So we are writing a little late because of transfers. We didn't get our phone call until about 20 minutes ago. I will be staying in Ermezinde with Elder Searle. We are some of the best of Friends and are so excited to stay together. I will remain as District Leader. Appearently, our district last transfer had the best numbers in the Zone, which was suprising, but it was really cool at the same time. President Torgan told me to keep up the good work.
So our Eternal investigator named Diolinda (she is more active than some members, but she wants a specific elder to baptize her, which is a pain because he is in Lisbon right now). She invites us over for meals all the time, and is like our mom. She always gives us the leftovers and always looks out for her. We had a lesson in which I was crying, Elder Searle was teary eyed, Her husband and their daughter were all crying or tearied eyed. The spirit was so strong. Elder Searle and I couldn't decide what to tell her, so we said we would just follow the spirit in the lesson (those aren't always the best . . . just saying), so after the prayer, I started out and opened to 3 Nephi 11:7 and told about the love that god has for christ. Then we went around saying how much we loved one another, and it was really spiritual and neat. . . . I don't know if I already said this story, but it was cool.
Laura won't answer her phone and we don't have an adress, so she is sort of gone.
Marta and Arlindo. Marta has decided that she is our mom. She calls to check in on us and was really sad when we told her about transfers. She said she has the faith that we will both stay. We are planning on marking them for baptism tonight. Our lessons with them are generally question and answer lessons where they ask a question, and then we answer. Marta has invited us and the Branch President over for dinner tonight, which is way exciting. It is cool, becuase she is starting to make the changes necessary to join the church. She has talked about joining our church a few times, but always says no, after she brings it up. She has a desire to come to church and the members already love them. Arlindo has been learning English from us and is way excited. His boss is going to let him move posisitions within the company if he learns English better. Marta already speaks english, so it is fun seeing them progress like that. They already know about the Law of Chastity, and the Word of Wisdom, so we are excited for that. The biggest problem for Marta (she has asked us about 3 times) is about the garments. She has no desire to wear garments, and we keep telling her not to worry about that, but she is dead set against that . . . which is funny.
We were teaching the Plan of Salvation to Marta and Arlindo, and they invited a friend over to meet us. Her name was Monica. Monica just happens to be the Daughter of Terezinha. Small world. So Marta is excited now and was trying to get them over for dinner too, but Terezinha just had surgery, and so we can't meet with her for a while. We send our love, but she won't talk back on the phone just listen. It is hard to teach a lesson like that, so we just give words of encouragement.
So I was feeling like we need to have a division. The Elders in Guimerães didn't like the idea, but I told them that we were doing it anyways (I first talked to the Zone Leaders). So reluctantly, they did the division, and I told the elder that didn't want to do the division (he didn't want to leave his area) that if he will work hard, he will see a miracle in Ermezinde. I went to Guimerães. That day, elder Searle and him found 7 new investigators, the most anyone had ever found that transfer in our Zone. That day they found 4 people that we have been looking for the whole transfer and set up a ton of appointments. Elder Abreu and I in gumerães found 2 new investigators in Gumerães. They were the only 2 that were found in the whole week by Gumerães.
Margarita, the girlfriend of a less active, we met with her, and she told us that we hadn't left enough for her to read, so she started from the beginning and got to 1 Nephi 13, and she understands it. She was teaching us some things, it was way cool.
I did a baptismal interview this week too. I love interviews because I see miracles every time. I don't understand what people are saying half of the time, but in interviews I understand everything. Before the interview they found out that she had an abortion. President Torgan told me that he trusts me enough to take care of it, so I went in there and prayed hard. It was so much fun, and also the longest interview that I have ever had, a little more than an hour. It was so interesting it seemed just like a conversation with a very blunt person. She was very blunt with me, and at one point when I asked about The Law of Chastity, she said I know, I know, I have already repented of that one. (she said that outside the interview too, that is why i can say it), so it was way cool. I understand more why it is important to have baptismal interviews.
Jessica word of advise when teaching. Please teach your investigators about President Thomas S. Monson. I have had interviews in which I had to teach people who he is, and then they look sort of strange and then I say, let´s pray right now and ask god if he is a prophet. He is an important part of our church.
So, all in all, if we listen to the spirit we will be blessed and protected in all that we need to do.
Until Later,
Elder Hope
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