March 31, 2014- paciência

Bom dia familia!!

This has been a roller coaster week, for sure, but I am learning lots! Most of all, this week I think I learned about the virtue patience. I think it was premonition that I studied this atribute this week because throughout the week I definitely needed every ounce of patience I could muster and actually, my companion was the least of my worries this week in the patience department. Our investigators are just so very stubborn in their own special ways. But actually, I find these situations ever so comical. It may just be a defense mechanism, laugh to keep from crying, but I guess there is not much we can do but laugh about a lot of the crappy moments right?

´Here´s the breakdown:

1. Terezinha: Her baptism was all set for this sunday. She has come to church lots of times and she even brought her family last week. Buuttt she had a dream that we told her she needed to wait for more knowledge before baptism. We told her this was typical and that Satan was the only person who did not want her to get baptized and she should pray about it. She she did. And yesterday at church she said ´´I recieved an answer... I am suppossed to wait until my birthday, May 31, to be baptized.´´ She seems pretty set on this plan so until further notice May 31 it is. 

2. Luana. She was another investigator marked for baptism. She was about ready. She doesnt have a problem with any of the comandments and she even took notes during our lessons. She felt like she was getting an answer to prayers and we were pretty excited with her progress. And then... we visited her the other day and she thanked us for our visits. She told us that she had felt the spirit and strengthened her relationship with Christ but then she respectfully told us not to return. Ouch.. At first this was a bit difficult because I could not help but think we did something wrong, but our job is to teach and testify to the best of our abilities and then people have the agency to make their own decisions. 

3. Creuza: She too was scheduled for baptism this week. Butttt in her interview with our district leader she said.. ´´I can not lie to you as a represntative of God. I have a boyfriend.´´ She went on to tell him that the law of chastity was one commandment she just couldnt keep. Keep in mind, this woman is like 65, she cant really walk or even stand up and shes pretty fat. She we did not really think to spend a lot of time teaching about the importantance of living a chaste life... our mistake. hahaha. We have been laughing for days about this one. 

4. Caique is a 16 year old, smart kid and after lots of study and prayer he has finally accepted that while he loves his other church (largely because of the screeming and drum beating) ours is the one true church on the earth. However, he will only agree to be baptized if we can find him a lake. You see, Christ was baptized in a lake and so he must do the same. Yeah finding a lake clean enough for emesion is quite difficult in our area. 

5. Cida is another senhora, maybe 65 and she is also so excited about our message. She came to church Sunday and had a really great experience. Buuttt she smokes 1 pack of cigarettes every day. So we are trying to work with her now on that. 

The list could go on. But I am learning that this work is not easy because salvation is not a whimsical task. It required everything from the savior and it requires something of our souls as well. 

But, we had some really good moments too!!! This Friday, a cousin of some of our favorite members, Brenda and Barbara, is getting baptized. Her name is Sueliani and she is such a special girl! Turns out she has been waiting for quite some time but her parents are not fans of the church. But now that she is 18 she can finally make her own decisions. She already passed the interview and now we are just meeting with her to clarify doctrine. And she is planning to turn in her mission papers a year from Friday. 

And Jefferson.... Remember our little studly recent convert Danilo? (the one with the snazzy new church clothes thanks to mom) Well last week for dia dos amigos at church he brought his friend Jefferson. He has visited before and he wants to learn more! So we have been teaching him and he is a darling little boy too. He completes his homework like a champion. He is learning lots and as a side note, one of the best feelings in the world is watching an investigator learn how to pray with sincerity to their Heavenly Father. And another is watching a new convert share their testimony. In one of our lessons Danilo shared his love for the gospel and it was touching because he is still so young in age and time in the church. 

You guys probably learned wayy more than you wanted to about some of our current investigators but here is the lesson of the week: This work requires a lot of patience. I guess life requires a lot of patience as well. Because things rarely go as planned and people have the agency to make their own decisions. We are all learning and growing but we need to be patient with ourselves too because the art of becoming is a process. But among this difficult, trying moments, there are a lot of good experiences to be had also. As Elder Wirthlin said we just gotta have the attitude ´´ come what may and love it!´´

Love you guys! Hope all is well! 

Sister Lauren

p.s.  Good job on the book of mormon give away! It just depends on the packages. We get them during conferences or sometimes during our weekly district meetings. But frequently enough. And she acted a little strange at first but it is a little better now. But mom.. she spits loogies. all the time. it is quite disgusting. But all is well! Love you! Lauren