To All the FRIENDS

Elder Chiba will be arriving in San Jose, California on New Year's Day! If you are super eager to see Sam like we are you are invited to come to church to give him a overdue hug. (The ladies have to wait until he is officially released from the position of Elder, hence why all are invited to find Sam at church.) He would love to see you there. More details will be given upon request, so call the nearest Chiba connection to you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Elder Chiba is almost home!!!

- from the mysterious loved-one behind the blog posts

Meu Último Natal no Campo

This week has been great! We´re preparing a lady named Raimunda (pronunciation of 'R' in portuguese if it starts the word or if there is a 'rr' is the sound of 'h' so her name is like this Hi-moonda) I hope that makes sense to you. Anyway, she´s a very nice lady. She´s been looking for the truth her whole life and has been to a lot of churches. She had some problems smoking, but now she is smoke-free thanks to the gospel. She doesn´t want her family to know she´s getting baptized because she doesn't want there to be a lot of drama leading up to her baptism. She´s about in her 40's I think. She's very down to earth.
There are some others that we are going to invite to be baptised this Christmas. I hope they feel the true Christmas Spirit.

I´m really thankful for a loving Father in Heaven. I know He hears our prayers and He loves us whether week or strong. Even though sometimes we may feel insignificant, I know that we are important to Him. I know He loves us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself the sins and pains of the world. All who follow His gospel, have faith in Him, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end will be saved. The great plan of happiness is only possible through Christ.

One silent and peaceful night long ago, our Savior was born so that we might live. I urge you and invite you focus less on the festivities and give a present to Him, whose birth we celebrate. Invite someone to church, serve someone who needs help, extend your hand to someone a little lonely. Merry Christmas! I´ll see you on New Years Day!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you. Have a great Christmas week!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Três Semanas

Well, there is a total of three weeks until I go. Time sure flies fast.

Carlindo was baptized on the 10th and confirmed on the 11th. It was nice. The members here a supportive. The sisters in the relief society made a calendar of who will bake a cake for the baptisms.

There is not too much to report from this week other than that.

I´ve been really enjoying talks by Elder Nelson recently. There has been a lot of things that I´ve been needing recently, and his talks as well as President Uchtdorf´s and President Monson´s talks have helped me out recently. I love having modern revelation and a living prophet and apostles. It´s one of the greatest blessings of living in these latter days. It´s just one more thing that strengthens my testimony of the church and the gospel, and of God´s love for us. I know it´s true. There is nothing more true in this world.

Anyway, I love you all. Have a great week!


-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Carlindo

This past week lots of things happened. On Wednesday, I had my last Zone Conference, so I got to bare my testimony to the other elders.

On Thursday, there was a community wedding held at the church. Over a hundred couples (about 120) were legally wed at the chapel for free. The bishop asked me to sing some hymns. So, because it was a public event the mayor, 5 judges, and the local news were all there. I was a little nervous. When I sang the first hymn, my voice quivered a little, but I held through. (it didn´t help that there was a camera in my face...) The second hymn went over a lot better. Over the next few days, I found out that I was on TV on the local news! That´s the second time in my mission that I´ve appeared on TV. The first time I was singing at a Christmas event in São Luís, which was also covered by the news. So, I´ve been on tv in another country. I´m already getting famous.... (just kidding)

Sunday was fast and testimony meeting at church. Jaiane, who Elder Eberhardt and I had baptized two weeks previous, got up to bare her testimony. It was special. The previous Sunday, a man named Carlindo came to church for the first time, and Elder F. Silva and I taught him once before yesterday. He went up to bare his testimony also. We were kind of nervous because, when someone who isn´t a member of the church goes up to bare their testimony, you never know what they might say. But, Carlindo gave a nice testimony. So, that night we went to his house and invited him to be baptized, and he accepted and is excited to be baptized this Saturday.

Anyway, it´s been a nice week. I hope your first week of December has been nice too. Things are going to be picking up for everyone. Be safe, and don´t get too caught up in the comercial side of the holidays. Take some time to remember why. If material things don´t work out, don´t get upset. Try to do something for the Savior, seeing that it is His birthday. Look for opportunities to help others or invite others to come unto Christ. I know He lives, and that He suffered so that we don´t have to if we believe in Him and follow His example. The gospel is true. I love you all.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope it was good for everyone. That holiday doesn´t exist here... But it seems that they are starting to get into the spirit of Black Friday here in Brazil. (not too much, but I saw that some places here in Brasil are doing that, it was on the news while we were at lunch)

Anyway, my new companion, Elder F. Silva turned 19 a week or two ago. He started his mission in February. That´s right, he started when he was 18! The church lowered the age for Brazilian missionaries on the conditions that they are finished with high school before their mission. Elder F. Silva is from the south of Brasil just like Elder Eberhardt. He´s also caucasion, so I look more Brazilian than he does. It´s funny, I´ve never had an American companion who looks American, except for Elder Epperson in the MTC. I guess in turn, I´ve never been the American companion who looks American either. I am on the other hand the token Japanese elder in this mission, and everyone knows I am Japanese, a singer, and I cook well. That´s my legend. I guess being tall too. It´s been raining a little bit every once in a while. Thank goodness that Irmã (sister) Marta bought boots for me. I gave her the candy Janet sent, and she and her family were very excited. American candy makes people happy.

