I think so. Maybe not. It's been a while since I weighed myself.
How are your shoes?
Pretty beaten. I'm on the second pair since the beginning of December, but there's only a scratch in the leather and a hole in the ball of the foot. I'll probably put duck tape to take out a few more weeks, but I'll probably buy a new pair. (They're cheap here, about $15 for a work shoe)
What are you planning to do for Easter?
I don't know. I guess we'll find something to do. If I get my box today, I guess I'll eat a lot of chocolate. ;)
Are the people there nice to you when you come to knock on their gates?
Sometimes. In fact, they are that type where many don't want anything, but let let us off kindly with a few excuses. Some people hide, others send their kids to lie that they aren't there (I'm glad you never did that... I think), and others just shake their finger then ignore us. Very few bite back, so for that I'm glad. :)
----
This week we did a lot of service, including a deep cleaning of a member's very short attic, so we're basically aching all over. However, pain is good, because if you're not in pain, it means you didn't do anything. As weight lifters say, no pain no gain. Although directed mostly to your muscles being exercised and sometimes ripped, the phrase actually extends to just about every part of life, because going up implies climbing, and easy street implies descent into who knows what.
Anyway, this week is finally starting to get cold, and the fan is being quickly switched for a blanket to sleep at night. In addition many investigators have decided to stop investigating, so we had the privilege to renew our teaching pool, and therefore, meet a lot of new people. One family we found was really special. John and his wife are a simple family that had really difficult pasts. John, specifically, had gone through a life living on the streets and saw his life go from the worst conditions ever, to the point he is today, with a small home of his own, and a loving family. How he said he did it? By faith.
Growing up in the streets, he never had the chance to learn anything. As he put it, his best grade in school was a 0% and he never got any better. He grew up sleeping in front of churches, begging for food, and getting a few jobs here and there cutting wood or other chores. Finally, when he was already a man, he decided to better his life, so he applied to be a fireman. For three months, he sat with many other high school and college graduates listening to the instructions given, and watching them read the thick manuals. He could only sit there and pray for God to help him. When it came to the very last day, they all took the exam, and courageously, John told the chief his situation, and stated that he needed someone to read the test to him. So the chief read as John prayed and sought God for every response, one for one until the exam was completed. When the exams were all completed and graded, the other students averaged about 50%, but John, by his faith and courage, scored the only 100%. He did it.
As we began teaching John, this same faith showed itself in his desire to follow anything the Lord asks of him, and the miracles that are manifest in his life each day. After teaching about the Book of Mormon, we challenged him to read it, promising that if he believed, God would help him. Sure enough, the next time we arrived, he had been able to read and understand an entire page, and was starting to rocket through the text. John, like many others, is an example to me, helping me always remember that faith has unimaginable power if we just allow it act within us.
Thanks for everything and all you do. Until next time!
Elder Angus
phrase of the week:
fogo nos ossos (foh-goh nohs oh-sohs) Meaning fire in the bones, or the Brazilian equivalent of "fired up."
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