July 14, 2014

Dear Family,

What a blessing this last week was! Yes, "ja éra" for Brazil as far as the world cup goes. But like Pres. Dalton said, That is a blessing for us as missionaries! because we have a message that will make them happier than any world cup won! He said there are two messages that we teach as missionaries to the world that they have never heard before: The first vision of Joseph Smith, and the Plan of Salvation for all of God's children. One of the first things Pres Dalton said to us is this: You all are just amazing. It just amazes me how many baptisms you guys have.. without having taught the plan of salvation. haha It's so true. By far, lesson 2, the plan of salvation, is taught the least but is the most important one of all! It was so funny when he said that. Well, we are definitely learning our lesson as a mission. We have been really focused on practicing and teaching, and really focusing everything we do on the Plan of Salvation. We are already seeing the results (more baptisms!!). Also, we have been encouraged to visit the temple with our investigators, along with teaching about the temple BEFORE baptism. I can already testify of the MIRACLES that are happening when we do this. Our leaders have told us-- If you have an investigator who has problems with the word of wisdom, law of chastity, doubts about the Book of Mormon, (anything!), TAKE THEM TO THE TEMPLE. We are doing this and are really seeing miracles happening. Those on the other side of the veil are SO happy about this, and I have no doubt have a part in these miracles.

Something cool that happened this week- In my interview with Pres Dalton, we discovered that he is one of my best friends Davi's uncle! What are the chances. I LOVE Davi. She is currently serving in Peru. I knew he looked like someone I knew!  Also, he told me Mom added him on facebook, that is awesome.

Well we have a great group of people we are teaching right now, and are praying really hard they progress towards baptism this week. If all goes well, we have potential to have 4 baptisms this week. This Sat, our zone will be going on a temple trip with investigators. Sis Evaristo and I are inviting everyone we can because we just know it will make all the difference for these people in their conversion and progress towards the waters of baptism.

Lastly, a quote I read recently in the Liahona magazine by Elder Russell M. Nelson:

"Without the Book of Mormon, there would be no gathering of Israel. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel. Without the Book of Mormon, we would know little about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because it teaches of the Atonement, the Book of Mormon helps us to repent, make and keep sacred covenants, and merit the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. It leads us to the temple." 

I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON. I have such a testimony of it. Note to Ben and Jacob: Have you read the Book of Mormon all the way through? If not, I invite you to read it! I just know it will help you, strengthen you, heal you, and CHANGE YOU.

I love each and every one of you and know you are in good hands, the best. :) XOXO

Sister Katie Thornhill

P.S. 

Attached is a picture of Bruno (our recent convert Nilva's son) on the special day of his baptism!!! :)

July 7, 2014

My dearest dearest family,

Finalmente, chegou a hora- We have a new mission president, President and Sister Dalton!! They are soooooo wonderful! We are very blessed! And how amazingly blessed we were to have Pres and Sister Pinho. Although it is sad to say goodbye to Pres Pinho, it feels SO great to say welcome to Pres and Sister Dalton. We had our first meeting with them this past week in a multi-zone conference in which he taught us about his vision for our mission/the work we are doing, and what should be our vision, and that is... THE TEMPLE!!!!! He talked about how many missions  in the world are either one of two things, a baptizing mission or a retention mission. Well, he said that we won't be either- Our mission will be a TEMPLE mission. We are not just here to baptize lots of people, nor are we here to help inactive baptized members come back to church. If we are to be missionaries who fulfill our FULL purpose, we need to be missionaries who baptize, and help ALL (members and recent converts) make it to the house of the Lord. This should be the vision for each of us, always- the temple. If we have been baptized into the restored Church of Jesus Christ, what are we doing to either: 1- prepare to make greater and higher, holier covenants with Heavenly Father in the temple, or 2- be and remain worthy to enter the holy temple??  I invite each of you to ponder about this. What covenants have you made already with our loving Father, and what more can you do to keep them and/or make more (i.e. receive your endowment/be sealed)? The greatest happiness we can have in our lives are those blessings that come only from making and keeping the covenants of the temple.

