Well, I had another fantastic week here with Elder Pereira in Suzano. We are starting to get a pretty good teaching pool going. We´ve got about 8 people that are progressing. It only took 60 or so contacts to find those 8 LOL. It's definitely worth it.
We have been working a lot with a family that has been going to church for two years. The Elder that started teaching them was in his training, and he is going home this transfer. They haven´t been baptized because they are not married. Lots of other Elders have tried to help them, but it has always fallen through. This week, we successfully went with Jose and Norma to get the documents they need for marriage. They have a super strong desire to get married and get baptized. It´ll probably happen next transfer. I´m super excited!
All of the other people that we are teaching are really great. This week, I think that we will see who is ready to progress and make commitments.
We also had zone conference this week. It was the best zone conference I have been to. I loved being there with all of the other missionaries. We got some great training, and really felt the Spirit. I really learned a lot. I was asked to bear my testimony on contacting people for part of the meeting. The training by President and the assistants (Elder Moreno and Elder VanDerwerken) was really great. They talked a lot about how important our testimonies are to invite the Spirit of the Lord. Elder VanDerwerken gave a really great training on inviting people to be baptized and the specific invitation.
Scripture of the Week: Moroni 7: 16
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for everything which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
I love representing the Savior in Brasil, I love my companion, I love the Gospel and Atonement of Christ, I love my family, and I love my Redeemer. I am ready and excited to work harder, learn more, and love better this week!
Love,
Elder Warren Matthew Dudley
Pictures:
#1 Zone Conference in Mogi das Cruzes
#2 Elder Pereira and I in the park in the center of the city
#3 On the bridge, overlooking the city
#4-6 On the way to the Venezuelan refugees’ house for lunch
#7 The rich part of town
