March 18, 2013
I have fasted in this area of Braga more than
any area and time on the mission. It is a bit more difficult to find
people who are interested and will progress than in any of my other areas, but
I know that when we show the Lord we are willing to do what it takes to see
miracles, He will bless us. When we are faithful and obedient, He HAS to
bless us! We just need to find the price we must pay and pay it to see
the success. All we can do is do our best and then leave the rest up to
the Lord. Our district fasted together on Saturday to Sunday to help our
area and our few progressing investigators get baptized. Every time I
fast I feel so much closer to the Lord. I feel happier and thing become
clearer to me. I am so grateful to be in this area where I am learning to
strive to give my all for little successes and miracles. I know that I
may not see the fruits, but someone will in the future. I must do
everything I can for ´the one´.
´The One´ this transfer may be Amarildo! Amarildo is a man we found at the beginning of last transfer. He has some difficulties with the Palavra de Sabedoria and we ended up dropping him because he wasn´t keeping compromissos or really progressing. But he has kept coming to church for the past 2 months. A couple of weeks ago we felt to pick him back up as an investigator and wow!!! What a difference. The spirit has truly touched his heart and he is now ready to act. He has been reading in the Book of Mormon and He told us he wants to stop smoking- and he really meant it. YEA!!! So we made a program for him to stop smoking by next Sunday. He would smoke 7 cigarettes yesterday and then minus one each day until the big 0 on Sunday! When we called him to follow up last night he said he only smoked 4 that day!!! When we made the program for him we told him that we would give up some things to- I said I would only eat 4 sweets this week and my companion did something similar. Last night he asked us how the sweets were going and chuckled as he said he is interested to see how this whole sweets thing turns out. hahaha. We told him we are here to support and I am so grateful to be making sacrifices right along with him- even though mine isn’t as big of a deal. We tried to mark him for baptism for the 30th of March but he was a bit scared and declined. BUT he said he would pray about it and we will pray with him and I am praying and praying that his heart will be softened and touched that he will be baptized that day because I want to see it!(transfers are the Monday after and I don´t know if I will stay) But if I am not there, it is okay- He will still make an eternal covenant with the Lord. :) Every sacrifice is worth it to help people come unto Christ- especially by making covenants.
I am learning more and more how to really lean on the Lord. We have been talking to lots and lots of people- tons of people and we have lots and lots of contact information that we are trying to follow up on. Many times people aren´t home or never answer the phone, etc. So in order to make sure we don´t waste time chasing people who aren´t ready for the gospel at this time, we prayed to know the people we should focus on- because we KNOW we already talked to SOMEONE who is ready for it now! We felt some people and worked to contact them throughout the day and wouldn´t ya know it we contacted ALL of them which is a miracle because normally people don´t answer our phone calls or see us at the door and won´t open, etc. I am so grateful for the Spirit that can guide us and help us find all ´the ones´ here in Braga. I truly adore this work. It is so much fun! I love serving others and praying everyday to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord! I know without a doubt that this is truly Christ´s church that HE restored. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know the gift of tongues is real. I know that when we sacrifice blessings come. I am grateful for the Lord´s love for each and every one of us. I testify that Chris lives and that He loves all of you and knows all of you individually. I know He will come again!- SOON!!!! I look forward to the day when I will be able to fall down at His feet and worship Him. I love you all. May we all stay firm and faithful and meet at Christ´s feet together- worthily, clean, and true. HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!
Sister Tingey
´The One´ this transfer may be Amarildo! Amarildo is a man we found at the beginning of last transfer. He has some difficulties with the Palavra de Sabedoria and we ended up dropping him because he wasn´t keeping compromissos or really progressing. But he has kept coming to church for the past 2 months. A couple of weeks ago we felt to pick him back up as an investigator and wow!!! What a difference. The spirit has truly touched his heart and he is now ready to act. He has been reading in the Book of Mormon and He told us he wants to stop smoking- and he really meant it. YEA!!! So we made a program for him to stop smoking by next Sunday. He would smoke 7 cigarettes yesterday and then minus one each day until the big 0 on Sunday! When we called him to follow up last night he said he only smoked 4 that day!!! When we made the program for him we told him that we would give up some things to- I said I would only eat 4 sweets this week and my companion did something similar. Last night he asked us how the sweets were going and chuckled as he said he is interested to see how this whole sweets thing turns out. hahaha. We told him we are here to support and I am so grateful to be making sacrifices right along with him- even though mine isn’t as big of a deal. We tried to mark him for baptism for the 30th of March but he was a bit scared and declined. BUT he said he would pray about it and we will pray with him and I am praying and praying that his heart will be softened and touched that he will be baptized that day because I want to see it!(transfers are the Monday after and I don´t know if I will stay) But if I am not there, it is okay- He will still make an eternal covenant with the Lord. :) Every sacrifice is worth it to help people come unto Christ- especially by making covenants.
I am learning more and more how to really lean on the Lord. We have been talking to lots and lots of people- tons of people and we have lots and lots of contact information that we are trying to follow up on. Many times people aren´t home or never answer the phone, etc. So in order to make sure we don´t waste time chasing people who aren´t ready for the gospel at this time, we prayed to know the people we should focus on- because we KNOW we already talked to SOMEONE who is ready for it now! We felt some people and worked to contact them throughout the day and wouldn´t ya know it we contacted ALL of them which is a miracle because normally people don´t answer our phone calls or see us at the door and won´t open, etc. I am so grateful for the Spirit that can guide us and help us find all ´the ones´ here in Braga. I truly adore this work. It is so much fun! I love serving others and praying everyday to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord! I know without a doubt that this is truly Christ´s church that HE restored. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know the gift of tongues is real. I know that when we sacrifice blessings come. I am grateful for the Lord´s love for each and every one of us. I testify that Chris lives and that He loves all of you and knows all of you individually. I know He will come again!- SOON!!!! I look forward to the day when I will be able to fall down at His feet and worship Him. I love you all. May we all stay firm and faithful and meet at Christ´s feet together- worthily, clean, and true. HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!
Sister Tingey
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