May 6, 2008

First of all, we had Zone Conference, which is a once in a six week conference in the Zone where all missionaries gather and The President and his wife talk about how to strengthen the mission, what we can do and how we can improve ourselves. It was a very pleasant suprise because Sister Todd is in my Zone! We got to chat it up about our last three weeks in the field. She is doing great! Sister Franca and I also wore our "twin" outfits (we bought the same shirt and skirt the previous p-day). It was so wonderful to be able to speak some English with the other Americans, and to finally meet my Mission President. However, he has been called to Serve in the Quorom of the 70 and in six more weeks we will have a new mission President, President Richardson. He has 12 children!!! But only 4 will be moving to Brazil with him and his wife. Sister Franca is devastated because she absolutely loves Sister Texeira, and will miss them, as evidenced by her sobbing during Conference when they spoke about leaving.

So this week threw us some unexpected challenges. We has visited Alzenir for two nights in a row. We were going to talk about the Word of Wisdom both times, but she slammed us with personal stories for an hour both times. We could barely get a word in, and when we did it was "lets say a prayer", "this is a good scripture" "goodbye". The third night we went back determined to talk about the Word of Wisdom, and the first thing she says is "Sisters, I don´t want to be a liar, so I have to be honest in saying I don't need your church. I read the Book of Mormon says the same things as the Bible, and so I'm going to keep going to my Church" I was shocked. I bore my testimony right away that the Book of Mormon does not say the same things as the Bible, because where is the Bible does it talk about Christ visiting the Americas, about all the prophets that the Book of Mormon contains, and especially the promise contained in Mormon 10:3-5. Yes, we believe in the Bible, but no, the Book of Mormon is not a copy of the Bible. She apologized and said "oh, okay, I will read it" a little passively. I was so crushed, mostly because she is so confused! She kept saying "Don´t be sad, Don´t be sad" and said we were always welcome in her home, but we are sad. Sister Franca said that she probably had been speaking with a friend about us and the friend said some things that scared her away from wanting to hear more about the Gospel. Her doors are always open though, so we will one day return!!

Otaviano is progressing and will have his baptismal interview this Friday. He seems a little nervous and was suprised that he could be baptized this soon, he says he wants to be baptized another week, but we said he is ready. He still has trouble with the reading, but I found out from Sister Franca that he is a Real Estate Agent (something I didn´t pick up in a conversation) so we know that he CAN read, but we think that he chooses not to because he doesn´t like to.

We also have an amazing couple that just showed up to Sacrament Meeting Last week, and this Sunday the Mom returned again. They are out of our area, so we referenced them to the Elders, but the Elders didn´t follow up, so we left our area yesterday to go and teach them. Their son got a pass-along card from the Elders on the street and showed his parents, so they decided to find the church and attend. They have 10 children, 8 which live with them between the ages of 5 and 18. We are going to ask for special permission to keep teaching them. They are an amazing family, very special and ready for the Gospel! I wanted to add a special part from "Jesus The Christ" that talks about miracles (pp. 147-149)"Every miracle is a sign of God's power; and signs in this sense have been demanded of prophets who professed to speak by divine authority, though such signs have not been given in all cases. . . .Miracles cannot be in contravention of natural law, but are wrought through the operation of laws not universally or commonly recognized. Gravitation is everywhere operative, but the local and special application of other agencies may appear to nullify it- as by muscular effort or mechanical impulse a stone is lifted from the ground, poised aloft, or sent hurtling through space. At every stage of the process, however, gravity is in full play, though its effect is modified by that of other and locally superior energy. The human sense of the miraculous wanes as acomprehension of the operative process increases. . .future possibilities, the development of the gasoline motor, aerial navigation. . .these are no longer miracles in man's estimation, because they are all in some degree understood, are controlled by human agency, and moreover, are continuous in their operation and not phenomenal. We arbitrarily classify as miracles only such phenomena as are unusual, special, transitory, and wrought by an agency beyond the power of man's control. In a broader sense, all nature is miracle. . .In the contemplation of the miracles wrought by Christ, we must of necessity recognize the operation of a power transcending our present human understanding. In this field, science has not yet advanced far enough to analyze and explain. To deny the actuality of miracles on the groun that, because we cannot comprehend the means, the reported results are fictitious, is to arrogate to the human mind the attribute of omniscience, by implying that what man cannot comprehend cannot be, and that therefore he is able to comprehend all that is. The miracles of record in thhe Gospels are as fully supported by evidence as are many of the historical events which call forth netiher Protest nor demand for further proof. To the believer in the divinity of Christ, the miracles are sufficiently attested; to the unbeliever they appear but as myths and fables. To comprehend the works of Christ, one must know Him as the Son of God; to the man who has not yet learned to know, to the honest soul who would inquire after the Lord, the invitation is read; let him "Come and see".
Come and See, Everyone, the Gospel of Jesus Christ Restored to the Earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. All are Welcome!

Com Certeza, Amor, Paz, Alegria and every other word in Portuguese that is Good!
Sister Tittelfitz