Burro e Cabra

So, burro (boohoh) means donkey and cabra means goat. This week I discovered how much my companion loves to pet animals. Fortunately the frequency to encounter these animals is such that we happen upon them several times a day. We usually stop to pet them or give them some kind of foliage. We´ve been playing with the idea of getting donkeys when we return home from the mission. If I end up having a lot of land, I´ll get myself a donkey. They´re pretty useful. They can pull things for you, but also, you can use the donkey in the local Christmas pageant. I think if I get one, I´ll name it Stanley. I think that´s a good name. There is also a donkey that really likes me. She is quite passionate. My companion likes to joke that she is my girlfriend. Unfortunately, I´m still not the biggest fan of goats. But he took some good pictures.

Recently I finished reading the gospel of John in the New Testament. I had never read it before, but during genereal conference in April the Prophet said to read the book of St. John. So, I read it. It was a really good experience, especially because right now I´m a representative of Jesus Christ. I was reading so I could learn more about the Savior, but also how to act more like Him. There is a scripture in The Book of Mormon that I encountered recently that I thought was very profound. It´s found in the book of 3rd Nephi chapter 27 verse 21. (Jesus Christ speaking)

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

It was the last phrase that stood out to me. "for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do;". Truly, this phrase is the something that we all need to apply in our lives. I know that if we follow the example of our Savior in all things, we can truly be happy. I love you my friends and family. I pray that we can all improve ourselves a little bit more everyday to be more like the Savior.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Gone With the Wind of Guanabara

So first off, Guanabara is the charter bus company that our mission uses to transport missionaries from place to place. After 6 days of being together, one of the assistants called us and told us that Elder Paz was to be transfered the following day. So, that´s what happened. The day after I received my new companion Elder Bezerra (remember a double "rr" makes an "h" sound). He´s pretty small and feisty. He´s from Manaus which is the capital of the state of Amazonas. If you are wondering, he´s never seen a native before because Manaus is a huge city and people there are normal. (they just eat a lot of fish and exotic fruit, well I suppose if you live in the area it´s not exotic, so let´s go with tropical fruit) He´s also had a pet monkey and has been trained in several martial arts. My Portugués is definitely going to improve with him, he doesn´t hesitate to correct me (which I think is a blessing from heaven because I´m not the best at studying the language). I say the words correctly and never really had an accent to begin with, I just don´t speak normally. He´s a good teacher, especially for having only one transfer in the field.

Things are going well. The people here are great. I baptized two people on Saturday. It was amazing. Really, it´s truly amazing to be a part of someone´s eternal progression. I was telling my district at our district meeting that "Everytime we invite someone to be baptized, we invite them to have Eternal Life." That was one of those profound moments that the Holy Ghost taught me the instant that I spoke. Ít´s true though. Teaching and studying the gospel is amazing. In St. John 3:5 says "5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."

In order to inherit eternal life we need to enter the kingdom of God, and in order to enter the kingdom of God we need to be born of water and of the Spirit (which is being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost). But the thing is, there are many people that will say that they´ve been baptized and received the Holy Spirit or that they can baptize, but unless they have the proper authority it´s not valid. Jesus Christ set the perfect example for us to follow. Matthew chapter 3

13 ¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be ^abaptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, ^aSuffer it to be so now: for thus it ^bbecometh us to ^cfulfil all ^drighteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was ^abaptized, went up ^bstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the ^cSpirit of God descending like a^ddove, and lighting upon him:

Why did Jesus search out John the Baptist? It was because John the Baptist had the proper authority of God to baptize. John knew that Jesus was the Son of God because he was a servant of the Lord who had the authority of God and that´s why he said that he need to be baptized by Jesus. So, why was Jesus Christ baptised? Did he not live a perfect and sinless life? Why was it that he needed to be baptised for the remission of sins? What does he mean to "fulfill all righteousness"? Here is the answer in the book of 2 Nephi chapter 31 (located in the Book of Mormon)...

5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being ^aholy, should have need to be ^bbaptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be ^cbaptized, yea, even by water!

6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be ^aobedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the ^aform of a ^bdove.

9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the ^agate, by which they should enter, he having set the ^bexample before them.

10 And he said unto the children of men: ^aFollow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we ^bfollow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father ^agive the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, ^bfollow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.

Jesus Christ was baptized to show us the example that we need to follow. My dear friends and family. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, for many reasons. But I know the Book of Mormon is true because it teaches of Jesus Christ. I love you my dear ones and I invite you follow Christ´s example. Let´s all try to be more like our Savior every day.

Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Sião Luís

So, I´m in the capital city of Maranhão, São Luís. Which just so happens to be on an island. But, it´s pretty big. This is my third area. I´m serving in a really big ward with my new companion Elder Paz (his name means peace). Just so you know, Sião means Zion, so I´m in "Sião Luís." Get it? My companion Elder Paz is almost the same height as me, and quite a bit bigger than I am. He´s 25 and joined the church 4 or 5 years ago. He´s pretty cool.

There is this awesome soda called "Guaraná Jesus" it´s pink, and it´s tasty. It only exists here in Maranhão. On the bottle it says, something like "the flavor of living in Maranhão."

I don´t have too much time today, but I want you to know something very important. The Gospel of Jesus Christ truly blesses lives and families. In my last area, there was a family on the brink of separation, until we helped them learn about the gospel. When they truly applied the principles of the gospel, there was a miraculous change. In the beginning the man and woman were sitting on opposite sides of the room. But now they want to be baptized and sealed in the temple for eternity. So, what I learned is that if your marriage is falling apart either one or both parties are not living the gospel. Don´t pass blame to others for your faults. Do what you can to live the gospel and invite others to live the gospel also. Don´t give up. A family can be together forever, but remember that we all have to fight to stay on the right path. A marriage can last forever, but you have to live selflessly. I know the gospel is true because I see it changing lives. It´s truly something amazing. I know that Christ lives. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God. I love you my brothers and sisters.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

(A Little Background on Sião Luís)

Hello Dear readers of Elder Sam Chiba's Blog! This is a message from the sisters behind the screen:

Here's some information found online about Sam's new city & photos of that city. Click on the links below.

About the city
pictures

Tchau Camoceu

Well, today is kind of bittersweet. More on the sad side of things. We´re being transfered and the mission here in Camocim is closing for now. I´ll be going to São Luis in Maranhão and Elder Braga is going to Teresina. But you know, I´ll go where the Lord wants me to go. So, São Luis it is. I´m excited to experience more of the mission though. I´ll be training another missionary and I´m going to be the District Leader in my area as well. So, I guess that means I´m expecting.

If anyone gets the chance to come to Camocim, you should. It´s a little slice of heaven. That´s why we call it Camo-ceu (ceu meaning heaven). I don´t have much time today because we need to pack everything and clean the house before 2 am.

But, I love you. The gospel is true. The Book of Mormon is true.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba