Queridos,
This week has been a roller coaster. So many things have happened so quickly. What´s new, right?
We did a service project this week in which I helped do some contruction on a brick house. It is Arlete´s house, for those of you who are keeping track of important investigators. I had to mix concrete on the road. It is quite literally manual labor. There is a pile of concrete with water dumped on it, and you have to stir it and knead it with a shovel and a hoe. Then you put it in buckets, carry it up the stairs to the part of the house needing concrete, and dump it. All in the sun. Fun. Concrete trucks now excite me just as much as they did when I was four years old.
We ran into a woman who met consistently with the missionaries three years ago, but who never went to church. Her name is Rosiane. We will see if this time she will go to church with us. She is legally married.
We were able to make a visit in the local history museum. It was pretty boring and a full tour only takes 10 minutes, but the highlight was a book full of pictures of Serra since 1900. It is really neat because I recognized most of the places, roads, and parks photographed because we walk around so much here. Let me just say, a lot has changed in the last 50 years here in Serra.
On Thursday night, we passed by Edineia and Reginaldo´s house. The bishop was visiting there, to our surprise. When we entered, he had talked with them both and they both said that they wanted to be baptized on July 23. Last Saturday! Previously, Edineia was preparing for the 31 of July, and Reginaldo was in doubt about the 31st of July. And their 13 year old daughter also wanted to be baptised with them. We were super excited! We arranged the interviews, the member records, and all the details. We passed by their house right before the baptism. They were great. Everyone passed the interview.
We should have gone to the church with them, but we went to accompany three investigators (relatives and referrals from Edineia) to go to the baptism.
The baptism started at 7. We had a lot of difficulty in catching a bus with our three investigators. It was raining. We arrived two minutes late in a swirl of disarray. Edineia, Reginaldo, and Marcia were not there. I changed clothes and then, at 7:20 Edineia arrived. Alone.
Reginaldo caught the bus with her, but gave up and got off the bus half way to the church and went back home. Márcia gave up before even getting on the bus. The meeting went forward. Then Reginaldo got in touch with us and said he was on his way and wanted to be baptized. Then no. Then yes. All in the middle of the baptismal meeting. We went forward. I baptized Edineia. It was a way sweet experience.
Then after, Reginaldo arrived at the church! And wanted to be baptized! I had already changed clothes, but I went to change clothes to baptismal clothes again. Except, he gave up on the baptism once and for all in the bathroom. It was a mess. Then we all went home in the rain without umbrellas. It was a bittersweet experience. We will see what happens with them.
Edineia was confirmed and is going to give the lesson in the Young Womens this coming Sunday. She is awesome. Her three relatives are really interested in the church, and have come to the baptism, church, and the ward family night. She is on fire. A great example and pioneer in her family.
A lot more happened, but that is the condensed version. What a life.
Have a good week,
Elder Bodily
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