Ben #5

Where to begin it has been one crazy week with so many spiritual experiences! I so bad want to tell you all of them but of course time wont allow it. I have been really thinking of the importance of family this week and Mom, Dad I just want you to know how much I love you please send my love to Jenni and Matt and congrats on the amazing wedding I loved the pictures you sent. I cant stress how important this Gospel is, whoever reads this email, please know my testimony on temple marriage. With that you can have eternal joy... I mean come on who wouldnt want eternal families right! haha

Well family and friends Brazil is awesome! I tried this awesome new fruit thats called cockie... SUPER AMAZING! I think I wrote home about it in an email that probably wont get sent to ya till a few weeks. It stinks about the letters cause I think they sent alot to my mission home, I think all the letters the girls sent headed there... bummer! But Mom and Dad I got you letters and boy where they a huge help. Thank you Dad for your personally wxperience about your mission. I needed to hear that cause next week we are actually going out to try and place some Books of Mormon ( I said books because of the movie Best two years haha) but yeah Im heading out next week... There going to drop us off in the center of Sao paulo and give us a few hours to try and talk to everyone in the area. Wish me luck and pray for me. haha I was a little nervous cause its still extremley hard to communicate but I can understand most porteguese. Today in the Temple a man talked to me about his mission to Africa. Now, while I wasnt able to communicate my feelings and thoughts I still was able to understand him, it was a really neat experience.

This week was a wonderful and very spiritual experience. Read mosiah 24 13-16 and that pretty much sums it up when applying it to my life. This week at first was really hard with the launguage but these verses brought so much peace and joy to my heart. Its amazing what the sciptures can do in you life. Whenever things may seem crazy in your life you can turn to those and feel the savior wrap his arms tightly around you. It nrought tears to my eyes to know how much our savior really does love and care for us. Yeah, I may be weak and yeah, i may not be the smartest guy when it comes to the gospel but I have a sure testiomony that my savior lives. I never really could fully understand that role till I got out here. I never imagained a mission to be like this. Its all a choice, choose to be happy in all you do. Cause every moment I have come to realize you spend down and depressed is a precious moment you could have been loving and serving those around you. It really humbling to realize. Be of good cheer and serve your lord with all your heart and on the morrow I will save you... So true are those words. Family and friends I love you all and wish I could share every single moment and experience I have had but in time I will be able to. This work is so important to do. Everyone who is able should serve a mission is will work wonders in you life. I love this mission, and cant wait to bring people unto the knowledge of their eternal father. I love you all so much thank you for all your support. Im sorry once again how short this is but dont worry I found out that once I get out into the feild I get more time to email so its not so rushed... Again I send my love to you all and know this church without a doubt is real. Thank you for all the pictures and emails Mom and Dad and thank you Olivia and Kristin for you wonderful emails they mean so much. I really miss you all but The lord needs me right now and I wont fail him. Tchai until nest week and may God be with you till we meet again

 

Sincerly Elder Benjamin B. Doggett

Matt #4

Holy cow this week flew by so fast!! I want to start off by saying how much I love this gospel and everyone back home. I ran into matt hendricks today in the ctm! looks like he final made it to brasil haha. I want you to know that this experencie in brasil has changed me so much... I cant believe how much I have been given in my life. A few days ago a missionarie showed up in the CTM wearing only his missionary tag and his best clothes. He had no white t-shirt,no dress pants, no church shoes. but he showed up ready to serve and it touched my heart... Im sorry mom but I give him many of my white shirts and socks so you might need to put some money on my debit card haha. This missionary doesnt know who gave him clothes and I wasnt the only one who gave him items but I saw pure gratedute on his face as he recieved these items. I love this gospel and I love my mission. I still havent improved on the language but I no longer care haha If I never learn the language thats fine by me. I'll just convert my investigators by smiling at them and let the spirit teach them hahah. This is the best experience of my life and I miss you all so much and I LOVE you so much. But I need to be here this is defiently where the lord needs me to become the man he needs me to be. one of my favorite sayings goes like. "the lord doesnt call you because your qualified, only that this calling will make you qualified for the future" how true that his. His hand is in everything I do and to be honest I cant wait to leave the CTM and teach real people with real problems! I love you all so much and thank you all for the letters and support it means so much to me here. Dad I love the pictures you send please send more. pictures are muito imperdande here in the field haha. Also mom I love you more then anything... I owe you so much for the lessons you've taught me in life, you'll always be the most important women in my life! please let jenny and matt know I love them and congrats on the wedding. Let Matt know I approve of him as my new brother haha. I have the most incredible family in the world and the most incredible friends in the world. I pray for all of you everyday, remember that there is two young inexperienced twins in brazil giving everything they can to the lord and they love each and every one of you back home! haha one story that happened today was I was walking on the street and an old man stoped me and started speaking so fast I didnt understand a single word he said but some how by the spirit I was able to hold a little conversation with him in broken portuguese! It was awesome and he did look a little confused but he just smiled and so did I haha. This gospel is true and the Book of mormon is the word of God I KNOW it is with all my heart. God speed and I cant wait to hear from you all again. P.S I found out I cant respond to friends until I leave the CTM but please keep sending e-mails they mean the world! I love you all  

