September 24, 2012

Tell Braden Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell Pres that I love him too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I was able to have an interview with (President) and it was really interesting. My companion had an interview first and then I went and he just asked me some simple questions like who my previous companions were and things like that so I told him and then he said "Oh now I know why you were placed with Elder Borden" I then asked him if I could ask him why and he said that he would tell me why afterwards, but he never did, I am not sure if he just did not want me to know or if he just did not want to tell me. …I need to praise my companion …  support him and compliment him, with even little things (and) I have been trying to do more of that. At the end he told me that he emailed you and you told him to give me a hug for you so at the end he gave me one for you! I did not get a picture with him, but sister violin took one with them and a bunch of missionaries.

So there are nice places here just like anywhere!! That was a really nice restaurant!!! IT cost like 25 bucks a person! I will just say President Kretly is loaded!!

I have not told you a lot about my companion, but he is having a hard time and is really worried about his family, but if you guys would be able to pray for him that would be great thanks!! Love you guys. Elder Tilley

(Braden) Hey Man!! I just want to let you know how excited I am that you are getting married!!! Definitely do not worry about me at all this week for not being there!!!  Yes I would love to be there, but i know that the Lord will bless the both of us as well!

Love you Bro and I hope that you have a wonderful last single birthday!!! :)

Love Elder Tilley

7:19

Tell Dad also that I love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Logging off!!!

Elder Tilley

September 17, 2012

Hi Mom I am on, Prestident Kretly changed the rule to only an hour of internet time, so I have even less time to write. (I’m) not really (able to print emails) because I have to pay money and it is just a big pain...Did you find sister Violin on Facebook?

So I went to the doctor and got another test and they said that the Paludismo left and it is not in my blood, so that is good.

Elder Montgomery (Also from Gilbert; Highland HS) and Elder Tilley

Also do you remember that family I talked about when I was in Lunada, I think I told you the story about how the Daughter read the Book of Momon and told her family that it was true. The dads name is Mario if that helps, anyways  they are getting baptized this Saturday! The Mom and Dad and the three kids! I am so super excited for them, but really sad that I can not be their! My trainer Elder Rainbolt is still in that same area going on 5 transfers!! So he told me that he would send me some pcitures.

So one investigator that we have is named Brother Rock and he is a Spiritual Giant!! The only reason he is not baptized is because he is not married and I have worked with a lot of people that the only reason they are not baptized is because they are not married and to this point none of them have been able to get married because it is expensive and is a really annoying processes and so alot of people just do not have the desire to do it or their "spouse" does not want to do it and is holding them back! But he is very determined to get it down, and he should get all of his paper work down this week and then I think he has to send it to Luanda to get it approved, which could take along time! So if you guys could keep him in your prayers and that his marriage will happen smoothly and quickly that would be great!!

The Voilins (couple missionary from Brazil) took the 4 missionaries to Tunda Vala cliffs on preparation day

So the beginning of last transfer I had an experience that I felt like I needed to study the language alot more…This week I had another similar experience and I felt like the Lord was telling me the exact same thing. So I came to the conclusion that I really need to buckle down and do better, the Lord has really blessed me to pick up the language really fast and I know that he has given me the gift of tongues and understanding, but I feel like I need to do more on my part so that the Lord can bless me even more. So if you guys could pray for me with that as well that would be great!  One of my goals to help me do better with this is to read the Book of Mormon in Portuguese for part of my Language study, by the end of next transfer so about three months, it is about 7-8 pages a day in the Portuguese  version. And yesterday I had the thought to invite my family to read the Book of Mormon (in English :) ) with me by the end of  next transfer as well. 

I am not sure if that is something that you guys would want to do or feel like you should, but if you guys want to join in with me that would be great! But if (not) that is totally fine!  Love you Mom thank you for your support and Prayers!! Elder Tilley

(Braden) Hey so when is the Big date I still did not get that one! Keep up the good work brother!! I am praying for you too!!  Just Remember "If life was not hard it would not be worth it!" (Quote by Braden Tilley to Elder Tilley in his first transfer, but referring to Missions)

Love you so much Bro!!

Elder Tilley

Pops!

It always seems like that happens, people say they will come to church and then something crazy happens. Just keep inviting her!! Thanks for the advice!  Keep up the great Missionary work that you are doing!! (How great will be our Joy in the Kingdom of Heaven when we sit with those that we helped bring into the Church/ Gospel) Love you  Pops!! Elder Tilley

September 3, 2012

Lubango Distrct; only 4 Elders in the City of Lubango.
Companions: Elders Kelsey & Montgomery (also from Gilbert), Elders Borden & Tilley.

Thanks Dad for the email, that really helps a lot. I just wanted to know what you thought about it, to try and confirm what I thought as well thanks so much! 

I hope that you are doing well and everything is going well at work! 

Love you Pops! Your are so awesome thanks for being such a great Father!

Love you! 

Elder Tilley

Here is a picture of part of the city of Lubango . . . 

and a picture of my Book of Mormon I am studying in. 

Obviously it is really dirty here and with books the pages that you read and mark up get really dirty so I can pretty much turn to exact page where I am at by seeing the dirt of the pages ! :)

Mom!

Hey mom I did not get an email from you this week. Don’t worry if you did not have time or anything, I know that you were probably crazy busy or your email just did not go through or something. Please do not worry though!! I remember when things would happen like this to Braden and you would kind of freak out and think that Braden thought that you did not Love him or something! Just know that I know that you still Love me and care about me, something probably just came up J. I hope that you are doing well! I am doing really well. Hey would you be able to send me a package with colored pencils (24 pack), a little tiny pencil sharpener, another bottle of compound W, and one of those little tiny, but powerful flashlights that we have, if it takes AAA batteries that would be better, but AA batteries would work too. (Mine broke and without energy a lot of times I kind of need one. We have to use candles right now, it is pretty sweet!!!) I think the package has to be under 2.2 pounds so if all of that stuff is too heavy then maybe just send a 12 pack of colored pencils and if it is still too heavy you could leave out the compound W. Thanks so much!

Missionary Apartment in Lubango, Angola

(Braden)

Thanks Bro for the letter! It really boosted me up! It is so awesome how the Lord takes care of his missionaries. For example this past week I have been having the thoughts about if my family is really Proud of me. I know they are because I am their family, but I just really had the doubt come into my mind if my family really is Proud! And then low and behold I get a letter from my brother that says he is proud of me! Thank you so much for the letter it really helped me! and thanks for following the Spirit! Thanks for being such a great example to me! I love you so much!

P.S. I hope Chelsy had fun/ did well on the family Labor camp out because if not their may be some future problems :) haha just kidding! Love you bro thanks for everything that you have already done for me! Love Elder Tilley I forgot to reply to your question about how I am doing Physically and Spiritually. I am doing well with both! I am learning so much spiritually because of the Scripture studies that I am doing and I am learning so much and the Lord is really changing me! (Like that quote says "A study of the gospel will change behavior faster then the study of behavior will change behavior") I really do believe that because I have been able to see how the Lord is molding me and helping me change so that I become the Person that he wants me to be. I am doing pretty well physically also. I have pretty much fully recovered at this point and I am doing well! Tell mom sorry I have to log off right now! Sorry

Here is a journal entry:

Picture from the Violin's blog. Couple on left are the Renlunds (Quorum of Seventy), then the Thompson's (acting Mission President and wife), then the Violins (Missionary Couple from Brazil, serving in Angola)