What a week we had! Talk about roller coasters.
We have been working a lot with the recent converts and less actives in the area. One has a child named Moroni! But also we are especially with Jesus and Stella(yes we are reactivating Jesus)(yes that makes for lots of fun quips) Jesus is having a really hard time adjusting to Brasil, he misses everything about Peru and Stella is the reason he is here, and since their relationship is amazing in the moment, that puts even more strain on their marriage. He has a very strong testimony of the church, of his mission, and the priesthood but he wont admit it. We talked it through and I invited them to start praying together holding hands every day. I told him how I had dificulties getting along with my first companion but after we started praying together our relationship was immensely better. And we committed him to go to stake conference Sunday. He arrived Sunday morning to our great pleasure but without a tie. So I grabbed the sash belt I was using, tied a tie on my shirt to show him how its done and gave it to him. He used my belt as a tie the whole conference and looked quite nice! Here is a cute picture of us at the stake center! (Notice the fashionable tie he is using) We are really excited to work with them, Stella is desperate for any help she can get and we really want to get Jesus excited again.
The atribute of Christ we are here in Alvorada to develop is patience. We have lots of great people, but working in the city lots of people work and are busy and though many have intentions to join the church we simply have to wait. But as we kept working and teaching our Sunday ended great and we are excited for this weekends baptisms. Its so true that there is a moment for everything.
Funny rejection story of the week: We met and taught Sabrina Tuesday, she is a young mother whose husband drinks. It was a great first lesson, she really understood and was excited to read. We returned Wednesday to find a note inside the Book of Mormon that said "I am sorry, I had to leave. But I dont believe in a second baptism. Here is your book. All the best. Sabrina."
We are teaching a couple Lindoval and Irene who met the sisters here a few months ago, but arent married. Lindoval loves the church, he tells us every time we teach that he knows the church is true and loves the difference he has seen. Irene is open and listens but doesnt take many things seriously. Anyways, they arent married and for this they arent baptized yet. He is from another state and has been trying to get his birth certificate. So last week we decided to fast together for him to get his document quickly. After a little pushing Irene agreed to fast with us. He went to the priesthood session and the Sunday morning session of stake conference. And when we went there Sunday afternoon he answered the door beaming and said Sisters! Our fast worked! My document came! So we are going to mark their wedding for as soon as we can and get them baptized! We are super excited to have a wedding!
And, a woman Silvana we are working with is having a really hard time quitting her alcohol and cigarettes. Her husband and angel child Michael are members and only encourage her, but she needs a lot of strength to quit. We went to check up on her Sunday and she was drunk and was extremely rude to me because I am an american. She said she didnt like me and didnt want to talk to me, and though I am used to that it and I knew she was drunk somehow it was the last straw this week and I cried, which was the moment she stopped and started to realize what she is doing. We are hoping she continues firmly and gets over her addictions!
I cant even tell you how many people we have met this week with addictions, its horrible. All I know is that I am super grateful for the word of wisdom.
I feel like a million things happened this week that this weeks email might be dificult to understand but I am doing great! We are teaching TONS. More than I have in my mission(it helps to have a super powerful companion) and I am super excited to start divisions with the sisters this week!
Tchau tchau!