HIGHS AND LOWS - SEMANA QUINZE
What's up y'all!! Beleza? Hope you all are having DAILY spiritual experiences!! Read your Scriptures! Say your Prayers!! They work!
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
Imma do the spiritual thoughts first cuz it's way more important.
Anyways, President Hunt during our Conferência de Zona shared the talk President Russell M. Nelson gave during a meeting with Mission Presidents of Brazil. It's called "O poder de conversão do Livro de Mormon" or "The Converting Power of the Book of Mormon". I can't find it in Gospel Library, its probably not published. And the only copies I have are in Portuguese. However! I testify that the Converting Power of the Book of Mormon is SO REAL. Reading this incredible book, the "the most correct of any book on earth", every day has had a huge impact on me. President Russell M. Nelson has promised: “As you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.” Please, make this Book a part of your daily routine. Here are some of my favorite parts of "The Converting Power of the Book of Mormon" translated into English:
"Think about it: the most correct of all books! A book that will help us get closer to God than any other book! Simply put, the Book of Mormon is full of divine power because it is the word of God. It teaches the doctrine of Christ and explains more about the Atonement than any other book."
"It contains answers to life's most troubling questions. The spirit will dwell with all who undertake a serious study of this beloved book."
"I invite you to make the Book of Mormon the cornerstone of your teaching to missionaries. Help them learn how to treasure the truths taught from the first page of the book to the last."
"My dear companions in this great work, I bless you with the promise that as mission leaders, if you will study the Book of Mormon and teach from its words, your mission will unfold as the Lord directs. You will be guided in how to motivate and teach your missionaries. Your families will be strengthened and protected. Your personal testimonies will grow as never before, and you will experience for yourself the converting power of the Book of Mormon."
Weekly Conference Talk:
Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Tuesday
PDAY!!
We had Pday way in Caxingui, near the temple were we had a whole Chapel to ourselves, with ping-pong, billiard balls, Foosball, air hockey, and a court for basketball, futebol, and spikeball. Sister Hunt brought a ton of card games so we had some fun playing Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. Yeesh that game hurts with all the Sister's rings haha.
Was able to call family who are spending time in California at the beach!!
When we got home we had zero compromissos so we hit the road and met with three new people! Hopefully we can stay in contact with them!
Hit 100 days so we celebrated with pizza!
Wednesday
Hard day
All our compromissos fell and our área is very difficult to find new people and the Preach My Gospel app has almost no addresses marked for people who have previously been contacted.
We had nothing else better to do so decided we decided to walk about three miles to Jaime and Irmã Natalina's house. Natalina is a very deeply rooted member with a huge testimony and a backstory of humility and hardship that would make a bestselling biography. Jaime is her partner. He is not baptized because they are not married, as Nataliha's divorce battle has been going on for 39 years. They follow the law of chastity, and when they met, Natalina helped Jaime give up smoking and drinking. They are great people. We are going to get the President and church lawyers involved so we can get them married, Jaime baptized, and them both prepared to go to the Temple the year after the baptism.
Heading back took so long, trudging in the rain for miles. On the way though, we found this boy, Victor, who was headed home from school. (Night integral school ends at 9pm) He was so excited to meet us and try to speak English with me. We got his number and will be in contact with him!
Thursday
Our lunch was 4.4 km away, so we left early to walk there. Beautiful, GORGEOUS home on property with a huge fish pond, goats, sheep, fruit trees everywhere. Inside had a huge TV and fireplace. Both these members work from home on the computer. Sheeeeshhhh. She served such good beans and rice and after served a napoleon style ice cream of uva(grape), lima(lime), and abacaxi(pineapple). These three combined were DELICIOUS.
After we left, we headed to Jaime's house, which was only about a mile away. We had a good chat with them to make sure they get their affairs in order because we will talk to the President in person the next day at the Zone Conference.
