Dear family,
This week has been just crazy lots of teaching but a lot of
rejections this week to baptism. About 5 baptisms fell through that we marked
for our white Christmas that we will have this Saturday. So the zone will be inviting
all the investigators that will be baptized to attend the same baptismal
meeting, it’s going be super cool and I’m not worried because we have a couple
of other investigators to baptize this week.
This week I have grown even more spiritually reading the
Book of Mormon in my mission language. I’m now in finishing up 3rd Nephi and I
have never been so certain that Christ visited His people in the Americas. I
thought that it was interesting that one of the first things he did was give priesthood
authority to baptize. He then testifies of baptism saying that it is essential
to receive salvation. That’s why baptism is so important, it’s not about
the numbers but it’s the gate in which we start our new life to follow
Christ.
I heard about the how priests can now baptize for baptism
for the dead, I got excited because that is really going to help, especially in
places like here, were there may be tons of priests, but few hold the greater priesthood.
If I were to tell you guys one of the things I regret most is
being a missionary that I could have been before the mission. Yeah, I invited Johnny
to activity and talked about our church to Colton and Kyle and some other
friends but one of the most success in baptisms is in the youth! here the youth
are so ready, and I know they are over there too. ITs because they already
have a friend in the church. I had lots of friends that I could have invited to
help out, just imagine when we go to the spirit world and one of our friend
shows up and asks "why didn’t you invite me? isn’t that what a true
friend would do?" The youth is so critical also because it helps to
already learn young and then they can even serve missions and then think of the
lives they can bless.
Especially to Conner, invite someone to church, you have lots
of friends! you don’t need to invite them to be baptized, it’s just to church
or mutual.
A young woman in our stake here in Arapiraca has be helping
the sisters from my district, they have baptized tons be people just because
she invited! last week she invited 13 friends to church, she has even been
an example to me. One of the things that I want to do when I get back is invite
at least one person to church, and even if that person doesn’t accept, you
only succeeded because you invited.
I’m excited to talk to you guys also, I’m thinking in the
afternoon I will be able to skype, I’ll definitely send an email to confirm the
time, I’ll be in a member’s house to skype so ill advise you guys beforehand. My
package has probably arrived, I will receive it on Wednesday because we have
our Christmas conference.
We made a pretty funny video but it’s too big to send ha-ha
and it’s in Portuguese so it would be kind of hard to understand.
I’ll be transferred on the 2nd, I don’t know what will
happen but I’m excited.
I miss you all.
Have a great week and merry Christmas!
Elder Toma
No comments:
Post a Comment