This is the best area in the world.
Other than the house, which we call Castelo de Greyskull, the Elders
did some great work here. On Saturday Sister Alves and Sister Sales
baptized 4 people, a family and another mission-age man. We brought ten
people to church yesterday, 6 investigators and 4 less-actives, and we
have about eight people who potentially can be baptized this week. I
don´t even know where to start..
The first day here, a 14-year-old boy, Jefferson,
who was baptized just a few weeks ago was waiting on our street because
he wanted to meet us and show us around. That day we ended up just
following him and then meeting another member and they just led us to
all these people and we never even had to look at our plans or think
about the time. There are a lot of Young Women in this ward who I
already love so much who are preparing to serve missions and are helping
us so much.
Mili, one of the Young Women, has a mom, Cristina
who has already been to church many times but just won´t commit to be
baptized and live the word of wisdom. When we met her she liked us
right away and I just told her straight up that we were going to baptize
her and she just laughed and said she´s a sinner but set an
appointment. We taught her and Mili and it was very led by the Spirit.
Mili doesn´t want to get her hopes up again but she bore her testimony
and expressed how her mom´s baptism is the thing she wants to see more
than anything. Cristina accepted baptism for the 17th, but didn´t go to
church yesterday because she was sleeping. We are just praying for a
miracle that the spirit can really touch her heart and convert her.
Sometimes you just need Sisters ;)
We met Vanessa, a 16-year-old, while contacting her
less-active friend. She is just super elect, read the pamphlet we gave
her, went to church, loved it and wants to be baptized. We even saw her
later on Sunday during a contact and she told the guy we were
contacting to go to church because it´s awesome. (We marked that guy´s
baptism and he´s bringing his nephew to church too next Sunday :)
Carlos, same thing. Super prepared and willing to
keep the commandments, but doesn´t read and understands a little more
slowly. He was very happy at church and went with Luiz, a less active
recent convert. We might have to baptize Luiz again because the Elders
didn´t leave records. Think the Other Side of Heaven when they
tell him none of his work counts.
Other than that we have two other teenagers who have
been going to church, Joyce and Joelington, whose parents won´t sign
their papers. But we already talked with Joelington´s mom who is
hard hearted but became much more open after we talked to her, and
especially after her son said the last prayer.
A lot of other miracles happened, but those were just a few
highlights. I have so much faith that this is going to be a transfer of
reaping what other missionaries have planted instead of just planting
planting planting. The ward is really good, the bishop has really good
goals for the ward´s growth and wants us to baptize every day. I am
loving it so much here. It´s the hilliest area I´ve ever had, but it´s
very beautiful here. There are a lot of 300+ year-old restored
buildings and we have views of just GREEN. Santa Rita is just a little
more inland than João Pessoa. We walk everywhere and take the bus to
meetings and things outside the area.
Sister Cavalcanti is an amazing companion. She´s
from São Paulo Capital. She was baptized at 15 and was raised just with
her grandma, who is over 80 years old and writes her letters, not
emails. She was the only member in her family until right before her
mission when her grandma, who at first didn´t even want to let her get
baptized, was baptized. It was really hard for her to leave her grandma
alone, and sometimes she doesn´t receive any emails. Her email address
is alana.cavalcanti@myldsmail.net
if you want to write her. I think it´d be cool. She is such an
example to me and is an amazing missionary. I lived with her in
Prossind when she was new and now she´s super confident and the Sister
Training Leader of our zone. I love her!
It´s so great to hear such great
things from you guys! I love the ´´Jesus, Others, Yourself´´. Being a
missionary is the best isn´t it? Heavenly Father loves us so much and He
hears our prayers and always answers. If you want answers to your
prayers, read Alma 34. We have to do EVERYTHING we can after praying,
because God won´t do things for us that we can do for ourselves.
I love you all so much!
Sister Moore
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