Monday, February 24, 2014

49th Letter 2-24-14


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Pictures: 1-Me with President and Sister Parrela, 2-Michael, Gabriela and me with Chemarrou.

Animada Familia!

Your prayers have worked! This week went super good!! We found a bunch of new investigators and taught a lot of people. We taught a new investigator named Siezer and he is super solid! He came to church and stayed all 3 hours! He is reading the BOM and his family is perfect too! He reminds me of my dad! He is super intelligent and really ponders about our message! I am very excited for him and the growth he has already made and will continue to make. I could see Siezer being a leader in the Church. Also, the weather was super nice this week. We had a lot of wind and rain! My companion and I are getting along great and working hard. I think the branch here is starting to really trust us! I can’t believe I am almost to my year mark! Tà Louco!! (OK CRAZY!)

Monday I had a very good P-day and didn't feel too homesick! P-days are hard cause once we finish all our necessary stuff we just sit around. This day went good though. Got all the things done and even washed my clothes in the shower, because the washing machine is broken. Wow does it take forever to hand wash clothes! That night we taught Frenando and Mechela. They are super nice, but we can’t figure out the reason they won’t come to church!  Also, we taught Vauley, who is a bit timid when he is around us...I don’t know why. Also received some solid referrals this night.

Tuesday we taught a lot of people today after a super good District Meeting! I really think this DM helped pump us up for the week! Elder Johanson did a good job! Contacted Marley who was a former investigator. She wants to stop smoking and she wants our help. She had a baptismal date, but couldn't stop smoking in time. Taught Irma Rosa and shared the talk by Pres. Uchtdorf "Come Join with Us."  I think this talk will help her a lot. That night we taught Cristiane and she wants to be baptized soon as well. She just needs to get married.

Wednesday, This day was AWESOME! First we taught Arce about the BOM and gave him one to read. Then taught Seizer and his friend the Restoration. I don’t think I have ever had a lesson go as well here in Brazil like it went with these guys! It was perfect! They both were listing to us and understood what was going on and more importantly why we needed a restoration of the gospel. They got very excited when we got to the part where we explained about after Christ died and many of the Apostles and members were killed as well. They wanted to know what happened. So we told them and the spirit was so strong! The spirit entered Siezer’s mind and helped him understand the importance of our message. I think he knows it´s true now!  Really was an amazing experience and really brightened our week! After that we continued with success and taught 2 less-active families. The lessons went very well. This day really changed my view of these people and the power of our message here.

Thursday, another successful day! We were walking to a less-active family’s house when it started to rain a ton! We ran under a tree and a family that was nearby called us over. We sat under their "patio" for a bit and after the rain stopped we taught them a little of our message. They want us to come back (family of 5). We then got to our less-active member home and he had a referral for us and took us to the house and taught with us that very day! Super cool! The lady we met is super nice but has some bad medical problems. That night we taught a few other people and planned another member-present lesson with Jair.

Friday, ANOTHER great day! Ha-ha. First we taught a new investigator named Duda (15). She is super cool, but her family doesn't like us for some reason. Then we taught Adriana about the Restoration and the lesson went pretty well. As good as it can get with 3 baby girls running around wanting mommy’s milk. After this we taught Siezer and his wife. We briefly talked about the Restoration with her and then talked about the BOM and invited them to read it. Siezer said he would come to church but not his wife. I think he wanted to make sure we aren’t some crazy church. Then we taught the other Adriana with 3 girls and the lesson went okay. She has a hard time understanding things. The rest of the night went super well and the weather was nice and rainy!

Saturday, you can guess it, another sweet day! Taught Arce again and also Marley with Jair. The lesson with Marley went super well and she cried a lot. She feels the spirit strong with us and knows she can stop smoking! Rained like crazy and I didn't have an umbrella so I just walked in the rain...Bad idea, because it rained a ton! I got soaked! Ha-ha. It was all fun though! That night we taught Irma Rosa about the talk by Pres. Uchtdorf...She read it but didn't really apply it. It is very difficult working with less- actives here.

Sunday, we showed up to church and were surprised by Siezer waiting for us at the front gates. He was dressed all nice and excited to be there! He is a boss! Church went great and I think he felt welcomed. Some of the members here don’t know how to be friendly so that kind of bugged Elder Gois and I. The rest of the day went very well and we taught Nara about the same talk by Pres. Uchtdorf. Hopefully she actually reads it and applies it. This night we had a family night with Cristiane´s family and Pres. Vladimirs family as well. It went super well! The Spirit was very strong and I think Cristiane´s boyfriend really liked the Restoration video. After we had great lasagna!

The week really was great and got me cheered up to work even hard this coming week! I feel strongly that Siezer and is family will join this church! The work here is improving and the members are helping more. The language is coming a lot faster and I am starting to think in Portuguese. Things are looking bright! : )

Mom, I have not yet received the package. Hopefully nothing went wrong. Mom, you are awesome! So yes, carnival is starting up here and already is a little crazy. We are supposed to be very careful during this weekend. I don’t really know why they have carnival, but just to go crazy. I think here it is just an excuse to do whatever you want and not worry about it after. IDK. That is awesome about the new stake presidency. Those are good men. Funny to think Shaye is only less than 500 miles away from me. I wonder what his opinion will be when he returns. I will answer your 3 questions next week. : ) Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! The house looks beautiful! I love you Mom!! Miss you a ton.

Dad, ha-ha, sounds like your week was pretty crazy! Cool you got to speak with Elder Johnson in Norwegian! I bet it was nice to have all the family in town! I love the pictures!! : ) You are exactly right about the work here, Dad. The members are the key! Right now they aren’t helping a ton, but I think things are changing! We will see.

Steph, I hope you have a great birthday!!

I love you all so much and miss you all! Take care of yourselves and strive to be better every day!
Elder Hauck

The scriptures I like this week: 2 Nephi 10: 14, St. John 6:64-69, and D&C 121:36


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