This week was remarkably normal. Just going about our business as usual. We had a couple of sweet events though, as well as one of those classic mission days when nothing goes right, but starting from the start.

The other two elders in our district had a baptismento this week, which means that they married and baptised a couple on the same day. Hurray for marriage. For some reason getting lawfully married is a big step for many people investigating the church, but it's always great to see a family taking that step. We went to both the marriage ceremony and the baptism to support the family, and it was a simple, yet sweet experience. The four of us even sang a special hymn at the baptismal service, and everyone really enjoyed it.

 In fact we have a couple of our own that needs to get married soon. This week we started teaching Denis and his girlfriend. A long-lost member of the church who has finially decided to return, and bring his girlfriend with him. She is learning a lot, and is one of the best investigators I've had on the mission so far. On Saturday when we taught the Book of Mormon, she remarked, "I don't think a lot of people know about this, it's all new for me" and I couldn't help laughing as I responded "Yes, that's what we're doing here, we're trying to let people know about all this."

 Other than those events, we just had a lot of normal work to do. Yesterday the assistants got here to do a division with us, and so I'm really excited to work with them. The branch here is also getting excited and more involved with missionary work. Church attendance is going up, and lots of less-actives are coming back.

There was one day this week that was crazy. We decided to take a bus up to an area far away to teach some people that we had made contact with. We got there, and absolutaly could not find their house. So, we decided to try and find our way to a nearby members house to get some directions, and we ended up getting completely lost. Finally a member was able to meet up with us and show us around. Eventually things worked out, and we were able to teach a couple of families, but is was amazing how much aimless wandering is possible in one day.

One of the things I learned this week is about learning. It is so easy to get in the mindset of "well I got this whole missionary thing down now" but it is never true. There is always more to learn. It is amazing how the Lord puts us in situations that are different, or even difficult, and he lets us learn from them, and become a better person. The mission has a million and one examples of those situations, and I definitely had one this week. I am immensly grateful for all that I have learned, and have yet to learn.

Até mais,

Elder Johnson

Pictures:

1. the elders is my district

2. Marriage!

3. random field

4. getting lost at the end of the world

Pictures of a monkey and a turtle that we saw on a quick run this morning!