Self-Reliance, Temple, Searching for the Lost

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Can't go to Otacilio's without vitamina being made - its going to be hard to get through that huge batch of sweetness without Elder Esplin (He consumed an unbelievable amount of calories in the days when he ran 30 miles almost daily) . We're not big fans of the ones with Marias blended in.

We learned that he's a good singer and guitar player but his finger wound hasn't healed enough to really play yet. Elder Esplin (the Portuguese call him Elder Spleen) said they used to buy one of those big canisters of Nestle's every week and eat it all, and Otacilio brought out the second canister - of whole milk powder, a popular Brazilian treat often added to desserts and acai bowls.

 

Yes, this is a Dollar Tree. Or is it for those worshipping the Almighty Dollar ? It's near the Bunker Hill monument and possibly has historical status or maybe just so cheap the store bought it to use as is, Haven't been inside since we go by only on Sunday morning to pick up Antonio and sometimes wife, grandkids, daughter.....

I finally know the names of the Chinese sisters! (tricky to learn since their name tags are in Chinese characters) The front row is Sis. Torres, Jackson, Grover. Back row is Elder Gomes, Elder Bam (I'll get his real name eventually Bamvakiades) and Sr Sherinian, us, then the new sisters Padrilha and Mendes

(new to us and the district) (Actually Sister Mendes was here before but transferred out just before we came, since she worked with Nildo and Amarildo we hope she can help them in their struggles to stay)

Market Basket continues to be a place where Durk delights cashiers with his experience in Salvador but the bagger today was from Albania. The big news? We actually went there and back with NO GOOGLE MAPS ASSISTANCE!

We have an appointment on Saturday (at the only time that was left!) to take Otacilia to the temple - and theoretically several others - to do baptisms. And Denubia said she would be back at self-reliance class next week. And Amarildo said we could come visit for the first time in a month. And the elders have agreed to meet to look at their records of the "red mark" lost members. So some things are looking up at the moment. 

Took oatmeal raisin craisin apple cookies to finance class and Marcos definitely enjoyed them, would have taken some to DC but not having it because of zone conference week. At least we know now and won't make the drive for nothing like we did before.

Some days we hear the trains a lot, other days the airplanes are in waves of one every minute or so, some days we notice neither. We see loads of really gorgeous very blue hydrangeas, and one bush that varied reddish to blue made me wonder if they had intentionally adjusted the soil or if it has to do with some other reason their soil has the right chemistry for other shades. I ought to try and get a good photo because it would be a nice addition to my flower painting series that's mostly yellows and pinks.

another "we're in Brasil" thing is that it gets light at like 5 a.m. I think I prefer not to be at the far eastern edge of a time zone. In winter it would be bad too, getting dark too early.

Zone Conference July: We are glad we don't drive in at 7:30 every day, but we've definitely been in worse traffic. Going home(around four-something) it took us over ten minutes to crawl through the big intersection near church but then everything moved right along. Mandarinos did the food and we helped a bit with prep and learned a lot about how they did it (and how far off the numbers ended up, brought some water bottles and chips home for our turn in August) Missionaries recommended Sante Fe Burritos which went over pretty well.

Some notes from teachings: our "Missionary purpose" started before earth, Matt 28:19 Christ gave commission and it is still in force. Footnote - Greek word for teach is to preach to or to make and do or to "make disciples of" - that's what missionaries should do, make disciples of. Sister Risenmay acknowledged that sometimes really interested and ready people decide not to get baptised and it hurts - because we have gotten to love them and know what they are giving up - So consider how Heavenly Father feels when we make decisions not to keep all the commandments or standards? Missionary standards include proper dignified behavior, not using slang which can lose trust as it seems childish.

So much success means Satan is going to fight - believing but choosing not to obey is what Satan does.  In the jungle mosquitoes kill, not lions - its the little things (that if not obeyed or followed, will end up causing big problems or lack of success)

DC 43:8-9 - 8 And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.

9 And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me - this is what we are doing - 3x says to "act", which brings faith and miracles 

When we ask "What lack I yet?" we will get answered quickly

(Christofferson 2008 Mission Leader Seminar) " 'Coming Unto Christ' is an abbreviation for the plan of salvation" (and more but I haven't found the talk which has the rest I couldn't copy down)

Emma Smith said Joseph was always anxious to do the will of God.

President Nelson FB post about The Living Christ and how it continues to help him. Study it - pull out the doctrines. Look at what He did, matchless gift - ends with gratitude.

His teachings are ancillary to being Messiah/Redeemer - His atonement.

Pres. R - burn into your brain this symbol "Embrace" 2 Ne 1 - compare v.13 to 14-15 -then 16! (Satan vs Christ) (DC 6:25 and others, look up embrace) - Maxwell spoke of image of Christ embracing a man, he employs no gatekeeper because He waits with open arms to embrace us

Matt 26:39 - what does it mean to you? to you as a missionary?

Sister Quinn challenged to prioritise "worth of souls" - showing love to all those around us, being conscious of it brought unexpected experiences.

Pres. Holland - 2 Ne 25:24-25 - obedience is the first law of heaven, if you are all in you are obedient in all things, John 13 new commandment - 

Departing missionaries:

One elder said he struggled with all the problems, things others did wrong, etc. until he decided to focus on friends instead of himself and how his testimony was doing, then he began to love his mission.

One sister said "I want people to know who Jesus Christ is just by being around me"

"We leave the mission, (friends, etc,) but Jesus comes with us"

Be an example of really enjoying church (mtgs).

Don't waste His time.

Pres. R follow-up:

God puts prepared people in front of prepared missionaries.

Ponder on what you heard and learned and inspiration will continue to come.

Alma 26:29 - by and about departing (for home) missionaries

Elder Kearon was a "grey dot" for two years - (meaning not progressing or committing to baptism I believe, the PMG app has at least four colors of "dots" for being taught, no longer being taught because they didn't keep commitments or aren't interested, etc.) 

 invitation in PMG 1st presidency msg at very beginning includes: We invite you to rise to a new sense of commitment to assist our Father in Heaven in His glorious work.

Rise (and sing)

Sister R made everyone a "yearbook" that has every missionary that has been here since they arrived a year ago.

As I've mentioned before, the missionaries are repeatedly taught that 15 minutes early is on time, and this is how they should be in future life for mtgs, etc. Also they were really good this time at being quiet and pondering/studying in the chapel between photo and start of meeting, you can feel the Spirit! They did much better than last time - but that was a bigger group for "mission tour" so they were excited about a general authority plus seeing friends.

Now we are in a WhatsApp discussion about what to do with our self-reliance class when there is a baptism after church. We're hoping to sort of make it work by having class fast and short right after the baptism and allowing people to bring their food to class - they just can't have a baptism without a bunch of food, but I suppose the point is that it gets more people to stay after church to attend and support the new member. We shall see. 

The other day we turned onto Webster and the traffic was lined up al the way from the intersection to our block - several blocks worth. A 7-8 minute drive according to google that evening but it took between 12-15 minutes to get through that one intersection. I told Durk that meant the appointment would cancel because every time we have a truly horrible drive that happens - and yes, it was cancelled.

We got to meet Amarildo's little grandsons and his daughter. We learned that he only went to school through "year three" and that he then started hawking various products in the streets (extremely common in Brasil)

Not only was the DMV disappointing s not being a fun new store or venue, it adds quite a bit to the local traffic. And there's nothing like having a large truck parked all day long on a narrow street. We LOOOVE driving in Boston (use sarcasm font here)