Incrível!!!

4/30/12

What a week!!!  SO many things happened!!!  First of all, Titi and Alice were baptized yesterday!!!!  AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!  A day I will never forget.  We have been trying to get Alice in the water for over a month- the whole transfer.  She knows the church is true, she has a testimony, she just didn´t want to change.  Saturday night she texted us at 11:15 saying `I want to be baptized tomorrow´.  I was half asleep and my comp. says Álice will be baptized tomorrow!´ I just grunted and said okay Irmã.  And she said No!  I am serious, look!  We squealed and laughed and couldn´t fall asleep for a little bit.  We have been teaching Titi for 2 weeks and felt really strongly that she would be baptized this week- our Revelado.  She looked like an angel in the white clothes.  I just felt an incredible amount of love for these women.  The love of God.  It was such a sweet, spiritual day.  We also had 10 people in church!!!

We also felt really strongly that Georgina would get baptized this week.  We went to her house almost every day but never could catch her.  She never picks up her phone.  We talked to her daughters and her cousin who lives with them, but we didn´t talk with her until Saturday.  We prepared like crazy.  We prayed and prayed and chucked our fear out and focused on faith.  And a miracle happened!!!  Her heart has been very closed up to this point, and during our lesson with her the Spirit spoke through us.  What really got to her was temples.  It wasn´t until we showed scriptures of temple work in the scriptures that she said One day I will be baptized.  Then we talked to her about getting baptized the next day.  She agreed to have  a baptismal interview on Sunday at least- because she didn´t feel ready, but she never showed and didn´t pick up her phone, and wasn´t home when we came.  But when we were at her house I felt peace and comfort that one day she will get baptized, but not now.  When we leave all doubt behind and have complete faith in the Lord, He can work through us and miracles happen.  It isn´t me or my companion that does anything to convert people, it is ALL the spirit.  I am simply a tool.  I am so grateful for this refiner’s fire.  I am learning so much about listening to the spirit and trusting in the Lord.  I don´t want to have one bit of fear in me.  I cannot think like the world, but see things from Heavenly Father´s perspective.  I want to be like Nephi and just go and do- with faith, never doubting.  

I am so grateful to have this small amount of time with President Torgan.  I am learning SO much from Revelados.  This is the work of God.  I am a literal representative of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for this privilege.  I can feel the power of my calling- the power of the spirit work through me.  I am working on being more bold- I am here to bring people to Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and helping them endure to the end.  Barri received the Holy Ghost yesterday!!!  It is amazing to see how much he has changed since his baptism.  Miracles.  He stopped smoking and using drugs in one day.  

Prayers:

Sonia- she will allow us to teach her and she will come to church this Sunday

Jade- read the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony of it

Nênê- she will want to change and come unto Christ

Ana- we can teach her

Lucia- we can teach her and have her come to church

Jorge- open his heart to what Heavenly Father wants him to do

Laurentinho- have courage

Angela- come unto Christ through repentance and change

Georgina- allow us to teach her and gain a testimony of authority

Transfers are next week!  CRAZY!!!  Okay, I thought mother’s day was this Sunday, but in your e-mails it seems like it is in a couple of weeks?  I will call on whatever day it is- I will ask and find out.  Anyway, I don´t know an exact time that we will be able to call, but if I call at a bad time, I can probably call again at a later time.  I have the number Mom gave me and I have Dad´s number and Ali´s cell.  Do I call home, Ali and B-ran, and Ben?  It is so weird- time is flying by!!!  Right now, I am in Odivelas, a suburb of Lisbon.  Portugal is so-so.  We don´t really have language study- we don´t have time, but that is something I want to change.  I talk to my companion all the time though, so that is good practice.  I love you all with my whole heart!!!!  Listen to the Spirit- amazing things will happen.  I absolutely LOVE the scriptures.  I love you love you love you love you!!!!

Irmã Tingey