January 5, 2015

well family this will be the last chance that I have to write you as a full time missionary. haha it hasn't really hit me yet that it is coming to an end but I still 4 more days of work to do! Whoo!


This week we had a great week! Antonio was baptized! he is a great man that is really excited to change his life! When we first met him he was smoking and tipsy because of drink but he and his brother invited us in. We taught them the restoration and when we taught about the first vision and asked Antonio how he felt and said, "I feel really good! that part of the message just made my day!" he now has stopped smoking and drinking and will receive the baptism of fire this sunday! I am Excited for the changes that he has made in his life to be closer to the savior! I truly am greatful for all the support and prayers that I have constantly felt through my mission! I know that I would have never been able to accomplish so much without the faith of you all! I Hope to see you all soon and mom and dad here in a few days! I Love you all and I am excited to see you all!!

with love,
Elder Bell

December 29, 2014

it was great this last week to see and talk to mom, dad, Jon, spencer and kellie! Sadly the whole conference call didn't work out but you will all just have to wait for a few more days! haha so mom and dad some of the things that I would like to pass to you are: 1st off I talked with the secretary of the mission and has told me that President Hathaway has to release by phone for you to come and pick me up. if not then I still have to live at the same standard of missionary life obeying all the rules, so it makes no sense for me not to be released. we also cannot leave the boundaries of the mission. He still has not responded to my first email, So I am going to send another email to president hathaway and the mission is going to call president hathway too because president hathaway has to have a reason why he doesn't want to release me and then we will resolve it. If you would like to call and talk to president hathaway as well would be a good idea. here is the email to the mission office if you need to contact them    2011816@ldschurch.org
 2nd for hotel there is another option. there is a member that he has a nice apartment in the center and  he invited us to just stay there. it has 4 bedrooms and only him and mom live there! throughout the day they are not there because they are working so we would never bother them! they work in the temple, are very faithful members, and they would love to have us. I baptized his soon to be father in law! If you don't like that option then just book the hotel that was recomended. 3rd about consercretated oil, I was thinking vials that are metal that you can put around your keychain! 4th as far as I have found out you don't need to bring your temple clothes here.

I have already gone over time so just to let you know the work is going great you all don't have to worry it will all work out.

Love,
Elder Bell

December 22, 2014

Whooo! it's the most wonderful time of the year! so about the whole release thing, I have to be released to go to the beach with my recent convert that wants to take us there, go to the imax theater that another recent convert wants to take us to. It is true I would have to stay in a white shirt and tie... so I will write him an email and explain to him what we want to do and that I will be in his office on the 20th to talk to him face to face. haha I will talk with him to see the things he is worried about and it will work out. so I will be calling 3 oclock our time, ( which is 11 o clock your time!!) Today send the NAME of the Skype Account that you will use!

So this week was a good week! We had a mission conference, went to the temple with our principles of the gospel class, Hosana and Jeysa were baptized in our ward and I went back to Capão da imbuia to baptize Luciane! I became a little sick and my body is just really tired but I'm just gonna keep working! Something that was truely strengthened this last week was the power that the word of God has! luciane was in a little bit of doubt to be baptized but determined, we started to strenghthen her with the scriptures! Elder hunter, who is in Capão with my last comp, used one verse and it truely changed luciane in that moment! I know that one verse is worth a lot more than 1000 opinions! it gives the strength to silience the tools of satan!
Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— (helaman 3: 29)
I know this to be true! I love all of you and am excited to see you all this thursday!!

love
Elder Bell

December 15, 2014

It was great to receive more emails this week from all of you! I hope everything is going well! Holy crap blake and heather all of your kids are huge! that is crazy to see them so big! haha I haven't even met william yet! haha heather hill is going on a mission! haha In five weeks? ha maybe I will get to say bye to her before she leaves! haha philip will go to chile I think. but is good to know that the ward is cranking out missionaries! there is a lot of work to do! yep elder cobb is the name of one of the secretaries!

