Monday, October 22, 2012

last letter...its a good one!


Well, thanx for the advice Dad, after this week I REALLY need to thank Heavenly Father, and thank you so much for the scripture 3 nefi 20, the last verse was made this week, I am pretty sure you guys would not believe my last week even if I told you, but since I know Dad loves telling and hearing missionary stories I will try and sum it all up.  But sufficeth me to say, Heavenly Father LOVES ME!!  And he always keeps his promises, the last verse that my Heavenly Father gave to me was this one,  46 Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled; and then shall aJerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance. 
        I wish that I could tell you this story and you guys could feel the way I felt, the overwhelming love that I felt for Heavenly Father, and His people, I wish I could have filmed my last week, it was the best of my whole mission, I finally understand why I had to pass through all of this, Heavenly Father was planning a surprise for the end of my mission, and the sacrifice was necessary to appreciate all of it.  I can´t believe that I ever doubted!!!  Heavenly Father had been planning this week for forever!!!  This week was a week of miracles!
       Teusday: We discovered that the wedding of Marcio and Clauderí was moved to my last week, so I would be able to see their baptism!!! I taught them for my last 2 months!!
       Teusday night:  I received a call from President that I had a "special assignment", a missionary would be sent home early and I would need to take his place in the area...
The place was Rio Largo!!!!!!!!!  He also told me that I could plan with Elder Bonini to still go to my baptism in Farol, my current area.
I imediatidadely called Cristiano, and said "The High-King is coming back" I explained to him that I would be on a special assignment for my last week and would stay until sunday, he told everyone for me!!!
         Wednesday:  I arrived in Rio Largo with my new companion, Elder Clark, he was happy to see me, and so were his leaders, E. Sodré and E. Garozzi, they challenged me to baptize my last week in Rio Largo, and I accepted but asked for their prayers.  Eliene called me and told me that she wanted me to baptize her daughter Inglyde, her family loves me, but Eliene´s mom does NOT like the idea of Inglyde being baptized, Eliene was worried, but since I was coming it would be really important to her that I baptized her daughter, and so we united the neighborhood to help us!
         Thursday:  I received the news from Artur, one of my "young warriors" that there were some people in his extended family that were investigating the church and he wanted me to teach them.  We taught his cousin, Duanne, she had heard of me and wanted to hear what I had to say.  We taught her in a member´s house with a bunch of my recent converts which had been walking with me that day, she decided that Jesus Christ is what is most important to her and more than to "Say" that she loves Him, she wanted to SHOW Him her love, the spirit was SUPER STRONG.
          Friday:  The next day Elder Mark came to do interviews, when we went to do the interview we encountered Artur´s sister who explained to me that she had been frequenting church with Duanne and that she also wanted to hear what we had to say, we taught her and did her interview on the same day.
          Saturday:  All of the members and my recent converts came to the baptism, it was a little piece of Heaven, Duanne had some friends who she invited to her baptism, and we invited them to church the next day.
          Sunday:  The week was awesome, and I was happy to stay my last week in Narnia and spend all day with the people I love.  JR, Eliene, Rodrigo, Ándreia, Cristiano, Fabio, Dani, Tinha, Jhonny, etc.  My last sunday I was given time by the president of the branch to bear a "LAST TESTIMONY"   Sufficeth me to say, It was a Narnia moment.  After church Duanne´s friends came with us to take pictures, they were very emotioned by everything they had seen and also wanted to be baptized in the future.  After church I ate lunch with the first complete family I baptized in Rio Largo and then I went to one of my magic places, JR´s streat, I sat with the people I baptized and we just joked around and celebrated at the week´s victory against the adversary, we listened to The Call, it was sunday but we have decided that The Call is a "Celestial Song" so we can listen to it on sunday.  One of my recent converts said "Well, the first time we did the first film, you came back to win the battle again, I guess we will have to wait for "The dawn treddor" for you to come back" we all laughed.  Then at sunset I got on the bus to go to my area and I waved until I couldn´t see them anymore, but "´ll come back when He calls me, no need to say goodbye"  When I arrived in my area we had a miracle, a friend of the family that would be baptized who we had already been teaching decided to be baptized, we were shocked, but happy.  With her baptism it fulfilled the goal I had made at the beginning of my mission, and needless to say Heavenly Father has a better imagination than me, and His last week for me was way better than what I could have imagined.  I love you all, my beloved family, Thanx for making me a dreamer, an imaginer, and a missionary, I can´t imagine a better family to prepare me for this experience.  ahh I will leave Narnia, but I am leaving the way He wants me to leave, thanx for trusting me and letting me stay until e wanted me to go, I love you all!!!!
-Elder McOmber

p.s.  My feet are feeling better, the doctor told me that my feet were a result of walking a lot, whew*
I have received my moments here, how you guys want to receive me is up to you, I will just be happy to see you guys!!     

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Elder McOmber honorable release, will be home in a week.

Christian will be coming home in a week.  He has been serving as an assistant to the president, and his mission president would love nothing more than to have him serving longer on his mission, but he has seen the pain Chrsitian is in, and his hand is not getting better, it has now spread to his shoulders, other hand, and now feet.  We already have a doctor appointment for the day after he returns next week.  This is very good, and his mission president mad the decision.  Christian would have stayed even longer, even though he has been battling this pain since March.  Christian served valiently, and with more effectiveness than most, and he is fine with this decision.  He knows it is what the Lord wants, and he has had many spiritual experiences that confirm that.  We look forward to next week!  WE LOVE ELDER MCOMBER!



I love you all so much, Dad, that is way cool that that women got sealed after we gave her that book of Mormon.  I think by now you guys have gotten the call from President Tanner, Presidente Gonzaga has seen my health get worse and this past week he sat me down right before I was going to give a training to the leaders in Sergipe, he told me that he has thought a lot about me and that he feels from God that now is my time, I will call you guys to let you guys know more, President knows how important my mission is to me, so he has arranged for me to end my mission as if it were normal, I will return having served an honorable full-time mission.  But I will be coming home next week, Heavenly Father has been preparing me little by little for this moment, I have felt from the spirit that Heavenly Father is happy with me and that he is happy with my sacrafice and my mission.  When I have more time I will tell you guys the whole story, but it sufficeth me to say that I know that Heavenly Father is happy with me and that personal revelation is very real,  I have had a moment this week that was very spiritual, I KNOW that this is my time to go and that Heavenly Father loves me.
       Today President said, "This game isn´t over, it is like football, I am going to take out my all-star player so that he can play in the championship game"  I am so glad that President has an eternal perspective and that he loves me so much.  Even though no one can replace Mom and Dad, President and Sister Gonzaga have treated me like their son.  Numerous ocasions President has called me Son in front of other missionaries and members, but President and I both have the same Heavenly Father, and even though we wanted to stay together a little longer, President feels like it is my time, and I trust his inspiration.
        But I wanted to thank my Dad and Mom for all of the love and support, and I wish you guys could see me here, I feel like the Gladiator of the Maceió mission, I feel sad that my Glory days are coming to an end, but this is not the first time I have fought for good alongside these mighty companions and Presidente and Sister, and I know that the battle between Good and Evil is far from over, when it comes time for the "championship game" I know that I will be alongside Presidente again, and we will take on the world!!
       But I also wanted to thank dad for inspiring me before my mission to ask Heavenly Father for a scripture, I prayed and opened the book of Mormon and opened to 3 Nefi 20, during my mission I have read this scripture.  It is amazing that something written thousands of years ago by a prophet of God has parralleled so clearly my mission, I can look at this chapter and see where I was transfered, which prophecy was written for which area.  Heavenly Father´s ability to plan and make goals never ceases to amaze me.  When I get home I will show you ma and Dad, when I tell you my stories, I love you both so much, but dad, if you want to get some closure, read the last 5 verses of 3 Nefi 20, I didn´t go home "with flight" when you guys asked me to go home 2 months ago because I still had to fulfill te last 4 verses, but now it is finished and verily all has come to pass, I love you all and am excited to see you all again!!!  
-Elder McOmber      

Saturday, October 13, 2012

October 8, 2012

I loved conference!!!  But I thought a lot about you guys and everything that is happening and I just want you all to know how much I love you, and whatever happens I will always do my best to make you guys proud, and to make Heavenly Father proud.  Whatever happens I want you all to know how much I love you all, and how grateful I am that I was born in our family and for all of the experiences I have had with all of you, and all that you guys have taught me, I know that I am a product of the love of our family and I have always done my best to be strong and do the right thing.  I have been fast and immovable on the mission, everything that Heavenly Father and my mission president has asked of me I have completed and I have been used by God to help many people, including investigators, members, and even other missionaries, I have always done the best I can to be an example of excitement and joy in this work, I have seen God´s hand in my life, and I have seen Him do miracles.  There are days when I feel like dancing, days when I know that Heavenly Father wants me to be a trooper and days when I ask Heavenly Father if I can be safe in His wings.  In everything I know that I need to be as a child and submit myself to His will and be like a child.  I don´t know what the future will be, I am still waiting for my miracle, but if it doesn´t come I hope you guys will love me coming home, with my shield or upon it. 
-Elder McOmber

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

McDonalds in maceio!


Ma, can you be specific about what things I need to send you to be able to vote?  Like, which numbers from the driver´s license, or ID info, send it to me as soon as possible, I will look at my email, and next P-day I will send it to you...  As for my health, this thursday I will go to the doctor to try and recieve my 2nd cortizone injection, the first one didn´t make a difference, but maybe the 2nd will make a difference, but whatever happens, there is surgery when I get back;)  And I will ask the doctor what is going on with my other hand and my shoulders.  I will let you guys know how it went...
       But this week will be cool we will give a training to the mission tomorrow that we have been planning for a while.  I wish you guys could see it!!!  It will be awesome, also this week we will have a couple missionary come to the mission, I will go with President to meet them, I will treat them like i would treat G-ma and G-pa ;)  And McDonalds arrived in Maceió!!!!!!!!!  Ahhh I love life on the mission!!  In between trainings, analyzing numbers, divisions with zone leaders and dealing with problem missionaries we are BAPTIZiNG!!!  haha  Until now we have baptized a family of 3 and a teenage girl named Milena, she felt so special on the day of her baptism, she is a model so, needless to say all of the young men came to watch her baptism haha Note to Aunt Dany, Milena "catches the freeze," and yes my  brasilian companion now knows what that means, I told him that it is a McOmber thing.  In a few weeks we will baptise her parents, but first we need to help them get married.  But now I just have to baptise 15 more people to reach the Grandy goal!!!  WITH MY SHIELD OR UPON IT!!!!  I love you all!
-Elder McOmber
  

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Justin ordained a priest today, Christian's comments


Thank you for all of the advice and scriptures and support. I love you guys so much! I am so proud of justin in his football experience. I am glad I have a brother like him and a family that raised me to be a missionary. My heart has been touched by the help of president and sister gonzaga and my companions; elder faria, elder cardoso, elder bonini, elder langlois, and elder douglas. They have been with me shoulder to shoulder in this trial and many missionaries and members and recent converts are praying for me. Their sacrifices touches my heart. 
I have felt pains in my other hand and my shoulders. It is comforting to know that heavenly father will not give me something i cant handle. Heavenly Father is with me. This week we welcomed the newbies into the mission. I remembered when I came to the mission, and my heart was filled with the desire to continue and filled with love for the new missionaries. This week, I will travel with president to Lagarto to strengthen the church there. I will get to see my recent converts there, I am excited! And I will go to penedo this sunday to see their chapel get dedicated, that a year ago i watched as it was anounced in a little house, in a little city, that I loved. Now i will return to see the new chapel get dedicated AKA heavenly father super loves me!!!! ;D
Tell Justin That I love him and that his choices make my sacrifice worth it. I know that me leaving the house put more weight on his shoulders. I know it is not easy for him to live his standards in a world of half truths, but I want him to know that even though I am half a world away, we are together. Many of my life decisions and even my smaller choices were made with him in mind. I have always seen great potential in my little brother. I am grateful that we were born into this gospel that gives us an eternal perspective. I believe that I chose my brother for a purpose. I was so excited to see him again, that I dressed up in my best vest to see him. He is amazing. He always looks out for those around him and is a leader. When its hard to go on, and I feel discouraged and tired, I imagine him as a missionary and it gives me strength. I know that we will have an eternity together but I am grateful for the moments that I have had with him: moments that I will never forget. He will receive a higher priesthood with this power he will have more capacity to serve those around him and to love them. 

Justin.   Always strive to magnify your calling and your priesthood. Behind every sacrifice there is an experience that only you will understand. My greatest desire is for you to have these experiences. Always serve with all your heart might mind and strength, and you will feel like heavenly father is holding you in his hands. 
I love you, my mighty little brother.

Elder Christian McOmber

Monday, August 13, 2012

another great day!


 
Ma, I love that you are a worker!!  And Dad, thanx for everything and all of the love, the trial of this hand will pass, this week Sister Gonzaga will mark a time to go to the specialist with me where we will mark the surgery, she is researching him right now to see if we can trust him, but if everything works out I will get the surgery and be happy!!!
       We are being super blessed in our area, and I mean super blessed!!  We have encountered really excited investigators, one day we went to visit a family that we would teach and there were 5 people in the house with them, we went there and taught everyone, and all 5 of them escepted to prepare to be baptised, it wasn´t til afterwards that my companion said, "We marked a specific time with that family, those 5 other people were waiting for us..."  I know that this work is God´s work and when he wants to bless us He does!!!  It is awesome becaus in our area there is a street that everyone calls Mormon´s street because almost everyone on that street is baptised, it is like Utah in the middle of Brasil, we baptise young women who were working on personal progress before being baptised!!!  It is awesome, and we are teaching a bunch of people that live the next street over and opposition always happens, but for right now they are way excited to be baptised.
       Thank you so much for all of your prayers and help, and I am so happy that I am in Maceió where the church is strong!!!  It is so much weight off your shoulders, and I love you all, I am almost finished with my afflictions, after this surgery I will say Victory to us!!!

Thursday, August 2, 2012


 
Thanx for all of the prayers and love and support I love you guys so much!!!!  Ma, no worries, Sister Gonzaga is taking care of me, she payed from her own pocket for a specialist to look at my hand!!!  And that is how we knew what the problem with my hand was, she is organizing everything with the missionary doctor, today I talked to her on the phone, she reminds me so much of you it is crazy!!!  She said that she feels really responsible for me, I told her that I wanted to do the surgery, she said she won´t let me do it until she can find a doctor that she has certanty she can trust, the doctor that we used she is looking into, but she is going to call people that know him, people that were operated on, his references, and she is going to look around and see if there is a better option, she is a super go-getter, but ma, I just want you to know that every little thing is gonna be alright, but keep up the prayers!!!
      But I wanted to talk to you guys about the work, 2 days ago we baptised a man named Genilson, he is way cool!!!  We found him knocking doors, he found what he was always searching for in other churches, before his baptism he recieved a really strong testimony and in his baptism he cried with joy, he said that even though there were a bunch of people watching his baptism, in the moment he felt like he was alone with God, it was really cool, and after his baptism we brought him to a members house where they were having a party with a bunch of people,from the church. As we were teaching him he voiced concerns that if he left with his friends to parties he would drink, and this past week he declined an invite to a party, but a member we brought with us said "You don´t need to sin to have a good time, after your baptism, come kick it at my place"
       While we were at the party they brought out so much Coca cola, I bet Genilson was thinking "what they don´t drink in beer, they drink coca cola"  But it was cool to see the men of the ward gather around him and tell mission stories, talk about sports, and joke around, the next day at church my friends from Rio Largo came to church and whatched church with me, Eliene, Cristiano, Fabio, JR, and Dany, it was awesome, I love you guys so much, but when I go home I am going to have Saudades of everyone here, but I will keep in touch, I love you guys, keep up the prayers!!!

Oh, Heather, my hand stays about the same, but if I can get this surgery figured out I can get better before I go home, please pray so that the doctors and sister Gonzaga can find a way to help my hand!!  Eu amo voces!!!!

-Elder McOmber  

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

address

If you wish to write to Christian, this is how to do it...

Elder Christian McOmber
Av. Dom Avenio Branoao 333 sala 402
Ed. Work Center-Farol
Maceio-AL
57001-190

moved to Rio Largo


I am so proud of everyone back home, and I am really happy for Gregory graduating and Corban being baptised. And wow, Justin is doing awesome, I am so honored to be his brother, just like Gregory, I could always feel like Justin would be great, I am glad that God chose me to be his brother.
I had the same feeling to have president give me a blessing, this week we will have interviews, when I go there to do my interviews I will ask president for a blessing. Other news, I have been transfered, for the first time in my mission I have been transfered away from the frontier of the church. I am in an area that is kinda close to Rio Largo, but still in the city of Maceió, The church is really strong where |I am serving, I feel surrounded by members and missionaries, there is a streat in my area that everyone calls "Mormon streat" because almost the entire streat is a part of our church, and the ones that are not are preparing to be baptised. I love my new area, and I am going to ask president to visit Rio Largo, this past week I have recieved a lot of calls from Rio Largo, it has been awesome!!
I love you guys, and I hope the best for everyone, keep up the prayers for my hand, it helps soooo much, I can feel the difference!!
-Elder McOMber

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

6/17/2012


I am so happy for Gregory, I am really happy that he has these moments to shine and make a difference in his own way.  And wow, Gracie is graduating, time goes by fast on the mission!!  I hope my hand gets better before I go home so that we can sing while I play the ukulele, Gracie is an awesome cousin, it will be cool to see her again in the future. 

     Tell Akosh that he is the man!!  I love that kid, he started making a difference at a really young age and I am sure he is going to have a bright future!!  Give him a hug for me!

       Hey send a hug to Derek too, that is awesome that he wrote a song and sang it, Tell him that I still think of the good times when we had our meetings in chairopolis and when I hung out at his house for a week, I miss S1 sometimes, but it is no big deal us splitting up is part of s1 going worlwide, we are already spread over 2 continents!haha

Well, I love you all, keep running, our time speedily cometh! haha
On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 4:01 AM, seven.hearts@juno.com <seven.hearts@juno.com> wrote:
Dear Christian,

