Hey everyone! Just another week of hard work here in Itaboraí. I have no complaints, we have a great teaching pool, great members, and a great companion! This week went well, we had hoped to mark baptismal dates with those that went to church this week but it didn't turn out how I wanted, but we still had some great progress with them.
We visited one woman with a Sister of the ward and we had an incredible lesson. When we began with S she really wanted us to focus on her kids. She didn't really catch the idea that we were also there to teach her as well. She has already started three churches herself, been a missionary for another faith, and she finally opened up to us telling us that she was tired of false churches. She's tired of working for churches that are from Satan (her words, not mine). We were there for a long time helping her understand that the Church of Jesus Christ was truly restored, we taught her how she can know for herself. She said she saw two angels with trumpets in the chapel last sunday during the sacrament. She said she would be at church this week, but didn't show up. Something must have happened... were going there tomorrow.
In other news we also had a big learning moment with another woman whose been going to the church for an entire year now and hasn't agreed to be baptized. I asked her if she could tell us what she knows of Joseph Smith and the Restoration, and she said she didn't know anything. She says she has a bad mind and can't learn things very well. If she doesn't know about these things, how can she understand that this is the truth on the earth today? Good question. We will start from the beginning with her, and focus on her feelings. It will be through her feelings that she will know that this truly is the true church.
On the most exciting note, we had an incredible Sunday. In my mission I've come to understand that there are certain types of investigators. There always comes a certain conformation when you know someone is really understanding, keeping the commitments, and preparing to be baptized. They start opening up to us more, then find more time to receive us. Someone who told us that could only meet on Saturdays is suddenly open on Sundays and Wednesdays as well. These things start to happen when they have that thirst to learn more about Christ and to follow his example.
J came to church all by herself this week. The sisters of the ward love her and are receiving her with much love. On sunday we marked with two sisters to teach her about 4:00. We had a marked lunch in Rio Bonito which is far away and we weren't able to return in time. The two sisters, who were doing their visting teaching, went there just to get to know her better. We got there around 5, right as they were leaving, and we went right into teaching the restoration. She accepted a date for the 16th of august. it was a great lesson and she believes in everything that she is being taught. She has visited a ton of churches trying to find a church that agrees with her beliefs and study of the bible and gave up. After the lesson we left for an hour to work and then came back and brought her to a family home evening with other member, who are practically neighbors. It was great. She is so prepared and I'm so happy we were guided by the spirit to find her. On Sunday she spent 3 hours at church, 1 hour with two visiting teachers, 1 hour with us, and 2 hours at FHE. Those who have real thirst, find time, and make sacrifices to quench it.
I love all of you guys so much! Have a great week, I know I will!
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Elder Siebers
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