Wednesday will be my last Zone Conference, and on Thursday there will be a community wedding held at the church. There are a lot of people who live together here who are not married. You´d be surprised at the rate, so the city council, judges, and politcial people do a community wedding as a service for the people here. Normally people don´t get married because of the cost or the hastle, but they are trying to help the people here. And our church is the nicest church in the whole city. The bishop here is great and opens the chapel up to the community to get the church´s name out there. So, he offered to host the community wedding at the chapel for the second time. It will be nice. We are going to help out too.

Service is a great way to show people that we are followers of Christ. When was the last time you did something to help someone? (just a question for you to reflect on)
I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God on the earth, and that we are preparing for the second coming of the Messiah. Let´s build the kingdom by serving others.
Anyway, I love you all. I hope you have a great week!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Bitter Sweet

This weekend was bitter sweet to say the least. We baptized a very special girl on Saturday, her name is Jaiane. She was confirmed on Sunday. I baptized her and Elder Eberhardt confirmed her. Sunday night she gave us some "cacau"! Did you know that chocolate comes from a fruit? The juice is pretty good, but the actual fruit is a little weird but cool.

Anyway, that was the sweet part. On the other side of things Elder Eberhardt was transferred. We were both very sad. He is now one of my best friends. It´s interesting how missions work out. I hope you can all meet him someday.

My new companion will be Elder F. Silva. He´s also from the south of Brazil. He´s a pretty cool guy, I´ve met him a couple of times already. He started his mission this year. He´s either 18 or 19. I know he started when he was 18. The church lowered the age limit for Brazilian missionaries to 18 years old instead of 19. There are a couple younger elders in our mission. I´m feeling kind of old. 22!!!! Weird right?

So, I guess I want to share my testimony with you about the pre-existance, and that I know that we all lived with and knew eachother before we were born. We are all here to be tested in order to live with our Father in Heaven again. During this test sometimes you run into old friends that you never met in this life, but feel as if you know them. And when you find them again after a long time being apart, it´s a really great happiness. I look forward to seeing all of you in 6 weeks, as we´ve been apart these 2 years. It will be so wonderful to see you all again. I pray that we all work to make the right choices and endure to the end so that we can all meet again in a state of everlasting happiness. The gospel is true, and only through the Savior we can make it back to live with God again.

Have a great week!

Love you,
Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Um Apóstolo do Senhor

So, this past Saturday we had an amazing day. Our mission received a visit from one of the twelve apostles. It was absolutely amazing. I had the honor of conducting the hymns. I was kind of nervous. I conducted the special musical number that our whole mission sang too. (By the way, Sister Dias told me I was to conduct the musical number the day of the meeting! Good thing I´m pretty well rehearsed in that kind of thing... But nonetheless I was a little nervous and shaky...)
It was really uplifting. I learned a lot and I can´t really share everything that I learned. But I´ll share with you some of the high lights.

So, first off he started with a greeting from President Monson. President Monson told Elder Bednar to tell us that they love us and pray for us. It was a really nice thing. He said that as he was leaving his meeting with the 1st presidency and the quorum of the twelve President Monson stopped him and told him to give us that message.

He said that the Book of Mormon has two underlining themes.

1st - Come unto Christ
2nd - In the Strength of the Lord

We all like to study by topic, which is a good thing, but when we see how topics are related we will truly understand things better. He also said some interesting things about faith, and a praying in faith.

We´ve all heard the prayer at church "please help those who are not here this week that they can be here next week," which he said is a nice and sincere prayer, but is completely lacking in faith. Faith leads to action, so he gave an example like "we´ve noticed that there are many of our brethren missing here today, and we pray that after we leave this meeting to go out and find them and bring them back even though we may be hungry. please help us to have the inspiration to not all end up at the same person´s house." That´s praying in faith.

He also shared some interesting things about the future for when we are parents. It´s interesting to think that as parents your responsibility is to raise our children to leave you, and if they leave you and are unable to fend for themselves you´ve failed as parents. It´s the same thing as missionary work with the people we teach. The people we teach need to learn to rely on the Lord and not on us as missionaries. (you know teach a man to fish verses giving a man a fish) We just show them the way and how to do it.

Missionary work is not so much what you do, but who you are. Be what we preach. Have clean eyes. The natural man is selfish, but the saint turns outwards.

Anyway, there is more that I learned, but as I was learning from Elder Bednar, teaching is more than just talking. It´s 1- listening 2- observing 3- discerning and 4- talking. Those are the steps of teaching.

I´m really grateful for the opportunity I had this past week to learn from an apostle of the Lord. It was truly amazing. We live in a period where prophets and apostles are on the earth. What a blessing it is to have them to guide us and teach us. It´s just one more thing that strengthens my testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ´s true church. God will always guide His people by prophets, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I love you all. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. Have a great week.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Milagres Acontecem de Vez em Quando

I got back to Açailândia on 4:30 am Thursday morning. Our week of missionary work was a few days shorter than normal, but a miracle happened. We´ve been teaching some families and some people recently, and about 90% accepted our invitation to church on Sunday. We had a total of 16 people visiting church on Sunday. I hope they all liked it. We´ll be following up with them this week.

As of the third of November, I will be home in less than two months. Yikes! Time sure is flying fast.

My companion looks more American than I do, and I look more Brazilian than he does. It´s pretty funny. My two previous companions were both American but, like me, don´t look like a "typical" American. You know, blond with blue eyes. Irony.

The whole mission will be going to Teresina this Saturday to have a special meeting with Elder Bednar. I´ve never actually met an apostle before. I´m excited and nervous at the same time. It will be nice though. I look forward to seeing an apostle of the Lord. I´m sure it will be amazing.

I´m grateful for this church. It´s amazing. I know that Christ lives and that only through Him, we can once more live with our Father in Heaven. I hope you have a great week. I´ll tell you about our mission conference next week.

Love,
Elder Samuel H. Chiba

O Último Treinamento

Well folks,

I was traveling all day long yesterday, so I wasn´t able to email you guys. I left Açailândia at 9am and got to Teresina at 9pm. It was a long bus ride. I went all by myself because the Zone Leaders missed the bus that started in Imperatriz and passed through Açailândia, but I made it safe and sound.

So, I´m here in Teresina for the last leadership training of my mission. The trainings only happen once every two months. And two months from now I´ll be home... But they are really nice. It´s an energy and moral booster.

It´s started to rain a little bit lately in Açailândia. It´s been nice. The weather has been cooling down a little bit.

Anyway, my comp and I are making a change in our approach to preaching the gospel. And we´re a lot happier and feel like we´re being more successful. We´re teaching a great family and taught them about temples. How families can be sealed together forever in the temple, as well as baptisms for the dead. We felt the Spirit really strong that day. We also found another nice family recently. Teaching families is the best. Teaching in general is great, but it´s especially nice teaching families. I´m really grateful for this gospel. I know it´s true.

Have a great week. Love you all.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Maribondo

We got two new elders in our district and the sisters were transferred out two weeks ago. Elder Eberhardt and I were working hard and on Friday he got stung by a wasp, which didn't turn out too nicely. But don't worry! He's ok! Well, this week was good. Or it started out nicely. It started to rain a little. It was nice. It´s been very hot lately and the rain cooled the weather down a bit. We woke up in the morning and it was raining and the weather was cool. It was great!

We're teaching a great family! They are really awesome. We gave them a Book of Mormon and they´re reading it! Domingas, the mom, was having a rough day or she was feeling irritated or something, and she decided to read the Book of Mormon. When she read it she felt a lot better! Her husband and two children are great too. They are a very receptive family.

It´s great to see how when people decide to actually read the Book of Mormon it makes a difference in their life. I wish everyone would read it. It truly testifies of Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It´s the proof that God gave us to know that Jesus Christ lives, that we have a modern living prophet, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I hope you're all doing well. I love you all.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Sushi and Onigiri

Today Elder Eberhardt and I made some sort of sushi roll and onigiri. A member in São Luís gave me some nori, that I´ve been saving, and we used it today. It was a great lunch. My companion discovered he really likes onigiri. He said that he is really lucky because he´s one of the few people in this mission that gets to have a Japanese companion.

This past week was "Childrens Day" here in Brazil on the 12 of October. So, happy Children´s day to everyone! or Feliz Dia das Crianças para todos!

Yesterday, was the confirmation of Senior Martins. It was interesting. He´s hard of hearing, and when the bishop called him up to be confirmed he didn´t realize he was being called up, so my comp and I went to get him, and tried to tell him he needed to go up to the pulpit to be confirmed, but you see we tried to do it reverently. So he, being hard of hearing, says "What? I´m half def, can you speak up?" Anyway, you can imagine it was kind of funny. But we brought him up to the front and the bishop confirmed him. It was a really nice confirmation. The bishop here in Açailândia is great! He´s really short, but he has a huge spirit. You can see in his eyes. He´s a really good example of a good church leader. He loves the people and loves the gospel and is really excited about doing the Lord´s work.

Anyway, things are starting to pick up here. We´ve been find and working with some really good families! It´s really nice. We've been teaching a lot about eternal families lately. Families can be together forever. It´s one of the greatest blessing that our Loving Father in Heaven has in store for us. If we are faithful and live His gospel we can live with our families forever. This blessing was restored to the earth once again after the restoration of the gospel and the church of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith.

I love you. I hope you have a great week!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Entrevistas Batismais

So, as a district leader one of my responsibilities is to interview the people who are preparing for baptism. It´s a blessing to be able to do these interviews. There are some people who are really ready and anxious to be baptized others who don´t know that they´re ready and I help them realize they are and then there are others who aren´t ready yet. But it´s been really nice to be able to do this. This past week I was able to do about 4 interviews for the sisters in my district, and 3 people were baptized. All 4 of the people are really great. Anyway, it was a nice week. I hope you all have a good week too. Make sure you read the Book of Mormon this week. I know it is true. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Sapatos

General Conference was greatly rewarding. This time we didn´t have the opportunity to watch it in English, but that´s okay because I understand Portuguese well enough to take notes. I prefer the natural voice, but I was still able to learn a lot. The conference was very spiritually rewarding.

During the break in between the sessions on Sunday we had a baptismal service. An old man whom we have been teaching was baptized, along with a woman and an 8 year old boy that the sisters were teaching. It was a very special day. My companion, Elder Eberhardt is farely new in the field, and it was the first person who he found, taught, and baptized. Everyone was very happy. Senhor Martins, who we baptized on Sunday, has problems in his legs and walks with a cane. Sunday morning he woke up dizzy, but got himself ready and got on the bus to go to conference and his baptism. Talk about an elect of God. We walked him home afterward, and he told us that as soon as he was baptized he didn´t feel dizzy anymore and that he felt great. His wife passed away about 5 years ago. We´re also teaching his daughter and her family who also went to conference and are really liking the church and the gospel. Actually, we´re helping her husband build they´re new house. But they are waiting for the next load of bricks to arrive before we can help out more.

