April 9, 2012

1st Baptism!!!!!!!!!!!

But I'll start off with the non spiritual stuff first haha. Today was Elder Vieira's second to last p-day and he had to go into the center of Sao Paulo to have some training stuff to know how to be a normal person again. But after that we went to the buffet, or here they call it churrascaria or something like that, its ridiculous. It makes any buffet in the US look like crap. All the beef you could ever imagine and then some. And they have fruits, and the pizza there are amazing. And then after all of that, the best desert pizzas I've ever eaten. Basically I gained a good 10 lbs just from lunch today. Not literally but it sure feels like it right now. I can't feel my stomach its just pain haha. But soooooooooo good.

Anywho now for the better more important stuff. This past weekend has been the most spiritual weekend of my life without a doubt. It started on Saturday with my FIRST BAPTISM!!!!! It took long enough, but with work comes blessings. And I am trully blessed to have had the oppurtunity to teach this young man the gospel. His name is Fagner and he's 18 years old. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I can't ever imagine forgetting it. The spirit was so strong throughout the entire baptism, just pulsing through me. Elder Vieira baptized him and after the baptism when they were changing out of wet clothes Elder Vieira said that Fagner couldn't explain how he was feeling but just felt free. I asked him after how it was and he said brilliant. Thats it, he didn't have words words to explain it. It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to have more like it. He's already even talking about serving a mission after the 1 year of being a member. So awesome!!! We have seen him change drastically and he is such an awesome example with an amzing vision on life and the gospel.

Then on Sunday, EASTER, we had a great sacrement mtg. Elder Vieira gave his last talk on the mission and it was fantastic on the resurection of Jesus Christ. We need to focus on the fact the Christ lives and not the fact that he died on the cross. Of course His sacrifice for us is inexplainable, but He also gave us the gift of eternal life when he was resurected after 3 days. We must remember that Christ lives, and praise a living Christ not just His death. But the whole day of church was just filled with the Spirit flowing through me. Theres no words to explain the feeling of the Holy Ghost in my life, words don't even describe these feelings. But I gained an even stronger testimony of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that He provided the way for me to live eternally with my family. I know that it is only through Christ that we can be saved, there is no other path. He left one path and we have the choice to follow or not. I love my Savior with all my heart and I couldn't be more happy than to be here serving Him and His church for these 2 years of my life. I can't and don't want to imagine what these 2 years would be like without the mission. I see myself changing and loving the gospel more and more each day. I look forward to preaching about my Savior and doing all I can to help others know His True Church more and more. I love the peopleof Brasil and I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And of course I love you all. My love for my family increases everyday as I learn to love others my love for my family increases everyday as I learn to love others my love for my family increases even more. I don't know where I'd be without them and the gospel in my life.

Eu Te Amo!

Elder Gleason