Hey guys!
This week we had our multi zone conference and I think I've never seen President Farnes be as hard and direct with the missionaries as he was. He said: "All of you simply aren't doing enough. You need to work more. I am calling you to repentance because I love. You can do more!" It was just what I was needing to hear. Sometimes we need to hear something like that to open our eyes. President Farnes is a very inspired and visionary man, he wants not only success in our mission but in our individual lives afterwards. To show how much work there was to be done, Sister Farnes filled up a jar with M&M's and said that each one represented 5 million people. She then took out three and showed how many people were members of the church in relation to the world population. "Is there work to do? Yes, plenty!"
One of my favourite parts of the conference was when President shared a scripture in Alma 5:24 which says: "Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?" President asked us to think what we would reply to them at that table if they asked us how our mission was. Would I say: "It was good I suppose..." or "I gave my all, I suffered and worked hard." Would we feel worthy of staying with pioneers who left footprints of blood in the snow, with the Prophet Joseph who gave his life for the Church and many other saints? I felt a bigger responsibility to fulfill my calling as a missionary in these 3 months that are left.
On the night of that conference, we arrived in the area with fire in our bones! We had a meeting with the recently called bishop and he said in his talk: "Our purpose is to establish Zion in Franco da Rocha". He is very excited to help the missionary work roll forward. After our meeting we found 6 new investigators and marked baptismal dates with 5 of them. 3 of these went to church on Sunday. The oldest is Michelle (22) who has some learning difficulties, then Lucas (11) who is very excited to learn and their neighbour is Luan (13) who is very smart and cheerful! Please pray for these 3 young souls. We are working with them and their families to be baptised this Sunday.
(Drawing before our meeting with Bishop. "Bishop Gustavo, you're the man!")
We met a man called Gilberto this week who lives by himself. We knocked and he simply asked us to come in. We taught him the Restoration along with his daughter who was staying a couple of days. They finally understood the importance of reading the Book of Mormon after a few visits. I'm confident they will read and receive an answer. GIlberto went to church and absolutely loved it! He has a couple of long time friends who go there. He is just needing to seek for and receive his answer in order to be baptised this Sunday. Please pray for him! :)
What an amazing Easter message the church released this year. Most people who we pray with here ask for peace and it is only through Jesus Christ we can obtain it. I know that He lives and He loves me. Through Jesus Christ we can be saved and He is longing to receive us into His Father's kingdom. We just have to do our part by partaking of the ordinances and seeking to be like Him everyday. He truly is the #PRINCEofPEACE
Today we went to Pico de Jaraguá, the highest mountain in São Paulo. We went with Elder Yegros and a few other missionaries and it was good to breathe some fresh air above the pollution!
