Week 36 - The work goes on in Cabanagem

Clay and Elder Steindorf at their baptism last Saturday!

"Aqui tem Milagre!" means Here's the miracle!!

Hello!

So we found out about transfers yesterday and me and my companion are staying here! We were happy to hear that because we are just starting to get things rolling in the area.

We had a really good zone meeting on Wednesday. We talked a lot about the importance of spiritual experiences. Since that meeting me and my companion have recognized at least 1 experience every day! They are always happening, we just have to look for them.

After the meeting, we did an exchange so our district leader could interview our 2 people who were going to be baptized. So he stayed with Elder Steindorf and I got to go to his area for a day and a half. His companion is American and just arrived in the mission so he doesn't speak much Portuguese. But he sure loved having me there so we could talk in English. I haven't had a real conversation in English in quite a while so that was fun. I enjoyed staying with him. I learned a lot and I think I was able to help him some too. 

So we have been teaching this lady for a while. Her son is a member but she was very firm in her other church and didn't have any desire to change. But we have been working with her and little things have been happening to help her receive an answer about the church. She finally decided to be baptized, but wasn't very firm. Her husband doesn't want her to be baptized because he wants her to go to church with him. But we took her to conference last week and afterward she said that she will be baptized on the 16th no matter what. She said, "I already made my decision. I know this church is true and I can't deny the answer I received. I won't change my mind." That was a really special moment for us. The same woman who just a few days ago couldn't commit is now willing to be baptized into the true church! But we don't want to cause trouble with her husband so we will start teaching him and baptize him too! :) So that was one cool experience we had this week.

We had two baptisms on Saturday. We have been teaching one lady for 3 months and finally she was baptized. The other lady was a reference that we taught for 2 weeks and she was ready to be baptized. It was a wonderful day for them and for us.

So another experience: We were walking down the street with a member last week and a man walked past us on the other side of the street. The member said, "That guy is really good, he was taught by the missionaries 4 years ago and really wanted to be baptized, but the missionary that taught him was transferred and after that his mom didn't allow the baptism. His name is John Baptist." Weird right. So we decided to pass by his house the next week and talk to him. But then on Sunday, a missionary that served here in 2011 returned to visit the ward. Guess who it was? The same missionary who taught John Baptist! So after church, we went to John's house and he wasn't  there, but his mom remembered the old missionary and was super excited! She said John still talks about the missionaries and he hasn't forgotten about the church. So we marked a day to go back this week and talk with them. It was super cool - the whole thing!

We have been studying a lot lately about faithful prayer. Prayer is essential in missionary work. If we don't pray right we won't have the Spirit, and if we don't have the Spirit then we won't convert and baptize people. Prayer is a conversation with the Lord. We are literally talking with a real person. The Creator of the universe. Prayer shouldn't be taken lightly. Prayer is something very sacred that we should prepare to do throughout the day. If we pray with faith, God will hear us and help us. Once me and my companion realized this and started praying more faithfully, we have had more experiences like the ones I have shared here. Prayer is a great privilege. So we should make the most of it!

That's all for this week!

Love yall!

Elder Green