Batismo

E aí gente, (And there you have it folks)

 

All went well with the baptism. Andressa was more than ready and the baptismal meeting was really simple and spiritual. A lot of the leaders of the ward were there because the baptism happened between the church meetings and a leadership meeting. Elder Rocha did the baptism. This is a bad picture of us three before the baptism. Elder Rocha´s pictures are better, and I am going to copy them. Andressa´s mom, cousin, aunt, and neighbor came to see the baptism. It was neat.

 

Now we are asking ourselves, What´s next?

We had a good week and we taught many different people, but we gained few new investigators.

 

We went to Cachoeiro to do a baptismal interview. I got to go inside the new chapel there. It is very fancy, though small.

 

We are excited for General Conference. It´s funny, this will be my last general conference on the mission. Also funny that the first I saw in the MTC, the second in the stake center of Estaca Vitória, the second in the stake center of Estaca Vila Velha, and this one I will see in the stake center of Estaca Cariacica. There are three stakes here in the greater Vitória region.

 

I found a sheet of paper on the ground in the church that had a whole bunch of dates and events and history about the church in the state of Espírito Santo. Fascinating. The first missionaries arrived in Vitória in 1965. The first branch, made up of one family had been officially established only a few years before. From there, things blossomed and now there are three stakes. The first baptisms were realized in the ocean, just off the beach where the mission house is now. All in less than 50 years, it went from having one family to having 15 wards and a mission headquarters. And that is ignoring all of the progress in the state outside of Greater Vitória. (Cachoeiro, Guarapari, Linhares, São Mateus, Nova Venêcia, Colatina, Guaçuí, Aracruz, etc.)

 

I also learned that the Caricica Stake (in which I am serving right now) was established in 2005. It is a very new stake.

 

It is really interesting and rewarding to be part of the history of the church here. So many people are having the chance to hear and accept the Gospel.

 

Elder Rocha and I have become good friends. Healthy friendships make life very pleasurable and protect against depression. What a blessing it is to have all the friends that I have, here in Brasil, and at home.

 

Have an awesome week. The next time I send an email to you will be on my 21st birthday! (I´m olllddd! I´m like the crypt keeper!)

 

Elder Bodily