First off, we baptized this week!!! I know I'm in a privileged mission where baptisms happen pretty frequently, but we were in more or less of a "drought"....it had been 7 weeks since we baptized (sorry for those of you who have passed 7 months without baptisms....just remember that the Lord doesn't show his satisfaction with you and your work through baptisms! Some of the best missionaries here on this mission don't baptize every transfer). Nevertheless,we finally broke the streak! I was starting to pretty anxious for a baptismal candidate. We had a lot of ups and downs during this time period....a lot of people that should have been baptized, but unfortunately temptation, unplanned trips, and a million other little things that always seem to throw a baptism off track manage to creep in. It's all good. A baptism wouldn't be so great unless you had to fight for each and every one!
The girl that was baptized was more a less a "t-ball" set-up for us. She's the daughter of an active family in the ward. When she turned 8, her parents asked her when she wanted to be baptized, and she surprised them by saying that she didn't want to be baptized....so they waited until she had the desire. When the "desire" rolled around, she had already turned 9, and had to be taught by the missionaries as an "investigator". It was an interesting experience to teach her. She got all nervous and embarrassed when we tried to teach her. It's a fun one trying to explain things like the spirit world, resurrection, or the atonement to a child. You really have to teach super simply.
We had scheduled to have a Family Home Evening with a family in the ward....when we got there, only the parents were there, and they were arguing about something....it was kind of awkward, because we didn't want to just walk out, but we didn't want to just sit and watch....we ended up awkwardly trying to read a magazine and talk to one another while they were fighting. The dad, Deogenes (good luck saying that name), recently had a stroke, and half of his face is paralyzed (poor guy trying to argue with his wife with a paralyzed face). He used to be the bishop here, and is really is great guy. He asked us for a priesthood blessing. He told us that he doesn't accept a blessing from anyone other than the Elders. It was one more "wow....I'm a missionary" moment. It really does humble every time I see someone that honors and respects the title and mantle of an "Elder". It helps me to work harder and harder to protect and magnify my calling. The blessing we gave was a very, very special experience that can't simply be explained through a measly email.
We had a companion exchange with the Elders in Goiana....it's an hour car drive to Goiana from Abreu e Lima...and about an hour and a half if your car breaks down....and no we don't have a car....it's really normal here to get into the car of a stranger and hitch a ride for about 6 reals....kind of sketchy, but it's pretty normal....sometimes we take the bus too.
I got to spend two days with Elder Brown from Kaysville, Utah. I'm not gonna say that it was just because I was with an American, but boy was it a great comp exchange. Let's just say Elder Brown and I are on the same page. He spent 4 months of his mission in Louisiana before he got his visa. He goes home in October, and is full of fire still. We taught perfectly together....it was like a dream!!!
We taught a 17 year old girl named Williane. She's dating (and unfortunately living with) her boyfriend (who's also a member....a little bit inactive though). About 3 months ago, she went to church with her boyfriend. I tried to talk with her and ask if we could share a message with her, and she flat out denied me....she passed about 3 more months, and started coming to church again, and even started going to our english class....I tried asking her again if we could teach her.....this time, she readily and excitedly accepted. Like I said, the lesson was PERFECT with her. She felt the spirit strongly, especially during the Joseph Smith story. She loves to read, and has been eating up the Book of Mormon, and received a strong answer that the Book really is true. We are super stoked to teach her....the only potential problem that we have is that she lives in the same house as her boyfriend, and has to move out before she can be baptized....we are going to see what we can do!
We also managed to bring what I like to call a "super inactive" or someone that was baptized 20 years ago, was a super firm and active member for a LONG time, and then became inactive for whatever reason. His name is Roma. We were going to a funeral for a member's husband (we were a bit late...) and a man called us off the street to talk with us. He loves the missionaries. He told us alot of the stories that he has from his days when he was a ward missionary. Boy, this guy is good. He showed up at church this sunday too! The only struggle is going to be to try and keep him there! He would be such an adrenaline boost for this ward!
Well, I'd like to write more, but my companion is waiting for me to finish. It was a great week....the work is going fantastical here. We are planning on baptizing Iara this week too! There's also Babí who has potential to be baptized this week....we just need to get permission from her parents! I'm afraid that I'm going to be transferred this next week....let's see what the Lord has in store for me....I love Abreu e Lima!!! It's been an amazing 5 months here.....but the Lord always seems to have something better in store for us when we look forward with faith!
Until next time,
Elder McKinley
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