On another note, the shoes and package still haven´t arrived, but good news! A sister here hunted down new shoes for me, and found some in my size. (all the sisters in the ward here were worried about my shoes....) I tell everyone the story of the confusion with the postal service and how I´m just waiting for my new shoes to arrive, but I guess that didn´t work. Anyways, the members here are very supportive and love the missionaries. They take good care of us. I´ve been lucky. All my areas, all the members are really great!

So, it´s been a really good week. Today we made hamburgers(like legit burgers), as a farewell for a sister (Sister Matos from São Paulo) in our district who will be ending her mission next week as well as another elder (Elder Bailey from Salt Lake) in our zone. I really love the missionaries in my mission. I love my mission and the missionaries here too. It´s hard sometimes but, looking back the only things that I really remember are the good moments. I´m learning a lot. A lot about life, a lot about marriage (weird right?) and a lot about the gospel. It´s really a blessing to be here. The world is a lot different than I once thought. My perspective has changed a lot.

Anyway, I´m really grateful to have a modern living prophet. That´s one of the greatest things of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The knowledge that God loves us enough to call a prophet in our day to lead us and guide us. I´m also really grateful for the Book of Mormon, which is the proof of the truthfulness of the gospel and the restoration thereof. I hope everyone is doing well. I encourage you to read the Book of Mormon everyday and find a way to share the gospel with someone. How great would it be knowing that we helped someone else find their way back to live with our Father in Heaven? I love you. Have a great week!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Baptism from conference

Guaraná Jesus (a soda that only exists in Maranhão Brasil)

A Galera Na Praça

So, there is this really nice park/square close to our apartment. It´s a great place to do contacts. We found a large group of teenage boys last week and went marked with them to talk to them another night. We went there and taught about the Plan of Salvation to ten teenagers. We´re going to go there tomorrow night. They all seemed truly interested, not all of them, but the majority. They all asked really good and interesting questions. It was a really cool experience. I hope that they all pray and get answers and follow through until baptism.

We´re also helping one of our investigators build his house. I´ll have to send some pictures next week. Here the houses are made of bricks, but we were working more on the foundation of the house on Saturday. Next time we´re going to start putting the walls up. The work is good here. Things are starting to pick up a bit.

I hope everyone is getting ready for general conference. Make sure you pay attention and take notes. Try to focus on the things that YOU need to improve on, and not on others. We need to fix ourselves before we can help others. I´m really grateful to have a modern living prophet who helps us with our day to day needs and problems. I am truly grateful that the gospel was restored. I love you all! Have a great time watching conference, and be sure to make it your #1 priority this upcoming weekend.

Love,

Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Querida família

Things here are going well. I don´t know if I am allergic to watermelon or if it´s just a coincidence. Last night we ate watermelon and during the middle of the night I threw up! So much for my goal not to throw up during my mission. It´s the second time actually. My comp and I are thinking it was lunch yesterday that made me feel ill. Don´t worry! I´m totally fine! We found a "Bem Vindo a Açailândia" sign (welcome to açailand). So we took advantage of the situation and took a picture. I've also attached a picture of my previous zone, we had a BBQ at our house that day.

Sunday was stake conferece in Imperatriz. Presidente Dias came as well as the area 70 Elder Koch (who is from my companion´s home ward in Santa Catarina Brazil). It was a really good conference. There is always something important to learn. I´ve been reading the Liahona from February this year, it´s really good! I feel like everything in that Liahona are things I need to know! I guess it´s the Ensign back home right? Anyway, I suggest reading the ensign from february 2011.

General Conference is coming up. I hope everyone is excited! I sure am. I´m really grateful for a modern living prophet and for the twelve apostles. They are truly inspired men. I hope you have a great week! This week is going to be great and we are going to find those who are searching for truth! Love you all!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Training is São Luís

This past week I traveled to São Luís by bus for 10 hours for a leadership training. It was a good training. I slept on the bus ride there and the bus ride back to my area. The fun thing about taking long bus rides is that the sweaters that Janet bought me before the mission come in handy. Trainings and bus rides are the only times it gets cold enough to wear a sweater. Thanks sis! Something interesting happened when I got back from the training. I realized that my ankles, feet, and calves were swollen. It was really weird! That has never happened to me that I can remember. I called Sister Dias and she had the Doctor is São Paulo call me. The doctor said it was nothing to worry about and that water likes to accumulate in the lowest part of the body when you don´t do anything. So, he said next time I travel for a long period of time without being able to get up and walk around I should do some exercises every once in a while to keep my circulation going nicely. Anyway, you learn something new every day right?

The work here is good. The people are really open and are really easy to talk to. The trick is now we have to find the people who are looking, rather than trying to convince the people who don´t want anything. So, that´s what we are going to work on a lot this week. Yesterday we took a young member of the church with us to do some visits. It was pretty cool.

