So this week was quite a landmark!
Monday we had a really cool pday. We drove up to Albufeira and visited a really cool rocky/cliffy beach there. It was pretty hot so the water was a temptation haha. Lots of photos, see below. We found in a little cavern a dead sea turtle, like full size sea turtle, probably dead only a few days... it was cool but also kinda gross.
That night we taught yet another brazilian couple. Juliano and Kéli. They have two young boys, about 5y/o and one who will turn 8 very soon. They left brazil coming here looking for a calmer life. Juliano is a vegetarian, and for some reason couldnt contain such fact, so often times he went off on a tangent during the lesson, stuff like that. But they were really great. Kéli was born a catholic but isn´t really attached to it anymore, nothing more than tradition. When we explained the Restoration you could tell on her face that she was sitting there pondering for quite a bit, really giving it a good thought.
We taught them two times now, theyre really nice people, brazilians are just so welcoming. Unfortunately they couldnt make it to church due to travels, but they have already committed to come as soon as possible. They have quite a bit of potential.
The second time we taught they had welcomed into their home a friend from brazil who also recently arrived. We taught her too, and theyre all great people, we hope they can progress.
This week Elder Welch, because he´s finishing his mission, had to travel to Lisbon for a special meeting to help him prepare to go home. He left with another missionary who needed to attend, while I stayed with Elder Vigne, a brazilian fella who is awfully funny and does a good job working. We had a good time and taught a few lessons together.
On Thursday we had to take a trip to Portimão to hold a few baptismal interviews for our district leader there. They ran well. 3 very nice women were baptized there this last weekend.
On Saturday a member who was in the chapel called us and said "hey Elders, there´s this guy from Bangladesh in the chapel who wants to meet with you." So, we changed our plans and headed straight there. His name is Sálim, a good fella, 25-30, a muslim too. It was actually a really interesting experience teaching him. We taught in english, which was a bit of a tongue twister. He basically told us that he just wanted to learn more about the christian church and also learn the "procedure" to enter and be baptized. He also asked what it costs to marry in the church.... So with these questions we basically concluded that he wants to marry a christian haha, he was kinda obvious. But, we taught him anyway and it was really cool. We generally are used to teaching people who already have strong christian backrounds, but with Sálim we had to teach everything with a sturdy foundation, explaining little little details like the godhead, the concept of being a child of god, stuff like that. I enjoyed it. He´s a busy guy, but we should be able to teach him in the near future more.
Throughout the week we visited a lot with Basílio. He´s an old guy, so the gospel just doesn´t stick around in his head after our visits. However, we helped him and re-taught lots of stuff until eventually he had a good basis of what it is, and actually was finally getting a grip on prayer.
We had plans to baptize him after church yesterday, but we changed them because we felt like it might be a bit soon. We also had an interview with him and it didnt go to well. Basílio didnt like to see the new face, he had to be interviewed by a missionary that he never met and because of such was nervous and didnt get along with him. Let´s just say that Basílio can be a bit unsteady sometimes.
However, Basílio walked yet again to church. This time, he took a shower, and actually came in a suit! It was pretty nice to have him there again. We went to his house later on sunday night, but unfortunately he was drunk... a bit annoying, he´s so old that he is a bit childish if that makes sense. We will be reviewing all of the teachings again.
But, our troubles have been few, because something really cool happened this week. Remember Ivanilson?
In that division with Elder Vigne we taught Ivanilson. It was a bit of a make-it-or-break-it lesson. Ivanilson has been always very skeptical in our lessons. He´s awfully smart, and understands very well, it´s just that he would always say stuff like "Well yeah it could all be true, but he could have just written that just to agree with him..." or "maybe im just feeling the excitement of new things instead of the spirit like you guys say"
Eventually in a lesson, we planned to walk him through on the progress he´s shown and let him see for himself that he´s been changed by the gospel... we did so. He suddenly recognized "yeah... i have shown faith, I have repented... so... i should be baptized... yeah, I will be baptized this weekend!"~
The moment he said that the spirit was there very strongly to confirm his decision. The previous times it was always a "maybe" but this time he meant it. I pointed it out to him, I said "Ivanilson, do you feel that? The spirit has confirmed to you that youve made the right decision. Take it and run with it."
And so we did. We finished up teaching him all the lessons, and I had the privelege to baptize Ivanilson this last saturday. It was a great experience. He came to church and was confirmed. He already has a few friends in church. Things are going great with him. It was a miracle really. He was contacted 3 weeks ago in front of the chapel by an elder who was taking out the trash.
Im short on time this week, but I think that´s an update. Enjoy.
The Lord has not ceased to work miracles among the children of men!
Ciao!
Elder Ward
I almost forgot transfers!!!
I will stay in Faro (woo!) and will recieve Elder Thompson. I already know him a little bit, he´s another incredible missionary, he was Elder Welch´s comp for 6 months, so its all a big family now! Elder Thompson will also finish his mission with me, just like Welch.
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