Week 25

Because of the holiday Carnaval, the beginning of the week started off slow. Especially on Tuesday we were hard pressed to find anyone in the streets and in their houses. For small towns like Vera Cruz, any major holiday shuts the whole place down. It was quite an interesting feeling being the only ones walking down the streets, almost as if it were a long abandoned ghost town. However, the next day everyone returened from their vacations and everything was back to normal.

The week continued to be slower than usual due to a lot of rain, sometimes raining for 2 days in a row. Having grown up in zero percent humidity, it was quite different to experience a time when nothing dried. We´d wake up in the morning and our clothes would still be damp from the previous day of work.

We had a funny experience one day as we were answering some questions about missionary work from some of our investigators. They´d already asked about various things such as communicating with family, if we could play soccer, if we could wear regular clothes, etc. The answer to the majority of these questions was that we could on Moday, Our Preparation Day. We were with a young man (a member of the branch here) that had a hard time not talking and so they learned that we also don´t hug the opposite gender while seving these 2 years. To that one of the young women sincerely asked, "But you guys can do that too on Mondays right?" Despite trying our hardest to contain ourselves we all burst out laughing! We explained to them that no, not even on Monday can we hug haha.

Yesterday we totally forgot about Daylight Savings Time and so we showed up at the chapel an hour early. After waiting around we thought that maybe church had been cancelled somehow. It was really odd because we didn´t hear anything from the people the week before, mentioning the change in time. Despite our confusion, we were able to bring our investigators to church. Maria and her soon-to-be husband were all ready waiting for us to pass by when we went to pick them up. That was the easiest I`ve ever had it getting people to church so far!

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Élder Joseph Andrew

Missão Porto Alegre Norte

Caixa Postal 13008

CEP: 91010-971

Porto Alegre - RS

BRASIL

Read my blog at elderandrewinbrazil.blogspot.com

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Week 24

The beginning of another transfer brought me a new companion! His name is Élder Lemes, from Campinas, Brazil. I´m excited because he is my first Brazilian companion. Already he has helped me a lot with my Portuguese. So far he has a year and 7 months serving, so he´ll be returning home pretty soon. As we were talking and getting to know each other during the week, we were surprised to learn that we both want to pursue a career in aeronautical engineering, and that we´ve wanted that since the age of 4!

This week we found many new investigators, starting the very first day. Even though it poured rain both day and night for the first 2 days, we didn´t notice it much because we were hard at work. The first thing we did was present the new elder to the members here to gain their trust and help. Then we visited our investigators from the previous transfer and found many new ones on the way.

Despite their busy schedule, we were able to visit Wesley and Christofer this week. They seemed to be hesitant still so we spent a little time building trust and opening them up. It might take a while but we hope to get their parents married and baptize the whole family.

Due to the holiday Carnival, there weren´t very many people in Church yesterday. Almost everyone was traveling. As a result my companion and I taught Sunday School, blessed the sacrament, and both gave talks! It sure makes me grateful for wards when I serve in small branches.

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Élder Joseph Andrew

Missão Porto Alegre Norte

Caixa Postal 13008

CEP 91010-971

Porto Alegre - RS

BRASIL

Read my blog at elderandrewinbrazil.blogspot.com

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Week 23

After a long and tiring battle against the adversary, Marli was baptized this week! It was quite a surprise for us actually. We went over to her house last Monday to see how she was doing and as always, doubts and tempatations had crept into her thoughts. With the Spirit´s aid we swept them away and replaced them with a conviction of what she needed to do. To our surprise she walked into the back room and returned seconds later with all she´d need to be baptized (towel, sandals, and extra under clothing). We organized a service immediately and I baptized her the same day. The next challenge will be confirming her in church, the adversary certainly hasn´t stopped fighting against her.

