Letter #51

Dear Family, Beloved Others,

What a week this week has been. I cannot do it justice with words, no matter how much time I could have. But, of course, I´ll try : )

Where to start? I went to Londrina Tuesday for a training for the trainers and also to pick up the "greenie," whose identity, I might add, is a secret until the last moment, when it is revealed in a powerpoint ceremony, picture included. Pretty exciting, except that my future companion was last to be assigned, by which time everyone else already had their companion and you had to know who it was. Just saying. But if I remember correctly, I was also last. His name is E. Nascimento, soon to be Elder Alves because of the apparent abundance of Nascimentos already in the mission. 

He is from the Amazon jungle, seriously. Look up Rondônia on the map and you will see what I'm saying. He's not indigenous in any way however, quite the opposite, very well-mannered, studious, obedient and excited to teach and baptize. That's what I'm talking about!

( Elder Cummings and Elder Schenewark, who were the only two missionaries in the training center to come to Londrina, were made trainers at the same time.)

Returning to the process of training, however, has been interesting, as we study an extra hour almost every day and it just feels so slacker-ish, fubeca in Portuguese. It isn't of course, but still, we don't waste any time to hit the asphalt/jungle here. I am loving the ability to lead the study, something I've felt missing both before in my mission, but also as a general trait in missionaries. Successful study must be given direction, it must be planned, and purposeful and of course include practice. The key word for this last week was growth--with the exception of my hairline--and one way I have felt myself really grow spiritually and as a missionary is through the study that we have been conducting--active, dynamic, focused, spiritual study. Bem.

Well, while I was growing in all the above, I also began to lead my district Tuesday morning, which was...fun ; ) It's good, lots of growth, especially my experience preparing my first district meeting with the expectation of other leaders in attendance. I think I passed alright. I gave a training and we spoke and practiced about the extra effort that can be made that allows a good missionary who baptizes and teaches to become an incredible missionary who edifies his area, baptizes, teaches with the power of conversion and seeks constantly to fulfill his purpose. Highlight had to be the start of the meeting when we arrived at the chapel only to find that an old member had passed away the night before and that our meeting room was being used as his (open coffin) viewing room. Let me tell you, nothing like the sight of a very old very dead guy to get you going in the work of salvation. This life is the time for men to perform their labors, it is the time. . .

Well, I'd like to share lots more but time is short. Three highlights that made my week or poignantly defined it.

1. Tuesday one of our newly reactivated members, one who has shone absolute conversion, repentance and strength of testimony--was kicked out of his house by his mother as he refused to leave the church to deny what he knew to be true. So he went to his grandmother's house nearby and was sent packing again with the charge that so long as he wanted to be Mormon he could stay away, there was no place for him there. This 13 year old boy with a testimony of someone much older called me crying and lost as I returned to the area with the new elder. As I tried to arrange a house for him to stay, or some arrangement, my credits ran out on my phone, my phone died and we made a desperate run back to the house to use the other elder's phone. He slept that night, as we weren't able to either find or contact him, in an open car in the street. We returned the next day only to have his grandmother swear, and threaten us violently. We quickly left and called upon the members who found a house for him temporarily and we close effectively that part of our area for the week after counsel from our leaders and prayer. Last night we finally resolved the situation. He has officially been adopted, we taught the relatives the gospel, they repented of their ways, at least partially and everything seems fine. That's the story quickly. When we found him he was drinking all day every day, and his parents were fine with that. Needless to say, this future missionary has demonstrated what lies at the heart of our message of the gospel: It's true isn't it? Then what else matters. Please remember that.

2. I conducted my first interview, it was a sweet spiritual experience to see a soul prepared for baptism witness that they were willing to make this sacred promise with our Father in heaven.

3. Elder Nascimento (name is so longggg) and I had a very sweet experience in his first opportunity to teach the restoration. He taught well, forcefully even and made his first two invites to be baptized, both accepted. The spirit was such that as we knelt to offer the closing prayer, and as the prayer ended the young couple we were teaching wept silently touched by what they knew not, pierced to the soul.

It is such that the work goes forth. I do hope that this week you will set aside a little time to rescue, to invite, to teach, to perform priesthood ordinances for those who need for the first time or again the renewing power that only the gospel can bring. Christ lives, he is our Saviour and Redeemer. I feel enabled by his sacred sacrifice as I strive to move forward this holy cause,

Love,

Tanner