1-24-11 Another baptism coming

 

WE WERE ABLE TO TEACH A GIRL OF 10 YEARS, ALANNA, THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND SHE ASKED ME TO BAPTIZE HER ON SATURDAY. SHE HAS FAMILY IN THE CHURCH AND HAS BEEN GOING ALMOST EVERY WEEK FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT DECIDED RECENTLY TO BE BAPTIZED (HER LESS ACTIVE MOM DIDN'T WANT HER TO GET BAPTIZED UNTIL SHE SHOWED INTEREST AND HAD THE DESIRE ON HER OWN). SHE'S A REALLY COOL GIRL, AND WHEN WE REVIEWED ALL THE LESSONS BEFORE BAPTISM SHE BASICALLY TOLD US ALL THE STUFF WE TEACH, IN A LOT MORE DETAIL THAN WE NORMALLY TEACH IT. HER NONMEMBER DAD WENT TO CHURCH THE NEXT DAY TO SEE HER CONFIRMATION, AND SO WE ARE HOPING TO TEACH HIM TOO THIS WEEK.
THE COMPANIONSHIP IS GOING WELL. WE GET ALONG FINE AND WE'VE DEFINITELY RECOGNIZED THAT THE SPIRIT IS HELPING US OUT. LAST NIGHT I HAD A COOL EXPERIENCE--I REMEMBERED A STORY THAT HAPPENED TO NEPHI AND IT APPLIED PERFECTLY TO THE PERSON WE WERE TEACHING. I HAD NO IDEA WHERE THE STORY WAS AND THOUGHT, I'LL JUST OPEN UP THE SCRIPTURES AND SEE IF I FIND IT. LITERALLY THE FIRST PAGE I OPENED TO, AND THE FIRST VERSE THAT I STARTED READING, WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN A LOT HERE. 

YES, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU, I GOT  THEM [the CD's we mailed him]! THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET SOME NEW SPEAKERS THOUGH... I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LISTEN MUCH. THE COMPUTER SPEAKERS I BROUGHT BROKE THE FIRST DAY I GOT TO BRAZIL WHEN ELDER STRICKLAND TOLD ME THAT I DON'T NEED TO USE THE TRANSFORMER. WHEN THEY BROKE, HE SAID, "WELL AT LEAST MY

SPEAKERS DON'T REQUIRE THE TRANSFORMER". HAHA SO I WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.

[After reading a glowing report from a friend serving his mission in Honduras, Jon commented] THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR. WHILE I DON'T THINK MY JOY IS THAT FULL (HOPEFULLY I CAN ALWAYS GET HAPPIER AS THE MISSION GOES ALONG), I KNOW WHAT HE'S SAYING. IT'S AWESOME TO WAKE UP AND KNOW THAT MY WORRIES AND ALL THE STRESS IN MY LIFE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO DO WITH MY LIFE. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN PONTE DOS CARVALHOS.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK, LOVE YOU ALL.

ELDER HOOKE