Ben #4

Como vaí! Hello family and freinds once again another great week in Brazil. Matt and i are pretty much ready to go out now haha cause it is the same thing over and over again in the MTC but its all good, Im loving the spirit here. I actually had the oppurtunity to go to the temple and do baptisms in porteguese. I was confirming. I was pretty nervous cause you have to speak clear and say every word right but as soon as I started to speak the words just flowed. Its amazing with the spirits help how things work out, he is always there for you... im not going to lie this week was a real tough one for me. The launguage as really been kicking me, but I just keep having a positive attitude about the work. I am out here a part of gods army and he wont fail me now. Its funny you mention Alma 26 cause I just studied that chapter for about an hour yesterday morning, what a great chapter Dad. I too hope I can be like Ammon and describe my mission in that way. I also read in Alma 32 cause im really trying to develop more faith. As I went through I came to know through the hloy ghost that in order to have faith one must be confident, but to have strong faith one must be obident to the gospel of jesus christ. I cant stress enough how important it is to follow ou savior Jesus Christ. My testimony and faith have grown so much this week even though its been one of the hardest ones... Trials in out life and here in the mission are given to us to see if we will exercise our agency to follow our savior. Yes, we may endure for a night and it may seem like the sun will never rise, but in the dawn the SUN WILL rise, without fail. Joy comes in the morning. I am looking to the morning and I can see the sun slowly rising. Im just pressing forward. Dont give up on the lord his blessings are eternal and they are there for us to take. I know that no matter what I can rely on him. Even if I never get the launguage I know he wants me here in Brazil cause someone needs me to be the conduit of the spirit for them, I dont know who but I have to try my best... Family and friends. Yes, I miss you are dearly but I love this mission so much I have come to know my savior in such a close personal way, he is the ultimate comfort for us. We just have to turn our hearts to him and embrace his love. Then he can work miracles

I love you all thank you for the emails. Alex its was great to hear from ya, keep fliping those hamburgers! haha sorry I wish I could respond individiually but there just isnt time. Its nice getting emails they help out so much. I didnt get the chance to hear from alot of people this week but mom and Dad good luck with the wedding and send my love to Jenni and all my sisters. Thats crazy,  my sister is getting married! Also to you personally mom. I cant call on Mothers day cause we are in the MTC but I want you to know how much you mean to me. I dont know where I would be without a mother like you. I took the life I had back home for granite. I am truely blessed to have been born into our family and raised in such a great home and community what a blessing... This mothers day just know your sons thoughts are turned to you! and the wonderful life you have given him. Yeah, he is across the world but his heart is with you :) I love you so much along with everyone else... please keep the emails coming. I love them.... oh real quick I got a letter from jenni and rachel tell them thank you I really enjoyed them love you all

