We had a really tough week this week. Our great investigators, actually our only investigators, Vasyl Paula e Cleber stopped taking the lessons this week and asked that we don´t return. This just after finally making a goal for baptism. I won´t tell you that I didn´t cry and I won´t say that it didn´t rip our hearts out. They said that they felt a difference in the spirit of their home as a result of the message that we brought, and yet Vasyl is fighting the urge to believe. It is almost like he is scared to have faith. We still pray for them every day that they will choose the road with more light and hope. Paula really wants an eternal family and all of the blessings that the gospel brings, but doesn´t want to do it without Vasyl, so we´ll see. We still have hope that when their home returns to the place it was with all of the fighting and unhappiness that was in it before we started teaching them the lessons, they will see the difference that the gosple can make in their lives and return. I think the Lord just has a different time table than we had and maybe Vasyl isn´t quite ready. Anyway, we still hope and pray, at least there is a seed there if nothing else, and all of them have expressed at one time or another their little baby testimonies.
The Lord really is merciful unto His missionaries. We lost our only investigators, but He didn´t leave us without hope. We encontered another investigator Elisabete that we hadn´t been able to get a hold of that same night and we are now teaching her and her friend. Funny little story about her friend. A couple of years ago were really hard for her and who should show up to her door, but two young elders from the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. She didn´t have time to listen to their message, or didn´t have the disposition, but they left a pass-along card with a picture of the Savior on it and this started her search for God. She has been studying the Bible with different faiths and I think being prepared for the fullness. She was excited about having a Book of Mormon of her own, having read the parts that we marked for Elisabete. We have a lot of hope for these two. Elisabete reminds me of you Martha in a lot of ways. She´s cool. Anyway, we have a lot of hope for these two.
Oh, another big happening this week, this one a bit strange, and kind of funny. We got arrested yesterday. Actually we weren´t really arrested, but apparently someone gave our discriptions to the police as people that were in or near a predio that had been robbed. We, only just arriving to our area to proselyte, were asked by a couple of officers to accompany them to their car, and from thence to the police station to be searched. To our relief, and surprise ;) we didn´t have anything of earthly value on our persons, although we did have a bible, triple combination, and two copies of the book of mormon in our bags. They then took us back to where they had picked us up with apologies and everything. We had sent a message to our mission president when these things began to happen (he was in a zone conference with the general authorities in London) and we got all sorts of calls from his counsellors and the assistants to the president that afternoon, as well as one from him and his wife as soon as they got out of their meeting with Elder Uchtdorf. The bishop of the ward here was outraged for us and basically I´m very sure that we will not have to worry about anything as the Lord, through His servants will fight our battles for us. They said that there would not be anything to worry about and I´m excited to be able to tell my children in the future that I am in the same class of missionaries as those greats: Paul, Ammon, Aaron, Alma, Amuleque, Omner, Himni, etc. No prison could hold us.
Actually, this week has been good despite all of the hard things that have happened. It was really great, my testimony has grown in leaps and bounds. I know for sure that I can really trust in my Savior with my all and He will direct me for good in every aspect of my life. I know with all of my heart and soul that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness and joy into the lives of ANY person who will let it, and the sorrow that comes from watching others choices is just a small taste of Gethsemane that enables us to love even deeper, to feel even more the love of Christ in our lives. I am so greatful for the prophet that we have here on the earth today, for that link with God here on the earth to help guide and direct us in our day-to-day.
Now, on a different note. We saw some pretty gardens in porto today during our quick preparation day trip. I also love the tiling on all the buildings here. It is absolutely gorgeous! There are also quaint little chaples everywhere with beautiful tiles and beautiful statues and artwork all around. The human mind can come up with the most beautiful things and has the capacity to tame and interact with nature in amazing ways. I can´t wait to show you all these pictures that I have taken, of course many of them will bore you, but trust me, you will get to see each and every one of them, like it or not. So, it would be better to like it and be excited about it.
Oh, Mom, thanks for the programs for Grandpa´s funeral and Keturah´s baptism. I really enjoyed them, I got them today.
Oh, another note, just in case anyone would like to send a letter... which I´m sure is just about everyone in the world... We just had transfers and apparently I´m going to be in this area for at least another 6 weeks, so, now would be a great time to send that package or letter that you´ve been thinking about:
Rua Teixeira de Pascoais Nº139-5
4450 Matosinhos PORTUGAL
Love you all, and especially you Samuel, I couldn´t ask for a better little brother. You´re my favorite little brother, and my favorite missionary in Brasil. Tchau!
ellen
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