I am so grateful that I am back here in the city pinhais! haha the area is awesome! the members are good! And I love my companion! he is great! Elder Romano! haha the zone is going well also! ha the only thing is that we have 5 senior missionaries in our zone and some of them are starting to be really trunky. Ha But I just have to continue onward! I know that when we serve the Lord with all that we have and with good intent, we are blessed with incredible blessings and the greatest happiness that we can receive! I love you all and I hope you all are excited for the 25th!!! haha to think of a time of day that you want me to call and I will call. on monday I will only confirm what time on email, so be ready.

love
elder Bell

December 8, 2014

hey everybody! It was great to here that Mike briggs went stake conference! How was stake conference? I hope to here from all the rest of you this next week! Mom and dad have you already talked to the stake president about releasing me through the telephone on the 10th of january? and what time will you two arrive in curitiba on the 10th of january? the secretary would like to know.

WHOOO I am now back in the city of Pinhais! haha tarumã zone was divided this last week and I am now zone leader of pinhais zone! haha I am now in the emiliano perneta area with a new zone leader elder Romano! he is great! I am going to love this transfer! elder romano is from Argentina and he lives close to the polar ice cap! haha the area is great! Members are good here and I am just really excited! we had a baptism this Sunday and I am excited to just Sprint to the Finish!
1 nephi 13 says the following
 39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books,which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.

 40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records,which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues,and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father,and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him,or they cannot be saved.

it has been so emphasized in our mission to read the book of mormon always. it is a rule that we must read it 30 minutes during personal study and at night before we go to bed! I know that the book of mormon is exactly what these 2 verses say! I know that it is the word of God and truly allow all men to come closer to Christ! Read it every day and strengthen the faith that you already have gained! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,
Elder Bell

December 1, 2014

So I must be short this week because of numbers but this week was freaking awesome! Our Christmas conference was awesome! We also had a good amount of baptisms! I am now being transferred my last transfer! haha I guess I will end up with 3 areas here in Brazil! haha I feeling that I will open up a new zone! Whoo we shall see! I will find out tomorrow! But Wherever I might go, I only know one thing! I am going to do what I have always done! I am going to sprint to the finish line and give it all I've got! I know there are still many people I have to find and help! I know this work is true and I will continue with every fiber of being that I've got left. I know the savior lives and He loves everyone of us! 

love,
Elder Bell 

November 24, 2014

Hey everybody it was great to hear from all of you! Monica I loved the pictures and that is sweet that Heather came to visit! also Whoo hoo mom and dad applied for their visas! ha it won't take long to recieve your visas! haha brazil wants you to spend money in brazil! Mom don't worry you are a great teacher! I would like to thank you for the strength that you constant prayers have given me and your great example that you have been in my life! I know that my drive and love to serve the Lord came from all of you! thank you Mom and Dad and the whole family.  Ella it was great to hear about you being able to see the prophet! I know that the feeling you felt of happiness was the spirit testifying to that you were in the presence of a prophet of God!

I won't lie to you all this week. It was really hard! I am really really tired. ha And the assistents put A TON of PRESSURE for these last few weeks, and it has been very tiring. Also on top of that we have Christmas mission conference and our zone has 2 presentations of music and a play that we are doing! haha that week was just incredibly stressful! We also will have the conference in our chapel and so we were setting up all day today on Pday. haha  I am discouraged but I am exhausted! Pray for me this week that We will have the strength to work hard and find those who are ready to receive the gospel! I know that the Lord lives and as we focus on him, we can have the peace in whatever storm, and he will give the strength to fight for that peace when neccessary!  

Love,
Elder Bell

November 17, 2014

Things are good here in Brazil! The zone is going well, but we can always do better! We are kinda at a plateau with Baptisms! Every week we are having 8 baptisms every week for the last three weeks! We will have to give a little boost for the zone this week! But, Something that is cool that our zone is doing is a play for the Christmas mission conference which will be next week! But the work is going well with elder Arevalo, second transfer together, in our area. Sergio one of our investigators was baptized this last week! It was really cool to see him change! For his work he pushes a handcart and collects things to recycle. Generally, people really look down upon those who do this but I was happy that the lord gave me a better vision of Sergio! I know that truly the power of the atonement is real and is readily available to all those who are willing to simply follow!

