In Which I Only Believe Because of the Picture I Took

I am SO HAPPY!

You know those incredible stories in the Ensign (the magazine of the
Church) about missionaries who find people prepared by the Lord to
accept baptism practically in the first conversation?

I'd always heard about these things...but it's a different thing to
see it with your own two eyes.

There's no way I can tell you the stories of Marco Antônio and
Perisvaldo, but I'll give the basics and just testify now: this is
real. This truly happens. God prepares people.

This week we saw two types of miracles: the kind that takes a long
time developing (that we see) and the kind that seems to happen really
fast (because we didn't see the beforehand stuff). This week a woman
was baptized who we've been teaching for months. It was completely
worth the wait--she will be a strong force and a leader in the church.

On Saturday also baptized a man called Perisvaldo, who, before we met
him, had read the entire Book of Mormon within a month. We invited him
to church, and he went. There he met Marco Antônio, whose baptism was
that same day. It was the first day at church for the two of them. We
finally got to truly teach Perisvaldo this week, starting
quarta-feira, and then each day until the interview sábado. He was
baptized sábado. Domingo he was confirmed a member of the Church.
Primeira lição until confirmação = 5 days. It was a whirlwind of
seemingly unreal lessons and events.

I don't know if any of this made sense to anyone. Basically...two men
who had be prepared long before we met them were baptized in close
succession, and one by the other. It was a feeling I can't describe to
see the two of them standing in the baptismal font.

I am so grateful for the CHANGE I see in people's lives. Many many
missionaries say that participating in the ordenance of baptism is the
only way to be happy on the mission. I disagree. For me, the true
reward is what's underneath the symbols of baptism: MUDANÇA. (change.)
I know the Gospel truly changes people.

I love the Lord and I love the mission.

Can I stay for two years? Please?

Sister Petty

P.S. I still love letters! Thank you to those who have written, and
forgive me for the delay in responding. Have faith and I will try to
respond.