So this week was definitely full to the brim. We had an amazing week,
with many cool experiences and miracles. This week, we stuck around
inside half a day because Brazil was playing in the World Cup, so I
sent a picture of our street here, as well as one of me, cheering in
my Brazil gear. Brazil tied against Mexico, and everyone's hoping that
they do a lot better today in their game.
Beyond that, we also had a
very cool Multi Zone Conference this week. This was the chance for
President and Sister Martins to say goodbye... Too weird to think that
they'll be leaving in less than a week, and that after that will be
only our new President, President Farnes and his wife Sister Farnes. I
learned a ton from President Martins, and I'm super glad to have been
able to serve under him for this time. He has a strong focus and
dedication to the mission that he shared with us. I've learned tons
from him about the importance of being exactly obedient, and serving
the way our Savior served. President Martins is very knowledgable, and
I was happy to learn and serve with him. We got to take pictures with
them, hug them, and hear their strong testimonies of the truthfulness
of this gospel, of the Book of Mormon (which President Martins
actually helped translate to Portuguese), and of the power of the
Priesthood in our lives. I have a much stronger desire to live the
gospel always now, in part because of President Martins. I thank him
profoundly for his service and wish his family the best as they return
to their home in Hawaii.
During the conference we had, we learned more about the importance of
bringing members to teach with us to strengthen our investigators and
their desire to visit church, read the Book of Mormon, and pray to ask
Gd if it is true. We decided to follow that counsel with miraculous
results. I've been teaching an older couple for almost three months
now here, and they are great! They just haven't been wanting to get up
in the morning for church, or read lots of the Book of Mormon.
Finally, we decided to bring a recent convert who got baptized 4
months ago. His name is Francisco, and his wife, Darci, and he
absolutely love the happiness and blessings they've received having
come to know the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We brought him with us
to our investigators Joaquim and Nilde, and he worked miracles! They
have the same age, and Brother Francisco began to talk about his
conversion story, about his health and happiness in the Church of
Jesus Christ, and shared his testimony with them that this is the only
true church on the face of the Earth. Joaquim and Nilde began to
change. They said that they could see a light in him that they had
seen in the missionaries. They could feel the spirit of God remarkably
strong in that moment, and we invited them to visit church again and
be baptized the following week. They accepted!!! They are planning and
are super excited to be getting baptized this Saturday. We're going to
be working hard with them this week to keep that excitement level, but
I have faith that they will be able to do this super sacred ordinance
this Saturday, and be baptized with God's power and authority into His
one and only true church. It's such a blessing, and God really helped
us with this. Pray for these people please!
I also know that this gospel is totally true, and that the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is here on the Earth to bless
absolutely everyone with God's love and power. I'm so glad to be a
missionary! I love this work! I'm sending love back home to everyone!
Keep strong and have fun this summer!
Elder Ashford
"I do not know what we did in the preexistence to merit the wonderful
blessings we enjoy. We have come to earth in this great season in the
long history of mankind. It is a marvelous age, the best of all. As we
reflect on the plodding course of mankind, from the time of our first
parents, we cannot help feeling grateful."
-Elder Bruce R. McConkie