I´m really grateful to be here serving the Lord. I´m really happy. I know the gospel is true. I´ve seen , or better yet, I see people change because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It´s amazing. Everything here is building my testimony a lot. I've got just a few months left, but I´m going to make the best of it. I know the Book fo Mormon is true and that it is proof of the true church of Jesus Christ. I love you, and I hope you have a great week!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

p.s. we found a jaca fruit in the street!

Açailândia

Well folks, there has been a transfer and now I am back to Maranhão in the city of Açailândia. I do miss Parnaíba a lot, but it´s in good hands. It's pretty cool here. The dirt is red and it's everywhere! I think I'm getting more acne... So, I'm still a district leader and I've got Sisters in my district again! That's always fun.

Anyway, my new companion is Elder Matheus Eberhardt. He´s really cool. He's from the south of Brazil from the state of Santa Catarina, and guess what?! He surfs! So, that means that he's cool. (he's a real surfer, unlike me who tries to surf and does not do so well, but I'll get the hang of it eventually) We're getting along well. The field is white and we are going to harvest like no one ever has.

By the way, the area here is huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It´s the biggest area I've seen in my mission. Anyway, things are good. The Church is true and the Book of Mormon too! I love you all, thanks for the prayers and all the support! Have a great week!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Luan

Well, this Saturday we had a miracle happen. We´ve been teaching this 16 year old guy named Luan and he decided he wanted to be baptized. So, Saturday he was baptized. He´s a cool kid, pretty shy, but cool. We´re working with his family, they´re all great. His cousin is going to be baptized this Saturday. Other than that there aren´t too many new things going on.

The work is great. I´m happy. I know the church is true. I know the gospel is true. What could be better? Let´s all work a little harder to be more like Christ. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Valda

This past Saturday, we baptized an elderly woman named Valda. She´s very special. When we met her she knew instantly that we were representatives of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Everytime we go to visit her to teach something, her comments are very interesting, and she always asks if what she did was right. And everything that she asks if what she did was right, she acted or reacted the right way. He comments are deep also. She says things and I´m amazed to hear the answers come from her mouth. It´s kind of hard to describe. Anyway, after her baptism she told us "Today, is the best day of my life."

I´m really blessed to be here serving the Lord. Truly following the Savior brings us real happiness. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

Love,
Elder Samuel H. Chiba

An Interesting Baptism

So, this past Saturday a twelve year old rambunctous boy was baptized. The baptismal font was supposed to be full, actually we were worried it was going to be overfull and we rushed to see if it was overflowing. When we got to the church, to our surprise the font was only partially full a little higher than the second step. Fortunately the kid is pretty small so we proceeded forward. In order for him to be fully imersed during the baptism he had to lay completely straight. But we had do it several times because his feet bobbed up. So, for the seventh time I hopped into a white suit really quick in order to help the kid get baptized. My companion baptized him and I had to hold his legs down so they wouldn´t bob up. The poor kid was shaking and was nervous throughout the whole thing, but in the end he didn´t want to get out of the water... Anyway, it was an interesting experience that I wrote down in my journal.

It´s interesting to see the challenges that come up for baptisms. But we have faith and move forward. I know that the gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. The keys of eternal life have been restored, and we can be baptized by the same authority that Jesus Christ was baptized with. The key to know if this is true is to read the Book of Mormon and pray and ask God. I know He answers our sincere prayers. I love you. Have a great week!


-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

The Lord's Hand

It´s interesting to see the hand of the Lord in this great and marvelous latter-day work. I still feel inadequate, but I am a little more willing and able to follow the Lord´s will. Everyday is a new day. The gospel is so precious. I encourage you to read the Book of Mormon. The prophet always councils us to read the Book of Mormon. So, I am just echoing his council.

This week we found a woman who told us that the Holy Ghost told her that we have the answer that she is looking for. I´m glad the Lord is putting His children who are seeking in my path. Anyway, I love you all. I know the Book of Mormon is true and it has power. It contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anyway person who reads it and applies the principles found in the Book of Mormon will inherit eternal life. God loves us and He has a modern living prophet today. Have a great week!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Surprise visit from a 70

We had a surprise visit from an area 70 this week. Elder Araujo. It was really cool. He did a special training just for us in Parnaíba.

Anyway, the Lord really has been blessing us here. We´ve been able to find some very special people. There is a family that we are teaching and they went to church on Sunday and really liked it. Next week they´re going to bring their four children and the grandmother. It´s really interesting to see how the Lord puts people in your path. It´s all for a good reason. We´re all here on earth to learn and grow and to go back to our Father in Heaven. The trick is only few of us know how. For those of us that know the gospel of Jesus Christ it is our duty to help our brothers and sisters find the path back to heaven.

So, I have a challenge for all of you. Because we´re all in this journey/battle/adventure together, lets help as many people as we can. This week and the following weeks until I get home and even continuing after, invite a friend/relative/collegue/co-worker to church. Offer to pick them up and be ready in enough time to pick them up before church so you don´t arrive late.

Something that really made me think during the training with Elder Araujo is that he said that no one knows what the future will hold. There was a story about him in the Ensign/Liahona. He was a less active member, and was out surfing. His bishop went out in the water to bring him to church. Anyway, when he was a little boy he would harass the missionaries and even steal their food, or something like that. Anyway, the elder the baptized him didn´t think to much of him, but look at him now. He´s a general authority. You never know who´s (eternal) life you´ll save by a simple invitation. Don´t ever think that someone isn´t good enough or not worth while. None of us know what the future holds. So, let´s invite. Hike up your pants and step outside your bubble of comfort and invite someone to partake of the fruit of eternal life. The family that I mentioned above is a reference from a member here, who had the courage to open his mouth and invite them to meet with us.

