May 5, 2018 -- Salvador (Ondina)

this week was alright. 

monday we were supposed to take 3 missionaries to do their first register with the federal police as part of the visa process. so we brought them in from the interior and when we got to the airport police station the system had crashed. so we had to entertain 3 missionaries (send them to areas to work) and come back on thursday to complete the register. 

we Got to visit Sergio and his family and they commited to going to church on sunday so i was stoked! We also met their friend who is a traveling pastor and had a super cool conversation about how really the important of what we do as testimonies of Christ is to talk about Christ!!! not argue about doctrines but talk about Jesus. it was a way cool experience fo rme.  São Paulo emailed me that we are gonna start applying for residency instead of renewing visas so i have spent the whole week scanning passports and birth certificates and documents to send to SP. 

Thursday we took them back to the airport and everything ran smoothly. We got to visit a new investigator a woman named Jessica who was having a party at her house when she marked for us to visit. So we got there and thought it wouldnt be a great lesson but she came out and told her friends to be quiet. they kept bugging her and making fun of her during the lesson but she paid so much attention and even defended us to her friends! shes already been to church a few years ago now shes gonna go with us again this week!!

We spent a lot of time in the office because of elder sorocaba's training. normally transfers are 6 weeks but this one is only 5 weeks and normally secretaries keep caling old secretaries to ask them for help. But elder cantuario is gonna go home so elder sorocaba cant call him. so hes gotta get it all right now!

im really happy with restarting the book of mormon this week. its been awesome to start over and remind myself of the little simple things that Nephi did to follow God and be obedient to His commandments. Our obedience shows our willingness and humility and love for God! all of us have struggles with a few different things or ideas or commandments  but what we need to do is strive to improve. that is when the Grace of God/Christ comes in to help us improve and be better.

love sam