02.18.13 - Another Week in Rio

Olá Queridos! 

So this week was my first full week as a trainer. Being a trainer is not easy! I am also senior companion which is in and of itself difficult because of the language and various other reasons, and I am often reminded of the scripture in Ether that says "I give unto men weaknesses that they may learn to be humble..." I am certainly learning how to be more humble and more patient. And also learning how to really trust the promise that if we are humble and diligently seek the Lord's help, "Weak things shall be made strong." I also think much about the scripture in Alma that says "By small and simple means are great things brought to pass." This gives me a lot of hope that in spite of my difficulties and weaknesses, I really can work the miracles the Heavenly Father sent me here to do. 

The most prominent change that has happened here is that it has gotten even hotter! It is breaking 40 degrees Celsius every day, sometimes up to almost 45, which is roughly 105-115 degrees Fahrenheit. Even more incentive to get people into the baptismal font, right?

Well, as news here in the field is lacking this week, I just want to let you know I am doing well here. I love Brazil. I love being a missionary. I love my Heavenly Father. I know this gospel is true. I know Christ is our Savior. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is His kingdom established again on the Earth to prepare the world for His return. 

Yes, there were times I doubted. There were many times I really wondered if I had a heavenly father. Many when I really wondered if the Book of Mormon is true, and if Joseph Smith really was a prophet. Many when I wondered if I really did have a Savior who knows and loves me and that I really wasn't alone. I wondered much, but I can honestly say now that I know. I wouldn't be who I am if these things weren't true. I sought much to know. And now I do know, and the knowledge gives me strength to press onward even when I don't know how everything will work out. I feel that way now, as a trainer, here in Saracuruna, Duque de Caxias, Brazil. Without God I am just one little person without much of a purpose. But knowing I am a son of God, knowing that He will give me all I need, even the power to perform miracles if necessary, I am no longer just one little person. Elder Alves and I are not just two confused young adults. We are instruments in the hands of an Almighty God called to do His work, and every member of the church in any part of the world is a force for good. A force for good that a decaying world really needs. We all have a part in the plan of our Heavenly Father.

Well, I am almost out of time here. My family, my friends, I love you. I really do. And I pray for you. Thank you so much to everyone who has written me or sent me things, it makes me feel so good to know I am not forgotten. It is easy to feel alone, and I am learning more than ever how important each person in my life is and has been. And I am replying to the letters I have received! Sorry for the delay some of you are experiencing... but know a reply will come as soon as I can send it.

Seek the best! You are never alone! And if you are reading this email it means that in the least you mean something to me. And remember you mean a whole lot more to Heavenly Father!

All the best,

Elder Viglione 

02.11.13 - The first calling in my life to frighten me - But then I remembered that fear is the opposite of faith.‏

Olá Queridos! 

So, news of the last two weeks and explanation of the absence of a letter last week - I have been called as a trainer! Last week my in field training ended and to my surprise, astonishment, and shock, recieved the news that I would be training a new missionary. This was incredible for a few reasons. Anybody who has served a mission in a foreign country will understand. Primarily, the language. Also, the quality of the work. Now I'm nothing too special, so I was a bit overwhelmed for a few days. Even Elder J. Lima remarked that it was almost unbelivable that I had been called so soon. My leaders even asked me directly if I was ready for this and if I thought I could do it. I honestly couldn't say "yes" with conviction. 

I was reminded by the spirit that "Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies" and that "By small and simple means are great things brought to pass." And I was comforted.

So now I am pressing forward with my new companion Elder A. Alves, from Brasilia, Brasil! He is great. Right now is carnaval here and it has been hectic, but we are learning a lot and I am sure we have lives to change here together. 

I am out of time, but I love you all so much! I would help you in any way I could if I were there, but as I am a bit occupied and a tad far away, just remember that you have Heavenly Father to rely on! And who could be better to rely on than a perfect, all-loving, all-powerful being? I think it's pretty great. 

All the Best! Email me and send me letters when you have a chance.  :)

Elder Viglione

01.28.13 - The Life of a Son of God

Olá Queridos! 

This week has been full of the largest blessings of my life. Truly I cannot describe even a part of what I am feeling, nor a small portion of my gratitude towards God for these blessings I am recieving. Truly His promises are sure, and He gives us what He has promised when we do our part. 

The blessings are so great I don't know where to begin. So, I'll start with the work here. Right now Elder J. Lima and I are teaching a family that is absolutely perfect. We have been teaching them for a few weeks, and they are progressing very much. The father and mother have adopted us pretty much, and their sons have become our friends. They have cherished everything we have taught them, and they are progressing. We are praying and fasting and working harder than ever before to bring them to the waters of baptism this Sunday, and it looks like they will make it. Nothing is sure until they are in the water, but their faith and desires to do what is right are so strong that I am confident they will overcome all the trials that yet stand in their way. I am overjoyed every time I think about them, and I can't wait for them to become members of the church and recieve even more of the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for them. 

