Well I was a bit selfish last week and didn't really talk much about any of our investigators. We have literally had miracles every single day this past week. I'm constantly scratching my head trying to figure out why the Lord is being SO good to us. Transfers were today....no one in our district changed. I am glad to stay here, and I am hopeful that the next 6 weeks will be better than the last 6 weeks. Elder Melo spent almost the entire week preparing to leave....we must have passed by the house of nearly every member this week....lots of shed tears...mostly by Melo. It was fun for me to sit and watch all week....but really, it was kind of a drag.
Last week, a girl named Yuli (nice name huh?) was walking to her boyfriends house who lives really close to the chapel here. She had a very, very strong impression to enter, and so she did. She walked in about half way through sacrament meeting. After the meeting, we discovered that she was not a member. We taught and testified to her about the restoration of the Gospel, to which she immediately affirmed that she too now knew was true. We gave her a Book of Mormon asked to her read and pray about it. When we followed up with her the next day (we taught her on our Pday....she was worth it), she said that she had received an even stronger answer than the first time we taught her. We taught her boyfriend, Davide (he showed up to church solo--when Yuli was sick--on his own this week without a reminder or anything....miracle) and her mom, Raquel. Every one of them was touched by the spirit. We are going to mark a date for them for baptism on the next visit.
We had two incidents that were truly divine. The first: while waiting for a bus, the Brazilian equivalent of a hearse (yes the car that takes dead people to the cemetery, except here, it appeared more like a clark pest control truck) pulled up and asked if we wanted a ride....always good when the corpse-mobile is giving out rides huh? But he told us he was a member, and had been baptized about 5 years ago. He lived in another area, where the branch closed down about 3 years ago. He had a strong testimony, but had no idea where the nearest church was. He told us that he had been praying the night before to be led to a member of the church....coincidence? If you think it was, you need to serve a mission....there are no such things as coincidences anymore.
The next day, while getting on a different bus (here there's a little cash stand on the bus where you pay to get on....it's separated from the driver) I had such a small, tiny prompting to talk to the cash lady. She was super friendly, didn't stop smiling the whole time....I got her address and gave her a pamphlet. When we went to return to our apartment, guess which bus picked us up? Yep. The same one. Her name is Roberta. She read almost the entire pamphlet. She said that she was touched by it, and wanted to know more. She said that she has been having some difficulties in her life, and that she too was praying the night before for the Lord to put someone in her path to help her.
You're probably wondering, "I'm hearing alll these miraculous contact stories from Elder McKinley, but what ever happens to these people?" To be honest, we are having difficulty following up with all of them.....we have A LOT. Like I said, I really don't feel deserving of all these miracles. Our companionship has some obedience issues. I'll try and keep you all updated as much as I can remember everyone!
One more miracle.....comes from Arnold and Lucienne. We walked past Arnold on the street. Elder Melo said hello to him and asked him his name.....he responded pretty grumpily that he "can't just give his name out to anyone". Melo responded with a smile and introduced himself. He loosened up, invited us to his house where we taught him and his wife. While telling the 1st vision, I could feel the spirit working on them. The first vision is without a doubt my favorite part of the lesson. We can almost bank on it every time for inviting the spirit, and we make sure to point it out to them too when they are feeling it. It's a perfect time to extend the baptismal invite as well. Arnold and Lucienne showed up at church on sunday....along with 6 other of our investigators....holy smokes....the baptisms are about to come raining down here I fear.
I try to do everything I can to be worthy and deserving of the souls that the Lord is entrusting us with. It is difficult at times, but I have to remember that the power of the Lord's Atonement works for missionaries too. He knows my circumstances, and he knows I am trying my best. He's good enough to me that he'll through me a bone every once in a while (ok maybe more often that). But seriously, It's possible for me to have success here because the mercy of the Lord. I loveeee this work. It's hard. It's frustrating at times. But it is sooooo good!!! Can't believe I've been out 6 months already....I want that time back!
Until Next Time,
Elder McKinley
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