Dear friends and family
This week has been fantastic!
So this Monday and Tuesday were pretty hot here. about
seventy degrees more or less. But Wednesday, it got freaking cold!! got to
about 40 degrees Fahrenheit here with this rain that gets to the bones.
Shivering everywhere we walked. and the other horrible thing is the apartment
doesn't have any heaters, so the apartment we stay in stays freezing cold all
night. I sleep in my sweatshirt and socks. And showering in the morning is
death! haha, but at least you wake up, so, it can be a good thing too.
Actually, the weather here is a lot like Oregon, the only difference is that
the houses don't have heaters. So, its permanently cold!
Other than the weather here, Dyonas, our last baptism has
been progressing amazingly well. Every time we teach him, Im amazed at his
faith, diligence. and humility. He asked us last time a bunch of questions
about sharing a spiritual thought for family home evening. then explained that
hes giving one next Sunday at this members house. Things like this make the
mission worth it. He also came to church in a suite, because he was receiving
the Aaronic priesthood today. That was super special, He understood and was
super excited about it!:)
We also made tacos the other day, that was fun. They don't
eat tacos here. But, we bought ground beef, and used taco spice an elder
christensens mom sent from america. It was a Taco bell spice, which was
amazing. (since taco bell doesn't exist down here)
Anyway, so two HUGE things happened this week as well, which
are definitely worth noting. The first thing was something that started
actually in my last area, Serrano. in my last area, me and Elder Neyland found
this family, Leo and Eliza. We taught them, and they quickly became super
strong converts story. The only problem was that they weren't married. and the
rule is that you cant baptize people who aren't married legally. the reason for
that is because they are breaking the law of chastity. But anyway, its all good
in the neighborhood, because that just means you have to help them get married.
But, the only problem with that is that marrying is a thirty day process, and
we as Elders generally only stay in areas for about a month and a half. So,
what happened was Leo and Elizas paperwork for marriage got started a few days
AFTER I left Serrano. Which meant I wouldn't be there for the baptism which
would happen a month after the papers are processed and they are officially
married. Well, their baptismal date came up at the end of this transfer,
because they were scheduled to be baptized on Saturday, 6 in the evening.
Luckily, I was in the same zone, so I called President, and got permission to
leave my area and go to their baptism.
So, to summarize all that up, a family I taught had to get
married, which is a process that takes a month. I left before that process
started. After your married legally, your allowed to be baptized, and I got
permission to be there for the baptism.
Anyway, the baptism was super awesome. I got there, and met
up with them, and we caught up on things for a while, just talking. I saw a lot
of old friends as well which I made in Serrano while I was there. Then, we
asked Leo and Eliza who they wanted to baptize them, and Eliza chose me to
baptize her!!:) which made me super happy and excited. The water was super
cold, but still worth it,and I was so happy for them. Afterwards, me and
Neyland sang a special hymn, Lead Kindly light (brilha mega Luz, numero 60).
which sounded pretty good actually, the spirit was super strong. and the
closing hymn was Joseph smiths first prayer, which sounded absolutely amazing
as well. After the baptismal meeting, we left and returned to our area in bento
Goncalves.
The other crazy thing that happened was transfers. This was
only five weeks long for some reason. My companion Elder Pryor was transferred to
Passo Fundo and I stayed here. the new companion Ill be receiving will be Elder
Miller, another Freaking american! haha. This is super funny and rare actually,
because usually two Americans aren't companions here in Brasil, hes going to be
my third American companion!
Anyway, Id like to share my testimony with you all that God
loves you. He wants whats best for you, and has a plan for you. and the name of
this plan is called the plan of happiness, or the plan of salvation. All he
asks is for us to exorcise our agency and accept his perfect plan. Have the
faith to make the first step, and hell take the next two for us. remember that
god will not rob us of our agency and force salvation on a soul who doesn't want
it. If your someone who rejects god, and intentionally turns away from him, hes
not going to force you to live in his presence in his eternal kingdom. that's where
we need to do our part, take that first step, and obey, and the desire to be
obedient will show our desire to be with god. Our striving to be obedient will
show our faith. and the act of faith has the power for the atonement of Christ
to work in our lives, and fill in the gaps where we lacked. thus, opening the
doors of the kingdom of god.
From
Elder Shurts