 

sincerly Elder Benjamin B. Doggett

Matt letter #3

Its great to hear from you mom, dad, and the family. Its horrible that I only have a short amount of time to write but its all good! haha Im a fast typer thanks to all the video games haha just kidding but everything is going great! Dad irmao maricio (the one who added you on facebook) is my language teacher and hes the greatest man in the world. Your more then welcome to write him and ask how things are going in Brazil and with my language haha. Also mom I found your letter in my suitcase and I got the first of the letters from my family. Airmail is the best it gets here so fast so keep them coming!! I jump up and down yelling everytime I get a letter, its great! Well to start off I want everyone to know how much I love you and second off I love it here... I want to talk a little about becoming humble in the lords work. Two days ago my Brazilan roomates and amigos left the CTM to preach the gospel. When they were getting ready to leave my companinon and I and Ben and his companion bought them both several ties because we noticed they each only had two ties... when we gave them the ties they began to cry. It was in that moment that my heart was soften and the lord hit me with some spirtiual knowlege! It remind me of when I was home purchasing ties at fareals and I was so ungratfull that I had the money to purcheas my clothing for the mission. I have been so blessed all my life and I believe it only takes a mission for all young men to realize this. One thing I would also like to write is that the mission is soooo HARD! haha its crazy tough! I've never felt so pushed in all my life. The language is killing me haha but Its also coming to me so fast. Fear is the oppisite of faith and when we come to the lord he will lighten our burdens.... this doesnt mean it wont be tough only that the atonement will allow us to handle the weight of our burdens because the lord will bless us with strength! In Mosiah cchapter 24 verse 13-15 we read all about burdens being made light through christ! Its incredible please read your scriptures as much as possible it will bless your life I promise you that. One more thing really quick the weather has final cooled down now that its winter here haha and it feels great! I should tell you that today I was able to do confermations in the temple for baptisms and the amazing thing is was it was in portuguese I was somehow able to do it (by the power of the lord) haha Brasil is amazing and I want you to know how much I love you. Words will never be able to describe what you've done for me. I love you both so much and mom and wil NEVER be able to repay you... You were right the mission definetly opened my eyes to the old spoiled boy I used to be back home haha! I love you all so much and remember that I love you all! Oh one last thing that I think you all would love to hear... all the missionaries and teachers laugh at me because they say that my smile and laugh will be what makes my investigators be baptized not my portuguese!! I now am known as the way to happy missionarie. I think its the best nickname in the world. I love you and please let everyone know I love you all!

Ben letter #3

Comó Está familía e amigos!!! ok seriously I cant believe another week has gone by! The days are blending together I cant believe it! Im leraning so much and I see the growth I have made. This week has been a spiritual roller coaster! I wish i could explain and tell you everything that has happened but once again, no time. I do though have some pretty sweet letters on there way home to everyone that have some of them in it so I hope you get them sooner rather then later. Im almost done with the MTC... YES!!!!!! haha I cant wait to get out and start teaching real people. I had the chance to teach a bunch of teenagers last saturday that were from the saõ paulo ward. Alot of them were about two years younger then me. It was really something teaching them, I was so nervous to be honest. but then a scripture came into my mind, its from D C 30: 11 it talks about how we shouldnt fear man cause God is with us as missionaries. I know that was a tender mercy from the lord bringing that to my mind. I went in with total confidence and a smile on my face it was awesome. Of course it could have went better since my vocab. is so limited but when I boar my simple testimony the spirit was in fact there. It was so incerdiable I just cant tell you. I also have a talk last Sunday about Joseph smith and that too was so powerful for me. Its the first time I put my talk aside and went on what the spirit wanted me to talk about. I have never and I mean never! done that in my entire life haha. I love it. having the spirit always there is such a sweet feeling. Because of this MTC experience im beggining to recognize the spirit. I love it

MOm and Dad I got your letters thank you so much they really do help so much out here in the field. Also it was great to hear how everything is going on back home. keep it coming I love all the stories. I really enjoyed the one about the house almost burning haha classic tree stump story! Also mom we did get your little treat across the street and let me tell you it was amazing. I never had anything so good since ive been here. And im not going to lie alot of the other missionaries were pretty jelous! Also please forward this letter to whomever you would like. I wish I could add more people but it takes time so I will have to wait till I get out in the field. Let Alexs mom and dad know how much I love them and how grateful I am for their support. Also that is so sweet to hear about Parker! Dad thank you  the picture of us at the temple, it was a real uplifting thing for me. Also if possible please send some pictures of.... anything really haha. I love pictures. ANyway my time is almost spent and I have some laundrey i need to do ahhhhh lol I forgot about that, but just know how much I love and miss everyone of you. I love this work so much as well, There is really no other place I would rather be. Its a whole new experience thats for sure but hey, this is a once in a lifetime experience and Im not going to waste it. Love you all again and I cant wait to hear from you all soon... Dad Thank you for that advice the lord is bound when you do as he says... I love that promise and am going to strive for it in all I do out here. I want that blessing from the lord! I love you all so much and may God bless you. thank you for the great boost this week.

 

Love from BRAZIL Elder Benjamin B. Doggett

Dear Elder

As aforementioned my their good friend Elder Stevens, letters to missionaries are like gold. There has been a special request made by Elder Matthew for handwritten letters. The main reason being they can look at those letters anytime they want as opposed to emails which they can only check for a small amount of time. So here are the addresses of both elders.

Elder Matthew Ryan Doggett 
Box #27 District #14-C Brazil MTC
Sao Paulo South Mission
Rua Padre Antonio D'Angelo, 121
Casa Verde, Sao Paulo, SP
Brazil 02516-040


Elder Benjamin Brian Doggett 
Box #27 District #14-C Brazil MTC
Brasil Campinas Mission
Rua Padre Antonio D'Angelo, 121
Casa Verde, Sao Paulo, SP


                                                           We got some letters today!

Brazil 02516-040

Elder Matthew Doggett's letter number 2

Ok first off dad dont take those clothes to the d.i. those have memories because of the pipe feild!! Thats right they've been in the back of our car for several years. Those clothes have memories growing all over them hahah dont take them just throw them in bens closet or something haha. I love you guys so much and I miss you all so much. Luckily I will be sending pictures this week so I hope you all get them soon. Also I have only cried once this week which is a recored for me! haha the language is tough but im learning it fast. The mission is the most incredible thing I have ever done in my life. Its also the hardest thing haha but the lord never said it would be easy... for if thats the case we would never grow and learn and become men! I also need to tell you all that our teachers saw a picture of ben and I on facebook and he showed the whole class the piture where all the girls are fake kissing ben outside our house on our farewell day and they now call us players haha its hilarious. I miss everyone so much back home! Dad thank you for the picture about the jedi's when me and ben were little. All the elders got a kick out of the picture. One other thing I need to mention is the weather is crazy here but the Brazilian drivers are even crazier! If you thought 1J drivers were scary come to brazilan and they would be the greatest drivers in the world haha Im scarred everytime we drive to the temple! but everythings going good for me down here I just have to say its crazy how fast the lord shapes a missionaries heart to teach and preach the way he needs us to, to be effective. I feel the sprit 24 hours a day and its incredible but physically draining. Im out so fast every night haha. Now its time to get down to the nitty gritty and be serious... this week I had the chance to meet and talk with Elder Queltin L Cook of the quorom of the twelve apostals and can I just tell you that when you meet and apostal of the lord and talk with him face to face its insane!!!! We all got to meet him because theres only 200 missionaries here and he talked to us and gave us blessings. Heres what he blessed us with. "We are all forgiven of our sins because of our service for the lord" when he said that I literal felt a change in the room and it got brighter! He then said "I also bless your family your mother and any close friends you had back home that they will be blessed and protected by the lord" Do you know what that means? Everyone who is reading this letter right now will be blessed and protect by our savior... also you will receive DOUBLE blessings because theres two of us who recived this blessing haha isnt that sweet! It was an incredible week full of incredible expereinces I'll write as soon as possible but my time is sooo short. also I do love letters and pictures they mean the world to me and I have to tell you that ben and I have to beat all the elders away with our scriptures because they fight over all the pictures of the girls back home haha its hilarious! I want everyone who is reading this letter to know how blessed we all really are in this life. The lord has given us so many gifts in our lifes and its up to us to apply them in everything we do. I love you all so much... words cannot describe how much I miss you all and I cant wait for the day we all meet again. I should tell you really quick that I can now grow a full beard (not that I have) which means Im finally a MAN! sorry mom and dad but Im no longer your little boy haha I love you all so much and thank you all for being the greatest examples in my life. The lord loves us all very much!     also please forward this to everyone I love! thanks