The Final Countdown & Great Blessings

Week #99

To be completely honest, I don't know how much more there really is to be said. We're just working and finding many wonderful people.
This week, Maicom and Ana Paula were baptized. They were a referral from Sidney, who was baptized the last week of March. He has since received the Priesthood, bought a white shirt and baptized Maicom and Ana Paula. President and Sister Wright were also there and President Wright welcomed them both to their new family.
This week, Lucas, referral from Magda who was baptized April 19, will also be baptized. Ivoti is catching fire!
We have seen a great difference in Ivoti since we got here. On the first day, our ward mission leader told us not to expect referrals or much help from members. On our first Sunday, the Elders Quorum President spent about five minutes of his lesson telling us how it's okay if you leave an area never having baptized.
I feel a great deal as Ammon must have felt in Chapter 26 of Alma.
"1 My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?
 5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted."

Today we're going to the temple. In one more week, I'll be going to the airport. Trying very hard not to be trunky.

Até logo.

Elder Dickson

M. and Ana P.'s baptism

Our district: Sister Medeiros, Sister Filiagi, Sister Ribeiro, Sister Lemes (all from São Paulo) Elder Andrade, e Eu.

Working Hard

Week #98

Everything is fine with me. We had a wonderful baptism this week and saw a great deal of the Lord's hand in our work. Magda is very special and should be a wonderful help to the Ivoti Branch as the Branch should be to her.

I'm spending the day in Canoas, so I won't be spending a lot of time on the computer today. I'm visiting some people in Guajuviras and we'll be eating lunch very soon with one of the ward members.

This computer also doesn't let me upload files. Sometimes the computer services are not so convenient here. I miss having my own computer.

Elder Andrade and I are working a lot and the members are really starting to like us. One told me yesterday that I should extend my mission another six months. I think it's already too late to do that.

We'll be going to a Nike outlet to see if I can buy some jerseys today. I'll take pictures, Mom. I promise.

I have to go. We still have to buy some things before lunch and have to walk back to Francilaine's house.

Next week I'm going to the temple!

Elder Dickson

Trying Not to Count the Days

Week #97

We've had some wonderful experiences these last couple weeks, but they haven't been easy. 

We're struggling to set up the wedding of an incredible family. The problem is that the process is much more complicated here than at home. The process requires new copies of birth certificates (that must be collected personally in the city of birth) and the notary requires 45 days notice before the date. It also takes about 190 Reais (about $60) which isn't horribly expensive, but for a young couple with one child and one more coming, it's a little complicated. It still needs a little work and I won't be able to see their baptism, but it's all part of calling.

Our biggest difficulty has been finding people to teach. We started in a new part of the city this week and haven't had a lot of success. There is very little movement in Ivoti and finding people at home is very difficult. Especially where we just started. We're trying to baptize at least one more person before the transfer. We just need to find him.

Two weeks ago, Sidney was baptized. We didn't know when he was coming back from Santa Catarina, but he called us yesterday morning to say that he was back and going to church. Few bring themselves to church without our encouragement. He is one of God's elect. 

The branch is doing very well. The new Branch President is very capable and is "botando fogo" in everybody. We call him "fogo nos ossos" (fire in the bones). It's how people who have a lot of drive to share the Gospel and do missionary work are described in Brazil.

Today is Elder Andrade's birthday. We'll see if we do something special today.

I'm running out of time here. Until next week. Here's a picture.

Fish Barbecue 

Zone Breakfast

Elder Dickson

Pictures

Week #96

Sometimes when your missionary doesn't send many words it is nice to have friends on Facebook who share photos. 

(Photos from Sister Elaine Monteiro de Oliveira and Elder Guilherme Almeida)

Group Photo

"Esta de corte de cabelo novo!!"

Elder Dickson and Elder Andrade