Walking, Talking Testimony (3/17/14)

Caption for the picture: ´´For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto (Elder Welch)... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature...´´ (Mormon 9:22).

Picking up. March Madness is here and EVERYONE is fired up! Especially the Jundiaí Ward! YYYEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Yesterday was one of the best days ever. Sometimes as a missionary, you work so hard and you don´t really see any results. However, the Lord just showered us yesterday (and the past couple days especially) with people that are really loving the Good Word. We had an all time high with investigators at church yesterday, pumping everyone up. We even had a couple come up to me in between classes and ask if they could invite one of the couples we found to a family night this Wednesday... ´´Uhmmm... Yes!´´ Haha holy cow. It was unbelievable the way the ward responded yesterday. I pulled my companion into an empty room during church yesterday so we could say a prayer of gratitude. This has seriously been my dream since I got here.

When I first arrived, we didn't have a bishop. Yeah, we didn't have a Bishop (he got called to serve in the Stake Presidency). The members asked the mission president to take out the old missionaries. We had one investigator, none of the members liked us, and I couldn't talk or understand Portuguese. Holy cow those times were awful. However, FINALLY, after working and working and working, especially with our ward missionary leader, the members trust us now.

We finally got a Bishop a few weeks ago and had our first ward council together. THE ENTIRE THING WAS ON MISSIONARY WORK! Who are these investigators? I want to feed the missionaries! I want to help teach them on this day... etc. It was unbelievable. The ward was totally different yesterday. Our ward mission leader (he loves missionary work and worked in the mtc for like 5 years) came up to us with his hand on his forehead, ´´Finally. Elderes... We have missionary work again back in this ward.´´

This past week was awesome. Especially the couple I mentioned above. Their names are Guilherme and Solange. We also are set for Julho this coming weekend and his baptism... We hope all goes well.

As I prepare for conference, Ive been re reading the talks again. One of them talked about members praying for the investigators by name in their ward. I don't know if you are doing that, but maybe you can pray for ours too! Haha heres a list of some of them that are really making strides.

Julho

Elliette

Guilherme and Solange

Nevalden

Alexandra and Lara

The thing that really pumped me up this week was a scripture in Matthew 26 about the atonement. The phrase, ´´And he went a little further...´´ caused me to reflect on my efforts and to pick it one more step, to take it up one more degree. When Christ did this, ´´He fell on His face´´ and accomplished the greatest event ever known in Human history. I´m ready baby. This week we´re going to be cranking it!

Invitation, read 2 Nephi 16 and insert your name this week... He´s calling us to this great work! "Lord, how long?"

"Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate…" Nonstop. Can´t stop, won´t stop.

Love you all!

Elder Welch