...And We're Back!!

Hey everybody!!

I hope everything is going just swell back in the motherland. We had a great week this week but I wasnt able to write last week because I was up in Porto Alegre getting my new companion. Anyway if you read below, you will find out all about it.

Monday (May 13th, 2019)

On Monday we were already in Porto Alegre because we had to go up there on Sunday afternoon to be on time for when Elder Jolley had to leave. Ok, so transfer news summed up.

Elder Allen: Staying in Caçapava for the third consecutive transfer.

Elder Jolley: Being transfered to EXACTLY THE SAME AREA THAT I WAS IN!!! Hes going to Obelisco!!!!

New Companion: Elder Carneiro. Is from Ceará, just finished 3 months on his mission and is leaving Obelisco just barely. How crazy is that??

So after I sent Elder Jolley off we waited for Elder Carneiro to arrive and then caught a bus at 7 that got back in Caçapava just after midnight.

Tuesday (May 14th, 2019)

And when we came home, we got a great surprise. All of the electricity in our apartment had been cut. It had been put in the name of some other missionary and he has asked for it to be taken off of his name so they shut it all off thinking that no one lived in the apartment anymore. So we went to figure it out they said that it would be turned back on in about 5 days. That is a long time without a hot shower in the coldest city on the mission. Hahaha but it reminds me of good old Utah. 

Wednesday (May 15th, 2019)

We got right to work contacting and teaching and doing the things that missionaries do. Elder Carneiro is amazing. He is such a great missionary and knows how to teach really really well. Today I decided to do something that I have never done before and just get up in front of a crowd and start to contact them. So we stopped at a lunch place where there were about 50 high school kids and just started to talk to them all, telling them what we do and everything. At first I was scared out of my mind because if anybody is judgemental is is high schoolers, (I should know) but they were all really cool and we are going to visit a lot of them this week. It was a really great experience.

Thursday (May 16th, 2019)

Today we confirmed a baptism that we are going to have on Saturday!!!! Wow it was such a miracle. José is a man of about 60 years he loves Jesus Christ and has amazing faith, and he has a laugh like Donald Duck so that makes it even better. We went over the baptismal questions with him and he is ready. He hasnt smoked in 30 years, and hasnt drank either and we found out that he doesnt drink coffee either because he has a heart problem! What an amazing miracle. I really do love this man. 

Friday (May 17th, 2019)

José had his baptismal interview today and it went perfectly. We are so excited for tomorrow! Also our weekly activity went really well, we had a few non members there which was really awesome. 

Saturday (May 18th, 2019)

Today we woke up at 4:30 to go start filling up the font to have the baptism at 9. Even though there werent a lot of people, it was still a great experience and the Spirit was so strong. We are so so happy to have had the opportunity to be a part of this man coming unto Christ. 

Sunday (May 19th, 2019)

Today was crazy, first we ran all over the city getting our investigators to come, then I blessed the sacrament, then we had the confirmation of José (Wooohooooo!!!!!!!!!!!) then I gave a talk, then there wasnt a teacher for Sunday School so the President asked me to do it, and after that we had a ward council meeting. Needless to say, today was really really busy. We were running all over the place trying to help everyone. But it was good. I was really glad that we got to help so much. Unfortunately, we still do not have electricity.

Random Thoughts:

• Carneiro means ram in Portuguese, so every time Elder Carneiro introduces himself, he bleats like a sheep. 
• We were passing by an older lady and just complemented her with "Tudo bem?" ("Is everything good?") And she responded with a very strong "OH YEAH!" Wow, I want to have a day like her.
• We passed another man and asked how his day was going and he said, "Thanks, to you too."

I know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. That no matter what anyone says, be it leader or friend or family member, that does not change the fact that this Church is true!!

I love you all!!
Elder Allen