Aprendendo a ter ESPERANÇA 7/25/16

So on Wednesday in our district meeting, Elder Rocha was feeling rather inspired and asked all of us to choose a little piece of paper--each of them had a different Christ-like attribute for us to study during the week and seek to develop in our lives. Everyone was praying not to pick patience... and it was Elder Rocha that ended up with that one. Haha... But I picked hope. And I thought, hey that's good because when I was in Santarém and nothing was going right I studied hope every day. And things got a lot better. I had already put a little check mark in my mind next to hope--só que não!! This week I saw that the Lord really was trying me--to see if I could endure trials and setbacks well while trusting in His timing--that His promised blessings will be given when He decides that the time is right.

For starters, Jacqueline disappeared for a week, and her baptism was supposed to be on Saturday... It was hard to remain positive and hopeful in her case when we tried so many times to talk to her and weren't able to... but yesterday night, as we passed her house, we saw Jackson, her twin, that likes us (unlike her mom...) and called her for us. She seemed super happy to see us and said that she had been missing our visits so much. But also, seeing that a week had passed without being able to follow up with her, she hadn't been reading the Book of Mormon or praying. And so, obviously, she doesn't feel ready to be baptized. We read 1 Nephi 1 with her (to help her start from the beginning), and expressed our love for her. She was so calm when we left, knowing that we visit her to help her come unto Christ--to be converted to Him. Maybe this will need a bit of time with her. Everything has to happen in the Lord's timing!

A similar thing happened with Fernanda. She's been going to church for two months with Lília and Gleyson and still doesn't feel ready to be baptized--but considering that she didn't even believe in Christ when we met her, we're counting it as progress. This week she almost gave up on everything because of the pressure of friends... but Lília and Gleyson kneeled down together and prayed to know how they could talk to her to help her continue coming to church. And she's still coming. She'll even be going to encampment this week. Sincere prayers really are answered. Especially in the response to loving parents praying for their children.

Just a quick side note, we started teaching two brothers, Leon and Cristiano, who are the funniest people on the planet! It is super hard to stop laughing with them. But the best moment teaching them was when we were explaining the Book of Mormon for Leon and he told us what his true idea of happiness is. He said that he wants a family in the future--united, well structured, and centered on Christ. He said that he has already visited many churches and has never found one that centers with his idea of happiness. It was such a special experience to testify of the eternal nature of families and the restored Church on the earth today.

That's about it for this week, folks! Love you all so much; I pray for you all daily.

Love,

Sister Dickerson

pics: my new journal and the hair skills of Sister Lima. :)