Where did August go??
This morning, I caught my crazy companion Sister Siqueira in our
little kitchen, kicking around a soccer ball--with a towel around her
wet hair, a brush in one hand, and her open makeup bag in the other.
Brazilians.
This week was wild. (I always say that, huh?)
- an incredible investigator (that same potter I wrote about a month
ago) is preparing to be baptized this week, but hasn't actually
admitted that he's decided for sure. He had a question last night that
we loved: "If I happen to enter the waters this Sunday...what time
would the baptism be?" :-) This same investigator has questions about
home teaching, tithing, stake and ward organization, and reactivation.
When he is baptized, he will soon be a powerful leader in the church.
-a month and a half ago, we walked to the end of the world to teach a
referral from a member. There were two couples, great people who paid
good attention to our message...except for one of the wives, who
walked out of the lesson near the beginning (read: not interested).
Due to the distance of these couples and the business of our schedule
and theirs, we took forever to return. When we finally did, we asked
without much hope if they'd been reading the Book of Mormon we left.
"Yes!" they said, and they weren't lying -- that same woman who had
left last time was reading the Book of Mormon every day, and was
almost in 2 Nephi! And this time she was super interested in our
message, and the next day dragged her husband to church!
The Book of Mormon changes people.
I love you all, I love the mission, I love Brazil. Thank you for all
your support and letters -- I heard that I have a bunch of letters
waiting for me in the office, I'll get them all on Thursday at the
zone conference. YAY LETTERS!! Thank you, in advance, for those of you
whose letters I will read!
Sister Petty
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Once more, too much to write and too little time
Convert of two weeks, when we asked what had improved in his life since his baptism: "Discernment, attention, and equilibrium."
This week was super CRUSTY, as our mission president likes to say. Lots of rain, my shoe split in two pieces, heavy emotions, confessions of sin, mud all over us, and a prayer with a family that lasted 15 minutes.
In a contact on the street, the young man asked, "But...how are you two so SURE about what you're saying? How can you know that your church really is true?" We loved his desire to know, and we challenged him to be baptized if he also gained this surety.
BAPTISM!! A young man who went to church the first time last week was baptized this Sunday after stake conference. Almost 10 elders were there, along with our mission president and his wife! and about half the Abrantes branch. Jamerson was baptized by his cousin, Rafael, who was baptized just three weeks before. The church is true and the priesthood is real.
At the stake conference, my dear family of five who was baptized in February in Dias D´avila was there. The father was sustained to the higher Priesthood.
I LOVE THE MISSION!!!!!!!
This week was super CRUSTY, as our mission president likes to say. Lots of rain, my shoe split in two pieces, heavy emotions, confessions of sin, mud all over us, and a prayer with a family that lasted 15 minutes.
In a contact on the street, the young man asked, "But...how are you two so SURE about what you're saying? How can you know that your church really is true?" We loved his desire to know, and we challenged him to be baptized if he also gained this surety.
BAPTISM!! A young man who went to church the first time last week was baptized this Sunday after stake conference. Almost 10 elders were there, along with our mission president and his wife! and about half the Abrantes branch. Jamerson was baptized by his cousin, Rafael, who was baptized just three weeks before. The church is true and the priesthood is real.
At the stake conference, my dear family of five who was baptized in February in Dias D´avila was there. The father was sustained to the higher Priesthood.
I LOVE THE MISSION!!!!!!!
Friday, August 17, 2012
Missionárias de verdade
A man on the street, hearing about how we lived and what we did, said to his friend: "Wow, dude -- these are TRUE missionaries."
It's true. We have been called by God, through living prophets, to teach His gospel. I know that with all my heart.
The Baian culture, an example:
On Saturday, we passed in front of the house of an investigating family. We were eating bread (Brazilians love bread), and the dad of this family saw us. "Do you want juice or something, to wash down that bread?" he called from the porch. We said we were fine, thanks, he didn't need to bother. But, as Baianos tend to do, he ignored this protest and 3 minutes later came out of his house with two yogurts in hand. Carumba...these people are so generous!
At church on Sunday we had eight investigators at church! Five that were coming for the first time! One was a man who we'd visited for the first time the night before, grown daughter and her three little children. During the Gospel Principles class (the second hour of church), the topic was charity. He raised his hand and said, "Last night I was struggling with a lot of things. I was needing a prayer so badly that God sent a missionary from the United States to say one for me! To me, that is charity."
His simple comment touched my heart deeply. Missions (like motherhood) are made up of many moments. I am grateful for this opportunity to be here in Brazil, a tool in the Lord's hands to touch lives in simple ways.
Sunday afternoon we visited a 17-yr-old boy who had also gone to church the first time that day. The night before he had read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it was true.
"How did your prayer go?" we asked, as we always do.
"It was cool," he said, smiling. "I felt my heart beat faster. I even put my hand on my chest, feeling it." He recognized this as an answer from God.
The Book of Mormon changes lives. Miracles happen when you believe. Christ lives and loves us.
Until next time,
Sister Petty
It's true. We have been called by God, through living prophets, to teach His gospel. I know that with all my heart.
The Baian culture, an example:
On Saturday, we passed in front of the house of an investigating family. We were eating bread (Brazilians love bread), and the dad of this family saw us. "Do you want juice or something, to wash down that bread?" he called from the porch. We said we were fine, thanks, he didn't need to bother. But, as Baianos tend to do, he ignored this protest and 3 minutes later came out of his house with two yogurts in hand. Carumba...these people are so generous!
At church on Sunday we had eight investigators at church! Five that were coming for the first time! One was a man who we'd visited for the first time the night before, grown daughter and her three little children. During the Gospel Principles class (the second hour of church), the topic was charity. He raised his hand and said, "Last night I was struggling with a lot of things. I was needing a prayer so badly that God sent a missionary from the United States to say one for me! To me, that is charity."
