July 16, 2012

BAPTISMMMMMM!!!!!
Well after long hard work for these past 3 months since Fagner´s baptism we had another one this past Saturday with Ingrid! It was Elder Vazquez´s first baptism on the mission and my first time actually baptizing someone in my life. And it was really awesome! We have been working with Ingrid for a couple months now but her mom never wanted to authorize the baptism and she needed authorization because shes 14 years old. But we taught her everything and asked for the moms permission to do a baptismal interview and she agreed and then the next day Ingrid was interviewed and passed! Then the day after that which was Friday after much prayer and studying we went to ask for her moms permission yet another time. We talked to her mom about how she passed the interview and that she would continue learning after baptism and that she would now have the help of the Holy Ghost as well with her and she agreed! So on Saturday night we baptized her! And then on Sunday confirmed her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! And who showed up for sacrament meeting but good ol President Martins. And when he went up to bear his testimony he talked right to her saying that 40 years ago he had been baptized when he was 13 and that 40 years from now she would tell people how he had talked to her about being a member for 40 years. It was fantastic and something that we were not expecting at all. But she is super strong and has a testimony and will be a great member of the church for many many many years for sure.
Also this week we were able to find another young man, Mateus who is 14 and is the son of 2 less active members. He had never been baptized when his parents were active but now we´re teaching him and he is progressing really well and liking it a lot. And he was at church yesterday as well and enjoyed it a ton and said he would be there next week as well.
Things are going decently in the area but nothing fantastic we´re working our butts off to find new people, but the hardest part for us is to find people who want to hear from us a second time. We have taught the first lesson a ton but when we go back for the 2nd time they dont want to hear anymore or they just arent home. Or they tell us right off the bat thy dont want to hear anymore a second time. But things will get better and rolling and I know that there are people here praying to hear the truth and our searching out God´s will. And we are here to bring it to them. My companion is doing super well and learning fast. His portuguese is going well also and I'm not really sure how haha. I don't know how to teach him the language based on spanish but he´s learning. And we´re always laughing, it makes the time go by so much quicker. The days are rolling by again. I cant believe I'm almost at the one year mark. Members here know when I have one year and they keep telling me its getting close but I just deny it. I dont know what normal life is like anymore and its weird to think that half of my mission is already coming up.


Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason


P.S. Mosiah 28:3; 29:20
"The Lord will offer opportunities, but whether we are prepared will depend on us." -Pres. Henry B Eyring