The Brazilian Adventure: Week 18 September 30-- October 6

 My Dearest beloved Family and Friends

         This week was honestly amazing. I seriously think that this was probably the best or one of the best weeks on my mission so far. There were just way to many great things that happen. 

       Last couple of weeks, my Brazilian paps was been having a little bit of a hard time with all the stress that comes from being a missionary and it all kinda just got to him. Which is understandable, we can´t be perfect all the time. And so he started to have a little attitude. So he would build it all up from a days work and then take it all out on me at the end of the day. My patience and love were being put to the test. And it was a bit frustrating because I wanted to help him but there were two main things that didn´t help. I couldn´t speak the Portuguese good enough to give him some counsel and help, and at the time he was kinda full of pride to be corrected. So it was supper frustrating. I didn´t know what to do. I almost just wanted to just give up. But I prayed a lot for guidance on what to do. And I had an answer I believe. I had a feeling that I just had to Love and serve him, and leave it to heavenly father. And that is what I did, it was hard, but I did it with the Lords help. And with time and patience and the lords help. My companions heart started to soften and receive more peace and he started to change. And the lord helped me talk to him and give him some advice. And he started to take the advice and completely change. It was a miracle. I was so surprised. We had a companion innovatory this last week and he told me the coolest things. He told me that during these last six weeks that we have been together. He said that he has learned so much from me. And I was like "Whattt??" He told me that I have soften his heart and that I have taught him how to love and to have charity. He told me that he finally understand why the lord gave me to him as a companion for him to train. He said to me something like this with tears in his eyes "I trained you how to do missionary stuff, but you trained me how to be more like Christ. And that is knowledge that is more precious than anything. You Elder Jones, changed my life. I have had a lot of companions on my mission this past year and 5 months and there have only been 3 who have been my "saviors" and you are one of them." all I could do is just cry and just thank heavenly father for  teaching me how do what ever I did these last 6 weeks. Heavenly father has been guiding me so much and has been helping me out, it´s just amazing. It was a miracle. 

       Also this week, I got really sick on night. The first time I have ever gotten sick on my mission. I was up for most of the night doing some stuff in the bathroom haha the next day, it wasn´t that much better. I had the flu. I went to the pharmacy to get some medicine and I took it. And then I tried continuing with the work, but I was just to weak and to sick. I felt really bad. I had a big head ache. So we went home and I asked my companion for a blessing and then I went to my bed and said a powerful prayer asking the lord to help me feel better so that I can continue with the work, if it be thy will. I then went to sleep. I woke up two hours latter and guess what. I was better. I jumped out of bed and got dressed and went right back to work feeling like a champ. It was a miracle. 

      This weekend was supper cool also. Elder Carlos and I have been working with this less active family for a couple weeks now and they are coming back to church. They have already been to church three Sunday now. And what is supper cool though, is that Elder Carlos told me that they haven´t been to church for almost 5 years now. I was so surprised. So with the Lords help, we were able to bring back Decio and his wife and their five children back to church. The lord helped us help them feel the spirit when we visited them and helped soften the fathers heart. This last Saturday, with the Lords help, we were able to baptize decio´s 9 year old son between General conference. It was an awesome baptism. And bringing this family back was so great. They thank us all the time. I´m so happy that the Lord allowed me to be apart of that. It was a miracle. 

        I went to our stake center ward yesterday to hear General Conference in English. We had to drive on the bus for about an hour to get there. General conference was so amazing this time. I loved every talk so much. They all helped me out so much. I´m so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with our Prophet Thomas S. Monson today and the apostles. And I ´m so thankful for our leaders in Christ´s church today. They all help me out so much. I don´t know if it is just because I am a missionary now, but I thought that this General Conference was the best one I have ever seen. I didn´t fall asleep not one time! I listen to every talk and learned so much. I love General Conference. I especially loved the words of Henry B. Eyring, Thomas S. Monson, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf. haha that sounds kinda obvious. But i seriously  I love their talks. I loved all the talks. I would write more about General Conference, but I just have one more amazing story to share. Yesterday during 1st and 2nd Session, the missionaries in that ward were talking to this nonmember lady. This lady told them that she has been looking for the true church all her life and has never been able to find it. But one day a member was talking to her she met the local bishop. The bishop told her to go to the stake ward this Sunday to try our Sunday services. But this Sunday was general conference. The lady came and the members invited her in and she watched the first session. Afterwards she was talking to the missionaries and she told them that this is the church that she has been looking for. This is the true church of the lord. Finally, the lord has answered my prayers. Elder Eliott and Elder Melo then started teaching her the lessons. They taught her ALL the lessons and she followed all the commandments and was just perfect.  Then Elder Eliott told her that they could baptize her on the 19th of this month, but then she said well why not next week on the 12th, and then he just asked well how about today? The lady smiled and said yes. She then had the baptism interview and she was ready. We then asked the mission president for permission and he said it was ok. We then all watched the 2nd session and afterwards, she was baptized. This lady found the true church, learned ALL the lessons, was ready for baptism, and was baptized. All in the same day!!!! The Lord has truly prepared people to hear the gospel, and man was this lady prepared. It was a miracle.

     This week was just soooooooo amazing! I think it is going to be my greatest week on my mission. But we will see what happen. I flippen Love my mission! it is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it is the greatest thing i have ever done. The challenges get bigger as I go, but so does my strength and testimony. The lord is so amazing to me, I am so thankful to be a missionary. I am especially grateful to know that this is his true gospel on this earth today. I´m so thankful to be apart of it. 

     I love you all so much. I miss you all like crazy. I think about you all all the time. I hope you are doing good.

Be happy

Love your Elder, The Elder Jones