I contacted a man riding a horse. He was just riding a horse in the road and we just were staring and so he stopped. He looked at my nametag and then started speaking to us in German. Then he switched to English. "Oh you are American! John Wayne is my hero! I also really like Benjamin Franklin. He said once..." Then we started talking to him about the gospel. His response: "Christian-ism is a good religion. Much better than Judaism or Muslim. But I don´t know if it´s better than Buddhism; I´ve never tried that." We kept talking and then when we tried to set up an appointment or get his contact info,he just rode away into the sunset.
This week, our main focus was "Operation Carlos". There is a part of our area called Vale Figueira where we go every day. There is going to be a branch there someday, at least that is what we are planning. There is a menos ativo who lives there who is the KEY to success. Basically when he comes back to church, at least 5 other people are going to be baptized, including his friend Manuela and her nephew Nuno, and his ex-girlfriend Nádia and her two daughters. And then he will become branch president, and will marry Nádia, adopt her daughters, and they´ll all get sealed. So to do that, we have an 8-step-plan. We are on number 3 right now---get them to come to church. They almost came yesterday, but then Nuno got sick and so they all slept in. But this week we´ll get ém!
Patricia and Bea are doing well---but their mom says they can´t get baptized until they are 18 :( So we are going to keep teaching them and pray really hard that they can stay firm until then!
The other day we were in an apartment complex trying to visit an appointment and there was a HUGE group of people having a party. They asked us to take a picture, and they all sat on the stairs. Perfect opportunity! So after we took some pictures we asked if we could sing a hymn. They said yes. We sang "Count your many blessings". One lady was snapping her fingers to the beat... We just sang the first verse because at the end they all cheered. We asked to say a prayer, and then our member Jessica said a lovely little prayer, but then they all cheered again and clapped. So strange.
One investigator we are teaching is SO COOL. His name is Joaquim and we contacted him on the bus. We invited him to English class and he came and then we invited him to church. We called him on Saturday to remind him and he said "Of course I am coming! I bought a white shirt!" And sure enough, he came to church in a white shirt and tie. He looked like a ward clerk or something. He got divorced recently and the gospel is about to change his life forever. :)
I read a scripture this morning in personal study--Isaiah 26:3-4. I love that when we trust in the Lord, we will have PEACE and STRENGTH (I especially need that one!) And it´s true. Sometimes we are walking and I am like "I don´t know how I am doing this but if Heavenly Father says I can..:" And then all the sudden I get a burst of energy or I understand what we need to say to help our investigator. And I know that the same thing can happen for non-missionaries too. If we trust in the Lord (which includes obedience, and trusting in His commandments), we will know how to live our lives and we will be happy! Heavenly Father is so wonderful.
I hope you are all healthy and happy! Enjoy the week--it will be a good one, I can tell. :) I love you!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. My feet tan.
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