We had a radical week! We found some really cool new investigators. While on the street Sister Miller talked to a woman holding adorable twin babies, we entered her home and taught her about the plan of salvation because while getting to know her she mentioned how difficult the recent passing of her mother was. After the lesson she mentioned that her and her brother had seen a church program on tv that answered their doctrine questions and were hoping to find our church! (enter Sister Miller's inspiration) we are going back tonight to teach the whole huge family!
We did divisions with the Sister Training leaders which was great, its really fun to hear other's testimonies and how they teach the principles of the gospel.
But the best part of the week was the weekend! We had district conference and our mission president came. The saturday session began with some great numbers by the choir, and spiritual talks about reactivation less actives and taking care of new members. Then President got up, and he introduced himself and spoke of the miracles that have happened here in Ipatinga(the best district ever) and how he seems to always be here and not in his home ward. He then had all the missionaries stand up. He said that when he arrive there were few, and now we have almost 30 with papers in progress to be a stake. Its really a miracle to witness the growth here, its upstoppable! So then he began to quote Presidente Monsons famous line that now is the time for members and missionaries to work together. Then he said so now we are going to do some practices because I loves practices! (all the missionaries started to laugh because we know how true that is) he called up the zone and district leaders and had then all go on splits with the bishops and stake presidency, and the stake relief society presidency with the sister training leaders out into the street to talk to people for 15 minutes and come back. While they were gone we discussed easy ways to invite your friends to church and to meet with the missionaries and how to show real concern for them and their needs. When everybody came back he had the members share how it was making contacts with the missionaries and they all had had neat experiences talking to people, many of the men mentioned how much they wanted to put their name tag back on! Two people came to the conference that moment, and many promised to attend the Sunday session. President bore his testimony on the restoration and that this is the true church and then asked for the missionaries to stand up, and had everybody in the congregation stand up. It was a really powerful meeting.
Sunday morning President went with us to teach Arlette's husband, and though Daniel mostly wanted to discuss doctrine, President calmly answered all his questions and promised him with all his priesthood power that if he reads the Book of Mormon his child will be more obedient and stop meshing with drugs and alcohol. I know that Presidents words stayed with Daniel even if he wont admit it. President Fortunato is amazing at validating people and teaching with questions and helping people come to their own conclusions.
The Sunday morning session of conference was a special broadcast for the stakes in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro of Sister Burton, Elder Ballard and Elder Scott and the Area Presidency. It was really fun to hear Elder Soares speak his native language after hearing his great talk on meekness last october in english. He sure is more animated.
Then the super cool part-Elder Scott spoke in português!!!! Thats right! Portuguese! Who knew? Lets just say, apostles are really powerful people who speak the truth in many languages!
The world cup starts this week and though many people have mixed feelings the majority of people are super excited, almost all the streets are painted green and yellow and blue with flags everywhere! Go Brasil!
Transfers tomorrow, we will see what happens!
Sister Holmes
We did divisions with the Sister Training leaders which was great, its really fun to hear other's testimonies and how they teach the principles of the gospel.
But the best part of the week was the weekend! We had district conference and our mission president came. The saturday session began with some great numbers by the choir, and spiritual talks about reactivation less actives and taking care of new members. Then President got up, and he introduced himself and spoke of the miracles that have happened here in Ipatinga(the best district ever) and how he seems to always be here and not in his home ward. He then had all the missionaries stand up. He said that when he arrive there were few, and now we have almost 30 with papers in progress to be a stake. Its really a miracle to witness the growth here, its upstoppable! So then he began to quote Presidente Monsons famous line that now is the time for members and missionaries to work together. Then he said so now we are going to do some practices because I loves practices! (all the missionaries started to laugh because we know how true that is) he called up the zone and district leaders and had then all go on splits with the bishops and stake presidency, and the stake relief society presidency with the sister training leaders out into the street to talk to people for 15 minutes and come back. While they were gone we discussed easy ways to invite your friends to church and to meet with the missionaries and how to show real concern for them and their needs. When everybody came back he had the members share how it was making contacts with the missionaries and they all had had neat experiences talking to people, many of the men mentioned how much they wanted to put their name tag back on! Two people came to the conference that moment, and many promised to attend the Sunday session. President bore his testimony on the restoration and that this is the true church and then asked for the missionaries to stand up, and had everybody in the congregation stand up. It was a really powerful meeting.
Sunday morning President went with us to teach Arlette's husband, and though Daniel mostly wanted to discuss doctrine, President calmly answered all his questions and promised him with all his priesthood power that if he reads the Book of Mormon his child will be more obedient and stop meshing with drugs and alcohol. I know that Presidents words stayed with Daniel even if he wont admit it. President Fortunato is amazing at validating people and teaching with questions and helping people come to their own conclusions.
The Sunday morning session of conference was a special broadcast for the stakes in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro of Sister Burton, Elder Ballard and Elder Scott and the Area Presidency. It was really fun to hear Elder Soares speak his native language after hearing his great talk on meekness last october in english. He sure is more animated.
Then the super cool part-Elder Scott spoke in português!!!! Thats right! Portuguese! Who knew? Lets just say, apostles are really powerful people who speak the truth in many languages!
The world cup starts this week and though many people have mixed feelings the majority of people are super excited, almost all the streets are painted green and yellow and blue with flags everywhere! Go Brasil!
Transfers tomorrow, we will see what happens!
Sister Holmes