The joy and growth I am experiencing here are amazing. I was at a sort of stand-still in my life before my mission, unsure of how I could progress further spiritually. I wasn't regressing, per se, but I wasn't progressing a whole ton past what I had already attained. Well, I can say with certainty that my mission is testing and trying me in all the ways I never knew I needed tested, and I can also honestly say that the Lord is giving me the strength to overcome every difficulty as I humble myself, ask for help, and obey. I still have very much to learn, but I know that with the Lord´s help I will recieve all I need.

As for the work here in the field, we have 6 people that we are hoping will be baptized this Sunday. Four of them are a family, and the other two are investigators that have progressed very much. I am working harder than I ever have before, and I am being more blessed than I ever have been before as well. Our transfer ends this coming Monday, so we are really hoping we can finish with these last few people.

My greatest desire is to clearly communicate to you all how much God loves each one of you, and how willing he is to bless you when you do what is right. He will bless you according to all the promises he has made in the scriptures. Every one of his promises are sure. My family was being tested, almost beyond the breaking point, as was I, but I can honestly and sincerely tell you all that the blessings that come after the trials of our faith are almost too great to recieve. 

I am so happy. Happier than I have ever been. I feel so much love, so much more than I ever have before. It is as if in my afflictions I feel the arm of the Savior around me, and he conforts me with the words, "Fear not, Matthew; I am with you until the end. Bear it now a little while, and you and your family will be blessed. You will recieve all you have desired."

I can tell you all He loves you. He will help you. No sacrifice is too great to secure the blessings of the everlating gospel, as much for yourself as for your family. And there is no joy greater than that of watching the gospel change lives and bring life where there was death, in your life and in the lives of others.

All the Best!

Elder Viglione

01.21.13 - I feel like I am going to explode, but in a good way.‏

Olá Queridos! 

First, thank you so much Anthony! And everybody else who contributed to the pakckage Anthony sent! I absolutely loved it, and it has made my whole week. haha Elder J. Lima has loved it too. He never had Hersheys chocolate before, and now he is addicted. He can't believe it can be so good and so inexpensive! And peanut butter and skittles and ties and letters! You guys really have no idea how much each letter means to me. I keep them all safely guarded with other things from my mission that mean a lot to me. And I am replying to those of you who have sent, it just takes a while because I can only write on P-day, and time is probably a missionary's shortest resource in the field.

This week has been oh so good! The work has slowed down a little bit, but Elder J. Lima and I are learning so much it is unbelievable. As much on how to discern what others need as to what we need ourselves. I never realized so fully how connected every thought we think and everthing we say and do has so much impact on everything else. And I am learning things and developing talents I admired so much in others but never knew how to adquire! I feel like I am growing as much each week as I did in months before my mission. I wanted to serve so much, and I did much to prepare, but even so, how large is the gap between where I am and where perfection is! haha. It is humbling. But in a very good way. I am also learning that truly nothing is out of our reach when we truly devote ourselves and involve Heavenly Father. I'm beginning to understand how there exist people like the prophets in the scriptures who moved mountains with their faith. Really, the choice is ours. Completely ours. As we consistently choose the right, we grow. And when we are tested and we choose the right anyways, we grow even more! Soon we look back and we can't believe the difference! Living the truth really sets us free. 

So, cool story: I have officially been frightened by lightning now. Legitimately frightened. Only for a split second, but for that split second I thought I was doomed to sudden destruction. Haha, it was quite an experience. Elder J. Lima and I were in a quite distant part of our area when we looked to the horizon and saw darkness coming. Not clouds, darkness. It was so dark we literally stopped walking and marvelled at it. It was about 6:00PM here, which is normally full sun like it is noon. We started heading home, and not 20 minutes later wind came out of nowhere and it got dark really fast. Another 10 minutes and it felt like it was 9:00PM and we sat and watched the darkness swirling and moving very quickly and very strangely. I thought it was a tornado developing but Elder J. Lima assurred me that there are no tornadoes here. We hurried now to get to a bus stop before the rain hit, but we didn't make it. It started raining harder than I have ever seen before. By the time we arrived on our main street it was flooded about 6 inches deep, and water was beginning to enter some stores. Luckily, we live on the second floor. 

