New Missionaries

February 24, 2015

Receiving new missionaries is one of our favorite days, not just for President and I but all the missionaries.   Love to pick up our new missionaries as they arrive in the Mission.

 arriving at the airport (above)

Orientation in the Mission Office (below)

Departing Missionaries

February 23, 2015

It is always hard to say good-bye to our missionaries.  This group is no exception.  They have served the Lord with all their heart, might, mind and strength.  We are so proud of them.  We miss them already.  This mission will miss them!

One of the Elders left us a letter and I want to share a portion of it.
 " Although the growth of the Church has been impressive, the real miracles occur inside of every missionary who truly dedicated himself to the work.  I have grown so much spiritually?  ..... Throughout my Mission I have always asked myself, "What is the key to success.... and to be a successful Missionary?    I thought if I worked twice has hard ..I would have twice the baptisms.  Finally it occurred to me 2 weeks ago that a successful missionary and the greatest baptizer aren't always the same person.  A successful missionary is a missionary who changes his heart, or, who repents"  "The Lord wants us to prepare ourselves for a lifetime of dedicated service to him" .  "All the hard work has refined me so that I might be a useful instrument in his hands the rest of my life.  That is the real success of a Mission".  3 Nephi 5:13 "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have

another Elder wrote this:
A mission is not unlike our lives here on earth.  It is a very short time when compared to the rest of our lives,  but has a huge influence on who we are and who we become.  The choices we make now will have eternal consequences in the life to come.  If we can't give our all for these short two years,(or for these short few we have on this earth) how will we be able to give our all during our eternal life?
2 Nephi 31:19-20
" And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into the strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay!  for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men, wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

We are so proud and pleased with our missionaries!  I know that the Lord is too.  They are great ym, yw, leaders and have served valiantly!  Before they leave the Mission I ask them to write their testimony.  I will bring home binders full of the testimonies of our missionaries.  It is a treasure.   We hope someday we see many of them again and wish them all the best!   

 l-r back row  Elders Watchman, Payne, Mayolo, Rasmussen, Santana, Jackson and Bonaro.  Sister Thedell sitting in front

São Paulo Temple

February 20, 2015

Belesa! 

February 20, 2015

Two of our Missionaries who are now home came to see us in SP!  Rolim and T. Nacimento!

We were so thrilled to see them.  Both were leaders and assistance in the Mission! 

Mission Presidents Seminar

São Paulo, Brasil

February 19-22

Arriving a day early, President and I attended a session in the São Paulo Temple.  We were in a session with missionaries from the MTC in SP!  While in the Temple we see one of our Missionaries.  Natan Gonçalves.  Natan has been home for about 2 years and is married now.  We met his wife and her mother.  What a thrill to see him again!

He served as one of our Assistance.

Natan said while in the Temple he asked the front desk "Are there any Mission Presidents here?"  The front desk clerk replied "only one, Cuiaba"  Natan immediately found President Reber in the locker room!  It was so awesome!

 Natan Gonçalves, one of our missionaries! (above)

Natan Gonçalves, his wife and her mother(below)

Our friends Kevin and Debbie Ence
meeting our Senior Couples in the Office 

February 12, 2015

 February 12-18, 2015

Welcomed our friends to Cuiabá.  Kevin and Debbie Ence are good friends of ours.  Kevin is an Area 70 in the Church in UT.   Not planning , their visit was the week of the holiday of Carnival.  During Carnival the Stakes do their Youth Conferences. Kevin and Debbie, their visit was not a Church Assignment but once the word got out that we had a Visiting 70, we were asked to come and speak.    We had the privilege of speaking at 2 Youth Conferences (One in Rondonopolis and the other in Cuiabá).  and 1 Sacrament meeting with Group in Campo Verde.  We share a great week with them!

Group in Campo Verde (above)

February 15, 2015

with the Elders in Campo Verde (below)

 da Silva family in Campo Verde!  Love this family!

Elder Friedel.  He is from St. George (above)

with the missionaries in Rondonopolis (below)

Youth Conference with the Single Adults in Cuiabá!

February 13, 2105 (below)

Ponta Pora Stake Couples Activity! 

January 31, 2015

The Ponta Pora Stake planned an activity with couples. They invited us to come so we traveled down to PP. ( by car it is a 20 hr drive, by Air 1 hr flight + 5 hr drive). Pres and Sis. Oliveira traveled down with us. The Stake activity took us into Paraguay where there is a beautiful water fall and country. There is a ropes course in the trees and the whole day was amazing. When we got there the Oliveira's were not going to do the ropes course but I was not going to miss so they decided to do.   It was not a regret!  Great Stake Activity with Couples.  Very well planned with Inspirational thoughts along the way.  About 100 couples participated.

Mission Story 
January 2015

Every year there are Temple excursions planned for the members of the Church who live in District Areas and Stakes here.  This experience took place in the District of Sorriso (Sinop, Sorriso and Lucas)  In the Bus there are only available 65 seats so the Bus fills up fast of those wanting to go to the Temple.  To travel by bus from Sinop to São Paulo is a 28-30 hrs. The Branch President of Sinop last year, had the impression to invite one of the members on the Bus Excursion.  I don't know his name, so we will refer to him as Juan.  When the Branch President approached Juan with this invitation,  his reply was "Well President, I can not go, I am smoking".  The Branch President was aware of the man's smoking habit but still extending the offer for him to go.   Some of the members of the Branch criticized the Branch President saying that this man was using up a seat on the Bus that should have been offered to other Recommend Holders.  Juan asked the Branch President:  I can not go inside the Temple so what will I do if I go?"  Well, the Branch President said "Everyday you can Walk to the Temple and walk up to the Front Door of the Temple".   The next day you can walk to the Temple and walk up to the front door of the Temple.   "That is what you can do, said the Branch President."  Juan accepted the invitation to go on the Temple Bus Exursion.  While all the others were inside the Temple, everyday Juan would walk up to the Front Door of the Temple.  He walked all around the Temple everyday, never able to go inside the Temple. That was last year.  This year Juan went on the Bus Excusion to the Temple, only this year he had a Temple Recommend.   This year he took his family and they were sealed together. An Eternal Family.   The District President "President Andre, was telling President Reber of this experience, As he was doing so, he became overcome with emotion and unable to talk". After regaining his composure he was able to finish telling of this experience.  President Andre said to President Reber "I have learned never to question the inspiration that is given to a Branch President!  This Branch President was inspired to invite this man on the Temple Excursion for a reason.  The Spirit of the Lord is felt on the grounds of the Temple and in His Holy House.   Just from an invitation of an inspired Branch President a family this year was sealed in the Temple!  What a beautiful story.

January 31, 2015

This is Clodoaldoe. He was taught by Sisters Pence and Kimball in Dourados. He was Baptized 10 months ago and will be married to this cute girl in the São Paulo Temple in 2 months. We met him while in Ponta Pora at a Stake Activity.  We love to meet people that our missionaries have taught and baptized!  Very proud of our Mission!  

Our 4 Assistance!

January 2015

l-r Elder Johnson, Elder Leão (in the South) Elder Zárate and Elder França (in the North)
These 4 Elder's work closely together with President Reber in preparing the trainings!  They are wonderful Elders!

Training with our District Leaders in the South!
February 3, 2015