We met the coolest young man this week. I might be jumping the
gun to say that we have found a future Branch President. But hey, he really is
that cool.
It all started out when we recieved this reference from the Elders in
another part of the island (Ribeira Grande). What that means is that they ran
into this kid on the street and started talking to him, he was really
interested but he lived in our area, so they called us and gave us his name and
phone number and address. Sometimes it is crazy to think how many times I have
entered into a strangers house with no more information than this. =) But I know
we are protected, and the scared feeling that I used to feel has worn off. Haha
at this point I will just trust in the Spirit to know if a situation is
dangerous. But when it comes to Fabio, that is not even an issue.
The Monday after we got the reference, I felt prompted to call
this kid. It would be so easy to forget. We have sooo many numbers of different
people and different things to remember that a lot of times people slip through
the cracks. But I remembered and called him and he sounded really cool! (ps.
The telephone is the worst! It is hard to understand Portuguese in person, let
alone on a fuzzy phone! I avoid the phone at all costs haha. But luckily this
time I bit the bullet and did it! And it ended up being so worth it) We set up a
meeting with him the next day. We were really excited, even though we didn't
really know what to expect. He could be an old man with a beard or a father
with 3 children, we had no idea. When we showed up to his house the next day he
opened the door before we could even knock! He is a really cool 19 year old
kid, super smart. We all sat down and then the first words that come out of his
mouth are a missionarys dream statement: I want to know more about the Book of
Mormon. Well, whaddayaknow, we LOVE talking about the Book of Mormon! So we
start explaining and he is just eating it up. He says that it makes so much
SENSE that Jesus would appear to his other sheep in the Americas. He could not
get enough. So for the next 5 days we meet with him, each time talking for an
hour or more. He is full of questions, really smart questions that lead right
into gospel principles. He had cards and pamphlets that missionaries had given
him in the past. He said that he has met with missionaries in the street
before and invited them over, but they never showed up. (Ouch for those
missionaries, they were so close to an elect!) At one point this week Fabio
stayed up until 5 in the morning reading the Book of Mormon. When we ask him
what he thinks about it, he always says ´´It is good!´´......ummm yeah, it is
the "goodest" thing we can read my friend! =P
We have invited him to be baptised, so I will keep you all
posted on that. One thing that he expressed to us is that he really wishes that
he had friends that are as interested in Jesus Christ as he is. We were able to
tell him about the amazing youth on our island and the amazing network of
missionary work that is going on, full of young people just like him from all
over the world. We have missionaries from Australia, Mozambique, Capo Verde,
and Arkansas on this island! He was amazed to hear all of that. I sincerely
hope and pray that he continues to search. He is so close to the gospel, all he
has to do know is ACT on it!
We got to meet our new Mission President this week, President
Tavares. He and his wife are from Brasil and don't know a lick of English haha.
I totally love them though. Their story is so cute how they met! When President
was a missionary in Brasil, his future wife was in his ward! And then she left
on her mission to....lemme guess.....PORTUGAL! He waited for her and when she
got back they were engaged like 3 weeks later. They kept saying over and over
how this was a horrible example for the missionaries, haha but I thought it was
cute. She loves this country so much and has a wonderful insight into the
people here. I totally believe that they were sent here for a reason. I am
excited to see what they will do with this new challenge!
Love you all! Go watch a movie for me! (haha Sister McChesney is
a movie fanatic and has told me the plots of a few movies that I definitely
plan on seeing...in a year haha. It is so nice to just relax and watch a movie!
That is something I miss!)
Until next week folks~
Sister Barron
