Week Twenty-Seven

"Transfers! Seems ive got even more lessons to learn here in Niló, because im staying for another six weeks! i couldnt be happier, i love his place! But as for my companion, he´s already going out the door! He´s off to Agra dos Reis. Im pretty upset about it too! he´s my good friend and taught me a ton about missionary work. he´s helped in ways that have eternally altered my course, i´ll miss him a ton! meanwhile im getting another Brazilian, Elder Sutto. i hope hes as animated as my prior companions because theres a great work here to be done here in Nilópolis!

As for our investigators- the confirmation of our miracle baptism fell through. Mateus was all set for the confirmation, but the day of we swung by his house, only to figure out he was in the hospital! poor guy almost lost his thumb. hopefully he´ll be well enough for next sunday? Only the Lord knows i guess!

Florlinda and her family have been hard to contact, but the ward is really pulling together to make them feel welcome! the bishops wife(whos the young womens president) passed by with a couple of young women to make the daughter feel like a part of the ward. hopefully there´ll more interaction this week so we can set a date for baptism.

It appears João has had some talk with his very concerned mother, because hes not been answering the phone, and his friend Morôni(member) related to us that hes been avoiding the topic of baptism. its been difficult to work with him since our only connection to him is through Morôni, so we´re having to deal with three different schedules! im hoping we´ll have the opportunity to clear things up with the kid.

Our miracle this week though was an amazing family we contacted in the street! Luisa is an older woman whos grandson took a stray bullet to the head in a gang shootout that he wasnt involved in. just one of the tragedies here in the slums of Rio, so many families are broken here. all we did was listen to her. She cried to us all the pains we here having because of the loss. we told her she would see him again, and set a date to return. a couple days later, we were introduced to the rest of the family. it was heartbreaking to see the impact of thier loss. Ive never seen such sorrow manifested in the eyes of the mother of the fallen son. Silva is an incredibly intelligent women, and despite her loss continues to spead charity and love in her community. but i can that inside her thats shes hurting more than i can imagine. the lesson we left with them was incredible, we were so humbled by their circumstance that we completely submitted ourselves to the will of the spirit. i dont really remember all the things we said, but i firmly believe that this family is elect, and that we´re helping them return to their beloved son. A lot of responsibility, but im putting all my confidence in the lord so we can have the strength to help them enter into the waters of baptism!!"

-Elder Kelland Hansen