Letter #96

Dear Family,

Are you excited? Don't forget there are still six more weeks of work : ) You can be very excited though, as I am as well. It is perhaps a testament that families were designed to be together forever that our very being yearns to be again together. We are not meant to be separated for very long and certainly not after this life. You'll have to be gentle with me though when I get back because I'm not quite as durable as I was when I left, physically speaking. Although I have picked up, naturally, throughout the mission, incredible Brasilian jujitsu moves that will allow me to completely dominate any future wrestling matches : ) yup.

This week was very, very rainy, and officially as far as being cold goes the beginning of winter here in Brasil. Gray skies though are not a reason to have gray spirits. In a week and a half the cup of the world starts here in Brasil. Normally (they tell me) all of the streets are painted yellow and green, but this year due to the apparent corruption and robbery demonstrated in cup preparations, the populace is disinterested, deceived and depressed, so I don't expect much excitement or out of the place happenings because of the cup, which will finish on my last Sunday here in the mission. Keep tuned for cup developments.

This weekend we had stake conference in Tiradentes with the presence of President Genaro and President Lima, first counselor. The president returned from his trip to the seminar for mission presidents with FIRE, and quickly let the stake know that we are here to HASTEN the work. The work is very simple, it just has to be DONE, and daily. We haven't seen much of the president due to interviews, the seminar and now more interviews so I can't share much news on that front, nor much of what Elders Nelson and Anderson taught.

Imagine our surprise on Saturday after being told we would have an hour and a half to train the ward mission leaders and missionaries when the day before they had told us fifteen minutes. . . : ) Luckily Presidents Genaro and Lima decided to unload and left us free to listen: )

Sunday we confronted freezing rain and dark skies, leaving early to get investigators for the Sunday sessions. Dressed to the nines and without umbrellas I'd say that we were considered the "foolish things of the world" by all who saw us, but it was well worth it for the two families who felt the warming and sanctifying influence of the spirit during conference. We had three baptisms this week but all out of our area. The sister and brother in law of two young women converts was baptized in the other stake in Londrina, and a close friend of a couple, who had attended their marriage was baptized in another ward. The fruits of member missionary work are undeniable.
 
The other couple converts sang in the stake choir this Sunday. It was an emotional moment for me. I remembered back five months ago when I had taught him that strong drinks were not for the body and that in front of his house on Christmas, the drinks being strongly present. The gospel transforms those who follow it. Never forget that. They sang "A Child's Prayer" and "This is the Christ" and tears flowed freely.

Even one of my young woman converts received her mission call to serve in Porto Alegre South mission : ) I think that was the happiest moment in my mission. She leaves the 18th of June, before I even go home! and is hurriedly sewing dresses and reading and rereading her call packet. I don't have any more words to express the joy one feels at such times as these. I will likewise never forget the day we found them and I challenged her to read The Book of Mormon to discover again the testimony I knew she had. I was sure we wouldn't be let back in the house again because of the firm insistence we used to call them back to church and activity. The result was quite the opposite and we've been going back for lunch ever since! Her mother is also preparing to go to the temple to receive her endowments.

This is the last week of the transfers and it is a doozy! we finished last month with 113 baptisms, and have seen rapid, SUSTAINABLE growth and that makes me very optimistic for the future of the mission. I sent you a graphic I made showing the baptisms of men this year. I know it is in Portuguese but I think you can read between the languages: )

This week we are preparing for the many changes to take place next week, as well as the 18 missionaries that will be arriving on Tuesday. Yesterday, Tuesday, we already had 23 people marked to baptize this week, about 2 to 4 times the normal amount this early in the week.

Rain doesn't stop us. The world cup doesn't stop us. This is indeed the work of God. I love you, and am praying for you. Pack with fervor and share the gospel wherever you are.

Love,

Tanner