This week was indeed a defining moment in my mission. It started out normal, and in all honesty, going through the motions. Except for one thing. Bruno. We were knocking doors Friday afternoon, and were having no success whatsoever. When we came to this door and a guy answered. His name was Bruno and he accepted our invitation to go to church, and we prayed with him and continued on our way. We didn’t expect him to go, because everyone who says they´ll go visit our church but we don´t need to pick them up, never goes. But come Sunday, who was there? Bruno. That same day we taught him the Restoration and afterwards he went with the men to a priesthood conference meeting at the stake center. That week we followed up with him every day, and he said he really enjoyed church and the conference, and was making friends and texting other members and everything. We had originally marked his baptism for the following Sunday, but we felt he was ready, as he accepted literally everything and more, and moved his date for Thursday. And it was a beautiful baptism. There was a ton of members there to support him, which was a miracle, because we thought nothing would work out. But it did. 

Friday we had a muti zone conference with the president of the area aka a general authority, and he totally burned us but it was great. I learned a lot and I left there wanting to be a better missionary. I wanted to change the vision I had of the work. When I got home I pondered and meditated and studied about what he said, and began to change my perspective. Then Saturday we had lunch with this couple in the ward. This brother was inspired from God, and it was just what I needed. He talked about the work, asked if we were doing certain thins or not (he was a bishop in another ward) and he didn’t burn us on purpose, but I felt burned. And he helped a ton. He reminded me what it is all about. I remembered what I was missing. It was the Spirit. I had grown accustomed to the Spirit and unconsciously began to rely on my own knowledge and abilities to guide the work. He gave us some tips and we applied them, and it worked. 

Then Sunday, Bruno was confirmed, and as it was fast and testimony meeting, he went up to bear his testimony, and my comp and I almost had heart attacks. He went up there and I felt like I was in one of those beautiful mission stories that I’ve always heard about but never experienced. He talked briefly about how before, he wasn’t leaving the house at all, he was kinda sad, annoyed with life, basically falling into depression. He decided prayed to God for help, and a little later we knocked on his door. And everything changed. He said he felt himself become happier as he came to know Jesus Christ. And we cried. Just a little. And then the same brother that helped me rethink my life bore his testimony and I cried more. Then later I was so full of gratitude and awe and belief in miracles that when I tried to thank the brother I kinda broke down and so I just said thanks and ran out of the chapel. 

But I really am grateful for this week. I now have a testimony that miracles are real, and that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, oftentimes through other people. I had in fact been praying for help to change my vision or perspective, and it happened. The sad news is that this all happened the last few days of the transfer, but the good news is that nothing changed and sis Benitez and I will stay here in Eden together for 6 more weeks!! Also like I prayed for!! 

But all in all, I know that this church is true, and I know that it is my duty as a representative of Jesus Christ to teach repentance, and baptize converts. This gospel changes lives, and it is the gospel of \Jesus Christ. NOTHING CAN STOP THIS WORK. No matter what anyone does, it will never stop. God doesn’t permit anyone to disrupt it. Satan and his followers can throw everything they´ve got at the church, but this work will never stop. 

BOA SEMANA! AMO VOCÊS!!!

PS. there´s a ton of Brazilians praying for yáll in Houston.

Sister Evans