May 13, 2008

Subject: Mom´s Day!

Hello Everybody!

Happy Mother´s Day one more time for my mom! Happy Mother´s Day to Grandma Allred and Grandma Thompson!

Right now we´re working with José Silvio and Karina. They have both stopped drinking coffee and have come to church 3 times now. They are our investigators closest to baptism.

Yesterday was pretty amazing. Before lunch, we taught Irene. Her husband wasn´t there, so we left a quick message in her "quintal" (translation: yard? - except it´s not a yard at all really) because we can´t enter the house without another man there. After lunch, we contacted a family with whom I had spoken on the street a couple of weeks ago. We had been going to his house every couple of days because he lives close to another investigator. Yesterday we finally found him at home. We taught Reumar, his wife, and two children (They´re already legally married! - rarity). They have already accepted a baptism date! Then we stopped by a member´s house (Irmão José Gomes), and he agreed to come proselyting with us. Preach My Gospel says that sometimes the Lord directs you to an area, not to visit the person you planned on visiting, but to help you find someone else near by that He has prepared. So, after a few appointments fell through, we started knocking doors in the area. While doing so, the thought came to my mind to go to another road that happened to be quite far away. We went specifically to that road, and after knocking only 3 doors, we found a family of 9 that now has a goal for baptism and has agreed to come to church on Sunday. The mother of this family had the missionary discussions many years ago, but then moved to this area and didn´t know where the closest church was. Another blessing is that she already had a Book of Mormon and we had just given out our last copy to Reumar that very morning. We hope to get more next district meeting, but until then, we´ve just been telling people to pray about the prophet Joseph Smith and telling them that we´ll come by another day to leave the Book of Mormon with them. We´re also out of the pamphlets that we usually leave with investigators.
Last week, we decided to focalize most of our teaching pool into one area so we wouldn´t waste half the day walking. In doing so, yesterday we were able to return to over 8 houses near our home all on the same street that had agreed to a return visit. When we came back to these houses yesterday, of course in a few no one was home and a few decided that they didn´t want to listen, but we were able to enter into 3 homes and teach the first lesson. We taught two older ladies (Cida and Edeusita); we could enter into their home because we had that male member with us. Then the member needed to go home. Afterwords we taught a man named Edita, and then another man named Anderson. Anderson also agreed to a goal of baptism next month.

Today I was feeling a little sick (don´t worry Mom - just a fever and headache), but it was quite a blessing because I happened to get sick on P-day, and we didn´t lose any teaching time.

Well, this transfer is almost over. Next Sunday night, we´ll find out if we´re are both staying here or it one of us is leaving. After our success yesterday, I really want to stay this next trasfer, but I´ve already been here for almost 4 1/2 months, so who knows. I guess you all will find out next week.

Until next time!
-Élder Jason Morgan Allred