Prayers of the Faithful

This week I'll be short. For one, I'm short on time, and second, I'm on the Lord's errand. If there's anything I've learned this week, it's that sickness doesn't help the work, and the work is short on time. 

Over the last few day's I've been carried away by the flu, and even now I have trouble speaking and hearing. However, what's funny is that I'm so ignorant of my own health, I still tried teaching everyone I could with a high fever and a strong headache. (Sorry Mom) But of all the torture that I passed this week, there was one moment really special. After a day of full out flu, we finished our day in the house of one of our best investigators. This man was always a great example of faith to me, and when I arrived in that state, he was worried about me. We taught a short lesson, and then asked him to finish in prayer, something he never takes lightly. After a bit of hesitation, he agreed and made a truly sincere and faithful prayer, thanking for the things that he had, and asking that he, his family, and the Elder that is sick (Me) could be healed. The spirit was really strong in that moment and we all said goodbye for the night. No more than five minutes afterward, I was fine, no longer held bound by my sickness.

The faith that this man had, and the sincerity of his pleas with Our Father in Heaven was such that healed me in an instant, and this I cannot deny. We always say that "faith can move mountains," but what might be even more important than our faith is our desires and our sincerity with our Creator. When we simply repeat ourselves, our requests are vain, but when we truly open up unto him with all of our heart and mind, he will comfort us and strengthen us, and he, without a doubt, will respond to our prayers.

Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers and support. I'll try to send more letters here in a little.

Elder Angus

Word of the Week:

preguiçoso (preh-gi-SO-zoo) Meaning lazy. There's a fine line between genius and lazy.

Circumstances

Sometimes I look at my name tag and think, "Wow, I'm actually the missionary now." Ever since I was a child, I'd thought about being a missionary, but I don't think I ever really imagined what it would involve until about two weeks into the mission. How interesting. :P 

Anyway, this week was especially gratifying. Yesterday, we finally were able to bring three special investigators to church that had never arrived there before. But, even more special than them arriving was what they felt and learned. One woman we'd been teaching ever since I'd arrived here in Rio Pardo. She had lost her son to drugs a few months back and was really devastated. Then after we began to help her understand a little more, she began to really desire to go to church. Unfortunately, every week had an excuse; work, visitors, birthday parties, even sleeping. Finally, this week she decided that without a doubt, she'd go to church. Once there, she felt so good, she began thanking everyone, from us to all of the members, for all that they'd done to help her feel good. She returned home ready to tell everything to her husband, and ready to return every week she could.

The other more interesting story is that of Daniel. We've been teaching him quite some time, and he's one of the greatest people I know. Unfortunately, he'd never had time off work since we began... until now. However, although he enjoyed church a lot, what was even more special was the night before. Just to help him really be interested in going to church, we did a tour of the building, showing the rooms, the baptismal font, and finishing in the chapel. When we arrived in the chapel, he got really excited as he laid eyes on the piano. After playing a little, he told us about an experience where in a time of need, God had provided him with a keyboard and taught him how to play. In just a month, he'd been playing better than everyone else. Ever since, he'd felt that God wanted him to play in a church, but every other church he visited didn't feel right. Then, when he saw the piano in the chapel, he knew. As he put it, something so good and so big grew in his heart that he could barely stay in the building too long. :) In that moment, he knew where all the pieces came together.

It's moments like these that truly make the work worthwhile, and truly testify to me the power that God has. Our father knows and guides each and every one of us according to our own selves, and he will prepare all to receive and to know of the truth through whatever means arrive closest to our souls and our hearts. What we decide to do afterward is up to us.

Thanks for the prayers and support. I'll make sure to send photos next time. Until then, vai com fé, nada duvidando.

Elder Angus

Phrase of the week:

vai com fé (vai cong fey) Go with faith.