Love,

Elder Bell  

I didn't find out anyhting about hotels this week and Sister Monteiro didn't really know what vaccines you should take. I really don't think you need them, but do what you two think is right! 

Ps Everyone write me please when you are all together for thanksgiving! and send pictures too!

November 10, 2014

Whoo! I will let the secretaries know! I think I still have an adapter for the power, but the majority of the inputs have for both but I will ask! the energy is reliable here. also  I will ask round for a good hotel to stay in! haha everyone will just say but you can just stay with us! Brasilians are so nice! But I will let them know that we need a hotel. Personally about shots, Nobody has gotten yellow fever in our mission because we are not in the amazons but I will ask sister monteiro what she thinks about the local things that you should be prepared for!

This week went by really well! I know that the lord really prepares people! We baptized a woman that had had dreams about the spirit world and the first time we taught her she had a dream with a painting of christ that we used in the lesson! I was a great experience! I know that Lord truly works non stop to help his children progress on this earth! We just simply need to allow him work in our lives! With personal study of the scriptures he writes personal letters for all of us daily. with prayer brings the comfort of the spirit and with serving others he brings the happiness that his plan has to offer! I hope we all can continue the small and simple things! 

Love 

Elder Bell

November 3, 2014

Hey everybody! things are going well here! Mom and Dad, I am really excited for you two to come down! haha let me know whatever I can do to help! I am sorry if you misunderstood what I said about where I am at. ha I am still in the same zone since the very beginning! my first area was pinhais and I was there 10 and half months. I left Pinhais in May and I am still in my second area, Capão da Imbuia, as Zone leader. So I have been in Capão da Imbuia for 6 months! haha I am known as elder fica or Elder stay in the same place. haha But things are going great here! This transfer we have a Awesome group of missionaries! Almost all of the Sister trainer leaders of the mission are in our zone!

Something that the lord helped me to remember this week was to TRULY listen with love! The lord really inspires when we dig deep to help those we serve! Then as we come to know every soul, We can teach to touch somebody's heart with the spirit as we teach!

love you all,

Elder Bell

October 27, 2014

Whoo Hoo Spencer and Kellie!!! I hope that you 4 are doing okay because I know now there is ALOT for you 2 to do! But I know that the Lord is truly by your side and Will help you two have the strength that you need to be a good Mom and Dad! my Favorite scripture of all scripture says the following And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 corinthians 12:9-10) 

 I know that our as we have our weaknesses in trails and changes, we have the chance to truly come to know the enabling power of the Atonement or grace work in our lives! 

This week was a good week! we worked really hard! 2 weeks ago we didn't bring anyone to church and so we were knocking doors during gospel principles and still nothing. when we entered into sacrament meeting, there were just two men that just were there. We talked with one after sacrament meeting and he watched a baptism in another ward and decided that he wanted to be baptized! he was Baptized this Sunday! I truly know that in whatever form the Lord has called us, if we fulfill with faith and works, We will be able to accomplish it! I know the savior lives and truly is by our side!

Love 

Elder Bell

October 20, 2014

Sadly once more the numbers have taken all of my time! But you know what that means? We had a lot of success this week! 13 baptisms and 12 confirmations. I am eternally grateful for your prayers and mom and dad let me know how things are going with coming here!

I love you all! 

Elder Bell

October 13, 2014

the only reason that we need to talk to presidente before is for him not to book my flight! the airport that you will fly into is in the city são Jose dos Pinhais but it is practically the airport of curitiba because it is just on the side of Curtiba. the other thing is that to travel in the city curitiba, you don't have to worry about transport. we can use the bus! but to go to Iguaçu falls, the worlds largest waterfall, it is a little trip. also I have a family that already said that they will take us to the beach! ha we can eat just fine here! food is not expensive. you should get the same shots that I got. WHOO 2 NEW BELL BOYS!! I am really excited to see the pictures!!!

