Week 26

Monday, June 11, 2018

This last week was really tough... I had to leave my first area. I spent a good almost 6 months here and made many friendships and have a lot of recent converts. But change is something that shouldn’t be feared but an opportunity to grow and help other people. My companion is a Brazilian finally, but he is leaving home in one week so I’ll have to get another one. My city is called Gaurapari. It’s full of beaches and my house is on the third story and we have a nice view. My companion and I are both new to the area so it’s been a real challenge figuring things out. But trials and challenges are good. I was really having a hard time leaving but my first night here we met a man and marked a date of baptism with him. His name is Joao. We baptized him and confirmed him Sunday. 

The bishop here is really cool. He speaks fluent English because he lived in Utah for a few years. I met a member here who knows heather (served in the same mission) and lunches here are wonderful. The beach is nice to. It smells like fish everywhere we go. 

Our church does an activity every night because the bishop isn’t working. He has only lived here for 3 months. He isn’t working right now. But people had accused him that our church is always closed and not open to people. And now it is. 

I hope everything is going great for you all. Remember that trials are a gift from god! We can do hard things! 

Com muito amor...

Week 25

Monday, June 4 2018

This week was amazing. Remember the amazing man Douglas!? Well this week we helped his girl-friend enter into the waters of baptism and they both received the Holy Spirit Sunday. Her name is Raine. But when you try to say it, remember that the R in Portuguese makes an h sound.... It was such an amazing experience to see people change and hold so fast to the gospel. I really don’t want to leave my city. I’m so excited to see how they progress together. We also marked another date of baptism for this next Saturday that is pretty firm. Her name is Jaiza. She has already passed the baptism interview. She was getting baptized yesterday but she is only 15 and we need her mom’s signature that lives outside the city. But the crazy thing is she already has a one year old daughter and is legally married...  Katie and Becca... don’t get any ideas... But she is very excited to be baptized. Her mother in law is the only other in the family that is already a member. But she was less active and we helped her return. 

The riot is continuing so we are not allowed to travel which means that transfers are going be later. Luckily for me it means more time in my city. But other than that everything is fine. A few stores shut down and the city is out of certain products. It is about 16 dollars for a kilo of potatoes right now because they are running out. But the problem is resolving I think. 

Not much else to report. Working hard and receiving mitos tender mercies. Love you and miss you all. Enjoy the pics!

Week 24

Monday, May 28, 2018

So this week was really crazy. There are a lot of things going on right now in the country that have a lot of people worried. So basically gas is really, really high and so is diesel especially. So all the truck drivers are on strike... They are refusing to drive and also blocking the roads for the others who are not. Was this means is that there is no way to receive transported goods in our cities. Like gas, food and stuff like that. So we are running out of food. But luckily president is in tune with the spirit and told us to buy a bunch before. So obedient missionaries won’t have as big a problem. But the military here is waiting until the last second to take control. Because the government is corrupt here so the military has power to kick them out. But if they do this the whole government becomes powerless and only the military has power. It is led by one man who is apparently respected. But still scary none the less. So the president of my mission officially stated that he is canceling all meeting and transfers so I might be stuck in my city more time which is okay with me. But yeah so crazy stuff right? 

But on the more bright side we had a baptism this week! His name is Douglas and I’d like to tell you his story so get comfortable...

I was walking home after a zone conference from the bus station and was really tired and sick. But I have a prompting that came to me in a weird way. It said to me, Elder Lee, you need to buy a trampoline.... And I was like what the heck!? I said it out loud and my comp thought I was delirious. But I got the same message again so I said okay lets go. We went to the next store and I saw a mini trampoline through the window. So I went over and started checking it out. When I heard a voice say in English. Hey elders how are you? I turned around to see a big ripped bald guy with tattoos. I talked to him a bit and invited him to church and left. I forgot all about him. Then Sunday arrived 5 days later and he was waiting for us there. After sacrament he left but said that he loved to read and asked for a book or something he could study so I gave a book of Mormon. We visited him a few days later and he asked what he needed to do to be baptized. I gave him all the pamphlets and taught chastity... Because his schedule wouldn’t allow us to visit him in home because he works and studies at college. We came back again and he asked me... elder lee, I love you. Is there a way to be baptized before you leave? So we marked a date with him. And then we moved his date three times each time more and more closer. And now we are also baptizing his girl-friend who he separated with to keep the commandments. 

It is people like this that make a mission so much more worth it. People that have a hunger to improve and become better people. I learned more from Douglas than he learned from me. It would not at all surprise me to see him as the next bishop. 

But this week was great and full of miracles. God is better to me then I deserve. I also bought a hammock with my son so I could take him camping. Also gave a talk for 25 minutes because they needed me to stall... Almost got trapped in a defend city because of zone conference. But everything is great! I love you all and miss you tons! Keep up the great work!!