This week went really good! In a surprising turn of events, a family that we thought was going to be more open to the gospel turned out not super ready while another family, with whom we had our doubts, was rather very receptive and are coming to church this Sunday. In other words, our Brazilian Evangelical Family had a busy week, and Saturday they were too busy to have us return, while our Portuguese Family invited us back in, accepted the message of the Restoration very well, and committed to coming to Church this week! We were pretty pumped! Families are the best! And we wont give up on the Brazilian Family yet, we still have another appointment with them this Saturday!
We also received a reference from the Lisbon Mission. Her name is Dulce, and she lives in Valongo, which is a bigger city outside of Porto, about a 20 minute drive, or a 15 minute train ride. One of her sisters is a member, and she just recently moved to Valongo and needs some help putting furniture together. So some missionaries from the South called us, and asked us to call her. So I did, and she seemed very receptive. Tomorrow we have plans on going out to Valongo to help her out.
Also, Virgílio is still doing good. We went to his house this past Wednesday, and we had plans to teach the Plan of Salvation, however, he didn't quite understand the Book of Mormon, so we re-explained that and helped him understand better. We also invited him to Church, but he gave us a maybe because on the weekends he has to watch his girlfriend's son, who is 10 years old. He told us that the boy's father wouldn't allow him to go to church, and that he couldn't leave him alone either. So he told us to call on Friday night to figure out if the boy was going to stay there that weekend. And so on Friday we learned that the son was going to stay, but he told us that next week he would be able to come! :D
Saturday night I did a division with Elder Wait. Probably one of the hardest working missionaries in our mission. We did the division because we had appointments with both of our families around the same time, and they live kinda far from each other. Elder Wait and I went to visit the Brazilian Family, but like I said early, they were busy and couldnt talk with us. However, a little bit later on in the night we visited José, our recent-convert, and we ended up teaching his non-member sister that he lives with! #benção It was a really good lesson, and we got here to pray, after some encouragement. Elder Wait is a convert himself of 3 years, and so he knows how it is to pray for the first time. I guess I never realized this, but it is something new and weird for those who dont have a habit of praying from the heart. We left the Book of Mormon with plans to follow-up with how she is doing with the reading. It was an awesome lesson, and all the credit goes to Elder Wait for having it happen. He is determined and diligent in the work, something that I still need to learn. It was a good division.
Our house sucks. It leaks. During these rainy days, we've had to set-up pots to catch leaks throughout our house. Elder Wait studied architecture before the mission, and he believes that this house was built before electricity was invented! We are talking early 1900s. #becausePortugal However, it looks like we might be on our way out! This past week we had lunch with President and we proposed a little change in some of the areas that would benefit the office. I thought it was a pretty good idea, so I'll share it with you.
Currently in our ward we have 3 duplas (companionships). Porto 1A, 1B, 1C. Elder Valentine and I are Porto 1C, the Sisters are Porto 1B, and the other elders are Porto 1A. In the other ward, Porto 2, it is basically the same situation, except that the Sisters are Porto 2C and the Elders are Porto 2A and 2B. The Elders of Porto 2B live in a house that is both big, and close to the office. What we proposed to President was that one dupla of the office elders serve in Porto 1 and the other serve in Porto 2, that way Porto 1 isn't hurt by having two duplas in the office. We told President that Porto 1C's area is really far away from the office, and it is very inefficient for us because it takes about a half an hour to get to our area. We also talked about how Porto 2 is close to the office, and therefore the area would be closer to the office as well. President like the idea, and said that he would think about it! :) If everything goes the way we proposed it Elder Valentine and I will probably be moved to Porto 2B, and all of us in the office would live in the house that Porto 2B is currently living in. Then Porto 1C would get whitewashed, and be a normal Elder Area, and they could live in our old house (were the sick bay elders are living right now), until we find them a house out in Gondomar (which shouldn't be hard, because the office couple is really good a finding houses). So maybe I'll end my mission in Porto 2, and "white washing" (Elder Valentine has already served in Porto 2), which would be super fun!
Pday today was great! We visited "Torre dos Clérigos." It is a big ole bell tower with a really cool view! I'll attach some pictures. It is down in the tourist area, and we actual ran into some americans, and some members as well! :D #ldssmallworld
Random Portugal Fact. No one really has a yard. And therefore, there isnt much grass. And if there is, it some nasty crabgrass, that does not look comfortable to lay down in. Nor is it a good idea because a dog has probably laid a mine somewhere in the grass. Needless to say, Portugal does not have grass. It is probably the reason why all the cities have a bunch of parks in them.
Church yesterday was really good! During this past week had a planned to visit the 1st counselor of the Bishopric, and teach them a lesson. But plans changed and it wouldnt work out for him, so his wife brought us lunch for after Church. I thought she was just going to bring some tuberware and we would go and warm it up in the microwave. But I was wrong, she brought some pasta and a tuna salsa, and served it up there at the Church. It was pretty yummy, and I'll take member meals however they may come.
During sacrament meeting the first counselor also gave a talk. The theme was service and serving in the Church. Something that I really like from his talk was that problems in the ward and in the Church are the Lord's problems, not ours. We are just the Lord's hands in solving these problems. It is the same way with missionary work. A common theme for missionaries is that this is His work, and things will be realized on his time. This took a new meaning for me this week. I imagine that we are at a table with the Saviour and we are working WITH Him on how to solve peoples problems and help them progress towards baptism. Or we are discussing on how we can strength the ward and establish the Church where ever we are serving. I really like this because, instead of thinking that Christ is up in Heaven just commanding everything and everyone, He is actually down here on the front lines fighting WITH us. It gives me more encouragement to work harder, and do the will of the Lord instead of thinking about myself and try to do things my way.
I love you all! Have a great week, and enjoy Thanksgiving! They dont do Thanksgiving here in Portugal, so they are already moving on towards Christmas! Join the movement that the Church is starting with 25 days of service during November!
Até mais,
Elder Yoder
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