Everything in His Time (Week 48)

Hey you guuuuys!!

My first week with Elder Burt was awesome! He's from Medford, Oregon, USAAAA! This is his last transfer on the mission and he is incredible, I have learned a bunch already! I have learned to plan better, how teach more effectively and bear my testimony fearlessly. I have also learned to make a cool water drop sound with my mouth although it hasn't yet come in handy in the missionary work. ;) This week I have learned the importance of working hard but accepting the Lord's will in all things. He has a time for everything and being patient will bring fruits. There is a lady called Marlene, whose 17 year daughter was baptised earlier in the year. She had been coming to church with her for the last few months but had not yet accepted the invitation to be baptised. After a month of visiting her and many invitations, she finally accepted a baptismal date for 3 weeks later. 3 weeks seemed too long of a time but we were happy she accepted and continued visiting everyday and seeing her heart open to the gospel message.

Although she was having a lot of family problems these last few weeks, she constantly felt Christ's love, through our constant visits and also the visits of loving Relief Society sisters who reached out when even Marlene's own family left her on her own. This week, the grand day of her baptism finally arrived and when we got to church she was sitting there in sacrament meeting. The fact she comes by herself every week really shows her conversion and diligence.

Now comes the fun part of the story... Due to health problems, she can't enter cold water so hot water was promised from the beginning. As we sat in the sacrament meeting I suddenly thought: "The baptismal font". We went to fill it up and heat it and soon found there was no more gas in the chapel. We panicked for a few seconds but then decided we would have to do the baptism in another nearby chapel. We got a brother to take us to the Jaçanã Ward but on arrival we found out that even though there was gas, the heater for the font was broken. Long story short, we were soon speeding back to our chapel with an industrial size gas cylinder in the back of the car. Nothing would get in the way of her baptism! :D

Although we had to delay her baptism to later in the afternoon, it was a wonderful spiritual experience and plenty of the Relief Society was present to give their support. Marlene entered the waters of baptism and made a covenant with the Lord. Not in our time, not on hers but yes in the Lord's time. If it were for us missionaries, she could have been baptised a few weeks ago. She perhaps would've kept delaying it until the weather became better but on this occasion both of us learned that the Lord works on His time and things happen when it is convenient to Him.

Throughout this week, we visited Cledson (the boy who was baptised last week) and let me tell you, he is one of the most prepared and elect people I have baptised on my mission. The funny thing is, we didn't teach him for a long time or do anything particularly different with him. What made the difference was that he ACTED, he read and prayed and received an answer to his prayers. He said all week: "I cannot explain how much I am looking forward to being confirmed and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost." Like Marlene, he was there in church without us needing to pick him up and now he has his eyes set on receiving the Aaronic Priesthood and starting seminary. He is incredible!

We met a really cool family in the favela this week! They live in a wooden shack and the mother, Eleni, has recently gone through a separation. They loved the Restoration lesson and have a great potential. Sadly they didn't go to church but please pray that they will humble their hearts and do God's will for them!

(left to right: me, Adrian, Eleni, Erick, Rayana and Elder Burt!)

That's all all for this week, at least what I can remember right now. Love you all, thank you for your prayers and support.

Stay groovy (in joke with my little sister),

Elder Torres