Feb
27th
2012
“Tomorrow
is
my birthday. :) Wooh hoo :) I haven't even realized it yet as I am
worried about more important things in life. To be honest I´ll
always be 11 years old in my head even though my body may always
grow.” Mom sent him some money for his birthday and he listed some
things he would need to buy with it. They were good solid
missionaries.
“This
week it rained very hard, it is good for the atmosphere and the
climate. I love you two so much and am grateful I chose you as
parents in the pre-earth life. I´m also so grateful for Adam, I love
him so much and miss him like heck. I know that we definitely were
hanging out in the pre-earth life and I am so excited to see him when
our work here is done! :) But Not yet”
“I
love my whole family and am so grateful that I have them in life.
They mean so much to me. All of my brothers and sisters have taught
me countless things in my life. I´m also grateful for my ancestors
who sacrificed so much to follow what they knew was right.”
March
3rd.
Yesterday
we were looking for people to bring to church and we were all the way
in a neighborhood very far from the chapel. I had a little fever
(again) and I was thinking “oh my heck we need a flippin car!”
(two Sundays ago when I was with Elder L------- we got picked up from
two non-members we knew and they took us to church and it was at a
time I had said a prayer for someone to pick us up in a car.) So
yesterday
I
thought that would be so nice if the same thing happened again so I
said a prayer to the Lord and after I was done I started thinking
“wow that's like impossible, no one lives in this area and it's the
farthest away from the Chapel and there's no way this could happen
two times in a row, and I started doubting, and then I thought, “Wait
what the heck am I doing? Everything is possible with the Lord, it
only depends on our faith,” So I said a prayer again and said
“Heavenly Father, I know I doubted you and I am sorry, I have the
faith for you to give us a ride and help my fever, but whatever
happens I know it is your will and I will be content.” In thirty
seconds a car pulled up and inside was a member of a different branch
delivering some things to his cousin and when he rolled down his
window I just sat there looking dumbfounded and he said “Get in!
Lets go to church! I know that the Lord really is in complete power,
we just have to have faith in him doubting nothing, and all will be
well. I have a testimony of the power of our Heavenly Father and his
power certainly is not limited to giving people rides because he
created entire universes and did things we can't even comprehend. I
love you all and miss you all so much :)
March 5
I feel so
bad...I was so nervous reading Joseph's story this time that I erased
it somehow and couldn't bring it back. Joseph had a scary experience.
He was sick with a fever and in bed. His district wanted to go to
lunch and ask if he could handle going. He didn't want them to not
be able to go so he got up and went. Anyway it wasn't a good thing.
He had a high fever and they walked 2 miles in the hot sun. When
they got there one of the Sisters said, “Elder Vincent you don't
look well.” and down Joseph went first hitting his head on a chair
and then on the floor.” They tried to revive him and when he
finally got revived, they walked him into a small room to wait for an
ambulance and he fainted again and hit his head AGAIN!! At the
hospital they told him that he was dehydrated. After a few hours he
went home to get better. Joseph was taken to the hospital 3 different
times.
March 12
Joseph had such
a high fever that he was hallucinating or seeing things not of this
world and saw some scary things happen to him. It was frightening.
This we will not share. He was transferred back to the city of
Gioania.
“Well
I am well for the most part. :) Pres. is a little worried about the
hallucinating or what ever. I got Adam's email about being sick and
how Satan attacks the strong and I feel this is true. When I was
receiving hallucinations I passed through a stage of deep
discouragement pressing upon me for about four or five days and they
weren't like I was sad or I haven't done anything in life but I had
these dark feelings that wouldn't leave. Thoughts would tell me that
nothing will work out in life and that there is no way for me to
continue on. This was Satan.
Here
in Goiania we live with the secretaries of the mission and one of
them, Elder M-- was telling me that Satan always will work hardest on
those who are trying harder. And in the past few weeks he has
really been pushin, but I am good and alive and I am on the mend!!!
:) I think I still have to see the neurologist though. But I´m good
enough to get out there on the road and teach the gospel. :) Oh and
when I got here in Goiania I learned that I would be training again.
:) SO I am here in Goiania with Elder F------- and he is progressing
very well and very quickly. My goal is that he can be able to train
at the end of this transfer just like how Elder V---------- helped
me. Satan can try every thing he knows but he can't stop the Lords
troops if they are worthy and living the commandments. He CAN'T
because our Heavenly Father won't let him. I was very touched
to hear that Isaac had that dream”
Isaac is Joseph's nephew. He had a dream in the lucid part of the
morning and told Ann, our daughter(his mom) That “Joseph was sick
in the hospital and Jesus came to make him better.” He has had
severe headaches since his illness.
March 19th
The big city is
way different for him. Buses, people everywhere etc. There aren't
houses very close, so they have to walk and walk. He has a new
companion to train named Elder F-------. He is quiet/ humble and a
great companion, easy to teach. There's a man in the ward who says
that if you are baptizing that it doesn't matter if we obey the
mission rules as long as you are doing your job. Joseph teaches us
that obedience is the first law of Heaven. We must obey even
if our ideas might be different from our leaders. (Bishop, Stake
President, etc.) Father in Heaven will bless us if we obey.
March 26th
Joseph has had
another bad bout with severe headaches and they are still doing
tests.(I think it comes from a combination of heat and the
high fevers that persisted for days and days.) The mission president
brought him to live in the mission home where Sister Pierto could
watch over him until all of the tests are finished. He has been
doing work with the missionaries in the office, while trying to work
through the pain. He will have another test this week to see if it
is his heart that is the problem. Feeling a bit frustrated, he is
trying to be more humble and quoted Mosiah 23:21. (The Lord seeth fit
to try the faith and patience ) Joseph went one day to the office
to work and someone called the office from the USA. There would have
been no one there to translate, Joseph felt he should go and be there
today and was blessed to be able to help out. (There was a mother of
one of the missionaries who was extremely ill. They needed to talk
to her missionary son.)
April 9th
Because Joseph
had been sick (he's feeling better now, just has to wear sunglasses)
the comps got switched around and he is now with Elder E------- who
is semi-new but learning a lot. Joseph did some splits with the Zone
Leaders in Bealnearo and witnessed a miracle. They were teaching and
Joseph felt he needed to teach a different lesson than the usual
beginning. It was sort of a timeline. The humble family they were
teaching was so amazed and said ´´really?
Alright Alright here's what I´ll do, I have faith that the Lord
answers prayers so when you guys leave I'll pray to know if this is
the church of our Savior´´. They
were answering all the questions before Joseph and his companion
could even ask them. Another miracle he felt happened was when he was
teaching a newly married couple. Joseph's companion got ready to
teach and Joseph interrupted him before he started and felt he should
share a scripture. The couple (that before had been very reserved)
opened up and explained a few doubts they had had. The scripture
helped them and they had a very good discussion about Joseph Smith
and the couple was strengthened.
This
month Joseph also bore testimony that he knows the prophet is the
prophet of God, and that he converses with God.
April
16th
Joseph
constantly has people ask him where he's from in Brazil because his
accent's so good, and he has to tell them that he's actually
American. They tell him he sounds like a Brazilian. There are fleas
in the beds in Brazil, he washed his sheets, but they just don't come
out. Joseph has been trying to strengthen a ward in his area and had
been teaching a girl who was hesitant to be baptized. He said the
following:“She
said that she she was a ´´sinner´´ and it kinda made me laugh. I
wanted to look at her and say ´´and what does that make me, a
squirrel?!?!?!´´” She
eventually got baptized. Joseph said he'd been thinking a lot about
sacrificing for the Lord. He said,
“I was thinking how difficult that would have been for Moses to see
the people he grew up with suffer and die. And that made me think. .
. are we willing to do the same? To give up things that we love in
order to serve in the gospel? He
also said:
I know that we have to give up whatever it takes to obey the Lord.”
Joseph
said he can really feel our love and support.
April
23rd
Joseph
is now in the area of Fama. In the past month and a half Joseph has
been in 3 different areas, and then staying in the president's house.
He talks about how everything happens for a reason. He feels like he
was able to help people and perform small miracles in every area, and
knows it was the will of God. He is good friends with Sister and
President Prieto.
April 30th
This
week Joseph was excited because he saw a huge, dead, vampire bat that
had really sharp, big front teeth. He thought that was cool. He often
talks about different animals he sees in Brazil.
