"You're Fishing For Something Else" -Old Fisherman

Whoops! Missed a week, but I'm back today with another quick update from here in the Brazil Itapecuru... I mean Brazil Teresina Mission!

I currently write this email from the Stake Center in São Luís, Maranhão, a city that is about 2 hours away from Itapecuru. We had our zone conference today and got to help out President and Sister Lindsay with everything.

This week was a fun one; we decided that we were just going to work purly with members these past couple of weeks to 1) firm up those who are already members of the Church and 2) find through them. We ended up finding three families and a young man through that, so we are definitely excited.

One of these families, that of Nonata and Gabrielley, we found after asking for referrals from Hirlanildo and his mother Fátima. Nonata and her granddaughter Gabrielly became incredibly excited from the first moment we went to their home. Hirlanildo and Fátima had talked about the Church for some time and Nonata became anxious to be a member of it. They were both baptized after sacrament meeting yesterday and we are already starting to teach Nonata´s daughter: Thais. If all goes according to plan, she will be baptized after fast and testimony meeting on the first Sunday of June.

I don't know if I had mentioned Clenilma before, but she and her son, Leonardo, are two that we had tried to help be baptized the Sunday before last. We met her after asking for referrals from Euncie, a member who was baptized with two of her sons by the missionary who later became my trainer: Élder Azevedo. After we had taught all of the lessons and even after her baptismal interview, Clenilma told us the Saturday before her baptism that she changed her mind and wouldn't tell us why. When we went to her house to talk, she refused to give us the reason. Then she didn't go to Church that Sunday. Despite everything in my head telling me she didn't have interest and that it was a waste of time for us to go to her house again, we went this past Saturday. We sat down and literally just asked her what her doubts were and why she wasn't baptized. We hadn't even really prepared any sort of lesson. She then went on to explain that she hadn't understood the Law of Tithing and thought since she doesn't work that it would be a sin for her to be baptized and not pay any sort of offering.

"That's it?" I asked.

It really was, and after explaining the commandment once again, this time asking more questions along the way, she looked over at her son and said, "well then we're going to get baptized aren't we?"

(The Portuguese-speakers will appreciate this response from Leo):

"Sim mãe. Eu quero ser crente."

So we'll be baptizing them (if everything goes according to plan) this Sunday.

Socorro was a referral from Nonata. She watched Nonata's baptism, felt the Spirit, and wants to get baptized this coming Sunday as well after receiving the lessons. Her daughter, Gleisiane, has also shown interest.

Wesley is a referral from Arlison (who was baptized in the swimming pool last month), Wendel, who we invited to a movie night and Church. He went to both and now wants to be baptized as well. That will be this Sunday.

I watched the last 10 minutes of "17 Miracles," which we had played for movie night at the Church, and cried. I can't help but do that every time I watch that movie, even if it is such a small part of it. Look it up and watch it if you get that chance.

Strange news: my flights are already booked for my return trip in July. That's a very strange feeling. I am going to choose to ignore it for now. Early notice I know, but I will be at Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming at 5:11 p.m. on July 15th if you want to go. 

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Mark 9:23-24

I read this passage this week and just wanted to share it. 

Sometimes we feel like we lack the strength to do the hard things. Sometimes it is even the simpler ones. Sometimes it is to the point where we feel like we lack the strength to put one foot in front of the other.

If we just have the humility to reach out to our Savior, our Redeemer, our All, He will take what little we have and make more out of it than we ever would. 

Just believe! That doesn't necessarily mean believing in yourself. Believe in Him!

Something I love to say is "Faith is when we trust in Christ more than we doubt ourselves." At some points that might even just be a desire to trust.

That's how most of the miracles in the New Testament started.

Love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! The branch proposal might finally go through this week! Please keep that in your prayers!

Love you all (again),

Élder Lindsay