What a Week! (Week 84)

Hello All,

I have been home for about three weeks now. Due to the ​coronavirus, the mission had to end a little sooner. I am so grateful for the faith that I have developed in our Savior Jesus Christ that I can say, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord." The last week in the mission was crazy awesome. Monday morning, Elder Marques and I had a meeting with President Lago 8:00am​on Monday, March 23​. As we were entering into his office, he said  " Elder Hillam, Elder Marques, I have some sad news. All of the foreign missionaries have to return to their countries this week​; those that have more than 18 months will be released and those with less than 18​ months​ will be relocated to another mission in their country." So we got to work. We informed the zone leaders and also told them to clean their​ house​s​ and pack their bags. Around lunchtime Monday​, ​we received an email from the church saying that all of the American missionaries need to be in the Sao Paulo Guarulhos ​Airport by Thursday 5:00pm. ​We had two greatest difficulties. First, our mission is like the size of Texas. We need​ed​ to get all of the missionaries to the center​ of the mission which is Teresina. The virus made all of this much more difficult as several bus stations, as well as state borders, were closed. However, miraculously we were able to. The next challenge was to get all of the missionaries to the Sao Paulo airport by Thursday. So Teresina to Sao Paulo is like Georgia to Utah. Even with flights being canceled every minute, miraculously we were able to get everyone to Sao Paulo and then to the United States. Everyone in the office pulled all-nighters. Elder Marques and I returned from an emergency trip around 3:00 in the morning to find the Secretaries still working. What was cool to see, was that no one got tired until the work was finished.

I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and emails.
I would like to thank my parents for their incredible example and the love they have for me. As well as my Mission President and his wife, family, leaders, missionaries, friends, but most importantly, my Savior Jesus Christ. I am eternally grateful for the time that I had to serve Him, with all my heart, might, mind and strength. I am eternally grateful for repentance. I know that through my Savior Jesus Christ, I can be changed every day. I can be better and more like him. My work here is not done. I plan to continue to be molded by him​ and continue being his disciple.

​Sincerely,

Austin Hillam​

Atlanta Georgia Arrival with family

Baptism of Jonathan on March 22, 2022

Working in the office to get missionaries home

Pres. and Sister Lago

Working our Way Home

Missionaries on the airplane from Sao Paulo to Los Angeles

New Area in Sao Luis (Week 83)

Transfers and Corona Virus (Week 82)

Howdy Yall!

Let's catch you all up!
Sunday night on the 8th of March Elder Siqueira and I went to Teresina. Tuesday we traveled all day from Teresina to Imperatriz with President and Sister Lago. Wednesday and Thursday we were in Imperatriz, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Pindare. I'm also back in Teresina again!  Woooo.

It is incredible to travel with President and Sister Lago. It's like something you prepare for. You learn so much. As well as your relationship with them strengthens. We left at 8 in the morning on Tuesday. We were planning to arrive in Imperatriz around 4 in the afternoon but ended up arriving at 9 pm. As we almost arrived at one small city, the citizens were doing a little protest and cut up the road where it was flooded. There was a mile-long train of semi-trucks on both sides where they cut up the road. Short Story--we had to backtrack 300 miles to take another route. But I'm not complaining, more time I had to ask questions and chat with President and Sister Lago.

Zone Conference is always incredible and a great opportunity to receive personal revelation.

So I was transferred! I am now the Assistant in Piaui with Elder Marques. I used to live with Elder Marques in Pindare for some time. I spent almost six months in Pindare. It was incredible; a great honor to be a part of that work. I will now live close to my first three areas.

Coronavirus. Here in Brazil we are all preparing for it. It was a fun challenge to have a Sacrament meeting in the houses of members. We are taking advantage of the coronavirus.  I remember when Joseph Smith gave that first prayer. He could feel the strength of Satan holding him back. But he continued forward.
The Coronavirus isn't gonna hold the work back; it will just accelerate it.

We also baptized in the rain. That was a first--was way cool.

Liliane--newly baptized seminary teacher

Irmão Paulo and Antonia. They started it all in Pindare

We got our bus 2:00 in the morning today to Teresina

Trying to drive to Pindare

Zone Conference

In-Home Sacrament Meeting-- church meetings are canceled due to the Corona Virus

Baptism Day

From Sao Luis (Week 81)

Hello all!

Writing to you all from São Luis.

This week was pretty crazy with Carnival happening. On Monday we had our Leadership Meeting in Teresina. After the meeting, we had a huge barbecue. It was awesome!
On the bus ride from Santa Ines to Teresina, the bus ran out of gas. But tudo bem, because we ran out of gas in front of the bus Station in Teresina.

Yesterday, Elder Siqueira and I did divisions with the zone leaders in São Luis. Today we will do divisions with the other zone leaders of São Luis Leste. We have such incredible missionaries with different gifts and talents. I would love you all to meet each
and everyone of them. It is humbling and motivating to be around these missionaries that consecrate whatever is needed to do the Lord's will.

We are helping the Zone leaders be responsible for their zone. Helping them to receive personal revelation for their zone.

This next week we will be in São Luis again for Zone Conference.
I hope all is well with each and every one of you.

I don't always have the time to respond. But I read each and every one of your emails.

Bus Ride to Teresina

First Sunday School Meeting in Pindare (Week 80)

Work Continues in Pindare (Week 79)

Week 14 in Pindare (Week 78)

Here are some quick updates!! 

This week we had two zone conferences. The Santa Ines and Imperatriz zones.

The theme for these conferences was interlinking the Atonement of Jesus Christ with Missionary work. There was also a theme of recognizing our Purpose.

One of the best parts of the week was the trip from Santa Ines to Imperatriz which is 6 hours by car. Elder Morais and I had the privilege to travel with President and Sister Lago. I never had a 6-hour road trip pass by faster. I was just sitting in the back with a pad of paper writing down all of the things that I was learning.

Sunday Morning Elder Morais and I went to Sacrament meeting in Santa Ines. They were needing some help with conferring the priesthood and some other things. These past 4 months, every week I would go to Santa Inês to do baptismal interviews for the people that the missionaries in Santa Ines are preparing to be baptized. As I arrived for the meeting I felt such peace as I could see all the people that I had the privilege to interview. So many came to thank me. 

Hope all is well. I hope that you all make time to study the scriptures and work to become more like the savior. 

I read all of your letters Thank You all so much

Love

Elder Hillam