Well, everyone...I'm at the start of my third transfer (transfer =
chunk of 6 weeks that the mission revolves around). And I can't
believe it. I think I'm finally getting used to things--the culture,
the language, the work of a missionary. I still have much much MUCH to
learn and improve, and will continue to have until the last day of my
mission, but at least I'm dog-paddling now (instead of drowning).
My second transfer, with Sisters Tibúrcio and Santos, was amazing.
They showed me missionary work to the max degree, so much that
sometimes I was overwhelmed by how wonderful they were and how much I
still had to learn. As this transfer came to a close, I felt sure I
would have to leave Catú, and I "fiquei muito triste." I still had so
much to learn from my comps, and so much to give to this wonderful,
calm, beautiful city! Much to my surprise and joy, the Lord let us
three stay together for one more transfer. Gente, this is a big
deal--trios are usually changed quickly. Hooray! The Lord is merciful!
We like to refer to ourselves as the "Three Nephites" (Tres Nefitas)
(if this doesn't make sense to you, ask an LDS friend).
I'll share two experiences this week that were very powerful.
First, we had an experience that felt like it was right out of a LDS
church magazine. We encountered a young, beautiful couple and their
child one day in the street, and had a great conversation with them.
It was a "power contact" that even ended with a prayer. Thanks to the
enthusiasm of the husband ("I'll be waiting for your call!") we made
them a priority to visit in the next few days, despite a very full
schedule. When we finally made it to their little house (which, by the
way, is right next to JUNGLE...a bunch of coconuts growing on a huge
tree were literally within arm's length of the window, and a little
further in I could see bunches of wild bananas hanging deliciously in
the tangle of green), they were very receptive, humble, and sweet.
They are youngyoungyoung (Maria José is almost 18, and Christiano's
20) but have plans and goals for their life. We taught them the
message of the Restauration, and they listened with attention.
Christiano was very serious throughout, and we worried a bit that he
wasn't enjoying the message. Afterward, however, we learned otherwise.
To make a long story short, after the closing prayer Christiano opened
up to us about what had taken place the last few weeks. "I saw you the
other day in a store," he explained, "and I knew you were
missionaries. I wanted you to come to my house and teach me." But for
some reason, maybe lack of courage, he hadn't approached us. "If it
was God's will that you come," he said, "He would send you somehow." A
few days later he had planned to stay at home one evening, but decided
to go visit his dad. On the way, he felt that he should take a route
that he usually would not take. It was that night that he met us on
the street, and a couple days later we came to his home. "This must
have been meant to happen," he said.
We really felt that Spirit that night, and left their home almost floating.
Second experience (will have to be short, I'm out of time):
One day we visited (without having planned to) the home of three
recent converts, young boys who live with their grandmother. They're
cousins, and the father of one of them is a bit of a disaster--smokes,
drinks, and uses almost every kind of drug. We found him at home that
day, and although he was drunk (as always) we were able to teach him
that he is a child of God. As we taught, I felt the Spirit very
strongly, helping me look into the eyes of this scraggly man and see a
divine soul. As he looked back at me, I felt his helpless plea: "Help
me."
After the lesson, on a sudden whim, we took this man and washed and
cut his hair and shaved his face. He will not be able to forget that
he is a new man.
The Gospel is real. The Church is true. I love being a missionary!!
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