What a Glorious Conference Weekend!

Hello, all! I hope that your days are happy, and that you´re finding joy in the simple things. I think that sometimes those simple things are the most important:)

I hope that you all had the privilege of watching General Conference! What a blessing we have, to listen, to watch, and to learn from the words of apostles, prophets, and other divinely-called servants of the Lord! As we hear their words, we hear the voice of the Savior, speaking to us all, each and every one.

It is a blessing for me to see how General Conference works in a foreign country, and in a foreign tongue. Here in Brazil, we watch Conference live. Because of the time difference, this means that we watch the Saturday morning session, which starts at 9 am in my home and 10 am Mountain Standard Time, at 1 pm in the afternoon. We watch the Saturday Afternoon session at 5 pm, which is usually at 1 pm at my home and 2 pm in Salt Lake. The Priesthood session is from 9pm to 11pm here, which is why they record it, and replay it the next morning at 8am, because it is easier for a lot of people. The Sunday sessions are at the same times as the Saturday sessions were.

What a privilege to learn and see that the Lord makes the technology available that all of His children can hear the words of His servants, in their own tongues, and in every part of the world. I was also blessed because I was able to watch nearly all of the sessions in English. I am improving with my understanding of the Portuguese language, and I need all of the practice that I can get, but there really is power in hearing the actual voices and words of the Lord´s servants. I felt the same Spirit that always attends the sessions of General Conference, and I felt the love of the Lord. What a blessing!

It was also cool to see the missionary choir from the Provo MTC. I only felt a little bit jealous, because I was at the MTC in Provo last Conference, and they didn't ask the MTC Choir to come to Conference last October:) But, what an opportunity for those missionaries now! I was also surprised to see a familiar face in the choir: Elder Barber, who is from my stake (or, at least he was from my stake before it split last year). Anyway, it was cool to see his face. I was also extremely surprised to see two familiar and beautiful faces in the audience of the Sunday Afternoon session: my sister Anna and my friend Alicia Brighton! I couldnn't believe my eyes, and I was so happy to see you both! I love you both so much, and I´m glad to know that you got to be there at Conference together. (It´s sort of a continuation of tradition, we all watched Conference together while I was at BYU)

Anyway, I love you all so very much! Keep pushing forward, and remember that the Lord loves us all, and will bless us as we follow Him.

With love always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

I got a really funny eamil from Elder Empey today! I just HAD to Share it!

The MOM comments are in pink...

Mom, I have a confession to make. You will laugh so hard when you hear this...(and I DID laugh hard!)....yes, Mother. I didn't look thoroughly enough when you asked, even though you must have asked me a thousand times, (Actually, only a dozen times..) and I said, ``No, they're not with me," every time. But, this past week, I discovered the truth. How did I discover it? As I attempted to put on on of my pairs of pants, I realized that the waist was quite loose, and that was a bit unusual. Then, as I looked closer, I discovered that they were Van Heusen!. And then, it hit me: the pants that I thought this whole time were another pair of mine are, in fact, not. They are yours, Mom:) (What a hilarious visual!) The pair you told me to keep looking for...I'm sorry:) I'm not sure what it is that you would like me to do with them, because shipping is a bit of a hassle here. Anyway, SURPRISE! I have your pants, and I am very glad to now have a little something to remind me of my wonderful mother:) 

 When we took him to the Provo MTC, we washed his jeans that morning, along with mine.  I reminded him he needed to get them out of the dryer and that my jeans were with his. Somehow, he missed the part about my jeans, and I guess he was saving "that extra pair of pants" to use later.....Surprise! is right! I asked my sister a few times if she had found them in her house somewhere and she never did. That is because they are in Brazil.  I even asked him while he was in Provo.  This just makes me laugh! I told him to think of it as a way I "strengthened" him.....he has had to haul that extra 3 pounds around with him everywhere.  :) SO FUNNY! I am still laughing! I told him to cut off a pocket and keep it with him as a reminder of me...and give or throw the rest away!

As Notícias da Área Parque das Nações, Missão Brazil Fortaleza

Hey, everybody! I hope that your lives are full and happy.

