Oldsters Are the Greatest!
June 3, 2013
Pie Celestial The fruits of the gospel have become delicious to me. We have had quite the week. E’s mom has become hopeless in her son’s case of nervous attacks... I forgot what it’s called. [Is she thinking of panic attacks?] What does she do? She is open to any and all options. She met with us yesterday, and we talked about the programs for the youth. It was incredible that when I asked E what he likes to do for fun, he didn’t understand the question. He doesn’t leave the house because that’s what he has grown accustomed to. His mom works and has her boyfriend life. His grandma, Irmã N, doesn’t go anywhere for fun. He doesn’t exercise and somehow got out of P.E. in high school; so when he does go out to run errands, he complains about the fatigue in his legs afterward. This poor kid needs the gospel more than anything. It was then that I understood the importance of the inspired youth program, which literally and spiritually helps kids develop into adults. We also talked about faith and how faith is ACTION. It’s “correndo atrás” [chasing] what you want. When we said that, his mom, D, cried. Strange... sometimes when we talk about gospel no-brainers that we just KNOW, we never understand just how much of an impact it will make in the life of another person. We |
watched the video the mission made and explained that our visits are MORE than just about baptism.
It’s about making a relationship with our Heavenly Father and making more covenants with Him to show our love and loyalty to Him. I gave the final prayer before we left. Since I’ve been learning a lot about being personal in your prayers, I prayed like I pray for these people when I’m home in our apartment. I prayed that D would be inspired to know how to bear the burdens of motherhood and know what to do to help E. I prayed that E will grow to be as physically and mentally strong as he is spiritually. I prayed that Irmã N would continue to be a strength for her family and an example of the faithful. By the end of the prayer, D was crying. Best. Visit. Ever. I LOVE how people change through the humbling lessons of the Spirit. The last time we talked to her, she thought we were missionaries of a cult church of the devil, to say it more or less. Now? She made cake for us and gave me a special sunscreen/make-up for my poor face that is almost as bad as E’s. I have actually been very thankful for my acne because I have been able to explain to E how I have overcome my self-esteem problems; and I love repeating with him, “Sou um homem bonito. Sou um homem inteligente. Sou um homem vencedor.” [I am a handsome man. I am an intelligent man. I am a winner.]
Is This Christmas?
After teaching Shirley and Warley, we looked out into the night sky and saw Cristo Redentor, looking back at us. But what’s this? He’s RED??? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Christ was red. We thought... well, it’s Friday, yesterday was a holiday... this could only mean one thing. Lots of drunks. Yeah, we guessed that Christ was angry. And it’s not Christmas.
Wilson and Zeli
ANOTHER ELECT FAMILY! So, these geezers we found because God directed us to them. Really really. It was a mix-up with an address of a Tânia, who said I looked like a beauty queen, and a Tânia, who is the daughter-in-law of Wilson and Zeli. Wilson has been growing SO fast, you wouldn’t even believe it. He went from the mumbling Assembléian to the suit-and-tie saint in the 2 weeks we have known him. He alone noted the difference in the way we pray and has adapted. We’re still working with mumbler Zeli, and we’re helping Wilson understand that he doesn’t need to end the prayer in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost; but that’s just details. To me, it’s cute, just like how Licurgo ended his prayers in the name of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost that all the angels may say, Amen.
I’ll tell you one thing, it’s not easy to work with oldsters; BUT it’s wayyyyy worth it. You see the difference and lamentations they make because they hadn’t found the church earlier in their lives. When we introduced the Book of Mormon to him, he said, “It would have been way easier to accept this if I had grown up with this book of God.” Zeli thought it was a beautiful thing that Christ appeared to the people HERE also, and we have a record of them. She also loved the movie of the Restoration. She went from commenting on Sister Céspedes’ hair to being distracted with the kids’ clothes to stoppin’ dead in her tracks when she saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ descending. She said, “Que lindo!” [How beautiful!]
There’s just SO MUCH I have to tell you about! Warning, next week will be mostly FAVORITE QUOTES from these weeks. Really, I love working with oldsters. They’re the greatest because, I think, you can see the difference the influence of the Spirit makes. When their minds are quickened, it feels like you are talking to someone your age. When they understand, they are quiet and don’t get distracted with stories about their lives or anything else.
This next week, 9th of June, will be my favorite couple’s baptism since the baptism of Vangela and Jackson. DO you know that when they went to church together for the first time, they held hands in every class? Love love love! :) And when we showed the video about temples, I KNEW they would go. I could imagine them.
Love love love!