 Tonight was Baccalaureate For Gregory. He performed his sign song and had two paintings at it. Mom was a co chair. I helped a little with the program. Akosh was the MC. Gregory walks on Tuesday. If you send a message to Akosh I'll give him a copy. I told him I thought his name was Maiman Akosh because you always said My Man Akosh. He said you were the reason he stayed at SYB. He got the presidential scholarship. Derek wrote a song and sang it. President Tanner gave the benediction. The rest of the week has been Grease at XXX. and Peter Pan. Gregory had an art show at the Library for his senior project. We made amazing discoveries. Everyone came. He felt so special. He knew it was for him!!!!! He actually stood up and laughed at one point. Hre had about 15 paintings there. Gracie graduated yesterday. She and Aunt Katy Grandad,Jane Grandma,and Grandpa came.Grandpa recorded it so you can watch it when you come back.
 Efforts in sharing continue. I love love love love love you!!!!!
Dad

OH, Christian,

All the efforts for baccalaureate were so so so worth it!  I was getting some push back, but it was soooo great!  I feel so strongly that doing this is worth the effort and time.  It was brought to pass so well because we were involved.  I know that sounds prideful but it is not.  It is just the truth.  The spirit was brought into the meeting.  We worked so hard on a number that was absolutely amazing. You would be so proud.  Gregory did great on his signing song, and the program was really, really good.  You would be proud.  I made a lot of good friends from other churches, and it was meaningful to volunteer as chair for the event in something I truly believe in.  There are so many ways to volunteer, but this one really means something to me.  I am so happy to be a part of it.

We are having a ton of baptisms this year in our ward.  So many people are having discussions in their homes.  It is exciting to watch.  I am going to encourage someone to try it out.  I am going to start praying specifically about that tonight.

Gregory has his day to "walk" for graduation on Tuesday.  I hope it goes well.  We have a plan to have one teacher on one side of the stage, and another on the other, and the are hoping he will walk across independently.  It is at the Key Arena again.  A nice location.

I am now going to be able to do a bit more organizing at the house here and then go into summer after this week. I am so ready for summer.  This year has flown by.  I don't know if that is the way you feel, but when you are busy doing good things, time goes quickly.  Our time speedily cometh!

I did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat at my school.  It was a lot of fun and a big success.  I love doing work while teaching about the Bible and Jesus.  What could be better?

I love you so much, Christian.  Every day this week has been a busy, crazy one, but every day I listened to you sing to me.

Thank you for being who you are. I have spoken about you so much and shared the good news of your mission.  You make me proud and just keep that up!

I love you and I look forward to going back with you and sharing joy, not just fun, not just a good time, but true JOY.

You are so wonderful, keep up the good work.

Make me proud,

MA

Friday, May 18, 2012

post Mother's Day call



I love you guys, it was awesome to talk to all of you and think of home, to be honest I don´t feel homesick, it is a strange feeling, I long to be by your side, but I know that home is not my place, I am needed here.  I was made for the mission, sometimes in the face of opposition I get tired and feel down, and sometimes I feel like I am carrying the world on my shoulders, but Heavenly Father always gives me family that I didn´t know that I had to be by my side.
       I wanted to thank you all as a family, I know that you guys were made for me, you are such magical parents and I was blessed with the biggest support group in the world that stretched across continents, and a huge family that felt more like 2 clans.  And I am so grateful that you guys helped me to come on a mission, here my eyes are opened and I can see the magic and beauty of life.  But please tell the family that I love them and that I am fighting for them everyday and I am sacraficing everything to help everyone around me to follow our saviour,because I know that is what he wants me to do, stay strong Heather, in sports and in school, Mom and Dad don´t get tired, one day the battle willhave been worth it!!!  And Justin, We Are, Brothers to the End!!!!
-Elder McOmber  

Monday, May 7, 2012

excited for my mom's day phone call!

Hey ma, you guys can call me, (details left out)
I love you guys!!
      Justin, the mission is everything dad says it is and more!!!  Sorry I don´t have a lot of time to email today, we have to be at transfers tomorrow to recieve the new missionaries, but Family, we are making a difference here in this district, the members age getting more excited and these areas are growing, and I had another miracle experience this past week, I was on a bus and I saw a man enter with a book of mormon in his hand, he told me that he was not a member, but that he had 8 brothers in São paulo that are members and he had frequented the church before but that he had not been baptised.  I asked him why he was holding a book of mormon, he said that a few yers ago missionaries encountered him on the street and started to teach him, but that he didn´t feel like it was his time, then he opened the book and showed me the name of 2 missionaries, one of which was Elder Dinwiddie, one of my heroes when I arrived in the field, I asked the man if we could visit him, and I went there with a missionary that was with me while his companion was sick in the hospital, we taught him and he felt something different and decided that it was his time to be baptised, yesterday he was confirmed a member of our church.  Now I know that missionaries really plant seeds!!!
        I love you all and I want you all to know that this work is guided by God, and I am glad that I can be a part of his work!!
-Elder mcOmber 

I will tell you guys everything in the work later!

