White Christmas

Saturday Dec 24, 2016

Hey everyone just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!! Don't have a ton of time 

to write but wanted to let everyone know how much I love them.

This time of year is really spectacular. I'm so grateful for the chance I've been giving

to be here! This year has really been the best year of my life! I have really come to known the

Savior and what he has done for me. I've learned so much about people and about life. 

Not to say it hasn't been hard. I think that would be an understatement, but it's been worth it.

I love my life. I love the Savior and all I've been given!

Always remember Him! Have the best Christmas ever!!!

Love you all!!!

Elder Orton

Feliz Natal

Saturday December 17, 2016

Heyooo Family!!!!
Hope everyone is having a super very

merry jolly holly Christmas season. Tis the time of the year!!!

What a cool thing we get to have every year to celebrate 

the Saviors birth!

This week was fantastic. Lots going on and goes by fast. I looked

at the date this morning and I was like what??? It´s already the 17th?

Think my calender must be wrong. Last Sunday was really cool.

We had a conference where all of Brazil particapated. We got

to here some of the 70´s speak and also Elder Jeffery Holland. 

The thing was, all of the talks were in portuguese which was really 

cool. Then Jeffery R. Holland got up to speak. He started speaking 

Portuguese... I was like NOOOO WAYYYY. It was awesome. He just did the first 

part in Portuguese then switched to English and a translater translated it.

He gave a great talk. In the end it switched to him again and he bore his testimony in

Portuguese. It was really powerful. I love listening to apostles speak because there is

always a special power behind their words. 

Today we also have the baptisms of Auxiliadora and Edwarda. 

They have been working towards baptism for a long time! I'm so excited for them!

 Sorry I haven't been sending pics but where I am I cant:( but dont worry I'm taking lots!

Really love this season and the chance we have to remember the Savior.

There really is nothing better to celebrate that  He is our Redeemer and we

are nothing without him. I love him for that and what he has done for me!

So remember him this time of year and what he did for you and share 

that light with others. 

Love ya ALLLLL!!

Elder ORTON

On The First Day Of Christmas

Saturday December 10, 2016

Hey Fam!! Hope everyone is great!! I hear i'ts pretty cold there in Utah! 

I hope it's snowing alot there to make up for the snow that doesn't exsist

here in Fortaleza! It's funny, everyone here always asks about snow and

how it is. They all want to play in it, it's everyones dream. The best thing is when 

you tell people they can eat it they freak out and are like NOOO WAYYY!

This week was great though, sure did pass by fast! Holy cow! It's really hot here now.

We are entering summer time and it's just burning here! This week wasn't too adventful

but it was still good. The mission office is all decorated for Christmas, so when you stand

in front of the air conditioner going full blast it feels a little like Christmas. I also made a whole 

bunch of paper snow flakes for the mission office and all the Brazilians thought they

were pretty cool. President wanted me to teach him how to make them! haha!

This week we have been working hard to try to find new people to teach too! 

Always searching for new people here. I'm excited for this time of year because 

here, everyone believes in Christ so Christmas is a great oppurtunity to 

teach people about the Savior and His love for them. I'm so glad I get to be here 

and have the chance I have to serve the Lord. I know He lives! I am a witness! 

I love him and what He has done for me! 

Love ya all! <3 

Elder Orton

:)

December 3, 2016

Hey friends! 

This week was great! Wow I can't believe how crazy it was though! It was the craziest thing ever!!

This week was transfers so as you could imagine the mission office was a hip and happening place! It's crazy how much really goes on behind closed doors. There's so much planning that

goes on.. But it was successful! All the missionarys are in their new areas and safe!!

We recieved the new missionarys in the mission too! There was a lot of problems 

with their visas and stuff so I had to get that all worked out last week. I've never talked to 

so many people in my life! I think I was seriously on the phone for a day straight. 

At one point I think I was on two phones speaking portuguese in one and in english on the other! haha! Crazy week! 

We also had something cool happen yesterday too! So after a long week figuring everything

out and getting everyone situated we finally got down to the good work! Last night we had an interview marked for one of our investigators named Davi. We showed up in the chapel and were waiting there for a little while. He showed up so we went up stairs and he had his interview.

When he came out he was like.. "Can I be baptized today??" We were like ya you could.. but I think it would be better in the morning for when we had it marked. Then he was like "No I want to get baptized today!" We were like okay... then lets do this! One of the members from the bishopric was there with me and Elder Soper. We had a little reunion and did the baptism! It was probably the most unexpected thing I've ever done! Sometimes you work so hard to help people work towards baptism

and it's so hard, then sometimes people are just like BAPTIZE ME TODAY!!!!! 

Always love being part of this work! I know there's nothing better I could be doing!!!

Love the gospel!!! It's true!!

Elder Orton

Feliz dia das Gracas!

Saturday November 26, 2016

Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving! 

I hope everyone ate plenty of turkey and mashed potatoes this Thanksgiving.

This week was pretty eventful lots of things happening! I took someone to the airport for the first time which was cool. It was crazy though just about everything you could imagine went wrong with his ticket. I'll spare the details...it's a long story and he almost missed his flight.. but he made it!! Whooo hoo! I got a little reminder on the power of prayer in our lives this week. I really thought we wouldn't be able to do anything and he would have to go home the next day, which wouldn't of been a huge deal in the end. But, when we were there trying to figure it out I just said a little prayer that everything would work out and we could do something. Not long after, it worked out and he could get his ticket. It might of not been the biggest thing but God is always listening and he wants to help us. He is waiting for us. It could be anything, but we can always pray to him and he is ready to help.

