Week 88

This week was my first week with my new companion, Élder Ferreira! He's from Minas Gerais and arrived in Canela super excited to work hard. I was happy to be able to finish 6 months in Canela as well, I've grown very attached to the members here and the city itself. This Thursday we held our weekly integration activity with the branch and even though few members came, we very happy to see all our recent converts and investigators. We were all able to have fun together and the recent converts helped the investigators feel welcome.

After sharing a message about the Livro de Mórmon we played a few activities from Minute to Win It.

 Our focus this week was on Jair's children Tamara, Felipe, and Vitória, and Adriano and his brother Silnei. They had all been to church last week and were preparing themselves to be baptized. On Sunday Tamara and Felipe were baptized, Tamara choosing Mario to baptize her as he had given us their referral. Vitória wasn't baptized unfortunately because of her fear of water, something we'll help her with this coming week. After church many members came up to us and told us how impressed they were with our converts as well as investigators. They told us how all of them were participating quite a bit in the classes and they'd loved how Tamara was so excited to be baptized. She may have been the most determined young woman I've known to be baptized. While the water was heating up she told us that even if the water was cold she was going to be baptized.

Felipe and Tamara

Adriano and Silnei came to church and enjoyed themselves, however they decided that they want a little more time to think about their decision. They told us how they have no doubt that it's the true church and that it's something they should do. The only thing that's holding them back is their doubt if they want to dedicate themselves to this new life-style. Adriano told us how he does things with determination and that he'd treat this decision the same way so he wanted to be sure that it was what he wants because he wants to be baptized knowing that he'll stay there until he dies.

We also got to know a new family this week, Rudimar & Ironi, and their 14 year old son Adrian. I had contacted Rudimar in the street and when we visited them at their house they listened very intently. What surprised us is when we returned another day, Ironi told us how Adrian had come up to her after our last visit and told her that he thought we were really cool, and how he wanted to get to know our church. We could tell it meant a lot to Ironi because she cares a lot about her son and wants him to have a purpose in life and follow the right path. They're excited to get to know the church.

To cap off the great week, we got to talk with our family on Sunday for Mother's Day! Luckily we were able to skype them on the big screen of a member that lives nearby. Happy Mother's Day Mom, you're the best!