Marinalva, Douglas, e William

1--Overloaded truck
2-Bahian baby
3--Bus full of sisters




"Marinalva, Douglas, e William"



Sisters: "Licença, do you know where the Rua Aranere is?"
Random Baiano: "No. But you should ask that guy over there."
Sisters: "Licença, do you know where the Rua Aranere is?"
That Guy: "No...but I think it's in that direction. Ask that other person."

After about 4 more of these conversations, we arrived on a little dirt track of a road behind a motel. We needed number 73, but didn't see numbers on the houses (this is normal). I stopped and addressed two woman who were talking in front of a little house.

"Licença, we are looking for two boys named William and..."
Woman: "Douglas?"
Sisters: "YES!! Are you a relative?"
Woman: "I'm their mother!"

God guides His missionaries.

This woman, Marinalva, excused herself from her neighbor and accompanied us to the end of the little road, calling her boys (Douglas, 14, and William, 11) inside. We recognized the boys, because they'd been to church a few times with member friends. However, this was their first visit from the missionaries.

Marinalva welcomed us into the little brick house (all houses here are made of frail brick and cement) and we got to know this little family. They had a nearly-naked baby parrot in a box in their living room, who was calling to be fed. I automatically loved the family more. :-)

The lesson was perfect. When we asked if we could open with prayer (after the opening hymn), and asked if one of them would like to say it, Marinalva volunteered! Without ANY prompting! This is a first for me. After the prayer we went straight to the Livro de Mórmon. I drew a world map in the air, showing how the Bible was written in the Old World at the same time that the Book of Mormon was being written in the New World ("Aqui, nas Americas! Talvez aqui mesmo em Bahia!" I said).

They loved the lesson, paying good attention because I was on splits with another Americana and they HAD to pay attention to understand. :-) Afterward, Marinalva was excited. "I really understood about the Livro de Mórmon!" Her eyes were shining. "I'm looking forward to explaining this to my husband."

We committed everyone to read a chapter of the Book of Mormon, and then challenged everyone to be baptized when they received an answer from the Lord that the book is true. They all accepted. William and Douglas will be baptized this week. Marinalva needs to get married (but she said she's already started working on the papers! GAHH yay!) but she's sure to be next, along with her husband.

The family is excited to learn more. We'll teach them again tonight, 19h. (Brazilians use army time a lot. It's cool.)

I love the mission and I love Brazil. Thank you all so much for your support and love and letters. I can't tell you how much your letters keep me going (even though I try every week)!

There's a new American elder in our district. AWwww. Elder Smith. Poor thing, EVERYONE asks him if he's related to Joseph Smith!

A Igreja é verdadeira. A lingua está melhorando todos os dias. Amo minha companheira, mesmo que ela anda devegarzinho. Reclamava que Sis. Marciano andava rapido, então não posso reclamar agora. :-)

Focus this transfer: teach more straight from the scriptures, so people can gain a testemony of the Book of Mormon.

Merry Christmas, all!

Sister Petty

P.S. I made snowflakes and put them on my window. They're cool ones, too. I'm determined to have something that reminds me of the cold here.