This Week....A Twofer

"Oi,

Wow...I am shocked. I honestly didn't know Shilo very well and didn't know Micah (the Edwards girls) at all, but I grew to love the Edwards' on our trip and obviously she grew to love us too. She shared a very personal experience with you. If I were there, I'd visit them and give them a hug myself. So, send a hug, as the Brazilians say, to Lee Anne and Dale.

Oh, ya and I'm shocked that Megan (Fisher) is getting married! Oh, my heck!

This past week was difficult...our results turned out low and it seems like everyone was discouraged, but this week has started out great! I gave a training on the B of M yesterday and challenged everyone to use it much more in their teaching, even in the first lesson before they've explained about it. Everyone was weirded out and thought the practices were difficult, but I put it in practice yesterday and nobody denied our invitations. One man accepted the baptismal invitation firmly and three others were like that one king in Acts who said to Paul, 'thou almost persuadeth me to be a Christian.' But no one denied our invitations. I felt like we were teaching with much more power and authority. We'll perfect this technique and it will make a difference in our missions!

Elder Dunn is alright. I have to say, it has been a battle to keep his spirits up and it surely isn't only because he's a greenie. But this will be an important step in his personal progress. His first baptism is this Friday. Wanderson's little brother, Wellington will be baptised by Elder Dunn.

I've received one package this whole transfer, and that was at the very beginning. I got a letter from the postman that said one package was not admitted into the country and I assume that it was the one with the DVDs and garments. I think it should be on it's way back to you.

(Note: Last week's letter above came attached to this week's below)

Sorry about the email, I don't know what happened, but what I wrote last week is posted above this one.

I got two packages last week because the president came and did interviews. I'm starting to think that they don't give the packages every week, just the letters. I also got a package from Chaz. Go and thank him for that please and tell him I'll write him today. I did not get the package with the DVD's. I believe that was sent back to you, as I mentioned above. A few things that I really appreciated and hope you might send again were the Mrs. Cavanaugh's turtles and the assorted Jelly Bellies that Chaz sent. I hope you'll send more turtles, because the Brazilians with whom I live filched two, or three or six and now they're all gone.

Yesterday something really cool happened. A woman called Elder Carvalhal's chapel and he happened to be there. He answered and she started crying and telling him about her marriage problems and that she wanted the missionaries to come by. She found the church on the internet and then looked up the chapel's number in the phonebook. These are not coincidences! They must be elect!! They live in our area so we went there last night and taught them about family prayer, family scripture study, and gave them a B of M. They'll read and pray together and will go to church on Sunday. They are a really good family. I pray that we'll do everything right so that here in March they'll have a strong marriage and be baptized. Their names are Viraldo and Jilvana. They have two little sons Guilherme and Vinicius. Pray for them and put their names in the temple.

We've also met a few other families...none of whom are married and will have to get married, but all of whom accepted baptism. Please pray for them as well. One is Suele and Leandro. They have three small children Nayaara, Leadro, and Lucas, all under eight. They go hungry often and their parents are looking for work. Please pray that they'll find good work and won't have to work on Sunday, and that they can get married. Another family is a reference from our mission president. I don't know how he got this but he gave it to me and we went and taught them. It's Carlos and Nara, with Mateus (10), Pablo (9), Amanda (6) and Joao (5). Their biggest problem will be marriage. Yet another is an inactive woman who will now return to church. Her son-in-law and daughter accepted baptism, but must be married and that will be difficult as he lost all of his documents. Pray for Jose, Wilma, and Zenilda (the less active).

The Lord is blessing us so so much! The mission will try to baptize 300 people in March. We need to baptize at least four to reach that goal. I want to reach the new mission standard and baptize 10. That's our goal and if we are able to help these families and meet yet others, then we'll reach it.

I love you and am happy! Tschau Elder Christian

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

We're assuming that's what was meant when this picture showed up this week and nothing else. Christian and his present companion Elder Dunn from Colorado.

Mail Every Week & Egg McMuffins

"Oi!

