So just want to start out thanking mom for getting in contact with Sister Lundgren to pass me the news about Joe. It would have been a lot more difficult going through the week not knowing exactly what happened because everyone here asked us if we had heard about the missionaries. I was very very sad the day she called me but I know Joe is a champion and in the hands of the Lord. He for sure is receiving prayers from every missionary here in the Brasil Brasilia mission. <3
I don´t have much time, so I will make it quick today and this weeks update. We have truly seen lots of miracles this week and I am so thankful for the goodness of the Lord blessing us so much. But first I want to write about the trade that we did this week. This week I went back to Luziania to do a trade there with Elder Silva (argentino, I lived with him in Porto Nacional) and it was spectacular. It was funny because we decided to do a surprise trade and we went there early friday morning to surprise them and you better believe we surprised his companion. When we got there it was 9:30 and he was fast asleep in his bed... The look on his face was almost priceless. He is finishing his mission in 2 weeks and thinks he can just be disobedient and do nothing... That morning I had to use a lot of patience and not chew him out and call the president right then and there to have him interviewed and transfered... We just patiently let him get ready, get his things, and we did the trade. We are definitely helping him remember why he is here and I am sure he is going to finish his last 2 weeks of his mission better than he has been working.
But the trade was so gratifying. They told me that the lunch we were going to eat was at the house of Valeria and her family! I was soo happy because that is the lady I found that has 5 kids (4 of which were baptized). Walking to the house I asked elder silva ´´do you think they will remember me?´´ and when we they saw us the kids all yelled ´´patterson came back!!!!´´ Oh man, did that put a smile on my face :) I will send a picture to you all of the lunch we had. It sure was the task to get all those children on the couch to take a picture. lol
But here in our area we were able to find lots of new investigators and Jefferson is progressing so much. He didn´t go to church last week because he slept in and I was pretty upset and thought about cutting him, but we decided to give him one more week and this week he started reading and praying! It was amazing. We also found another young man Caylan, that we taught and he too is progressing. The best part is that the two of them went to church this week and loved it. They even made friends with some of the members and they both became friends themselves! And the best part was when Jefferson pointed to the Missionary Wall with pictures of baptisms and said ´´my picture is going right here!´´ That puts a smile on any missionaries face. Even after church the two of them came up and asked what day they can go out and do visits with us. :) So awesome.
We also had another miracle. Besides those two, we had 5 other people that went to church :) We were super excited because that has been something hard for us these past few weeks. No one was going to church, but this week was different :) We even got a few references from a few members and we are super excited because the references are of family members of theirs :) and they always have the most potention to progress.
But that is about it for the week. I felt like I celebrated easter week like a catholic because our apartment is right next to the biggest catholic church in the city and everyday during the week they did something ridiculous :) ha. But it was cool to see some of there traditions and beliefs. (besides the fact that everyone eats fish on friday... worst tradition ever.) I love each and everyone of you. Please have a good week and never stop praying for the missionaries!
com amor, Elder Patterson
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