I love this gospel and am really happy to be a living modern witness in word and deed of the Savior. I´m happy to be a missionary. Try it, or if you have already, try it again. I know that God lives and that He has a plan for us. Let´s help everyone else too. I know that we have a living modern prophet and I am so grateful to be a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love you. Have a great week. Make sure to invite someone.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Pioneer Day and Interviews

Hello dear friends and family,

This week was a good one. I meet great people everyday. That´s the blessing of serving a mission. Today or yesterday was pioneer day. So, all of us Elders here in Parnaíba got together today to BBQ or as we say here Churrasco. It was great fun. There was a lot of meat. I´m not the biggest meat eater, but I did eat some. It was tasty.
Last week Presidente Dias came to do the regular interviews. I had a particularly good one. He answered some questions I had weighing on my soul. I´m really greatful for my mission president.
Thank you for all of your prayers and the letters and things you send me. I´m really grateful for all of it. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It´s God´s true church here on earth. It´s the same church that Jesus Christ organized in His time, the only difference is the period of time we live in. I am really grateful to be a missionary.

I love you all.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

p.s. Pictures from my birthday from the previous week. they got a cake made for me. isn´t that great?! it was definitely a favorite birthday, one that I won´t forget.

Birthday Surpresa!

First off, thank you all for the birthday wishes! It truly was a birthday to remember. If it had been up to me, I would have liked for it to come and go unnoticed, but It´s also nice to be acknowledged. I´m really grateful too.

This week was especially nice, not just because of my birthday but because of some people I met this week too. So, Wednesday was my 22nd birthday, and the people here had prepared a surprise birthday gathering for me in the guise of a "Family Home Evening." Actually, Jonathas, whom I had baptized a couple months ago along with some other members, prepared the surprise for me. I felt overwhelmed by grattitude and love. I don´t think I´ve ever had a surprise party. I´d always planned my own parties. This year though I figured wasn´t about me. It was funny, everyone was trying to be sneaky, but I´d figured it out several days prior to the event... I didn´t say anything except for to my companion. It was really really cool. I forgot my camera chord at home today so I don´t have pictures to send. I had gotten there and there were a whole bunch of people waiting. The house was decorated with balloons and a "Happy Birthday" sign written in English. There was a really good cake, some snacks and sodas. I was speechess, and ironically they asked me to give a speech. It´s amazing how much I felt/feel loved for only knowing these people for a few months. I´m really blessed.

Also this week, we found several true seekers of the truth. There is a family and a few others. I felt really blessed to have been able to find them. I know that the gospel is truly what they are searching for and needing in their lives.

I am really grateful to be here. I know the gospel is true and I am so grateful for it. I am grateful for the Savior and His love for me enough to die for me. Thank you all for your love and prayers. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Be of Good Cheer

So, this past week was really good. The training in Teresina was really great. It was great to see the other Elders that I´ve grown to love a lot since the mission. It made me think about the beginning of chapter 17http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/17?lang=eng in Alma where the sons of Mosiah and Alma met up and were all really happy. It was really nice.

Friday and Saturday was the musical put on my the youth here in Parnaíba. It was interesting. The members that were putting it together asked us to help sing the final number which we were able to do Friday, but not on Saturday because it started later and we had to be home by 9:30 at the latest. The musical was about what we believe, based on the 13th article of faithhttp://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng. Before the musical and after our weekly English class, we had a baptismal service for a sister who was really excited to be baptized (the one who had told us the day of her baptism). It was really nice. The Spirit was strong. And my comp (Elder Kim Martinez of Mesa Arizona) and I made chocolate chip cookies. It was delightful.

I learned or realized or remembered something at the training last week that I feel is very important to share with all of you. My mission president, President Dias told us that we can do anything. We litterally can do anything. He showed us this inspirational video of a man who did not have arms, but played the acoustic guitar with his feet and sang miraculously. It was really neat. I think his name is Antonio Melendez, he´s Mexican but lives in the US and speaks english and spanish. Anyway, President Dias said some things that caught my attention. He said basically that the Savior always says things to inspire and help us like "Be of good cheer." or "Be not afraid." Then he said that Satan says the opposite like "You can´t do it." or "You´re not good enough." or "You´ll never be able to..." So, I want you to know that you need not fear and that you CAN. It´s all about will power, desire, work, and faith. You are good enough. You are a child of God. You can. I know that the Savior lives. I know that through Him, all is possible. Literally anything is possible. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we CAN live with God again. I love you. Do not fear, but BE of good cheer.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Training in Teresina

Elder Martinez and Me

Baptism Pictures (Below)

4th of July and back to Teresina real quick...

Well Happy 4th of July!!!

Quick update, I´ll be going to Teresina tomorrow for another leadership training, which I wasn´t expecting (it´s complicated) because until last night I wasn´t in any position of leadership. But now I´m a district leader. Today to commemorate the 4th, me and a couple elders are buying lots of ice cream and watermelon to eat. Tonight we´ll make sloppy joes.