Dori
So, my ex-Seminary Teacher companion goes off on some rants about deep doctrine sometimes. All these questions that in the past made me worried because I didn’t know the answers. Now, I’m just happy to be able to recognize the difference between known doctrine of which the Holy Ghost will testify and unrevealed doctrine and false doctrine of which the Holy Ghost will not testify. If it affects my salvation, I’ll study it. If it affects the progress of my investigators, I’ll study it. If not? Não vou esquentar minha cabeça.
This is my companion. That’s it in a nutshell. And, I really appreciate her!
P.S. So, uploading one picture took FOREVER! WARNING: next week will be just pics and favorite quotes and talking about the baptism of Wilson and Zeli. I’ve learned a lot about planning. Plans, goals, and acting with faith is the ONLY way to get things done the way you want it and in the way He wants it.
It’s about making a relationship with our Heavenly Father and making more covenants with Him to show our love and loyalty to Him. I gave the final prayer before we left. Since I’ve been learning a lot about being personal in your prayers, I prayed like I pray for these people when I’m home in our apartment. I prayed that D would be inspired to know how to bear the burdens of motherhood and know what to do to help E. I prayed that E will grow to be as physically and mentally strong as he is spiritually. I prayed that Irmã N would continue to be a strength for her family and an example of the faithful. By the end of the prayer, D was crying. Best. Visit. Ever. I LOVE how people change through the humbling lessons of the Spirit. The last time we talked to her, she thought we were missionaries of a cult church of the devil, to say it more or less. Now? She made cake for us and gave me a special sunscreen/make-up for my poor face that is almost as bad as E’s. I have actually been very thankful for my acne because I have been able to explain to E how I have overcome my self-esteem problems; and I love repeating with him, “Sou um homem bonito. Sou um homem inteligente. Sou um homem vencedor.” [I am a handsome man. I am an intelligent man. I am a winner.]
Is This Christmas?
After teaching Shirley and Warley, we looked out into the night sky and saw Cristo Redentor, looking back at us. But what’s this? He’s RED??? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Christ was red. We thought... well, it’s Friday, yesterday was a holiday... this could only mean one thing. Lots of drunks. Yeah, we guessed that Christ was angry. And it’s not Christmas.
Wilson and Zeli
ANOTHER ELECT FAMILY! So, these geezers we found because God directed us to them. Really really. It was a mix-up with an address of a Tânia, who said I looked like a beauty queen, and a Tânia, who is the daughter-in-law of Wilson and Zeli. Wilson has been growing SO fast, you wouldn’t even believe it. He went from the mumbling Assembléian to the suit-and-tie saint in the 2 weeks we have known him. He alone noted the difference in the way we pray and has adapted. We’re still working with mumbler Zeli, and we’re helping Wilson understand that he doesn’t need to end the prayer in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost; but that’s just details. To me, it’s cute, just like how Licurgo ended his prayers in the name of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost that all the angels may say, Amen.
I’ll tell you one thing, it’s not easy to work with oldsters; BUT it’s wayyyyy worth it. You see the difference and lamentations they make because they hadn’t found the church earlier in their lives. When we introduced the Book of Mormon to him, he said, “It would have been way easier to accept this if I had grown up with this book of God.” Zeli thought it was a beautiful thing that Christ appeared to the people HERE also, and we have a record of them. She also loved the movie of the Restoration. She went from commenting on Sister Céspedes’ hair to being distracted with the kids’ clothes to stoppin’ dead in her tracks when she saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ descending. She said, “Que lindo!” [How beautiful!]
There’s just SO MUCH I have to tell you about! Warning, next week will be mostly FAVORITE QUOTES from these weeks. Really, I love working with oldsters. They’re the greatest because, I think, you can see the difference the influence of the Spirit makes. When their minds are quickened, it feels like you are talking to someone your age. When they understand, they are quiet and don’t get distracted with stories about their lives or anything else.
This next week, 9th of June, will be my favorite couple’s baptism since the baptism of Vangela and Jackson. DO you know that when they went to church together for the first time, they held hands in every class? Love love love! :) And when we showed the video about temples, I KNEW they would go. I could imagine them.
Love love love!
Dori
So, my ex-Seminary Teacher companion goes off on some rants about deep doctrine sometimes. All these questions that in the past made me worried because I didn’t know the answers. Now, I’m just happy to be able to recognize the difference between known doctrine of which the Holy Ghost will testify and unrevealed doctrine and false doctrine of which the Holy Ghost will not testify. If it affects my salvation, I’ll study it. If it affects the progress of my investigators, I’ll study it. If not? Não vou esquentar minha cabeça.
This is my companion. That’s it in a nutshell. And, I really appreciate her!
P.S. So, uploading one picture took FOREVER! WARNING: next week will be just pics and favorite quotes and talking about the baptism of Wilson and Zeli. I’ve learned a lot about planning. Plans, goals, and acting with faith is the ONLY way to get things done the way you want it and in the way He wants it.