Dear
family and friends,
I´ll start off telling you guys about last pday. After writing
emails we headed up to a little hill behind our area to explore. Basically a
simple hike. We found some cool stuff. Nice views, abandoned houses, an
abandoned 19th century mansion, an old spanish fortress, an abandoned
(according to my understanding) WWII bunker, and beaches. Pretty neat.
Well this last week we focused a lot on Mayck. In fact, we taught
him each night. I mentioned that Mayck had that hint of second intentions with
going to the US but that seemed to have disappeared completely.
However, Mayck still showed a bit of hesitation to his baptismal
date. We talked openly with him. We discovered over the continuation of our
lessons that he had already gained a testimony of the BoM and the Restoration.
He had also plainly felt the spirit. We helped him recognize that such
responses had already come, as small or as big as they may have been.
As we went on, he began to understand for himself that God himself
was responding to him, in a very calm and simple way... He felt peace and
calmness when he was with us, when he read the BoM, when he prayed, when he
visited church.
This continued as we taught the Plan of Salvation one day,
commandments another day, etc. Finally, around Wednesday, he re-committed to be
baptized. It was a great experience teaching him. He progressed very well and
very quickly. The night before his baptism day, he asked us if he could still
find the church if he returned to brazil. Well, we showed him how to locate a
chapel on the computer. He then asked, "well, can you put the info of my
family in there to find it too? Can missionaries go visit them?" Of
course! We then sent the info of his mother and sister to the mission there in
Brazil. After that, Mayck said "are you guys busy tonight?" "No,
we have plans, but nothing firm" Well, Mayck took the evening to
take us around town to meet some of his friends. We ended up having a good
conversation with two of them Diego and Ígor, we hope to go back this week to
truly teach. He knew this lady who worked in a restaurant so we went there and
chatted with her too. It was pretty cool, Mayck is a good help!
Saturday night Mayck was baptized (see below!) by Elder Baird and
Sunday morning he was confirmed by the bishop. Things ran pretty well. Mayck
had a good experience. He´s already getting welcomed well by the ward,
particularly the brazilians.
Well, in the business of the week we actually didn´t see a lot of
other results. Often times when we´re really close to a baptism other things
slow down, which is a weakness that I ought to improve. We visited Welton this
week, he´s doing ok... He´s still passing through a lot of problems and hasn´t
progressed much. Sandra didn´t have time to have us over this week but said
she´d come to church, but didn´t make it... and finally Kély and Rodrigo from a
few weeks back said they´d come to church but came down with a sunday morning
headache...hm.
Paulo, our friend from Moçambique who was baptized about a month
ago came to church today and brought his X-wife Paula a third time! Paula is a
tricky situation... she´s technically a single mom with a two year old. She
supports Paulo a lot in his decision to come to church, etc. However, I think
that we will have an opportunity to help Paula in the process! So far, 3
people, non-members, helped Paulo to be baptized, encouraging him, etc. Until
now, 2 of the three have been baptized, we only lack Paula now! (The other two
were Fernando, and a good fella from the neighboring area, Mateus.)
Paulo hopes to show Paula a repented life so that way they can get
together again, however, Paula, as kind as she is, is a bit thorough and
cautious in her examination of Paulo´s repentance... if that makes sense, and I
don´t blame her. Also, Paula´s family doesn´t want her to get back together
with Paulo, if she does they threaten to abandon her, but Paula wants her son
to have a father back at home... a tricky situation. Our plan is to come in
slow with the Proclamation to the World to let her know that family is our
priority. I think it´ll go well. We´re two for two so far haha.
I
think that´s an update for now. Elder Baid and I are doing well. We have plans
to finish these last two weeks of the transfer with a lot of good work.
Take
care everybody,
Elder
Ward
Mayck!
"Don´t
count the days, make the days count"
Make deuces, not war
Old gun, older fortress
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