We had a special mission conference broadcast to all the missionaries in the world at once. It was great and really motivating. There is something about the church in Salt Lake that is just so much more invigorating than anything here. Anyway, Elder Anderson talked about our purpose to call people to repentance and baptise converts. Elder Bednar ran a little discussion with about 12 missionaries who were all very eager to try and contribute without showing it or looking stupid- it was quite funny. In fact one of them we recognised from London and he kept saying how he had learnt he needed to depend on the spirit more because we are his tools, rather than he being a tool for us. The Young Women’s President ran a similar thing about teaching where we find and finding where we teach, which we had some good experiences with this week.
So, we taught Alzira again this week and although her partner completely refuses to stay and listen, the last time her son (aged 15) was there and listened to the plan of salvation. He actually had some questions, which is always good and shows they are truly paying attention, many of which she answered for him. She has such a strong testimony it is a shame that her partner is such stumbling block, because she won’t commit to church.
We also found Maria J and Nazare when we went to follow up with someone we found in the street who didn’t answer, but she lived next door and Sister da Luz was inspired to knock her door. Maria suffers from epilepsy, but was really enthusiastic and we went back to teach them again the next day. We actually had a moment that looked like it could be used in a church film. The daughter of the neighbour was there sitting on the doorstep, so we had the three of them and another neighbour all listening to the plan of salvation as the light dimmed in the evening. They were a little difficult to keep the attention of, but it was pretty cool.
Another person we found is just so lovely. She is from Brazil and welcomed us in on our second visit. She told us all about her church... the Messianic church I think and we had a great message about prayer. She is very happy to have us back and even wants to make us lunch one time.
We finally got a lesson with Dorinda, who I started trying to call on with Sister Campos. She started off very decided that God was definitely a spirit and one with Jesus, but I think we started to soften her towards the end.
So we are pretty good at finding new people (averaging 8 each week) but are failing at getting them to progress. M and P are the couple we call on the most regularly (every other day). He is a less active and she is an ‘investigator’. This week we managed to convince her to repeat Sister da Luz’s words as a prayer and he read a chapter of the Book of Mormon. We even rid their house of Ice Tea! However, on Sunday we called round to get them to church (after finding an outfit for her the day before) but after persistent knocking and calling and waiting they still wouldn’t come. Then apparently, she turned up during sacrament, downstairs really angry and crying because he had gone and she didn’t know where he was and wondered if he had come to church! It is a crazy situation. Certainly grateful I haven’t been involved in anything like that. Seems to have knocked Sister da Luz’s confidence in them, which is strange because it was always clear their relationship was volatile!
During choir I corrected everyone misreading the way the music was written, which was strange and pretty difficult to explain in Portuguese! We also have skirts specially made for us to sing in at Stake conference in a couple of weeks. It’s really all very well done you know! The poor music director ran two practices this week - one here and one in Coimbra - how tiring!
There was a baptism of a child this week and apparently someone we had talked to and said we would call on again came (she’s a relation of said child). We weren’t there, because we were only told the day before and had an appointment at that time, but pretty exciting. When I got her number from the members and called she seemed to expect our call, was very positive and hopefully we will see her soon.
So our aim this week is not to miss any of the appointments we make, which means we need to take them seriously and check in our schedules that we can make them! Hopefully then people will take our invitations seriously!!!
We also tried to teach a couple of the people a member had suggested with them (you know the preferred missionary tactic) but they didn’t seem that interested. One did have a massive art studio though, with so many materials and paints it was like a shop. Really got my creative juices going and wish I would spend a day like that!
P day was good today. The other sisters came across these people who run a business with face creams and healthy foods etc... and they had invited us all to a free treatment. They basically explained all their products while they explained how we applied them and we got to use the creams and the masks and now my face is soft and clear! They never once tried to sell them to us - Sister Rovig had to keep asking about the price - and we got to try their cakes made from the healthy food, because it was their one year anniversary of being open. Great fun! I also did my first bit of baking - brownies from the cook book we were given from the mission president and wife at Christmas for FHE.
