July 9, 2014
Oi querida família!!!
Então [so], again, I have almost no
time at all :( But SOOO much to tell about this week! miracles, challenges,
huge tests of faith, and the saddest game of futebol in the history of mankind
hahaha.
I probably won’t talk much about
that last part. What a shame.
But quickly,
update about Irismar and her husband, Francisco! Irismar -- reminder, is the
lady who had a dream about Joseph Smith! – isn’t married legally so this has
been our challenge and talking to the husband who is deathly shy. haha. But wow, this week he finally went to church with
her and it was amazing!!! It was fast and testimony meeting and he was kind of
antsy because I think he doesn’t like a lot of people. But in the classes he was really paying attention
and really focused on what was happening and the principles being taught.
Wow. We found out that every night when
Irismar is reading The Book of Mormon, she is reading out loud for him and explaining
things and what not. I think he doesn’t
know how to read so he really has to pay attention and he does! He’s so shy but he really is understanding
and changing. It’s soooooooo a
miraculous. wow.
But the challenge now is the
marriage. It takes soooo much time!!!! 15 days at the least. But they have to pay
like 300 reals and wait for his papers from the other state where he was born
and all of that. It’s a tough one... but
we’re praying HARD.
We are also praying for Thais. the
girlfriend of Felipe, our recent convert. Wow...so she’s 16 and so we need her
parents’ consent. But wow, her parents
are very, veryyyy concerned about her and won't let her get baptized. This is
the one where we talked to them before and they said yeah, if she decided to,
we’ll let her. But now that she’s
actually wanting to, they won’t allow it because she’s too young to understand what
she wants. and they think it’s just because of Felipe. which is very
understandable but I know it’s not the case.
We were talking to her about it and she bore testimony without knowing
it and wow, she has the strongest testimony I’ve seen in a non-member. She wakes up every morning and gets ready to
a CD of children's primary songs that a member gave her. She fasted with us for her parents and during
the fast, she forget but she had 2 birthday parties -- birthday parties here are
insanely huge with the bestssssttttt food in the world and she kept fasting. She
said when it was reallyyyy hard, the smell is the hardest part, she went to her
room and read scriptures and felt lifted and strengthened -- keep in mind that
she’s 16.... wow. And one week, She and
Felipe were fighting and she was super upset with him and so Felipe came to
church with his sister and Thais took a taxi so that she could still come to
church without a ride from Felipe haha. Stubborn girl, but she truly showed us
she comes not for Felipe. She is completely
converted, but her father, especially, is so worried about his daughter. We came by just to get to
know them and talk to them about what Thais was learning just so they could see
that its nothing bad or secretive. And
the first thing he says is no, she can’t be baptized in your church. We were like.......okay. first of all, hi! :)
but we talked after and what not. My goodness. Thais is sooooo strong. She deals with sooo much in her family. I
never would have guessed. I believe in miracles and we’re fasting again
this weekend and praying constantly that their hearts and minds will be
softened so that Thais can finally have this blessing of baptism and the Holy
Ghost. It’s a tough one. but faith is strong.
I am soooo incredibly grateful for
all of your prayers and support! as well as the members here. It has been a reallyyyy stressful transfer
with this area and a trainee and the language and investigators not
progressing. I feel like we’re just
starting over here and it’s been tough, but I am so grateful for this
ward. We have a member, Laura, who is
16, as well, but she is older than me and already a better missionary.
haha. She gave US a lesson after lunch
one day and it was exactly what I needed.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity I have to grow from these
experiences and I know without a doubt that the Atonment is real! … that it carries me when nothing else can.
that when I’m walking with no more strength, my legs keep going because Christ
promised to fill in the rest when I’ve done all I can.
Thank you sooo much for your prayers
and support. I looooove you all soo much!
p.s.
I can print emails now so I will be printing and ready and responded
next week!!
Love you tons!!!!
hugs and kisses to everyone! (and Rustyyyyyy
:) )
ate a proxima semana! beijos! [Until next week! *kisses*]
Have fun at
camp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<3
Sister Lauren Yoshimoto
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