Wednesday we went back to a house where we marked a baptism, but the guy was going to travel. So, we went back and nobody knew that guy, but we went in and taught the mom and one son. They both accepted the baptismal invitation and the mom started to cry. We've been back everyday since, but haven't been able to teach them again. We'll see how it goes, but that lesson was really spiritual.

Friday I had two more baptisimal interviews to do, this time for my zone leaders. That was a good division. I stayed with Elder Carvalhal in his area. He has become a friend of mine.

Saturday and Sunday were the most hectic of all. Saturday night I had another baptismal interview to do, but we went there and he was on his way out because his niece was in the hospital. He committed to going to church, so I would interview him there. So, I slept over in the 4th Ward house and went to their ward instead of my own while Elder George went to my ward with Elder Dunn. The baptism never showed up, but it was interesting to attend a ward that wasn't my own! That was sort of an unexpected division. Yesterday, I did a real division with the 4th Ward elders and it was a very productive day. We taught a lot and found a lot of new people. This morning we undid the division at McDonald's and I ate two Egg McMuffins with passion fruit juice!

The Padrao Amon (Ammon Standard of Excellence) for our mission has gone up. Three baptisms, 5 baptisms marked, 10 investigations in church, 12 lessons with members, and 14 new investigators per week and 10 baptisms per month.

My companion and I are getting along great. He has to be buoyed up a lot because of the language. He gets discouraged easily, but he is adjusting and learning and loved the division yesterday. I get mail every week now because the zone leaders all have a meeting with the president every week in Campinas and now they're allowed to pick up the mail.

I am happy and tired today. I'll rest a lot this pday. I love you all and I know this is the Lord's work. Tschau!"

Elder Christian

Elder Cook's Visit & My First Baptism Interview

"Oi

First of all, the conference with Elder Cook was wonderful! He spoke with us a lot more than we thought he would. First, he shook everybody's hand and then he started with his message. He talked about D & C 31 and about our families, that they are being blessed in every aspect of life because of our service ( I sure hope that is true!) Then, his wife had us all sing and then she talked about "Preach My Gospel". He was the main man behind that book. He didn't quiz anyone about it though. The president was afraid that would happen. He said that the planning skills that we can learn here in the mission will make a huge difference in our lives and he talked about getting stronger committments from our investigators. Then, we all went into the cultural hall where he took a picture with our mission. I bet the president will give us a copy and I'll send it to you.

This week a companionship in my district achieved the Padrao Amon! I was so happy for them! I interviewed those two baptisms ( my first interviews so far) and that was an awesome experience. I LOVED it! It was wonderful to conduct the interview. The first passed like a charm, and the second answered everything correctly and demonstrated that he had a testimony, but then at the end I asked the last question which includes 'do you feel ready to make this convenant and be faithful to it all your life?' He asked when his baptism would be (that startled me). I said tomorrow, and then he said, 'No, I don't feel ready to be baptized tomorrow.' It was like...Oh no, here we go! So we went into a long 'faith lesson' and at the end I showed him that he was feeling the Spirit and then invited him to be baptized the next day. He stopped, looked at me and said, 'do you feel that? What is that? It's so strong!' The Spirit was really strong and he accepted and was baptized. I was amazed at how successful it really was, the Spirit guided that interview.

That companionship has another baptism marked for this Sunday. The sisters in my district have two baptisms marked for the weekend and our zone leaders, who are also part of my district, have baptisms this week. I am very happy for the district.

Elder Dunn and I have a baptism marked for the 21st and we're praying for the rest of that family. They are really hard hearted, but we'll invite them to hear the lessons again this Friday.
I'm sure a miracle will occur. This is the rest of Wanderson's family. Wellington is his little brother that will be baptized and Maria Helena is his mom and William is his brother that we are praying for. Put these names in the temple today and pray that Friday, when we invite them to be taught and be baptized, they'll be touched by the Spirit.

Yesterday, we found another family that I have hope for. The dad's name is Jose. His wife died four years ago and he has four daughters. I have great hope for them.

I know this church is true! I love you and am happy!

Tschau. Elder Christian