This week got started very quickly. We basically didn´t have a pday last week because I had to drop off Elder Welch at the mission home for him to end his mission, and I also had to pick up Elder Thompson the same day. We spent a lot of time just running silly little trips to get things arranged and we burnt some time in the mission office just waiting around... but finally monday night we arrived in Faro and Tuesdday morning we got right to work.
Elder Thompson is a great guy. He is originally from Indiana, but lived in Utah long enough to just be a normal Utahn. He´s a hilarious guy, and has a lot of personality. He is a bit calmer than Elder Welch, he doesn´t sing 24/7 like Elder Welch for example. As I said Elder Thompson is a well-experienced missionary, already served with Elder Welch and also in Póvoa, my first area. We get along great, and we work a lot together. I know Faro very well now, I have most of the streets memorized, so I show Elder Thompson around all the time. He is my ninth companion technically (including the MTC) and is my first companion taller than I am.
So many of the investigators that we have found in the past have been a bit slippery... Unfortunately most of our teaching pool is full of Brazilian students. Now that exams are coming to an end here, 4 of our investigators have already flown back to Brazil haha. However, we have plans for them to get in contact with missionaries there and to resume contact when they arrive again. A few other investigators have been ridiculously busy lately, so we havent been able to keep in touch with a few of them... It´s kinda annoying, people work a lot here in Portugal. For example, our branch president works mon-sat 6am to 9pm. It´s ridiculous, some people don´t even have days off... In my eyes it looks like prison!
So, we taught a couple new folks this week. We taught a nice catholic lady who has had doubts in her life. She enjoyed the message of the restoration, but she now doesn´t want to meet up with us again because of her husband who is against it.
We also taught a nice older couple the restoration, it ran well, and they enjoyed it, but they went to their pastor and of course he told them that we´re of the devil.... It actually happens a lot here haha.
We met up with Ivanilson once more this week. We re-taught him the plan of salvation including temple work and priesthood. It was cool, we invited him to prepare for the aaronic priesthood. He enjoyed it and asked great questions. But, turns out he read a bit of a "summary" of the LDS church and we had to clarify a lot of doubts with him. He said that this website said "that all mormons think that they will be God someday". It´s just frustrating how skewed things can be.
To add to a bit of complications, Ivanilson didn´t come to church for some reason... We gave him a call too but didn´t pick up. Im sure he didn´t abandon ship of something like that, something probably just came up.
Carina, as you may remember, actually came to church today for the second time! However, it was easy to recognize that her parents had forced her a bit to come, and because of such just had a bad experience... The family ties there are super weak, and I have finally realized that it´s nearly impossible to bring someone into a gospel family when there are still grudges and a complete lack of respect... Its a shame really, Carina has shown repentance, but just can´t have a good time at church.
We taught Basílio numerous times this week. Elder Thompson gets a kick out of him. As I explained earlier, Basílio is an innocent poor old man. He has trouble remembering everything we teach him, even on a very simple level. However, he´s finally gotten a grip on prayer and the word of wisdom. If everything goes well, and if he continues to progress (according to his capacity) he can be baptized this weekend. We shall see.
We also had mission council this week. It was great as always. We talked a lot about goals, diligence, and desire. It ran well, and I got to see some familiar faces.
So yeah, not a huge update, but we had to put rubber to the road again and kinda restart this week. This upcoming week we hope to teach a few people with a lot of potential that we have found recently.
I think that´s it!
Ciao
Elder Ward
A castle on a hilltop that we frequently pass. Just behind us is a brand new Ikea. Contrast.
A photo I didn´t send last week...
PS- This is my third transfer in Faro... Ive been here for about 3 months and because I will be here until the end of Elder Thompson´s mission too, it is very likely that I will stay for another transfer... so, It will be in total six months here in Faro! I don´t mind, it´s pretty great here, the members and the area are great.
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