Hello! Boa Tarde! [good afternoon]
So continuing with João from my last letter...we went back the next Saturday after the Sunday I mentioned. He felt that the Book of Mormon is true. He didn't go to church the next day. The Saturday after, we went again, he told us that because of the way he felt when we talked with him, he has already changed a lot in his life. He used to have little patience with his wife and daughters, but he just felt like this was wrong and he gave an effort to be kinder. He decided to spend less time away from home. He all of a sudden felt bad when he went to have a drink with his friends. He told his wife about what he felt, and she told him that it was nothing, he was just in an emotional state. She went quite against us, as João explained. As we were talking I got the idea to have a member pass by and encourage him to go to church. So we left, talked to this member, he passed by and it all worked out, he went to church!!!
That Sunday was a very special experience for me. In Priesthood meeting we had a gospel discussion that was kind of wandering into whatever topic (like it can at times) and João contributed and bore his testimony a little bit. It was cool to see how fast the members attached to him and praised him. Since it was Fast Sunday, João got to hear testimonies from members during Sacrament meeting. Elder Mora was sitting next to him and João asked about what was going on. He explained "So anyone who feels like it can go up and bear their testimony about the gospel, but it's not obligatory, you don't have to if you don't want to." João said "I don't know, I'm scared that I'll start to cry or something". "Yeah, you don't have to go, just those who want to". João took a breath and said "Ok, I'll go". He went up and just talked about his feelings - it wasn't the average testimony of "I feel this, I feel that, amen." It was about his experiences and from his heart. We felt pretty good because here he was telling everyone in the ward we helped him feel the Spirit during the lessons. And from there, the ward got a little burst of energy. Suddenly we had members interested in making visits with us. It was cool.
However, from there it went downhill. That Tuesday, we were going to pass by with a member but a rainstorm hit...I think it was God's way of having just us go into the lesson. We had a long discussion with João. The problem is this: What he wants to do and knows is right, is bring his wife and daughters to church to feel the same thing he felt and be converted. But his wife said she does not want to visit our church, and their daughters pretty much follow his wife. So, he wants to check out the church that the rest of his family is going to, and see if it's possible to have a happy, united family that way. He feels torn between what he knows is true what God has told him, and his obligation to unite his family. We promised him that if he is baptized and continues to work with his wife and daughters, they'll eventually be converted and be able to have an eternal family. But his faith isn't quite at this point yet, to be able to trust God that all will be well if he pursues this route. We passed by with the bishop and were able to teach the entire family and gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to João's wife, but after the lesson from what João said, she just tossed it aside and ignored it. We talked more about it Sunday (he went to the other church instead of ours), but he told us that he will walk away from the right path for a little bit and hope that God sends a sign to correct him. We told him that was not advisable. ugghhhhhh. We don't know yet if we should continue to work with them or not. At least later that night, we found out that his daughters are crazy for American treats, and they want us to come back to bake cookies some night (FHE!!!).
Yeah, so that's all I have time to write. I was excited to hear that Greg Gillespie is bishop of the new ward in the stake! [Bro. Gillespie taught the missionary preparation class AJ attended before leaving to Brazil]. He's not young at all, our bishop here is only 31 years old.
EU AMO VOCÊS! Eu oro por vocês cada dia! [I LOVE YOU! You're in my prayers every day!]
Elder Bradford
