What’s up everybody!!!!!! Don´t worry, nothing is going on here in regard to Corona Virus. Church is closed, but we are doing normal missionary work. We are trying to avoid really full buses, so we have been walking about two to three hours to get to our area every day since we live in another area super far away. It's all good though, 'cause we have still got people to help!!!!!
Here are the most notable things that have happened the last two weeks:
I gave a talk in church the week before church shut down. Not only did I speak in Portuguese, but I spoke for 15 minutes without writing my talk!! I´ve never even done that in English!!! I spoke about gratitude.
We had a district meeting with our mega district of 16 missionaries. It was super fun. I came out of the meeting with some great ideas of how we could help our area!
The Elder´s Quorum Presidency bought us pizza four times!!!!!!
Before the church stopped meetings, we had a meeting with the other missionaries in the Stake and our Stake President. It was super awesome. The Stake President is super awesome and gave us some great counsel. One cool thing that he said is that we sometimes think of this work as physical, but it is completely spiritual.
We got the call that church was cancelled. Now that was a crazy night. We freaked out 'cause we pretty much thought the world was about to end. It was pretty funny. Our Brasilian roommates were pretty much convinced that the Second Coming of the Savior would happen the next day. But, how cool is it that President Nelson knew that this General Conference really would be different. It is already going to be completely different, and it hasn´t even happened yet!!!!
Anselmo. One day, we had gone the entire day without finding someone else to teach. We really wanted to find someone. We said a prayer. My rule for our companionship is that whoever is not praying keeps their eyes open to be aware of the craziness on the street. Afterwards, we continued knocking doors. An hour later, on the street, I saw someone that had crossed in front of me three times while I was praying. I knew then that we should talk to him. We talked to Anselmo for 45 minutes in his pet shop, and left a Book of Mormon with him.
Naiana. We went to visit the less active mom of a currently serving missionary. When we got there, she had a friend there. We taught the Restoration of the Gospel, and she really liked it. Her name is Naiana, and she already accepted the invitation to be baptized!!! We are going back to teach her this week.
I tried jaca and caqui. These are two types of fruit they have here. Jaca was not very good at all, but caqui was alright. They are pretty funny looking.
I really feel that we truly have a prophet on the earth to guide us and help us through these last years before Christ returns. I am so grateful that we have this connection with our Heavenly Father, and that we know how we can do exactly what our God directs. I really feel like God started to restore the true Gospel of Christ to the earth with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that He is continuing to give us instruction. If we follow what the prophet says, I know that we will be able to return before Heavenly Father with the confidence that we did our best to fulfill our purpose here, and His will for us.
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 Caiuby
#2-6 Some cool farm pics. Caiuby is on the outskirts of the city of Itaquaqucetuba, so there is a good amount of pretty farmland.
#7 Close to João’s house (he was the second counselor)
#8 The accidental 3 hour hike to Irmão Luis’ house. We thought it was closer than it actually was. Luis was baptized two years ago. He is blind and almost completely deaf.
#9-10 McDonalds!!
