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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