6-10-08

Elder Jason Allred
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil

Subject: We´re going to make Shepherd´s Pie!

Hello Everybody!

Hooray! Leila was baptized and confirmed! It was a very special experience. You could see the glow in her countenance as she made this special covenant with God.

Sunday, the day of her confirmation, was quite interesting. Leila ended up getting to church quite late because she couldn´t get her sisters out the door. She got to the church about 9:20 (the meeting starts at 9). When she arrived she was practically running. Elder Risenmay and I got really worried when she met us outside the chapel almost in tears. We thought that something bad must have happened. It turns out that she was just really worried about getting there on time, so she got all stressed out when she arrived late. She had thought that she had missed her chance to be confirmed that day and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We explained that the confirmation could still happen at the very end of sacrament meeting. She immediately looked very relieved/excited. She had chosen the bishop´s second counselor, Marcelo, to confirm her. During the confirmation at the end of the meeting, we could really feel the spirit. Overall, everything worked out and it was a very special day.

I´m pretty sure I´m going to be transfered in two weeks because I´ve been here since January, but I´m trying to do all I can to "leave the area better" than when I found it. We´re finding so many wonderful families to teach, and we´re working with the Ward Mission Leader to set up a new Ward Mission Plan so that we can involve the members more in the work. The best people to teach are always the family and friends of the members. For example, last night we taught Rosimeire (a less-active member) and Raíça (her non-member daugher), in the home of Celso and Cleide (Rosimeire´s cousin). As Preach My Gospel says, this gives the investigator an "automatic support system" to resolve concerns and receive help when the missionaries aren´t arround.
(Right now, I´m downloading Preach My Gospel in Audio from the church´s website so I can listen to it while doing dishes and stuff.)

"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing."
-J. S. Jr.
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred