Hello!!
I know that I have talked about this a lot
but I have just been feeling so so blessed lately. We are having so many
miracles that I literally dont feel worthy sometimes to have them. I
would just like to share two of them really quick.
We
are teaching a family of 4 people. Cristiane, Alano and their two
children, Grazy and João Gabriel. They are amazing and they have a
baptismal date for this week. We have been working a lot with Alano (the
dad) specifically because out of all of them, he has the most questions
and doubts. So we were talking to them on Friday night this last week
and started to fill out the baptismal forms for all of them. And we
started to talk to Alano saying that this could be an act of faith for
him. That God works with us and makes promises with us when we take
small steps of faith. We also told him that God could help him find a
job because he has been unemployed for a really long time. He has been
doing little jobs to get money to help his family. So as we started to
fill out his form, he told us he would take this act of faith. We were
halfway through the form when his phone went off. Someone texted him
telling him that he had been hired for stable work, that got off on
Sunday and that would pay more than minimum wage and that he would start
on Monday. The whole family, including us, just sat there shocked. I
have never seen such a miracle that has been so quick after a step of
faith. I am so grateful! After that, the daughter went to a youth activity
and the whole family went to church on Sunday.
Today,
we went to the Sisters area, Capão do Leão, to take part in a baptism
that they had of a mother and daughter. The mom, Itagiane got married
today (about 5 hours ago) and they planned the baptism for her and her
daughter, Tais, for right after the wedding. So we went there and
Itagiane, chose to be baptised by a man who was baptised himself about 3
months ago. So obviously it is his first baptism. The mom decided to be
baptised first but, since the sweet man was inexperienced, it didnt go
smoothly. It all worked out and the Spirit was present but he had to try
a couple of times. So, Tais, who I would baptise, is scared of water,
and so after she saw her mom try a couple times to be baptised she got
scared and said she didnt want to be baptised anymore. So, she and her
mom and the two sisters went into the womens bathroom to talk. As I was
waiting outside, her nonmember father started talking to me and getting
nervous too. So I decided that it would be good to say a prayer with
him. The Bishop of the Sisters ward joined us and we said a prayer that
we could all feel peace and that, if it was the Lords will, Tais could
be baptised. About 8 minutes later, Tais came out of the bathroom with
the Sister saying that she would be baptised if the Sister went in with
her. So...I went in first and then Tais and then Sister Sepulveda. The
baptism was extremely quick and really spiritual and Tais was baptised.
Even more of a miracle was what I found out later. I found out that separately, three groups of people had been saying a prayer at the same
time. The Sisters and Itagiane and Tais, me and the Bishop and her
father, and the other missionaries outside watching the font. Elder
Periera who was outside said that when they finished their prayer, I
walked into the font with Tais.
I testify that God loves us. That He is a God of miracles and that our prayers are answered.
I congratulate all who got through all of that!
Love you all!!
Elder Allen
