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.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

83. Rio das Ostras, Rio de Janeiro

11 February 2015

Well this was the pending last week in Rio das Ostras and it went pretty well. It rained like no other here several days this week which was awesome. We continued to work with some of our investigators.

X is coming along great and is on board to be baptized this Saturday. He´s 19 years old, dating a member and is enthralled by the idea of being able to marry her for eternity! 

On Monday, on our way home and older woman called us over. She explained to us about her son who is heavily involved with drug  trafficing and is causing all sorts of problems at home. She simply wanted us to pray for her and her family, but we offered to stop by the following day to help them out! We began teaching her and her grandson, 8 years old. Her troublesome son, hasn't been home these days that we taught, but we took a walk with him, became good friends and helped him pick out flipflops for his girlfriends birthday. The mother has been inviting countless pastors and religious preachers to her home to help her son but he hates listening to them rant about how he is sinning against God. In fact the first time we showed up there was a women there just talking endlessly at him, citing scriptures, ordering him to repent and such and he just didn't respond well... We decided to take another approach, show him that we care, became friends, search for the real issue, and then begin to help him change his ways. These things need to be done with sincere love and patience. I'll follow up when we see him next!

We also began teaching  a student from our weekly English class. I don't think I mentioned that until now. An English class began here last year and it was a huge hit. Weekly 30 or 40 students came and several people were baptized. When I arrived, Christmas and New Years were passing by and only 1 or 2 people came each week. We had 5 last week, so it's growing and I think people are liking it. I didn't like teaching at first, but I've learned some teaching strategies and now I'm actually really enjoying it!! I think my students are too! Anyway, we taught this student English for several weeks, just us and her.... Shes a spiritist which are difficult people to convert.... What's interesting about them is that they believe in a lot of the same things that we do about the Plan of Salvation. They believe its all a plan to grow and to evolve, to perfect ourselves and to become like God, they believe in Jesus Christ...but they don't believe in the ressurection into the same body. Instead, they believe in reincarnation. We taught the plan of salvation and well see where it goes from here! 

Sooooo now the part you were all waiting for. Transfers. Elder Evans, and my three housemates were all transferred while I stayed put! We had to leave Sunday for Rio and we spent the night in a small missionary apartment in Rio Cumprido with 30 other missionaries. It was a mess and one of the worst nights sleep I've ever had. The good news is Elder Neu is serving there and I got to catch up with him along with some other good friends including Elder Hammond. We spent the night  on a mattress and remininsced about good times in Gilbert until like 3 in the morning!

So this transfer was interesting. As they were calling areas and companions I noticed many whom were returning to old areas or with former companions. The pattern continued with me. My "new' comp is Elder Ribeiro!!! After just 6 weeks were back together again! So funny!!!!



Its gonna be another good transfer here. Caraval is on the way which is going to be rough, but well get through it!  Apparently some churches here are offering "Carnaval with Jesus!"



I love you all so much!!! Have a great week!!!!

Elder Siebers


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