Nov. 2 - Stake conference, no local baptisms
Nov. 9 - Big Almoço after church in our apartment, for Lucas (12), Juliano (14), João Vítor (15). We didn't go to their baptisms in Guaraituba (too exhausted), but Elder Thomas gave the missionaries money for everyone's bus fare. We watched the group walk down our driveway on their way to the bus stop.
Nov. 9 - Big Almoço after church in our apartment, for Lucas (12), Juliano (14), João Vítor (15). We didn't go to their baptisms in Guaraituba (too exhausted), but Elder Thomas gave the missionaries money for everyone's bus fare. We watched the group walk down our driveway on their way to the bus stop.
Nov. 16 - Big Almoço after church in our apartment, for José [jozéh] (in his 60's); Gudalfo (10 - Larisa #1's half-brother); Lucas's mom Marta and two sisters Kiara and Larissa #2 (#2, since Gudalfo's half-sister is Larissa #1). We went with them on the bus and paid everyone's fare (our gift). Marta's daughter Larissa #2 was not planning on being baptized, but had been interviewed just in case. After seeing her brother baptized last week, watching us taking pictures of her mother and sister, and then watching them being baptized too--in the c-o-l-d water, she decided she wanted to be baptized too! Marta's husband is a long-haul truck driver and is away a lot. He was able to be with this wife and daughters when they were baptized. This family has a very strong, loving spirit about, and are real "characters." They live close to us, and we meet them on the street often. Hopefully, their dad will be baptized, maybe the next time he's in town...he seems to be a great Dad.
November 29 - Before her husband José was baptized last week, Ilda [eelda] stood firm in claiming that she wanted to stay with her church, the Universal Church. But after seeing her husband baptized, she compared her sprinkling baptism to the immersion and said to the Elders, "Sprinkling isn't right. Jesus didn't go into the river to be sprinkled. Why can't I be baptized too?" The next week the Elders taught the lessons again, this time for her. They arranged for Saturday night, and traveled by bus to the Columbo chapel (our first time there, a few miles beyond Guaraituba) for her baptism. She was delighted! She announced that the next day would be her birthday. Luckily, I had brought a pumpkin-banana cake for a small celebration afterwards. We turned it into a birthday party and sang Brazil's birthday song, "Para Bens!" We were able to ride home with them in Eduardo's car, and got to know each other at bit. I wish I could carry on conversations--I'm much too silent when I should be building relationships!