6th Week with Sister Almeida- Jaú, Brazil "My Journal Entries Again"

9-19-23

Today we went to the Cidade Alta and spent some time trying to work some things out with the wedding of Dilma and Fernando. Unfortunately, it appears that their wedding will only happen next transfer with means, by extension, their baptism as well. But the importance thing is that it happens; later better than never.

We also visited Duda and taught the Restoration. She said she felt peace at the knowledge of Christ's church being once again on the Earth. I always wonder if the people we're teaching fully comprehend what we're telling them when we teach this lesson.

After a bit more work in the neighborhood, we went to the bus stop to try and catch a bus to take us to the chapel for the Come, Follow Me study. Unfortunately, the bus was way behind schedule, yet, fortunately, the stop happened to be right next to Dilma and Fernando's house, so they gave us a ride and Sister Almeida and I sang A Million Dreams the whole way.

 9-20-23

Interviews with President Card today. Today was a disaster in terms of planning, but a good day in terms of everything else. Our Zone Leaders wanted to do a Zone study with everyone, but they ended up way behind schedule, and, by extension, pushed our day a little bit behind, but it was a good day. While I was waiting for my turn with Pres. Card, I got roped into a one on one practice with the assistants. Once the other sisters showed up, we told the assistants our crazy investigator stories and it appeared that they were just a little bit shocked and not quite sure what to do with the information.

After the Interviews, we did some more work near Karol's house and let her help us again. This girl is going to be a killer missionary, without a doubt.

9-21-23

We met up with Dilma and Fernando to get things sorted out for their marriage, but, to our dismay, were unable to set a date because they were still missing a few steps. So they were a little disappointed that they won't be able to be baptized this Sunday, but, to their credit, they're not willing to back down now. 

After they went home, Sister Almeida and I snagged ourselves a bus to the Cidade Alta...again. We had a lesson with Duda about the commandments, and she bore a beautiful testimony to us. She said that every time we teach her something, she gets more anxious for the moment when she can set foot in the house of the Lord. She said that a few days ago, she was feeling anxious so she locked herself in her room to read the Book of Mormon and pray. She said that her anxiety just disappeared, and she felt that someone - if not Jesus, someone very special- was at her side. The Spirit has real power.

After, we went and visited Ana Paula and her sister Sarah. We ended up teaching them the Plan of Salvation, and it was cool to see the doctrine click with them as we taught.

Before leaving the Cidade Alta, we visited Dilma and Fernando again and sang When I Am Baptized in English and Portuguese.

Upon returning home, we taught the Plan of Salvation to Marcos. He's to be baptized this Sunday, so we're trying to teach him everything he needs before then.

9-22-23

Worked in the Cidade Alta with Karol again. Nothing super huge happened, besides buying ice cream. Well, I guess it was Karol's first full day with us, meaning we got an Uber at her house and took her to lunch with us at a member's house in the Cidade Alta, and she stuck with us until it was late. The trip back was exciting, at least at first, because a strong wind kicked up out of no where, and it started raining. It felt so good after a hellishly hot day. But, unfortunately, that lasted 20 minutes of our 120 minute walk.

9-23-23

So Marcos' baptism is tomorrow, so Sister Almeida and I went to the church to clean up the baptismal font. While we cleaned, we - over video chat - introduced Marcos to Elder Butterfield, our district leader, then left them in the call while Elder Butterfield conducted the interview. Fortunately, Marcos passed.

On the way home, we passed a Catholic church hoping to find a bathroom, but they were in the middle of Mass. I got extremely curious, and we entered to watch a little. And other churches think WE look like a cult... 

When got home, we called up Marcos to just review a few things with him before his baptism the next day, and all went well. After him, we video called Dilma and Fernando, and, boy, did we catch them at a bad moment. Immediately we could tell that something was off. We asked them what was wrong, and Fernando angrily informed us that he would not be getting married, that he's dealt with Dilma for long enough, that Dilma never listens to him...That of course didn't make Dilma happy, so Sister Almeida and I soon found ourselves in the middle of their fight. At first we didn't know exactly what to do, but eventually we got them to both sit on the couch so we could see the two of them at the same time. We told them to calm down, and them began to talk to them about the reality of Satan and his goals for humanity. We told them that he was really working with them because they were preparing to do something that would bring them happiness and that they needed to drive him out. When we finished, they both looked a little like scolded children, but they also looked a lot calmer. We invited them to church tomorrow and to pray that night for help from God.

Needless to say, it was a very intense experience.

9-24-23

Batismoooooooooooo!!

So Marcos showed up ready for his baptism. I'm glad it didn't just disappear off the face of the planet.

We held the baptismal service after church, and it was a special experience to watch him be baptized then receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He really had been prepared for this. He was a system referral, and Sister Almeida and Sister Dias invited him to be baptized on the first contact over the phone. He accepted, and showed up to church every Sunday after. It's also more obvious that he has this desire because, unlike lots of other people we talk to, he doesn't ask for a ride and depend his coming on whether or not he has a ride. He gets a bus and comes and arrives 1 hour early because of the bus schedule. That's the difference between someone who says they want to change and someone who actually wants to change.

Also, Dilma and Fernando showed up to church. I don't know what they talked about in Elders Quorum, but in Relief Society they talked a lot about relationships, humility, and trusting in the Doctrine of Christ...all with Dilma sitting right there, fresh off her fight with Fernando the other night. Talk about inspired timing. They stuck around for Marcos' baptism, were touched by everything they saw, and, when we called them later that night with Karol, they were smiling and joking again. So, we're hoping all's well and that this Wednesday they'll get everything with their wedding worked out.

Also, transfers happen the 29th...

Não Jogue Lixo = No Throwing Garbage