Elder Hunt (second from the left) on a division in Pirituba
Monday-We picked up the numbers
like usual then followed up with all the zones, after we found out that
President Farnes would not be coming to have our usual Monday meeting because
he had gone to Recife, in the north of Brasil, for a week long meetings for all
of the mission presidents in Brasil. In the month of October, three zones broke
their zone baptismal records, incredible work!
Elevator Selfies in Pirituba
After the rainstorm
That night in the rain, we headed out
by train and on a bus to Pirituba, my very first zone and where Elder Medina (my
trainer) and Elder Quero (a buddy from when I was in Itu) are zone leaders. We
were sent to their zone because two weeks straight the zone didn’t baptize a
single person. In the words of Elder Claudio R.M. Costa from the First Quorum
of the Seventy, "If a missionary in Brasil goes more than two weeks
without baptizing, something is wrong." Upon our arrival, we called the
bishop of the Pirituba ward and told him there would be a baptism Tuesday
night. We didn’t know who it would be, but we knew that through 100% obedience,
diligent hard work, and the overwhelming pure love of Christ to save others,
The Lord would bless us with a miracle.
Raining tons in Pirituba
Mormon 9:19- "And if there
were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet
be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he
would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of
miracles."
Tuesday-That morning, Elder Rebouças
went with Elder Quero, and I went with Elder Medina into the streets, faith
level on high, doing all we possibly could to deserve God's miracles. To receive
a miracle, you must do your part, your WHOLE part, which is being 100%
obedient, but also acting, doing all that is possible within your power to
accomplish your goal. You must act, teach, preach, and suffer in the name of
Christ before you experience the triumph, before you are blessed with the
miracle.
Favella in Pirituba
Ether 12:6-"...I would show unto
the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute
not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your
faith."
Through tireless, relentless work
between our two companionships, we were prompted to visit God's elects, those
who God had prepared, those who were ready to receive and accept His message, His
invite.
Danielli, Kawan, and Henrique on their baptism day
A Huge Miracle!
That night, three people were baptized, Danielli, Kawan, and Henrique.
It was a beautiful service with the sweetest spirit, and many members there
with open arms to support these new members.
Elder Hunt and Elder Medina, working in the rain filled streets of Brasil
Once again as the rain fell, we
returned back to the apartment with a new sense of humility, thankfulness, and
awe of the wonder of God's miracles. That night, the two week drought in Zona
Pirituba had ended.
Alma 34:38-"...humble yourselves
even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit
and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and
blessings which he doth bestow upon you."
LiVE-Little
Victories every day. Recieve all with gratitude. The little 'i' is to forget about yourself.
Wednesday-Today was full of finding
novos, but the most interesting part of the day were the two elderly women who
made us lunch. The two old women are friends of many years; one woman is mute
but was able to communicate the story of her conversion. She said she had
visited the church when we she just nine years old, but when she moved away she
was not able to find the church again for 15 years. The day she found the
church again she asked to be baptized, then she devoted her entire life to
building the kingdom of God even with her disability. The love we were able to
feel in that humble home was incredible. Not having very much, those two
elderly women gave all they had, preparing a banquet for us. These two beloved
sisters understand salvation and The Lord's Atonement. They are incredible.
That night, once again in the rain,
we headed off 3 hours to Socrocaba, where we spent the night in Zona Santana.
Elder Hunt with Elder Aguirres on a division in Jardim California Zona Trujillo Sorocaba
Thursday-Early that morning, we divided
and I went with Elder Augirres, my ex companion, who is Zone Leader in Zona Trujillo
and Elder Rebouças stayed in Zona Santana. We spent the day in a poorer area in
Sococaba (which basically doesn’t exist) finding news and marking baptismal
dates.
Elder Hunt and Elder Aguirres' dinner
The missionary's house in Jardim California has the baptism sign
And this baptism mural too of John and Baptist baptizing Jesus Christ
Look at the load on top of that van!
Friday-That morning we made our long
trip back to São Paulo. We took care of some things in the mission office and
then we went off to work in our favorite favela in Catareira, "Cemeterio
Do Horto." But this Friday afternoon wasn't só alegria like usual. The
whole feeling had changed, it was overcast, it was cold, in the air it could be
sensed. The usual friendly faces and warm Brasilian smiles were no where to be
found, it was silent, empty, and sad. Something had happened while were gone.
High drug violence in the area was a probable factor. The harvest was not well
reaped that day.
At the Sao Paulo temple with 56 recent converts, a day to remember
Saturday-Today made history. Today is
the day that Mission Brasil São Paulo North took it's first caravan of recent
converts to the temple. In just one zone, 56 recent converts were taken to the
temple to perform baptisms for their ancestors. IT WAS INCREDIBLE! I am very
grateful and privileged to have been able to take part in such a special day.
Cantareira
Jungle favella
Sunday-We were without a single
person to baptize the entire week due to lack of time in our area. To baptize
this week in our area was vital, as Assistant to the President, the example
must be given in ALL things. We tried it all, using all our resources, until we
remembered a list, which is held in the ward secretaries office. It is a list
of people who were blessed as babies or were registered as members of the
church with less than eight years of age. At 4:30 in the afternoon we finally
we able to encounter a teenage boy named Israel. We got to know him and his
family, we later found out that his family was very active in the church for
many years, even his father was ordained as a high priest, but fell inactive
due to long work hours and another son in prison among other things. We taught
and testified with power and faith, until the right moment arrived and we
invited him and his two cousins to be baptized.
Elder Hunt with Israel, Kaio, and Jonathon on their baptism day
That night, at 7:30 pm Israel,
Kaio, and Jonathan were baptized, taking the first step to eternal life and to
help their families become reactivated members of the true church of Jesus
Christ.
I tesify that due to our 100%
obedience, diligence, and desire, God blessed us with this miracle. When you
have sufficient faith, do your part of working hard and smart, and are exact in
your obedience, the powers of heaven are put into action in our lives.
Jungle favella
Let us all remember The Lord's sacred
promise to all of us in fourth section of the Doctrine and Covenants,
independent of where we are in the world or our circumstances- "Now
behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
2 Therefore, O ye that embark
in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind
and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
3 Therefore, if ye have desire
to serve God ye are called to the work;
4 For behold the field is white
already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the
same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his
soul;
5 And faith, hope, charity and
love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge,
temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity,
humility,diligence.
7 Ask, and ye shall receive;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."
Elder Hunt slept on the floor of the mission office last night because they had so much to do.
Com muito Amor,
Elder Marcus Hunt
