11-14-11 Baptisms of Silvio and Carmem [PHOTO], Dahlilla confirmed

11-14-11

THIS WEEK WAS REALLY GOOD. I'M NOT GONNA WRITE A LOT OF DETAILS BUT EVERYTHING WENT AS PLANNED. SILVIO AND CARMEM WERE MARRIED SATURDAY AT THE CHURCH, THEN AFTERWARDS ALL THE GUESTS WENT TO SILVIO'S SISTER'S HOUSE FOR A FANCY DINNER WHICH WAS GREAT (BUT MADE US ARRIVE EM CASA BEM TARDE). SUNDAY MORNING AT 8 THE BAPTISM WAS MARKED AND SILVIO AND CARMEM SHOWED UP WITH SILVIO'S MOM AND DAD, WHO BAPTIZED THEM BOTH. NOBODY FROM THE WARD SHOWED UP AT THE RIGHT TIME SO IT ENDED UP GOING FROM 8:30 TO 9 RIGHT AS CHURCH STARTED, BUT IT WAS A NICE SERVICE. THEY WERE BOTH CONFIRMED AT CHURCH TOGETHER WITH DAHLILLA. SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE. THEY ALWAYS TREAT US EXTREMELY WELL AND IT HAS REALLY BEEN A BLESSING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW THEM, TEACH THEM, AND HELP THEM TO GET MARRIED AND BAPTIZED. 

                                           Wedding of Silvio & Carmem

THE GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS IS REALLY COOL TO SEE-- EVERY WEEK WHO ATTENDS IT IS EDIMILSON AND ZINHA, IRENE (WHO WILL MARRY ISAQUE THIS SATURDAY), SILVIO AND CARMEM, AND JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA, TOGETHR WITH USUALLY ABOUT 3 MORE PEOPLE. JUNIOR IS PROGRESSING WELL AND WE INVITED HIM AGAIN YESTERDAY TO BE BAPTIZED AND HE SAID HE IS PRETTY SURE HE WILL, BUT STILL DOESN'T KNOW WHEN. TUESDAY HE WILL TELL US! HE HAS CHANGED A LOT AS A PERSON, HE IS A MUCH BETTER PERSON AND HE RECOGNIZES THAT FINALLY. YESTERDAY HE HAD A LITTLE EPIPHANY ABOUT THAT AND IT HELPED.  

LETICIA IS OUR POTENTIAL BAPTISM THIS WEEK. SHE IS DOING WELL AND LOVED CHURCH ONCE MORE, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO POSTPONE THE BAPTISM FOR ANOTHER WEEK, WE'LL SEE! 

OH YEAH LAST MONDAY AFTER SENDING EMAIL WE WENT TO CAMARAGIBE WITH THE ELDERS FROM MY DISTRICT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY AND IT WAS GREAT. WE ATE CAKE AT A MEMBER'S HOUSE, CHEILA, AND SHE GAVE ME A HAMMOCK FOR MY BIRTHDAY! TOO BAD THERE'S NO HOOKS ON THE WALLS IN THE SAN MARTIN HOUSE... THEN WE WENT TO MARCELO AND JOELMA'S HOUSE AND WATCHED A VIDEO OF THEIR WEDDING FOTOS  (WHICH HAD A LOT OF FOTOS OF US MISSIONARIES IN IT) AND THEY GAVE ME A SWEET PERSONALIZED SHIRT (I SENT A PICTURE). 

WHY IS THERE A SÃO LOURENÇO DA MATA FLAG YOU MIGHT ASK? BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFFICIALLY LIVE IN CAMARAGIBE, BUT INDEED, IN SÃO LOURENÇO (BUT IT IS PART OF THE WARD CAMARAGIBE).

THAT'S REALLY COOL THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO LIVE SO CLOSE TO YOUR GRANDKID AND VISIT THEM SO OFTEN! AND HAHA I'M SURE BECCA WILL IRRITATE EVERYONE AT CHURCH JUST LIKE THE MAJORITY OF BABIES DO. YESTERDAY I RODE IN A CAR WITH THE BISHOP'S COUNSELOR AND HIS 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING BY ME, BUT HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRANGE FEAR OF MISSIONARIES SINCE BIRTH, SO SHE WAS LITERALLY SCREAMING FOR THE WHOLE DRIVE TO OUR LUNCH! I THINK I LOST A LITTLE BIT OF MY FUTURE HEARING CAPACITY.

