Well this week was an interesting one. We confirmed Matheus a member of the Church on Sunday and it was so great. His family was there and they had such a great experience.
It was also fast sunday and I felt the need to get up and tell Matheus in front of the congregation how proud of him I was and how much I loved that family. And yes, I cried. Even in Português I can cry while bearing my testimony, but I looked up and the whole family was crying and bunch of the other members of the congregation were crying too. It was a great testimony meeting. The dad, Luiz, after told me that he hadnt cried in 15 years, until that day in Church.
We also had a couple of investigators. We were scared at first because it looked like it was just going to be Matheus and his family. But then this family that we are teaching, Sydney and Yara, showed up a little late but they came. Sydney is a good guy, but he cant stop drinking alcohol and Yara smokes, but really wants to stop. But when I bore my testimony it made them both cry and they said that they were crying all day after that, so it really is the Spirit that touches the hearts of our investigators. I am so grateful for that power that it has.
We then had this random lady who showed up, on her own, with her son and she said to me, "I want to learn more about the Gospel." I just wanted to throw my arms around her and scream! As a missionary, these types of people are the absolute best. Her name is Camilla and she is a great lady and mom, we have an appointment set up with her tomorrow night with a member so we can get her a friend in the church. She is awesome.
And today (monday, P-day) we took Matheus's parents to a Cartorio, to renew their certidão de nascimento. His mom needed a new one in order for them to be married. To get married down here, you have to jump through a bunch of hoops. They were married in the Catholic church, but not the cartorio, so it was never recognized by the country, so they need to be re-married in the cartorio (an office here that is like the dmv.... disorganized and slow) and so we have to do that in order for them to be baptized. The scary part was that Katia (Catchya) didn't want to get married to Luiz.... so i had to play matchmaker and make them realize how much that they really do love each other. They have been "married" for 24 years and we got Luiz to stop smoking and drinking alcohol and coffee. Through a fast with his family. It was great. And we pulled an ultimatum question, "Katia, why did you want Luiz to stop smoking and stuff if you guys were going to get seperated anyways? Why do you care?" She just sat there and thought and played with her hands.... We just sat there and let the Spirit work on them... At the end of the night we got the best feeling ever. They're going to be married and then be baptized and then confirmed and then be the best family in this ward ever. Oh im so excited for them!! Luiz told us that him and Katia used to fight all the time over the littlest things, he used to smoke, drink, and drink coffee (she drank coffee too) and the kids were crazy, but now that they have been going to church and taking the lessons, they say, that they dont fight anymore, the kids are way more cool and chill, and they have quit ALL of their vices and they say they feel something different while were there.
Being here is really hard, I am not going to lie. Sometimes you're so tired and you just want to go home and forget that day, but then you look back and you see the impact that you are having on the amazing people that are our brothers and sisters and we HAVE to help them come closer to Christ. Mosiah 28:3 that is a great scripture with a ton of power.
Love,
Elder McKeon
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