Batismo!!!

E aí galera

Lots of big news this week, so grab your reading glasses, maybe a snack, and get ready cause this is gonna be a long one. 

Yes folks it's true, I had my first baptism! It was such a wonderful day and we all felt a bit of God's light and love because the sun was at full strength as you see in the pictures below.

Khawan is a son of a part-member family here in Três Pontas that we spend a decent amount of time with. When his family was baptized 2 years ago he didn't feel like he wanted to be baptized. He goes to church regularly, and every missionary that has passed through has asked him if he wanted to be baptized, but he's declined every time. But now he finally decided that he's ready and I'm so thankful that I was here to help him make his first covenant with God. He decided that he wanted to surprise his family so he got interviewed without telling his family, then after church on Sunday he changed into a jumpsuit and surprised the whole ward haha. They were super excited for him and it was a great day because several other investigators were there and were inspired by his example!

Secondly, last Friday was my birthday! Thank you so so much to all the people that sent me messages it made me feel very special! I plan to respond to each of you, but P day is never long enough so if I don't get to you this week it'll be soon I promise. But my birthday was a great day! It's definitely different than a normal birthday cause pretty much the whole day I was trying to teach and serve others but I still got sung parabéns pra você several times and a member made me a cake! I honestly can't believe I'm 20 cause I still feel like a kid. But I guess if I'm out here living in a foreign country I should be considered an adult. And it's crazy because for my last birthday I went to Tucanos, a Brazilian steakhouse in Provo, with friends from BYU. It feels like that was literally yesterday. Now I'm out here in actual Brazil, where unfortunately not every meal is like Tucanos, but when it is, it's the freaking best.

Also! The transfer ended and I hit 4 months in the mission! I'll be staying here in Três Pontas again and I'll be getting a new comp! His name is Elder Silva and I've met him a few times and he seems pretty cool. But he's pretty tall and walks SOO FAST. We spent some time in his area before and I had to run to keep up with him haha. Staying here in Três Pontas is good because I'll be the one leading the area so I'll be pushed out of my comfort zone. Oh yeah and he doesn't speak English haha. That's kind of a big thing so my Portuguese is going to improve a ton!

But anyway the work is going well! We've found some good people and have made some insane progress with Denis and Bia. We're definitely gonna have some more baptisms this transfer!

Now I'll share with yall the scripture that's the bread and butter of missionary work:

5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

... 

9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them

Ladies and gents it's right there. Jesus Christ is our perfect example. He came to this Earth to create the path back to God and he did it! The path is already made we just have enter "the gate" (be baptized) and walk (continue to be faithful, make and keep our covenants, and keep the commandments). Everything I'm doing here is with the intention of bringing others closer to Christ and striving to be more like him. It's freaking tough at times but it's worth it.

Pictures:

I know that these send out of order so good luck figuring it out but idk what to do about it kkkkkk.

1) BATISMO DO KHAWAN

2) MTN Dew! Guaraná is incredible but mountain dew will always have my heart so receiving this for my birthday was insane.

3) Attempted selfie with the hills that surround the city. They literally look like the windows screensaver but all the pictures I take make them look dead and gross. But they're pretty cool.

4) Safira (fluffy dog) . An absolute triumph of the human will. She hated me for so long but finally after 3 months of trying (probably 50 attempts) to pet her, we have become best friends. I couldn't be happier

5) fighting street dogs

6) birthday cake and cake for breakfast during personal study (epic and tasty) 

7) salgadinhos na rua. Little random fried snacks that are delicious. 

8) Rodízio de Pizza com Irmã Cleide! A member took us to a rodízio which is the type of restaurant where they go around and give you as much food as you want. So I ate probably 15 slices of pizza and I felt pretty sick after but it was sooo good. 

9) Also some pictures from zone conference including a good picture of my and elder braz's minds being blown by some insane doctrine

10) Last year’s birthday at a Brazilian Steakhouse with friends.