Miracles upon miracles!

From: adj1991@myldsmail.net


So the past two weeks...

So about Ricardo and Simony...they STILL haven’t gotten married yet! Ricardo has no documents whatsoever, so now he has to go to somewhere at 5 in the morning to sit in line until he is able to do the documents he is needing, Ricardo needs his identity! It’s ridiculous! Everyone in the ward is nagging about when the wedding will be, but we have no idea what to tell them. Other than that, other things that have happened, was we saw the guy with the joint again. He was actually outside at night close to our house dancing with another man that was wearing overalls but the pants part was cut into short shorts, it was hilarious and I waved at him!! Last Tuesday Simony´s son Sergio was baptized. Unfortunately, it wasn’t planned very well, the bishop didn’t go. We were able to baptize the boy and we put Elder Simpson in a white jump suit and said go at it lol!!

Oh and also a miracle happened!

The miracle....
Glaydson was baptized! The miracle part was that we showed up at their house before church to wake up the family for church. When we got there the mom said that he shouldn’t be baptized because she thinks that he doesn’t know enough or is not ready, and that the father of her children didn’t know as well. (they are divorced by the way and he doesn’t help at all) But anyways, while we were talking with her she started to get really quiet and stopped to ask of us if we were able to give her any money because she has no money whatsoever and she had no food in the house. We gave her some money, but we said that she could only earn the money if she went to church with her child because Glaydson needed someone to sit next to him during church. (They don’t have bishop store houses here, and if they did they wouldn’t use it, as they think they can’t even use fast offerings to help people.) The Mom accepted and went to church. While she was there during sacrament, the real miracle happened. EVERY single talk and hymn was about baptismal preparations and that we all must follow the path. It was crazy because I don’t think it was planned that way. Anyway, the Spirit definitely softened her heart because after the meeting she said that her son should be baptized and that she is happy that he chose this religion to follow. Later that day we went to their house again so that we can have a baptism and the mom said that she will continue going to church with Glaydson because she liked it so much! It was a good Sunday!

We also had a Mission conference but with just two zones. It was actually 30 companionships. (60 missionaries) We found out the mission boundaries when it splits, All I know still is what cities each mission will have. Like the missionary boundaries, I want to stay in the Joao Pessoa mission if I can.

I also got some more letters and packages. I got more hot sauce, which is delicious! A letter from Howard, I also got Emily’s letter at the bishop’s house (that was nice to read :)

My money situation is good at the moment. Everything came from the mission home except for Emily’s letter, I have not gotten the packages yet from the bishop’s house, and I already wrote Sean back. 

Starting Tuesday morning, before we went to district meeting, we went to a fallen away member that gives us money for lunch every 3rd Tuesday of the month. When we got there he got home as well, they gave us the money, but when they did, a random man just stops on his motorcycle and says he is a return missionary and that he had a reference for us. It was pretty cool because we haven’t had a reference for quite some time now and the reference is in an area that is soooo difficult to work in. so it should be good finding this week. The reference is in the rich side of town!

The ward is going to pay Severinas bills, 3 in total. I think it’s about 150 or a little more reais, which seems like nothing, but she literally has nothing! And she only gets like unemployment checks from the government. But it’s only like 50 bucks every two weeks. Or less. This is for 3 people. But she had 3 energy bills she hasn’t been able to pay and she has been getting money together to pay for their rent, it’s kind of bad! She is a single mother who lives in a one room house. One bed and one fan - 3 people! They have clothes and what not. They just don’t have enough food all the time. Yes, she is very poor, but I have seen worse! The last time we met with her, we made some progress. We kept talking about authority and power from God, but near the end Elder Simpson bore his testimony about priesthood and she started to cry! While she was crying she finally said why she has been saying no to some of our invites or feeling like her baptism in another church should be valid. She started saying all the problems she had in the past, like with the church, her ex-husband and family and with no money. She said the only good thing from her past was her baptism. The only joy she has had in a long time but, at the same time she feels like if she gets baptized in the church of Jesus Christ she will forget that joy she had when she was first baptized in the other church. She is also scared of being deceived by another church, she goes on and on about how she was deceived by the other church, but she doesn’t want to forget her baptism but after a little while, she finally started asking more about the church, and that she feels really good in the church and that she is very happy that her children have something to follow such as The Church of Jesus Christ. Maybe we will see more progression this week. She likes to read the Book of Mormon and is praying, and maybe soon....a new member!

A young man named Lucas was ordained an Elder last night as well. but he doesn’t arrive in the mtc until Thursday, it kind of sucks for him but the Stake President is traveling this week so he was ordained 4 days early!
I received Mom’s letter the one from when Sean went to WWU for History Day. On Friday night we went to dinner with the second counselor in the ward. He brought us to a place called Rodizios, which is a pizza place that’s endless pizza - it’s like a buffet but they come to you, you just sit and wait until they come with pizza!!! it’s kind of nice. I think I had about 17 slices of pizza!!! I ate way too much!!!! I felt fat afterwards! But then again Elder Simpson ate at least 24 slices.   

Also, the documents that Ricardo needed are all done now!!!! We are going to the place to set the marriage and get the marriage license on Wednesday.

But I have been good. A little more tired lately but good in all. Still in one piece with no dysfunctions!! Nope, I don’t need shoes or socks, or deodorant!! But I do miss American deodorant. I don’t need it though, like you think all the mother’s on missionary mom’s talk about! Not sure what or anything that we are doing for Easter.

Next Wednesday is transfer week, so just a reminder that all mail should go to the Mission home from now on unless I do stay through another transfer but please write to me at:


Elder Adam Jensen
Joao Pessoa Missao
Rua Deputardo Jose Mariz #515
Tambauzinho
Joao Pessoa, P.B 58042-020
BRAZIL

I normally get my mail from the Mission home once a month, around the 5th. So it could actually now take up to two months for a letter to reach me, please be patient for a reply…but I will write back!

Thanks for everyone’s support, prayers and love!

 love

elder adam Jensen

p.s. I do need the Pehrsons address from the ward phone book and the pizza dough recipe that doesn’t use wheat flour?  Jif creamy PB would also taste good!