Another thing I love and learned recently is the reality of angels working alongside us. Just think- There are MANY souls waiting to be saved in the spirit world, ancestors of the many souls we are trying to save here. Do you think they are praying that we (as missionaries) succeed, so that they will succeed eternally be being found and baptized vicariously by their living family members here? Of course! There are those working on both sides of the veil for the salvation of all of God's children.

I love you all dearly, and just know we are never alone. Pray and converse with Heavenly Father. Study the scriptures, which is the word of God and a way He talks to us, and answers our every question.

June 30, 2014

Dear Family,

Sorry this week I wrote individual emails to everyone but will sum up a few things:

-We have a new mission president!!! Pres and Sis Dalton. I am so thrilled to meet them this Friday, and I will tell you all about it next week.

-This week we started teaching some really great people! Also, Mariana will be baptized this week we are hoping. She is loving the church and learning all she can about the Restoration.

I love the part in PMG that says that when people gain a spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the restored gospel, they want to learn everything they can about the restoration. Well I think that for missionaries, as we gain a spiritual witness of the importance of our calling to represent Christ, we have a desire to learn everything we can about Christ! Today I receive the book Jesus The Christ and am SO looking forward to studying it. "Learn of me, listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my spirit, and you shall have peace in  me." I know that as we learn of our Savior Jesus Christ, we will be greatly benefited and more able in our strivings to be His chosen disciples.

I love you and hope you have a wonderful wonderful week... Go Brasil! :)

Sister Thornhill

June 24, 2014

Dear Family,

Things are going great here- we learned today in our zone meeting about the importance of BELIEVING that miracles will happen. We won't baptize weekly if we don't believe we can. They showed a video clip from Star Wars when Yoda is saying to Anekin- "Use the force!" And Anekin gives up, and after Yoda succeeds Anekin says, "I don't believe it!" And Yoda responds- "That is where you went wrong." Nothing can happen (miracles/ invoking the powers of heaven) if we don't believe. Like Pres. Pinho always tells us- The heavens are willing to give us anything we ask, but we must first have faith (believe) and show our faith through our diligence.

I hope to become the missionary the Lord wants me to be. I have never been so aware of my weaknesses as I am here on the mission. And I also have never had such a great desire to change my weaknesses into strengths. How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the way by which we do so. What a blessing. We don't have to just "let things happen" in our lives- We can make things happen. I testify of the truthfulness of this life principle. As we learned in this past general conference, we can't afford to "sleep through the restoration"- We are living in the dispensation of the fulness of times! We are here to help build the kingdom of God! We will never experience the changes the Lord intends for us without diligently acting upon our faith.

I love you and know that even moreso, the Lord loves you.

Sister Katie Thornhill

June 16, 2014

Querida família,

As you all know, the world cup has begun here in Brazil and everyone is excited to say the least. The roads are painted, brasil flags everywhere, etc. The days that Brasil play, we have to stay at home all day because of all the craziness/bagunça going on. In other words, the world cup is really fun for everyone except for missionaries haha. Because of this, next week I will be emailing on TUESDAY, not Monday. So if you dont receive an email on Monday, don't panic. :)

This week the Lord blessed us with finding several new people to teach and prepare to be baptized. I am continually reminded on my mission that the Lord fulfills His promises to us. Sometimes in life we work so hard to do good and don't immediately see the fruits of our labor. But if we just keep pressing forward doing what we know to be right (the Lord's will, and not our own), we will soon see the many fruits the Lord has prepared- but it is only through our diligence and faith that this blessing will be granted unto us. 2 Nephi 10:17- "For I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of men.." If you are not seeing things happen yet, just hold on to the faith and hope you have in the Lord's promises and "everything will work out!" as President Hinckley says.

