Hello everybody!
So this week flew by again. WE got a lot of things done and
had some really good experiences.
So Monday after the P-day routine, we stopped by and talked
with Joâo (co-worker of John if I ever talked about him). He went to church on Sunday
and he said he really liked it... in fact it was the best church he had ever
been to. Later in the week when we talked to him, he told us how he felt when
we left the message of the restoration with him. As we talked he said he felt a
great deal of happiness that he just couldn´t explain. He told us he stayed up
all night, reading the book of Mormon or just thinking about what he had just
learned. He was very excited and we marked a date for his baptism, and his
co-worker will be the one to baptism. What a great start to a week!
Tuesday, we went to Fortaleza for a Zone Training, and
afterwards I stayed in Parangaba (read Bonsucesso and João XXIII) with Elder
Clemens. We walked ALL over the two Bairros and finished the night at the
chapel. In the morning, we headed out early again to get references, and then
we headed to lunch, then back to the terminal to reunite ourselves with our
normal companions. Elder Leal and I headed back home, and we got back way
later... around 6 or 7. I don´t remember what happened the rest of the day.
Thursday, we did visits with John, and had a family home
evening with Branco and Ancylia (we wanted João or Radsom, another co-worker to
come) but they were working at night. WE visited Valdir and some less actives
as well. The day flew by.
Friday, we went out to Candea for Lunch with Irmã Paula. Our
ride back to town wasn´t going to come back to bring anyone to Baturité, so we
took our time (She has a car) and visited some family of Irmã Paula. It’s always
cool to go way out in the middle of nowhere to teach and stuff. The rest of day
was going from one place to another... I don´t have many highlights.
Saturday was a BUSY day. 10:30 we headed out to the
beginning of Aracoiaba, and then we walked probably 3 km into the rural part of
Aracoiaba. Lots of cashew trees (did you know that cashew is actually a fruit?
Fun fact for the day). We had lunch with a family who came to a member baptism.
Afterwards, they took us around to get to know the cashew farm they have, and
introduced us to all the family there. Afterwards, we showed the film of the
Restoration and gave copies of the Book of Mormon to some of the family
members. It was a really neat experience because it was easy to tell that our
message was unlike anything they had ever heard before. It’s like the heavens
are opening up for them like they did for Joseph Smith! I had a reverent,
peaceful feeling when we talked about the film and presented the idea of a living
prophet to these people. At night, we taught a commandment for João and also
taught the Plan of Salvation. The rest of the day is a blur, overshadowed by
these highlights.
Sunday was very good. I made tapioca for breakfast and then
we headed out to wake up João and give a present (A white shirt and a new tie)
which he accepted gratefully, and promptly put on. We headed off to church and
Felipe was already there sitting in the front (he made a request of a shirt as
well, which Elder Leal gladfully provided at night). It was really good to see
him because church is exactly what he needs right now. The lesson in priesthood
was a good one. The theme was on ´How to make this work go forward´. Bispo
Edivã shared a story of a member in his old ward named Cicero. Edivã needed to
reorganize the Sunday school presidency and he felt prompted to call Cicero.
The thing was that Cicero was a new convert and he had great difficulty reading
and didn´t understand much of the scriptures, much less how to teach a Sunday
school lesson. He also only had one lung functioning because of a career dealing
with paint. Some people raised concerns, but Edivã said that he was who the
Lord wanted, and called him as Sunday school president. Cicero started in on
his calling, grabbing all the manuals necessary and frequent meetings with Edivã.
In these meetings, Cicero would open the manual and ask questions about the
content to gain understanding. He continued in this path for a year, and Edivã
asked him to give a public testimony during the sacrament meeting. Cicero went
to the pulpit and set his scriptures aside the pulpit and pulled out a folded
paper from his pocket, written from a typewriter that he had bought,
straightened it out, and began to say that he was grateful for the chance to
speak, and apologized for having to read his talk, because he didn´t have great
diction. Then he began to read his talk. Edivã said he was amazed to see him
reading with little difficulty, on top of a wonderful talk with quotes from
leaders of the church as well as many scriptures. Edivã said that Cicero was
later called as the High Priests Group President and now serves as a High
Councilor... about 6 years after his baptism. Edivã continued saying that this
work will progress whether or not we participate, but our part is simple.
Heavenly Father sent his only Son, Jesus Christ to do his part. Heavenly Father
gave his best. Christ gave the example of the BEST life. They only ask one
thing from us to help this work progress. They only ask for our best. Cicero
was the perfect example of this. Just like the widow, who gave two mites, he
didn´t have much he could give, but he gave it all, and that is what makes him
great. I think this story could go well with Mom´s talk she has coming up. The
theme fits perfectly. But this is what I learned this week. It doesn´t matter
what we give, as long as it’s our best, and The Lord will do the rest.
So that was my week.
Love, Elder Cornwell
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