I feel like I was just here last week writing emails home....crazy how a mission is just a big cycle! But, it's what happens during that cycle that really makes a mission so special. A lot of the "miracles" that we had last week are "stalled". We haven't been able to find that man Adilson, who had a dream about baptism. One of Barbara's friends that said she wanted to be baptized was prohibited by her mom to take the discussions from us or to visit the church. Even with these "hiccups", the work amazingly goes on! We had a whole completely new set of miracles to pick up where things left off with our work!
A cool story. While trying to explain to a less active member that the 2nd coming wasn't when Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, our cell phone rang. I answered, and was surprised to hear the voice of my trainer her in Brazil, Elder Lima! He ended up having knee problems, and had to finish his mission after about 11 months of service. He was in São Paulo, and managed to get our phone number some how. It was a really cool experience to talk to him. He told me that I'm already a Brazilian....we had a good chat....I felt so happy to talk to him. We had some difficulties when we were companions, but I feel such a strong friendship and connection with him now. He is doing physical therapy, and is going to do what he can to return to the mission field. Keep him in your prayers
We had a Zone Leader council this week in Recife. Elder Apeland (my MTC companion) was just called as a zone leader too! That makes 4 of the Elders from our group that are leaders now. It was cool to see how much all of us have grown, developed, and matured since we left the MTC a year ago. President Lanius talked a lot about how we need to help our investigators why they NEED to be baptized....helping them understand the nature of the atonement and the effects of the fall of Adam really make favorable conditions for an acceptance to a baptismal invitation. The council was good. Pres Lanius has a very advanced vocabulary....most of the American Missionaries just kind of look at him with a puzzled look the whole time, but that's what happens when your mission president is an ex-military officer, lawyer, and member of a temple presidency....he's a sharp one.
I usually like to save the best for last, but I'm just gonna jump right on in with this one. On Friday, we were basically looking to build up our teaching pool (it's a bit low these days)....we were looking to try and find the house of a man that we had made a contact with about a month ago that we had forgotten about. While looking for his house, we ran into a man named Fernandes who was walking out on the balcony of his house. We started talking with him....he came down to continue the conversation, and let us right in! It was interesting, because I was feeling (you have almost a 6th sense as a missionary....you feel whether or not someone trusts you) that he was about to slam the door on us, but just the opposite! We broke the ice with him, and started to teach him. The spirit was strong, and he was understanding the message, but there was a lack of "interest" on his part. We were about to close up with a prayer and a invite to go to church when his wife, Marlene showed up. She is what the people here call "crente", or basically a super religious evangelical person (crente is almost used negatively here...they remind me a bit of what a pharisee would be if they were still around). I thought that she too wouldn't be very interested, but as it turned out, she used to live in São Paulo and knew some members of the church there. She was very interested in what we believe, but never really got around to finding out. We felt inspired to teach her about the necessity of being baptized by the authority of the priesthood. That lit up a light bulb for her! She started telling us that she likes her current church, but feels that there is "something missing"....we explained the restoration and the importance of the Book of Mormon. I'm starting to develop a habit of reading 3Nephi 27:13-22 (when Jesus Christ explains his gospel to the Nephites) with our investigators when we teach them about the Book of Mormon. The spirit that comes with those verses is unmatchable. It seals the testimonies that we bear of the truthfulness of our message. There isn't a way to read that chapter and say that the Book of Mormon isn't a true book that was inspired by God. The best part, is that Marlene and Fernandes are married! That's a huge rarity here....we are excited to work with this great couple!
We taught another girl named Hillary. She's 17, and lives with her Fiancee John. She was a referral from an inactive member (funny how at times the inactive members help with the missionary work more than the active ones!) named Piawi (the first time I met him, I thought that his name was Peewee....too bad that I only I thought that was funny....) Hillary may be young, but she's really mature....I feel like she could be my Mom! We were really in a pinch for time when we were teaching her, but we managed to communicate the basics of the restoration to her. The most special part was the 1st Vision....I love teaching that part. Not that I fight with my companion to get to teach that part, but I always have a shout of hurray in my heart when that special story falls upon me! She said that she literally felt like she was witnessing God the Father and Jesus Christ appear to her. She felt in her heart the truthfulness of the message. We left her with a Book of Mormon, and will follow up with her this week! Oh the Joy that you feel when you walk out of a teaching appointment like that!!!!! There's nothing else like it! I will miss moments like this after my mission for sure.
It would be easy for me to sit her and talk about the difficulties we have during the week. These emails give me a good time to sit down and recap our week. I forget just how much good happens in this work. The adversary works very hard to discourage us. I am so happy for the ability that the Lord has given me to appreciate and recognize the good things that happen, even among trials, hardships, and obstacles. We can all have happiness and joy, even when our lives aren't "perfect". Please, do not be mistaken....my mission is not perfect...nor is my attitude. It is only because of the name I wear on my shirt pocket (and the name that we take upon ourselves by entering into the waters of baptism) that I can have a "fullness of joy" in this work. I am so grateful to be here at this current time, place, and season. This is the work of the Lord! We can all follow him and participate of this joy!
Until next time,
-Elder McKinley
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