A miracle happened this past weekend. Two of our investigators were baptized. It was beautiful. One is the younger sister of a girl that was baptized in February and the other is the mother of Jonathas who was baptized in May. It was really a very special weekend.

Recently, I´ve been truly realizing the truthfulness/reality of the Plan of Salvation. It´s really been sinking in more and more, and everyday I have a better reason to get up at 6:30 in the morning. I have more of a reason to be a missionary. My whole perspective of being a missionary is changing and I´m truly realizing the importance of this work. I am here to help others find their way onto the path that leads to eternal life. To help my brothers and sisters here find their way back to live with God our Heavenly Father again. I know the gospel is true. I encourage you all to read 2 Nephi chapter 2 http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2?lang=eng.

I hope that we can all make it back to live with our Father in Heaven again. I pray that we do all that we can to live according to the dictates of heaven and have the humility to follow the Lord´s will more than our own. I love you my dear ones.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Different Answers

So, this past week my companion and I fasted so that we could have a baptism. During the week we did all that we could to help someone enter the waters of baptism this past Saturday. Long story short, no one was baptized this last weekend, but the Lord answered our prayers in a different way. Friday morning we contacted a reference we had previously received. She is married to a member of the church here in Parnaiba. When we got there we sat down and barely introduced ourselves, when she said "so, it´s with you that I mark my baptism right? I have a date in mind. Can I be baptized on the 9th of July?" To which we responded, "Sure! Of course!". She is really happy and excited and can´t wait to go to the temple. She also wants to help the rest of her family live the gospel.

So, moral of the story, although we may want certain or specific results or answers, God gives us what He feels is right, and a lot of the time as I have notice the answers to our prayers are different than we expect. I know that God lives and that His plan of happiness is true. Let´s all work to go to the Celestial Kingdom. I love you all. Have a great week!!!

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Things are going better

First off, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!

Things are going better here in good ol´ Parnaiba. E. Martinez is really cool. We´ve been working well together. On Saturday we went to visit an english class a the local university. They asked us questions and we got to share the gospel with them in english. Which I might add is weird. There is a member who takes english there and asked us to visit. There was this girl in the class that was interesting and too flirtatious. She was asking us what we like to do, and if we were single or married, and what we like to do at night. To which we responded accordingly: sing, single, and sleep. To which she was dissappointed. It was interesting... Another girl asked me if I liked the girl who was what call here "sem vergonha" or without shame, to which I said "Não vou responder" I won´t respond/answer. We were talking in English the whole time except for my last comment. It was a funny experience. The other students asked good questions. There was a student that was interested in our work as missionaries and was interested in visiting the church. It´s interesting how things work out.

I´ve been finding out that obedience and work really are what make me happy. I know that the gospel is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true.

-Elder Samuel Chiba

Elder Martinez

Well, hello there. I got my new companion. He´s way cool. His name is Elder Kim Martinez. He´s from Mesa Arizona. We´ve been getting along great. He´s chill and also likes to sing. We´ve been singing together recently in our visits and it´s cool because we can harmonize. He´s my first companion that I can do that with. Things here are moving along. I´m happy and healthy. Just a friendly reminder for anyone that plans on sending a package, make sure the address is in the format below, otherwise the package will be sent back.


Presidente Mário Aparecido Dias
a/c Elder Samuel Chiba
MISSÃO BRASIL TERESINA
CP 2321 - CEP 64001-973
Teresina - PI - Brasil

Letters can be sent to the following:

Elder Samuel Chiba
Missão Brasil Teresina
CP 2321 - CEP 64001-973
Teresina - PI
BRAZIL

I highly recommend reading Jesus The Christ for anyone who hasn´t read it. I´ve been reading about various parables that The Savior taught, and they are humbling and enlightening. Jesus Christ was a very effective teacher. I´ve been studying Jesus the Christ so that I can get to know the Savior better and to learn how He taught in the hopes I can learn from His example. Anyway, I pray that you are all well. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Goodbye E. Cameron

Well, my companion Elder Cameron from Las Vegas is being transfered tomorrow. I wish he didn´t have to go, but that´s mission life. Always trading companions.

This week, I had somewhat of a humbling experience. Something Dad had told me a few weeks ago in an email. That´s probably what helped me be able to really have the experience. We were eating lunch with some members, and the Sister who made lunch for us was telling us about the Elder that taught her. She said that he told her that he was serving his mission because of love. Her eyes were teary and told us about the importance of serving the Lord because of love. Many of us serve because of what others see and judge of us. We seek the approval of others, and yet miss the true meaning and power behind the gospel. That´s what she said basically, or at least that´s what I got out of it. Love, is so important in the work of the Lord. The scriptures in Moroni 7:47-48 talk about the importance of love.

47But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

It´s interesting, in Portuguese, the part that says to pray... with all energy of heart, the verb rogar is used. This verb means to pray but with a pleading feeling. I know that God loves us and expects us to love Him and our neighbors, friends, family, and everyone else. I love you. I hope you´re all doing well.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Leaving the wet season

Well, it´s been getting warmer and dryer everyday. The rain is less frequent, and usually there isn´t any. It´s that time of the year I guess.

The highlight of the week was yesterday at church when our young friend Jonathas was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He´s a great kid. Very relaxed and calm. I kind of see myself in him a little-bit. He wants to be a missionary some day. He´ll have to wait a few more years, but he´s on the path. This week looks like another youth will be baptized. Her name is Patrícia and her sister was recently baptized in February.

