Well it sure is fun to get news from your old areas
and investigators. I got a letter this week from a girl named Thayris
that was baptized in June when I was in Abreu e Lima. She told me how
much she has grown and spiritually developed since her baptism. She told
me how much happier she is now and how much the church and the Gospel
has changed her life. At the time, I had doubts as to whether or not she
really believed in everything we were teaching her. It was absolutely
amazing for me to receive that letter from her and know just how much
she really has changed. I think that's the best news that exists as a
missionary.
What's
more....a family of 3 that Elder Chapuis and I found knocking doors in
Abreu e Lima was baptized last week.....husband, wife, and her sister.
Another lady named Neide had her wedding and baptism in the church. I
started teaching her but was transferred out of the area. There's
another young man named Henrique that we had taught and completely
prepared for baptism, whose mom ended up not letting him be baptized,
who after a little more time, opened up and is letting him be baptized
this week! What an amazing happiness that brings to me to see such
miracles happening in an area where I had the privilege to work!!
Here's
the families that were baptized in Abreu e Lima. Elder Chapuis and
Elder Berg baptized that family of 3. Elder Apeland (my MTC comp) is now
with Elder Berg, and they baptized Neide last week too!
Unfortunately,
We had a bit of a headache this week...after Roberto and Elza´s
wedding, they went to travel in Natal (a city in another state close by)
to spend their honeymoon. We had remarked their baptisms (the first
time it didn't work out when their daughter got sick and they had to go
the hospital) for this last friday, but when friday came around and
everything was all set to go, they were nowhere to be found :( There
cell phones were turned off and they weren't at home....we are trying to
find out what happened to them and get them in the water this week!!
We
have another miracle. I talked a little about Antônio last week. What a
good man. He is making wonderful progress. He shows up to church by
himself and absolutely looks like a kid in a candy store. As a
missionary, it seems like you can literally tell when your investigators
are being penetrated by the spirit. Their body language and facial
expressions say it all. Our gospel essentials teacher is also the stake
Patriarch (talk about a spiritual giant!). We were a bit worried that he
would have difficulties accepting tithing (he works a LOT and earns
little), but he couldn't have been more willing to abide by that
commandment. Words can't describe what it feels like to be the means by
which someone learns about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's Cloud
9. Antônio will be baptized this Saturday. Please keep him in your
prayers! The tempter is always about!
We
had a Zone Leader council this week. I got to see a lot of my buddies. I
pretty much know all of the Zone Leaders in the mission by now (there's
a lot....almost 30). It really is a powerful group we have here....I
can feel the difference in the mission from when I got here a year
ago....the Lord and President Lanius have been hard at work to turn
things around. We talked a lot about how we can take the mission to the
next level, especially helping more people to act and be baptized more
efficiently. One thing that's been hindering a lot of missionaries is
the emphasis that they put on a spiritual confirmation. Baptism really
is a step of faith, and you aren't going to have a huge testimony for
you make your baptismal covenant, or any other major gospel choice for
that matter. The Lord gives us plenty of reasons to act and trust in
him....it's our inner nature that causes us to doubt and to be cautious.
It's a great time to be a missionary here in Recife. I love the
experiences that I'm having that are helping me to learn, grow, and come
to know my Father in Heaven better and better every single day. This
work is true! I know it is!
Until next time,
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