Choose the Right Jersey

The zone after interviews with President Bangerter

Hope everyone had a good week. Our week was good. We had some great lessons with our investigators as well as did a few baptismal interviews for another companionship in our zone. We also had interviews with President this week.

Cooling off with some Acai - Elders Christensen, A.Silva and Hainsworth

Do you guys remember me talking about Washington a guy we met one night when we were actually looking for someone else? I think I told you about him. Well, Tuesday we went and visited him and his girlfriend, Andrea. They are super awesome! We have had great lessons with them right from the beginning. Each lesson I think "this is so awesome it cannot get better than this" because the spirit is so strong and you can see them growing so quickly. Just absorbing and taking it all in. Each lesson gets better. So when we went there on Tuesday we went to his girlfriend's house (they live next door to each other). Anyway Andrea was working in her kitchen (she makes samosas, savories and pizza then sells them to bakeries and other companies) so we went in the back with just him to talk. Washington started talking about some of his scripture studies and we asked how he was doing with some of his challenges, one of which is trying to stop smoking or at least decrease the amount he smoked. He told us about an experience he had that week. He told me that one night he woke up at midnight with overwhelming desires to smoke so he went to the window and got a cigarette. But when he went to put it in his mouth, he started having a lot of nausea and he said "no, you have to be kidding me. .. "then ran to the bathroom and vomited. Then he came back, got out another cigarette to smoke, SAME thing happened. He used to smoke a box and a little more per day, 25-26 cigarettes per day in total. He said that it was asking a lot of him to change himself to quit smoking and he was not sure he could do it. Earlier in the week he had read in Alma 7 in the Book of Mormon and then he prayed for the help he needed. Then this all happened. They came to church this past Sunday for the second time and they liked it a lot. While speaking with the Bishop Washington told him ,"I think I need to mark my baptism day because I have no doubt that this is the right path and the true church and I know that this is what I want." One sad thing is I may not be there for their baptism because the transfer will be this Saturday. But on Tuesday / Thursday we will go to talk to them, have a barbecue with him too, and mark a date of baptism. BUT if they are ready and they want, maybe it will work out to be this week! If not I am happy that it is happening no matter when it happens.

Ana Lucia is another investigator that we have that had a baptismal date for like 2 weeks ago but she got sick out of no where with a severe bacterial infection. Like I told you last week she ended up in the hospital and was actually in a coma for a few days. She now is a lot better. We went to visit her and she is sitting up and talking, moving around too. She should be coming out of the hospital here in a few days or a week. All she talks about is her baptism and going to church! She said, "I havent forgot about my baptism!" Her son, Clayton has been doing well and attending church a lot. So things are going well with them. He also has been challenged with smoking but is making good progress and is down to 5 cigarettes a day which is a huge victory for him!

We also had the great opportunity to interview a few investigators for baptism in Cidade Nova, Sumaré this past friday. I love to see how the gospel can bring so much growth and joy to people when they truly want to follow the truth. Lords work!

A scripture I wanted to share with you guys this week:

Mormon 8:24-26
24 And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word.

25 And behold, their prayers were also in behalf of him that the Lord should suffer to bring these things forth.

26 And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead.
In this chapter Moroni is finishing the writings and testimony of his father Mormon. He saw the Nephites destroyed and his father die. And he is now speaking of the saints that have lived in those lands where they are and speaks of how their testimonies and prayers will be remembered and come out of the earth (meaning through the Book of Mormon) and the kingdom of God will go forward. He emphasized that Heavenly Father knew their prayers and knew their faith. I know Heavenly Father also knows our prayers. From the moment that we say 'Heavenly Father' he is listening. He also knows our faith. In His name we can do miracles. They were able to 'move mountains, cause the earth to shake, or tumble down prisons'. We may not see mountains physically move in our lifetime but we will see spiritual mountains move as people change and come unto Christ, The work of the Lord will come to past and no one can stop that from happening. Elder Holland once said in a talk that we know the final score in the game of life - it has already been decided. Jesus Christ's 'team' will win. It will happen. But it is our choice to choose which jersey we are wearing. I think sometimes people think the score is 1-7, in favor of Satan. and that there is no way to come back from that. They think that 'miracles have ceased and are done away' and the world is too far gone. But I want you to know that I know that the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ has happened and His church is here on the earth and will not be ever taken from it again. It is not always popular or easy to wear the right jersey but I know that Heavenly Father knows your prayers and faith and the 'power of His word' will give us strength, we will feel of His love and know the right things to do. Through Him comes happiness, wisdom and power to do good. So everyone choose the right jersey!

Elder Davis