The Gospel of Jesus Christ Changes One's Heart.

We had a baptism this past week! A wonderful blessing and miracle actually because Dorival was baptized! I don't know if you remember him and a little about his story. We invited him to make certain changes in his life, but he initially told us that he didn't want to. Although he continued to do certain things, we told him we wouldn't be visiting him anymore because he was not accepting God's invitation to change. He kept reading the Book of Mormon, coming to church every week without us reminding him and praying several times each day. He asked God for an answer to his prayer that he could change and whether to continue his current path or go on a different path. He received his answer very clearly.  A man that had previously had a hard time accepting that our church has the restored priesthood keys - the power and authority of God and that his baptism in the Seventh Day Adventist church wasn't sufficient had been touched by the spirit and a change in his heart had occurred. I remember the first time we visited him, he disagreed with us that the Sabbath Day was Saturday and not Sunday😊.  We saw prayer, church attendance and most of all the Holy Ghost and the Book of Mormon literally change his heart. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changed such a hard heart of a sixty-seven year old man and healed wounds that had been so hard for him to heal on his own! Our recent convert Roberto was able to baptize him! What a wonderful day too!

(Left to Right) - Sister Smart, Dorival, Roberto, Sister Lara

Sister Lara made Brazilian Cuscuz (pron. - couscous)  for us to eat. It tasted great! In Brazil, the traditional couscous is made from cornmeal. It was awesome! One can add fruit or what is similar to American stew.

Couscous - Add fruit (e.g. Pomegranate and Lime), vegetables, or meat

This past week Sister Lara and I were knocking on doors trying to find people to teach and found a man that is super, super great! His name is Mario. He is very kind and receptive. We taught him about baptism and invited him to be baptized on the 12th of August and he accepted! We set a follow-up appointment and he accepted our invitation. We went back to teach him the lesson on the Restoration. He currently lives with his Grandmother. Aside from the fact that we were "scared to death" of his huge dog, the lesson went super well.  He already knew a ton of information about Joseph Smith and had read a little of the Book of Mormon. The Spirit he felt while teaching him was extremely strong and he said that this coming Sunday he will come to church with us! Everything was trying to get in the way of him listening to our message, the dog, his grandma and he was trying to recover from a recent injury that probably required a hospital visit but he didn't let any of those things get  in the way from hearing our message. He listened with his heart and saw the importance and love in what we shared with him.

I know that my Saviour is with me and that he is guiding us to the people we need to talk with even if it is just planting seeds. I know that the Book of Mormon and the Gospel of Christ changes lives and moves hearts. I know that families are forever and each person is special and loved by God. I know that God knows our tears and fears and successes. The people are what make a mission so glorious! We were able to baptize a man of sixty-seven years that had completely changed his heart. His burdens were lifted and wounds healed because of this glorious Gospel and plan that God has for us. Have a great week!

Sister Lara and I found some swings - It made me happy!

The Book of Mosiah, Chapter 5, verses 1 through 5 (The Book of Mormon)

1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them.

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.

4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.

5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.