Monday, April 30, 2012

Elder Holland comes to visit

Hey ma, I qrote you letter for mothers day and I am going to send it to you today or tomorrow, Love ya ma.  I am so grateful for all of the love you guys have given me, I feel like sometimes the love that people have for me is what gives me energy to love others.  At the close of this month my missionaries and I have seen so many miracles, I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father put me here and is always by my side, no matter what happens We always prevail.  Elder Holland talked about the level of sacrafice we need as missionaries and told of the sacrafice of the apostles and prophets, and he told us that President and Sister Gonzaga are excelent mission presidents that are making a difference, he said that our mission has a reputation but he has come to tell us that what has happened in the past is over and that we are entering into the light, that today is a new beginning, and he said that we need to be close to God with our lips and our hearts too.  He said that Jesus got the most frustrated with hypocrisy and 1800 years after he died se summed up all of the apostasy with "With their lips they honor me, but their hearts are far from me."  Then he shook all of our hands and looked into our eyes, it was way cool.
      I love you guys and I am grateful for all of your sacrafices that made me who I am!!
-Elder McOmber    

Monday, April 2, 2012

leadership opportunities


First I wanted to give a shout out to Jason, congrats on getting married!!! And I am excited to meet his wife! Uncle Paul and Aunt Raeann are hilarious, I hope Uncle Paul isn´t goin too crazy with the bell.kkk I am not gonna lie, I feel like the arnesans are going to have a bunch of grandkids when I get back, pretty soon they are going to be their own nation!! kkk
Well, my companion is getting transfered tomorrow, I got a little worried because I am going to stay in the area and this could mean that I will have more responsibilities next transfer and I was already having a hard time with the responssibilities I had, but I didn´t let it show, the other missionaries need to feel like I can do anything so that they will confide in me. But inside I was really worried, our zone is the furthest away from the rest of the mission, and our entire zone is in "Interior" all of the areas are about an hour apart and we are always running from one area to the next, on top of our area, this has been a trial for me, but when I was listening to conference. Someone was talking about Heavenly Father and his love for us, and I heard the song that dad wrote about "Safe in my wings" But it was like Heavenly Father was singing to me, I know that Heavenly Father and His Son will take care of me and teach me what to do.
But my companion went out with a bang, we completed the family of Ivan, Ana Paula and João Mateus, I want to send you guys a picture but I am having difficulties uploading pictures, but whatever happens I will put it on a CD and show you guys or send it. But they are super special, and super integrated. Also we baptised, Genilda, this is a woman who 3 weeks ago saw us pass by and felt something, then when we walked by again she decided to wait in the door, we talk to hear and she invited us to enter, after understanding the feeling, and having a dream of me baptising her she was baptised the friday night before General conference, I have to leave now,
I love you all!!!
-Elder McOmber

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Conference coming! Hoorah!


First, I want to give a shout out to Aunt Kelly, She sent me a package this week, and Elder Maciel is very happykkk And about something she wrote, I may be the bridge , but she doesn´t have a little brother to annoy her, that is me, the only difference is I am not little ;)
Also, I wanted to thank all of the family that is praying for Raimundo, he got sick with dangue fever and he is already a lot older, that along with the other opposition, the 1 hour drive to get to church almost stopped him from progressing. We almost gave up on him, but we felt like we should call him saturday night, he says that he couldn´t go to church but he said he will go to conference, we will go visit him and see if we can help him out.
But we baptised a man named Ivan, I think he is the tallest person I´ve baptised so far, I tried to send the pictures but it didn´t work out. He has an awesome story too, someday I will tell it. Now we are going to baptise his wife, Ana Paula so that their 5 year old João Mateus can go on a mission ;) But the ward here is amazing, they love us and they are so good with our investigators and recent converts, Ivan feels so loved when he is at church, and he has been putting huge leaps of faith to help his family.
We are also teaching another awesome family that I will tell you all about next week. But I want you all to know that I love you all so much and I am so grateful for all of your prayers.
-Elder McOmber

Monday, March 5, 2012

new great day!

Thanx for the email, I love you guys, and I am happy to hear that everything is going well there. We are having a blast here, and I am learning a ton with Elder Maciel, and all of the missionaries that have been put in our zone are my friends, life is real good right now, the only hard part is that we are starting this area from zero and we need to help my friends areas, but with Heavenly Father and a companion like Elder Maciel everything is possible, I know that we will be able to make a difference here. Today we did a zone activity where we climbed a mountain, it was awesome, and the mountain got so high that we could see Aracajú, we had a testimony meeting and it was really powerful, on the mission sometimes your spirit fills tired of fighting everyone else´s sins, but that was a chance for us to band together and up in the mountain, just like the prophets of old, we came together kneeled shoulder to shoulder and prayed for our zone. But the most amazing part was seeing one missionary tell the story of why he came on the mission, and in that moment I understood and loved him a lot more, he was chosen to give the prayer for our zone, and honestly I sometimes feel like our zone is not just to baptise and help this district become a stake, sometimes zones are put together to save one soul, I hope that we can make a difference with him.
I love you all and I am so happy to be here, even though I am far from my other areas I am close to my companion, my fellow missionaries and Jesus Christ, and we have found one family that I think we can help, I know everything will work out, I love you all and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

moved again!

