Me and Elder Castro and the AP's
September 4, 2012
Well let me first start off by adding my testimony to yours that when we are doing our very best and living the gospel the Lord will provide the rest!
The work has Changed a lot here in Ferreira. last transfer we were working a lot in the favella on the outreaches of our area called joão dias, all the former sec. have only worked in that area for their entire time in the office, so its really burnt out. The reason is that its a lot easier to find people in the favella you just have to knock a couple of doors and you ll enter for sure. The other parts of our area are huge apt buildings that you can't enter unless you know someone inside. But the problem with the favella joão dias is retention they normally don't want to commit, and if they do they have to travel a way to church by bus and our ward is just full of wealthy educated people, so they just end up feeling uncomfortable. Most of the people that the other sec. had baptized in the passed have now left the church.
So this transfer Elder Castro and I are changing the plan. Were gonna focus on the apt buildings! It's super tough right now and at times this week it was really hard not to get discouraged, but yesterday was amazing and I know that the lord is already preparing the hearts of the people here to hear our message.
Our Plan is to us the members of the ward. We have been visiting less actives and fully active asking for references and also trying to reactivate people. Right now our numbers aren´t doing so good but we are giving it everything, And the Lord is already blessing us. This Sunday a kid named Victor appeared out of no where and has interest in the church he lives in one of the apt buildings in our area. We visited him and his sister yesterday and they are probably the most elect kids that I have ever met, I already have a huge love for them. As for the family of Falk We are still trying with here, here progress is really slow but we are going to teach Them today about faith in Christ and try and help her with all the doubts that she has had. I'm so excited for what is in store for this area!!!'
August 21, 2012
This week was really great, I'm learning so much about myself and who I want to be, or who God wants me to be. I'm trying to make those two desired the same :). The office is going good and it's my last week of training here. I'm a little nervous to be on my own with all the responsibility and me being the forgetful person that I am, but I know that the Lord is by my side ready to qualify me for the work, as long as I put my trust in Him.
The area here is doing great! Our teaching group is diminishing but the quality of the lessons is increasing. The family that I told you about got married on the 18th and it was great, everyone in the family was so happy! We are now working on helping them with gainning a soilid testimony that the church is true and that they need to follow Christ and be baptized. The other family is a little more complicated. the family recently suffered a death of their son. they have many doubts and are having a hard time fulfilling commitments. Yesterday Elder Cherry and I were really firm with them about reading and praying to know. I felt impresed to share the experience I had on the mission when I received and answer to prayer that families can be together forever. The lesson was really spiritual and our hopes are high! :)
A little bit to answer your questions. My p-days aren't really anything special, in the office especially. I have enough time to write you guys do my laundry and clean the house a little bit usually, an the rest of my p-day is working haha the office is super busy. I think it´ll get better where I get everything organized the way I want it. :) Here in the ward we receive lunch from the members, but usually because either we are too busy or they are we just get money to buy something to eat. and ya at time we get to eat out with president. Surprisingly service projects are not a common thing in my mission. I´ve only done 2 the whole time that I´ve been here in the field.
August 15, 2012
So I only have this week and the next until training is finish for me here in the office, I'm kinda stressing out about this a bit because after training all the responsibility will be put on my shoulders and I still don't feel all the way prepared.
About your questions ya, the secretary of the mission handles all the Administration for the mission. so everything from visas to calling parents because they aren't writing their missionary letters. Right now we have 6 people in the office because Elder Cherry and Elder Vasquez are training Elder Castro and I, and then the assistants. After the transfer on the 28th it will just be the 2 secretaries and the AP´s. To answer your other question as well its just the AP´s that travel with the pres.
So the Family that I was telling you about is planning on going to the court house and getting married on the 18th, which is a huge step and I'm really excited about it! This week was amazing with them. I had a really neat experience with them. We taught a lesson about the Book of Mormon and we read 2 nep. 31 together. It was so beautiful it see the family all united together happy and reading the words of God. It's amazing the power the gospel has to unite families in happiness and love!
This week was really great, I'm learning a ton and feeling little by little more like I know what I'm doing. Also This week was super stressful. We got hammered with a bunch of stuff we had to get done fast and on top of that there´s always the elders that are calling with problems to be resolved haha. I know that this is the reason that the Lord has placed me in this calling.I am always reminded of a passage from my patriatical blessing that says, about my serving a mission, "How you do this work will prepare you physically, mentally and spiritually for the rest of your days on the earth." I Know that these experiences have the ability to change me into the person that the Lord wants me to be, I just need to do my part and work hard while staying humble and leaning on the Lord!
As for proselyting its going good, it's amazing to see how the Lord blesses us. Even with The restricted time that we have as secretaries, it is having no effect on maintaining a teaching group just as if we were normal missionaries.Right now were are teaching a couple of FAMILIES!!! I am so happy, my goal is to find teach and baptize an elect family of the lord so that they can eventually be sealed in the temple! I want that so badly!!
August 2, 2012
So novidades(new stuff). Its now my second week in the mission office and its really going good! There´s a ton of stuff to learn and to remember, but I'll get there for sure I know it. One of the great things about being in the office as Secretary of the mission that, I´ve been figuring out that my English definitely will get back into shape, I'm having to call the association in salt lake at times so I'm practising and by next phone call at Christmas I should be great. Also with 4 Americans and only 2 Brazilians that are trying to learn English here in the office, we are talking a lot in English so that helps too.
I had an experience this week that now seems funny but at the time was just terrible. I ran out of toothpaste one morning and had forgotten to buy some that night before returning home from proselyting. Well, I needed to brush my teeth that night before bed so I asked Elder Soares, the Brazilian AP, if i could use his. He said ya and that his toothpaste was in the second bathroom. I went to the bathroom and found what I thought was his toothpaste and went to brush my teeth. When I put my toothbrush in my mouth and started brushing I realized immediately that it most definitely wasn't toothpaste!! I spit everything out and washed my mouth out and then looked at the container, lo and behold, It read Creme de barba, in other words shaving cream!!! haha This week I learned that sometime things aren't as they seem and that you shouldn't judge things buy how they are on the outside! :) haha
But all jocking aside I really had a good week! The Lord is really molding me through experiences here that are always in response to prayer. One thing that I am really learning lately is about positivity and the giant role that it plays in the life of a true follower of Christ. I think this is one of my weaknesses but the Lord knows us and that is why he has placed me where I am to learn what he wants me to become!
