The Holy Ghost - Teaches the Truth of All Things!

This past week was difficult but filled with a lot of spiritual experiences; I think that is how most of my weeks are here in the mission field. This past  week started with mission zone conference.  We were able to learn a ton, but I think my favorite part was probably talking with all of the missionaries that I know. They are my friends and I haven't seen them in a very long time! They are all doing well, especially the group of missionaries that came into the field with me. It seems like we have  bigger connections and greater friendships! Crazy to think that we are all becoming the older more experienced missionaries instead of the "greenies."
This week we felt a strong impression that we needed to visit a specific house. As we got to the house we knocked on the door expecting someone to come out and to receive our message, because of the strong feeling... But to our surprise nobody came out and nobody was on the street. We wondered why we had felt so strongly about this house when it didn't go as we had hoped. As we walked away from the house a little disappointed, we had a little extra time because a prior scheduled appointment fell through. We decided to knock on the door of a woman named Leila that we had tried to visit once some days prior. On our prior visit, she wasn't home and the other time didn't seem very interested. To our surprise she answered the door and as we spoke we could see a change in her interest and desire in what we shared with her; she was now interested in the message we shared! She said that she was Catholic and had practiced Buddism in the past, but recognized what we were saying was true! At that moment, she began to ask many insightful questions and before we knew it, she had listened to all the basic missionary lessons; an understanding of what Heavenly Father requires, an understanding of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a bunch of other things. The missionary lessons, which usually take about a week or two to teach she had learned in a few hours. She accepted our invitation to watch General Conference in the church building with us the upcoming Saturday. When Saturday came we went to her home to pick her up. She called us to let us know she was already in the church building waiting for us! As we got there, she was sitting reverently in church best dress. She watched the first session and loved it! She went to the other session that same day and the two sessions on Sunday. She was also able to be at Talita's baptism! I have never seen anyone be so touched by our messages so quickly. The Holy Ghost teaches and strengthens! She accepted our challenge to be baptized on the 20th of April - which happens to be my mom's birthday! Taking this step of being baptized will be an amazing help as she is working through health and other struggles in her life.

(Left to Right) Sister Coutinho, Talita, Sister Smart.

Talita was baptized! On this past Monday, we went to go get authorization from her parents and were nervous that they wouldn't give it because they are a little more cautious and reserved. We did a family night in their home and planned to teach the lesson titled, "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" and do it to the best of our abilities with scriptures and personal testimonies. We had had a prayer prior asking Heavenly Father that he would bless us with his Spirit. By the end of the lesson, everyone had tears in their eyes and had been touched by Heavenly Father's Spirit! They accepted our invite to give authorization for Talita's baptism and not only that but expressed their desire to be baptized as well! I know that they felt the Spirit! My companion, Sister Coutinho and I do not remember what we said yet know it wasn't us that was teaching but the Lord. The Holy Ghost was helping Talita and her family learn and understand exactly what they needed to hear. I know that if we are worthy God helps missionaries to be instruments in his hands. I know that he has a specific plan for each of Heavenly Father's children.

Talita and her family.

Remeber Claudio and his cousin, Miguel. They both  also went to all of General Conference! Sister Coutinho and I  are helping Claudio prepare for great things to come for him in his life; he has shown great interest in serving a full time mission someday! Claudio's cousin,  Miguel, we are teaching the lessons to and hope to invite him to be baptized this coming week. Those two are super excited and singing in the ward choir weekly! We will "press-on" with the work of the Lord! Have a great week!

(Left to Right) Sister Smart, Sister Coutinho, Claudio, Miguel.

The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of the gospel.

He “witnesses of the Father and the Son” (2 Nephi 31:18) and reveals and teaches “the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). We can receive a sure testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only by the power of the Holy Ghost. His communication to our spirit carries far more certainty than any communication we can receive through our natural senses.

As we strive to stay on the path that leads to eternal life, the Holy Ghost can guide us in our decisions and protect us from physical and spiritual danger.

Through Him, we can receive gifts of the Spirit for our benefit and for the benefit of those we love and serve (see D&C 46:9-11).

Brazil Melastoma Flower.

Image by Min Kong from Pixabay

The Book of Mormon Blesses and Transforms Lives!

Claudio was baptized this past week! Remember the young man that has long black hair that is longer than mine haha 😃. He had been taught in the past by Elders serving in the Piratininga area of São Paulo. He remembers them - their faces and what they did then;  their patience, love and devotion to teaching and each week leaving a message of hope with him. He said the Savior had prepared him and that he was ready to be baptized! That he realized that he was doing things that had led him  down a path that he knew he was not to be on. This area had not had missionaries in it for some time; he had waited for missionaries to be in the area again and said that Sister Coutinho and I were to help him be baptized and were sent to him for that purpose! The Elders prior had given him a Book of Mormon. He admitted that he had not treated it, for whatever reason, with the respect he felt it should have received at that time - placing aside and letting it collect dust. When he was being taught, I bore my Testimony of the Book of Mormon and at the end said, "Claudio, this is your Book of Mormon." He has read it and has gained a testimony of its contents! At that point, he felt that the Lord had forgiven him for his sins and  for the way he treated the Book of Mormon prior. He is an amazing young man! He told us that he will cut his hair and that someday he will serve a mission for the church. He was able to go to church with us this past Sunday and his cousin came to church with us too!

Claudio's cousin had seen the change and joy Claudio feels, so he wants to be baptized too! We will teach Claudio's cousin and prepare him for baptism soon. One can see a physical change in Claudio; from reading the Book of Mormon and being baptized. He now has joy in his eyes. He is happy. The Gospel changes lives - not only spiritually, but physically as well! Everyone in the ward here in Piratininga loves him.

I am keeping busy as I have been asked to help lead, and train six other sister missionaries. I am required to do splits or divisions with two of the six each week - so each week for a month then the process starts over again the following month. Sister Coutinho stays in our area with the other Sister in the companionship. It is hard work, yet rewarding work. I love each one of them! This Piratininga area of São Paulo that we are in is a large area. We often have only a certain amount of time to see those we teach and those that are preparing to be baptized each week so we often run to our appointments - so my right ankle is sore haha 😊. I have tried to tape it some.

Talita and  her family are doing well. Sister Coutinho  and I had tried to find them home this past week with no luck. However, they were able to come to church with us this past Sunday! At church, a return missionary spoke and bore a strong testimony; the Holy Ghost bore witness to Talita who ask us after the meeting, "what can I do to be baptized?" - now wants to be baptized too! We hope that her family can be baptized as well!

My parents told me before I came to Brazil that it would be hard to come home at the end of my mission; they are correct on that one. I  really enjoy serving Heavenly Father here in Brazil. I have been able to see many miracles and the impact of the Gospel and the Book of Mormon on one's life and how the Book of Mormon transforms one for the better! It truly blesses lives!

“There is a power in the book [Book of Mormon] which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called ‘the words of life’ (see D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance”  (President Ezra Taft Benson, 1899–1994).