Parnaiba is a wonderful place.

I hope you are well. I love you. Don´t forget that the gospel is true. I know living it brings happiness and joy.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

New Arrival

Well this last week, there was a random transfer, and our friend Elder Robertson was transfered out of our house and to another state. We received a new elder in our house. His name is Elder Christian from Sacramento CA!!! Sweet right? I think there are at least 3 Californians here in this mission. (note: I am the first...) Well enough for my pride.

Yesterday was a really special day. Our friend Jonathas of 15 of age was baptized after sacrament meeting. It was a really happy moment. It´s really great to be here in Parnaiba. I hope I can stay for a while. The Lord is blessing the people, the church, and the work here. I hope I can help better. I know the Church is true. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Baptism

The Korokes we made the other week. (Yum!)

Me

Correspondence

Sorry, I forgot to send that last week with the package info update. (See the previous post for an updated address or the side bar to your right.)

Elder Cameron and I have been teaching some great people lately. There is Jonathas and his sister Sara. They are really great people. Jonathas is 15 and Sara is 20. And Jonathas is excited to be baptised on this upcoming Saturday. There is also Iasmim, who we´ve been teaching for a while, she is 16 and is really anxious to be baptized. Seeing her testimony grow these past few weeks has been great. She has even been sharing the gospel with some of her friends and standing up when others make bad comments about the church.

We recently started teaching a man named Marcos, whom we had ran into on the street. It´s more like he found us. He was kind of drunk and asked us for our help overcoming his drinking problem. He told us that his brother was a member of the church but had stopped going to church. He said that when his brother was actively involved in the church his life was great, but when he stopped attending his life and family life went down hill. But Marcos told us how happy his brother was when he was in the church and that he wanted the same thing. We went with him to his house and found his brother-in-law João who was also happy to receive us in their home. A few days later we went back and met with Marcos, João, and their friend Francisco. Then the next visit we met Marcos´ brother Raimundo and Francisco´s mother Francisca.

They are all great people. It´s amazing the way the Lord puts people in our paths. I hope that we can help them all come unto Christ by living the restored gospel. There are many people out there looking for truth and happiness. I know that the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you. Have a great week and look for opportunities to lift others.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

New Address!

Letters:

Elder Samuel Chiba

Missão Brasil Teresina

CP 2321 Teresina - PI

64001-973 Brasil

Packages:

Mario Aparecido Dias

A/C Elder__________

CP 2321 Teresina - PI

64001-973 Brasil

If you do want to send a package to Elder Chiba let a family member in the area know. Chances are they will already be sending something or would be willing to share in postage to join in on your package.

Dia Das Mães

It was good to hear the family's voices for the Mother's Day phone call home.Yesterday marked my second to last phone call home, leaving only about 8 months until I go home. Time sure is flying by fast. I hope I can make the best use of my time here. [Blog posts may be less frequent] Just be sure to know, that I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Rescue

Well, there is this awesome person we´ve been teaching and she was going to be baptized this past weekend, but there were a lot of problems. She and us did everything we could to prepare for the baptism, but in the end it didn´t work out. We´re going to work some more on this.

This past weekend we had the conference of the District of Parnaiba. It was very good. The speakers spoke a lot about rescuing others. There are actually a lot of members here, but there are a lot of people who get baptized and then stop going to church after a short while. My Mission President, Presidente Dias, and his counselor, Presidente Santos gave some particularly good talks in reference to rescuing others and following the Lord. First Presidente Santos talked about the rich young man in the book of Mark.

Mark 10:17-22

17¶And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none ^agood but one, that is, God.

19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit ^aadultery, Do not ^bkill, Do not ^csteal, Do not bear false witness, ^dDefraud not, ^eHonour thy father and mother.

20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and ^agive to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and ^bfollow me.

22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

To this story, Presidente Santos talked about the importance of giving up things that are precious to follow the Lord or submit to His will. Where do our treasures ly? Here or in heaven?

Presidente Dias expanded some more on this subject sharing some scriptures in Matthew chapter 10:37-39

37He that ^aloveth father or mother ^bmore than me is not worthy of me: and he that ^cloveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38And he that taketh not his ^across, and followeth after me, is not ^bworthy of me.

39^aHe that findeth his life shall ^blose it: and he that ^closeth his ^dlife for my sake shall find it.

He talked about how in following Jesus Christ, we usually have to take the "Right" path rather than the "Easy" path. For example, it´s more easy to stay at home rather than go out to visit someone who is in need. For a married couple with problems, usually the easy choice is to divorce, where the right choice is to work. The easy choice in any case in life is often times not what we should do. Where do we keep our treasures? Work is the correct choice, although it may not be the easiest, it is the correct choice.

I still have a lot to learn. I´m really grateful to have a mission president who is so wise. I too need to work on my work ethic. I hope that I can make the correct choice instead of taking the easy way out. Let´s take up our "cross" and build up zion wherever we are. It may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do. If you know someone who is in need, or someone who was at one time actively involved in the Church but isn´t, I encourage you to take the courage to talk to them. I know that Jesus Christ lives. That is why I am here. I hope you have a great week. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Elder Chiba and Elder Cameron

Ovos de Pascoa

Jumping off sand dunes

"CHIBA" in Japanese