His simple comment touched my heart deeply. Missions (like motherhood) are made up of many moments. I am grateful for this opportunity to be here in Brazil, a tool in the Lord's hands to touch lives in simple ways.
Sunday afternoon we visited a 17-yr-old boy who had also gone to church the first time that day. The night before he had read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it was true.
"How did your prayer go?" we asked, as we always do.
"It was cool," he said, smiling. "I felt my heart beat faster. I even put my hand on my chest, feeling it." He recognized this as an answer from God.
The Book of Mormon changes lives. Miracles happen when you believe. Christ lives and loves us.
Until next time,
Sister Petty
Thursday, August 16, 2012
[Insert Title for an Amazing Week Here]--August 9
5 minutes to report, GO!
I know prayers are answered! Today my comp and I traveled to the neighboring city, just to make an "accidental" contact with the anti-Mormon wife of one of our investigators. We'd thought we'd missed her, she wasn't where she was supposed to be, but when we resignedly got the bus to head home, she was on it!
Investigators this week:
When a friend was asking him WHY are you going to the Mormon church, out of so many good churches to choose from?? He responded: "I visited, I studied it, and I'm seeing that this church teaches salvation through faith, repentance, baptism...following Jesus Christ. Is there some problem with this?"
"If I, for some reason, decided to be baptized tomorrow, what would hinder me?"
Family of five at church! I love the Gospel!
Over and out!
Sister Petty
I know prayers are answered! Today my comp and I traveled to the neighboring city, just to make an "accidental" contact with the anti-Mormon wife of one of our investigators. We'd thought we'd missed her, she wasn't where she was supposed to be, but when we resignedly got the bus to head home, she was on it!
Investigators this week:
When a friend was asking him WHY are you going to the Mormon church, out of so many good churches to choose from?? He responded: "I visited, I studied it, and I'm seeing that this church teaches salvation through faith, repentance, baptism...following Jesus Christ. Is there some problem with this?"
"If I, for some reason, decided to be baptized tomorrow, what would hinder me?"
Family of five at church! I love the Gospel!
Over and out!
Sister Petty
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Missionaries these days...
First transfer in Abrantes, last week, readysetbaptize!
This week, we saw lots of miracles. A miracle baptism -- this young man went to church on Sunday, was taught on Wednesday, received an answer to his prayer on Thursday, was taught once more on Friday, was interviewed on Saturday, and was baptized on Sunday! I still can hardly believe it happened. Funny moment: when we talked about how we have prophets today, he wanted to know the name of the current prophet. We told him - "Thomas S. Monson." The 19-yr-old youth responded, "Do you have this dude's Facebook??"
Through this young man, we met another elect, prepared soul. This one is a potter (!! he's also married and has a little daughter on the way!) and after a couple of minutes talking about pottery, he began to ask questions about the church. We answered his many many questions, and finally challenged him to baptism. He accepted, committing to pray to the Lord for an answer. "I definitely want to learn more," he said, "I'll go home and find this Book of Mormon on the internet to read and study." We smiled and told him he wouldn't have to do that, pulling a copy from our bag and handing to him.
The NEXT DAY, he ran into us at the same place with the book in hand (!!), and stopped to talk for a minute. "I didn't get much time to read last night. I only read until about page 10." We scraped our jaws off the ground and answered more of his questions. I've never met someone SO interested, that has such a good head on his shoulders, and is so willing to follow an answer from the Lord. He'll be a stake president in about 15, I can feel it.
He went to church on Sunday and liked it. On the phone yesterday: "I am reading and praying...and I'm getting answers."
Missionary work is the same as ever...but it's sure funny when Facebook and the internet creep in sometimes.
I know the Gospel is true. I know the missionary is the greatest work we can do, literally. If we want to fight for families, fight for life, fight for peace, fight against drugs or teen motherhood or anything-else-bad-in-world, missionary work is the greatest stand we can take.
So...open your mouth and share.
Sister Petty
This week, we saw lots of miracles. A miracle baptism -- this young man went to church on Sunday, was taught on Wednesday, received an answer to his prayer on Thursday, was taught once more on Friday, was interviewed on Saturday, and was baptized on Sunday! I still can hardly believe it happened. Funny moment: when we talked about how we have prophets today, he wanted to know the name of the current prophet. We told him - "Thomas S. Monson." The 19-yr-old youth responded, "Do you have this dude's Facebook??"
Through this young man, we met another elect, prepared soul. This one is a potter (!! he's also married and has a little daughter on the way!) and after a couple of minutes talking about pottery, he began to ask questions about the church. We answered his many many questions, and finally challenged him to baptism. He accepted, committing to pray to the Lord for an answer. "I definitely want to learn more," he said, "I'll go home and find this Book of Mormon on the internet to read and study." We smiled and told him he wouldn't have to do that, pulling a copy from our bag and handing to him.
The NEXT DAY, he ran into us at the same place with the book in hand (!!), and stopped to talk for a minute. "I didn't get much time to read last night. I only read until about page 10." We scraped our jaws off the ground and answered more of his questions. I've never met someone SO interested, that has such a good head on his shoulders, and is so willing to follow an answer from the Lord. He'll be a stake president in about 15, I can feel it.
He went to church on Sunday and liked it. On the phone yesterday: "I am reading and praying...and I'm getting answers."
Missionary work is the same as ever...but it's sure funny when Facebook and the internet creep in sometimes.
I know the Gospel is true. I know the missionary is the greatest work we can do, literally. If we want to fight for families, fight for life, fight for peace, fight against drugs or teen motherhood or anything-else-bad-in-world, missionary work is the greatest stand we can take.
So...open your mouth and share.
Sister Petty
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