"81"

Missions are full of 'Cleaning' Experiences. For instance, this week we have decided to do a clean-sweep of our investigators who are not progressing. In other words we pass by there house and give them a 'Frank Discussion' saying that we know the Book of Mormon is true, leave our Testimony, say that they are always welcome to attend Church, leave them with a pass-along card, and don´t return. It is sad sometimes to think that these might be lost opportunities, on our part and theirs. But we continue to search for the Elite, for those that are ready to hear more about the Gospel.

This week we made contact with Maria Aparecida, an 81 year old woman who lives alone. She has been practically abadoned by her only daughter, who has not talked to her in years, and three months ago stopped sending her money. She cannot walk very well or very much as she has extreme pain in her feet. She also doesn´t eat anything but bread and milk as she says she doesn´t know how to cook. We got some help from members and got a ride for her to go to Church on Sunday. It was kind of a funny experience. We got her out of the Car and a member was on her left side, Sister França on her Right. She started to shout 'Solta, Solta' (Loose, loose) in reference to the grip that the two had on her arms. I thought she said 'Assaulta' 'Assaulta' and for a moment I thought that maybe she forgot where she was and that the member and Sister França were assaulting her. I got really concerned when a bunch of members ran up to her thinking 'Oh great, now she´s really going to think she´s being assaulted by a mob of Mormons'. Fortunately everything was resolved, and she spent the next three hours softly doozing off to sleep in every class and Sacrament Meeting. We passed by yesterday and she said she needed to buy some cream for her feet. We got her out onto the street and she immediately became a screaming maniac shouting 'Move!' 'Get out of my way' and called many men who wouldn´t move 'Stupid'. It was kind of awkward and embarressing for Sister França and I as we are wearing our nametags that say 'Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' and are dragging a screaming woman around in the streets. I think she has had a lot of pain in her life and generally does not have a patient or loving attitude towards strangers. But each person is a child of God, and we love them all the same. Plus, she has 81 years, give the lady a break!

She is ready for baptism, but we probably won´t baptize her. She cannot stand alone, and although we were joking about it when we talked about it, she would probably scream all the way down until she started to drown in the water. Her work will be saved until later :)

This has been a week where patience and Charity have been evident nearly every day. We are learning how to be patient and how to have Charity.Charity is the purse love of Christ, and it brings so much joy to my hear to give, more than to receive. One thing I learned is how I can adapt to the culture here. We were in Maria´s home and she had a wall clock that was broken. I fixed it for her and then hung it on her wall. She said 'no, I have another one, you take this one'. My thought was 'No I fixed it for you, plus we don´t need it'. Sister França accepted her invitation and took the clock. Later Sister França made me carry the clock home, and I said 'I didn´t want to take it, it´s just a clock'. Then I got a stern tongue-lashing from Sister França that I need to give up my 'Culture' and accept the fact that people here, no matter how poor they are want to give. It is the culture in Brazil to give things, trade things and no be very unselfish. And if someone poor ever offers me a wall clock again, I will accept it.

I feel there is so much more to write, but the time has passed quickly. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Restored Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. I don´t have any doubts about this. I love this Gospel, I love my Savior Jesus Christ.

Have a wonderful week everyone,
Sister Tittelfitz

1 is not a lonely number!

´Twas the week of 1´s this past week.

The First, and most important One, was my FIRST Baptism! Priscilla was baptized on Friday. She is a wonderful 24 year old that the Elders contacted way back in December and taught her every lesson, she went to church a few times, but then decided that she needed to have her Cirisma (?) first in the Catholic church. So the Elders stopped contacting her. She approached me the first day that I was in the field here as she recognized our name tags. I remembered not knowing anything that she said but I remembered her name. Then I came across her form in the area book and it was very apparent that it was the same person. Nearly 6 weeks passed and one day Sister França and I decided to pass by her house. She was home, invited us in and we started to talk. She says "I´m ready to be baptized now!" Wow, it was incredible. So we retaught her all of the lessons, set a date for the Baptism, and now she is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

Another 1, the same day as the baptism of Priscilla was the Anniversary for Sister França of her First Year in the Field! We bought a celebratory pizza (which unfortunately was not very good. The cheese in Brazil is pretty strange!)

The Last 1. My first Temple Dedication is Brazil! The Curitiba Temple was dedicated this weekend. It was so wonderful to see the Broadcast of the Cultural Celebration the night before and then see our Wonderful Prophet, Thomas S. Monson Dedicate the Temple on Sunday. He has such a warm and incredible personality. It was a very special occassion for Sister França too, as she is from Brazil. The temple there is Gorgeous! There are these large trees that were left on the property and the temple was built around them. I don´t know the name of the trees, but they´re very tall with the leaves only at the top. I felt such a warm spirit during the dedication. It is such an incredible testimony to me that the Church exists in the same form in the whole world. Temples exist in every continent in the world, and our Prophet receives revelation for members everywhere! This is the true Church of Jesus Christ restored in Latter Days!

News on the investigators.
Unfortunately Claudia has not returned. She is most likely in the Favela lá com her friends. We pray for her return.
Otaviano continues to be stagnant. However Sister França says that often the "mole" or the "soft/lazy" investigators are the ones that need the most time, but eventually come through after months of work by the missionaries.

We have been studying a lot this week about the Expiaçao, the Atonment of Jesus Christ. This is one of the central doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ, and this plays a huge part in our purpose here on earth. Because of the Atonment of Jesus Christ, he has already suffered for all of our sins, however, our personal responsibility has not been taken away. We do sin, we do commit errors everyday. But He already knows how we feel, because he already felt the same pain in a such a greater way than we can ever realize. We therefore need to do our part by using the Atonement to our benefit. How? Repent, and invite Christ into your life. It is like the picture where Christ is standing at the door knocking, but there is no door handle. He will not force his way into your life, he will not open the door and invite himself in. WE have to be the ones to open the door and allow the powers of the Atonement to work in our lives. Our pains can be lifted, our lives can improve, and we can feel the Love of Christ greater in our lives. Alma 34:8-10. Read these scriptures and then ask yourself, Why do we need the Atonement. Pray, and through the Power of the Holy Ghost you will have a greater understanding of these things. This is a my testimony that I leave with you!

Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister Tittelfitz