Olá amigos e famílias,

So I´ve been thinking a lot about family this week. Don´t worry, I don´t miss you... well I do... but I´m not homesick. I´ve just had a great week with experiences that reminded me how grateful I am for my family and the importance of families in this life.


 

This Saturday (dois de Novembro) was "Dia Dos Mortos". It´s a brazilian holiday, comparable to the mexican traditional holiday "Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos? I don´t remember spanish so don´t judge), where everyone gathers at the cemeteries to visit loved ones. Lots of singing, lots of praying, lots of incense, lots of tears. And lots of fun! We had a mission-wide activity from 7am until noon visiting big cemeteries throughout Rio and sharing five minute messages on the plan of Salvation with anyone who would listen. We joined a group of 100 missionaries at a HUGE cemetery in Caju. It stretched out for miles and even had maps and signs to help people get around. This may sound weird, (well, it doesn´t if you know me well enough) but being in the cemetery made me feel like I was at home. It was amazing to be with people at their family member's grave testifying of God´s wonderful plan of happiness for us and sharing that we will be with those we love after this life.

 

Many of you are probably wondering how the Português is coming. I can happily say that I'm encouraged. Last Monday, we found a new family on the street. We met with them a couple days later, and they are just awesome! The family consists of a young couple, Rodrigo e Areta, in their mid 20´s, and their son, named Caiu, just over a year old. Before this week, I never believed in the "you are sent to meet specific people on your mission" thing, but I think I´ve changed my mind. When I sat in the living room of that beautiful family, I had the strongest feeling that they were ready of the blessings of the Gospel. We had a great lesson on the Restoration, and for the first time on my entire mission, even including my time in Colorado, I felt that I had expressed everything I wanted them to know. The Spirit was so strong and they are now committed to learn for themselves about the truth and to be baptized! They are leaving town for work until December... but that's alright. I´ve made it a goal to have fluency by the next time we meet with them. Time moves so fast out here, they will be back before I know it.

 

Well that´s it for now. Bom dia!

 

Com Deus,

 

Élder Hamilton

Missionário de A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias

Ala Barreto, São Gonçalo - Missão Brasil Rio De Janeiro