Well Thanksgiving passed in the blink of an
eye....I didn't even realize it was thanksgiving until late at
night....It was funny having an American companion....we were able to
pretend like we are Brazilian, eating Rice and Beans on thanksgiving
day.
Well
this week was really really cool for me. I had written about the last
weeks we've had here....a lot of difficulties, but also several
miracles. The pinnacle of those miracles was Anderson's baptism....He is
only 13, but he isn't a normal 13 year old. He's really sharp. He was
active in another evangelical church for a long time, but then he
stopped going because the neighborhood got a little bit ghetto and his
mom didn't let him go anymore. He told us that about 2 months ago
(before we had met him or his family), that he had seen us walking on
the street. We were pretty far off in the distance, but he said that he
felt a really warm and comfortable feeling when he saw us. It left him
curious to know more. When we showed up at his family's house, it was
perfect. Our plan in baptizing Anderson was to try and kick his Mom
(Ana) and step-dad (Pingo) into gear. It worked. His mom was very
touched by the baptism. She had been a little bit hesitant to be
baptized because she would have to get married to her husband. We had
tried to show her the benefits of having a legitimate family (they have
already been living together for 10 years and have a child
together....), but she wasn't buying it. When the baptismal service came
around, the Spirit sealed the deal. She came out with a huge smile, and
asked when she could be baptized! It was the greatest feeling in the
world. We went back a few other times to teach their family. Ana was
telling us how she got mad the first time she heard that we had taught
her husband and wanted to come back to teach more, but after we got
around to teaching her and bringing her to church, she said that she
can't wait when Sunday morning comes around, or when we show up to teach
her and her family. Those words just left us with huge smiles. It's the
best. (by the way, since we've started teaching her family, her
neighbors-who initially were very rude and cold towards us when we made
contacts there- have been asking us to teach their families as
well.....oh boy! Christmas is coming early here!)
Well
that was without a doubt the highlight, but it wasn't the only
meaningful experience of this past week. We knocked a door, and saw a
lady come out with about 4 children behind her....while walking towards
us, I jokingly whispered to Elder Jubitz "ok Elder, this lady has been
praying all day for someone to come and help her....she is already
expecting us....she is going to believe whatever you say...are you
ready?" After laughing at my hilarious joke, she came to answer
us......we were shocked to find out that I'm actually a Prophet, because
it was pretty much exactly how I said it would be. Her name is Amanda.
She's 24 with 4 kids (wow). Her husband has 2 years down on a 10 year
prison term (I have no Idea what he did....), and she lives by herself
as a house painter. We taught her, and despite being rather humble, she
understood everything....perfectly....it got even crazier when we came
back....we had marked a part in 3 Nephi 11 for her to read, but she
fumbled around and read a few other parts. She opened up to Mosiah 3:4
and read the following
For
the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness,
and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that
thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with
joy.
At
first when she read this scripture, I didn't understand....when I
reread it, my jaw dropped open, as did the jaw of Elder Jubitz. She
interpreted it to be an answer from the Lord, and without a doubt, she
was right....we are helping her with a few commandment issues (chastity
and smoking), but she has a huge desire to change her life. It should be
fun!
The
work goes on here. We are on our last week of my 2nd transfer her with
Elder Jubitz in Jd. São Paulo. I'm not sure what's going to happen. We
sure have had some fun here....I'm finding more and more joy in this
work every day. It's fun stuff. The Lord is teaching me things that I
could never learn in a classroom or a book....he is personally leading
and sculpting me into the servant that he wants and needs me to be. What
could be better than that?
Until next time,
Elder McKinley
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