Week 59

Monday, January 28, 2019

Sorry for the boring tittle. But this week was a lot of working with members to get their confidence. The work of missionaries is impossible without the help of members. Retaining converts is impossible without members. So It’s crucial that we have good relationships and friendships with them. People here are super amazing and good, but they have little experience and need help to catch the vision. We had a meeting with the bishop on how we could do that. We have a few things that we are excited to try. 

As for the families we are teaching... A lot are really progressing. Yesterday we brought 6 people to church with us and they all loved it. We called members before and told them names and showed pics of the people so they could enter and people would call them by name to welcome them. We have 20 year old Mariá who has a 3 year old daughter. And the mom of Mariá who is Maria (without accent over the a). They have a little trouble with the Word of Wisdom but are willing to change. This week will be important for them to get baptized next Saturday. 

We still have the two little girls. We have reactivated the family and are getting a little closer every day. Who knows if it can still happen this week.  

Miriam is having lots of trouble at work so we are putting her on hold for a while. 

But over all those are the big ones. We have a few leads we will work with. Over all the field is white and harvest will be great. I’m so grateful to get to be a part of it. The work on this earth is really accelerating and we are lucky to be a part of it. Temple work is really being pushed here. I’m super excited for the Rio Temple that is coming this year. Take advantage all of you that live by the temple. There is no better place!

PS - Fun fact... I’m the ward music director. And everyone makes fun of my girly (but accurate) leading style. Thanks for teaching me mom and sisters ;)

But I love you all tons. Sorry I don’t have any better photos.

Elder Lee

Week 58

Monday, January 21, 2019

So my new area is great. There are lots of things we will get to start doing to get the work moving along here. But the weird thing is there are no hills... I feel super weird and out of place. It’s not an area very appealing to the eyes but it’s gonna be great. My comp is an elder from Chile but currently lives in the USA with his relatives. So he speaks English and I’m getting to re-learn Spanish. I’m DL of 8 awesome elders including the zone leaders. I get to live in a house with 4 elders one of which is my trainer on the mission. (My mission dad) I never thought I’d get to be so close to home again. It’s great to talk about areas, people we taught and what not. Here in a few weeks we will have some baptisms.

First is Miriam. She is dating a guy online who lives in Utah. He gave us her info by sending a reference. She now loves the church more than him... but when we teach they do a face time call and he participates which is cool. Her only problem is she works... like a lot. So Sundays are hard because they are trying to hire another but until them they are killing her. She is solid but will take a little while. She has already been to church once. Over all we will baptize her and get her sister Sara to jump in the water with us as well. 

Second there are two kids Nicole and Nataly who have 9 and 11 years. The whole family are members but a little less-active. They are scared the girls will baptize and go in-active. But we will be pretty straight with them and get her to sign the papers and let them be baptized. We are working on strengthening the family. And we have a bunch of others who are a while away but have potential. 

I’m excited to get things going and make a real difference in this city. I love you all and hope you all have a great week. You are always in my prayers!

This was me saying good bye to my old district in Colatina (on bottom)

Elder Lee

Week 57

Monday, January 14, 2019

So I got transferred form my city and for this I have no time to write... but I just wanted you all to know I’m alive and happy. I will move states and life in Rio... not the city... a bit above it. But should be super fun. I miss you all tons and will write a great miracle cram-packed letter next week. Hope you all are well and have a great week!!!

Love ya all!

So... my card works still... I’m happy and good... I’m leaving this city and moving to another state... wait for it!!! I will now live in Rio. Not the city but the state so I’m excited to leave Espirito Santo and see a whole new people. I leave in an hour and I’m nowhere close to ready. Hope I don’t forget anything because it’s a long ways a way. And yeah. Pretty much just that. It’s hard to say good bye. But has to happen eventually. I thought I’d stay one more. We had four baptisms this last transfer and worked our guts out. But now another group gets to come and finish the work. Realistically continue the work. But I love you tons and sorry I didn’t get to talk this week. Love you!!!!!!

I’m about to take a bus. The city name is Campos... but I’m outside the city in an area called turf... but it won’t work to google. Just google Brazil, Rio, Campos... and know I’ll be close by. But I have to go. Love you tons!!! 

Love ya all!

Week 56

Monday, January 7, 2019

So this week passed by super-fast. The highlight was getting to baptize the mother of Sara our recent convert. On the 6th of January Selma da Silva Gomes was confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ. At his point the work is not over but really just starting. Making sure she has people in the branch that will help her stay active and close to our savior. Another highlight was hearing from one of my recent converts in my first area that was almost over a year ago. I received an email From Douglas Morales that he and his girlfriend (who we also baptized) got married and will be sealed in one year in the temple of Rio when it opens. It’s really exciting to hear form people in the past to find that they are strong and active still. All the hardships you passed suddenly become irrelevant and you remember why you are here.

This week I had to say good bye to Lucas another youth we baptized because he will stay with his dad in another city for a few months. It’s hard to think that you might not get to see somebody you love until the next life. But this is all part of our loving heavenly fathers plan. We got to see him off in the bus station and give him one last testimony. 

This week is the last week of the transfer and I am feeling that I will leave and go to another city. But only time will tell. Two hour church was different but good. It’s as Jeffery R Holland taught, we need to jump into these changes. 2019 Is going to be such a miracle cram-packed year. Lots of things will happen and I’m excited to see the progress we make. I’m thankful for all of you and the things you are all doing. I hope that you all continue to grow and progress. 

Love you tons!!!! 

That’s so different in Sunday School! But church was good. It was weird and I felt like I was doing nothing. Usually I teach a class but they ended my class. I don’t know how I feel about it. My investigators drowned a little bit meeting with everyone else. I don’t like that I can’t use simple easy doctrine to start them off anymore. But this is the Lord’s direction so we have to jump into the changes. 

Week 55

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

So I have little to no time but I wanted you all to know that I’m alive and the miracles are coming every day. This Saturday we will baptize two more women who have been meeting with us for a while. Pray for Edinete and Selma. It’s been for ever since I’ve sent photos so I’m dedicated this week to sending lots. They say a photo says a thousand words so it’ll have to do... But I love you all and it was great to talk to the FamLee on Christmas! Hopefully this year you have goals to progress and we get better together!

Love you all tons!!!