"From Here On Out, It's Only Victory" - Eleito

What's up everyone! Hope yall are doing amazing! This week was full of many up and many downs. So many hopes, disappointments, and then miracles! The work continues to grow as I have now been in the same area for 4 months now. 

Baptism Fell Through

One of the biggest downs this week was our friend João (I don't feel bad using his name because it's the name of literally 50% of men in Brasil). João was all set to be baptized last Saturday. He's been going to church for a month now, has all of the lessons, and passed the interview. Well... on Saturday morning we pull up to his house and remind him to be ready after lunch. I don't know what the adversary did that night but João didn't want to be baptized, didn't want to go to church, and didn't want to see the missionaries anymore. That was a bullet to the chest. 

No Lunches

To add unto the pain, nearly all of our lunch appointments fell through this week, so we were left eating cuscuz with eggs everyday (literally just dried up, rehydrated corn that we put in the microwave with water). 

Miracle Find

But on the flip side, we met this man who could be the most elect man that I have ever met on the mission. We met him in front of our recent convert's house. He started shooting questions at us about God and His love for His children. Turns out that this man stopped taking every single drug that you can think of two weeks ago, and his wife left him the day that we met him. We taught him about his eternal purpose in life and I was nearly in tears when I extended the baptismal date. He came to church, absolutely loved it, and said, "From here on out, it's only victory". 

God Loves His Children

Another moment this week where we saw the hand of God was with this mother. We were looking for the house of some contacts that we had made, and I saw her house. I remembered that I had talked to the owner of this house like 3 months ago because she is the mom of a member, and I felt prompted to ask her for help. Well turns out that she did not know who these people were, but God sent us there with another motive. Her husband of 20 years left her two days earlier and she was in shambles. We were able to testify of God's love for her and extended an invitation to read the scriptures everyday. I love being used as an instrument to brighten others' days. 

My Body is Breaking

Back to the disappointments of the week. My body. My body is a huge disappointment. This area was super fun like 4 months ago. But the mountains, jungles, and sun are getting to be a little too much for my body. I wake up everyday limping around because of my sore legs. The arches of my feet are just gone. Got another ingrown toenail this week and removed it myself, with I don't think was a good idea. And my arm is burnt from the sun. It was literally blistering up the other day. Only thing that I can say is this body isn't going to stop me from playing soccer today!

Blessed Sunday

Yesterday was just a blessed day to end the week! The people that we wanted to go to church went to church. Lunch was delicious. We ministered to a couple of members who were really in need to ministering. And we had a really powerful lesson with our Relief Society President and one of our friends who will be baptized this week. This day ended with a nice dinner with a member too! 

Overall this was a solid week and I can't wait to see what this week brings! Thank you all for the love and supports. I promised I'm getting through the emails slowly and surely. I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Ware