Parnaiba 1

Well folks at home, last monday was fun. Monday night Sister Lúcia, Sister Nascimento, and I all received a fone call that we would all be transfered. So, Tuesday morning I grabbed my luggage and went on a long bus ride to Parnaiba in the state of Piaui. Currently I´m serving in the Parnaiba 1st branch, and you´d be surprised at the amount of people who know music. It's great! All of the other areas that I passed by, there weren´t any that knew music. I´m excited. Also, I´m still in a coastal town, so I still get to enjoy the nice ocean breeze. My current companion is Elder Cameron, who is from Las Vegas. He looks Brazilian because he is part Philipino. And I am part Japanese. So, by appearance we look like Brazilians, but unfortunately we still have accents. So, that gives us away. Dang it.

So, when we had our meeting with the branch president yesterday morning, he asked me to give a talk in Sacrament meeting that day. So, I did. That´s the life of a missionary. It´s a good thing that we study everyday. I gave a talk about keeping the commandments. It´s really important and something that all the prophets tell us. Unfortunately, us, humans, forget rather often. The scripture that I read in Alma was in chapter 9 verse 13, which says...

Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: ^aInasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

If we keep the commandments we will prosper, but if not, the Lord will take away His blessings for us. When we keep the commandments, we will draw closer to God. I know the gospel is true. I know that theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His kingdom here on earth. I love you my friends and family.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Surprise Mission Tour

Last Friday we had a surprise Mission Tour. One of the general authorities of Brasil, Elder Godoy the first councelor in the Brasil area Presidency and his wife Sister Godoy, visited our mission. We were advised a week in advance. Which was short notice in comparison with the last one, which we had a month to prepare. So, I had to scramble to get my hair trimmed. Wednesday morning, Sister Dias (the President´s wife) called me and asked me to prepare a musical number to sing on Friday. It was short notice, but I managed. I sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," I added a Portuguese translation, and corrected the translation so that it would have a better meaning. It was fun. There wasn´t time to find an accompanist so I sang a'capella. It went well. The conference went well, and I learned a lot. Right before the conference, Elder Godoy had a meeting with the leadership of our zones. We got to have a small training, a little more intimate, with Elder Godoy. It was very rewarding. The thing now is to put everything that I´ve learned into practice. Which is a little challenging. Also, today I made sushi with the help of my district and some members. It was delicious. (good sushi filling - tuna[from a can], cream cheese, garlic, and carrot. also deep fry it like tempura.)

Recently, I´ve been thinking a lot about the importance of obedience. Especially obedience to the commandments. I started thinking about obedience because of something I read in the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, as well as something I read in the book "Jesus the Christ." There was a scripture I read in Alma, somewhere in the first 1/4 of the book that made me think a lot about the importance of keeping the commandments. Unfortunately, I left my notes at the house, so I´m not sure exactly where it´s at. The part in Jesus the Christ led me to a reference in the Pearl of Great Price in the Book of Abraham 3:25. Which says the following,

25And we will ^aprove them herewith, to see if they will ^bdo all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

It refers to the importance of obedience to God's laws during our life. Our life is a test. Our success in the life depends on our obedience to God´s commandments and His gospel. If we truly live the commandments and apply them in our lives, we will be greately rewarded in the kingdom of our Father. Life is kind of like the olympics, and the three kingdoms that God has prepared for us are like the medals Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Let's all aim for the Gold and do our best to be obedient to will of the Father. Remember,

Alma 34:32-33
32For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

33And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many ^awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not ^bprocrastinate the day of your ^crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the ^dnight of^edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

The prophets have spoken, and still to this day speak. Let´s do our best to earn our great reward. I hope you´re all well.

Love,
Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Graça

I went to Teresina this past week after Carnaval for another leadership training. It was good, I learned a lot. I was able to meet up with some really good friends also.

God´s mercy is not something we can earn, nor is it something that we deserve. But it is His to give us freely. No matter our circumstances, mistakes, sins, and difficulties, He is always waiting to receive us. Our Father in Heaven sent His Only Begotten Son into the world to suffer and die for us.

John 3:16
16¶For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife.

17For God ^asent not his Son into the world to ^bcondemn the world; but that the world through him might be ^csaved.

He suffered every kind of pain and affliction, felt every heartache, every guilt, and took upon himself the sins of the world, so that we might be saved.

Alma 7:11-13

11And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

13Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

We truly don´t deserve what our Savior, Jesus Christ, did for us. But because of His love, He extends His mercy to all those who repent and believe on His name.

Alma 7:14

14Now I say unto you that ye must ^arepent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.

Mosiah 26:30

30Yea, and ^aas often as my people ^brepent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.

As we may all be aware of, there have been disasters happening frequently all over the world. The most recent in Japan. These are all signs of the second coming of the Messiah. We all need to take a look at our lives and see if we are living in harmony with the gospel. We all need to repent of our sins so that we might be lifted up in that great and terrible day. In the book of Alma we learn the importance of repentance.

Alma 34:32-33

32For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

33And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many ^awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not ^bprocrastinate the day of your ^crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the ^dnight of ^edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

Let´s not procrastinate our repentance. Because tomorrow we too could die or lose a loved one. I testify to you that the Atonement, the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ, allows us to be clean from our sins. He lives, and will come again. I love you my dear ones.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba

Carnaval Slums...

Unfortunately, carnaval isn´t the best time of the year. For a lot of people, maybe, but as a servant of the Lord, no. It´s very famous, and one of the main things that Brazil is known for. Unfortunately, we´ve been told to stay in our houses from 5pm until the next day. So, our days to work and share the gospel are shortened. We have lunch appointments with the members, and then we work until we get home at 9. My area here in São Luís is HUGE! It takes a while to walk from appointments. Unfortunately, they´ve not been so steady lately as the have been in the past. I blame Carnaval. But, there is always hope for tomorrow. Actually the day after tomorrow, which is the day after carnaval. Fortunately, we have a lot to take care of at the house. On a good note, we made yakisoba and katsu today at Waldemar´s house.

The world is interesting. It´s morals and values decrease everyday, little by little. People forget or turn away from God, and forget that He is unchangeable and constant. God´s life is infinite, while we have our mortality. Many people like to use the excuse or say that God changes or that laws that applied anciently don´t apply today because the world changed. This is not true. Our Father in Heaven is a God of justice. He will not say to some the importance to keep the commandments and then to others that they don´t need to. God doesn´t change, nor will He. What is wrong or evil will always be. What is good and inpires to do good is of God. I know that God lives. The Book of Mormon is true, and there is no possible way that it cannot be. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba