5 Semanas

Well this week was difficult. It was terribly hot and lots of people are traveling so it was difficult to find people at home. It’s still hot.

Sister Castro has started a new rule that all missionaries have to take showers two times a day because of the heat. I won’t complain, but I live with 3 other missionaries.

Sacrament meeting didn’t have lots of people because of the holidays, but it was cool because I got to sing, Pequena Vila de Belém (O Little Town of Bethlehem) which was pretty spiritual.

We are talking to lots of people and inviting them to hear our message and to get a free DVD about Christmas, but not many leads yet.

Learning more and more how the spirit works and how it helps us to do what’s right. I feel like I´m at the top of my game, right before I go home, which is sad.

I would really, really like to be home for Christmas but I’ve got to keep working.

Arrependimento é real, Nós podemos ser purificado de pecado se nos arrependermos. A Expiação foi feito, temos que só arrepender-se. Tenha a coragem de arrepender-se e encontrará paz.

[Repentance is real, we can be cleansed of sin if we repent. The Atonement was made, we only repent.

Have the courage to repent and find peace.]

Falta pouco.

Elder Willard

6 Semanas

Well Our Zone leaders got transferred; one went home and the other become assistant to the President. He was my junior companion about a year ago: I’m so proud.

Well I was not transferred and I will die here with Elder Bispo, which will be good I hope. My throat got better...all by itself.

We are struggling to find people to teach but we´re talking to everyone. We are learning that the most important part of our work is quality not quantity.

Anyone can give a one minute lesson about something important but what counts is finding a quiet, calm space where you can teach in a way that helps a person feel and recognize that we are servants of the Lord and that he called us to do his work.

Someone has got to get baptized soon or I´ll go crazy.

Falta muito pouco mas no mesmo tempo...bastante.

Até logo

Elder Willard

7 Semanas

I have some kind of throat infection that is not getting better. It’s terrible difficult to eat and swallow. And I´ve been to the doctor twice and have bought about 100 reais (50 dollars) in medicine that is not working,

I´m getting a little frustrated. I have about 4 red-white, inflamed holes in my mouth that look like popped blisters. Sister Castro told me to find a specialist here in Pelotas. The trick is the mission might not be able to pay for the visit; I would pay and then be reimbursed later. A consultation is like 250 reais (125 bucks)...let see what happens.

I didn't get to work a lot this week because we had some days that were difficult to talk so I stayed home.

I´m also trying to help my companion work more and be obedient. Transfers are next week, one more transfer and it’s all over. I think I need to work more. I getting so tired, but I will try to sprint to the finish.

Elder Willard

8 Semanas

Rosa was baptized and confirmed; we are super happy for her.

This area is a little difficult; we are talking with lots of people, but they aren't that interested in our message. But we are motivated and excited to keep going.

I´m getting really tired...

My companion is going through a tough time. His mother as apparently left home, had a fight with her sister has run away. And this isn't the first time this has happened. When he was 16 his mother abandoned him for almost two years, alone at home with two brothers, one with Downs.

We are trying to keep him motivated and focus on the work. Please pray for Elder Bispo (Beespo)

`eu irei cumprirei as ordens do Senhor...`

Elder Willard

9 Semanas

Well Rosa is gonna be baptized on Saturday and we are super happy. She seems to be excited as well; sometimes people that are close to baptism get really nervous.

This week was tough but we got a lot of work done with some good numbers at the end of the week. 

I went on a division (splits) with a missionary that goes home in 3 weeks and we talked about jobs and work after the mission.  I don't know what I want to do anymore; so many different things I can do. 

But I won't worry about it right now. I´ll figure it out at home...just have to keep working.

We are getting excited for Christmas to call home on Skype. Mom you don't need to send me anything, I´ll be home 4 weeks after Christmas and one week after my birthday.

Falta pouco,

Elder Willard 

In Tres Vendas

Well it rains a lot and it’s super humid all the time. We had some really cool people appear at of nowhere.

We were knocking doors and we taught a little old lady who accepted the challenge to be baptized and went to church on Sunday and has already got an answer from her prayers, just needs to stop drinking coffee.

Also we were deceived by a women on the street who said the following,

“I want to go back to your church and want to get baptized and I want to baptize my daughter, what do I need to do?” Obviously we got excited and invited her to church and everything. But later learned that she is already baptized and tries to scam the church, asking for help financially. She is involved in prostitution, drug trafficking and other crimes...apparently. She has already scammed many other missionaries and we have been asked to not visit her. Got to be careful.

But other than that we are working a lot, some baptisms are coming and we are happy. 

See you all soon,

Elder Willard

Switch 'em up

Well we had a little accident.

On Tuesday morning, I was standing at the bus stop with my companion and all of his luggage, waiting for the bus. Well, a missionary called me and said that my companion wasn't transferred and it was me that was. The missionary that called me likes to joke around so I didn't listen to him. And so we got on the bus and went to Porto Alegre, then I got a call from the assistants that it really was me that was transferred. And so I had to go back, pack my bags super-fast and go back to the station in Porto Alegre. There apparently was some miscommunication. But for everyone to know, I was transferred to Pelotas, again, with Elder Bispo and the area Tres Vendas.

The area is good and the ward is kind and helpful.

We had a really cool experience with a member who was having lots of problems. She was starting to doubt that God was helping her and that she didn’t know what to do. And we didn’t know what to share with her to help her.

I heard my companion say, “Me ajuda” and then he opened his Book of Mormon to a random page and read two scriptures in Mosiah about faith and miracles. After he read them the member started to cry and my companion as well (I didn’t because I´m made of stone).

Two days later we returned and learned that a huge problem she had was resolved and that the aid was of heaven.

We are really excited to start working here and to baptize.

Falta só um pouco.

Elder Willard