Ha heyya Mamãe!

Ha, you know it! Of course I enjoyed singing that song (There is Sunshine in my Soul). I was with 4 other Americans in a small little room, but I belted out that song! Ha, I sure am a loud singer... have I always been? But yes, it’s good to be able to sing my theme-hymn in English after so much time. I even commented to the Elders, I bet my Mom is crying right now, maybe you didn’t, you have gotten a little tougher haven’t ya? A little more ready for when we send Riley off!

I loved Conference... of course!! I have always said that Conference is the closest thing to a Holiday Break that we get here on the mish, for a weekend we just have to take people to church and let the Apostles and Prophets do all the work. I felt a little bit bad though because last conference I used the opportunity to answer the questions of my investigators, but this week I basically didn’t even know anyone or our investigators, so I just had to encourage the Elders in the Zone to do so.

It was cool because Friday, I did my first split in the last 3 months, Wow, I forgot  how much I freakin love splits. The Assistants (One being Elder Galves now) came here to help Elder Wadsworth find a new house, so we could put some Sisters here in the zone. (The mission is going crazy because we will have 58 new missionaries in the next two transfers and we don’t even have houses to put them in) And I stayed with Elder Pedrosa, and we passed a bunch of his investigators to invite to Conference. But something interesting happened. As we were passing everyone, I felt inspired to also invite everyone to baptism and mark a baptismal date. So I did and I marked baptisms for 4 different people. I have never really been so bold like that, I believe that it comes with being a leader. Sometimes God empowers you to be the example He needs to give to others. It was great to see how because of this good work, Elder Wadsworth & Elder Pedrosa took more investigators to Conference then the whole Zone put together! It is great because they were getting a bit discouraged but I hope this lifts up their faith.

As for me, I feel like we could of done more. I will have to really pump some good work in this week. I felt like this last week we were doing more visiting or you could say "Home Teaching" (Arrive, chat, chat, chat, short message, tchau) than actually preaching. But it’ll work out. I also went to a counsel of the leadership of the mission, and it was super sweet. (I felt like I was part of a 'Jedi Counsel')  As for Conference itself, I had a lot of answers as well. I found a good theme of  Priesthood Power and My Load is Light. Two things I was looking for. It was cool because Tiara showed up there as well, she even tried to watch a bit in English. She’s awesome. 

I guess I could tell you a bit about my Companion, Elder John Taylor Soares. He is a short, little, but very cool sly guy. He has a very dry humor and he likes to chat on the phone at night. He has 1 year and 8 months on the mission and we are getting along really well. He is a good companion. I like him.

By the way I would like to follow-up on my challenge to all of you that I made a little while back about you all having personal missionary moments. Did you not listen to Conference! You guys need to get in there as well! Elder Ballard’s talk was very good. Don’t be scared to pray for missionary moments knowing that you will receive them.

I love you guys and keep me updated with everything! 

Tchau Minha Família Eterna!

-Élder Zachary Cetraro

…As for the work, this week was actually a very, very different week for us. It was kind of refreshing, ya know? I felt inspired in our weekly planning on Tuesday just to focus EVERYTHING on General Conference this week. So we made a HUGE list of everyone we knew. From our investigators now, to our old investigators, to less active members and also very active members. We wanted to give everyone the chance and the invite to hear the Prophet’s voice. We invited many members to do as we were doing and try to bring someone to Conference. I felt a renewed force inside me while we did this and I know that God was happy that I was reaching out to ALL His children. I also was very surprised that I haven’t included the General Conference talks into my study. I did like 2 weeks straight of studying the talks after the last Conference but then I burned out. I will definitely plan my study to be better these next 6 months and try to use as much as I can out of the new talks we received this last week. WOW it was good, and I felt prayers answered in every talk. It’s awesome when you have your mind on helping others because you really do see and LEARN a whole lot more. My challenge to my family is to do at least 1 FHE every month and to go over a Conference talk and really try to apply it in your lives. I know we need these things in our lives, but it requires a little more than just listening to it a couple of times; but discussing and setting goals, and many other things to study it out.

As for those two other ladies, Mom thank you so much for your prayers and I credit all the good things that happened to them this week to you. Lucia, the Mom of our Sunday school teacher actually went to 2 sessions. (Which is tough for even active members here) We only planned Sunday night, but she went to Saturday night and the first two talks were very clear for her. Lindalva went as well Sunday, but I know this week we are going to work hard to help the two recognize their answers. Besides that though, we had a couple surprises that I sent in these photos. One was a family that we stopped teaching a while ago. They ended up going! Also we had these two men come who I hope we will baptize next week. Ha, they came more dressed up than we did! The older man Francisco is going to be the next Bishop, omgosh, he is so good. And this member girl invited two elects to church and we taught them the BEST 2 Restoration lessons I think we have ever taught. Wellington, the tall model looking guy got baptized and he went to every session! Pedro is planning on being baptized next week. But it is amazing what a little invite can do right?

But yeah, good stuff.

BOO YEAA!! =)

I love you Mom, I love my Family, I love my Life, and I love the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY =D

-Elder Cetraro

October 8, 2012

Heyyyoo family! =) I am better, don´t you worry!! I think I learned that it is important to be grateful for health now! Everything is good. This week was great! Now that we both feel better we WORKED together in our area like normal missionaries! It was great. Found new people to work with and we have one of our investigators from last transfer getting baptized this week!

So yeah, and the weekend was a party because of Conference, very chill! I loved Conference, I just soaked it up. I know I will study and use what was said. And it was so funny when that announcement was made, all the missionaries in our private English room started freaking out! Ha, it is going to change Mormon youth culture no doubt!

That is cool you got new iPhones. I seriously could care less about phones right now... it is weird, letting go of that was a whole lot easier than I thought it would be. I forgot what my old flip phone looks like too. My mind is in the work, right? Ha, just means I will have an iPhone waiting for me when I return, right?

So about Christmas, you asked what I need. I am just going to throw out a couple things. NUTELLA =) it is just a little expensive here, I am sure there are better American foods you can send me but Nutella is just awesome with everything. Umm... maybe some shorts? I gave my comp my black shorts because he was obsessed about them and it was his birthday. Also maybe ties for the same reason. I am having a battle inside myself what should I do about the ties because every Brazilian wants my freaking ties because they aren´t real cool here. And yeah, I will probably start to lose my ties, Grrr.. They are just ties, right? Also, maybe just more music? We can listen to any church music, instrumental, or Disney and Enya. So yeaaah, look for some sweet instrumental music if you can, I might ask you guys to send a CD of the music that was on my ipod that I gave away. Oh and by that time I will probably need a new study journal. So maybe a little something like that would be nice. Also there was a sweet book I wish I brought that is just loaded with pictures of scripture stories. I love pictures and teaching from them so maybe that... buuut besides that.... I am living a simple life! I don´t know. Use your imagination. But yeah, your package made it. Sweet. Yeah! I will talk to yáll next week. LOVE YA!

-Elder Cetraro