This
week has been really busy. Elder Carlson and I have been running around from
place to place trying to get so many people taught and get them ready for their
baptisms on the 13th of May! We are trying to get two weddings all planned out
and ready for the 6th of May, and there is a lot of work to be done to get
everything ready!
I
wrote a couple of weeks ago about Alfredo and Anora and about their situation,
and there have been a few more developments in that story that I want to make
you all aware of. After that whole fiasco that went down, things were pretty
calm. Alfredo and Anora were doing well reading the scriptures every day
together and praying as a family and keeping every commitment that we threw at
them, and things got better for them. Her parents were touched by the Spirit
and agreed to allow the weddings and they became huge supporters of them
getting married to keep the Commandments of God. Well this week we ran into a
new and bigger problem- Alfredos Mom. She is determined to not allow the
wedding unless her son participates in the African Traditions of Presentation
of the Groom and Labolo. As we explained to her that the Traditions are keeping
her son from keeping a commandment, she did not care. She says that if they
decide to get married, that she will kick them out of her house (they are
currently living in a side room of her house). It got to the point where
I asked her, "Sister,
are you going to condemn your son for trying to keep a commandment of God?" And
her response, "Dang
right.".
The
conversation continued on like that for a while, and in the end we felt
inspired to give her the best chance possible to change her mind. We put things
very simple for her by explaining that False Traditions come from the Adversary
and if she chooses to continue with her plan, that she will be supporting the
Adversary and what he wants, and that she will be fighting directly against the
Will of God. At that point she became so furious that she stormed off and
refused to speak to us anymore... Alfredo and Anora backed us up, and they told
us that we did not say anything wrong or anything that was not true, but at the
end of the night Anora told us that they will probably postpone the wedding
because of Alfredos Mom... I was so crushed. I had no idea what to say. They
have fought for 3 years, and we have seen so many miracles these past 3 months
to get them to this point, and now it may all go down the drain. It is really
sad to see someone with such a strong testimony of the Gospel have their faith
shaken by something like this. I'll let you guys know what happens this week
next P-day.
But
other than that we have a lot of people that are progressing really well. This
last Sunday we had 22 investigators come to church including a new investigator
that will be baptized on the 13th of May as well. His name is Albino. He was
actually a reference of a recent convert that Elder Price and Elder Donker baptized
just a couple of weeks ago- Fernando. Fernando just showed up with him to
church 2 weeks ago and we met with him a couple of times this week. He has
progressed so fast. He is a really smart kid that loves and understands really
well the Book of Mormon. He has a deep love for the Gospel and has a massive
desire to learn more about and apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Briefly,
here is a list of the names of those that will be baptized on the 13th of May,
please keep them in your prayers. We need all the help we can get if they are
all to be baptized on the 13th-
Joao
and Cristina
Alfredo
and AnoraDomingos
Sergio
Ivan, Mauro, and Dudu
Isabel, Admira, Sharia, and Catia
Ismael, Edilson, Sandramo, Ezequiel and Guilliermina
Cecilia
Albino
Amelia, Emilia and Yasilla
I
love this work. I love these people. I know that God lives and that He is our
Father.
Elder
Rash
Walk along the beach with Elder Carlson |
What a view with Elder Carlson |
Elder Carlson with some cute kiddos |
Elder Rash in his happy place! |
Have NO IDEA what kind of fruit this is! |
Doesn't look to appetizing |
Ocean view |
Love these boys! |