Week 45: The miracles that come when you least expect them

Hey everybody!

This weeks been a great week here in Julio de Mesquita! Its been a long transfer with little success, but this week were finally reaping the fruits of our labors!!! Weve got some great progress, AND we will have 2 baptisms this weekend! Top investigators:

Gabriela and Oliver (new!)- A 15 year old girl and her 9 year old brother. Their whole family are members (strangely, their mom is cousins to Allini, wife of Joelson, who I baptized!) Theyve always gone to church, but their dad (non member) never let them be baptized. But their Dad isnt a part of their lives anymore, so they are ready as can be to be baptized! They went to church this week, are ready to live all of the commandments, and theyll be interviewed this Tuesday to be baptized on Saturday. Miracles!!

Anderson- Hes stopped smoking, which is super good. We talked to him on Saturday, and he accepted to be interviewed next saturday for baptism. We dont know if he will pass the interview or not, but we have hope that he can be baptized soon, for he really wants to be baptized.

Valquiria- Shes been praying, but she still hasnt recognized that shes received an answer from God (she knows simply that the Book of Mormon is true, but hasnt connected that to a confirmation.) But she said that, when she knows that this is true, that she will be baptized! Its nuts, so many people are ready to be baptized now!!! Miracles!

Other notes:

Elder Marques, an elder that lives with us, hurt his leg this week. It appears to be a ligament problem, but he will go to the doctor. But its been a relaxing week for him and Elder Ladwig.

The World Cup continues to rule the world right now. So. Much. Soccer. On the bright side, the United States is actually doing pretty well! We won against Ghana, and we tied against Portugal, who had the "best player in the world", Cristiano Ronaldo, sending them home! We just have to do decent against Germany, and well classify!!

Last week was our last meeting with President Martins. He cried, we all felt good about life, and he is going home this Friday, switching with our new mission president, Presidente Farnes, from Bountiful Utah. So we are all super excited to see what happens.

Alright, everybody, thats it for me! I know that this church is true, that it is led by a living prophet, and that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and Savior! I hope that you all remember that! Love you all!

Elder Youd

PS- Yesterday was my sister Brettes birthday! I was talking to Gabriela and Oliver yesterday, and I said that I had a birthday a few weeks ago, and Oliver said, "Para-bens atrasado!" or "Delayed congrats!" I say the same to my sister! Para-bens atrasado!

Attachments area

Baptism - Emiliana is the Mom, and Bianca is the daughter.

Week 44: Welcome to the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Hey everybody!

Thats right...the time has arrived for the 2014 World Cup! Weve been hearing about basically nothing else for the past month, and now that its here, the whole country is going insane. Unfortunately for us, this has put a temporary stop in the work, seeing as its a whole lot more difficult to convince people to let us talk about God when the Netherlands are destroying Spain (we hear about every single games results), so were working a bit slower and harder. But fortunately, its quite a unique experience to be in the country of the world cup during the world cup. Everybodys focus is on soccer, so its super duper fun. But, firstly, about the work!

Top investigators:

Emiliana, Bianca (new, and you wont ever hear about them again!)- So, being in an area with 2 groups, we occassionally do divisions, just to help each other out (more the last 2 transfers than this transfer.) But, on some of these divisions, I went to the other half of Julio de Mesquita. There had a mother and daughter, Emiliana and Bianca. I taught them duringe these divisions. They were completely elect, and needed this gospel to help them cope with some personal problems. But, luckily last weekend they finally were baptized!! I was honored to be able to watch the service, and I even snuck into the baptismal picture. So I do believe that I have 2 more baptisms!!!

Anderson- Hes doing good. Didnt go to church this week, but he is ready to be interviewed and baptized! We just need to find him at home. Keep praying for Anderson!

Valquiria- We finally got ahold of Valquiria. The problem is that she has started to work at a mall, from 11 AM-11 PM. But she still is interested, and we just need to help her get to church on sunday (these work hours are making her incredibly exhausted.)

Other notes:

Yeah, its basically just this. The World Cup is our lives right now. We hear nothing else except for details about the World Cup. We breathe soccer right now. But all is well! 

Also, thank you all for your birthday wishes! I feel like a man, seeing that Ive survived my first week of my 3rd decade of life. Im getting older, wiser, and stronger (Ive started taking exercises more seriously, I want a toned bod.) But Thats my life! On to individual emails/photos! Love you all!

Until next week,

Elder Youd

We have to cross this pipe to get from our house to the neighborhood Torino, where we have some lunches, and some investigators.

Week 43: My freaking birthday!!!

Oi everybody!!

Thats right...TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! 20 years ago, I emerged into this world, a bunch of strangers seeing me completely naked, and a man in white tore a freaking cord from my stomach. And so it was, that I started my life. 20 years later, I do believe that Im doing alright. I somehow ended up in Brazil, but at least I can speak enough Portuguese to party now. For those of you that are wondering, I do plan on partying today, in the missionary way. AKA I will likely eat a bunch of food, and relax for the day. We have plans to visit a less active member that loves us, so at least well eat some more food with him. But tomorrow, its back to work, in the normal way. But for today, at least, I am happy.

But this week has been good. Weve got some good progress with some of our investigators, namely:

Taina (new!)- We started teaching Taina, an 18 year old girl, last week. She was incredibly receptive, and accepted to be baptized! Shes already visited the church in the past, so were planning on baptizing her on June 21. Pray for Taina!

Anderson- We managed to talk to Anderson this week. In the time that hes spent between changing missionaries, hes managed to break the last habit that was preventing him from being baptized, smoking. So now, weve just gotta get him interviewed and baptized! Yay!!! Continue to pray for Anderson!

Valquiria (now that I know how to spell her name)- Shes been hiding from us this week. Unfortunately, shes started to work crazy hours that dont let her be in her house between 10AM-midnight. So weve just gotta be patient and try and find that golden opportunity to talk to her again.

Other notes:

This week is the world cup! During the Brazilian games, were not going to be allowed to leave the house for the entire day (only for lunch,) so this month were gonna have a few days of relaxation, which will be nice. But everybody here is going nuts for the World Cup. Its gonna be an interesting thing. And for those of you that are cheering for the United States (as you all should be doing, support your country!), we may actually have a chance! Some of the best players in our group from Germany and Portugal got hurt, and if they play, they wont be playing at full force. So...USA! USA! USA!!

Basically, its just this. Thank you all for your support, and I hope that you all have a great week! Thanks for the birthday wishes, keep them coming! I miss you all!

Elder Youd

During a division, Elder Ladwig and I found a couch on the side of the road. So I posed there.

Weve been helping a less active member, Bruno, come back to church. So we all took a picture with these hamburgers that his mom bought for us.