Letter 8/6/12

Well this week was fan-tastic! Principally because the members came out if full force this week with giving us referrals (or introducing us to their friends and families so we can teach them). The first that I'll talk about is Henrique, a 15 year old neighbor of one the young men here in the ward. He used to go to church a long time ago, but kind of just stopped. While our buddy, Tawã, was taking us to meet one of his friends, we stopped and talked with Henrique (this friend we intended to visit ended up not wanting to hear us....funny how it works out like that), who readily accepted our invite. We taught him about the restoration. Even without having taught him about the Book of Mormon and how it is an evidence that our message is true, he prayed and received an answer about the truthfulness of the church! He wants to be baptized too. We are going to try and teach the rest of his family this week.

Another man we taught this week is Adilson. He is a long time friend of a lady here in the ward. I think he is an architect....while we were visiting with him, he was sketching out some lines on a giant piece of paper (It didn't look like anything much to me, but then again I don't have what you call an "artistic" mind....it's like the saying goes, talent skips a generation....) We were talking with him a little bit about Jesus Christ in general, and he told us of a dream that he had a while back. He said he was on a river bank, and saw 12 men clothed in old middle-east style clothing. Suddenly, they disappeared, and a man came up out of the river and gave him a huge hug saying "Do you believe in me now?" We showed him a picture of Christ ordaining the 12 apostles, and after a painting of Christ's baptism....he flared up with excitement. We left him a Book of Mormon, and are going to teach him again this week. It should be a pretty fun one with him.

Then there's Marilene. She's a 45 year old woman. Her son, Ricardo was baptized about a year ago, and is more or less active in the church. Last week, I asked him about his parents...he said that various missionaries had taught his mom, but that no one had ever had success in bringing her to church. I told him to invite her anyway....to everyone's surprise, she showed up, and loved church! We taught her during the week....she said that she has a strong desire to know if she should leave her current church to follow the true church of Jesus Christ (she even used those very words....) She had to travel this week, but we are going to keep on teaching her....we are stoked!

Then threre´s Barbara or Babi (who was baptized this week btw!). She brought her entire family (mom, dad, and older sister who all loved the baptism and church) and several of her friends. We taught two of them yesterday, Gabi and Rayssa. They both said that they loved the young women's program (they went to church on Sunday as well) and want to start to visit church regularly. We taught them about why the church is different, and they both expressed desire to be baptized! (If you've been following my mission these last few months, you've probably noticed that we've been baptizing a lot of young women lately.....I swear, I'm not flirting to convert! We are "fishing" for all types of people to teach, it looks like the girls seem to keep coming up...it's good that they usually have boyfriends and families to teach as well!)

Barbara's baptism was super good! There were about 60 people there to witness it. The spirit truly testified that it was a true ordinance of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It was all made possible because he boyfriend introduced her to us and took her to church. She was without a doubt the most complicated and difficult baptism of my mission. I met her four months ago in April, back when I was with Elder Bochio....we had to overcome a lot of challenges with teaching her....her availability, her level of interest, getting her parents approval, and then working out a little glitch with her living in another ward's boundaries (that's a WHOLE other story that has yet to be completely resolved....we are working with the Bishops of the two wards to help her make the transition to the other ward)....all in all....Barbara's baptism was the result of a lot of work, prayer, fasting, and patience, but without a doubt, it was all worth it. She was telling us that she really wants to serve a mission...how cool is that?

Now I'm going to talk with the members that read these letters....I've seen more miracles this week than I ever could have hoped for....we are opening the lid on a giant can of baptisms right now, and it is because the members are inviting their friends to be taught by the missionaries. Let's be straight here....I think I did this once in the first 19 years of my life....I have a lot of regrets about that. I am already thinking about how I will change that when I get home. Don't look at the missionaries sitting by themselves on Sunday and think "too bad the missionaries don't have anybody to teach or bring to church right now....oh well". Invite your friends to receive the discussions! Not everyone that listens is going to be baptized or converted to the gospel, but like Wayne Gretzky said once, "you miss 100% of the shots you never take"....Not all of the people that I have seen baptized on my mission were given to us as referrals, but EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM knew a member of the church before being taught by the missionaries. In other words, these were prepared people that hadn't been baptized simply because they didn't know about the church. We, as members, have to do our part in finding these people! I am so grateful to this ward for the help they have been giving us. We could not have this kind of success without them. The missionaries, when combined effectively with the members, are an enormous force for good in preaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days. This work is true! It is the work of the Father. He leads and guides it! Trust him to prepare the way!

Until next time,

Elder McKinley