January 27, 2014

Hello everybody! I hope that everyone's week was good this past week! I was happy to hear from Dad and Kellie this week! Dad thank you for your thoughts on the fall and the Atonement! He suffered all so that we can return and all have a choice! Be careful this Tuesday on your travels! The Brazilians here are just talking how the united states is being pounded by snow freezing temps. I don't know if that is true but be careful! I am sorry to hear that Kellie is the healthiest sick person in Idaho! Ha you might have this problem every winter with your germ carrying 5th graders. haha Kellie the talk is called Hasten the Lord's game plan! by elder neilsen! (exclamation point) It really gives a game plan for members to help with missionary work! It is great! I am always reading the liahona on the bus so I have already read alot of the conference talks already.  

This week was a crazy week! We witnessed a miracle in our zone! Our zone had 20 baptisms in one week! I humbly know that the Lord is hasten HIS WORK. When I was still in New York, we had the worldwide leadership conference for new mission presidents. The spirit whispered to me "Elder Bell, this will go really fast. You just need to hold on!" I know that this promise is being fulfilled! It can be realized as we do two things! First, we must have our eyes focused on eternal life! in john 17:3 it says, "and this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." the way we will begin to obtain eternal life is to "know" our Savior and our Father here on earth. It starts now and through our simple and constant acts of righteousness we will know them! Second, Always preach the gospel in everything we do and say! The opportunities will always come as we search to share the gospel! I know my Savior lives and he is calling for us to share what we hold dear and bring others unto him! I love him and hope that I can continue to serve him with all that I have! 

May the Lord Bless you all,

Elder Bell   

January 20, 2014

I am grateful to hear that Jon is doing better! Thank you for letting me know! I did receive the package! ha there was only one problem. the post office held it hostage and I had to pay 60 bucks to receive it. haha you have to love political corruption! but thank you for the ties and shirts. I am actually using them today. Ryan thank you for your words of advice! I will do my best to double my efforts to bring souls unto my savior! Monica, I still cannot believe that Addie is in preschool! That is so weird to think and haha good luck on the potty training! haha I would love to hear from the rest of you!

Well today actually we had another surprise! Whoo now we have 2 sets of missionaries in our area! My son is now with a new companion and I received a new greeny! Whoo whoo! haha It is great! It has always been my goal to have 2 sets of missionaries! There is also something else that I reflected a lot this past week! When elder Junot of the seventy was here, He said a phrase that has really stuck in my mind! The best way to grow our faith in the savior is obedience. I have come to know this to be true! All throughout our trails and difficulties, we have to ask ourselves, "What commandment can I obey better?" I know that through this as we show our faith and obey to continue on our quest to become like our Father in heaven, we will receive the power of the Atonement in our lives! May we better ourselves each and everyday!

Love Elder Bell    

January 13, 2014

Whoo! it was great to hear from those who wrote this week! Dad my health is great! haha you'll never have to worry about me not eating! continue to have hope for Mike! Jon I am continually praying for you to get better! MINDY wrote me! WHOOO ha thank you for your testimony and know that the power of prayer is real! I feel you prayers daily! Heather it is great to hear that the bells of Iowa are ringing true, haha ringing,  in missionary work! Hailey is going to be NINE? what is this? haha ah oh well! Myara, not mayram, has received much comfort through the plan of salvation! Gil had some opposition this week! And so did Patrick! continue to pray for them as well as pray for Jennifer and her mother, and Andre that they can be baptized this coming sunday!

 I am still in the same area with my son Élder Periera! Oh and I am a district leader now! I guess the Lord wants me to repent just that much more! haha But I am grateful to be an instrument in the hands of the lord and to serve other missionaries! This week was about the Atonement. I well never forget the greatest gift that I have received in my life! Forgiveness. forgiveness for all that I have done wrong and that I get up and always continue forward! to be forgiven our savior paid with everything he had even his life! I truly stand all amazed at all he has done for me and continues to do! May we stand at all times for him. know that unlike him we will not have to stand completely and utterly alone. he will be on our right and on our left and he truly will go with us in all things as we stand with him! I love him! May we remember him this week and forever! 

Love Elder Bell  

January 6, 2014

Hey everyone! Thank you so very much those who wrote me this last week! I was thankful to hear that Ella had a good christmas with her dad, and that Jon is still as techy tech as ever! haha He was able to enjoy a little facetime with blake! Know that I am praying for you to get better!!! but most importantly thanks mom for your email! Yours always give a great strength to continue onward! Your right we have the best family in the world! during my service in Brazil and New York, I have come to treasure the family that I have been blessed with! The Good brothers and sister that I have that are constantly praying for me to continue onward! I am so greatful that we all have a knowledge of the gospel and I strive "without ceasing " as alma the younger did to bring souls to the same knowledge that we have! thank you for that reminder mom! No my package has not arrived yet but it has 2 chances to arrive this week! if not this week I'll just have to wait until next week! this WEEK I humbly ask for prayers for Gil, that he will accept to be baptized, Mayram, That the plan of salvation will help receive peace for her fathers death and that she can be baptized, AND Patrick, new patrick, that he can understand the restoration! Pray that we can continualy find those who are ready to receive the gospel now.

this week was a week of rememberence. a rememberence of how much time I have left! This next week I will have 11 months on the mission! This Year has gone by in an instant! I can't believe that I only have 13 months left! I want us all to remember how time can easily pass and leave us on the side of the road! If we allow it, time can rob us of our potential, and how divine is our potential? I know that all of us are children of our Heavenly Father! Our potential to do good, to change the lives of others, and to follow the savior is as great as we will permit it to be! This year, I hope we can all grow our capacity to act in righteousness and DO as the Lord has commanded. I know our happiness will grow in the work that the has for us to do, and more importantly, we will know him! Moroni 7:48
I love you all and may you let the Lord Bless you,
Elder Bell