Week 26 Stormy Weather

Hey guys!

Quick bullets:

-Started teaching Francisca virtually, and she accepted a baptism date!

-Divisions with Elder Hunt

-Mega Family Home Evening

-Still raining but having some beautiful thunderstorms 

-Decorated my mini hymnal

-Helping Joao Pedro learn to teach (future Elder Alert)

One of our friends who's progressing is named Bartholomew, a little bigger, older guy who is open with us missionaries. I have a lot of hope that he'll be baptized, eventhough he's hasnt accepted a date, but he is keeping other commitments. He also likes watching YouTube, and when we went to visit Him on Saturday he told us about some video he watch talking about a prophet of the Mormon church who had 40 wives.

I hear my companion heart beat change, and feel my hope slowing die. We talk a bit about polygamy, good sources of information, and the power of prayer. He seemed to understand that it was something in the past that doesn't happen now. I wouldn't says his doubts were settled, nor was he keen on coming to church, but he said we could continue visiting him.

The rest of that day was difficult, but luckily the plan was to visit with members and recent converts (because Carnival). But Saturday was only made worse by Sunday when it was confirmed that none of our friends, including Bartholomew were going to make it to church. It was one of those days where I just wanted to cut everyone and start fresh. But with Sunday afternoon and evening, things got better. The Elder Quorum President, Pedro, and another prominent ward member, Bruno, were planning to do visits to a couple branch members and asked if there were any of our friends they should visit, specifically about Bartholomew (they having met him at church). I explained about our last visit with Bartholomew but said if they were willing to do a visit, we'd certainly be grateful.

Our visits must have been nostalgic for these two returned missionaries, and were inspirational for me. Just two men filled with joy and The Spirit. We had an awesome lesson with Bartholomew, bearing powerful testimony of the power of The Book of Mormon, Prayer, and Weekly Church attendance, especially in relation to the problems of life and doubts of faith. Then we went and visited two other members of the branch, and they were just joyous visits, filled with prayer, memories, songs, and testimony.

A longer story but basically, there is power in ministering the Saviors way, for the minister and the ministered to. It is when hearts are knit together in unity and love that they are healed.

Still Learning,

Elder Pinkney