Jan. 6, 2009

Subject: 2009!

Hello Everybody!

Our apartment is pretty close to the beach, where thousands of people passed the New Year eating, drinking, being merry, and putting off fireworks. We went to bed at 10:30 like normal. And, amazingly, the fireworks only woke me up once at 11:40. Luckily I was able to fall back asleep quickly and pass the new year dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know (which by the way, my next Christmas most likely will be white).
These last two weeks were extremely difficult in regards to missionary work. Because our city is a tourist town, most of the people that were here don´t even live here.

Ex:
"... we would like to pass by your house this week, explain a little more about the Book of Mormon, and leave one with you as a gift."
"That would be wonderful! I´ve always wanted to know more about your church!"
"Do you live around here?"
"Kind of. Actually, we're from Amazonia, on the other side of the equator. I hope making a 12 hour flight across country to our house isn´t out of the way for you guys. But I heard that Mormons are rich, so it shouldn´t be to big of a problem for you guys."

It seems that all the really interested poeple happen to live out of our area. Also, during the holidays, the people that live here like to rent out their houses for tourists. So, we've been out of touch with over half of our investigators for the last 2 weeks.

João Paulo and Antônio were our only investigators that made it to church on Sunday. João Paulo is really prepared for his baptism on the 17th. He was really prepared to receive the gospel, so he never has doubts about what we teach him. Antônio, on the other hand, is a lawyer, and has to have a good explanation for everything that is said at church. Ironically, both of the times that he was at church, the lesson in Gopsel Principles mentioned man´s potential to become like Heavenly Father. We had an awesome lesson at his house last night to answer his questions, and he´s feeling the truth. All of his doctrinal questions were easy to answer. But his questions about LDS custums were all little more difficult. "In testimony meeting, why did everyone get up there and bear the same testimony that they know the Church is true, etc...? In a court of law, you only need additional testimonies if the fact is disputed. But it seems that everyone in your church agrees that it´s the true church, so what´s the point in everyone giving testimony of the same thing? And why in the world did that one lady bear testimony of her husband? I didn´t come to church to hear how special someone else´s spouse is." :)

We taught the first lesson to our Stake President Renato Barbosa on Saturday. He said that it was the first time he had received the lesson since Preach My Gospel came out. He got pretty excited to help us with missionary work in the stake.

Goodbye for now!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred