decided to pray for the Spirit, for us and them, and then taught it again just with ten coins....and they got it!!! Well mostly, haha. They understood the 1 out of ten, which is what we were trying for. I was soo grateful for His help.

We were also praying tons that they could remember what we'd taught them, and so that if they were truly ready, they could pass their interviews and be baptized. They totally passed!!! I was sooo happy! I was like wow, miracles!!! It's not that I didn't think they could pass, but them passing was proof that God really was helping us out, because I know that none of us would have gotten to that point without His help.

The LDS Chapel. It is not common for the church to have their
own buildings here in Portugal. Usually they rent buildings, or
any space they can find to use for meetings.

Right after the interviews as I was getting ready to leave, a married couple walks in. I was just like they must be some members visiting from out of town and they wanna know when church is but NOPE! They're non-members looking to have God play a bigger role in their lives. They were like, "Yeah how do we come to church and stuff", and I was like WAT?!?! I was blown away. I was sooo grateful that He was trusting me enough with these two people to place them in our path. AND THEY DID GO TO CHURCH AND LOVED IT!!!

The baptism went down super smooth. I baptized Fernanda and Elder Nunes baptized Henrique. I kept forgetting her full name, so I kept having to do the prayer again. Then when I got her name, I started forgetting the prayer. Then I got that part all down and I went to baptize her and she just wasn't cooperating!!! sigh...Elder Nunes ended up jumping in and holding her legs down as I dunked her haha. Henrique was like 2 shakes pau.

Afterward as we were changing Henrique kept saying how he felt soo good and clean and that was just a real testimony builder as to the work were doing here.

Our Baptismal Font

I'm sooo grateful for the opportunity I have here to serve and help these people come unto Christ and I know that it will make a difference in their lives if they let it. I know that we, the missionaries, are just tools in God's hands, and when we accept that and just trust in Him and work hard, He blesses us and helps us have success.

Side thoughts:

Smoke from a local brush fire turns the sun RED

This week has been CRAZY HOT!!! I FEEL LIKE IM COOKING IN MY OWN SWEAT!!! It's pretty ridiculous. Usually the wind makes it better, but the wind is just as hot and dry and makes it worse.

I think we're having a brushfire nearby someplace, and so the sky is just filled with smoke. It looks like clouds and makes the sun look red. That's one of the pics I took.

I started doing video journal entries, cuz I haven't been doing too good with writing in my journal in a while. It seems to work out. The only problem I'm having is that I can't send them to you guys cuz the files are too big. Please advise.

Anyway I love you guys sooo much!!! Bros and sis you guys look sharp in your polo ʻulaʻula!!! Represente! Keep up the good work in school, and sports, and church!!! I love you guys!!!

com amor,

Élder Kim

ps. I found the Uncle Doug Sr. of Póvoa!!! He's a fisherman and he's just too funny!!! Life is black and white to him; I LOVE HIM!!! Example: talking about the word of wisdom. Teacher says that we can drink coke. He's like "No, no can". Teacher is like "yeah, can, it's all good, church says it our choice". He's like "yeah it my choice to keep the law of chastity or not as well!" Oldschool, gotta love it. There was also an Uncle Doug Sr. of Aveiro who was a mason as well before time. Gotta love these guys!!!

(Some other pictures Elder Kim sent)

A park in Povoa de Varzim, where we catch the bus

The old people like to come to this park, to feed the pigeons.
The pigeons are almost tame!! You can walk right up to them!

A statue at the end of the park.

The soccer field where we played with
the kids last week. It is called
Praceta de Paz.

While Povoa is a modern town, there are many
areas where the farmlands and the city meld
into each other. We saw these sheep huddled up while
tracting. It was a very windy day!!

Povoa de Varzim 8/1/16

Aloha e ka ʻohana!!!

It's been a great finishing week to the transfer!

Apparently this week in Portugal a game called "Pokemon Go!" has been released. I guess a lot of people like it so I've been hearing about it. Is it any good? haha ...To me it sounds kinda...idk...soooo kindergarten days hahaha!

