Tuesday, May 24, 2011

I got to drive...so cool!

The training went well, and we learned a few things that can help us a lot in our work. I’m so glad that we’ve the guidance of Presidente Neves to help us in the ways that we can bring people closer to the Lord.

The time he spent with us was AMAZING. One of the coolest things that happened was that we started driving back to Tarrafal from Assomada, it’s about a 45 min drive, when all of a sudden, presidente Neves looked at me and said, "Would you like to drive?"

I got to drive president Neves car back to Tarrafal. It was awesome!!! I haven’t driven in forever, and I was so happy that the car was manual. It assured me that I’m going to appreciate a manual car when I get back.

We taught Lacy with Presidente Neves, and he was making comments on Lacy´s progress on how amazing it is. We’re happy for him because he came to Church this Sunday. If all continues to go well, he’ll have a baptismal interview this week.

Alex is back and is now 3 weeks without falling. If he goes one more week, I’ll authorize him to take the sacrament again. He said that he experienced some very strong spiritual experiences while he was out in Assomada studying for his test. He is happier than he has been in a long time, and he says that temptation is going away more and more.

Tony is doing well. We have to be a little more patient with him because he seems to have ADD and will ask us about 30 questions per lesson, to which maybe two will have to do with what we’re talking about.

Overall, great week!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

President Neves will be walking with us...

This was a rather interesting week.

Tony has two weeks left before his baptism. I hope it happens because we have had baptisms that have fallen apart in the past. So far, it seems that he’s going to go through with it. He has not missed church and is going to all the activities. He’s a quiet person. Last Saturday when we were walking back home from Integration Night, we asked him "Why do you like to come to church so much" (He is there every single day) He responded saying that he feels good and that his life is better as a result of how much he is coming to church. It was a very reassuring response. I hope he goes through with it.

On the same subject, we’ll find out soon enough if Lacy and Code are going to go through with their baptism, as well. They both missed church last Sunday, and Lacy has this habit of disappearing for a few days and then re appearing when he wants to. We’re going to see him later today to teach him and will find out what is going on. Code seems to be doing well.

We found a new investigator this week that seems to be accepting the teachings quite well. We gave him a book of Mormon (O livro de Mórmon) and told him to read some. He did and says that since he started reading it, he has had more and more of a desire to be doing productive things with his life, like study or what not than just sitting around. He says that after reading the book of Mormon, he had the desire to study math for his classes. He said that normally he hates math and that studying is painful for him. He says that he thinks he’s receiving the answer that the Book of Mormon is true. This is incredible, and I’m excited to work with him more this coming week

Something interesting is happening next week. Presidente Neves will be going into Assomada to give our district a special training. We’re meeting with him there, and afterwards, he’s taking us back to Tarrafal. He’ll be walking with us for the rest of the day as a third missionary, and of course, I’m quite nervous because he’s our mission president.

I’ve seen Oswaldo. He’s fully active now and going to seminary every day. He’s doing great and getting close to us as a friend. He is very smart and his Portuguese is impeccable. It’s nice to hear someone actually speaking Portuguese every once in a while.

Elder Cuestas.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Branch Presidency is going well

Elder Coleman got to talk to his family, and it seems that things are going good for him back home, too.

I’ll say that this week was a bit challenging.

Ivandro´s dad bought him a Hiace/car to start his own business, so he moved away from his house in Tarrafal. We’re thinking about contacting the other missionaries in Assomada, where he now lives, to see if we can get his teaching record transferred, if he still wants to continue. It was tough because he was scheduled to be baptized this Saturday.

Tony is doing well. He should be baptized at the end of the month. He’s pretty much at church every day at some activity, and he’s coming to church on his own on Sundays. He has ADD, so the lessons can be a little tough, and he’s having some problems reading the book of Mormon because of that very cause, but nothing that is especially challenging.

Branch presidency is going well. Things seem to be getting better week by week with more people going to church and more people magnifying their callings, and what not. I’m glad with the way things are going, and I hope and pray that they’ll continue to keep going in that direction.

Mulato´s best friend Oswaldo, a less active has been fully reactivated, and I’m preparing him to move up to Priest in the Aaronic priesthood with interviews and what not. I’m so pleased to see him back in business.

Alex had to go to Assomada for about 2.5 weeks to complete a study for his driver’s license. They are actually very rigid about that here. He’s still making some major progress, and I think that he’s going to succeed here soon in breaking his addiction. He’s now reading his scriptures more and more.

Elder Cuestas

Monday, May 2, 2011

First week as BP

So I directed my fist meeting last Sunday. It went ok, and it was a lot easier since it was testimony Sunday. The District president was there to announce how I am now BP

OSAMA IS DEAD!!!!! Everyone here is talking about it.

Elder Coleman is just way chill. He is really funny, and I'm so glad that he is open-minded. I feel that we’re discussing the work as a team and that we’re truly targeting the needs of the people here in Tarrafal. Please pray for him. He has been fighting digestive problems for some time.

Here is an update on some of the people.

Alex showed an incredible step of faith this Sunday. Sick to his stomach and still came to church. OVER A WEEK and he is clean!!!! I am so happy for him. We had some time to talk last Saturday. He started crying and told me that he never met someone that has cared about him so much. He told me he is now happier than he has been in a long time and that he feels the spirit coming back into his life. I am so glad for him, and I will never give up on him no matter how many times he falls. We now hang out with him every Monday.

Steven is doing well. He has been staying up very late on Saturdays, so he missed two Sundays in a row. We had a really good conversation with him on Sunday and got him remotivated to get better and doing the stuff that he needs to do. He will be baptized at the end of the month.

Tony. We marked a date with him for the end of the month. At testimony meeting, he got up and bore his testimony. He is doing very good and is showing up to all the activities. He is practically at church every single day.

Jack (Cerique) is doing well as usual. Pillow and I are starting to form a closer relationship. We are trying to convince him to go on a mission instead of the army. We will see what happens.

Elder Cuestas