So yes, the missionary work is going well. We never have trouble finding people to teach. The problem is when the people we teach don´t want to keep commitments. These days, it seems like NO ONE is reading what we leave them, praying, or going to church. We invite them, and show them all the blessings that come from reading, praying and going to church, but they don´t seem to have desire to do anything. So we are teaching lots of lessons, and talking to lots of people, but they are all pretty weak investigators. We are teaching two guys that are good. William and Lucas. William is 15 and is doing well. He reads and will go to church with us on Sunday, He was going to go with us last sunday, but when we showed up at his house in the morning, his grandma had just died in his house so he stayed home to help out with all that business. But this week he is confirmed to go with us. We are trying to teach another kid named Cristiano. He is 16 years old and has lots of friends who are members. He plays soccer weekly at the Amaralina chapel and hangs out with other boys who are members. He has been to church several times and we taught him some lessons, but he seems to hesitate when we talk about baptism. He understood why he needs to be baptized again and told us that the only problem now is convincing his mom to let him be baptized. She is from a different church and seems to always find excuses to why she is too busy to talk to us. We just need to have a good talk with her and explain a few things to help her understand why her son needs to be baptized.
Thursday was a normal day. Office work, then we taught a few lessons before our dinner appointment with Romilda. Friday I picked up Elder Dos Santos at the Hospital who had a hernia surgery. He was in a lot of pain and can´t walk very much. I had to stay with him at the office all afternoon and night. Elder Cantuário and Elder Prince went to the Bank, the other mission´s office, Rodoviaria, then to our area and taught three lessons. Meanwhile I was stuck in the office doing some financial favors for Elder Cantuário and watching over Elder Dos Santos. We bought Elder Dos Santos a new bed mattress because he will be staying at our apartment while he recovers and there weren´t enough. We are really looking forward for the guys who are reforming our house to really get on it, because very little progress has happened and President Bangerter isn´t happy with it. We have been sleeping on our mattresses on the ground for 6 weeks and the apartment isn´t looking very good. President wants it to look like a hotel to have the new missionaries that arrive in the mission to stay in, but I don´t know how well that is going to work out. It doesn´t look that much different since the reform started. Saturday morning Elder Prince went with Elder Cantuário to get a haircut. I called Eddy to take Elder Dos Santos and I to the pharmacy to buy some things for Elder Dos Santos, then we headed on to the office. I was happy to have received an email from my 2 little sisters. I was also able to chat with my dad for a bit, and write my mom a belated birthday email. We had lunch in Santa Cruz´s area, then returned to the office. Overall it was a good p-day. Relaxed and slow paced, but enjoyable. We hope to have some investigators in church. This is going to be one of last chances of getting investigators to come to church on Sundays for a while since Carnival is starting. I believe Carnival will be starting towards the beginning of February. On February 2nd there will be a HUGE annual party at a park that we pass by every night at the end of our day. Then during the rest of the month there are parties all the time. There is one week with the biggest parties. It will be crazy, and I´ve heard they aren´t pretty, so we need to talk to president and ask him what we should do. Maybe work the day and stay in the office or at home at night.
So things are going pretty well as a missionary. I still don´t know where I will be transferred to. We are starting our 4th week of this transfer which means we have 3 more weeks until this transfer is over. I am anxious to know where I will go. I can´t wait to be able to dedicate ALL my time to teaching and baptized, without being hindered by office duties. Although I will miss the office, I will love being a full time "normal missionary" . . I´m grateful to be a missionary during this time. I love Brazil and its people. I can say that i´m trunky to go home, but it´s not affecting my desire to work and be a missionary. I can´t wait to have my parents come pick me up, then go home and move on in my life with college, marriage, work, etc. There is an exciting chapter of my life awaiting me, but I want to do all I can to make this chapter the best it can. The opportunity to be a full time missionary is unique and special. Anyone who has served a mission can attest to that. Thanks to everyone who prays for the missionaries serving in the world. We appreciate all you do to support us and love us. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ´s church and that the ordinances that help us earn our salvation were restored to the Earth. The news of the restored Gospel are the happiest ever! That´s why being a missionary is so awesome! Have a great week!
-Elder Hilton
acai with brazilians who live in the USA!
Riding in President Bangerter´s trunk on the way to lunch
Celebrating Elder Saavedra´s 1 year mark
being a true american. It´s a belt that a member gave me. haha