P.S. For those who want to know, my companion is from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais born in the church and a lot like me. :P 

Firm Foundations

Leaving Colorado, I thought that maybe the weather would become more stable. Unfortunately, the weather here is just as unpredictable here as it was there. One moment it's freezing cold with powerful winds and heavy rain, the next it's clear skies and blazing hot. The worst problem of all is it changes so quickly that everyone gets sick. But in the end, I hear I didn't get the worst of the weather front. Unfortunately, my family doesn't inform me very well, so I only hear rumors from people that watch the news down here. As far as they're concerned, the whole country is being destroyed by tornadoes and hurricanes. My prayers go out to everyone affected by the various disasters. 

Anyway, this week was fun, first of all due to my new greenie, Elder Pereira. He was born in the church but only his close family are members. As well, he's part of the first 18 year old crops that are entering the mission field, but even so, he is almost more prepared to serve than I am. I have alot to learn. :D The only problem is that he's as ashamed to talk as everyone else. It's interesting how all of us really want to talk about something, but are really shy about it. When the world is so loud, we should let the gospel shine forth if we expect things to get better.

Last week, Vladimir was baptized, but I didn't have time to explain why. This man had been going to church since the dark ages. He knew it was true, knew it was better than any other he'd visited, but because of daily trials and persecution from others, he never joined. Even a few members had begun labeling him as crazy or saying that he'd never be baptized. However, my companion and I, and a few members on our side, did as Jesus directs and saw him as our Heavenly Father does.  Despite all the trials, the problems, the past, we saw him as our brother and continually invited him to become better and feel better through the gospel of Christ. Finally, we arrived one day and he was happier than I'd ever seen, and excited to speak with us. We asked if he'd received an answer. He looked at us with firm resolution and said, "I cried like a baby."

Last year, the prophet spoke to us on how we should not see people as they are, but see them as they can come to be. Truly this is an eternal principle, and I can witness of it's truth. Had we continued thinking the same way as others, that this man was crazy, that he'd never change, he'd still be in the same state of misery he'd been before. We are all children of the same Heavenly Father. We have a responsibility to help all of our spiritual family be comforted, helped, and best of all, informed of the great plan of redemption given us through our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for everyone's prayers and letters. Unfortunately, some packages are still only rumors and haven't materialized in my hands, but I hope for the best. May god be with you all, always.

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

envergonhado(a) (en-ver-goy-nyah-doo[duh]) means ashamed or made shy

Pilars of Light

Mosiah 18 gives us a great understanding of what it means to be in the church of Christ. We must always seek to do what is right, and show kindness for one another. We must mourn with those that mourn, comfort those in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places. We are the light of the world, and we must shed our light upon all who are in the house. This week, more than ever, we had the pleasure of lighting the way and the truth for those who needed it.

For the past few weeks, we'd been teaching the daughter of a member. The mother, already old and unable to walk, spoke with us, and her, the importance of God in her life. Then, just a few days back, she passed away. Moments like these become really difficult for people to overcome, even for those who understand the hope that comes after death. Just a little bit afterward, we'd begun planning how we could help her overcome this sadness, but came up with nothing but a few tears and a few shots in the dark. Then, when we arrived in her house yesterday, we began to talk, just following the spirit. By the end of the lesson, everybody had gone dry with tears, both of sadness and of joy, and we left feeling better than ever. 

In the end this showed something to me. As one of our recent converts said, "when God's with you, he'll put the right words in your mouth. You just need to speak." If I had more time or could write faster, I'd pass hours just on this subject, but sufficeth it to say that we should never be worried about what we'll say, or how we could help.  Just pray for the spirit and open your mouth. The rest will be up to the Lord.

The weather here is a killer, switching between hot and cold faster than Katy Perry, but all is well with me. Thanks everyone for your prayers, letters, and worries. If there was anything I could ask more, just give my family a great big hug.

Anyway,

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Calçada (kal-SAH-duh) Meaning sidewalk. Apparently the government isn't responsible for the sidewalks, so there are many places where there isn't any. :l