Elder Brock remains in Itacoatiara. He is doing well despite having 2 parasites over the past couple of months and lots of blisters. A quick trip to the hospital, IV fluids, and a pill has taken care of the problem! He works hard--it remains hot and he says the only difference in the seasons is hot, hot, and hotter. He has 4 months left--hard to believe!! His release date is May 19th, 2015.
Elder Jordan William Brock
Jordan is currently serving a 2-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is laboring in the Brazil Manaus Mission and is currently in the city of Itacoatiara.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Transfer to Itacoatiara, Amazonas
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
CACOAL, BRAZIL
April 14, 2014
Well, wow, so this week was pretty crazy and sorry I haven’t had all the time in the world to be able to write lately. So last week I didn´t really get a p-day because I was traveling for almost a whole day--but no worries, I arrived here in Cacoal safely! So the Church has only been here for about 5 months. This past Sunday we had about 25 people in church and of that 25 I think about 15 were baptized members. It is amazing to see how the church is here because it makes me realize some of the difficulties Joseph Smith might of had. It is crazy because we rent a school courtyard for sacrament and we do everything. We bring bread, direct the meeting, give the talks, bless and pass the sacrament, and give opening and closing prayers every Sunday! I never realized that the church was so small in some areas, but I know for a fact that this gospel is reaching the 4 corners of the Earth! Well enough with how the missionary work is going I am just going to get the good part of my letter...so I am great. I am happy and wouldn´t want to be anywhere else. Well that is somewhat true (lol) because I really do miss my family more than anything in this world. But nah I am kidding I´m not more important than this work going on!!!! Something that I learned this week is to not be so self centered. So this week I had the awesome opportunity to ordain two boys to the office of priest and deacon and also confer the priesthood to them! It was such a great experience and after my companion was like we need to give them a shirt and tie for church on Sunday. So I went and grabbed a shirt and tie and didn´t realize that one of the shirts I had grabbed had a stain and he looked at it and was like Elder get another shirt so I grabbed another one. Well, of course after he gave me the Cain and Abel talk about how I need to give my best and you know--he was right. I shouldn´t of just grabbed a random shirt but I should of checked it and made sure that it was going to be the best shirt that I could give him. You know at times it is difficult. It is difficult to give stuff away. Of course a white shirt and tie on the mission is nothing because as a missionary you usually have a lot of those. But it made me think about things that do mean a lot to me and would I be willing to just give my best away. My whole time here on my mission I have thought that what is mine is mine and yours is yours--but should it be that way? You know of course you can´t be taken advantage of, but I thought about how I have been on the mission and how would the Savior be. I thought about the sacrifice the Savior made for us.
Well, wow, so this week was pretty crazy and sorry I haven’t had all the time in the world to be able to write lately. So last week I didn´t really get a p-day because I was traveling for almost a whole day--but no worries, I arrived here in Cacoal safely! So the Church has only been here for about 5 months. This past Sunday we had about 25 people in church and of that 25 I think about 15 were baptized members. It is amazing to see how the church is here because it makes me realize some of the difficulties Joseph Smith might of had. It is crazy because we rent a school courtyard for sacrament and we do everything. We bring bread, direct the meeting, give the talks, bless and pass the sacrament, and give opening and closing prayers every Sunday! I never realized that the church was so small in some areas, but I know for a fact that this gospel is reaching the 4 corners of the Earth! Well enough with how the missionary work is going I am just going to get the good part of my letter...so I am great. I am happy and wouldn´t want to be anywhere else. Well that is somewhat true (lol) because I really do miss my family more than anything in this world. But nah I am kidding I´m not more important than this work going on!!!! Something that I learned this week is to not be so self centered. So this week I had the awesome opportunity to ordain two boys to the office of priest and deacon and also confer the priesthood to them! It was such a great experience and after my companion was like we need to give them a shirt and tie for church on Sunday. So I went and grabbed a shirt and tie and didn´t realize that one of the shirts I had grabbed had a stain and he looked at it and was like Elder get another shirt so I grabbed another one. Well, of course after he gave me the Cain and Abel talk about how I need to give my best and you know--he was right. I shouldn´t of just grabbed a random shirt but I should of checked it and made sure that it was going to be the best shirt that I could give him. You know at times it is difficult. It is difficult to give stuff away. Of course a white shirt and tie on the mission is nothing because as a missionary you usually have a lot of those. But it made me think about things that do mean a lot to me and would I be willing to just give my best away. My whole time here on my mission I have thought that what is mine is mine and yours is yours--but should it be that way? You know of course you can´t be taken advantage of, but I thought about how I have been on the mission and how would the Savior be. I thought about the sacrifice the Savior made for us.