Great news!!!! Fernanda and Henrique are getting baptized this upcoming weekend!!! It truly has been a miracle with them. They have come to church for 4 weeks straight now, and are understanding the lessons a whole lot better. Me and Elder Nunes have been working really hard with them, and praying a lot for them so that they could really understand what we are trying to teach them. Every day we go back to teach they remember and understand a little bit more! It's awesome!!! We went over the other day and she told us how her other son (we're not teaching him) was like "why are you guys getting baptized again you don't need that" but she was like "yeah we do cuz this church is the only church with the power to do it; the other churches don't have the power!" We were like yes!!! Because that had been something she had issues understanding. I'm sooooo grateful for the power of prayer, and the enlightening power of the Holy Ghost.

(L to R) David, Danielson, Elder Nunes, Me, and Nathaniel

We were able to go on division with some youth, and it was AWESOME!!! I went with two youth, and went to teach Fernanda and Henrique. There were some complications because Fernanda's other son, whose usually drunk, was there, but it all worked out. After we're walking to meet up with Elder Nunes, and one is like, "my one friend I talked to you guys about lives near here, I think we should pass him". I was like sure why not. So we get there, he lets us in and we teach him the first lesson! It was awesome! I'd be lying if I said he was totally interested, but I really think that with time, and fellowshipping he could get baptized!  Super cool!

We got a reference last week from Church HQ who wanted a Book of Mormon. So we contacted her, gave her the book and set up a follow up appointment. Elder Nunes went over there with two members when we did splits, and she was already on 1 Nephi 11! I was like "wat!!!" She had some questions and doubts about Joseph Smith but other than that she was all G! She wasn't able to come to church but me and Elder Nunes are really hoping to help her find the truth she's been looking for!

After long days, we "hang out" in the kitchen

We finished Elder Nunes training this week. I can honestly say that Elder Nunes is awesome! I've learned a lot from him. After finishing watching the District with him and stuff, I just had this realization of how awesome the mission is! I'm soo grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow, not only physically but especially spiritually! Also meeting all these cool people from all around the world, who speak all kinds of languages is sooo cool! I'd just like to encourage everyone who is thinking about serving a mission, and those who aren't, TO GO SERVE A MISSION!!! IT WILL HONESTLY BLESS YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!!

Funny story: me and Elder Nunes were talking about the mission and about how awesome it is, and hard it is, and like how we totally didn't know what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to go. Then he's like (in português of course) " One of the missionaries who was serving in Brazil told me that serving a mission is like peeing your pants (KKKKKKKK). Everyone can talk about it, speculate, and whatever, but nobody knows what it feels like until its happened to you." LOL! So true though! 

Also, I FINISHED KA PUKE MOLEMONA!!! IT'S STILL TRUE!!! Man, that was an awesome read! I love how it's the same words, but it just feels different, and different things seem to stick out! I was wondering if there's a Hawaiian translation of the Bible, and if so if I could get a copy.....hahaha. I also made covers for my agenda! First time! I haven't really had the interest to do it up until now. I know lame...everyone else has um so I figured I should make me some too since I'm in my 5th transfer now. About time!

Elder Kim's Covers for his "Agenda" (Planner)

Anyway, that's all I got. I love you guys! Can't believe it's already been a whole transfer! Have a great start to school guys! I love you!!!! Ficam fixes!

com amor,

Élder Kim

ps. Parabens to Kaʻai!!!! So proud of you!!!! Sister, Happy Birthday!!!! Sorry I know I'm late, but also congratulations on your baptism as well!!!! I love you guys!!!!

pps. Still haven't gotten around to locating the post office. Sorry to all those who have sent me letters and not gotten replies! I'm working on it haha sorry again! Thank you sooo much though for your letters!!!!

My district: Sister Mauricio, Sister Maraes, Me, Elder Nunes

Saw this candy and had to buy it! Yes, it is "Filipinos"!!!! So Yummy!!!