So we are very busy and kind of happy, especially as I am acting more for myself now! Sister da Luz definitely makes me realise how lucky we are, hearing what life is like in Cape Verde and because she has some form of cancer, but just gets on as though it’s not there. There are great examples around us and I will be forever changed for good because of this mission no matter what. I just look forward to the day that I can look back on it!
dit.
So, we taught Alzira again this week and although her partner completely refuses to stay and listen, the last time her son (aged 15) was there and listened to the plan of salvation. He actually had some questions, which is always good and shows they are truly paying attention, many of which she answered for him. She has such a strong testimony it is a shame that her partner is such stumbling block, because she won’t commit to church.
We also found Maria J and Nazare when we went to follow up with someone we found in the street who didn’t answer, but she lived next door and Sister da Luz was inspired to knock her door. Maria suffers from epilepsy, but was really enthusiastic and we went back to teach them again the next day. We actually had a moment that looked like it could be used in a church film. The daughter of the neighbour was there sitting on the doorstep, so we had the three of them and another neighbour all listening to the plan of salvation as the light dimmed in the evening. They were a little difficult to keep the attention of, but it was pretty cool.
Another person we found is just so lovely. She is from Brazil and welcomed us in on our second visit. She told us all about her church... the Messianic church I think and we had a great message about prayer. She is very happy to have us back and even wants to make us lunch one time.
We finally got a lesson with Dorinda, who I started trying to call on with Sister Campos. She started off very decided that God was definitely a spirit and one with Jesus, but I think we started to soften her towards the end.
So we are pretty good at finding new people (averaging 8 each week) but are failing at getting them to progress. M and P are the couple we call on the most regularly (every other day). He is a less active and she is an ‘investigator’. This week we managed to convince her to repeat Sister da Luz’s words as a prayer and he read a chapter of the Book of Mormon. We even rid their house of Ice Tea! However, on Sunday we called round to get them to church (after finding an outfit for her the day before) but after persistent knocking and calling and waiting they still wouldn’t come. Then apparently, she turned up during sacrament, downstairs really angry and crying because he had gone and she didn’t know where he was and wondered if he had come to church! It is a crazy situation. Certainly grateful I haven’t been involved in anything like that. Seems to have knocked Sister da Luz’s confidence in them, which is strange because it was always clear their relationship was volatile!
During choir I corrected everyone misreading the way the music was written, which was strange and pretty difficult to explain in Portuguese! We also have skirts specially made for us to sing in at Stake conference in a couple of weeks. It’s really all very well done you know! The poor music director ran two practices this week - one here and one in Coimbra - how tiring!
There was a baptism of a child this week and apparently someone we had talked to and said we would call on again came (she’s a relation of said child). We weren’t there, because we were only told the day before and had an appointment at that time, but pretty exciting. When I got her number from the members and called she seemed to expect our call, was very positive and hopefully we will see her soon.
So our aim this week is not to miss any of the appointments we make, which means we need to take them seriously and check in our schedules that we can make them! Hopefully then people will take our invitations seriously!!!
We also tried to teach a couple of the people a member had suggested with them (you know the preferred missionary tactic) but they didn’t seem that interested. One did have a massive art studio though, with so many materials and paints it was like a shop. Really got my creative juices going and wish I would spend a day like that!
P day was good today. The other sisters came across these people who run a business with face creams and healthy foods etc... and they had invited us all to a free treatment. They basically explained all their products while they explained how we applied them and we got to use the creams and the masks and now my face is soft and clear! They never once tried to sell them to us - Sister Rovig had to keep asking about the price - and we got to try their cakes made from the healthy food, because it was their one year anniversary of being open. Great fun! I also did my first bit of baking - brownies from the cook book we were given from the mission president and wife at Christmas for FHE.
So we are very busy and kind of happy, especially as I am acting more for myself now! Sister da Luz definitely makes me realise how lucky we are, hearing what life is like in Cape Verde and because she has some form of cancer, but just gets on as though it’s not there. There are great examples around us and I will be forever changed for good because of this mission no matter what. I just look forward to the day that I can look back on it!
dit.