Baptismo

Olá,

The past few weeks we have had a hard time finding new investigators but this week the hard work payed off and the blessings came in. By Thursday we still had not taught a lesson, Helder Sousa had been pretty busy and said the only time that he was available was at 8 in the morning so with adjusting our schedule we made it work and further explained the Book of Mormon to him. Then we had our final lesson and baptismal interview with Conceição. That afternoon we made about 80 contacts with out too much success then we decided to pass Margarita with whom we had spoken a week earlier. She welcomed us in and we taught her family (6 people) the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we left at about 9 and had a thirty minute walk back to the house (We are supposed to return at 9:30-10 at the latest if we are teaching). Then Elder Alpizar contacted a man named Eduardo and we asked if we could enter his house and say a prayer with him, we entered said the pray and then taught him the Restoration also, he also accepted baptism when he receives his answer about the Book of Mormon. We left at 9:30 and walking fast returned at 10 after teaching 4 lessons!

In Pinhal Novo a few weeks ago a kid said to us "Why have you still not passed by my house? My family lives in this apartment building!". Friday we returned to Pinhal Novo and were tracting when we passed by that apartment and remembered the kid that told us to pass. We talked to his family but they were not interested so we knocked the building and found a man named Mario he welcomed us in and we taught him! It was a miracle!

Recently we have been studying the Donaldson papers which explain a simpler way of teaching with using pamplets and the pictures to explain the lessons in a clearer way, it has been great so far. I also learned that we should always teach the Restoration the first lesson(Unless the Spirit says to teach another) with investigators because then the other lessons make more sense.

A few weeks ago Elder Alpizar and I fasted for Conceição (A born and raised Catholic) that her heart would be opened to the Restored Gospel and that she would have the courage to make the change. That day Sister Foster who began teaching her a few months ago called her to see how she was doing. The next Sunday she wasn't feeling up to church but because of the call she decided to go, that day she accepted tithing and baptism. (When we arrived in the area she would go to church but did not want to abandon her religion) but when investigators go to church and feel the spirit their hearts are opened to the Restored Gospel and miracles happen. After passing the baptismal interview on Thursday, Saturday morning I called her to see how she was feeling about baptism and asked if she had any doubts or questions she replied "I don't have one doubt at all". That afternoon the branch made the trek to Baixa da Banheira for her baptism (Our chapel does not have a baptismal font) and she was baptized! She is half paralyzed so i was in the font also helping her go under the water and back up safely and Sunday she was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Milagres!

Elder Fogg my good friend from EFY a few years ago is now our District leader! At district meeting he read a part in Gospel principles that stuck out to me. There were three stone cutters: One cut stones everyday, one cut three pieces of Gold everyday and one was helping to build the house of the Lord every day (The same job but different perspectives) then he applied this to our missionary work, it is a different mindset when you leave the house eager to teach the Restored Gospel and help others come unto Christ and His Atonement rather that leaving to "do contacts and pass people."

In Vasco Da Gama we have had a limit of one investigator at church every Sunday haha. Conceição attended every day for a while and we couldn't get any body else to come, but yesterday (after she was baptized and a member) Alex came to church! haha hopefully we will break this "limit" this week.

Até Proximo,

Elder Anderson

 The part of the eclipse that we could see

 Pão de Deus!

 Benfica