It was transfers this last week and I stayed here in Ranieri with Sister Evaristo. I am really happy because I absolutely love this ward and the work here is going great. This week Bruno, the son of Nilva who was recently baptized, will be baptized. He is 9 years old, is so sweet, and is deaf. We watched the restoration DVD with him in sign language the other day and as we did so I felt the Spirit stronger than any other time watching that DVD. It was Bruno's first time at church yesterday and he LOVED it. I think Nilva waited so long to bring him to church because she was nervous about how it would be. But after reassuring her and getting the members more involved, she felt comfortable enough to finally bring Bruno and Amanda (her 5 year old daughter). I am so amazed at Nilva's progress in the gospel after her baptism. How grateful I am for the Lord's continual guidance in teaching and strengthening Nilva according to her needs, through the members serving her, through the scriptures, answering her prayers, comforting her, etc. We have been giving Nilva ensign magazines and she reads them cover to cover in between our visits. She is amazing. The gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect and provides us true peace, joy, and happiness. We have a member who sends Nilva a text message every day. Another member has been visiting her weekly. And yesterday at church is was so wonderful seeing the members working together to help Nilva's family have a positive and spiritual experience.

We are also teaching... the hulk. :) It's true. Michel, the body builder friend of a member. He may look scary but really he loved church yesterday and is working towards receiving the answer from God that His church has been restored. Yesterday the elders in our ward (the zone leaders- Elder Barker and Elder Dudley--yes we three served together in Parelheiros, crazy) The elders asked if they could teach and baptize him- we said No! haha He's ours. :) Speaking of the elders, we have a great zone and district. We are so blessed! I learn a lot from the many different elders and sisters I serve with.

I am really happy as always, and love you very much! Thanks for all the prayers, packages, emails... I love you!!!

Sister Thornhill

June 9, 2014

Dear Family,

You know that feeling when you experience a moment in your life that is so wonderful that you wish time would stop so that you could experience it longer?? That is what I feel every day on  my mission- That is what a mission is. I am experiencing some of the greatest joys and satisfactions that I've ever experienced, and lucky for me I can put my life on pause and enjoy this for not just one moment more, but a year and a half. Before the mission, I had thoughts like, There must be something good about serving a mission because returned missionaries are always so happy and talk about their mission with as much enthusiasm as when people talk about the latest hunger games movie. Well now I understand it. Oh, there is something good about serving a mission! As President Pinho said with respect to returning home: "Saudades, sim; remorso, JAMAIS." Translation- "We will miss it/longings, yes; regret, never."  I could go on about how happy I am and try to express my happiness, but let me share with you why I am so happy- a few of the experiences I had this week..

Earlier this week we visited a young woman in the ward, 12 years old, Eduarda. She adores church but is less active because her mom is completely inactive and oftentimes doesn't allow her to go to church. Can you imagine how horrible this would be? Well it gets worse. My heart broke as she shared with us about how her mom has been beating her, for no reason at all (what reason could there ever be for physically abusing any child of God). I sat her beside me and put my arms tightly around her, and I cried with her. I felt the Savior's perfect love for us both in that moment. I had this overwhelming peaceful feeling, and I just knew that we are daughters of a heavenly father. My companion and I bore testimony to her of this reality and of the reality that angels are watching over her. We promised her that if she would continue in faith, reading the scriptures and praying daily and serving her family, one day she would marry in the temple and have an eternal family. This trial will pass- the Lord has already prepared the way. We then knelt with her on the cold, hard floor in that tiny home and offered up a heartfelt pleading prayer to the Lord. I felt the presence of angels there- I felt the Lord there.