This past week has been a little crazy, but things are moving along here in the area. A few weeks ago, we had a Family Home Evening at the house of our bishop, and the bishop磗 wife brought with her two young nonmembers who live close by. They are siblings, and they have two brothers who are members, but are less-active. Anyway, we have been trying to get a hold of them for this whole week, and we finally were able to talk to the oldest of the two, Larissa, and talk to her mother about teaching her and everything. We will start working with her and her younger brother, Guilherme, this week, and, hopefully, we can help them to become active members of the Church, as well to help their brothers to come back to activity in the Church.

Tonight, we are planning on having a family home evening in the house of Ivis and Lucas, the two young men who were recently baptized. Lucas is going to receive the Aaronic Priesthood here pretty soon:)

I am so excited for General Conference this weekend! I can磘 believe that 6 months have come and gone so quickly. One of the things that I started doing a few years ago was to write down questions that I have, and pray about them starting at least the week before Conference, praying specifically that they might be answered or touched upon in General Conference, and also praying that I can be prepared to receive the answers and direction I need, through the Holy Ghost. I have a testimony that these prayers are answered. One time, I wrote down a whole bunch of questions, but I had one questions specifically relating to personal revelation, and learning to recognize, understand, and follow the whisperings and promptings of the Holy Ghost.

When General Conference started, the very first talk of the entire Conference was by Elder Richard G. Scott, entitled, ``To Acquire Spiritual Guidance创. It was a literal answer to prayer, and that talk have become one of my most favorite talks, and one that I think has influenced me in my life.

So, if you have questions that you need answers to, or things that are pressing upon your mind and heart, I invite you to go to the Lord, and ask Him your questions; ask Him that you might be prepared and ready to receive His guidance that He wants you to receive. And then, as you watch the sessions, pay close attention. You are asking for the Lord to show you the way, and as you ``hunger and thirst after righteousness创 (3 Nephi 12), you will ``be filled with the Holy Ghost创, and your mind and heart with be enlightened with the things that you need to do.

I love you all so very much! How blessed we are to live in a day when we can hear the words of living prophets and apostles, and receive their guidance as if from the lips of the Master Himself. For those of you who are not familiar with General Conference, or the teachings of the Church, you are welcome to attend these meetings. I invite you to ask my Mom or any other member of the Church more, and they will be happy to answer your questions.

I love you all so very much! Trust in the Lord, be humble, and He will ``lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers创 (D&C 112:10). He loves us, and because He loves us, He will show us the way, and help us as we do our best to walk in His way.


Love you all more than words can express,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

March 19, 2012 ~ This Week from Parque das Nações

Hey, everyone!

This week was a bit crazy. So much going on, and my brain is a bit fried, so I don´t remember it all:) But, a few highlights:

The two young men that were baptized two weeks ago were confirmed in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. I think that Lucas, who is twelve, will be receiving the Aaronic Priesthood here pretty quick. I am so excited for them both:)

This week, two Elders from another area moved into our apartment, so now it is three Brazilians and one me! But, it will be good. I am good friends with them both, Elder B. Silva, who is from my group in the CTM, and Elder Lins, who is our district leader. Actually, Elder Lins knows Elder Call really well, and so I´ve talked with him quite a bit about lots of different things.

Our zone changed quite a bit at the transfer. I think that we have three or four Elders being trained, and our zone leaders are now a part of our district. It´ll be great to get to know everyone! One of the Elders being trained is Elder Silvertre. He´s from Bolivia, and he is learning Portuguese just like us! He is speaking a bit in Spanish still, so sometimes I don´t understand what he is saying exactly, but he is a great Elder, and I assured him that he will pick up the language quickly.

Anyway, that´s the week in a nutshell! I love you all very much, and I wish you all the very best. Have a great week!

Love always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

March 12, 2012 ~ Quick! I love you!

Dear Everyone,

This week was a good one, a bit hard, but good. It was actually the last week of the transfer. This next transfer, I will be with my companion that I have now, Elder Moreira Santos.

We are really short on time today, so this email will be short! I've headed to the ``Centro创 of Fortaleza, or the Center, to buy the mission bag that they have here. I've wanting to buy one for a while, and I'm glad to finally have the chance to go get one.

