Week 14 - Weddings in Obidos!!!

Oi!

So this week is a little different. We have a zone meeting on Thursday in Santarem and we are going to have a zone p-day there as well. So today isn't our p-day but we still are allowed to email. We leave Tuesday night on the boat for Santarém and arrive Wednesday morning. Elder Capello has to go to the doctor there and the guy could only see him on Wednesday. So that's why we have to go a day early. We will most likely do a split with the zone leaders there on Wednesday and stay the night with them. Then we'll be ready for the zone meeting on Thursday. So that will be fun! I am always down for an adventure. 

And the next week we will go to Óriximina for the marriage of an older man and his wife. It is cheaper there and we can get the marriage certificate on the same day where as in Óbidos it takes a long time and is expensive. The man's wife has been a member since the church first started here in Óbidos 18 years ago. She was baptized by the first missionary here, Elder Wilson. He is American and everyone talks about him. He is basically famous here. He came back for the dedication of the new chapel a few months ago so that was cool. The older couple doesn't have much money so Elder Wilson is paying for the marriage. The husband has been coming to church every Sunday for 3 years. Very firm. But he can't be baptized until they are legally married. It has taken us a while to help them get that all worked out but they did and he will be baptized!! So thats cool! 

We will also go back to Santarém next week because the President will be there with one of the counselors in the Brazil Area Presidency - Elder Mazzagardi! So that is special. A lot of traveling these next couple of weeks. I love it!

We had a very special experience/miracle yesterday. The missionaries have been teaching a family for 7 months - a young man and a young woman and their 8 month child. (A very fat child.. seriously I have never seen such a big baby. its crazy) The man is the brother of a very strong member. The couple has been firm in their desire to be baptized the whole time the missionaries have been teaching them. But there were a couple of problems standing in the way. First they aren't legally married and second the young woman was only 15. Her birthday was November 3rd so the plan was for them to get married and then be baptized. That was the plan all this time. The man was out of town all week but we visited the girl a few times and she was very excited. We had to do all the paper work for the marriage so it could be sent to the zone leaders in Santarem because they travel to Belem this week for training. Then they will give it to other missionaries in a city where you can marry a minor without both of the parents present (since her father lives far away). So it was quite the process. We would get the signature of her mom who lives in Óbidos. Everything was set. The girl and her mom were very excited all week. Then on Saturday we went to see them. The man  was asleep because he was very tired so we didn't get to talk to him. But the girl was really sad. She said they weren't getting married anymore because they are too young for marriage. We were very confused. They are already parents and for 7 months they have worked with the missionaries and seemed anxious to get married. And now she just acted like it was all over - no marriage and no baptism. When we left we were very confused. The devil really waited till the last hour to step in and mess things up. 

We said a prayer right outside their house and many more that night trying to decide what to do. Finally we decided we needed to go to their house on Sunday morning and see what was up. We got the man's brother who is a member and has a car to drive us to their house. The man came out and we briefly explained what had happened the night before. He said he was very tired when he got home and said some things he shouldn't have said but he was better now. So we said let's go to church! It was 9 o clock at that time but we said it was ok if we were late. So they all got ready and came to church. Gospel Principles class just so happened to be about Eternal Marriage. Coincidence? I think not! After church we didn't ask them about their marriage plans but said we would come visit them later. That night we brought the bishop and his wife- who was 16 when they got married. It was one of the best lessons I've had yet. The bishop told his conversion story and afterward they were both excited to be married. But we had to have all the paperwork and money sent that night because the zone leaders left today. So we got the brother to drive us to the girl's moms house so she could sign the paperwork. They don't have any money so the brother paid for the whole fee. Then we went to the boat and sent it off! It all worked so perfectly. We fasted and we prayed, and the Lord softened their hearts and made things work out. It may not sound like much but it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. 

We also taught an English class at the church and we found an English teacher at a school. So this morning we went and taught English to 2 of her classes. Its funny because she's teaching English but she doesn't speak hardly any English! We were thankful for the opportunity though!

That's about it for today. I love all of yall!

Elder Green