41 And he was withdrawn from
them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, aremove this cup from me: nevertheless not my bwill, but thine, be done.43 And there appeared an aangel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an aagony he prayed more earnestly: band his sweat was as it were great drops of cblood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his
disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,46 And said unto them, Why
sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
I have thought about these
scriptures a lot this week. He sacrificed so much for us...he sacrificed his
life. There are things or times where I don´t even want to sacrifice one of my
things for my brother or sister here on this earth. Don´t fall asleep and find
yourself putting things away just for your self. Always put the Savior first. I know what He did wasn´t easy, but I know that he did it because he loves us! Don´t ever
forget that! I love all ya'll and if ya'll need anything please don´t hesitate
to ask!
Love Elder Brock
Monday, April 7, 2014
Transfer
Today, Elder Brock was transferred to Cacoal, Rondonia, Brazil. This city has a population of about 50,000 people. It is about 1400 km or approximately 900 miles south of Manaus. Cacoal is located along the Rio Jiparana' River. We are excited to hear about the people and the area in this area of Brazil. Following are the last pictures that Elder Brock sent from Manaus!!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
My Two Front Teeth.....
Well another week in the
mission field. I can honestly say that whenever you feel like life is getting
easier on the mission something is ALWAYS thrown at you. You know it is just
crazy how life is right now! So we had another baptism this week and it was one
that has been waiting to happen for about a month or so now so it was great to
see Antonio make the decision to be baptized and united with his family! I had
the amazing opportunity to be able to perform the baptism so that was awesome
as well! Other than that we have another investigator on date for this coming
up Saturday. Her name is Bárbara and she is about 20 or 30ish! She just told us
in the last lesson that she received her answer that the Book of Mormon was
true so she is excited for her baptism, as are we!
So this week was pretty
interesting...well first of all I received my Christmas package so HOORAY!!!!! Ha-ha
I was pretty excited about that! But then the next day I broke my 2 front teeth....
yeah I should have asked for 2 front teeth for Christmas. I feel like I get
problems thrown at me left and right being out here on the mission but I just
got to keep going. I know that I am doing the Lord´s work and he will bless me
and the people that I am serving here in Brazil! This whole situation with my
teeth and everything has kind of been a blessing well I try to look at it as
that way. My whole mission I have been a little worried about my teeth moving
and maybe not being straight and now I am missing parts of them! But besides
that fact it made me realize that we should be grateful for what we have. We
don´t need to be always dwelling on--Oh I wish I could do this or I wish I had
that because if we are doing that then we will always be doing that and we will
never be truly happy with what we have. Last night I was laying in bed just
thinking and I remember my first couple weeks here in Brazil I was wondering
why everyone was always so happy. I remember we ate lunch with some members one
day and their house was about the size of my bedroom at home but they were so
happy! I was eating lunch right next to where they slept and I remember sharing
a message on how putting others before ourselves help us to have Joy! I
remember the dad said, "you know I don´t have a lot, I work a lot of hours and
don´t spend a lot of time with my family, but because we put the Lord first we
are truly blessed". He said we have a place to sleep; we have food on the table.
This made me realize my whole life I have always been concerned with things
that I want to change. It made me realize that instead of dwelling on things
that we want to change we should be happy with the things that we have because
there may come a point in time where we don´t have that. Just like with my
teeth. Always be grateful for what you have. Don´t be concerned with things you
want to change or things you don´t have because there may come a point in time
where you don´t have anything! I love this gospel. I love that my teeth just
like we teach in the first lesson about the RESTORATION will be restored!!! That
is our joke-- so don´t worry I hope my teeth will be fine and I am sure they
will be, but for the fun of it--here is a picture! Thank you for all the support you
all give me at home and know that I love all of you! If there is anything you
need please just let me know! Love, Elder
Brock
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