This is NOT our work......

Hello to everyone!

As I approach another week here in the mission I look back and see that I have had the opportunity throughout all of my misison to learn, to grow up, to mature, and to enjoy my role as a servant of Christ. As I remember all of the good times that I have had, I realize that throughout it all my best times were when I was in the service of my Lord, and remmbering him. I am grateful and deeply humbled at the opportunity to serve others, and as I said last week in my message, in doing so serve our Father in Heaven. My short message and testimony to you all this week is that in the grand scheme of all things this Is not our work. Naturally everything that we have been blesed witha nd been given is the plan and part of our father in heavens blessings that he has bestowed upon us. We are but instruments in his hands and in his plans. We must utilize that role in our lives by remember and representing him in all that we do. i am grateful for this knowledge that we may become the BEST that we may be if we but submit to the will of our Father in Heaven, continually apply the Attonement in our lives, and endure to the end. 

I love you all and i hope that everyone is doing well! I'll send a few pics here real quick. Have a great week!

-Elder Matthew Arscott

Photos:

.Polícia Federal Trip with some Elders Leaving

 Elder Miranda, me, Elder Leptich, & Elder                                                                                                                                              Nydegger 

Cleaning out the Mission supply shed

The district here in Portão/Agua Verde

Elder Eddington and I renewing our one year Visa's with Elder Nydegger

Buddy from Brazilia

Aspire to Inspire Before we Expire

Sat. Feb 17, 2018

Hello everyone!

Im able to grab some more time to write a little update this week about everything going on and to be able to send some more pictures from here in Curitiba!

This past week was all running around and today we as well were super busy as well this morning as we got ready to send my companion Elder Nydegger back out on splits into the field, he'll go back to help the areas of Bairro Novo and Novo Aurora get up to speed, for now ill be spending some time here working with Elder Silva from a state called Rio Grande do Norte, the other side of the country here in Brazil. This elder is very mature and very diligent and its been great working with him so far. I love the opportunity to be able to meet other missionaires and to work hand in hand with them as well, learning from each and every one different. 

As we learn from others each and every day we as well can teach others, and I know that the best way to teach others, and in also doing so help them, is by that of example. I think back to a talk that our late Prophet Thomas S. Monson gave but just a few years ago that focuses on an aspect I would love to take a short minute to share about.  "The needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone."  He quotes a few verses out of the 25th chapter of Matthew that all of us may be able to apply in our lives and that may bless us if we do so diligently:

“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

 This past week i had the opportunity to visit a family that has the head of the home struggling now with age and health issues. A man who is well known here in the community and that was once a college professor, a doctor and scholar, and one who would travel the world and share his knowledge with many and a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ, his age now begining to take his learned mind away, we as missionaries were able to offer unto the family and specifically him a priesthood blessing. As i had the opportunity to do so the words came to my mind of the same hymn that President Monson then quoted in his same talk:


Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today Because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?

I felt the love of this dear family and the strength and spirit of the Lord in helping them. I bear a solemn witness that this is his true church, even the church of Christ, and in being so each and every one of us as members of this great reestablished church need to be disciples of Christ. In being disciples of Christ, we each need to try and do our best to follow our Saviors perfect example. Remember: The best way to teach is by example, and the best way to learn is by application. We must be an example first and take what we learn and use it in application. That means when we are served we must apply that service in the lives of others, and as King Benjamin said in his discourse given in the account of Mosiah: "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the serviceof your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

President Monson says also in his discourse and applies perfectly now: "That service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.As He enlists us to His cause, He invites us to draw close to Him. He speaks to you and to me: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” If we truly listen, we may hear that voice from far away say to us, as it spoke to another, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

I add my testimony with that of President Monsons, King Benjamin, and countless others: This is the true and restored gospel of Jesus Christ and that we may find "Rest" through serving others. I am so grateful for this blessing to serve others day to day here in Brazil. I thank all of those who have had an influence and have served methroughout my life. I hope to be able to always have the blessing of helping others.

Thats all that i have time for this week! Ill leave some photos with you all as well! I hope you all enjoy. Have a great week!

Elder Arscott

Missão Brasil Curitiba Sul

The Pereira's from my first area. I ran into them while on the streets of Curitiba.

Julia has accepted a baptismal date. Elder Eddington and I

Cooking with Irmao Marasses (Mana), the mission chef.

Lunch: Chicken with Brazilian Seasoning

Elder Nydegger and I from our apartment view

Me and Mana, the chef

Enjoying lunch SO much, I didn't realize the picture was being taken. 

Save your fork, the Best is yet to come!!

Feb 10, 2018

Hello to everyone all around the world!

This past week was one full of improvement and learning and was full of adventures here in my area of Agua Verde.

Me and my friend and Companion, Elder Nydegger, had the opportunity to go help some of the new Americans coming in get registered here in Brazil, but its the first time that either of us had ever done it so we didnt know exactly what we would need or anything, so we just took the Americans and went to the Federal Building hoping for the best. Well, Murphy's Law, when we got there they told us a lot of other things that we needed so Elder Nydegger and I laughed knowing we would have to come back, and Elder Nydegger told all the Americans that are still learning Portuguese that "Dont worry everythig went perfect" which i dont know why it was so funny but the Americans just had a blast. I loved Elder Nydeggers attitude about it all though. We can all take that attitude a little bit into our lives that even when things done go exactly how we want them too, to just shake it off and to know that as my Mom said in an email to me this week: "The Best is yet to come."

And its exactly that. For each and everyone of us, here on earth we dont fully understand sometimes that the best IS yet to come! that we have such a bright future ahead of us as long as we give it our best and apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. So thats my small thought for this week wiht my testimony that for all of us, no matter who we are, or where we are, the best is yet to come. I have a testimony that thanks to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that the best is always yet to come.

I hope you all have a great week! Here's some photos of some of the adventures of me and Elder Nydegger here in the office!

-Elder Arscott

Pizza Party in the mission office for the newbies

Former Mission President Fernandez

Family Home evening Card NIght

Mathues Baptism

Wedding Attendance 

Jan. 15, 2018

Hello to all of my Family and Friends!  

These last few weeks have been absolutely busy! Im still here in Fazenda Rio Grande and have had many opportunities of service and learning. Its been quite a while since i have written a group email and just want everyone to know im still here and im still alive! Life is good as we are having many expereinces that are helping us to forward this great work in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Im still blessed with the opportunity to be with Elder Viera Silva and helping to train him here! He had his first babtism in the mission this past week as we babtized our 10 year old friend, Gabriel. It was a great experiece for the two of us.  Other expereinces that we've had include:

We had a big rain flood here around the new year and we helped a few people that had their homes flooded out.

We saw a monkey here in Brazil which might sound kinda lame but it was actually pretty neat.

And we're conintuing to invite all to come unto Christ and keep obedient! 

Just want to send some photos and to stay in touch! I love you all! 

-Elder Matthew Arscott

The office, Season 1, Episode 1

Hey Everybody!

This past week has been one full of a lot of new things that im having to get used to, but its been a great one! Here in the office we have the responsibility of taking care of a lot of different documents, files, and Historical purposes that the mission needs. A lot of what we do is on the Computer but we also get to travel to different areas of the mision depending as well on their needs. In the evening we return as well to normal proselyting so dont think im not still knocking doors!

We had the opportunity to have a family night as well this week with two familes including my new friend Martine whos from the Netherlands and is almost 7 feet tall. That was a blast as we talked about the differencre that the gospel can make in our life if we let it influence us for the better. 

Other than that everything right now is a learning process! Ill keep everybody updated and ill send a few pictures this week as well! Love you all!

-Elder Matthew Arscott

 Elder Miranda on his first day in the mission

 Elder Nydegger from Holladay Utah

 In the office.....with Elder Nydegger

 Sunset over Curitiba

 Saying goodbye to the Batista Family

 P-day with Homer

Youth of Rio Iguaca

Hey Mom! So i should have a little bit of time to write you today to let you know everything thats going on!

So to start off first i still havent realized whats hit me. I never thought that i would serve in the mission office and always told myself thcuat i would accept any calling the Lord gave to me, Whether senior, junior, leader, etc. But i NEVER pictured serving in the office. When Sunday night rolled around we said goodbye to Sister Soriah Batista and told her that all of us wouldstay and that MAYBE Elder Lira would be transfered. The night before i had a very strong prompting that Elder Lira would be called as a Zone Leader after he had only served one transfer as a District Leader. He called me crazy but i knew his heart and knew his potencial. That night at 10:30 we called our good friend Elder Nydegger (The executive secratary) to see i he had any news about the transfers, and why they were taking so long to come in. He said he didnt know why they were taking so long and that this usually doesnt happen. I knew this as well and knew that this isnt very common to recieve transfers so late. i knew that the president had to be doing some serious meditating over this transfer and hadnt released them yet to his Assistants. So when 10:45 rolled around and we got a call from The President himself i knew something was serious. We picked up and the President told Elder Lira "Elder, i need you in Guarapuava (Five hours away, really long in the mission) as a Zone Leader. " He was shocked but knew it was over and that i would stay and finish the training of my companion when the president asked Elder Lira to pass the phone to me. So as the others rolled out of the room the President told me that "Elder Arscott, youre being transfered.." and my heart shot through my throat! hahaha i couldnt believe what he was saying! and then he continued: "...Youre going to be a junior..." and i about started crying right there mom hahaha. I hadnt done anything wrong but thought maybe i hadnt done good enough in my trianing or something. Back to junior again. Then he continued:  "....To two sisters!!! ....hahah Elder Arscott, Just kidding! Youre going to be my executive secratary!" and then i really couldnt believe anything that was happening. If the president hadnt called me personally i dont think that i would have believed him. 

SO now to start on my week. ELDER NYDEGGER, my good friend throughout the mission, from Holladay Utah, and who was the executive secratary as i stated above, is now my companion just for this transfer. Afterwards we will go back into a trio where i will be with Elder B. Silva again, and my other good frined from Mexico Elder Armenta. Its a great four that we have here. Im very excited and this week was a party to be with my friend Elder Nydegger. Im learning how to use Microsoft Office, Word, Powerpoint and especially EXCEL (spreadsheets) for everything. Im learning how to buy passages for the bus for missionaries, and ill start buying airplane passes in the next coming weeks for lots of missionaries, including friends such as Elder Garlick and even Nydegger's, who leave in May-July. I take care of all the babtismal forms and get them sent off to Salt lake or put them in the system. I get to make calls to Salt lake too about twice a week if we have problems or anything and as well all the missionaries pass through the office every transfer so for the long period of time that ill be here ill get to meet everyone in the mission. This Monday we get to go to the Federal police Department to do paperwork and i work a lot with the new guys that come into the mission. I get to work right next to president and the assistants as well which is a spiritual and great privledge..

Note from Mom:

     We feel blessed that Matthew will get this opportunity to learn these new responsibilities....