Elder Cooper Siebers has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He will serve for 24 months in the Brazil, Rio de Janeiro mission. He enters the Provo, Utah Missionary Training Center on 10 July 2013.

Monday, August 25, 2014

59. Itaborai, Rio de Janeiro

25 August 2014

Hey everyone! 

Another week has just come and gone here in Itaboraí. Most notably the weather took a drastic change. Last week we were enjoying nice 65-70 degree days and it shot up to about the 90s all week. Summer is on its way back and I'm not looking forward to it, but just one more time!

This week wasn't too bad, but wasn't too exciting either.  We have been working with one person since the beginning of June and its been a roller coaster ride. Last week she had told us that she didn't have any desire to go to church and still was full of doubts about things she saw at church. We passed by there Tuesday and she said that she had prayed and was going to church this Sunday. We finally thought that she had received a sure answer and was set on going. Sunday came around, we went there to pick her up and she didn't want to go anymore. Well keep fighting but it's been a brutal two sided fight since day one.

We have some solid investigators who are progressing right now, C and E who we found knocking doors two weeks ago. They already had some contact with the missionaries in the past and have always been curious the learn about the church. They are coming a long great and the next step is to help them come to church.We also found Cx knocking on her door and she is great. Of all the investigators I have ever taught she really understands the message we bring and is full of great questions. She is very intelligent and understands that to receive and answer from God about the truthfullness of the restoration she needs to exercise faith in the Book of Mormon and in the message we share. She is reading a ton and we are so excited for her. This week we had to field one of the most difficult questions with an investigator. Upon learning that the authority to baptize had been restored, and is found today in the Church of Christ, she asked, 

"I was baptized my immersion and I truly felt like it played a role in my conversion to the gospel of Christ,.... are you guys saying that my baptism was invalid?" 

We asked her about her baptism and asked about how it had changed her life. Baptism is an ordinance we do to show our Heavenly Father that we have had a change of heart, and have desire to follow him. Baptism doesn't save our souls if we truly are converted to the gospel. We affirmed that she fulfilled with many of the steps of baptism; immersion in water, a true desire to follow Christ, and a devoted life to the Gospel of Christ. Those things WERE real. We explained [priesthood] authority and one more step to baptism, that she could fulfill. She understood really well and I think she felt like the Savior knew she was doing her best with the knowledge that she had. That what she did in faith, was real. Now she has more knowledge and she will be accountable for the new information about the priesthood that she has received.

She understood and we continued!

It was a great week here in Itaboraí. In other news both me and my companion are staying here for one more [transfer]! Elder VW is also staying here, which is crazy because after this transfer he will have 9 months in this area...


I love all you guys! Have a great week! 

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