LOVE YOU TOO!

ELDER HOOKE 

11-7-11 Juliana's , Dahlilla's baptism [PHOTOS]

11-7-11

HELLO FAMILY THIS WEEK WAS AWESOME!!

YES I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GRANDMA AND GRANDPA T FOR MY BIRTHDAY (THANKS G & G!!!) AND A LETTER FROM YOU (YOU SENT A FAMILY PIC AND AN EMAIL FROM A WEEK THAT I DIDN'T RECEIVE IT, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WROTE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOLY GHOST), AND I GOT THE LITTLE BOX! THANKS!! 

[I told him I hadn't sent his birthday package yet for various reasons...and I have to say I'm still hesitant because the last package I sent to him, he would have had to pay $75 to get out of the post office...but he was too late, so they sent it back to us!!!]

ALRIGHT IT CAN BE A BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS COMBINED PACKAGE, IT'S ALL GOOD. I AM HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT ME (BUT YES YOU'RE RIGHT, I'D BE EVEN HAPPIER RECEIVING THE PACKAGE! HAHA)

THIS WEEK WAS GREAT! WE HAD THE 2 DE NOVEMBRO WARD PARTY WHICH WENT REALLY WELL AND I EVEN GOT TO PLAY BASKETBALL WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THE RULES (IN MY SHIRT AND TIE). IT WAS A FUN ACTIVITY AND LOTS OF INVESTIGATORS AND RECENT CONVERTS WERE THERE.

EDIMILSON AND ZINHA ARE DOING MUCH BETTER. WE ARE STILL GOING TO THEIR HOUSE VERY FREQUENTLY TO KEEP HELPING THEM AND THINGS ARE IMPROVING. THEY WERE AT THE ACTIVITY AND LOVED IT! EDIMILSON DOMINATED IN DODGEBALL HAHA!

WE ARE TEACHING A FEW OF THEIR NEIGHBORS TOO, INCLUDING A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL LETICIA WHO HAS BEEN AT CHURCH WITH THEM THE LAST 2 WEEKS AS WELL.

FRIDAY WAS JULIANA'S BAPTISM, WHICH WENT REALLY, REALLY WELL.

                                           Baptism of Juliana

EVERYONE AT THE MEETING WAS VERY HAPPY AND SUPPORTIVE FOR HER. THE MUTUAL NIGHT FOR YOUNG WOMEN IS CHANGED TO WEDNESDAY NOW SO THAT SHE CAN GO! (IT USED TO BE TUESDAY BUT SHE HAS KARATE EVERY TUESDAY). WE WERE TALKING WITH HER YESTERDAY AND FOUND OUT THAT SHE WILL NOT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, DO A DANCING PROGRAM SHE LOVES THAT WOULD START THIS SUNDAY, BECAUSE THE PRACTICES ARE ON SUNDAYS. SO YEAH I GUESS SHES PRETTY [COMMITTED]! WELL HAVE TO START TEACHING HER FRIENDS NOW!

WOW AND DURING THE WEEK THE BIG QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF DAHLILLA AND JUNIOR. WE KNEW THEY WOULD BE MARRIED, (THEY DID A TON OF WORK FOR WEDDING PREPARATIONS). DAHLILLA DECIDED YES FOR SURE SHE WOULD BE BAPTIZED. JUNIOR TOLD US, I'LL TELL YOU AT THE WEDDING IF I WILL BE BAPTIZED. JUNIOR DECIDED THAT ON THAT DAY, HE WOULD NOT BE BAPTIZED WHICH WAS A BIG LET DOWN FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING DAHLILLA. SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH WAS DAHLILLAS BAPTISM, WHICH WAS DEFINITELY THE MOST SPIRITUAL BAPTISM THAT I'VE BEEN AT IN MY LIFE.

