Semana de Milagres (Week of Miracles)

Week #74

This was a very good week full of opportunities to see the Spirit work. More on that later.

This week could be called bipolar. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were all very hot and everything after was very rainy and a great temperature for working. The first miracle is that we were able to meet anybody. Between the ridiculous heat (horribly ridiculous), lots of rain, and a very small town, there were very few people in the streets this week. This was the best week I've had since I left Osório in April (looking at our numbers). 

Our two best investigators are Márcio and Marlí. Both are miracles that we met them and have shown incredible courage in doing what they know to be right. Márcio wants an eternal family and knows that his current girlfriend will not help him accomplish that goal. The moment he decides to follow the Law of Chastity, he is ready to be baptized.

Marlí wants to find truth and "buscar a Deus", but her daughter is absolutely against anything that has to with the Church. Her pastor has said everything from "the Book of Mormon brings curses" to "If you leave my church, you have to ask my blessing. If you don't seven demons will enter into you." She already knows he's a liar by his fruits (robbing money from the church. Asking for clothing donations and selling them etc.) and wants nothing to do with him. What's even better is that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and reads it of her own will. She even wants us to teach her mother.

It has been a very long time since I've seen people willing to sacrifice and hold on to the Gospel so firmly. They both have tasted the fruit and want to share it with others. Márcio heard that the branch has a goal to build a chapel here and he already wants to be involved and bring other people to the Gospel to accomplish that goal.

Fasting and prayer work. The Lord proved that to us yesterday. Hard work also works. Even when it feels like an oven outside and worse inside and nobody wants to listen, we have to continue and He will bless us for our endurance.

I decided to seek the blessings of the promise that Brother Hunt makes so often. As a missionary, we need miracles and if I can see more by reading the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes each day, Vamo lá! I also read this statement by Joseph Fielding Smith "No member of this Church can stand approved in the presence of God who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon." Então, Leiam o livro! It's true and has the power to bring us so close to God, that he makes of our lives much more that we could even imagine, that one day we may be born of God and see eye to eye. (Alma 36:26)

This Church is true. I become more sure of it every day.

Elder Dickson

Elder Dickson with Elder Almeida at Zone Conference.