The thunder and lightning was tremendous. All I could do was laugh because of how absurd the storm was. Elder J. Lima looked at me like I was crazy and I laughed more. We hurried home and on the way the lightning intensified to the point he was afraid it would hurt people. And then a very large bolt of lighting burst on the rooftops of the houses on that very street and was acompanied by the loudest and deepst noise I have ever heard nature make. It literally shook me to the very center and made me exhale, almost like I'd waled into something. It was pretty neat. We went home, returned with a camera and took pictures of the flooded street and the rain stopped and half an hour later everything was normal and the water had receeded and the sun returned and it appeared a normal afternoon and everybody continued life as normal like nothing had happened. Apparently storms like that happen occasionally here. Quite an experience. 

Well, I never like to say something without icluding the spiritual side too. After all, that's the part that really means something at the end of the day, everything else passes away with time.  

I have felt the spirit teaching me and directing me more than ever before. I am so happy to be a missionary! We have a few families we are working with now that I am certain the Lord has given us to work miracles through us and help them find the happiness we enjoy. I can say with an honest heart now that I am doing my very best and that my desires now are even stronger than before to be perfectly obedient and to bear my testimony and testify with power. I have a testimony, I just was shy about sharing it in it's fullness because it is very precious to me, but more than a few times I have seen hearts change and seen people pierced to the very center when they hear it. So I'll keep doing my best to tell the whole world, one person at a time. 

Every time I stop and look at my life I am humbled by all that Heavenly Father has given me. Truly, He has given me everything I could possibly want to be happy. Yes I miss home. Yes the mission is the hardest thing by far I have ever done in my life. Yes there have been moments when I thought I would not prevail. But in the moments I have come to know the Savior better. And he has saved me from myself. I so often don't see the bigger picture of our life here, but he shows me and guides me down the path He knows is best. I am so happy to be here serving Him with all I have to offer. I really couldn't be happier anywhere else right now. I am so glad to be a missionary!

All the best my friends and beloved family!

Elder Viglione

01.14.13 - Defending the Faith and Helping Rebuild a Destroyed City

Olá Queridos!

First, even the most eloquent language cannot begin to describe the amount I am learning and feeling here on my mission. This is definately the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but the blessings I am recieving from God are unparallelled. 

So, to explain the subject line of this email: 

Recently we had record high temperatures for a sustained period of time (110-120 degrees with the humidity factored in) which lead to some very heavy rain. So heavy in fact that the nearby city of Xerém (cher-aim) was nigh completely destroyed by massive flooding. People died, homes were lost, and even now, about two weeks later, rebuilding is just beginning. The ward I am currently serving in was the nearest with means to help so we were put in charge of coordinating the local relief efforts. We have been helping a lot there this week, organizing supplies recieved and sending them to the city. All of the wards and stakes in this part of Brazil have been sending food, water, higine products, clothing, and just about everything else you need to live, and we organize it, package it, and send it in to the city. Unfortunately Elder J. Lima and I were not cleared to go to the city itself to help the relief efforts, but we have been meeting all of the church leaders here as they have arrived with more supplies to send out and it has been really a good experience. 

As for the defending the faith portion of the subject line, Elder J. Lima and I have had a few really good experiences lately quite literally defending what we believe. There is an unusually high number of churches in this city (namely one on every corner) and it is very difficult to find anyone that feels like they need to hear our message at times because they insist they have everything they need. Well, these countless questions have driven Elder J. Lima and I to study more and more and we are learning so much. 

By far the most interesting encounter we had this week was while making steet contacts (tracting doesn't exist here, you talk to everyone in the street instead). I went up to talk to a family that appeared to be enjoying that particular evening sitting outside chatting. I went up, introduced myself, and told them why us missionaries were there. At that last part, a elderly woman who was standing nearby talking to them raised her voice at us and told us to leave because we were of the devil and she was trying to bring these people to salvation. As it turns out, she was trying to get them to join with her church here. We politely apologized for interrupting (I think) and informed her that we were actually not from the church of the devil but from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This infuriated her quite a bit and she proceeded to tell us about how our doctrines were twisted and we didn't believe in the bible and how we had no idea what we were talking about. Elder J. Lima responded by opening the bible and using it to begin explaining what we believed, and that we in fact understood the bible and lived it, and that if any other person truly understood it that they would realize that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really is the Church of Christ established on the Earth again, as it was established when Christ himself was here. The whole encounted lead to her being very confused but still upset with us so we politely excused ourselves. 

There are more details I want to include, but my time is up. I love you guys! Send me letters and/or emails whan you have a chance, I'd love to hear from you! 

All the best!

Elder Viglione

01.07.13 - Wars and Floods and Help on a Moments Notice!‏

Olá queridos! 

