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).