photos November

11.26.12

As for the week. . . . .

This week yielded great results.  We worked hard.  Tuesday was pretty difficult though.  EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING fell through.  We basically walked in the street all day and couldn´t get anything to work for our own good.  But the rest of the week got better.  Taught some.  Invited to baptism and we had  2 baptisms this week.  Nilda, 26, and Elvis, 14,  It was pretty great.  Nilda has been investigating the church for a long time.  She was almost baptised when the other Elders where here but she went back to her boyfriend who isn´t to good for her.  After watching her suffer a lot because her boyfriend is extremely wicked, she finally moved out, found a home for her and her 12 year old boy.  We didn´t see her for like four weeks when I was with Elder Armoa but she appeared one day in the condominium and we marked a day to pass her house and she accepted the date for baptism and yeahh... Went pretty well.  It was great because Elder Dias, the last Elder that passed this area, came back and did the interview for Nilda.  She passed the interview and was baptised.  It was very nice watching her progress to baptism.  Elvis used to go to church a lot.  He was never baptised because something always came up on the day of his baptism, at the start of the transfer I felt inspired to pass his house and reinvite him to church.  He didn´t go the first sunday, but this sunday he went.  Elder Dias interviewed him, and was baptised.  A miricle if you ask me ha.  

The sisters also had a baptism, of a woman named Cledina.  She is great, photos will follow.  And basically that is it.  We are hoping to find a family to baptise this transfer.  I love finding the people of whom the lord prepared.  It´s a wonder to watch the process of conversion.  You truly see the faith of the person grow each visit as they progress towards the waters of baptism.  The gospel is real

Elder Diamond

11.19.12

As for me i´m doing good.  The week was pretty interesting.  After p day, we had a family night with the recent convert families in this area.  That was good.  The next day I went to work in another Elders area, it was sweet.  The area has mountains and looks like utah.  After that day we went to the office and grabbed our "sons".  My kid is named Elder Pinheiro.  He is from São Paulo.  He is kinda quiet but he is just nervous and is a bit timid.   I get along with him though.  Apparenty when he opens up he is pretty crazy.  It´s funny seeing a missionary fresh out of the MTC.  They have a great spirit about them and they don´t understand anything but they have the will to help.  When he shares what he studied he is always talking about how excited he is to be and help others.  I forgot how like new I used to be ha.  As time goes on you slowly learn more and more every single day and looking back on who I was when I got into the field.  The growth is really really big ha.  It doesn´t seem like it but i´ve changed a lot spirtually, I like to think for the better.  

The rest of the week was good.  We taught a lot (more of just me teaching because he has to learn it all) and invited to baptism.  We hope to have at least 3 baptisms this week.  Nilda ( 27) Rafael (12)  and Caio ( 11).   Caio was going to be baptised this week but he got sick saturday night and had to go to the hospital.  It´s kinda funny Brazilians love to go to the hospital when they are sick.  Even if it´s like a cold.  They take their kids to the hospital.  I laugh...  

I´m feeling great, quite happy at the moment and feeling good to watch my weekly disney movie.  :D  i´m such a kid haha

Elder Diamond

11.12.12

I can´t believe there is ALREADY snow!  I´m not gonna lie, got a bit trunky looking at my car.  Oh how excited I am to drive again haha.  I hope all is a well back in the 801. 

So about the week.   This week was quite good.  I really enjoyed the result of the week.  We taught pretty good and ended the week, and the transfer, with three more baptisms (will attatch pictures).  Everything is going pretty well for us.  We taught a lot and should have two more baptisms this week... But one thing.   Elder Armoa got transfered!  I can´t believe that 6 weeks came and by already that fast.  My new companion is.... I don´t know yet haha.  I was called to train.  So I will be in José Walter 2 for the next 3 months at least.  I´m excited to say the least.  It´s going to be quite the experience.  This has been one of my best transfers that I have had spiritually speaking.   I really started to get along with my comp the last 3 weeks and what happens. . . . He gets transfered ha.  But it´s alright, I created a good bond with him and i´m sure the Lord accepted our transfer. 

Jaquilene, Emanuel, and Rafael were baptised.  The baptismal service went well and the spirit was present.  It never gets old preparing for a baptism and seeing the difference of the investigator before and after the baptism. 

Love you
Elder Diamond

Nov 5

Thanks for the letter, as usual, it´s always nice to hear from you.  I´m so jealous the cold season is going to start here in a bit, I miss the cold so much.  THE BEST.  It was funny I was at the bank (has air conditioning)  and I stood right under the cold wind and closed my eyes and imagined myself walking down Hackamore circle.  Ahhh good times.  

They had elections here a little while ago, it´s funny how they do it.  Hahah I laugh just thinking about it.  They have cars with huge speakers on top of them drive through the streets playing a little music theme song that each of the candidates made.  The last week before elections it´s just a mess of stickers and music.  Roberto Claudio won this election to be Governer of Fortaleza.  Was pretty cool seeing how it works here. 

So the week was pretty good.  Lots of good things happened.  To start, i´m getting a long a lot better with my companion.  I´m seeing the best in him and he is a great kid.  We work quite well together now.  The test still comes everyonce in a while but it´s all good haha.  José Walter 2 is pretty hot here.  This week their wasn´t really any wind.  I was burning my face off....  Oh well I just close my eyes and do what my trainer taught me.    It´s just a hot shower.... Extremely hot.... We taught a decent sum this week and the Lord is preparing prepared investigators for us.  We were going to have a baptism yesterday of Jacqueline and her son Emanuele, everything was ready to go she was at the church ready to go and guess what happens.  She had like a stomach problem and had to go to the hospital like 10 minutes before her baptism!  Oh well this week will be alright!  

We found some new couples and families that have a lot of potential.  We had 10 investigators and sacrament meeting and we have 9 possible baptisms this week.  Please pray these 9 souls that are EXTREMELY precious in my eyes and the eyes of our heavenly Father.  I love you all good luck! 

Elder Diamond!

Nov

This week was very good.  I feel as if i´m pretty focused on this work.  I am really starting to enjoy the mission and teaching.  It´s becoming my life ha.  I can feel myself changing each day.  The change comes in a different way now.  I feel the influence of the spirit very close to me throughout the day.  Looking for divine inspiration to help others is a joy that always brings light to my heart.  The darts of the adversary still come everyday.  But when you are thinking of others it´s not so bad.  My understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is growing by the day.  I´ve realized that ever choice I make brings me closer or further from the Savior and his Light.  It REALLY helps me make descisions.  I have this huge desire to study and learn, which I thought I would never have.  I´m on an up at the moment, so I am quite happy. 

 

Things got better with my comp this week.  My patience is still being tested but I´m learning to be better and better!

 

We had a baptism this week.  Gabriel (17) made the descision to be baptised and join his family.  It´s funny when I first got here he didn´t really want to be baptised.  So we gave him some space and let the lord work with him one on one and the lord did his part.  He prepared him and he made the descision.  About half of his family now are members.  The mom, dad, youngest son, and now him are baptised.  Just two more to help.  The other son (maxuel)  made the descision to clean up his life and go to church to follow the savior.  He is great, we are helping him to quit smoking and follow the commandments of the lord.  The last to be baptised I think is going to be Karina(14)  she is in a rebel phase at the moment and has no desire to go to church.  I can see the spirit of the lord already working in her though.  I see her observing the change that happend to this family over the last couple months when Elder Armoa and his last companion found them.   

 

We should have three baptisms this week.  Rafael (12) great kid, he SHOULD have been baptised yesterday but he went to another part of the city to visit his family.  He gets home tomorrow.  Jackalyne (28), she is great, she wants to be baptised along with her kid Emanuele (10).  Haven´t marked a date with the latter two, we are going to try to shut the baptism this week.  Prayers are greatly appreciated as always. 

 

This work is true!  This is Christs church!

I´ll send photos next week

Love

Elder Diamond!