Thankgiving was great too. I started out the day going to a house with Elder Rocha to fix a washing machine. We had to take the motor out. It's always fun getting a little dirty. We got to the point to get it out and it wouldn't budge. We were just beating the heck out of it but it wouldn't move. We tried everything, pulling, pushing, and even poured oil on it but nothing happened. In the end we ended up with a broken hammer which was sad, but later in the day we got it!  HAha ( Just reminded me working in the garge with dad was kinda fun) Then later we just had the normal rice and beans for lunch. It was still a great thanksgiving though. 

Sunday was a great day!

We had the baptism of Manuela! That was a pretty great day. It was pretty funny

though, that day was the primary program so we got to hear from the primary 

kids in sacrament meeting. Brazil sure puts on a good show! After church was her baptism!

Right before the baptism she started getting super nervous though, she has a fear of drowning 

so that was great. We had some young women from the ward help her out and she finally got into the water. When we were in the water I thought she was going to rip my arm off because she

was squeezing it so tight. I'm really suprised she didn't pass out. She was pretty nervous.

She did it though. We were all so happy for her. Later that night we passed by to teach her, and we had a pretty cool experience. We asked her what she felt after she got baptized. She said three things, Peace, love, and she felt clean, perfectly clean. Everything she had ever done wrong just disappeared. She was so happy even though she was so nervous she felt great after. So cool to hear the testimony of people after they are baptized. Love how real the gospel is and how we have the chance to repent. Not only once though. We have this chance every week when we take the sacrament. Every week we can be perfectly clean again and start new.

Love being here everyday is the best! 

Love ya allllllll!!!

Elder O.

Mias um (Another)

Nov. 19, 2007

Dear Everybody,

I hope all your lives are fantastic back in the States, 

I hear by now there is a wall all the way 

around the border so I may never be able to get to the United States...

 But it's okay! This week 

was pretty good! The week started out pretty crazy. So Saturday was great ...

every thing was going great, we talked to so many people and they 

were all excited to go to church. Then Sunday came around and everything 

was perfect. We had so many people at church and our baptism was ready.... twas a happy day. 

Then we went to turn on the baptism font and nothing.

 What? No water? What the heck? The chapel didn't have any water so we had 

to delay our baptism until this week, but she's getting baptized in the morning!!!

 YAY! Would have been an easy solution if we were Catholics but hey.. Baptism by emersion. 

It's been busy this week though, Elder Wade and Elder Davies

 got transfered so now I don't have anybody training me in the office, 

I'm all alone, I'm a big boy now.:) Also got to travel a little bit. On Wednesday

 I went with Elder Flores to go sign a contract for some house. Then after the 

Sisters that live in that house gave us peanut butter, so my stomach was happy that day. 

Time here is flying by. I feel like I just need to run a hundred miles an hour 

to teach all the people I want. I love teaching the people that are truley ready 

to hear the Saviors call. This week I'm still studying in 3 Nephi when the Savior 

visits. He makes it so clear in his words. The Book of Mormon really is another 

testament of Jesus Christ. The truth you'll find in that book is more than you could

 search for and find in 100 lifetimes. The love for the Savior is indescribable. 

He cried for the children. Imagine  how much he loves each and every one of us. 

Being a missionary is awesome! 

Being able to tell people how much the Savior loves them.

Love you all!!!

Elder O. 

Let's Make America Great Again

November 12, 2016

Hey everyone! I hope everything is going great in America! From what I here from all the drunk people in the street... I hear we have a new president. All the drunk people know everything 

about politics here. I think they would be really good lawyers.

 They don't let any news pass by them. 

This week was great as always! Me and Elder Wade are pretty much killing it.

 It's awesome being with him. The work is going great, and we have a baptism this week,

 and 3 more marked for next week! aaaa!

 Even though we have like three hours per day to teach we are doing good.

 This week we found a family. Me and Elder Wade were walking 

down the street and some girl on the corner yelled "HELLO!"

 in english, so we went over and talked to her. Her mom was sitting 

outside the house selling stuff so we started talking a little with her too.

 We left a pamphlet there and told them to read it. When we came

 back later in the week the daughter had read everything and even

 made a little paper with a summary of the pamphlet .

 That night we taught them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 They accepted baptism dates for next week which is exciting. 

I've been reading in 3 Nephi lately and it is just awesome!

 When Jesus Christ comes to the Americas and visits the people.

 One thing I've been thinking about a little was one thing he said, 

he said he came to fufill the law, not to destroy it. But what He's talking 

about there is the law of Moses. Then he says those that come to 

me with a broken heart and contrite spirit will recieve the kindom of heaven.

 I just think sometimes we take things for granted in our lives.

 Really the gospel is so simple, we don't have to do a billion things,

 this and that, but we just have to love God and keep the commandments.

 When we do this, our lives will be so much easier, simpler and happier. 

The gospel is awesome and so simple. I love it.

Love all of you, and appriciate all the letters I receive.

 I can really feel everyones love for me!!

Elder Orton :)