We came out the gate with a lot of energy this week. If there's one thing that excites you to get out to work as a missionary, it's being stuck at home for two days with a sick Elder. We easily made up for our lost time this week. The Lord really helped us to make up our lost ground.
We used a bit of out p-day time to have lunch with an investigator of ours named Daiana. She is from Rio, her aunt is the relief society president here in Vitória, and she is currently living with her atheist "husband". She works a ton as a professional cook (yeah, lunch was good with her). Monday was the only time we had to meet with her. She invited not only us, but the other companionship to have lunch with her too....all four of us. We eased our way into a gospel conversation with them (Daiana is crazy to be baptized....she just needs to marry first....our lesson was more focused on her husband) Let's just say that trying to teach an atheist with 4 Elders isn't the best idea....the lesson took f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Almost 2 hours! I felt so bad for the poor guy. After the other Elders finished explaining the plan of salvation from the creation of Adam down to Adam-ondi-ahman, we left the very tired looking family in peace....you know what blew me away? When we saw Daiana later in the week, she said that her "husband" liked the lesson! How??? This church really must be true folks.
We found several good people to teach. One lady left me with a big smile on my face....after explaining the restoration to her, she said "do you mean to say that God and Jesus Christ appeared to this boy and called him to establish the only true church of Christ here on the earth???". I love responding to a question like that....you leave people with such a powerful thought in their minds....unfortunately not everyone understands so clearly what we teach.
Fun side notes: A crazy guy we passed on the street this week asked us if we are those same Germans that blew up the World Trade Center....hmmm. Another lady chastised me for not knowing "the Lord's prayer" by heart....she insisted that we say it together with her before leaving. When it rained a few weeks ago, these giant flying ants began to crash and fall all over the place....what do the people do about it? Run after them, put them into bottles, and then take them inside to fry them and eat them....I passed up that opportunity! We taught Albemar (the voo-doo-ist). He told us of how he talks and receives visits from spirits at times....I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He is starting to the light bit by bit. We made some good goals with him. I don't think I'll be around to see his baptism, but he is an incredibly good hearted man. I think it will happen one day.
We challenged a 17 year old girl we are teaching named Isa to be baptized this Saturday. She has been to church twice already, but has cold feet in respect to a baptismal date. We talked with her for a good while, and we left her with the challenge to read a few scriptures and pray to know if she should or should not be baptized. Among the scriptures we gave her was Alma 32:16.
"Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized withoutstubbornness of heart"
We were confident that she would receive an answer....when we came back, we were sadly disappointed to see that she hadn't even read or prayed....unfortunately, we had to chastise her a little bit and help her to understand just how important all of this is. I think it made a difference. She went to church again yesterday. There was a little 8 year old boy running around passing out invites to his baptism this Saturday. He gave an invite to her....when she looked at it, I think the Spirit touched her heart....she told us at the end of church "who knows, maybe I will be baptized this Saturday after all!" What a great piece of news! The Lord really can work miracles....we are going to see if we can seal the deal with her!
Elder Santana and I have been growing along together....we are really becoming more and more unified in our teaching and purpose. I couldn't imagine a better way to finish my mission that the way I am now!
Until next time,
-Elder McKinley
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