Sunday, August 6, 2017

July 31, 2017

I love Castro! Everything is wonderful! I am learning so much and am able to see the Lord´s hand in every part of the work!

Cristian's Baptism
On Saturday we had the baptism of Cristian! I don't think I have ever met anyone else more prepared to receive the gospel! The way we met Cristian was a miracle! We were on the bus on our way home from a zone conference and a boy named Mateus started talking with us. He told us how he was really interested in the church and he wanted to be a part of the church! We took down his address and the next day we went to go find him! We went to the neighborhood he had told us but there wasn't a street that existed with that name! Rua dos Flores only existed in another neighborhood that was about 2 hours from where we were! The next day we went to the other neighborhood and when we got there none of the houses had numbers... so we knocked on EVERY single door asking everyone if they had heard of Mateus. This kid doesn't exist! We did meet Cristian and his Mom and we talked about the gospel and he became very interested! We returned the next day and started teaching the lessons! 

Since the very first day he accepted everything and was always excited to learn more! He wanted to know about the things that we can and can't do as members, and so we taught about the commandments. When we told him about the word of wisdom and that we don't drink coffee, he said "I am addicted to coffee!" But at the end of the lesson he said he has the desire to keep ALL of the commandments and the he wants to make the changes necessary! The next day when we went to visit him he told us that he and his entire family stopped drinking coffee! Each day when we got to his house he was outside reading the Book of Mormon as he waited for us!

When we invited him to be baptized he said "YES! I WANT TO BE BAPTIZED! I have gone to so many other churches and I have always had the desire to be baptized but for some reason, on the first day that I went to church with you it was as if I heard a voice say 'GO! Be BAPTIZED'!" His mom told us that this is the first time that Cristian had ever insisted on anything! 


For Lunch one day we went to a member's ranch! We got to feed their cows and see their pigs! 

 
Last week we had Festa Junina!! It is a tradition here in Brasil! Everyone dresses like hillbillies and then they have a huge party with lots of dancing and lots of food! Sadly as missionaries we couldn't dance! But it was super fun! 

Temple trip to Curitiba


This transfer, as a mission we are each reading the Book of Mormon in 6 weeks! We are reading with the objective to discern the Savior's voice in our lives, feel more strongly the spirit, feel his love, and learn more about repentance and the amazing process of coming unto Christ! 

"There is a power in the Book that begins to flow into our lives the moment we begin a serious study of its content."

Reading the Book of Mormon again I am finding so many scriptures that I absolutely love! 1 Nephi 15:14

 ``...And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel.... they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.``

Because of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we have the Book of Mormon! We have the ability to learn about the essential points of his doctrine so that each of us can know HOW to come unto Christ and be saved!   
I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon and follow its teachings! You will have more power to stay on the straight and narrow path, resist temptations, overcome all doubt and fear, receive heavenly help in your life and feel even closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ! 
I know that this Book has POWER and that it was translated by the power of God! I know that reading it each and every day we will truly feel closer to Heavenly Father and learn How to come unto Jesus Christ! 

Sister Hancock