Alrighty, this computer's keyboard is halfbroken and
we have to leave to go to the hospital soon, but let me give the short version
of this awesome week! Two weeks ago we were working in a neighborhood where the
people just simply weren't accepting the gospel, and we were praying like crazy
to find the Lord's elects. One day we were leaving our lunch appointment, and
we looked up and saw a neighborhood that we'd never been to. After some more
praying we felt that we needed to go there to work. The first day, we knocked
at a house, and it just had a 13 year old girl with her 5 year old sister, so
we just took down the address and said we'd return the next day. The next day
we went to the address, and met Jailda. Jailda is a single mom who has 5
children, 4 of which live with her. The picture I sent last week is her second
oldest, William. Love that kid :) Anyways, about 3 months ago, Jailda suffered
a neurism, which left her with the left side of her body paralyzed. Since then
she's been bed-bound, and when we met her, she told us that the trial had
really humbled her and she had realized just how much she needed the Lord, had
prayed and told Him that she would stop doing wrong things, and that she'd
begin following the Lord. We arrived there, and she readily accepted a
baptismal date. She progressed wonderfully, and even with a LOT of lies and
discouragement about the church, she woke up early last sunday, and we pushed
her for about 30 minutes all the way to church. Then this last week, her, her
13 year old daughter, neighbor friend and daughter, all went to church to watch
her baptism!!!! Even with a bunch of complications and the both of us having to
do the baptism, Jailda truly endured to the final moment and was baptized on
sunday. It was so amazing to see the happiness of her finally fulfilling her
promise with the Lord. She's such an amazing example of endurance and patience.
It's amazing what the Lord's teaching her.
Also this past week we've been teaching Maycon
(it's pronounced like Michael, but Brazilian pronunciation is funky :D) who's
dad is a member for like 8 years, but now that he's coming back to activity,
Maycon was also baptized and this next week will recieve the priesthood!!! He
loves the gospel and is going to be an awesome example for his family.
Well, I'm just loving life. The Lord is just so good
to me, and I"m so happy to be out here. Love you all so much, and just
know that things are wonderful here!!! Hurrah for Israel!!!!
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From left to right, E Pereira, me, Jailda, Naiara,
Silmara
(neighbor's daughter), and Darcinéia (neighbor)
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-Elder Ballard
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The joyful Jailda before her baptism :)
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Maycon before his baptism!
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Maycon with his parents. His mom isn't a member
and she is
SO difficult to try and teach haha
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