This week was a pretty tough week! We worked and worked and worked and did not have much success this week! ha but our zone had great success this week! I think that the Lord is just helping me be more humble! I know that Humility is the key to have a good life! I have learned alot as I read in Ether this week that it is so easy for all men to fall because of pride! I truly know that we must strive to remember the lord in all things! if we don't do so, we leave space for the enemy to work! May we all be Humble and follow the savior's will! I love you all and I hope you have a good week!

Love,
Elder Bell

October 6, 2014

Conference was great wasn't it!? haha Conference is like the super bowl for missionaries!  I love your idea to come and pick me up!!!! that would be Awesome! Haha I already have 2 families that already said if your family comes to pick you up, we will take you to the beautiful beaches in Santa Cantarina! Also in the state that I am in Parana. there are Iguaçu falls which is the largest waterfall in the world! ha so.. it would be great! The date that I finish my mission is the 11th of January. I thought it would be in February but nope.. I know that many missionaries have stayed awhile after the mission when there parents came and got them. I will ask how it works.

I Loved conference! It strengthed my testimony about President Monson and how he truly is a prophet of God! Also Elder Anderson's talk gave a lot of comfort about the increased opposition that is appearing about the Prophet Joesph Smith! I know that Joesph Smith is a Prophet of God! It truly is IMPOSSIBLE to deny the fruits that the Lord Gave Him! Elder Anderson also gave a Key to avoid our doubts. Attend the temple and work with sealings and Read the Book of Mormon! I Know with certainty that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Also about having Elder Goodoy speak in Portuguese in conference was really awesome! Haha in our chapel we had the church news and they interviewed me about what I thought about it. haha But as for the work, Satan worked really hard this week to stop everyone from being baptized and watching conference! But I know that The Lord is stronger than the enemy and Through our faith and search to do his will, We will prevail!

Love,
Elder Bell  

September 29, 2014

This week I have time to write! Whoo HOO! I am happy to hear that face is healing up fine dad! Jon I will keep you in my prayers that the pressure sore heals up! Ryan thanks for the email! I know that truly the mission is the most powerful experience i have had so far in my life! Good to hear that addie and gracie are helping with the baby! ha My health is great and I would love to receive some funds in my account!

This last week was really good! Elder Arevalo and I are working well together! He is from peru and has 1 year and 4 months on the mission. He had been serving in Ponta Grossa which is far away city! so I never knew him before. We had a Baptism! Whoo! Her name is Ana and I thought that she was already a member! haha She was incredibly prepared and In Her interview she taught the district leader everything! he left the interview and said, " wow she called me to repentance and to live a better life!" haha Fernando is now the first counselor in the elder's quorum! And evelin has a calling in the young women! She was baptized a month ago! I know I am not a dad yet but i imagine that the feeling of seeing your children grow is a lot like the happiness that you have when your recent converts progress! I am soo thankful for this work! I Love my savior for his strength and cure that he brings into my life and the Lives of others!

Love,
Elder Bell  

September 22, 2014

So I will have to be short this week because of the numbers... but I am doing great! Elder Arévalo and I are in the process of becoming one! I have been learning a lot with him because we are so very different from each other. Thank you dad for your words on prayer! I think that I will use it in for our meeting with the missionaries tomorrow! Thank you for all of your love and support! Please write me this next sunday because I will have time to respond! Mindy, Ryan, Spencer, Jon... I would love to hear from all of you Especially!

Love Elder Bell

September 15, 2014

Alright well I am very greatful to hear that dad is doing better! Three weeks! WHOO KELLIE it is coming up! Will they be two baby boys, girls, or a boy and a girl? It would be lovely to hear from you, spencer and kellie. Dad you asked about those withdrawals this last week right? two times I had to pay for medicine. One when elder Lima was sick and One when I was sick. Also I bought a new bag and scripture cases so that is where the money went.

ha for the first transfer in 10 months I don't have a greenie. :( ha I will miss the greenie fire. Now I am with Elder Arevalo. He was in Ponta Grosa, a distant city for one year. ha I had never met him before. He is from Peru and has a year and 4 months on the mission.  so this week we had a Seventy that came and visited our stake! It was great! He motivated the members a lot to do Missionary work!!! He also talked a lot about couple missionaries! We now have a couple missionary that is serving in our mission! But Also another cool Fact FERNANDO, Who was baptized last month, and 7 other members of our ward received the Holy Priesthood!! because he had been attending church for 5 months, the bishop felt that Fernando had been well prepared! It just makes me soo happy! The seventy participated in his ordination. He is such a great man and friend! He will serve the Lord very well! Julia, his daughter, always wanted a priesthood man in her home and now the Lord has blessed her with that! I know that The Lord continues forth in his work. As we exercise our faith everyday, Miracles happen with his aid that he gives. We simple need to recognize them! I love you all and hope to hear from you all next week!

