An Express Answer (Week 93)

Hey everyone!

I have now entered my LAST TRANSFER on the field. That is 6 weeks. Gladly, I will be staying here in Franco da Rocha and I will complete Elder Esteves' training. We are very determined to do more and meet our goals. We are going to work our hardest to bring more souls unto Christ through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. I made my last planner and rather than going with the classic trunky last planner with a picture of an airplane at the front and a picture of a wedding in the back, I decided to make it more motivating. On the front, I put Liz Lemon Swindle's painting of Jesus saying: "WORK!" and on the back a picture of a well and quote which says: "If you endure, you'll be surprised of how much you can achieve."

A couple of weeks ago a couple turned up to church. They were actually looking for another church that was offering food for needy families but they ended up at our church. They recently moved from Minas Gerais and were unemployed. Their names are Dhieison and Erislania and their son is called Gylbertt. A member talked with them and invited them to the Sunday meetings and they came. We went to their house and taught them the restoration. Dhieison was clearly more interested and when we returned a few days later to follow up, he had read 40 pages of the Book of Mormon already. He had received an answer it was true and had seen himself calmer and more composed despite their financial difficulties. In that short time, they both found jobs but sadly that means they had to move out of our area. I contacted the elders of the area they would be moving into and surprisingly the bishop of that ward lives in the same apartment complex they will move into! For Dhieison and Erislania, we simply planted the seed. Hopefully the next elders will collect the fruits and help this family become eternal through firstly baptism and later on, the temple sealing.

On Saturday I did a division and went to the zone leaders' area to do their baptismal interviews. In the morning I helped them teach their English class. A lot of people come every week and they are very eager to learn English. Throughout the lesson, we would at times point out the exceptions to grammar rules, the strange pronunciation of some syllables and found ourselves saying: "It's hard but you'll get there." It was evident that some students were getting discouraged and felt as if they would never become fluent in this foreign language. After a little while, an older member of the class put his hand up and said: "Can I make a suggestion for the future English lessons? You [the teachers] have consistently said throughout the class that English is a difficult language and have focused more on what we can't say and understand than what we can. I suggest in future lessons you are more positive in your approach to teaching English . It is indeed a very simple and easy language to learn. Focus on what we can do, not what we can't." We were left speechless for a few seconds but quickly thanked him for his comment and changed the tone of the lesson after. I have been reflecting on this incident for the last couple of days and have come to understand what a deep lesson it was. Taking it to gospel terms, we too sometimes over-complicate the Gospel and Christ's teaching. We look at other with more knowledge of the scriptures or church history, we focus on our imperfections and shortcoming and often find ourselves downhearted due to everything we wish we could be but aren't. Like this wise old man taught us that day, we need to focus on what we can do, our strengths and gifts from God. As we give more emphasis to those, naturally our weaknesses will become strengths as described in Ether 12:27. I am reminded of the October 2016 talk given by Elder J. Devn Cornish which says: If you will really try and will not rationalize or rebel—repenting often and pleading for grace—you positively are going to be “good enough.”

I had the opportunity to do the baptismal interview of a 14 year old boy called Pablo. The elders said it was a small probability he would be baptised but asked me to try and see if I could help him regain the initial desire he had. I began the interview and he knew everything and in my eyes was absolutely ready to be baptised but he didn't feel that way. I asked him why but as I answered his every doubt I knew there was something else. Then he said: "Well, the elders told me to read and pray about the church and baptism and I haven't done that." When I asked him why he simply replied: "I forgot." I felt a prompting for us to pray in that exact moment and seek the answer he was needing. He knelt down and began his simple prayer. "Heavenly Father, please help me feel that I should be baptised tomorrow. I really want to but I'm scared." After a few more words he ended his prayer, I sat down but he stood up. I looked at him and expected him to sit down but he didn't. He was clearly feeling something. "I feel a huge peace, like so much peace. I feel so much energy, it's hard to descrive" "What do you think that is?" His face lit up with a massive smile and he said "I think it's God telling me I should be baptised and now I want to. Thank you!" He was baptised the next day. Even though I wasn't involved in the teaching of Pablo, I was happy that God was able to use me in that moment to help this young faithful boy receive the answer he was needing. God listens and answers to prayers, we just need to make them sincere.

On Sunday after church we went to follow up with a family that were unable to come to church. We first found them on Friday and helped them build a simple bench for the kids and parents to sit when out in the street. On Sunday we taught them the restoration and it was awesome seeing a 10 and a 7 year old answer our questions correctly almost every single time. The parents are Simone and Fabio and they are legally married (hallelujah) and their kids are Nicole (10), Felipe (7) and Duda, their adorable pitbull pup. Please pray their lesson will go well on Tuesday and they may go to church!

Only 6 weeks left of being Elder Torres. But for now, I will make the most out of it!

Love you all, Elder Torres