Date
February 10, 2020
Area
Paranavai, Brazil
Companion
Elder Standage
The Book of Mormon
My family and friends! I love you lots and I still remember everything you taught me. I'm really happy here in the mission field, because this week we saw a lot of success that we've been waiting a long time for. You've got to use a lot of faith in the mission field, and I think also in any good endeavor in life, because lots of times you have to work a long time before you see the results. But it's been incredible, because I've seen a lot of results this week. The branch has grown, and the activities and programs have become more organized while I've been here. We received the new families from Venezuela, and people have been baptized in and going to church. This week as well we taught some really incredible people. I'll try to highlight just a few.
Flor, Bruno, e Yasmin. three brothers and sisters. Part of their family are members of the church. They have had a tough time, because they had to leave their home in Venezuela and come here, but they're really positive and good people. They are reading the book of Mormon and praying to know if the time is right for them to be baptized. They like the church, and they have a lot of members as friends. I hope that the Book of Mormon will help bring them closer to Christ, and that this joy that they feel will motivate them to become baptized and serve people. They live in Colorado, and I love them a lot.
Louise and Isabella. An incredible couple. They are young students, and actually they contacted us. Elder Standage and I were on our way home one night walking past an open-air market and they actually stopped us by following us and yelling that they wanted a Book of Mormon. They're really fun and passionate about their studies and work. They own a little bookstore, and initially they just wanted the Book of Mormon for their bookstore. But as we made friends with them, they later became interested in the gospel. It was incredible because they came to an activity of the church, and the people really took them in. Isabella we gave the book Principles of the Gospel for her to take home, because we didn't have a Book of Mormon to give her yet. The next day when we went to teach the family she bore her testimony about how the plan of salvation and principles of the Gospel helped expand her understanding, and it was really cool. It's amazing to see how the elect ask questions, and want to know more about having a Father in Heaven. This desire leads them to seek. We presented the restoration and they loved it, and now they're reading the Book of Mormon and we hope they will come to church this week. They're really fun to talk to, because they love academia and cool things like that.
Tais and Yslan. Brother and sister, we met them when we passed the house playing really good electronic music, and I wanted an excuse to make a contact. We made friends really fast, and we really like teaching them. They liked going to church this Sunday, and they're enjoying learning about the restoration.
One of the cool things about Brazil is that you can become best friends with somebody in only one day. and this week I really felt the love of the people that we are teaching, and I felt the love of the Savior as we try to bring these people closer to him. I know that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that the doctrine of the church, when learned by the power of the Holy Spirit, will bring people closer to Jesus Christ and help him have a true relationship with him. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission. If Heavenly Father asked me, I would go for 14 years as well, just like the sons of Mosiah.
Love you all! Fica com Deus!
-Elder Wells