OOOOHHHHH MYYYYy GOOODNESSSSSSS!!!!!! WHAT A
WEEK!!!! I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!!!
João Carlos Ribeiro Marcelino promised the Lord he would keep the commandments and do all he can to follow him yesterday through the beautiful covenant of BAPTISM!!!
We really tried to make the Baptismal meeting as spirit filled as possible- and it was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! (I also realized one of my mission dreams- to sing at a baptism- I usually have plans to, but something always happens that stops me, but yesterday I would not be stopped! I wanted the meeting to be as special for João as I could make it and so when we got the news that a member couldn´t come that could play the piano and that Sister Layton would have to instead and so she couldn´t sing with me, I asked everyone who wanted to sing and finally the Bishop said he likes to sing and would do it with me and it was great!!! We sang ´Mais Perto Quero Estar` - I forgot what it is in English. My dream came true!!!) ANYWAYS we invited João beforehand to bear his testimony after his baptism and he did and I want to relate everything he said that I can remember because I think you will really feel the spirit and those who are thinking about serving missions, waiting for their calls (ABBY!!), serving, fresh off the mish, and all those interested in missionary work can feel the fire of this work and how wonderful it is to be a tool in the hands of the Lord!!! this is what missions are ALL about:
I will obviously rephrase and do my best to translate into English- by the way he is Brazilian and HilArious and awesome. ´My first experience with the missionaries was with the Elders- I stopped them on the street somewhere over there (pointing..) and asked them if they were of the church Mormon. They said no that they were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They gave me a pamphlet and I gave them my phone number. I went home and read the pamphlet and thought ´they are lying to me! They ARE Mormons!´ and I was really annoyed and decided I didn´t want to talk to them. But they kept calling me- they are so annoying! And they kept persisting and calling and finally I decided to just talk to them and show them how they are wrong and get them to leave me alone. So we met here in the church and I talked to them and they were interesting and tried to give me a Book of Mormon but I wouldn´t take it. After I talked to Nelson (a member) and got to know him and we talked a bit about the church. He invited me to come over again to the church to talk another day so I came again and was sitting in that room when the Sisters walked by the door. I saw them and I got goose bumps all over- you know, when you take all the feathers off a chicken and but the body in hot water- those bumps that come up on the skin? Yea that is what I felt- I am feeling them right now! They came walking in the room with lots of energy and brought a light and I felt that they had something to offer me. The part of me that was closed before was opened a little bit and we talked and they said to take a Book of Mormon and I took it. I thought I knew what the Book of Mormon was- just writings taken out of the Bible and I decided I would talk to them and read the book and find all the errors and then fight with them and show them how they are wrong. I tried to get them with questions but they kept answering them and I read and talked and realized that everything was true. That this church must be true. (He got emotional here) Before I would wake up every day and wonder where I would be- I would have fear of the future (by the way he is 59 and without a job and not living in the best conditions) but now that fear is gone. I have a purpose and joy and happiness in my life- I have found the right road and no one can take me from this road. In this short period of time the Lord has changed my life- I feel light- the heaviness has gone. This is the truth. These young people- the elders and sisters- they are annoying. But they (got emotional again) they give from the heart. They give and teach with charity and love. They leave everything behind to give us all light and this knowledge that changes our lives. They bring a light that just gets transmitted inside of us. They give up everything- their homes and families to help people like me. (great, now I am crying) I am so grateful for these young people. I know this is the true church and the true road to follow and I will walk in front.´´
It was such a privilege and a joy to serve and teach João and watch the atonement and the spirit work within him and change him. The gospel takes good men and makes them better. I am forever grateful for this experience- this opportunity. This privilege. Everything is worth it. Everything is worth experiences like this. Every slammed door in the face, every no in the street, every disappointment, challenge, frustration with the language, stress, unkind words- everything everything everything doesn´t matter if it all means I get to experience things like this. I don´t even remember those bad experiences anymore in the light of these incredible experiences. This is real happiness and joy- to bring people to Christ. To help people on their way to exaltation and joy. I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I LOVE the Lord. I don´t know what I did to be blessed with this blessing to serve here. To serve at all. When we have a desire to serve God, we are called to the work. And what a marvelous work it is!!! This is why we serve missions. This is why I am here- to serve the Lord e então my fellow men.
Other joys this week: Rosa Afonso, a menos ativo we have been working with came to church yesterday!!! She told us last week that she would come only if it didn´t rain. So we prayed that it wouldn´t rain and it didn´t but she still didn´t come. This week we told her we prayed that it wouldn’t rain and she didn´t come, so she has to come this week. She said again that she would come only if it didn´t rain. Well it was sunny all week except for yesterday for Sunday. Well, the Lord´s will be done. We thought this must be a test of her and or our faith. So she called and said it was raining and before she could give up or give another excuse I told her a member was going to come pick her up. Her visiting teacher came and she had a great experience! At first she was a bit annoyed that we had her come in the cold, but then her heart was softened and she said it was like the first time she came to church. I love re-activation!!! We are having her read the Book of Mormon all over again- starting at the beginning and she is loving it. That book is the most powerful book on earth- miracles happen when we read it. We taught this man named Rashed from Yemen and he is legit. Even though he has a Muslim background he has an open heart and is truly searching. I know he will find what he is looking for. :) i truly love this work and thank Heavenly Father everyday for letting me be here. I love being a missionary. I am so grateful to be an instrument in the hand so the Master. I know this is truly His church. I have no doubts at all. if you have doubts, talk to me to about it. I love you all!!1 Hurrah for Israel!!!
with a heart full of love and gratitude,
Síster Tingey
João Carlos Ribeiro Marcelino promised the Lord he would keep the commandments and do all he can to follow him yesterday through the beautiful covenant of BAPTISM!!!