Joseph's
dear friend C----- died.
“My heart cried. C------ is 14 years old and he reminds me of me.
When I got in that area I was very nervous and scared and this boy
was so happy to see me in church and so happy to help us on splits.
We went on splits with him a lot and I grew very close to him. I have
many memories of looking at turtles and drinking coconut milk with
him on the hot days. I learned that his house had caught fire and
that he came out and realized that his family was still in there so
he went in to help and try to save his sisters and he died from the
smoke. I know that The Lord has a way for each of us and I know that
the Lord wanted his excitement up in the spirit world and wanted his
enthusiasm to help and reach out to those who had passed on.”
Joseph
also wrote how just like in the book of Nephi, our Liahonas will not
work unless we show our faith. Sometimes it is dark and the future
unknown, but it is precisely at this time that we have to try having
faith, and our Liahonas will point the way.
An
example that I love is with Moses when the Lord is talking to him
through the bush and the Lord tells him all the things that he should
do. Moses becomes very scared and tells the Lord that he is only a
man and that he has a heavy tongue and cannot speak straight and the
Lord says 'who created tongues? Who created the Man? I did. I am your
God and will put words in your mouth and I will go with you wherever
you go'. And really, we ARE just men and women. Weak and vulnerable
to temptation. But Heavenly Father is much much more. And he is with
us wherever we go. Joseph
also got kicked off the pulpit this month for talking too long. Ha :)
He bore testimony of the Savior and how his atonement was the hardest
thing ever done by a man. He knew he had to do it, and he followed
God to the end because of his love for all mankind.
May
6th
Joseph
gave us info of what to do to get ready for Mother's day. A bomb went
off on the block the Elders were walking on and it took out the
electricity, Joseph and his companion were ok. Joseph ate a pig ear
and shoulder. He ear still had hair on it!! He got really sick and
almost died he said. He's wearing lots of sunscreen and shades
everyday but is still red under the sun. He talks about being
grateful in everything. “
In Matthew 15:34-37 it talks about how Jesus Christ fed the multitude
and this is interesting in verse 34 he asks his disciples how much
food do we have? And when he learns that they have hardly nothing the
first thing that he does is thank the Lord for what they already
have. And then if you look in John 11 verses 33-46 about how Jesus
Christ raises Lazarus from the dead, in verse 35 when Jesus learned
that his friend Lazarus died, he cries. And after they move the
tomb-stone the first thing that the Savior does is pray to God to
thank the Lord for hearing his prayer. How many of us can do that?”
May
14th
Joseph
talks about how time is flying! Some of his friends only have 8
months left of their missions, girls are getting married, etc. He was
disappointed on Sunday because their baptism didn't come to church so
couldn't get confirmed. But he is continually trying to be positive.
The biggest challenge right now is trying to get people to come to
church. He is growing spiritually and mentally, the language is
really good, he says he's worried that he will never be 100% fluent
(always new things to learn) but I'm sure he will be. He bears
testimony:“I
know that the Lord has a way and a reason for everything and that he
loves us so much. We are here on this earth in order to be tested in
the ways of the Lord. I love this gospel and I love this work and I
love being here and serving my Lord.”
May
21st
Joseph
got robbed this week!! A guy came up to them on his bike and talked
to them like he was interested in the church. When they got closer to
him to get his address he pulled out a big knife and said if they ran
he'd kill them and to give them their money and their phone. Joseph
was a little annoyed because it's against the rules to run so he said
he had 3 'reais'. “You
want 3 reais?!?”
Anyway the guy got mad and took all that they had. The companion had
just pulled his money from the bank so they are both broke. :( They
were both upset. Joseph did have a little money at home which is
good. They are still struggling getting investigators to church.
Joseph said that's hard right now, but he also had another miracle.
He had a feeling to go to someone's house who hadn't been to church
in a long time and they said they would go, and the president was
there too!! Joseph was really happy about it. “ I
have a testimony of miracles that happen every day and I have a
testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The more I study
this book the more I see the revelations being fulfilled around us,
and how people reject the Book and our message every day. They can
threaten to kill us, take our money and phone, throw food on us from
the passing buses and continue to preach false things in their
churches about the prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon to our
investigators, but they will never
change
the truth or stop the work from progressing. The Lord will fight with
us. This is a promise he gives to us many times in 1 and 2 Nephi.” |
| Joseph says in this town they use horses and carts |
May
27th
Joseph
doesn't have money to cut his hair or eat. He's kind of hungry. His
companion was angry and had a really hard time forgiving the robber
because his family doesn't have much money. Joseph's attitude was
more humorous. But he sympathized and taught his companion about
forgiveness. Joseph was really grateful and overjoyed to get letters
this week! He has been discouraged because he tries really hard but
at the end of the day wonders if he could have done more. “This
is one of the ways Satan tries to get to us”
he says. He talks about how he is resolved to have more faith and
keep his head up. Joseph hurt his ankle by stepping into a hole and
tripping when he was carrying a big load. He compares it to burdens
we have in our lives like this:
“In
our life when we are journeying from one place to another Satan will
make boobie traps to hurt us and if we are not watching,or are not
paying attention or are distracted by our difficulties,or just life,
the boobie traps of Satan will catch us and hurt us badly. So its
important that when we are carry our burdens we always are looking in
front and paying attention. If we are not, we'll get caught in a trap
and our burdens will fall on top of us”
June
4th
They
have been teaching a young man, D------, who had a hard time
scheduling his baptism (because of work and the temple dedication and
he was then going to move) Joseph worked hard and it all came
together on Sunday.
A
woman said that she was tired of looking for the true church and that
she was finally sooo happy. This week Joseph helped a man look for
work by giving him some phone numbers of people in the ward who
could/or may be able to help him. He has a testimony of Jacob
5:75 where the servants of the Lord of the Vineyard are blessed
because they have labored diligently. “Well
Elder V----------, my trainer will be moving in to live with us for
his last transfer and I am so tickled pink. I will miss him so much.
This is a really hard part about the mission-saying good bye for this
life time. He was a great trainer.”
June
11th
Yesterday
was
the Manaus temple dedication and so there was no church. Elder
F------- I were not able to make it to the dedication because of
complications with the buses. It broke my heart. I wanted to go so
badly and watch the dedication in Portuguese. I miss the temple so
much. Last week I got a letter from Adam telling me how he was able
to visit the temple and as they say on hot rod ´´I´m just green
with jealous rage´´ :) Hahaha I miss the temple and the blessings
of the temple so much. All of you remember the blessings we have of
going to temple whenever we want, while the faithful members here
have to save up a small fortune to travel to the temple. Just
remember that next time you are thinking about going to temple.
Remember this sacrifice that some people have to give. Maybe you will
be able to recognize the blessings of the temple more.”
Oh
today as
I was sweeping and taking some trash out I found a little friend. In
the truth, she´s not very little. She´s very big and she is furry.
. . She has eight legs. . . . And big red fangs. :) (As his Mom I
want to know how he knew the spider was a “she” and not a “he”)
We found a poisonous Tarantula in our house. We are very lucky
because she is not full grown yet-only about the size of an apple and
so I was about to kill her and then I thought “you know. . . life
is such an amazingly wonderful blessing, it would be such a shame to
take this away from her. . . . lets catch her.” :) So I, with my
Steve Irwin ninja skills, and my comp with his Native Brazilian-ness
caught her and put her in a jar. She is now participating in
companionship study and learning more about what she can do to return
and live with Father in Heaven. :) She has stripes on her legs and
big red fangs and beady little eyes. It was quite the Brazilian
experience. AND my companion, Elder F-------, is teaching me how to
do the “Indian calls while they are hunting” and so that's our
new P-day activity. (Little whistles with your hands) :)
June
18th
This
was a tough week for Joseph. They bought 6 bus passes with their own
money to get folks to Stake Conference (1 ½ hours away)and no one
came to the bus stop. They ended up late to conference AND all
their baptisms fell threw. He said it “Broke his heart” but
“Everything has its time like we learn in Joshua and I know that we
did everything we could and that the Lord only tests us with trials
that we can handle.”
:)
One
bright note was that they got to play futball because their Zone(or
district) baptized 120 people last month. He was happy because he
made 7 goals and 5 assists.
“I
love hearing from you all and I have a testimony of this church and
of the truth of this work. One thing I learned today
is that ´´If you want to be able to harvest, you have to plant´´
The amount of harvest we get (or our blessings) depends on how much
we plant. (Work) :) You all can think and ponder on that a little
more. This Church is so flippin true. I love you all so much. Elder
Vinsenchy
June
25
After
last week Joseph was sad and was nervous about the attendance at ward
conference this week, and he wanted to have some investigators there
because there would be a member of the seventy there. He started to
worry but then after a sincere prayer the spirit helped him be at
peace and told him that if he did his part that it would be ok. They
drove to pick up everyone for church and no one was home. He felt
bad, but still felt calm. When he got there, there they were, all of
his investigators.
“One
of them is a strong Catholic person who lives alone and loves her
“traditions.” We asked her how she liked church, she said, “I
didn't like it. Not one bit.” So then we talked about the things
she didn't like and how it was so different from what she was used to
and I helped her understand a few things and when we left I said to
Elder F-------- “She's going to be baptized :) because she is
humble and I feel like she can recognize the love we have for her. If
she has a difficult time in church or understanding the Book of
Mormon I know that our love for her can be a testimony of the
truthfulness of the gospel. Many times this is the way our Savior
testifies of his work-through his love for us. This is what we have
to do in our lives-testify through our love that we have for other
people, especially of our love of the Savior. This experience helped
open my missionary eyes a little bit :) I love you all so much and I
love receiving your letters :) I love this gospel and I know that
sometimes our lives are hard but its like a jolly rancher. Hard but
sweet. :) Like an coconut. You have to break through the rough parts
to get to the good stuff. ;)”
July
Joseph is learning to love the language
and since there are two other gringos in their apartment, he has
realized that he has a good hold on it. He has been with native
Brazilians as companions for most of the time and felt like he wasn't
very good. He is teaching 2 families. One is a very good prospect.
They have a young man named T---- (Chee-....) The other family is
not as strong of a prospect.
There is a man who makes shoes. Joseph
has a pair that he loves and sent a pair to his brother in Sao Paulo,
as a surprise.
Joseph had a miracle at G-------'s Mom,
I------'s baptism.. She is afraid of cold water(they think it makes
them sick if you drink cold water) and so the water was cold and
Joseph said she stepped into the water and jumped back. He said a
prayer and finally she entered the water and was baptized. “when
she left the water she said that it was strange because as she left
the water she wasn't feeling cold anymore. It was interesting for me.
:)” Joseph has other baptisms scheduled for next week.
Joseph
held a meeting with the leaders of the ward to plan a ward activity
and gave a little message about giving our very best and sacrificing
and talked about the sons of Mosiah. The ward mission leader was
offended. Said that wasn't for him. Joseph said he is difficult to
work with and doesn't understand the blessings of sacrifice. But
Joseph said that's one of the reasons he's there-to help the ward
members.
Joseph
caught a poisonous large moth he named Mothzilla and fixed an Ostrich
egg for dinner.
The
Lord really tested our faith and patience and also gave us a miracle.
A kid of about 18 years of age stopped us and started to talk with us
so I did a contact and grabbed his address and we past by his house
after lunch and taught him. He progressed very quickly and so we
marked a date with him and last
Saturday was his baptism and it was so cool! He´s kind
of a gangster kid that dances really well and is really funny but he
grew a fast love for the Book of Mormon and one day we went to his
house and he was messing on his laptop with the Gold Plates as his
screen saver and he was trying to figure out how to download the
talks from the prophets when we got there. :) It was so cool for me
to see and I was tickled pink.
“My
one year mark is coming up and I am so excited to lift up my shield
and sword and fight for the Lord. This time not as a nooby learner
who can't speak or teach very well but as a missionary with
training!!!!! Muah hahahahaha”
“There
was a very cool miracle that happened. Lately T---- has been working
hard and saving his money to buy an Iphone. (Which is SUUUUUUPER
expensive here) and so a few weeks ago he got enough money to buy a
phone and the other day we went to his house to teach him and he said
´´guess what? I bought something sweet!´´I was waiting to see an
Iphone but then he came out of his room holding Sunday shoes and some
bran new Sunday clothes. He had bought his Sunday clothes with the
Iphone money he had saved and I knew that he wanted that phone really
bad. Here in Brasil it's one in a million that has an Iphone.
This kid works really. He is planning on a mission and
does splits with the missionaries. He will receive the priesthood
soon. “I
don't know why the Lord has blessed me with such a big blessing but I
am not complaining.” (Because you deserve it Joseph!)
-Elder Cain wrote for Joseph the last week because he
was really sick AGAIN!! This is hard to hear as his mom. I want to
ask him if he's washing his hands before he eats and brushing his
teeth and wearing his boots. Sigh!!!! He sent word that one of his
recent baptisms went to church on her own and another blessed the
sacrament.
Aug.
Joseph was really sick again but was able to bounce
back. He had high fever AGAIN. But he is well now. T-----'s
sister and niece were baptized and it was an honor for Joseph to
confirm them and confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost to them.. The
baptism was a little different of the niece. She was really shy and
didn't want to go into the cold water. (smile)
“I
have been able to ponder a lot about my life and about my mission. I
want to thank all of my brothers and brother in laws and sisters and
sister in laws because each one of you have been such a big example
for me in my life. I have seen how Satan attacks the biggest social
weapon the Lord has and that is our families. I love how all of my
brothers and brother in laws are worthy priesthood holders who honor
their covenants they made with the Lord and are great examples to
their children and children to be. Also who put Father in Heaven in
the first. I love how my Sisters and sister in laws are Daughters of
God who are preparing themselves to be Heavenly Mothers and who take
care and will take care of their children just as our Heavenly Mother
takes care of us. My family I want to party with all of you for
eternity and I love you all so much. We are all best friends. I have
the best family.” OK WE WILL!!
Joseph
watched a football clip at Zone Conference and talked about gaining
ground “inch by inch” and fighting our opponent by not letting
him have any inches. His recent convert is preparing for a mission by
going to institute or seminary, doing splits with the missionaries
and has memorized the 4th
section of the D&C, and teaches the first vision by himself.
Another covert is reading the triple combination that Joseph gave to
her and they are having a race. She is winning. :( She will receive
a calling soon. Another recent convert is attending primary and
teaching her little brother about Jesus. He feels so much happiness
because they are happy.
Joseph's teaching pool was dwindling and he felt like he
has worked close in to the area of the church all he can. So they
fasted and started at a place that is farther away. It is harder to
get people to come to church when they live so far away because of
transportation issues and the expense but if they come they are
really golden people because they need to sacrifice to get there. He
and his companion have worked really hard and fasted to know what and
who and where to act. They fasted and prayed and really worked hard
and they had a miracle. Nine investigators came to church. WOW!!
Sept.
-Joseph has been fasting a lot, which he says he does to
stay ahead of the opposition. Because while they are asleep the
opposition is at work. He said that last week they had 14 people
come to church and when he reports to his leader he will want to
know how they are all progressing and he will have to tell them 3
came to church this week. He is working with a family that is really
poor but have some big challenges, they are not married and the
father has done some serious things but he loves his family so much
and says that the gospel has really helped to change him. He
says “I
know that families CAN be eternal and that they are a weapon in this
world to use against the adversary.”
-Joseph's
companion was transferred. They had been companions for a long time
and he said it was hard to lose him. His President told him next
transfer he too will be moved. Joseph tells a story that his
President told about a Grandma and her grandchildren and a duck. The
story illustrates the love that Heavenly Father has for all of his
children and that he waits for us to confess our sins so that he can
open His arms to us and forgive us. Joseph said that he witnessed a
miracle with his new companion. His companion wants to do as well
and was nervous and yesterday
was
hard because no one was in church and he thought it was all because
of him and that since he came to this area that it is getting worse
and so yesterday
after
church he was depressed and feeling negative and I chewed him out and
told him about what faith is.....I chewed him out (with love and in a
nice way) and he kind of continued on sad. I told him how he would be
able to help the Lord do miracles here too just like I did with Elder
F------. So then his attitude continued and didn't really get better
and the day continued. All day we were clapping doors and we had NO
success.” But then.....to make a long story short. A woman
approached them and said her son was endowed recently and that she's
been going to his ward and that she can not be baptized because she
doesn't have money to get married, but that her daughter's want to be
baptized. Wahhh Laaa. Answers
-”Well
so I am super excited for our Y----- She is doing really good. She
was worried to get baptized this week because her dad has problems
with drinking and temper. Her mom wants to be baptized too but she is
not married. Money is not a problem, the dad just doesn't want to.
