"I dont know where to start this week! The companionship change has thrown me through a loop. 5 months with the same person was pretty strange, i wonder what marriage will be like!
Élder Carvalho is awesome though, he possibly the most humble person ive ever met. Hes and Indian guy from Belém(Northern Brasil), he doesnt have much but what he lacks in temporal blessings he balances with spiritual ones. He´s constantly giving service. We spend a lot of time just listening to our investigators and establishing relationships with them, rather than just giving a spiritual message and leaving without progession. He has an open heart wand hes ready to work. We´re determined to revive this dead area! One of our goals is to reestablish our relationship with investigators who have fallen off the radar.
One of the investigators that we´ve picked up again is Patrícia. She is a single woman with one daughter, and a ton of potential. She remembers all of the lessons we´ve tought and really loves the church videos since she cant read at the moment(shes due for surgery). the only reason we discontinued our work with her is because she was in the hospital for a few weeks, but shes still wanting to learn more so we´re there for her!
We reactivated another family this week! Our search for the lost sheep has been pretty sucessful. Our baptism number isnt too hot but its not about about the numbers! Working with the less actives is just as important as our work with investigators. Im glad we were able to a fallen away family return to the fold and renew their covenants with God.
How great was Gen. Conference? I dont think ive ever been so spiritually filled in my life. While i wasnt able to race offf after preisthood session to Red Robins and grab a bite, i was able to recieve the strength and knowledge necessary to continue the work. My favorite talk by far was given by Jeffery R Holland. SO powerful! I asked myself the same question that christ asked peter- do you love me? Its something we should ask ourselves every day. Do we really love Christ? Our desire to follow him will increase when we look deeply in ourselves and ask this question. If ye you me, Keep my commandments(john 14:15). Im so glad i chose to answer the call and represent Christ. sweet is the work!"
Week Twenty-One:
"Transfers! Big changes happening here in our zone, including here in Niló! Elder Rumsey will be transfered to Petrópolis, the coveted interior during the summer. While he labors in the mild temps and scenic mountains, i get to melt here in the favelas of Niló! Im excited though, my companion will be a Brazilian! Élder E.B. Carvalho is coming down from the interior as well, i hear hes a way good missionary so there should be good work up ahead.
By the end of this coming transfer i will have served 6 months here in Nilópolis, and its been overall a great experience. Elder Rumsey and I have gotten pretty settled in to our routine, we´ve been working here as if Christ will come tomorrow. i hope Élder Carvalho is just as animated.
Our area is needing a new element. earlier this week we had 6 baptism dates marked for the 14 of october. that number has now cut in half, and the three remaining investigators have been evading us it seems! we´re struggling to find people who are capable of making the necessary changes in their lives to live the gospel. Its become extremely apparent how wicked the culture is here! Satans got grip on the hearts of the people, its been a pretty dificult task finding the elietes. I havent lost hope though! Faith and obedience are our tools and we´re going to have sucess through the Lord!
Diana and Flávio, the family we´ve been visiting with frquently, have lost their progression. They related to me that they feel content with the faith they have now (evangelical). I asked them if they read from the Book of Mormon and prayed about it, and of course the answer was no. I explained to them that no matter what we do or say, we cannot gain a conviction of the validity of Book of Mormon without reading, pondering, and praying about it. I gave them Morôni 10:3-5 (Morôni´s promise) to read and asked them if they would recommit to read and pray to recieve an answer about the BoM. They then told me that it would be dificult to squeeze 3 VERSES into their busy schedule this week. How lazy! Our week was filled with many more annoyances and derailments, but i´ll save my breath for now. I have big hopes for this coming transfer, Im way excited for General Conference! Maybe they´ll announce a tample here in Rio? I sure am praying, cross your fingers!"
-Elder Kelland Hansen
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