My last night in Ala Gloria. The man is Jones. He was baptized last week. He is an excellent person.

We were teaching a lady about the purpose of going to church. E. Menezes did a great job a explaining why, using Ephesions 4:11-14.  It is a great feeling to be in a ward where the members have the same purpose. Here in my new area, the ward functions a lot better. We have an actively participating Ward Mission Leader. I was rather stunned with the attendance in Sacrament Meeting. This area has more money and the members have more education and less dependence on the missionaries. The activeness of the ward is wonderful.

Elder Fonseca is from São Paulo. He was attending the best South American university before leaving on his mission; it’s called Universidade de São Paulo. I talked with him about us becoming exchange students. Maybe it will be an option for the future. He has become a great friend and I will miss his maturity. I don’t know his new companion but I hope he is awesome. He continues to teach Mara and Eliane. Mara has asked me to come back this weekend to baptize her. I felt very honored and was glad that the president permitted it. She wants to be baptized in the river but the president won’t let that happen. I will let you know how it goes.

Elder Menezes is a great guy. We are very different and it’s hard to work with missionaries that already have experience. But I think we will gain a balance and work hard.

Being a zone leader is really different. There is less contact with the missionaries. I feel like I am to pass information. I hope with time, I will gain the confidence of the missionaries and will be able to give suggestions. Every leadership position has a different view of the mission. I want to really magnify my calling, especially in these last few months.

Thanks for the Box!! Wow I thought you said it was small! I am excited for Conference weekend: blueberry muffins! Yum.  It was a surprise when you sent what I had thought about asking for: Twizzlers!

Thanks family!

Please give Marcus a hug for me.

I am glad that Emily’s Sunday School teacher was challenging the students to read the Book of Mormon. I hope that at least one time, the kids were able to feel the power of the BOM. I love it and know it’s true.  I really liked chapter 25 of 2 Nephi this past week.

The Gospel is true. O Evangelho é verdadeiro!

Love,

Elder Poulton

Dedication 10th of June
Celebration 9th of June
Open House 18th of May till 2nd of June
Every one is super excited for the dedication!

E. Poulton: Hi Mom! Can you talk?

Mom: Hello, Son!
Mom here!
You still there?

E. Poulton: Yep! I have good news that complicates things. The date of the temple dedication has been released. June 10th. If I extend I will be able to participate. But that means I will come home 19th of June. I would love to stay.

Mom: Dad and I both think you should do whatever you think is best. Emily will take it hard that you are not here for her graduation, but she will understand that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you.

Mom: The trip to Brad’s house is not scheduled yet, so no conflict there.

E. Poulton: Alright. I will talk with President. It’s a tough decision. I will continue to pray about it. When is graduation?

Mom: May 22.

Mom: We feel good about either choice. We will happily support whatever you choose.

E. Poulton: Thanks Mom and Dad for your love and understanding. How are you doing parents?

Mom: Great!

Yay! Alef was baptized! It was very special. He really felt the spirit and love. His aunt and cousin were very supportive. I was honored when he asked that I baptize him. He gave me a big hug after as he cried. It was very special and touching.  I included pictures of the baptism.

Elder Fonseca and I went to the port again and took some great pictures and there is one other of our neighbor grilling food in the rain, notice the umbrella above the grill. E. Fonseca thought it was hilarious.  He still is getting use to the people here. I just love them.

Still no box…

Transfers have arrived again! I have been transferred to Zona Oesta to an area called Dom Pedro. I will serve as Zone Leader this next transfer. Zona Oesta is the largest zone in the mission. My companion will be Elder Meneses. I already served with him as his District Leader.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to finish training Elder Fonseca. But he is already very capable of guiding the work here in Gloria. After six months of living here, I will have to say goodbye to one more large ward family.  I will serve where I was planted, right Mom?

Anna mentioned that they will visit Brad, Megan and Katelyn in June. I hope to be able to go with them.

I love you family! I will write to you next week!

Elder Poulton

Life is going great here! It is raining crazy right now but that’s alright, I am inside.

We are going to have an awesome baptism this Friday. His name is Alef. He is  17 years old. He has had a rough past without supportive parents. But now he is living with his member aunt. Alef went to church with us and he really felt the spirit. I have a strong love for this young man. Soon after his baptism, he will go to EFY. It is the first time ever that Manaus will have its own EFY! Legal!

I don’t believe that Byron has three kids! Crazy cool. I remember when he was a recently returned missionary.

Elder Fonseca has been a bit sick these days. Just mildly, but it doesn’t make the work very fun for him.

Nope, the box has not arrived, yet. Maybe Wednesday. I believe I will have my last Zone Conference this week. I will have to renew my recommend with the President. I don’t believe that 2 years have already passed since I first entered the mission field.

I love you family! I know the Savior lives and loves us! I feel this completely.

Happy Birthday, Pai, Dad!

Love,

Elder Poulton

Here are the photos from the baptisms of Adailson and Rudson.  It was a wonderful night.

