Week 50 The Pure Doctrine



Gente,

 It's a pleasure to be here with you and thank you for joining us here in Chapadinha. This week has been awfully exciting, but it started with troubles getting here.

Because both of our companion were already in Chapadinha, I traveled here with Elder Zeni! It was about 10 hours in a bus in total, leaving Teresina Monday night and not getting to Chapadinha until Wednesday at 1:30 in the morning. What happened in short was Elder Zeni forgot his wallet in the São Luís house, so when we arrived at the bus station they couldn't print his ticket. After an good effort, we had to miss the bus and reschedule for 5 hours later. Also, without being able to tell anyone in Chapadinha we'd arrive 5 hours late.

The hero of this story is a member here named Eziel, who's only delay for serving a mission is that he only has 11 months as a member. Pretty much since his baptism he leaves with the missionaries everyday, and picks the missionary up from the bus stop. Not that he has a car, just to be the first one to meet them and help them get to their house. When we didn't arrived scheduled bus, he continued to wait the 5 hours until with arrived (watching other busses arrive, but with no missionaries) Absolutely crazy this man.

Lastly, I have to share the story of Alice, a friend of a person Elder Campos was already teaching. We met her and imediatamente she was super excited about coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon. While teaching about baptism she asks basically "wait you guys are baptized? Can you baptism me?" She super excited and hoping to find more people like her so we can help the branch grow.

The faith of some of the members is inspiring. Elder Campos and I were talking about how amazing it is here. There are the first generation of saints in Chapadinha. Without anyone other than four 20 year old boys, without any of the fancy programs or activities that come from being part of a ward or a stake. With only a handful of members (including the missionaries) ever seeing a temple or a patriarchal blessing, the simple teachings of the pure doctrine of Jesus Christ motives them to sacrifice one way of life and choose a better one. To really prepare to serve missions, be sealed in the temple, and raise their kids in the gospel.

"therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

Elder Pinkney