Another, more positive experience happened just yesterday. As my companion and I were walking home, we stopped to talk to a member in our ward who is preparing to serve a mission, Anderson. He introduced us to a friend of his who he was talking to, Michel and told us to baptize him haha. He said to us, "Batize este rapaz!" (that means baptize this young man haha) Michel is huge, a body builder. We got to know him a bit and then handed a restoration pamplet to Anderson, inviting him to explain about the message a little bit. It was funny because Anderson was so suave and smooth about it- "Okay man, this talks about how the church of Jesus Christ was restored to bless us today, with prophets, apostolos, and the authority of God. I would like you to read it, man, reflect on it, dude." it was awesome. We set a return appointment and... vamos batizar. :)

Members and missionaries working together = Many souls saved!!!

We also had our last meeting with President and Sister Pinho last week. It was so great- we even watched a movie, Ephraim's Rescue. I invite you all to watch this movie if you haven't already! Loved it. I love this phrase from it- "The gospel of Jesus Christ is another way to say "opportunity." The greatest opportunities available and imaginable to us are those that come as a result of living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all and wish you the greatest of weeks, full of opportunities! :)

Love,

Sister Katie Thornhill

P.S. Yes World Cup begins, quinta-feira, woo! Go Brasil!

May, 2014 (letters combined)

Dearest Famly, 

9 months already? Now I'm on the downhill, that's a pretty crazy thought!  And 1 year, "já era" as Brasilians say (it means something like, its already happened).   Even though I am still in the midst of serving,  I can already see the difference my mission is making in my life, and in the lives of those I serve here in Brazil. I know that we are just so blessed as we strive everyday to follow the perfect example of the Savior. I read recently in my studies from Elder Ulisses Soares in his recent conference talk "Be Meek and Lowly of Heart: " Christ faced extreme physical and spiritual suffering, giving us the opportunity to change our spiritual nature...thanks to His love, it is possible to change. It is possible to leave our weaknesses behind." I really love this and know it is true, and is a great purpose in our lives. 

Remember Nilva who I talked about on Mothers Day? Well,  she got baptized on Saturday! It was such a spiritual experience and.. (haha right now, here in the cafe’ we email from,  there is a person singing out loud, really loudly and another person told him, "Calma filho!" (that means like, "calm boy/son" haha) ...So Nilva was baptized and confirmed yesterday!!! We prayed so hard this last week for her because she is receiving a lot of opposition- of course, that always happens; Satan is really good at that. But we are better at overcoming this opposition! And she did, and now she is the happiest she has ever been. I will try to send a picture next week. My experience teaching Nilva has been really special. I felt the Spirit so much working through me as we taught and helped her follow the Savior into the waters of baptism. She is a really special daughter of Heavenly Father.

We also had a miracle happen this week when a member in our ward called us and told us that his sister, Claudinise, wants to be baptized. We started teaching her and she will be baptized this week! Her story is really neat. Recently she was in the hospital in a coma for 5 days- she almost died. While in a coma completely unconscious, she received a priesthood blessing and when she woke up she knew the church was true- She said that she literally felt the POWER of the Priesthood of God as that blessing was administered to her. She told us about how she saw Joseph Smith kneeling in the sacred grove and she herself saw the pillar of light. She has no doubts in her mind now about the restored gospel. Wow, when she shared this sacred experience with us, I felt the Spirit bearing witness to me of the true power of God. We are so very blessed to have access to this power in our lives. I know that God lives and that through the instrumentality of the prophet Joseph Smith, His power to bless us was restored to the earth. And her brother, Irmão Claudimere in our ward, is SO happy. I think he is happier than she is! He has been praying for years that she would one day accept the restored gospel in her life, and his faith and prayers definitely contributed to the miracles that happened. It just goes to show how we can never give up on anyone, and that our prayers are heard and will be answered as we offer them in faith.

 I love being a missionary, and I thank you for your love and emails, and packages, etc. By the way, I discovered a weakness recently- the “Biscoff" Cream you sent in my package.. oh my gosh,  I have never tasted anything more delicious..  Maybe its just because I miss lots of american food. haha

I am really happy and am so excited to work, and consecrate everything to the Lord here on my wonderful mission in Brazil!!

Love,

Sister Katie Thornhil