We really tried to make the Baptismal meeting as spirit filled as possible- and it was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! (I also realized one of my mission dreams- to sing at a baptism- I usually have plans to, but something always happens that stops me, but yesterday I would not be stopped! I wanted the meeting to be as special for João as I could make it and so when we got the news that a member couldn´t come that could play the piano and that Sister Layton would have to instead and so she couldn´t sing with me, I asked everyone who wanted to sing and finally the Bishop said he likes to sing and would do it with me and it was great!!! We sang ´Mais Perto Quero Estar` - I forgot what it is in English. My dream came true!!!) ANYWAYS we invited João beforehand to bear his testimony after his baptism and he did and I want to relate everything he said that I can remember because I think you will really feel the spirit and those who are thinking about serving missions, waiting for their calls (ABBY!!), serving, fresh off the mish, and all those interested in missionary work can feel the fire of this work and how wonderful it is to be a tool in the hands of the Lord!!! this is what missions are ALL about:
I will obviously rephrase and do my best to translate into English- by the way he is Brazilian and HilArious and awesome. ´My first experience with the missionaries was with the Elders- I stopped them on the street somewhere over there (pointing..) and asked them if they were of the church Mormon. They said no that they were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They gave me a pamphlet and I gave them my phone number. I went home and read the pamphlet and thought ´they are lying to me! They ARE Mormons!´ and I was really annoyed and decided I didn´t want to talk to them. But they kept calling me- they are so annoying! And they kept persisting and calling and finally I decided to just talk to them and show them how they are wrong and get them to leave me alone. So we met here in the church and I talked to them and they were interesting and tried to give me a Book of Mormon but I wouldn´t take it. After I talked to Nelson (a member) and got to know him and we talked a bit about the church. He invited me to come over again to the church to talk another day so I came again and was sitting in that room when the Sisters walked by the door. I saw them and I got goose bumps all over- you know, when you take all the feathers off a chicken and but the body in hot water- those bumps that come up on the skin? Yea that is what I felt- I am feeling them right now! They came walking in the room with lots of energy and brought a light and I felt that they had something to offer me. The part of me that was closed before was opened a little bit and we talked and they said to take a Book of Mormon and I took it. I thought I knew what the Book of Mormon was- just writings taken out of the Bible and I decided I would talk to them and read the book and find all the errors and then fight with them and show them how they are wrong. I tried to get them with questions but they kept answering them and I read and talked and realized that everything was true. That this church must be true. (He got emotional here) Before I would wake up every day and wonder where I would be- I would have fear of the future (by the way he is 59 and without a job and not living in the best conditions) but now that fear is gone. I have a purpose and joy and happiness in my life- I have found the right road and no one can take me from this road. In this short period of time the Lord has changed my life- I feel light- the heaviness has gone. This is the truth. These young people- the elders and sisters- they are annoying. But they (got emotional again) they give from the heart. They give and teach with charity and love. They leave everything behind to give us all light and this knowledge that changes our lives. They bring a light that just gets transmitted inside of us. They give up everything- their homes and families to help people like me. (great, now I am crying) I am so grateful for these young people. I know this is the true church and the true road to follow and I will walk in front.´´
It was such a privilege and a joy to serve and teach João and watch the atonement and the spirit work within him and change him. The gospel takes good men and makes them better. I am forever grateful for this experience- this opportunity. This privilege. Everything is worth it. Everything is worth experiences like this. Every slammed door in the face, every no in the street, every disappointment, challenge, frustration with the language, stress, unkind words- everything everything everything doesn´t matter if it all means I get to experience things like this. I don´t even remember those bad experiences anymore in the light of these incredible experiences. This is real happiness and joy- to bring people to Christ. To help people on their way to exaltation and joy. I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I LOVE the Lord. I don´t know what I did to be blessed with this blessing to serve here. To serve at all. When we have a desire to serve God, we are called to the work. And what a marvelous work it is!!! This is why we serve missions. This is why I am here- to serve the Lord e então my fellow men.
Other joys this week: Rosa Afonso, a menos ativo we have been working with came to church yesterday!!! She told us last week that she would come only if it didn´t rain. So we prayed that it wouldn´t rain and it didn´t but she still didn´t come. This week we told her we prayed that it wouldn’t rain and she didn´t come, so she has to come this week. She said again that she would come only if it didn´t rain. Well it was sunny all week except for yesterday for Sunday. Well, the Lord´s will be done. We thought this must be a test of her and or our faith. So she called and said it was raining and before she could give up or give another excuse I told her a member was going to come pick her up. Her visiting teacher came and she had a great experience! At first she was a bit annoyed that we had her come in the cold, but then her heart was softened and she said it was like the first time she came to church. I love re-activation!!! We are having her read the Book of Mormon all over again- starting at the beginning and she is loving it. That book is the most powerful book on earth- miracles happen when we read it. We taught this man named Rashed from Yemen and he is legit. Even though he has a Muslim background he has an open heart and is truly searching. I know he will find what he is looking for. :) i truly love this work and thank Heavenly Father everyday for letting me be here. I love being a missionary. I am so grateful to be an instrument in the hand so the Master. I know this is truly His church. I have no doubts at all. if you have doubts, talk to me to about it. I love you all!!1 Hurrah for Israel!!!
with a heart full of love and gratitude,
Síster Tingey
2/11/13
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