                                                Baptism of Dahlilla
SHE DESCRIBED HOW SHE FELT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE BAPTISM TO US LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS AMAZING. SHE SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING SHE HAD FELT BEFORE AND THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS IN ANOTHER WORLD, AND LITERALLY BECAME A NEW CREATURE (LIKE THE SCRIPTURES SAY). ANYWAYS JUNIOR FELT THE SPIRIT AS WELL AND IS STILL HAVING TROUBLE RECOGNIZING THAT THESE FEELINGS ARE HIS ANSWER.... BUT HE TOLD US THAT HE PLANS ON GETTING BAPTIZED BEFORE THE TRANSFER AT THE END OF NOVEMBER!

SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE DOING WELL, THEY WERE AT CHURCH YESTERDAY AND WILL BE GIVING US LUNCH TODAY! EVERYTHING IS SO SMOOTH AND SIMPLE WITH THEM, THERE HAS BEEN ALMOST NOTHING DIFFICULT IN HELPING THEM TO PREPARE FOR BAPTISM, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS DO EVERYTHING WE INVITE THEM TO DO AND ARE REALLY DETERMINED TO TAKE THIS STEP IN THEIR LIVES (BAPTISM). THEY WILL BE MARRIED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND ON SUNDAY MORNING SILVIO'S DAD WILL BAPTIZE THEM!

ATÉ MAIS!  ELDER HOOKE 

10-31-11 More baptisms upcoming

10-31-11

THANKS FOR THE BDAY WISHES! IT'LL BE GOOD HERE TO HAVE THE BDAY FALL ON SUNDAY.... AND YEAH I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT TODAY WAS HALLOWEEN UNTIL I SAW THIS EMAIL! DAHLILLA AND JUNIOR WILL BE MARRIED SATURDAY AND  DAHLILLA BAPTIZED SUNDAY, POSSIBLY WITH HER HUSBAND. HE FEELS LIKE THE HOUR HASN'T ARRIVED FOR HIM TO GET BAPTIZED AND THAT HE HAS TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AFTER THE BAPTISM, SO KEEP PRAYING THIS WEEK THAT HE CAN OVERCOME THAT AND DECIDE TO GET BAPTIZED WITH HIS WIFE! WE HAD A GOOD LESSON WITH THEM SATURDAY AND HELPED HIM RECOGNIZE THAT THE SPIRIT HAS HAD A BIG EFFECT ON HIS LIFE IN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO, AND THAT HE REALLY MUST FOLLOW IT. SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE GREAT. JULIANA ALSO, SHE WILL BE BAPTIZED THIS FRIDAY ALREADY! SHE HAS ALREADY MADE LOTS OF FRIENDS WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN AND SHE WILL BE A REALLY GOOD MEMBER. EDIMILSON AND ZINHA ARE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES, PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM. 

THEY DON'T HAVE HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS HERE, BUT ON NOVEMBER 2ND IS DIA DOS MORTOS [Day of the Dead], WHICH BASICALLY IS TO HONOR OLD RELATIVES  THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY. IT IS A HOLIDAY THAT NO ONE HAS TO WORK, SO WE WILL BE HAVING A BIG ACTIVITY AT THE CHURCH, SIMILAR TO THE 7TH OF SEPTEMBER ONE.

I RECEIVED ONE THING RECENTLY, WHICH WAS THE MEXICAN CANDY. DELICIOUS! MUIIIIIITO OBRIGADO! 

THAT IS A GOOD IDEA, THE BOOK OF MORMON CLASS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD GO HERE. IT IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH TO GET EVEN THE MEMBERS TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY. AND THE IDEA OF GOING ON DIVISIONS WITH MEMBERS IS A GOOD ONE. WE HAVE GONE OUT WITH SEVERAL BUT IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND AN HOUR WHERE 2 MEN CAN BOTH GO OUT WITH US AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE BEEN TAKING MEMBERS TO TEACH ALL 3 OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE (EDIMILSON AND ZINHA, JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA, AND SILVIO AND CARMEM) BUT COM CERTEZA WE NEED TO DO THAT MORE. LAST NIGHT WE TALKED ABOUT EXACTLY THAT, BECAUSE WE'VE NOTICED THAT THE MEMBERS WITH WHOM WE DO VISITS BECOME MORE EXCITED ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK. 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! 

