the iron rod and burning the book of mormon
Dear blog readers,
Good morning! You know what my favorite thing to do as a missionary is? I love to sit down in a recent converts house, and say the words ``so. you were baptized on such and such a day....but how did you get there?`` And then i just sit in silence and have them tell me their story. Its the best thing in the world i tell you. Since yesterday was a national holiday here in brasil, (Tira dentes=take out your teeth day) I thought i would follow the tradition of valentines day and introduce you to two recent converts in this ward of whom i just love.
the iron rod (marcelo-the man with the white shirt that looks filthy rich)
marcelo met his wife Jeane a solid 16 years ago. They were married, had a child and all the while Jeane begged and pleaded marcelo to join the church. Or at least to GO to church with her. He had no interest. In fact, he was much more busy smoking and drinking and living the life in the fast lane. For about 13 years that is. Marcelo in his own words had no need to change-he enjoyed life, he was married, had a child-why change anything?
That is until 3 years ago, when Marcelo and Jeane were traveling to another city here in Minas. Marcelo was driving behind a big truck with rods of iron sticking out the back. After a while of driving, one of the rods shot off the back of the truck, through the car window and hit the side of marcelo´s head-ripping most of the side of his face off. Jeane told me in that moment of high addrenaline and all things horrible she remembers praying fervently that the Lord would save her husband. And then she saw Marcelo breathe in, and out and nothing.
After a few moments of nothing Jeane felt the most calming spirit, that everything would be okay and that Marcelo would indeed, live. And after a ride to the hospital, the doctors told Jeane marcelo´s chances of living were less than likely, and that she needed to prepare herself for the worst. But she knew the Lord would provide and so for the next few months, Marcelo was in a coma and the doctors worked to save his life. The first words he said after waking up to Jeane were ``God has something more for my life. I need to find it.``
Great Marcelo. SO GET BAPTIZED. Instead, he continued looking for God in every other way. Until the Elders made a súrprise visit at his home a year ago and talked to him. Marcelo reassured him that he liked the church-he was friends with the Bishop. and that it was totally cool his wife was going there. But his path was a different one and they needed to stop trying to convince him to go to church. To which the Elders responded- ``Marcelo, if you arent on God´s path, who´s path are you on?``
Marcelo was baptized a few weeks later and is now the ward secretary.
burning the book of mormon (Claudia-the woman in the purple dress)
Ten years ago Claudia recieved a visit from two scrawny american elders. In which they presented the book of mormon, gave her the invite to read and ask of God and invited her to attend church. She thanked them for their time, but assured them she had no interest in the church and NO interest in the book of mormon. And thats when the Elders bore testimony and she felt obliged to accept their gift. Except Claudia believed in the Bible, nothing more. In fact, she and her husband were Pastors for another church. And after just a few days with the book of mormon in her home, she felt that she needed to get rid of it-and so she burned the book of mormon.
Fast forward 9 years. Claudia and her husband wanderson were going through a bit of trouble money wise and Claudia was looking for work cleaning homes-when she happened upon a nice woman who offered good pay to clean their home just once a week. Claudia accepted and started work immediately. Within the first hour of work claudia noticed that horrible blue book sitting on the coffee table and asked the woman if she was a mormon. The woman responded yes, and then claudia asked if the woman´s husband was a member too. To claudia´s horror, not only was the woman´s husband a member-he was the bishop.
After that day Claudia went home and told Wanderson of the horrors that had occured and how she needed to get out of there. . . .. but it was good pay, and so she continued...until bishop´s wife convinced Claudia to let the Elders come visit their home. And before Claudia knew it, Wanderson was switching his pastor badge for a baptism tunic and was a full-blown-crazy-mormon. And that one book she had burned 10 years ago? They now had 5. One for every member of the family.
And so that is when Claudia decided to read the book of mormon. And no. She didnt see God, and she didnt feel some incredible power. She felt nothing. Until the Elders came back to see them again. Within minutes of the opening prayer the Elders had asked how Claudia felt about the book of mormon.
Last night as i was sitting in their kitchen and she was recounting the story of her conversion, she paused again and looked at me with tears in her eyes- ``And they asked me that question-if i knew it was true. And i stopped and it was just silent. And I started with, Oh elder...I know that book is the word of God. And when i said that it was like beams of light just went all throughout my body and i wasnt me anymore and a happy light just fell all over me and the Elders disappeared for a moment as i pondered what i had said. And I knew. I knew in that moment, and i had to get baptized.``
How great is this church? How great is it that we HAVE that light. we have this happiness! Share it with someone.
love, sister mad
Pictures!
long days are always followed by foot soaks.
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