:)

Saturday January 14, 2017

Meus amigos, bom dia todos! 

Hope everyone is enjoying the Utah coldness will I'm just soaking 

up the beautiful sun down here in Brasil. Jk The cold is great! 

Feel like every time I write a letter I say the same thing.." This week was busy"

or "This week was crazy" or better yet "Lots has happened this week!"

But hey I can't lie, and frankly as a missionary lots happens in one week

of life! So if any of you still had any doubts about my week.. This week 

was crazy! We had transfers this week so of course we had lots of stuff

to do in the mission office. I've been here for two transfers though, so I feel 

things are getting a lot easier. I can do things alot faster and I know how things are

going to be. We got a new secratery here in the office though! His names Elder Andrade. 

He'll be the new finacial secratery. Now we have six secretaries! It's pretty fun being 

with so many good missionarys! The work in the mission office is pretty officey work

as you can imagine but hey you gotta love it. One experience this week just had to make

me laugh. A sister in our mission didn't have a CPF or as it would be in english (social security number) So as mission rules and for saftey everybody needs one. We planned to

make a little trip to the Goverment buildings down here close to our office so she could get one. 

As you could imagine we waited for about 5 hours. I watched many impatient people come in

and out complaning about the wait. Reminded me of a little place we call the DMV up there in the states. All and all they finally called our number!  Wow what a miracle that was! We went back there and this little lady said.. "So whats your name?" She typed the Sisters name in to the computer and hit print and out came her little Social Security number. I couldn't help but but laugh all the wait for something so little. Just one of those things that makes you laugh at life.

The work this week has been really good!  Me and my comp Elder Soper have been working 

really hard! We have actually found a lot of new people this week which was really exciting! 

We also have a lady named Liliana preparing for baptism this week. She is a really funny lady 

that has a lot of faith! She has problems with epalepsy so she has to take medication. The missionarys taught her a long time ago but she never was baptized. We found her this week and started teaching her! She really has a lot of faith and has a strong desire to be baptized. The work of the Lord is awesome! I was reading in second Nephi this week and just wanted to share a couple thoughts. He was talking about the Savior and atonment. One reminder really sunk into my mind. We allready know he atoned for us, but what does that really mean? Why do we wait? It's already been done. He's waiting for us! We have nothing to wait for! We just have to come to him first! It's already been done. Salvation is already won! 

Love you all! And hope you guys have the best week!! 

Elder Orton

P.s. Be careful driving in the snow and don't eat the yellow flavored snow... it's not good for you. 

UM ANO

Saturday January 7, 2017

Whoooo hooo! One year in the mission! Where has time gone? 

I can't believe I've allready been out here one year! I'm technically

Brazilian by now. I'll come back and you guys won't even recognize

 who I am. 

Crazy to think one year ago I was leaving my fam. going into the field not 

knowing what lays ahead.This year really has been the craziest year of my life. 

I dont think I could even describe the things I have gone through

this past year. The mission is a thing you can never know how

it really is until youv'e been on one. It's crazy to look back on what

I've learned. All the things that have happened and all the people I've

met. I've really experienced lots of things. Weird food, different culture, 

new language, hot sun, talking to all types of people, freezing cold showers.. everyday,

Ups, downs, lefts, and rights.... everything!! I've seen a lot of things this year.

The one thing that really changed my life this year was the Savior. That's one

thing that I am eternally grateful for. I've gotten to know Him. He's my best friend! 

The best thing of all I get to be His servant, and there is nothing I'd rather do. 

I love him and what He's done for me, and what He still will do for me. 

I love the chance I've had to be here! One year down one to go! 

This one will even be better! 

Love you all!!!

Elder Orton

Feliz Novo Ano

Hey everyone!!!
 Happy new year.. almost!!!! 
Just wait a couple hours.

Hope everyone had a great week and a great Christmas! 

This week was really great! With Christmas and the New year coming up 

it's a good time of year! I know I didn't email very much last week but Christmas was 

awesome! The week before we had our Christmas conference. 

 The whole mission was there! I got to see everyone and it was really great!

 The President and his wife went 

all out this year too... it's their last Christmas here in the mission

 so they made it quite a party! Christmas Eve was great too! 

We have p-day Saturday here, so it just ended up being Christmas eve.

 While all the other missionarys had to work and study at night we

had our own little party in our apartment. We baked a turkey! Suprisingly it worked out too. 

We made so much food, set up a table and put it out on our deck and had the best Christmas dinner ever. Sunday was great. That morning we woke up and went to Church! 

When we got there, we had two investigators that already showed up! We were so excited.

That was a Christmas present! We haven't even taught this family and they came to church just because I called them the day before. This week we taught a little more and they have dates! We are excited for them! After church we ate lunch then went and skyped our familys! It was great! It's crazy it's already been a year since we talked. 

This Christmas was perfect and definetly one i'll never forget. 

This Christmas was really special. This Cristmas was about Christ. 

Love being here and the chance I have to tell others about the good news.

That He was born, and He lives again! 

Love you all!

Elder Orton

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