LOVE 
ELDER HOOKE 

10-24-11 Marriages, baptisms, upcoming

10-24-11

HELLO GOOD MORNING FAMILY! THIS WEEK WAS PRETTY NORMAL, EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL. WE GOT TO GO TO THE CIVIL OFFICE AGAIN IN TEJIPIÓ WITH EDIMILSON AND ZINHA AND WHILE WE WERE THERE WE ALSO TURNED IN THE MARRIAGE PAPERS FOR SILVIO AND CARMEM. WE TAUGHT CARMEM WITH ANOTHER MEMBER LADY ABOUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION, WHICH WENT REALLY WELL. THEY PLAN ON GETTING SEALED IN THE TEMPLE. THEY WERE BOTH AT CHURCH YESTERDAY TOO, AND WE MARKED A DATE FOR THEIR BAPTISM AND WEDDING (WHICH WILL BE VERY SMALL AND SIMPLE) FOR 12TH OF NOVEMBER. 

DAHLILLA AND JUNIOR WERE NOT AT CHURCH BECAUSE THEIR LITTLE SON GOT SICK, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING IS STILL SET FOR THEIR WEDDING ON THE 5TH AND BAPTISM ON MY BIRTHDAY! WE ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT ETERNAL MARRIAGE WITH THEM AND THEY LIKE IT A LOT. ON THE WEDDING INVITE DAHLILLA WROTE A LINE FROM THE SONG "FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER" . I'LL HAVE TO SEND YOU AN INVITE! 

WE ARE TEACHING A YOUNG WOMAN, JULIANA, WHO IS 16, AND THE NEIGHBOR OF A MEMBER FAMILY. SHE IS REALLY SMART AND SHE IS PROGRESSING WELL. SHE WAS AT CHURCH YESTERDAY AND SHE ACCEPTED THE INVITE TO PREPARE TO BE BAPTIZED, AND TONIGHT I THINK WE WILL MARK A DATE.

YESTERDAY WAS GOOD BECAUSE RUAN, ALICE, IRENE, EDIMILSON AND ZINHA WERE THERE OUT OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE BAPTIZED HERE.  ADLÁN WAS ALSO BAPTIZED HERE BUT NOW HE IS GOING TO CHURCH IN CAMARAGIBE, WHERE HE LIVES. STILL THINKING ABOUT MAYBE GOING ON A MISSION. 

ALRIGHT HAVE A GREAT WEEK TCHAU

LOVE

ELDER HOOKE 

10-17-11 Edimilson & Zinha's wedding; Edimilson's baptism [PHOTOS]

THIS WEEK WENT GREAT! TODAY IS TRANSFER DAY AND ME AND ALBUQUERQUE STAYED TOGETHER IN SAN MARTIN, AGAIN! WHEN I LEAVE I WILL HAVE SPENT AT LEAST 7 MONTHS OF MY MISSION IN THIS AREA. I WAS HAPPY THOUGH, BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD WORK GOING HERE NOW (FINALLY) AFTER 3 MONTHS.

THE WEDDING OF EDIMILSON AND ZINHA WENT REALLY WELL. ME AND ELDER A. DID ALMOST EVERYTHING FOR THE PREPARATIONS.  THE RELIEF SOCIETY COMBINED TO GET ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF THE CAKE TO THE BISHOP'S MOM AND SHE MADE A GREAT WEDDING CAKE. THE WEDDING WENT WELL, THERE WERE ALMOST 100 PEOPLE THERE AND THE MAJORITY ARE NOT MEMBERS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE STAYED TO WATCH EDIMILSON'S BAPTISM AFTERWARDS, WHICH MADE IT SO THAT THERE WAS ONLY STANDING ROOM IN THE BAPTISM ROOM. IT WAS GREAT, THEY ARE HAPPY, (AND EDIMILSON WAS VERY NERVOUS HAHA). HE WAS CONFIRMED AND RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST YESTERDAY.

 

 

Wedding of Edimilson & Zinha

                                             Baptism of Edimilson
WE'VE GOT 2 MORE WEDDINGS COMING UP (ACTUALLY 3 IF YOU COUNT IRENE'S, BUT WERE NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT ONE). JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA DIDN'T GO TO CHURCH UNFORTUNATELY, BUT JUNIOR HAS AGREED TO  THE GOAL OF BEING PREPARED TO BE BAPTIZED ON THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER (THE WEDDING DAY) WITH HIS WIFE. 