Anyway they might be moving to a place where there may not be a
church close by and so she told me the other day I don't know if I
want to get baptized because of this and this and this and she told
us these reasons. Instead of pressuring her like the missionaries
might be tempted to do, I gave her my opinion and bore my testimony
and we asked her to pray about it. She prayed and yesterday
after
church when we went to her house she said ´´I prayed. . . and I got
an answer. . . I want to be baptized on saturday´´
And I was like Wooooooo hoooooooo! Her brother who is a strong member
will try to come down from BrasÃlia and if he can come we are going
to see if he can baptize her. :) It's going to be so awesooooome! :)
That's one more for team Savior!!! I am so happy that the Lord
blessed us so greatly and had angels come to help with her. I know
that my relatives and my friends that have passed away are here
helping me out and I know that they were in there helping her have
courage to face her father and to work through her other fears. :)
Like it says in Alma 26. My favorite chapter in Alma. ´´are our
fruits little? I tell you no. They are great.” Because we did our
best in being a tool in the Lords hand so that maybe we could bring a
soul unto salvation.´´ I love you all so much and I know that The
Lord is here with us and that he guides and watches over us. I know
that we don't know everything but we do know enough to be able to
have faith and move on in life. All of us can and WILL be greatly
blessed if we keep the commandments and help each other. Elder
Joseph Vincent
-Joseph's companion dropped his camera and it is GONE!!
He asks with puppy dog eyes to please buy one here and send it
because they are VERY expensive there. Equivalent to over $300.00.
Ok Joseph we'll send one. (His first camera was dropped by a
companion in the MTC) Sigh....I'll send him mine, it has good luck.
We know because it has survived our family. :)
Oct.
Well
this week there have been tons of miracles and happiness but I have
little time. I just want to say that it has been good for me to be in
this area.
Sunday I
was able to look at everyone I helped bring into Church and that fire
gets inside your heart. Not fire of pride but fire of ´´I did my
part´´ I was able to look at all the people and think about the
prayer, fasting, running, fighting, sweat,dread, and all of the
things that I did to help the work of the Lord in this area. :) I
like it when you see your patriarchal blessingbeing fulfilled. :)
-I
was transferred again and now I am in the area of Garavelo!!!! The
ward is great and the area is the 2nd biggest in the mission!!!! :)
Well in this area I don't have ONE position of Leadership but I'm
super good with it. It will be nice to get a break and just work my
rear end off!!!! I´m training again-my third kid. He´s so awesome.
He pretty much came pre-trained. We get along great and I like him a
lot. He likes to work hard. :) So, can I say that General Conference
was so awesome!!!
I
think that the best talks about the Savior are given by Jeffery R.
Holland. I LOVE his talks!
-This
week Joseph taught us about agency. He talked about a woman he is
teaching. This woman has suffered with depression for 11 years and
has been on medication. When she read the Book of Mormon she
declared that she had never had such peace in all her life, even
while on meds. He is teaching a young man named F------- who is a JW
and his wife, F------
-Joseph
made something called Piqui(prickly fruit?)You have to eat it just
right or the quills stick in your mouth. They went to the President's
office for worthiness interviews. “Oh
and my wonderful family!!!!(and friends) This week I saw a Toucan!!!
It was really cool! It flew by super close. They are big birds! They
don't look that big in pictures but they are big!!!! I was happy when
I saw one so close. He was like ten or fifteen feet above of us.
That was pretty cool!!” Husband and wife
couple need to get married(Fe----- and Fr-------)They were taught
about Eternal marriage and it was a great experience, They live far
away from the chapel. This week the missionaries were asked to focus
on more responsible people, as they have a higher retention rate.
-They met with the
ward and stake leaders and set up things for the couple to get
married.(the bishop will perform the marriage of Fed---- and
Fran-----.
Joseph had a dog
come after him while carrying groceries and got him with his
groceries. Whew!!! The dog face planted and ran off. :)