I love you guys so much, I am glad that everyone is happy, and I am not too worried about the Gregory situation, whatever it takes, just sign for me, I trust you guys.

This week was a mix of emotions, I have been called to serve with one of the best missionaries this mission has ever seen, his name is Elder Maciel, he was baptised at age 24 because he saw a Book of Mormon at the market, bought it, read it and wanted to be baptised. At age 25 he went on a mission, and now he is in his last 4 months and I have been called to be his companion!! We are opening an area in a small city called Lagarto in Sergipe, we have also been called to help love, lift and inspire our fellow missionaries so that this district can become a stake. I read in my letter from President Beynon that there is a district in our mission, but I never imagined that I would play a part in helping it become a stake!!
But even with all of this excitement and responsibility I can´t stop thinking about Rio Largo, but it is ok, I have emailed them and I am expecting letters from the people I baptised there, but even still, it is definately the feeling of leaving Narnia, but I know that if I maximize my calling here I will be able to see miracles and have a blast with my dream companion. Elder Maciel has been helping me a ton, and we have had a lot of cool spiritual experiences and he has been helping me through my seperation from the area of my heart, but I know that everything will work out. I love you guys, please pray and fast for me so that I will be able to do everything that God and you guys want of me.
I love you all!!!

-Elder McOmber

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

sad to leave rio Largo

Well, this saturday night I recieved a call from my leaders that told me that I
would leave Rio Largo, I was standing by Cristiano and Elder Lima, and they
looked to me and I gave them the signal. I turned off the phone and I gave them
hugs, and they started calling everyone and telling them the news, a lot of my
friends are on encampments because of Carnaval, but they all talked to me and
thanked me, it has been amazing to talk to everyone, and there is no way to
describe the love that I have for these people, JR, Cristiano, and my army of
youth, Ródrigo and Ándreia, Rozana, my sons, Elder Lima and João, and of course
all of the people I baptised. But I have had many amazing moments with my
recent converts, but my moments with Ródrigo and Ándreia have been super
special, today I will give them a letter to read to Douglas and for him to have
when he is older, I always want to be present in these peoples lives, just like
dad is with the smiths, the dieks, and the farmers. When I baptised them I saw
this opportunity and I have been doing everything within my power to help them
stay firm.
This week I explained Ándreia how transfers work and that it is
possible that I could be transfered, I told her that when I tell them that I
love their family I feel like the words don´t give justice to the feelings I
feel, she told me that she is so grateful for evrything I have done for her and
her family and she looked at Douglas and said I am so grateful that my son was
born in the church and that he will be able to enter this world knowing the
truth, and she looked at me and as she did her tears started to fall, she told
me how grateful she is for my sacrafices, I can´t explain how much I love their
family, but I imagine it was like that with my dad and the families he baptised,
I will continue to write them and fast and pray for them and I will do
everything to help them with Douglas as he is growing and I will send him advice
when he is leaving on his mission, in Rio Largo I have evrything I have always
dreamed to have, and more Rio Largo will always be Narnia to me, I can´t wait
for you guys to see the magic of this place!!!!

-Elder mcOmber

Monday, February 13, 2012

Carnival preparations...

Wow, that is a lot to happen in a week, it is hard to believe
how different things are there, That is really sad...Life here in
Narnia is getting difficult, we are getting close to Carnaval, the
worst time for missionary work, but we are going to go all out this
week, I feel like elect people will still be elect during Carnaval,
they are just harder to find I guess, we also heard that we have to
watch out, people persecute the missionaries more in Carnaval, they
throw eggs at us and of course there are a lot more drunk people, but
even though we are fighting against the darkness I know that we will
win, and we will find people to baptise!!! This week was real hard,
sometimes I feel like we are so small at the side of this dragon. I
don´t know why good always has to seem so small, it is alays a knight
against a dragon. But while I was in church I could her dad saying
the Crispans day speech in my head with power and I looked around to
see my recent converts by my side and Ródrigo and Ándreia looked so
noble holding Douglas in their arms and I remembered, we few, we happy
few, we band of brothers... I love you all so much, and I am so
grateful to be a part of this battle, I know that Heavenly Father is
with us, with Him I am invincible, nothing can stop this work from
progressing I know that we will prevail!!! WITH MY SHIELD OR UPON
IT!!!!

I wanted to say something about Jim Hamstreet,

To me he will always be a part of our community. Jim
Hamstreet has helped so many of us to push ourselves and achieve the
Eagle within us. I feel like Jim Hamstreet was the ultimate Eagle,
his example of service and sacrafice will always be with us. And even
though he has passed on the sacrafice that he placed in me wil remain,
and I will carry a piece of him with me wherever I go. Jim Hamstreet
will not be forgotten, and I know that one day I will see him again,
and we will be able to joke around like we always did, but until that
day I will honor the sacrafice that he gave to make me who I am today,
but most of all I am grateful that he had the courage to believe in
me. To the ultimate Eagle, I salute!

To Noah: Cara, eu sei que a missão é difícil, mas cara tem coisas que
nós só podemos ter aquí na missão Eu espero que voce possa voltar, mas
se preoculpe não vé, eu sempre to aquí a seu lado, qual quer coisa que
precisar pode contar conmigo, par me voce sempre vai ser o cara,
independente do que voce escolhe a fazer, Te amo Irmão!!!

-Elder McOmber

I will ask president about the ukulele.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Hey Family,


I love you all!! This week rocked, when taught our investigators about fasting, then I did a fast with them so that Douglas´ Fiancé would get the will and courage to get baptised, and last night she told us that she will prepare for this week, so everyone, please pray for Ellen so that she can be fortified and have the courage to be baptised this week. The picture of us was when we ended our fast, when we ended our fast our strength returned, so we danced it off, then we had a little testimony meeting before the baptism, it was super spiritual, in fact it was so spiritual that their friend who saw us for the first time end the fast he felt that spirit and after helping him recognize what he was feeling he also wanted to follow Jesus Christ and be baptised. All I can say is Miracles are real and I am so grateful that my son is seeing all of this and seeing what is possible, I know that he has the potential to be an amazing missionary!!
We are making great strides for our goals that some thought impossible, but it is not over yet, keep up the prayers!!! I love all of you and I will do my best to send these letters, I feel like I am running a million miles an hour and there is just never enough time, but I will be sending letters....this week, much love my family,

From, your son and brother in Narnia,

Elder McOmber

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

1/17/2012

Yeah Bust, Tim Tebow was all the rage during my senior year, it is always cool when strong people are believers,

This week was definately a baby week, Ródrigo, the man I baptised 2 months ago had a baby boy named Douglas, he is a beautiful baby and he was born on the same day that his sister (Mikaelly) was baptised, Ródrigo saw his first baby boy be born, then at night he baptised his step-daughter, it was an unforgettable day. Right now we are working with a lot of cool people that are being prepared to get baptised, they are like dream investigators, and we are working with this guy named Douglas, and through him we found his fiancé, and 3 of his friends that we are preparing for them to be baptised, his fiancé Ele is kinda nervous to be baptised, please pray for her.
But outside of my area life is rockin, Marenilda (My first baptism) called me yesterday and told me that she wants me to baptise her son, Enrique. So, next P-day my trainer and I are going to go back to Feitosa and visit the people we baptised, I am super excited! And in Penedo I baptised a super special family, but the mom didn´t want to get baptised, but this past week she called me and told me that she is preparing to be baptised.
Nothing is better than this work, and there is no better way to do it than to go all out, with my shield or upon it!!
-Elder McOmber

Monday, January 9, 2012

new post, new year!


I am so glad for technology that you guys can talk to these amazing people, I feel like when you guys talk to the people that fight by my side you can taste a tiny piece of the magic. And for Heather, yes we are going to baptise one of the teenage daughters of Ródrigo and Andréia this wednesday, it would have been on saturday but Andréia is going to have a baby boy!!!!! This saturday. And we are working with this guy named Douglas, he is addicted to the book of Mormon and is super pumped to get baptised, he is also about to get married, his girlfriend doesn´t want to get baptised, but we are going to teach her tonight, we will see about her. Douglas has a friend named Wellito who is 17 who is also super hyped about the book of Mormon and learning english ;) He is going to be basptised in these next couple of weeks, I will send the pictures of their baptisms, but yeah, just working with them and helping the branch to grow, and looking out for Ródrigo´s family, they are having a ton of opposition, but Heavenly Father keeps giving me people to teach close to their house so that I can always be passing by and fortifying them so that they can get sealed in the temple, I´ve just got them, a family in Penedo and a family in Feitosa that I am waiting on, pray for them, I am always thinking about these families. But yeah, the mission is the best, and here in Rio Largo we are going to build the kingdom!!!
I love you all and I will send more pictures next week!!
-Elder McOmber