Bom dia, everyone! I´m sorry that I haven´t sent a group email in a few weeks. We haven´t been leaving ourselves enough time to email on P-day, and so I´ve just been email a few people. So now I´ll try to sum up three weeks for you all.
Sofia is a young women that radiates with energy. And, she was golden as an investigator. Two of the young women in the ward brought Sofia to church, and we started teaching her. At the beginning of the lesson we asked, "What is your favorite thing about church?" and she replied, "All of it?" It was great. So we began teaching, and we got to the story of the Book of Mormon. We showed a picture of Moroni putting the plates in the ground.
First off, we had two more baptisms last Saturday! Breno and Sofia both decided to follow the Savior and be baptized. So our three baptisms this transfer were all youth, and all three are awesome. They are also all super funny.
Luis was baptized a few weeks ago, and we went to his house afterwards to help keep him strong in the Gospel. Now, we weren´t the first missionaries to teach him. The first was Elder Herrman, and Luis adores Elder Herrman. My companion, Elder Leal, is a bit competitive, and so he was trying to get Luis to admitt that he was at least as cool as Elder Herrman. Luis acknowledged that Elder Leal is okay, but he never stopped praising Elder Herrman. The part that I thought was the funniest was when we asked Luis to pray, and this happened.
Luis: Please bless Elder Lofthouse, and Elder Herrman... and all the other missionaries, too.
Elder Leal: and Elder Leal.
Luis: Oh, yes! Elder Leal. Bless him. How could we forget Elder Leal?
I thought it was super funny.
Sofia is a young women that radiates with energy. And, she was golden as an investigator. Two of the young women in the ward brought Sofia to church, and we started teaching her. At the beginning of the lesson we asked, "What is your favorite thing about church?" and she replied, "All of it?" It was great. So we began teaching, and we got to the story of the Book of Mormon. We showed a picture of Moroni putting the plates in the ground.
Us: And so, Moroni sealed the plates to keep them safe, until the time that they could be brought forth by the Power of God. And who will be led to them?"
Sofia, with fire in her eyes: I will.
Us: Um... no. Joseph Smith already did.
Sofia: Oh, I thought they were still out there somewhere, waiting to be found.
It was great.
Breno was a referal from the Bishop. He´s the son of two recent converts that are a little less active. The first time we taught him was with five other young men, and we taught about Joseph Smith and the Restauration. But about a week later, when we asked him if he believed Joseph was a prophet, he said he didn´t know. So we explained that he could know through the Book of Mormon and prayer. Later, we asked again if he believed.
Breno: I don´t know, I don´t even know who he is!
Us: He was that young man that...
Breno: Oh, the boy that saw God?
Us: Yeah.
Us: Yeah.
Breno: Yeah, I believe he was a prophet.
Us: That was Joseph Smith.
That was a moment of grand reliefe for me. He did believe, he just didn´t know that the boy was Joseph.
And so, three amazing youth entered the true church of Jesus Christ. However, one great Sister departed from this life to serve God in the Spirit World. It was really sad, and quite sudden, too. As people were preparing the funeral services, they asked if I could play piano, and I agreed. However, I heard that the service would be after sacrament meeting from some, and that it would be on Monday from others. I wasn´t worried, and knew that things would work out, and then, after sacrament meeting, we got everything ready, and they brought the casket and I started playing piano. Now, let me explain how funerals work here in Portugal. The body is brought to the church, and then for a day and a night, people can come and visit, and then there is a brief service the next morning. And so, I had the great experience of playing the piano from about 11:00 in the morning until about 7:30 at night. I did get a lunch break at about 2:00, but it turns out that the hymn book doesn´t have as many hymns as you would think. Especially when you want them to be appropriate for a funeral (although I did manage to turn "Now Let us Rejoice" into a funeral dirge). But it was all good, and the service was beautiful. Sister Isabel was well loved here.
Again, I´m sorry I haven´t written much lately. This transfer was great and Alverca is great, and so many people are ready for the Gospel. It´s just great!
I love you all and hope you all have a great Christmas!!!!!!
Elder Lofthouse
