Week Eighteen

"General Letter (the enter button is broken again...) Commitment: not a word in the portuguese language! We had 9 people committed to come to church this sunday, guess how many came? it was pretty embarrassing to explian to the zone leaders that not a single person showed up. This week was racked with appointements that fell through, investigators who dont have the desire to progress, and problems within our district companionships that we had to work out(my seniors still district leader). it hasnt gotten us down though! in fact we crushed all of our other numbers this week! Not that work is all about numbers, but the numbers demonstrate how the work is progressing so they are important and a part of the process. We definitely ´´sharpened the sword`` this week, not only did we work hard but we developed, reviewed and revised our tactics of teaching, contacting new investigators, and involving the members in the work. our planners are now booked untill near the end of semptember, with this new teaching pool theres bound to be an elite in there somewhere!     One of the potential elites we´re teaching is Patrícia, a wealthy young woman whose fascinated by the book of mormon, and the story of the early saints. she was up to 2 in the morning one night watching films and learning on mormon.org, she hangs on to everything that we say! its tricky contacting her though since she has an uncertain work schedule, but its been such a joy teaching some with... inteligence! Dont get me wrong, its great to share the gospel with the humble people in the favelas, but with her everything clicks! its great to see a factual testemony grow within her, as well as a spiritual one! We´re expecting to see great progress from her.     Juciara and Solange bailed on their Baptisimal date again, frustrating! Their work schedule is really impeeding the flow of blessings! Juciara committed to leave her work, which will require a great ammount of faith but we´re with here every step of the way. she rescheduled her baptism date for later this month, whereas her mother promised to leave of change her work schedule by the end of the year... looks like we still got some work ahead of us! The work will progress though, my faith is in Christ and thats all that matters! Com amor, Élder Hansen( pronounced Hum sang in Português)"

-Elder Kelland Hansen, September 5, 2012