LAST SECOND MIRACLE (Week 2)

Hello everyone once again!

I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well and all your little stories and adventures! First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister Jaredynne who turned 15 recently and also to my brother Mosíah whose birthday was a week and a bit ago (I think... It's hard to remember so many dates, sorry!) But seriously, I hope you all had a wonderful time and that you put a slice of cake in the freezer for me. I'll defrost it when I come back in two years, it'll be as good as new. ;)

Last week I wrote A LOT, my bad! I can't promise that the quality and the quantity of the blogs will stay like that for two years but hey, I'll try to keep you all updated! I brought my journal along to the computer house this time so I can remember all that's happened in the week but the selection process is still difficult!

It has been another great miracle-filled week here in Cidade Nova! Me and Elder Zenteno, my awesome Floridian companion, had been fasting and praying a lot for miracles to happen in our area. On Monday we were walking to and fro appointment and this lady was like: "Mormons!" She surprised us a bit but we went to chat with her and her granddaughter. She told us that her husband had gone to the church a few times and really wanted to speak to us. Somewhere in the conversation we also found out that her granddaughter was a less-active member of the church. It was all very quick. We got their address and were soon on our way again. We really happy with what happened but didn't think too much about it until a few days later. On Thursday we decided to go visit this family to see how they were doing. The couple's names are José and Valda and their granddaughter is called Talita. We walked in and the man began opening up very quickly. He shared with us that he felt quite distressed with the situation the world is getting into and all the horrible things he sees when we reads or watches the news. For quite a few minutes he spoke and we listened... Once again, listening is key on a mission! He began to share that his close friend who was a member of the church had died and that he attended the funeral service in the church a few days before our visit. Without us asking, just listening, he shared that when he walked into the church for the service he felt a huge sense of relief and peace. He felt God telling him that was the place he should be and that there he would find happiness. Imagine our faces when he began saying that. It's quite rare we hear that from a person the first time we talk to them! After he finished expressing his feelings, me and Elder Zenteno shared with him and his family the message of the Restoration of the gospel (www.mormon.org/beliefs/restoration) which they really accepted and believed. The spirit was really strongly in the room so my companion made the invitation for them to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptised. They accepted straight away! We were stunned at how ready these people were and how the Lord had prepared them!

Yesterday, they were both baptised after church and it was a wonderful meeting. I had the chance to baptise them which was wonderful! If only I could have taken a picture of their faces right after they got out of the water. All I saw was joy, pure joy... Anyway, I know this is a very uplifting story but something funny happened during the baptism. I told the man to cover his nose when he was being baptised in the waters but I don't think he understood my European Portuguese accent so he went under the water not covering his nose. I thought I was going to drown him but he came out of the water smiling and gave me a hug. So crisis averted! Phew, drowning someone on my second week wouldn't be ideal. :P But on the serious side again, it was a difficult week leading up to the baptism with lots of people losing interest or failing to keep their commitments but the Lord was testing our faith and patience. He wants to see how hard we'll work and how far we'll walk before pouring the blessings over us.

We have been working a lot with a family who's recently been baptised. They have 3 little girls, 1 boy, 1 granddad and some other women in the family. I haven't quite worked out the family tree but they're a joy to be with. The little girls are super faithful and know LOADS about the Bible. Most people in Brasil are brought up with a strong Christian family so accepting our message and understanding concepts becomes slightly easier for them. One day we went to visit the girls to see how they were doing since their baptisms and when we knocked on the door we saw two old ladies who we assumed to be Jehova's Witnesses teaching one of the girls. It was really awkward but when the children saw us they ran out and started doing our little handshake. I think the ladies were a bit jealous and they left very soon after. The ladies have good intentions in preaching too I suppose, but it will probably become confusing for a little child being taught simultaneously from two sides. That's why building trust and friendship helps a lot when it comes to families. :)

Ah 9 minutes left until the session ends!! I wish you could just read my journal (selected pages of course), it would be so much easier! :P

On Saturday I did a division with Elder Alvis (from Texas) in the area of Itu and it was super awesome. He was really funny and we got on really well. We had really amazing lessons including teaching the Restoration to two young ladies. As I recited Joseph Smith's description of the First Vision, their faces were full of amazement and the spirit could be felt super super strongly! It was great to go to a different area for one day and to meet new people and places.

Random Stuff:

• Me and Elder Zenteno were fatties this week and had loads of Brazilian foods and sweets.

• I love the gospel and this mission and I'm striving to become better each day!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!