This week we focused mainly on Wesley and Christorfer, 2 brothers (13 and 15) that attended church last week. They are very intelligent, already having read parts of the bible on their own. They´re hard workers, assisting their mom and dad build an extension to their house. Christofer has already said he wants to serve a mission! We had to tell him to slow down and focus on baptism first. During one of our lessons with them we asked, as we do every lesson, if there was anything we could do to help them. The mother of the 2 boys jokingly responded that her walls could us some washing. On the way back to our house Elder Garcia and I reflected on how the lesson went. While we discussed our future plans with them and how we could best aid them in coming unto Christ we received a distinct impression to take their mother´s offer, even though it was only a joke on her part, and show that members of Christ´s church practice what they preach. 

We put our plan into action the next morning, showing up on their doorstep ready to work. The surprise on their faces was pure gold! After insisting that we wouldn´t leave without doing some work, we started off by mowing and trimming their lawn. Luckily due to years of practice at home, I was able to teach Elder Garcia how to work the mower and trimmer and we made their lawn look  better than it ever has before. To finish off before we had to catch our appointment with lunch, we washed their car. That was one of the best service projects I´ve done. We felt so accomplished for doing that simple act of service, and we witnessed the results the rest of the week. They opened up and the dad began joining us each time we came over to teach. In a private conversation with us he teared up as he expressed his gratitude for what we were doing (really it´s the Spirit but he doesn´t know the difference yet) for his sons, something he said he lacks the knowlege for. He wants them to take this opportunity that already passed him by. We assured him that it hasn´t passed him by and that he is still very able and qualified for eternal life with his small family. We want to batize the 4 of them together in the near future. For now we need to work on getting them married, which can take a lot of time unfortunately.

So we just received the transfer email and I will be staying in Vera Cruz for the next 6 weeks with a new companion! The time is passing by so rapidly.

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Elder Joseph Andrew

Missão Porto Alegre Norte

Caixa Postal 13008

CEP 91010-971

Porto Alegre - RS

Brasil

Read my blog at elderandrewinbrazil.blogspot.com

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Week 22

I sure have a testimony of the importance of members in missionary work. Oftentimes as members we think, "What can the missionaries do for us? Why aren´t they baptizing more people?" I promise that this isn´t the way the Lord has organized successful missionary work. In Preach My Gospel (a missionary manual for every church member, leader, and missionary) we read,"Church members are essential in helping new converts remain active and faithful" (pg213). I´ve seen miracles happen when members do their part and fellowship new converts. That is because every convert needs a friend. The missionaries will be transferred sooner than you think, but the members won´t. If members want to see their own ward or branch grow, help the missionaries. If they don´t, help the missionaries anyway, they´ll see the blessings the Lord has in store. As President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, "It will be a great day when our people not only pray for the missionaries throughout the world, but ask the Lord to help them to assist the missionaries who are laboring in their own ward." We missionaries have felt the power of your prayers on our behalf, we would be hard pressed to work without them. We challenge each and every one of you to ask the Lord how you can be of assistance to the missionaries serving in your own ward, and then put those words to action. For those living in Moab, Utah, help Elders Sanders and Braun out! Treat them as you would any one of us from your ward whom you have sent out to serve in other states and countries.

Because of help we received from the members here, we baptized our investigator Maria yesterday! She was well received, and is no longer our investigator, but a member of the Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias. 

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We were also blessed in our work to have many of our other investigators attend church, with potential baptisms next week. One is a 13-year-old young man named Wesley who walked to church 2 hours early, and waited on a bus-stop bench until we showed up to unlock the chapel. He is an elect, truly humble and ready to receive the gospel. The best part is he already has friends that are members!

This week I experimented making French Toast with Buttermilk Syrup. It was a success! I was able to locate difficult ingredients and even make my own buttermilk. I brought some to our members neighbors and after inhaling what I gave them they didn´t stop questioning me for more! It´s been a great week, and I´ll hear from you all next Monday!

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Elder Joseph Andrew

Porto Alegre North Mission

Caixa Postal 13008

CEP 91010-971

Porto Alegre-RS

Brazil

Read my blog at elderandrewinbrazil.blogspot.com

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