SILVIO AND CARMEN ARE DOING GREAT! THEY BOTH WANT TO BE MARRIED AND BAPTIZED AND THEY LOVED CHURCH YESTERDAY! CARMEN ONLY WENT TO THE LAST HOUR, WHICH IS SACRAMENT MEETING HERE, BECAUSE OF HER PREGNANCY (SHE'S 6 MONTHS PREGNANT BUT HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES).  SO PRAY FOR HER.

YESTERDAY WAS STRANGE, LOTS OF INVESTIGATORS WERE AT CHURCH, BUT NO RECENT CONVERTS. WE'LL HAVE TO START WORKING WITH THEM MORE. LITERALLY NOT ONE PERSON THAT I'VE BAPTIZED SINCE I GOT HERE WAS AT CHURCH (BESIDES EDIMILSON, TO BE CONFIRMED).

THANKS,

LOVE YOU ALL

ELDER HOOKE

10-10-11 Baptisms & Weddings planned!

10-10-11

THIS WEEK WENT WELL. IT WAS PRETTY NORMAL, A FEW GOOD THINGS HAPPENED. EDIMILSON AND ZINHA ARE DOING GREAT, EVERYTHING IS SET (WELL AT LEAST THE WEDDING IS MARKED, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO ORGANIZE A LOT OF STUFF) FOR THIS SATURDAY WITH THE WEDDING AND EDIMILSON'S BAPTISM. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT, AND THE COUPLE IS VERY HAPPY, THEY HAVE NOTICED A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIFE (FOR THE BETTER) SINCE THEY STARTED GOING TO CHURCH AND KEEPING THE COMMITMENTS WE LEAVE WITH THEM.

 

WE ALSO STARTED TEACHING ANOTHER COUPLE, JUNIOR AND DAHLILA. DAHLILA'S BROTHER IS A MEMBER OF OUR WARD. SHE WENT TO CONFERENCE LAST WEEK, WE STARTED TEACHING HER AND HER "HUSBAND" DURING THE WEEK, THEY BOTH WENT TO CHURCH, AND LAST NIGHT WE MARKED THEIR WEDDING FOR NOVEMBER 5TH! DAHLILA REALLY WANTS TO GET BAPTIZED BUT JUNIOR IS A LITTLE MORE HESITANT. BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL WEEKS TO WORK WITH HIM STILL TO HELP HIM TO BE ABLE TO GET BAPTIZED WITH HIS WIFE. THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE, THEY HAVE A LITTLE BOY WHO IS 2, TARSISIUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I ENDED UP CHASING HIM AROUND THE CULTURAL HALL (WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE CHAPEL BUT BEHIND THE SEATS, SO IT WASN'T TOO DISTRACTING) DURING SACRAMENT MEETING SO THAT THEY COULD PAY ATTENTION. THEY'VE VISITED A LOT OF CHURCHES BUT BOTH OF THEM LIKED CHURCH HERE A LOT MORE THAN ANY OTHER.  I LOVE TEACHING THEM TOO, BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH INTELLIGENT (AND THEY USUALLY MAKE US DINNER HAHA).

YESTERDAY WHEN THE 2ND HOUR IN CHURCH STARTED, THE TEACHER FOR THE GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS DIDN'T SHOW UP, SO I ENDED UP TEACHING THE CLASS. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF THE OLD CHURCH OF CHRIST, BUT I DECIDED IT WOULD BE BETTER TO TEACH ABOUT BAPTISM. SO WE GAVE THE CLASS AND IT WENT PRETTY WELL. IRENE SITS IN THIS CLASS AND SHE PARTICIPATED AND BORE HER TESTIMONY A BUNCH SO THAT HELPED. SPEAKING OF IRENE, SHE'S GONNA GET MARRIED TO ISAQUE, HER MEMBER BOYFRIEND! ON NOVEMBER 19 THEY'RE GONNA GET MARRIED AND IN AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR THEY PLAN ON GETTING SEALED!

ALICE WAS CONFIRMED YESTERDAY TOO.