One of the things that I have been thinking a lot about this past week is who we are as representative of Jesus Christ. Not just as missionaries, but as members of His Church. After all, in the part of Mosiah where it talks about our baptismal covenants, it says that we promise to ``stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, an in all places that ye may be in, even until death创 (Mosiah 18:9). Specifically, I've been thinking about the influence we have on others, and the witness that we bare to them, through our daily example and actions. A grand part of being witnesses of God is in the way we speak, the words we use, the way we feel about others, and the way we treat others. When someone is living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, others can see it in their face; they can just tell that something is different about them.

Sometimes, I think we worry about talking to other people about the Gospel, and about being missionaries in our daily lives. I think something that is important to remember, though, is that our example and our love for others has a greater impact than we can even imagine:)

I love you all so very much! Until the next!

Love always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

The Happenings of Parque das Nações

Hey, everybody!

Just a quick look at what happened this past week. We worked really hard to prepare two young men to be baptized, Ivis and Lucas, who are 10 and 12 years old, respectively. They are brothers, and their grandmother and uncle are members. We found out about them because their uncle´s girlfriend is also a member, and she told us that they wanted to be baptized. So, ever since we started teaching them, they´ve wanted to be baptized. They absorbed everything that we taught them, and they really are great young men. We had to get permission from their mother for them to be baptized, and this was the most difficult thing for us. But, we finally got her permission, and I had the privilege of baptizing them both after church yesterday:) What a blessing!

I know that the Church is true, that we are truly led by a living prophet today, and that he is led by Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, who sits at the Head of His Church. What a blessing to live in these, the last days, to have so many blessings at our disposal, and to learn more every day about our Heavenly Father and His will for us.

I love you all so very much! I hope that the weather is warming up for you all, but also that it doesn´t suddenly get to be the temperature there that it is here:) (It´s a little hard to get used to, and also I´d have to take back all of my global warming jokes...;) )

With love always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

February 27, 2012 ~ As Notícias da Minha Área, Parque das Nações

觢a, a gente!

So, I am running out of time (as usual), but there was something really cool that happened this week.

On Thursday, we had a division. I was with Elder B. Silva in the area Parque das Na珲es (Elder B. Silva is from S鉶 Paulo). I was having a hard time figuring out exactly what we should do, and where to go. As we were walking, I looked at the cell phone for some reason, and I realized that it was turned off. I turned in on, and we kept walking. I feel a bunch of buzzing and notifications, but I didn磘 want to open up the cell phone at night while we were walking on the street.

We stopped by a members house, and while we were there, I checked the cell phone. Their were a bunch of text messages that it had received, and nearly all of them were junk texts about some service that wasn磘 working (I think I may have accidently pushed some buttons while it was in my pocket moving around). But, to my surprise, there was a text from the referral secretary, and there was a referral for us! I was glad that the Lord had given us direction that was very specific and clear, and we followed it.

As we walked to get there, I prayed that he would be at home, that we could be able to talk to him, and that we could do something to help him. We got to the place where his house should have been, but the number of his house wasn磘 there. But, we asked the people close by if they knew where ``Johnny创 lived. They looked a little confused, but said that he lived in the next house over. We asked the people there if Johnny was there, and they said, ``You mean Johnathan?创 We said, ``Sure, yeah!创 Who knows, could be! A young man lead us into the house, and called Johnathan: a thirteen-year-old boy. This was probably not the ``Johnny创 we were looking for. But, his dad came into the room and said, ``Hey, Elders!创

Come to find out, his dad, Anthony, had talked to other Elders before. Actually, he had attended church for a few months without being baptized. He is very religious, and was very open to talking to us. We went back a two days later, and talked to him some more. He is a great man, and we will have to see what will happen in the next few weeks.

The thing is this: when I went back there with my companion, we found the house of ``Johnny创: the number on the front was wrong. Because of that mistake, we were able to find Johnathan and Anthony. If it had been written correctly on the front house, we probably wouldn磘 have found about about them that night.

The Lord truly works in mysterious ways! If we are willing to act and do His work, He will put us in the places we need to be, even if we are in the ``wrong创 place!

I love you all so much! Keep moving forward, and never forget that the Lord has great things in store for us:)

Love always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey