Elder Jonathan Engle 01/05/2015 Happy New Year... Elder!

Happy New Year... Elder!

Dear People of Earth,

I found great humor when so many people asked us what we did for New Year. I replied to everyone, "I slept great!" It was great for me, but there were a lot of cheap fireworks being fired and lots of Funk music played, so I was glad to sleep.

We haven´t worked in our area for two weeks. This last week we had a Leadership Meeting, lots of planning and then we gave a Zone Meeting to the zone Teresina Horto. It was an awesome experience because it was so rushed, yet everything worked out as the Lord made it all happen. I´ve been a bit under the weather, and being sick, I was still able to do everything necessary. The Spirit trully fills my mouth in all things and always points me in the right direction, as I listen anyway. What a great pleasure to serve as a warrior in the Lord´s army of missionaries.

I´d like to emphasize to everyone the importance of being anxiously engaged in a good cause. There´s no good thing in "All is well in Zion". On the contrary, we must always be anxious in hastening the Lord´s work and building His kingdom on the Earth. He´s coming, but we are who shall prepare the way for Him.

Remember well His great invite to us:

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

 29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

 30 Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless that obeys not my commandments?

 31 Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?

 32 I command and men obey not; I revoke and they receive not the blessing.

 33 Then they say in their hearts: This is not the work of the Lord, for his promises are not fulfilled. But wo unto such, for their reward lurketh beneath, and not from above.

Love,

Elder Engle

Elder Jonathan Engle 12/22/2014 Feliz Natal Gente!

 Feliz Natal Gente!

Dear People of Earth,

As we enter the Christmas week, it´s incredible to recognize how quickly time has passed. It seems as if yesterday I was arriving in Brazil. I´m already here nearly 9 months and I´ve been very blessed here by the Lord. It´s humbling to labor in His vineyard. It has to be humbling, because there´s no room for pride. When we decide to be prideful, we decide to stop progressing.

As I´ve mentioned in the past, we´ve been singing quite a bit as a missionary choir here in Teresina, Piauí, Brasil. This past Sunday we sang in a retirement home, which was very nostalgic of when I did a weekly service in a retirement home in New Mexico. I have great respect for the caretakers in these homes. Your work is to serve when in these positions.

There´s always quite a bit floating in my head, but I´ve come to learn a lot about consecrating your life to God. It´s a constant, taxing effort that is necessary for our salvation. Here, everyone has quotes like "Only Jesus Saves" or "God is faithful" on their cars and motorcycles, yet few people have trully come to know on a more intimate level who He really is. What a better life it is to live if we seek this out every day.

Christmas is without a doubt my favorite holiday. In spite of not having the usual Christmas flair, I´m happy. Happiness isn´t a question of location or status but of the heart and with God. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas season with your families and friends, that everyone is conducted in safety to their locations and blessed with a stronger testimony that Jesus is the Christ.

Love,

Elder Engle

P.S. Don´t hestitate to write an email to an Elder in a distant hot land such as... the North-east of Brazil ;)

Foto #1: Elder Waltenberg found an altar of sacrifice on the way to lunch in the middle of nowhere.

Foto #2: On the left is a member that does goes on divisions with us a lot, Sebastion. On the right is Kall Magno, who left this week for Argentina.

Foto #3: I took this photo with Sister Neide, who helps Sister siedschlag with everything here in Teresina. We´re good buddies.

Elder Jonathan Engle 12/15/2014 Christmas Message

Christmas Message

Bom dia ala de Oak Hills. I blinked and it's already the Christmas season. I've truly seen that as we lose ourselves in the Lord's work, in His marvelous plan, time passes painlessly and with much joy. I've never been happier in my life. This is God's work here on earth.

My most recent companion (#21) reminded me of an important lesson in life, based on the scripture 1 Corinthians 13, which says, "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." With everything we do in life, if we have not charity, it doesn't benefit US. We can have much fruits, and never ourselves benefited, which isn't very intelligent. It's true. I've never baptized someone that I didn't truly love.

It's a great challenge to choose my words other than that I love you all. I love my family, my parents, my friends, my ward, and my Gracious and Merciful God for having conceded this brief time in my life to baptize His children. I know that my Savior lives. To serve a mission is not a sacrifice. It is a privilege and a pleasure. May we all stay firm and strong in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ as we all serve our individual and personal missions here on the earth.

                                Elder Jonathan C. Engle

                                Brazil Teresina Mission

Elder Jonathan Engle 12/15/2014 Stake Conference, Opan Brasilian Style

Stake Conference, Opan Brasilian Style

Dear People of Earth,

This week we had Stake Conference, which was given from Elder Quentin L. Cook and a few other General Authorities. It was broadcast from Salt Lake City, UT through half of Brazil. I thought it was interesting how two of the authorities had served here in Brazil, opting not to use translators. They spoke very clearly and understandable, in spite of an incredibly gringo accent. It was a wonderful meeting that helped me to feel more of the Christmas spirit.

This Sunday we were very inspired to visit the address of where we believed a less-active member lives. We arrived, finding him and some friends. The member complained for a good 30 minutes, with little word from us. As he complained, I felt a lot of love for him and listened patiently. As the opportunity presented itself, I shared a scripture talking about the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. After sharing this message, one of his friends cried and cried. He had stopped going to his church for quite awhile, and it had touched his heart. He testified that we were sent there to teach him in that moment. He sang a song from the bottom of his heart that tore the tears right out of me. It was a celestial experience. As we reflected on the lesson, we hardly spoke of baptism but felt that he would, without a doubt, be baptized.

I love this work. Thank you and good night.

Love,

Elder Engle

P.S. As you may have noticed, I generally have very large eyes in my photos. My mom, some members of the church here, and Sister Siedschlag have taken note of this. Sister Siedschlag made a new mission rule that I can´t do that anymore (half joke half serious) and I have thus since repented (is it really a sin though). It is my unfortunate displeasure (please don´t cry fans) to announce that there will be little or no large eyes in future photos for the sanity and happiness of many women all throughout the world, but as a coincidental side-effect, I may look more handsome and beautiful in future photos. You have been warned.