There is so much I want to write this week. Experinces I will never forget. Times we have been protected from danger, times we have been strengthened to do even more than we thought we could, times we have had more sucuess than some ever thought possible. There have also been times of hardship. Times of hunger. Times when I didn't know if I could continue. Times when I wondered just how much I could really bear. I can say now, more honestly than ever, that every second of this life really is a test and a literal battle between good and evil. I feel that we pass much of our lives unaware of the battle that rages around us. The war that started in heaven continues on Earth and is more subtle and more dangerous than ever. Whenever we do anything good, there is a real force of opposition that will try to destroy that good thing. What I'm learning most now is how to stay strong, and how to stay happy like I have always have been despite the trials we now face. How to stay strong and not be moved. 

My mind has been drawn to reflect on the life of someone I know very well who struggles with many things. He has been drawn captive by the lusts of the flesh, and wonders why he can't procure the peace and happiness he is always seeking. Wikedness never was happiness. Satan creates a lie and tries to convince us that if we will just try a little less harder to do what is right, we will be happier. That we should just not pray tonight, becasue we are tired, or we shouldn't read our scriptures becuse time runs short. Perhaps that we shouldn't go to church or do our home teaching or try to help someone in need. He is very subtle, and he tries to convince us that a little bit of not doing what is right won't hurt. Well, this is a lie. The truth is that these things are critical to our survival in this world. By doing them, by paying proper heed to the spiritual, we gain happiness that grows and fills us in ways we never imagined possible.

For Satan to succueed he only needs good people to do nothing. By small means he weakens and leads away those who could pose a real threat to him. Happiness and freedom only come through doing what is right. There is no shortcut. When we are humble, repentant, and obedient to the principles of the gospel, we can find true happiness. This is the only way. Any other happiness is a false happiness and will not last.

I am continuously awestruck by how perfect the gospel is. By obeying it and applying it in our lives, we find true happiness. It is not always an easy path, but it is easier and infinitely less painful than the alternative. For this, I think life is easy. Despite trials, despite adversity, we choose our happiness by how we live. Being happy in life is therefore very easy: just learn what is right, and do it. Don't worry if it is hard at first, it get's easier as you get used to it. The period of change is the only period that hurts. Heavenly Father knows this, and he prepared a way to make the path easier for us: repentance. We can cast off any burden and overcome any obstacle. We are the children of an Almighty God and He has promised us His help when we do what is right. His power to overcome all evil, all sickness, all sadness. We have access to the infinite eraser - the Atonement - and so we should all be clean, without spot. Christ paved the way for us and set the perfect example. 

I am so glad to be a missionary. Truly miracles happen. There was a lot of rain two days this week, so much that a city nearby named Xerém (cher-aim) was devestated by the resultant flood. Homes were destroyed, and many people lost all they had.  When we first heard about what was happening, we had no idea how bad it was. As the days passed we heard more and more and it made me think about what happened recently on the east coast of the United States. A call for help was written and sent out to all the wards in this part of Brazil the morning the rain stopped, and read in the sacrament meetings. Our chapel is the closest to Xerém that was large enough to work as a command center, so it was selected and we spent a day at the meetinghouse recieving food and clean water and clothing from all over. We got to organize it, pack it, and send it in caravans to Xerém along with many members who went to help. I was amazed at how fast the members here in Rio de Janeiro responded. The call for help had gone out that very morning, and by mid-afternoon we were recieving carloads of food and water and clothing.

Saying you feel a little bit of the Savior's love in church on Sunday is good, but seeing the members act on it and bring relief to those who really needed, on a moments notice, was even better. That is what this gospel does: helps us act. Helps us be a force for good in the world. The message of the gospel is a message of peace and happiness. A message of healing and freedom and eternal progression. A message of hope.  

Well, time is up! I love you guys. Stay strong!

All the best,

Elder Viglione

12.31.12 - Another Week of Miracles

Olá Queridos! 

So, time is short today. I just want you all to know that I know God is real, and that He will work miracles in the lives of those who let Him. All we need to do is trust Him and accept His will for us, and He will take us farther than we ever knew we could go! 

Life in Brazil is pretty great. Right now summer is in full swing, and I had the hottest Christmas of my life! Rio is already hot, and this year especially so. We had the hottest day since 1915! It was 110 degrees, approximately 122 with the humidity. My skin is dark enough now that people occasionally mistake me for Brazilian, and the sun has lightened my eyes which I didn't know it could do.

Miracles have been happening here, despite the heat, with more and more frequency. Right now we are teaching several families and the work is progressing faster than ever before. It is so amazing watching the gospel change lives! Watching it bring hope where before there was only despair. Many people we teach didn't even realize they were looking for it, but when we bring it they see it for what it is, embrace it, and love it. 

Time is up!! wow! Well there are some photos here, some lightning and some baptisms :) Enjoy!

All the best,

Elder Viglione

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!