Love,
Elder Bell
Ps I will send other photos next week. One of my SD cards has a virus.

September 9, 2014

thank you so much, all of you that wrote this last week! I loved the pictures Monica! Hudson is so cute! and don't that you freak out about the whole bus thing! haha That just means you are a good Mom! Dad haha I happy to hear about your positive thinking! the part swears would be a great a part to loose! haha I will keep you in my prayers and I know that the lord will bless you!

I am very sad this week because elder Lima is leaving Capão. He is being transferred this week. The Zone Had the Best month ever this august with 48 baptisms! I am grateful for the wonderful missionaries in our zone and that I have the Chance to be their leader for one more transfer! But I will really miss elder lima. We worked so well together!!!! But such is life and I will receive my new comp tomorrow and Elder Wright will form a new set here in the same area! It will be great! This week we took 2 of our recent converts to visit the grounds of the temple and Teach there! It was such a great experience! There was a wonderful mom and daughter that were baptized this week! I know that all these blessing truly came from the savior and I am humbled to see all the miracles that have come to pass in these past few weeks! I know that the Lords work continues to move forward and I am so glad to be a part of it! I know that without him I am nothing, But I am SOO very happy that these people have started on the path to come to know the savior! May we strive to continue to come to know him.

Love,
Elder Bell

September 2, 2014

It was really great to hear from all of you this week! thanks for the update about the kids heather! I bet it is alot easier with all the kids starting up school! haha And it is good that you're friend is going to church! Have they met the missionaries yet? Sister Cropper from your ward returned home this last week. With mike, here are some scriptures you can help mike understand the importance of not drinking. Alma 34: 34-36

This week was filled with many more miracles! The Lord is so involved in this work and I know that he is in every step! This Ward is awesome! We had 3 baptisms in our ward this week and all of them were referrals!!! I know truly the work is moving forward and that the Lord is truly at the head of this work! I know that only through him and the spirit are brought into the fold! I must be short because of the time but I know that the savior lives!

Love
Elder Bell

August 25, 2014

Well I hope that everyone is doing okay. I received an email from Monica and my new nephew is here!! Whoo! Just don't let him learn ryan's grumpy face!

this week was a week filled with miracles! Fernando was baptized and confirmed! He had attending church for 6 months with his daughter! My testimony was definitely strengthened about the power of the Book of Mormon! He read the entire book and He knows that without a doubt it is true! It truly changed his countenance which led him to the waters of baptism! Elder Miller and I were able to teach him for the first time in June! It was a powerful experience to teach him!! He will be bishop! Ha he came to church yesterday with a white shirt, suit and tie! haha The Other is Evelin! She is an incredible person! 2 weeks ago she was praying for the Lord to give her a path to take and the next day we knocked her door and asked for a cup of water! we talked with her in the door and she accepted to visit church! the first Sunday in sacrament meeting she asked, "what do I need to do to be baptized in this church?" we taught her afterwards the restoration that Sunday and this Sunday she was baptized! I am so grateful that I have a chance to help the Lord in this glorious work. I learned something incredibly important this week! In 3 Nephi 17 the Savior finishes his teachings and invites the people to return to their homes and ponder. he then says to that he needs to leave and the people started to weep. The Lord then was filled with compassion and healed all their sick and afflicted, and prayed for their children. sometimes as missionaries or as members we sometimes visit others teach the doctrine and that's all. But With the example that the Savior gives, I learned that we can go just a little further and truly mark others for life with the pure Love that the savior wants us to have!! I love you all and hope that I can hear from you all next week! 

Love Elder Bell