Mom!
Ok, so you will have to send this onto other people in the family. I have been told that I can only send one email every week, and not an email that has several recipiants. Our entire district didn't know, and so they said that they would not revoke our privlidges this time, but now that we know, than we need to be obedient. Also, I am not allowed to email Jessica while I am in the MTC. I guess it is for the same reason. Jessica will just have to ask her Branch President if she can email me, it is by choice of the branch presidents.
Is Jessica the Mission Nurse?
Ok, so I was realeased as District Leader as you know, and that was honestly a tough week for me. I noticed the blessings I received while being the district leader. On Sunday, one of the Branch Presidency members asked me and my companions to be the Zone Leaders!
The first day of being a zone leader was tough. We are responsible for the outgoing missionaries and have to escort them to the travel office. We had people leaving at 3am, 4am, and 5am, and we had to be up at 6:30, so needless to say we were tired.
It is sad how people refuse to listen to us. We had another departure last thursday, and we were instructed to ask them to stop having a going away celebration. They were singing a hymn that was starting to get really roudy. (Secreta Oração . . . maybe dad might see that one getting out of hand, it is Secret Prayer in English). They also left their room a mess, so we got to go and clean up after them. All in all, I felt sort of bad, as if I had failed. I had gone around the night before with my companions and we asked them not to participate. We knew everyone knew, but they did it anyways. We read in Ezeckiel 33:1-7 which made us feel better. We are the watchman, and we sounded the trumpet, but they refused to listen. As missionaries, we are the watchman to the People of Portugal. I know that we are blessed. How great a call and responsibility of our call!
We got to welcome in new missionaries. . . sort of. They were assigned to us, we went to the training meeting, and then they changed the branch that the new missionaries get, so we didn't get to orient them. Our Branch President had us check 3 times to make sure that we were sure that we weren't getting any new missionaries.
I found Elder Brett Carroll, and got a picture with him! He leaves on Tuesday, and Jessica is coming in on Wednesday, so she won't see him. I would like to meet Jessica on that Sunday after she gets here after the fireside, but before the film infront of the choir seats where the white haired guy stands and conducts. It is on the ground level. I will go to choir that day, if I can, sometimes I have meetings, but down on the ground level after the fireside but before the film. Ask jessica to bring her planner, and we can set up a time to meet and take pictures then, she will know more by then.
An update from the missionary perspective on the earthquake in Japan. 6 months ago the church called a record number of missionaries to that area in Japan. No one quite knew why (except probably the Apostles and Prophets). It is said it takes about 6 months for those missionaries to feel comfortable in Japaneese. A record number of baptisms is taking place there right now! Apparently some missionaries are being contacted rather than doing the contacting. During the quake all the missionaries were in a Zone Conference. All missionaries in Japan are accounted for and alive right now. Elder Holland said that they are keeping the missionaries safe, and they are being tested for radiation, and no harmful levels have been found among missionaries yet.
I have 3 investigators:
Jared- going to be baptized on April 1, 2011 (I think he is already a member though). We only have to teach the law of tithing to him now and he will be ready for the interview.
Eguêno - He is tough. He believes the book of mormon is true and doesn't believe that there is only 1 true church. The different doctrines are unimportant to him, but the ordinances are. He was already baptized though and believes his minister had authority from god. We are going to teach that families can be together forever and see what happens. He won't pray with us. We told him that we weren't there to make fun of him or laugh at him, but we were there to help him come unto christ, he still wont.
Sabastão - is our new investigator. He is from Brazil, and doesn't speak very good english. We tought the first lesson, and he is praying with us. We will move on to the second lesson at this point.
All in all, I know that the Lord lives and loves each of his children. I wish I had opened up the New Testament back home more like I am right now. It is full of great stuff. The book of mormon can be used to solve any problems that the investigator might have. Together the Bible and the Book of Mormon stand together as witnesses that Jesus is the Savior of the World. I add my testimony to theirs that the book of moromon is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.
Mom, don't worry about Jessica, the people at the MTC will take care of her like they have of me. The Lord, her companion, and her Mission Leaders will be awesome. She is supposed to go to Las Vegas. She is also supposed to teach some people from Argentina . . . Maybe not in this life, but she will teach people from there. Portugal is combining missions in Preparation for the temple. The members are doing a lot of work for us to continute to help them.
Love,
Elder Hope
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