The birthday went well! Thanks to all for your birthday wishes. It was a great day with 2 confirmations! Rudson and Deilson were baptized Saturday and confirmed Sunday. Two great men with the potential to help build the kingdom.

I am not sure about the box. I will go to the office tomorrow. I hope it is there awaiting my arrival. Thanks, Mom, for sharing with us the message from Elder Bednar. I will do everything to be a missionary and set aside my will. Being a trainer is great because you can control the level of obedience and also the level of diligence. It requires a lot but there is more joy in the work.

I was sorry to hear about Kolby’s accident in the mission field. What a miracle it is that he will be able to stay on his mission. I will pray for him as well.

Mara, an investigator very special to us, accepted a baptismal date. She explained through her tears, of the time when she gave birth to her daughter. She was thought to be incapable of having children. She made a promise with God to raise her daughter in the gospel and her daughter was born without a single problem. Sofia is 2 years old and adorable. Mara explained that she still has to fulfill her part of the promise with God. She knows what she has to do. She also knows that she has to change her life. She had a dream after our first visit. I was in her dream teaching and she said while I was talking, she was watching everything in front of her as if it was on a TV.  I know God’s plans are perfect and that I didn’t have the fear to talk with Mara. She is a very special person.

May we be faithful to our covenants and trust more fully in His words.

Love,

Elder Poulton

Glad to hear that you had something to talk about in sacrament meeting! It’s hard to believe that Johnny and Marcus are coming home already!  I am pretty sure that we will all have to readjust again to USA life.

Things are going well here in Glória. We continue to fight for these people. Mara, a woman that we have been teaching for a long time finally went to church! She was rather distracted with her toddler but she liked it still. Last night she said that now having gone to church, the next step is baptism. It is not super easy to teach her but we do our best. Patricia,  a recent convert, is doing a great job at bring the spirit into the lessons with Mara. Elder Fonseca is doing well. He is growing in his abilities to teach doctrine and talk with people.

I await the package from you with a smile.

Suggested reading for the week>> Conference Talk called Covenants in the Nov Ensign.

Elder Anderson and Elder Ballard visited Manaus last Friday. It was a stealth visit. They only visited the temple. But they left a letter with the temple workers thanking them for the work and thanked us missionaries for the missionary efforts. It’s good to know that we are remembered. Manaus is super blessed to have a temple already.

Keep on reading the Book of Mormon, Emily!

Rudson has been a miracle. He continues to grow more free of the past. He hasn’t broken the WoW for 2 weeks!  He has received a lot of strength from the members. Deilson is getting close to being ready for his baptism this week. Our goal is to have the two great brothers baptized this Saturday.

Much love,

Elder Samuel Poulton

Please send my love and happy birthday to Andrew!

The work is going well! We are teaching a lot of men. And Pedro not only went to church again, he brought his two older children with him. He is really progressing very well. The thing that shocks me the most is that he works a lot, so we are not able to follow up with him as well as we should. But he continues to have an inner force moving him forward. He said he will bring his wife as well next week. We will be talking with them about the wedding as well.

You asked my suggestions on what to report in Sacrament Meeting about me and my mission to date. Maybe share with the ward that I have never regretted serving. Tell the young men to study with vigor Preach My Gospel and the scriptures connected with lessons.  Have a thirst for being righteous and studying righteously.

We are doing well! We are working well together. I am trying to allow Elder Fonseca to lead when we teach lessons. One time he forgot the prayer! But we are working it out.

Yesterday we taught a man that has been addicted to drugs for decades. He had begun the recovery process when we talked with him on the street. We taught him about the Atonement and the Gospel, and that it is possible to receive a complete spiritual recovery.  My companion and I felt a strong love for this man. It is amazing how the spirit brings charity into a situation so quickly. I know the Savior lives and is completely willing to help us.

Love you family!

Until the next moment!

Love,

Elder Poulton

I have a new companion! His name is Elder Fonseca. He is from São Paulo. He is 23 years old and has been a member of the Church for a little over a year. He has been studying music and conducting for the past 4 years! He is a lot more timid than Elder Maia so I am back in the front pushing forward.  Yep, I will continue as a district leader.

It is amazing to think that Elder Esplin will be home soon! Already!  And Marcus?

I was great to hear that you were able to do some temple sealings. Can’t wait to do sealings as I have never done them before.

Our investigator, Rudson, is doing great. Went to church again and he is showing real progress. His wife (who is a recent convert) is helping a lot.
Pedro went to church in a huge rain storm. He promised he would come and he fulfilled the promise! It made me very pleased to see someone dedicated like that.  His name was given to us by someone we stopped in the road!

Deilson really liked learning about the plan of salvation this week. He is reading a lot and doing well. His brother and sister-in-law (recent converts) are helping him out a lot as well.

I got a package! It was a huge surprise for me! Kaytlynn McConnell sent it to me for Christmas and New Year. It was rather unexpected.

I am doing well! Staying focused is the name of the game
Much Love,

Elder Poulton