Photo: Maria's Baptism
Dear Awesome Family,
This week went by very fast and man
were we busy! I had a little cold throughout the week, but this work is more
important than me having a little cold. This, in its self was a miracle. I
would wake up feeling like dirt, but after telling myself “If you will get up
and work your hardest the Lord will support you through this day,” this
happened everyday this week and the Lord blessed me everyday with energy and
health to do the work. What a blessing! It is getting pretty cold here and is
raining all the time. Really helps me appreciate the sun! Ha-ha. I guess
reporters have been saying the river Uraguai will be almost 17 meters higher
this year. This means our apartments will be under water. Ha-ha, we will see
what happens. Many of the Itaquniense (ha-ha) are talking and worrying about
it. Oh, and we had a BAPTISM!!!! I will explain how it all came through in the
email. But, wow this week was rough work!
This whole week we had lessons with
Maria. She was doing very good all week, reading the BOM and praying. We taught
her everything and she is keeping all the commandments. Towards the end of the
week, closer to her baptism, she was getting very nervous and confused. Friday
we went there with a member and resolved some concerns and everything was ready
to go for the baptism. Saturday, the day of the baptism, she called us and had
a bunch of excuses, like how her son was sick and what not. She wanted to know
if we could move the baptism to another week. We rushed to her home to talk
with her. She was very scared and confused. We tried to remind her of all the
answers God has given her and talked about how she is ready for baptism,
passing the interview and everything, but she was still confused! We told her boldly,
with faith and love, “Maria, you already know that this is your day to enter
the waters of baptism; you are only lacking a bit of courage. Can you pray and
ask Heavenly Father to give you the courage to be baptized today?” We entered
the kitchen where it was more quite and away from the T.V. that had the World Cup
game (Brazil vs. Chile?). We kneeled down and she started to pray silently.
Elder Cotrim and I started to pray silently like crazy that she would receive
the courage and some sort of answer that she needs to be baptized today! We
stayed there kneeling for about 10 minutes on the Moutaines’ dirt floor. As our
knees were aching, we stayed there waiting for her answer to come. When she
stood-up she was a different person. She said, “I don’t know which one of you
will baptism me, but I had a vision of us 3 in white at the church. Both of you
were facing the other way, but I saw a light there and felt the spirit very
strong.” She tried to say the vision was
telling her to be baptized next week, but we cleared up that doubt real fast
and helped her realize today is the day! Maria decided on me to baptize her and
the whole baptism went very, very well! We had a good turn out with members and
everything! What if we wouldn´t have rushed to her house hours before baptism
and asked her to pray? I have no doubt that if we hadn´t been obedient to those
promptings she wouldn´t have been baptized.
Now the sad story that happened...So
we were walking to Ari´s house to teach the whole family, but when we arrived
Ari and Natanael were waiting for us in the front yard. Ari told us that many
problems have arisen there in the home and that they need to be done meeting
with us. We tried to explain that we could help, but Ari indirectly said that because
of his wife, Silvia, we are not welcome there anymore. This was very sad to
hear, but we can’t force them to receive us. We invited them to read the BOM
and pray everyday and that they are welcome in our church always. Ari almost
started to cry when he told us goodbye and rushed in the home. The kids all gave
us hugs as they were crying. I was a little confused and sad, but this was the
first real rejection Elder Cotrim had to face and it was very hard for him. As
we walked away from the home he began to weep. I put my arm around him as we
walked and tried my best to explain that these things happen, but we can´t do anything
about it. I told him, “We can’t force righteousness. We did our best and we can’t
keep feeling down because the Lord has more work for us to do.” This was a very
humbling experience for me...Elder Cotrim has a lot of love for these people.
This week was hard work, but I know
that the Lord is blessing us every step of the way! I am so grateful for these
challenges, it wouldn´t be a Mission without them!
Mom, it sounds like it was an awesome
week there in the US! I am excited for Dresden to leave on the mission!
He will do great things! Mom, I am very impressed with your desire to be
better in all aspects of life! God will bless you with these righteous desires!
I love the picture of Emme! She is so cute! :)
Dad, the World Cup is slowing down
some of the work, but not nearly as much as I thought it would. We are still
finding a lot of success! Awesome to hear about Chris getting his call and all
the other missionaries leaving! Dresden is looking like a stud in the photo!
I love all of you so very much! :) Have a great week!
Elder Hauck
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