Well it's been more fun here with Elder
Celestino.....it feels like with every passing week I'm able to take our
work up to another level. That was what I was taught.....the last day
on my mission should be my best. I set a new personal record for lessons
taught this weekl! The best part is that I know that it can be a lot
higher. Every extra effort made on my part to find and teach people
could be the difference between a lesson that could change someone's
life. Elder Celestino shares my view. He's 20 years old and is from Sao
Paulo. He was baptized 3 years ago, but boy does he learn quickly. He's a
sharp guy. He's already taught me a lot of things about how to lead
other missionaries. I'm a bit reluctant at times to delegate
responsibilities, and he has been helping me to see the beauty and
importance of delegation among the district leaders in our zone. He's
also really good and helping other missionaries realize where and how
they can improve their work. I'm blown away at times. Every time I think
I know how to do something, the Lord sends another missionary to show
me how it could be done even better. It's fun being teachable. I learned
a long time ago that it's just not worth it to be stubborn.
Another
funny thing that I've mentioned several times before. Missionary work
is such a roller coaster. On Tuesday for example, Elder Celestino and I
spent the entire day making contacts with people.....our fruits? 1
measly lesson.....rather than get discouraged at the end of the day, I
got on my knees, and more or less had the following conversation with
the Lord: "Lord, we worked hard today. I talked with everyone that came
my way. We didn't get the results we would have liked, but I know that
you are going to reward us tomorrow with miracles." I see how some might
see that as cockiness, but rather, I see it as boldly asking the Lord
with faith to bless us. There's a lesson or two to be learned with the
Brother of Jared's experiences before the Lord. It's interesting to note
that we taught 9 lessons the next day, the most I've ever taught in one
day on my mission. We found an incredible Catholic family. Mom, dad,
and two kids. The Spirit saturated the room during our lesson. Elder
Celestino mentioned to me that it was one of the best lessons of his
mission. I agreed. After everything had gone perfectly right, I asked
when we could return to teach them again....turns out, they are going to
spend a month in the interior with their extended family.....darn you
holidays!!! We are going to follow up with them next months....by the
way, you'd like the daughter's question at the end of the lesson....she
aksed, "is there a bookstore around here where I can buy a Book of
Mormon?" Real intent? Yup.
I
talked about a Jew that we are teaching....come to find out, he's a bit
of a "relaxed" Jew....in other words, he basically just knows how to
speak Hebrew. He doesn't really keep any of the traditional Jewish
customs. His name is Aldrei. He went to church with us on Sunday. At
first, he said that he wouldn't feel comfortable going to a Christian
church, but after we talked with him, he gave in and went to church with
us! The theme of the sacrament meeting was "revelation"....Aldrei was
paying quite a bit of attention during the talks. In the end, he leaned
over to me and whispered "I received 2 revelations....I need to talk to
you".....Oh boy I got about as nervous as Brazilian on a ice rink. He
started explaining that he had some strange dream with a bearded man on
the other side of some bridge selling some of his Mom's Jewish artifacts
on a wooden table....I really didn't understand anything that he was
saying (not because of the language, but because his dream was really
quite strange)....I wasn't sure how to respond when he asked me what his
dream meant.....being real clever, I said to him "come with me, I want
to show you something". My comp and I went to the baptismal font, where
we explained to him about the nature and importance of baptism. We
invited him to be baptized....he paused, and seriously thought about it.
He expressed some concerns about wanting to get to know the church
better, but other than that, he basically accepted. I was shocked! I
have no idea what was going through his head at the moment, but I know
the Spirit was working on him. He felt the presence of the Lord. It was
fun. I'm excited to see what's going to happen!
Each
day is a precious opportunity. Merry Christmas to everyone. I have to
keep reminding myself that Santa is coming, even if it means that he's
coming in a sleeveless tee with flip-flops and sunglasses. It's better
than being in some middle eastern country where he's not even allowed to
enter!
Until next time,
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