Well
the biggest news of this week is that Elder Jubitz was transferred. I
will miss working with him. We were having a lot of fun together. We had
excellent chemistry in teaching and talking with people. We had a lot
of good jokes and stories together. We passed through some good
difficulties, but we were able to lift one another up and stay focused
and enthused. He will be a good friend that I will undoubtedly keep for
many many years to come! My new companion is Elder Celestino from São
Paulo. I already knew him when we served together in the Paulista Zone.
He's got about 5 months left on his mission, and is hungry for baptisms.
It should be a good experience. I'm excited to get to work with him!
Like
I said in my last email, we went to the temple this week. Boy was that
an incredible experience for me. Due to the changes of perspective and
experiences that I've gained as a missionary, I was really able to
appreciate the sacredness and importance of the covenants that we make
in the temple. The temple really is a special place. I haven't even
metaphorically "chipped off shaved ice of the ice berg" when it comes to
understanding the symbolism and importance of the temple ordinances. We
really make promises to the Lord that enable us to receive all that the
Father has, but when I am coming to realize more and more is that this
depends on our faithfulness. There comes a point where simply knocking
doors for 10 hours a day doesn't cut it....the Lord wants us to deliver
up our entire being to him. It all has to do with the Law of
Consecration. It's deep stuff.....there's only one way to understand
it.....and that's through personal doing what the Lord asks of you.
We
also had our interviews with President Lanius. I'm gaining more and
more respect and reverence for this man every time that I hear him
speak. I can see how the Lord uses this man to direct his work in this
mission. It's so obvious. It wasn't something that I recognized the
first time I met him, but it's crystal clear to me now. It's a man who
magnifies his Priesthood calling. It's a marvelous example to me. His
words hit me in the heart. He has been talking alot about how we use
spiritual power to do this work. Maybe it's our legs that get tired or
our shoes that get worn out, but it is our spiritual commitment to
follow and serve our Master Jesus Christ that gives us the drive and
capability to push through those things. Interesting isn't it? The
greatest force there is in the universe can't even be seen. It's
spiritual in nature.
In
the investigator department, we lost or dropped quite a few of our
investigators this week. Amanda surprised us by saying that she moved to
Vitoria, a city in the interior of Pernambuco. Others hid from us when
we went to visit them. Others don't want to go to church until they've
read the entire Book of Mormon (and are reading at a pace of about 2
pages per week). Others need to get married before they can be baptized,
but actually don't even love their spouse. We try to see if the Gospel
can spark something in the hearts of these people, but it hasn't been
too successful. The spouses are usually not to fond of us.
We
have had success with Ana. We taught Ana the word of wisdom. She
accepted the commandment. We took her coffee with us that same night.
Pingo on the other hand, said he would "try" and stop drinking. He said
that he doesn't want to be baptized right now. We are still trying to
work with him. He is making enormous progress by reading the Book of
Mormon and praying in his family. We are getting their marriage papers
together and should have everything ready for their baptism here in a
few weeks.
We
taught a Jew this week! It was funny....turns out that I made a contact
with him about 10 months ago in front of the chapel when we were
waiting for our ride to return to our area after a zone conference. I
didn't remember him at first, but I think he remembered quite well the
day when a tall, white, red headed American stopped him in the street
and started talking with him about Jesus Christ. When we walked passed
him on the street this week, he said "Hey! I remember you! Do you
remember me??".....After talking with him for a bit, I was able to
remember. What a small world huh? It was really interesting someone who
doesn't believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. The Book of
Mormon really came in handy, especially when it comes to the "convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal
God" That comes straight from the title page of the Book of Mormon. He
felt the Spirit. It should be fun to see what happens. He's really
curious to read more of the Book of Mormon
Well
That's about all for this week. The fight goes on! Every day is an
opportunity! Like I remember having said as a 3 year old in a fast and
testimony meeting after running to the pulpit, "Jesus is Real!!"
-Until next time,
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