After Jaime, we walked 4 miles to our Referência, Leandro, who is super in tune with the Spirit and knows the Bible really well, but felt removed from Christ. We assured him he had found Christ and His church. The lesson went really well!! Left a Book of Mormon, taught him how to pray, and marked a compromisso. The only thing was when I gave the closing prayer, he was saying his own out loud with me hahah. We'll fix that later
After Leandro, all our Compromissos fell out and Elder Ferreira was gonna pass out, he had a pounding headache and has had an earache all week so we returned to the house to get him some rest, so I just studied in preparation for the Zone Conference the next day. (Mosiah 17:2-3, 18:1-2, 17-20, 3 Nephi 11)
Friday
CONFERÊNCIA DE ZONA was INCREDIBLE!! It's so much more fun now that I can understand what people are saying hahaha. We talked about the difference between preaching and teaching. First we Preach about Prayer, The Book of Mormon, and going to Church! After, we teach about the things found in PMG Ch3 and what they need to know to be baptized. President Hunt also shared the message to the Brazil Mission Presidents that the Prophet gave, and it's so short, sweet, and direct. I will try to find it and put it as my Spiritual Thought. THE BOOK OF MORMON IS SO IMPORTANT
After Conferência de Zona, we visited Fábio. However, he had a preacher from a different church already there for prayer and singing haha. we talked to him for a bit, and were about to leave when a HUGE storm rolled in so fast. We were close to home so we didn't bring jackets or umbrellas. Fábio's wife would let us leave in the rain so we joined in for prayer and singing! It was great actually, we got to share our purpose as missionaries, what we do everyday for two years. The older women there started crying because they thought it was so amazing “Kids our age” were sacrificing for the Lord. We met the preacher, and it turns out she used to be a member of the church!! She had even received a mission call to Japan!! However, for some reason her Patriarchal Blessing says if she went on a mission she wouldn't have a family. Yeesh. Hmm…. Anyways long story short she married, had a family, and became a pastor for another church.
Also, please pray for Brasil bc the storms here are destroying so many homes, jobs, and roads.
Saturday
Feliz Dia das Crianças!
Today we spent pretty much the whole day with Victor! He's the kid I met super late at night in the rain. This kid is AMAZING!! He's definitely an ELITE. We challenged him to pray, read the Book of Mormon, and come to church the next day! He also accompanied us to Seminary!! He participated more than any of the kids there hahah. It was perfect because the video shown was the same Chapter we left for him to read, 3 Nephi 11. He had a great time and the kids in the ward were so nice to him!!
Sunday
We had people come to church!! I think this is the first time since I've been in Brasil our pesquisadores finally came to church. 4 OF THEM!! Wellington, his wife Florisbela (sick name), Francielly (a street contact), and VICTOR. They had an AMAZING time, it was a testimony meeting and the members were aware new people were here so I felt that each testimony was SO PERFECT.
After church, we went to Irmã Rose's house for lunch. We thought an ônibus would pass by to take us home at 5:45, but apparently the only one coming was 5:45 on MONDAY. Yeesh. We spent time eating and watching Inside Out 2 until Marcos had time to take us home hahaha. Inside Out 2 is pretty good in Portuguese. “Eu sou uma pessoa legal” e “eu não sou bom o bastante” lol. Vergonha (Shame) is my favorite, what a G.
Anyways, we got home and had a family night at Irmão Arthur’s house where he said he would bring an investigator for us, but there wasn't lol. Elder Ferreira and I watched about 30 minutes of “The Best Two Years” HIGHLY RECOMMEND, very funny and accurate hahaha. So we left because nothing happening there was our purpose besides encouraging their little boys to grow up to be missionaries.
After, we hiked up to Karina and spent time talking with her. She's no longer a recent convert, she just barely surpassed her 1 year mark, but we have zero recent converts now. That'll change this month I guarantee.
Monday
Ugh Monday. We had Conselho de Zona, I thought it was at the Stake Center in Cotia (which doesn't have electricity right now because of the storms) but it was at the church building in Cotia 2. Ughhh so long story short we took about 5 ônibus, 6 na verdade mas it wouldn't take our card. Ughh. However, we eventually arrived (half an hour late).
After, we headed back home on yet another ônibus to plan our week!
Afterwards we took yet another ônibus back to Irmã Rose's house for FAMILY NIGHT!! It was a miracle because Wellington's ENTIRE FAMILY SHOWED UP!!! We gave an amazing lesson about prayer, the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon. We gave each of them a personal Book of Mormon, had them write their names in it. Wellington is LOVING our church. We used to be a pastor for one of those churches where the pastor just yells at ya the whole time. However, he loves the peace and ability to feel Spirit in our church. We’re hoping to mark a date for his WHOLE family!! I had met Wellington in my first couple weeks. He was ASTOUNDED on how well I can speak and understand now hahah it's so much fun. (I'm nowhere near fluent guys but I can get by)
I think I also hit 2 months in the field on Monday. O tempo voa!!
Love you guys so much!! Tell me about your miracles!!
Oh yeah, I can solve a 3x3 rubix cube now! 
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