Week 46 - A busy week in Cabanagem

 This shirt is a gift from Elder Steindorf's family!

Elder Steindorf representing for the Crimson Tide!

Clay's birthday package arrived 3 weeks early!

A Father's Day Surprise Picture!

Hello!

So this was a good week for us. We had a cool experience with a lady we met a few weeks ago when we were having a really tough day and then we said a prayer and started knocking doors, I think I told y'all about that. Well the lady that we found is progressing super good! She is preparing for baptism this Saturday. She has a pretty tough life. She is an older lady and lives with her daughter (who is special needs) and her mom who has 86 years. And her son. They live in a very small house. She has trouble sleeping because her son is almost never at home. He is in his thirties and has problems with drugs and what not. He doesn't work so he started taking stuff from their house and selling it at a flea market so he could buy his drugs. He sold their tv her pots and pans and even their food. Now when she buys food and what not she leaves it at her neighbors house until she needs it. I try to imagine her life and I can't. But she is always so cheerful and she is real excited about the gospel. She was looking for a church that would help her feel better. And the Lord sent us there to help her. 

So let me tell you about one of the craziest things that has ever happened on my mission. We went to our zone leaders area on Friday to interview one of their investigators that was going to be baptized. We got there and were walking down the street and there was a woman a few blocks up the street. One of the zone leaders said, "Elder Green, I´ll give you $50 if you can make a contact with that woman, or even just shake her hand." The other zone leader then said, "I´ll throw in another $50 if you can at least shake her hand." So you know me. I'm thinking these guys are nuts! I have done thousands of contacts on my mission surely I can at least shake this woman's hand. So I confidently accepted the challenge and went after this old lady while they stayed at the top of the street watching. She was standing behind a car which was a little strange. So I walked up very calmly and said, "Excuse me". As I said that she closed her umbrella and I was thinking, Uh oh. Then she used the umbrella as a sword and came at me. She screamed, and I quote an exact translation, "Get away from me you vagabond!!!!!" She continued to scream that I was a thief and other things. So I immediately turned and walked back up the street as she kept screaming. When I turned the corner our zone leaders were basically on the ground laughing so hard. So that is definitely an experience I won't forget. And I don't think I'm ready to give up. If I go back to their area this week I will try again;)

So there is a lady that has been coming to church for over a year. She comes every Sunday but does not want to be baptized. When we baptized Ana, this lady told her that she would like to be baptized too. So you know we went to her house this week and talked with her. She is stubborn and a little difficult to deal with. Once she decides something no one can change her mind and she gets mad really easy. So we went and talked very calmly with her and she enjoyed the conversation. After talking a little bit about the church I asked her, "What does God want from you?" She then said that He wants her to be baptized. So I got all excited and invited her to be baptized on the 25th. She then said no. That she will be baptized one day, but it will be on the 11th. She doesn't know which month yet, but it will be on the 11th. So that doesn't make any sense at all!! You can imagine my disappointment. But as I said, she doesn't change her mind for anything. We tried 2 more times to convince her that the 25th would be as good as the 11th but it didn't work. I feel confident that she will be baptized one day - I just wish it was going to be on Saturday...

So I went to the mission office last week and got the box you sent for my birthday. The shirt fits fine. Mom if you want to send me some more pants that would be good. And some beef jerky please.

Well that's about it for this week.

Love Yall!

Elder Green

MISSÃO BRASIL BELÉM

MISSÃO DE MACHO. NENHUM VENTO É FRESCO.

Alan - a young man in the ward received his mission call to Argentina! 

Translation of an excerpt from Elder Steindorf's email for this week -

Everything happens in the Belem Mission... 

This week was normal. One day we made a contact with a woman on the street and she attacked with an umbrella. Hahaha. And another day we saw a snake on the street. We are working with a woman who has a chance to be baptized on Saturday but nothing is confirmed yet. 4 months on the mission - 20 more and I'll be at home again! Next Sunday is Transfer Sunday and it is likely that I do not get more time with Elder Green but we do not know yet. There are several rumors that we will have major changes this transfer.