Miracles in the Minutes

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E aí para todos aí!  So, I am back with another update of what has been going on here recently in the mission. It has been a few weeks, because of some busy things with p days and small transfers and exchanges, but all has been going well here.  

3 missionaries from 3 different areas.  1 day together!


I basically wanted to talk about the interesting increase in my love for these people that I have felt recently in the last couple of weeks.  As I have been working hard and praying earnestly for these people, I have felt my love grow in so many ways.  This can be a great thing, as their small steps to coming unto Christ are such a joy booster in my life, but also it means that when they aren't making those steps I do get sad.  Not because I am missing a number in my life, but because I know that they could be so much more happier with that knowledge in their lives.  

There are so many small miracles and details from this last week that I would love to share, but I want to just share a few, so as not to take up too much of your time, but I have many more if you would like to hear about how the hand of God really has been blessing us here.  I just feel like I am on a spiritual high these last couple weeks!  

First off, we had some great people self refer themselves out of nowhere!  That means that they wrote on the website vindeacristo.org (look at that product placement there...) and they write and ask for the missionaries to visit them.  I mean, it can't get better than that.  Normally these referrals come with a large variety, but recently we changed the way we receive them in the mission, and recently we have received a lot of people who are a lot more open for the gospel.  One of them is called Anna, who was so open to hearing about the Book of Mormon, and already committed to reading 10 chapters before our next lesson. The next is Ana Cristina (I know, we have 3 annas we are teaching).  Her number actually didn't work, but luckily she wrote down her complete address...but it was in the middle of a favela.  Normally the addresses in favelas are sketchy at best, but luckily we found the house, and she was home!!  She said that she was looking for truth, and the path that makes sense to her.  So, we taught her about the logic of the Book of Mormon, and told her about the power of Jesus Christ aleiveiating our hurt and pain.  She loved it, and wants to come to church with us tomorrow. She was also very impressed and touched with the fact that we climbed up a looot of stairs to find her house.  Miracles of media!! 

View from one of the favelas overlooking Copacabana



Next, we had a lesson with Natasha and Artur yesterday, and we marked baptismal dates with them!  They were quite excited with the idea and have been asking a lot of questions about what it really means to make covenants and the blessings that we can receive.  They told us that they have already been thinking and talking about baptism ever since we first talked with them, so now we want to help them make that goal.  We marked for the 30th of October.  
That same day we had a lesson with Rita and Carlindo, who are both refferrals from members.  Rita has read a lot of the Book of Mormon already, and we decided to invite them both to be baptized, even though we know they aren't married, and because of their family situation, they need to be married before they can be baptized.  They accepted the challenge to go through the process of being married and then continuing to be baptized in the church.  I was very happy with it, because now we have a very clear direction with them, to help all of them be baptized here in the future.  


As well, I have been on a spiritual high because of General Conference!  We were able to watch the first session with Natasha and Artur, and the rest we watched in the mission home.  I always love General Conference.  The talks that we most marking to me were Elder Steven Lund, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renlund.  And then of course I felt the spirit very strongly from the words of the prophet of God.  It confirms to me every time I hear him speak that he is the prophet of God, and he is here for a sacred purpose!  If you have not yet listened to all the conference talks, start now!  Just read one a day, it's only 10-15 minutes.  I can promise it will bless your life.  


#zonaandaraíinthemissionhouse

I was also blessed with the opportunity yesterday to complete the Book of Mormon again.  Wow, what power and blessings I have received as I have turned to it's pages. I have found strength, comfort, peace and understanding.  And I know you all can as well.  I am here to declare that it IS TRUE!!  The Book of Mormon IS the Word of God, and by following it's principles, I have gotten so much closer to Jesus Christ.  All of the promisses held in the Book are true.  I wanted to share the last few verses of the Book of Mormon, as they sum up quite well the central message.  

32 Yea, acome unto Christ, and be bperfected in him, and cdeny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and dlove God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye asanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the bblood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your csins, that ye become dholy, without spot.



I would also like to share a video that was super touching to me as I was studying about conversion and the Book of Mormon.  The story of Calyann is extremely touching and just real, and so I would invite you all to watch this video and feel the same spirit I have felt as I have shared it with the people we teach here! 


https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/jesus-is-real-calyanns-experience-with-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng

I share my experiences and testimony with much love for you all.  Thank you for the support and prayers for me, and the members, and the people we are teaching.  I pray for you all! 

I did want to ask 2 questions of you!  

-How have you seen your life changed by the Book of Mormon?

-What did you find most interesting-touching about General Conference? 



-Elder Moss
RJ, Brasil






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