NOTE: This letter belongs before the one below it, it got skipped over due to Danielle's presence in the house. I literally got nothing done while she was here (aside from a very silly letter to Jess) since this was the last I was going to see of her for almost 2 years so...there's my excuse. Here's the letter...enjoy.
No, nobody died. At least, nobody I know. However, over the past few days I've been stuffed with at least twice my weight in Brazilian barbecue. The more remarkable thing, though, is I'm still nothing but skin and bones. :l I'll have to work on that.
Hello anonymous reader, please don't hit that Esc button just yet, this letters only just started. There's plenty more space to be wasted with my weekly toils.
I guess I'll start off by saying that gold has rained from the heavens. This week, I received a wonderfully heavy package filled with little red sweets.
Is it... can it be?...It couldn't be, yet it must!... Or should it?...Maybe...I should just open it...Skittles!
The last few days I've felt like Santa Clause, bestowing bountiful sweets upon those that I meet, that with me they can rejoice in its goodness. There's really no stranger way to put it. But really, the branch is moving a little faster down here. With these bountiful drops of fruity sweetness, combined with chocolate chip cookies (another thing they don't have o_o) I've been pushing the work along just fine. Okay, not really, but I like to think I'm doing more than "being the gringo." Oh well.
Well, I guess I should actually say something constructive now. Here in Ivoti, the work is continuing as strong as ever. People are progressing, more people are being found, and each and every day, we are getting closer to baptisms for everyone. The only problem is that no one her is married, and the bureacracy here makes this very difficult to solve. However, this doesn't slow down the change in the hearts of the people we've touched. One family we've been teaching from the very beginning. At first, we only encountered the wife and daughter and began teaching them. Over the first couple of weeks, it continued as such and the father absolutely refused to talk with us. Then, after about five weeks with them receiving our discussions and going to church, we found the father in-house and ready to receive the discussions. The funny thing is that this was the first time my new companion visited them, so he had no idea this was so remarkable. Just the other day, the father was with us, cutting the grass behind the chapel, and happier than ever.
You may wonder what made him change his mind. It wasn't us, it wasn't his family convincing him to do so, but instead it was the example they set, and the good changes he saw in them over the first few weeks that developed a desire in him to do the same. At this point in time, they're probably one of the strongest families I've seen investigating the church, and when they eventually get married and baptised, I have no doubt they will make a powerful addition to the church.
Everyone, if there is one thing that is undoubtably true, it is that when we live and learn the true principles and doctrines of Jesus Christ, we change for the better. As King Benjamin put it in the Book of Mormon, we have a "mighty change in our hearts, and no more desire to do evil." Truly, the blessings of the restored gospel of Christ are unimaginable, and the power can be seen by all in the example of those who live it. Make it a responsibility, to sew all you can, to live what you know, and the blessings and happiness of heaven will be poured out unto you.
Thanks everyone for your love and Skittles, the latter being nearly as good as the first. >:D Sorry if my english is getting worse. If it helps, my sister will probably edit this beforehand. Maybe.
Até mais!
Elder Angus
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