Jan. 20

So a little about the crazyness of this week. Our week work wise was really rough this past week. We knocked soo many doors and it seemed like no one was interested. We had taught a few people who seemed like had potential, but for some reason or another couldn't go to church on Sunday. It hit Saturday and we had no one to go to church on Sunday, for the second Sunday in a row. We were pretty depressed and it didn't help that it was the hottest day I have ever experienced in Brazil. After about three hours of tracting in the heat, we sat down in the shade feeling like we wanted to just give up. We got a call from our district leader asking us who was going to church and we had to tell him no one. He asked us if we had invited anyone with potential and so we started listing the people. It gave me a little boost, because even though we felt like we had no one we really did have people that were interested in the gospel. They just couldn't make it to church. When we got off the phone with him, we decided to go visit a 23 year old girl named Rita. We had met with her two times before. The first time went I wasn't sure if she was really interested or not. The second time we visited her she talked about how unhappy she was. She had her first child at 15, and now has her second child with a man she doesn't love. Her mother died, and she feels pretty alone. The lesson went pretty well. We ended up giving her a Book of Mormon, and telling her to read Alma 32 about faith. We talked about how this church can bring happiness into her life, and that the Book of Mormon can do the same she just needs faith. We left not knowing for sure if she would read or if she was really interested in the church. Well Saturday we went to her house, and she let us in. She seemed a little different, but I couldn't really put my finger on it. We were talking with her and we asked if she read && she had! She not only read Alma 32, but all the way to 48. She just seemed so happy, which is why I noticed that she seemed so different. We asked what she thought of the Book of Mormon and she said that she knows it's true. We invited her to church and she said that she really wanted to go. She has a 5 month old and an 8 year old so we were worried that something would happen where she couldn't go. We showed up the next morning and she was completely ready including her two boys. They went to church and really enjoyed it. This week we are going to invite her and her son Ruan to be baptized this Sunday, we are really hoping they will say yes, but we'll see. That made our week so worth it, so in the end I had a really good week, and we're teaching some people with really good potential. So keep Rita and Ruan in your prayers!

Well that's my week, I would say nothing too special but it was really special. I just love the opportunity I have to be able to see people find joy in this gospel. Every time it reminds me of the joy it brought me. I'm grateful to be able to teach this gospel as well, I get to receive confirmation every time I teach that this gospel is true. It's amazing. I'll for sure let you know how this next week goes with Rita and Ruan.