July 8, 2009

Well, guess I’m officially old now, that’s a big fat 20 in the age old numbering system. Hope Mammoth was a good time, I’ll always have good memories of Mammoth, camping, hiking and catching a fish on a single cast into the big lake on the way down from, well not quite lake Ediza where we stayed the last time, hanging out with cousins, sleeping in the loft, willow whistles out back, the dog that played soccer... and the list goes on. Thanks for the memories :)

The birthday was pretty sweet, with the addition of a not so smelly camelback on my back a new cd to listen to and the little blow out things that interestingly enough are called Linguas das songras (Mother in law tongues) here in Brazil, which we didn’t use so much as a way to celebrate my birthday as we did to celebrate when some accepted or completed a challenge to read the book of Mormon, go to church, or be baptized. Thanks to all who contributed to the Happy B-day :).
Also among the specialness of the day was a family (mother daughter and Grandfather) that we found that night who accepted the invite to go to church and to be baptized on the 18th of July on the conditions that God touches their hearts and they feel the church is true. Which if they do their part He will do so, that was pretty exciting. That’s something I would really like to do, is to see the progress of a whole family move towards and take the step of faith required to be baptized. Its interesting to be here in an area such as this where the church is new, and there is so much opportunity for growth, but the sad thing is, alot of this depends on the members as a whole, working together to bring their friends in, to welcome in the investigators and recent converts, to have the desire to magnify their callings. I want so bad to see this branch become a ward here, but I guess I need to just be patient, do my part, and trust in the Lord that if I do my part, rely on Him, and wait patiently, that it will occur in His time and wisdom, for His thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and His ways higher than mine. As for current investigators, they're running a little low, but I have great hope for this family we met yesterday. Outside of them we are working with the family of this a girl who was baptized last week, whose parents need to have to take the step of faith that in getting married, God will bless them. We also met another special family Glacie, her sister and brother in law (D'ajuda and Alexander) and their four kids, all of which accepted the challenge to read the BOM, go to church and prepare to baptized on the 18th of this month (outside of the littlest Alanna). We are also teaching one of the kids who went sk8ing with us and his brother and sister, we have yet to teach their mom and dad, but they also seem to have a lack of interest, so we’ll see what happens there.

Well guess that’s about it for this week, I love you all and know that Christ lives and loves each and every one of us, that this is His church and that The book of Mormon contains the word of God as does the bible and the other standard works of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amém.

Love,

Elder Pettit