I MISS BEING ABLE TO CHAT ABOUT WHATEVER WITHOUT THINKING THAT I SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE, I MISS THE FAMILY AND MOST OF ALL (NOT REALLY) I MISS CHINESE FOOD! HAHA 

THANK YOU, LOVE YOU TOO

ELDER HOOKE

10-3-11 Alice's baptism, Marcelo & Joelma's wedding [PHOTOS]

THIS WEEK WAS REALLY GOOD FOR US (AT LEAST THE 2ND HALF OF THE WEEK). WE HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE ARE WORKING, MANY OF WHICH WENT TO GENERAL CONFERENCE FOR AT LEAST ONE SESSION. WE ARE WORKING A LOT WITH EDMILSON AND ZINHA, WHOSE WEDDING AND BAPTISM (OF EDMILSON) IS NOW MARKED FOR THE 15TH OF OCTOBER. I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF ANOTHER WEDDING! THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL, AND YESTERDAY AFTER CONFERENCE THEY WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE BISHOP'S OFFICE AND TALK TO HIM FOR A WHILE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE A STRONG FAMILY IN THE WARD, AND IN THE FUTURE BE ABLE TO BE SEALED IN THE TEMPLE! 

                            Edmilson and Zinha

WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO HAVE THE BAPTISM OF ALICE BETWEEN THE SESSIONS ON SATURDAY. IT WAS A GREAT MEETING AND SHE HAD LOTS OF FAMILY--MEMBER AND NON MEMBER--THERE TO SUPPORT HER. HER DAD CAME FROM ANOTHER STATE TO BE AT HER BAPTISM! SHE WAS VERY HAPPY AND THE BROWNIES WERE GOOD AFTERWARD TOO... HAHA

                                                       Alice with her Mom and Dad

                                                 Elder Albuquerque, Alice, Jon

I WAS ABLE TO WATCH ALL THE SESSIONS EXCEPT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON, BECAUSE WE WERE TRAVELING TO CAMARAGIBE. I DID THE BAPTISM INTERVIEW FOR A LADY IN THE CARMELO WARD (OTHER SIDE OF CAMARAGIBE), WHO WAS VERY WELL PREPARED AND IS MAKING BIG CHANGES IN HER LIFE TO BE ABLE TO BE A MEMBER. HER FAMILY IS VERY AGAINST HER JOINING THE CHURCH BUT SHE IS A REALLY STRONG PERSON AND DECIDED TO DO IT BECAUSE SHE FELT LIKE IT WAS WHAT GOD WANTED. SHE WAS BAPTIZED SUNDAY BETWEEN THE SESSIONS.THEN AFTER HER INTERVIEW ME AND ELDER ALBUQUERQUE WENT TO THE LOTEAMENTO (THE PART OF CAMARAGIBE WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE I TAUGHT LIVE) AND ATTENDED THE WEDDING OF MARCELO AND JOELMA. I THINK I ALREADY TOLD YOU ABOUT THEM, IT IS A COUPLE THAT WAS A REFERENCE OF ELIETE THAT I STARTED TEACHING, AND ON THE LAST DAY I WAS IN CAMARAGIBE THEY WENT TO CHURCH AND MARCELO (BUT NOT JOELMA IN THAT EPOC) ACCEPTED BAPTISM. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THE MISSIONARIES THERE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, I WAS ABLE TO VISIT THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I WAS IN CAMARAGIBE, AND NOW THEY WERE ABLE TO GET MARRIED AND BAPTIZED! IT WAS A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR BAPTISMAL INTERVIEWS AND SEE HOW MUCH THEY HAVE PROGRESSED. MARCELO SAID THAT EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIVES HAS IMPROVED SINCE THEY MET ME AND JOHNSON AND BRADLEY. HE IS THE MAN THAT USED TO BE A PASTOR IN THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD, REMEMBER? 

   Wedding of Marcelo and Joelma, daughter Larissa, their missionaries (Elders Hooke, Freire, Wellburn, Carvalho...not pictured are Elders Bradley & Johnson)

GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS GOOD, AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO BENEFIT A LOT FROM IT TOO. I FOUND SOME THINGS INTERESTING AND HELPFUL.  

ALRIGHT THANKS FOR ALWAYS SENDING ME GOOD EMAILS! I LOVE YOU TOO

eLdEr HoOkE