We had a baptism on Saturday!! We didnt teach everything, but I tought enough to count it. His name was Alberto.
So Elder Searle and I have had a really fun week this week in the new area of Ermizinde. The old elders didn't leave a note and didn't fill out Progress Records, so we don't know what they were doing here. We asked the Ward, and they don't have any of the records, so we said "BEM" and started from Ground zero this week. Jessica, make this a note to you, the teaching records are very important.
We got to our apartment and we were excited because we have a District Leaders Apartment, meaning that is big enough for 8 elders to sleep uncomfortably, but it can happen if necessary, and we are the only two there. We were so excited to find 2 bathrooms and a table to eat at. I was also way excited to find that we both get beds on the ground, and not a bunk bed! I am also really happy that Elder Searle doesn't snore. I found that it is nice to have counter space too. All in all the apartment is really big and nice.~
So I arrived in Ermizinde 1 hour before Elder Searle. So I was told to wait in the Station for him, but to go downstairs into a store called Tujour to find a guy named Jaime and ask him for the phone. I said Ok. So I got there and got the phone and keys. Jaime is our Branch President. He is way cool. He is unlike any man that I have ever seen. He found out that I would be District Leader, so he talked to me for the hour before Elder Searle Arrived. (He is the owner of the store so I didn't have to worry about him getting fired, well, it is actually almost impossible for someone to get fired in Portugal) So he told me 5 things that made me fall in love with him to begin with. 1) He knew I was coming from Viana do Castelo, and told me that he would always support the missionaries infront of the Branch Counsel. He said that if something looks fishy or wierd, we would talk in a private meeting, but he will always support me infront of the Branch Counsel. He said if necessary, he will chastize the Counsel for us, and then told me stories in where this happened. 2) He said he will support us 100% for baptisms. He only asks 2 things. one, that he has a chance to meet the guy or gal we are baptising, and second, that the person comes to church at least one time . . . understandable. 3) He said that we don't have to worry about hypocrital things in the Branch Leadership, such as an Elder's Quorum President not living within the commandments. It was later that I found out that he led the counsel to disfellowship his mom, for actions that were not in harmony with the gospel. 4) He said that in return that we fill out and give a copy of our reports to him (we are supposed to anyways) and also trust him that things will get done. 5) he invited us over for dinner that night to meet his family. He is way cool. We got to our apartment and found that we didn't have electricity, so we told him, and the next day, he had made at least 5 phone calls to lisbon, or some electricity company thing, and got our electricity back on within 24 hours. We asked him how we could thank him, and he said in English "Just count me as another teammate" He is way cool, and I pray that he will be blessed for his work.
We had 4 lessons this week, and that is low, but I don't think it is too bad for starting at ground zero and losing 3 days: Monday (Viana do Castelo), Tuesday (Transfers, we got home around 6:30), Saturday (I was in Braga most of the day for a bapstimal interview that didn't happen)
It is fun being district leader, and i think I have learned more about being a missionary from this experience in 1 week then the rest of my mission. We have 3 duplas in my district, Braga Irmãs, they are workers and in terms of work, us elders have some things to learn from them. We have Guimerães, they have a legit castle in their city that I am going to go and see on Tuesday (Division), and again next monday to go and tour the castle, I am way excited.
Story for the week: I prayed for a family, and felt like I would find a family with a stroller going for a walk this last week. This last week, I didn't find a single family until sunday night at 8:30 pm. they were way cool. They said they didn't have time, but then said can you guys pass my house quarta as 8:00. We got their address and then tried to say goodbye because people get really ticked off if you try and talk to them for a lot of time when they are in a hurry. He then said, wait, do you want my phone number?, we said, yeah, and i cannot wait for our meeting. He seemed like a guy that was actually wanting to hear the gospel.
Sometimes we do things because of men, but when we do things for the Lord, is better
Elder Hope
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