This week, the World Cup started. So there was a lot more drinking, and it made it a lot more difficult to talk to people in the streets. But it's pretty cool to see how everyone can focus on one thing. Yesterday afternoon, Brasil played against Switzerland, and nobody was in the streets. It was dead. So we returned home and studied during that time.
J-------- wasn't baptized this week. By the end of the week, he just said that he didn't have the desire to be baptized. There isn't too much we can do. We can't force anyone to be baptized, no matter how prepared they are. He knows everything and is living everything. He told the elder that did his interview that he will fast to try and receive the desire. We have fasted for him too, and we are always praying for him. We know that it's in the Lord's hands now, so we will keep working and trusting in his timing.
Not too much more happened this week..... Oh yeah! We found a man named J--- in the street, but he actually found us. I decided to ask him the name of the street that we were on so I could talk about the church with him, and before I could ask, he started talking to me. He explained that he was baptized in São Paulo, but his company moved him here to Pernambuco before he could be confirmed. It has been a little while since his baptism, so he will be baptized again. We already reviewed everything with him, and he remembers it all. So this Saturday he will be baptized again, and on Sunday he will be confirmed. It was so cool to see how fast the Lord can bless us after a disappointment.
I was sad to hear about Brother Oviatt passing away. He always was such a great neighbor, and I always liked him a lot. The story his son told of the hike, his injuries, and his miraculous journey for help really touched me, and really goes along with what President Nelson talked about. One of his talks was about personal revelation, but with a big emphasis on Ask and Receive. If we are asking for things that are just, God will help us to do the things we need to do. But when we ask, we need to ask sincerely. Elder Bednar said this when he was here, "The real prayer starts when you say 'Amen'." Meaning that we need to act after our prayers. Brother Oviatt didn't pray for God to cure his son or move them to an emergency room, but for the strength to act, and carry his son off the mountain to the emergency care he needed. It is a true principle, that the greater part of our prayers need to be focused on what we can do to make it happen with the Lord's help.
I love the mission, and everything that I am learning here. I don't remember where, but someone said that you gain many years of spiritual progression during your 2 years in the mission field. Meaning that you can mature in 2 years spiritually what would take you many years to gain if you didn't serve. I don't know if that is true or how you would even measure that, but I do know that you learn so much faster here in the mission field.
We get to attend the temple this week, which will be great! We are just chugging along. I hope you all had a great week too!
Com Amor,
Elder Nielson
P.S. I didn't include pictures this week because the lan house we are using is in a really sketchy alley way, and I don't want my camera to explode if I connect it to the computer... So here's an oldie but good. Who doesn't like to see a missionary worry if the monkey is going to use his shoulder as a bathroom?
