Dang it! That really stinks about the trampoline. Haha it'll be good to be able to help with yard stuff when I'm around. Fear not!
So, I'll probably be able to do it at like 6 (about 11 AM your time), if that works for you guys. It would be a good time for me but if it doesn't work to do it that late I can do it earlier!
I totally agree with what you said about that level of conversion. It's been really easy to see the different levels that people find themselves on, both in members and in missionaries. Some missionaries just really don't want to work hard or push themselves and it's hard to work with people like that! (Elder Carrelo is not like that, thankfully!) I studied a part of Chapter 4 in Preach My Gospel, on the Holy Ghost, this morning. It was about the Holy Spirit of Promise, I think an associated scripture was D&C 132: 7, 18 and 19, and 26. The latter 3 verses talk about celestial marriage, but verse 7 is more general. I thought it was very interesting that it says in verse 7 "All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise...are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead." The things that will be carried over are those things such as covenants and ordinances done through God's priesthood authority - baptism, temple ordinances including those regarding eternal families - families themselves, when sealed, and then as it states in D&C 130: "And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come." So we bring knowledge gained, of which Gospel knowledge will be essential, and then other things like service - we will be blessed eternally for what we DO, the people we help, the lives we save, because in D&C 18 it says
"13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"
Meaning that we will be eternally blessed for all those that we bring unto God!
Anyway, that was basically my whole study for today haha! To wrap it up, I told you about it because I thought it was interesting the things we take with us, and the value of what we do here on earth. The "burdens" that some people find in the Gospel aren't burdens! They are the things that God knows will be for our greatest benefit.
This week has been pretty good - here in Santarém there are a ton of immigrants from Romania, and most of them don't work or have great financial situations, so it's kind of tough to find self-sufficient people here. But we did find a really nice couple, Rafael and Maria; Rafael said he wanted to get baptized before I even asked him! The only challenge we have with them is they aren't coming to church and we don't know why, so we'll have to work with them for it. We have been ATTACKED by these little black bugs that show up super randomly. Like one second there's none, and not even kidding, then next second there are 50 all over Elder Carrelo's back. It's happened like 4 times and it's so not fun!
So yeah! That's what's down. We're working hard!
Love ya! Have a good week, dad! Get better with your back!
Love, Elder Valentine!
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