Hey,
It was so nice to see all of the family for Mothers day. I have come to learn just how important families are in the Plan of Happiness. Families can be forever, if sealed by the Priesthood authority of God in His sacred temples. There is nothing more beautiful than that. There is no better place for the Gospel to be taught than in the home, the best place to learn and apply the teachings to help one another return to our heavenly home. Thank you for the wonderful examples that you have all set for me!
We had a super Family Home Evening at a recent convert’s house named Jacinta. A few days before the family night, we had taught her and her boyfriend about Lehi's tree of life and about the desirable fruit that would make someone happy, being that the Atonement and Gospel of Jesus Christ. We invited them to think of people they knew that they would want to share that with. They thought of a few names and we invited them to invite their friends to come to the Family Night. The house was packed!! The room was full until people were standing outside. Jacinta invited a few of her neighbors and they came! We started to teach few of them, and its going really well. Jacinta is more excited than ever to missionary work.
We have been working quite a bit with a young woman named Romila. She doesn’t understand very well (doesn’t understand Portuguese very well, just Creole) she is still progressing super well. She is coming to church, she came and watched the baptism this last Saturday. She is marked to be baptized this week. Can’t wait!
We found another young woman (17) named Lavia. Apparently she has been coming to church for the last like four weeks! She isn’t baptized yet. Apparently she had been taught in the past by Elders but her parents wouldn’t let her be baptized. So, we decided to do a fast and pray to soften the heart of her father so he would give her permission to be baptized. Right before entering in the house we said a prayer. We saw him playing cards and called him over. By the power and authority that we possess we declared our selves representatives of Jesus Christ and help him to see exactly what we were here for. We spoke with power and at the end he said ''No problem, she can be baptized''. It was a very strong spiritual experience. Lavia will be baptized on the 31 of May.
We received a reference from the President of the Elders Quorum (Samiro). Her name is Rosy. Samiro showed us her house and we started teaching her. We had an incredible Restoration lesson where you could really tell the Spirit touched her. She accepted to be baptized if God responded to her that it is the true church. She was still a bit shaky. On Sunday, she came to church with her daughter. We taught her yesterday and she said that during church, she felt that this was the true church and that she should follow. We testified that the Spirit spoke to her. She accepted a baptismal date for the 07th of June.
The Lord has truly prepared the hearts of the people here. What an honor it is to be an instrument in His hands. This work cannot be done without the Holy Spirit that guides, teaches and changes hearts. I’m trying to learn to trust in the Spirit and have Him always with me, so that i may help in bringing souls unto Christ. I know that the Gospel blesses families more than any other thing that exists I will dedicate my life to His work.
Love,
Elder Rice