Hey everyone! This week was a
busy one, and we were able to see a lot of sucess in our little branch this
Sunday. We were able to see a couple of great less-active families come to
church after a long time of working with them, as well as having all of our
recent converts there too. It was a great end to a very interesting week.
First off, let me give a
warning against infection. It's no fun to have an infected toe. Take it from my
companion. A week or two ago Elder S had a quick operation to remove an
ingrown toenail, and thinking that all was well, we went on our way.
Unfortunetally, soon therafter, the toe started to swell and leak pus (not good
by the way). Turns out that it got infected, and that walking all day in sweaty
church shoes is not the best treatment to fight bacteria. Now, Elder S is taking antibiotics, and we had to stay at home on Friday to give the toe
some recovery time. We used the opportunity to celebrate Halloween by doing a
deep cleaning of our house, and a really solid session of Weekly Planning.
The rest of the week however,
was really great! We went up to Primavera do Leste on Wednesday to participate
in a training, and do some divisions. I was able to work with my trainee, Elder
O, who is now a District Leader there in that city! He's doing his
trainer proud!!
To finish off the week, and to
make up for the lost day on Friday, we did an all day division with the Young
Men on Saturday. I was able to go on splits with a great future missionary
called. He was baptised a little over a year ago, but is now one of
the most helpful members here in Rondonopolis. As it happens, just about all of
our plans fell through.and we had to improvise. But, things worked out in the
end and we were able to find a couple of really great new investigators. I loved
spending time with N, he reminded me a lot of my brothers at home. He
was so excited and ready to work and teach with the missionaries, and to one
day serve his own mission. I hope that all young men could have that same
testimony and excitement about Missionary work.
This week I thought a lot about
what the church really is, and the purpose behind all that the church teaches.
In so many ways, all of the commandments, and church doctrines exist for our
happiness and protection. In working with many less-actives I've been able to
see how members of the church with a firm testimony of the gospel are led away
or decieved because of how sin appears so attractive. But as always, turns out
that God really does know what's best, and wickedness never was happiness.
Instead of finding a super happy party life, people lose out on the simple,
pure happiness that the gospel brings. and unfortunately, they stick with a
guilt that impedes them from returning to the church, and the principles that
once made them so happy. It's things like that that help me realize even more
deeply, that the church really is true. I know that this is the true church of
Christ, that offers true and eternal happiness.
Ate Mais!
Elder Justus Johnson
Hey everyone. P-day is just
about over, so I'm not going to be able to get a group e-mail out. My companion
really likes going places and doing things on P-day, so letter writing kind of
gets pushed out of the picture. But, I saw capevaras for the first time in
Brazil!!! I'll try and get some pictures off.
This week we did a division in
Dourados and Fatima do Sul. And on top of that we did a division with the young
men here on Saturday. DIVISIONS!!! This week we´ve got three more to do...what
fun.
Elder Justus Johnson
