Tuesday we had an opportunity to go do service for R* (she was baptized this week.)  

We moved tile for her in 100 degree weather for about four hours.  

I loved it!  It reminded me of working in the cemetery. I miss manual labor sometimes.  We saw all sorts of animal life: scorpions, snakes, spiders, and cockroaches ...under every tile was a new creature.  It was one of my favorite memories of the week.

Saturday we were able to attend the baptisms of R* and B* (B* is a 17 year old boy who is awesome.) They are both investigators of Elder A* and Elder T*.  This past week, Brazil has been gearing up for Carnival and this made the baptisms quite interesting.  Every week, we have to switch locations of where we baptize because people are busy, and at the last minute we found this party place that had a pool.  They were setting up for Carnival, blasting music, setting up alcohol, and providing for much that is morally wrong.  But, they had a pool in the back which they were willing to let us use.  So, we had a group of 20 people in white shirts and ties singing, The Spirit of God, while Rihanna was blasting in the background.  Let’s just say it was quite the experience.

"E mais batismo em Canindé!"

10 February 2014

Okay, this past week was amazing!

On Friday night we went to I**’s home and met with her mom, F*.  She has been reading the Book of Mormon and told us that she wants to study with us.  When we arrived she said that she wants to study with us but does not want any invitations and commitments--only to study.  We went on to describe that as missionaries we will always invite (that is our job) but that we will be considerate of her desires.  We then had a marvelous lesson on the Book of Mormon.

The next day we returned to talk about 2 Nephi 31 with her.  We then had an amazing lesson on the importance of baptism.  She had many questions--especially, regarding the concept of people who die before having an opportunity to accept the gospel.  She came to church on Sunday with I** and another daughter.  I** spoke in sacrament meeting and did a fantastic job talking about faith.  F* absolutely loved church and described it as "bem diferente" (very different) and it just "felt right."   She is going to be baptized on February 22.  This is so humbling for me.  It truly is not us that teach but the Spirit.  It is all in the Lord's hands.

This has been a good week.

Love,

Elder Larkin

3 February 2014

Wow!  I can't believe I am 20!  Another year in the books!   Thank you so much for all your prayers, support, and birthday wishes.  This past week has been very humbling and very insightful.  

I finally received one of the packages that you sent in December.  Hopefully, the others will follow. Thank you so much!  It is funny…where we go for district meeting (where I get my packages) is the most dangerous part of Fortaleza.  I was about to walk out the chapel with my package when all the other Elders freaked out and told me to wait there.  They ran to the back room and grabbed an empty, brown cardboard box.  They told me that I needed to put my United States Postal Box inside or else I would be robbed immediately. This was quite the experience because we had to walk about thirty minutes in this part of Ceará to get to a lunch appointment before returning to Canindé.

My heart is so full--the Lord truly prepares His people to receive the Restored Gospel. Today, I**, our investigator who was baptized last week, taught Principles of the Gospel in church.  We have been helping her prepare throughout the week.  She taught as if she had been a member for decades.  In my opinion, she will be one of the most firm members in all the world.  I know without a doubt that He prepares His elect.  

Another miracle happened yesterday.  Elder G and I were returning from the outskirts of the city on a dirt road when a woman on a moto-taxi stopped us.  She said she was a member of twenty years but moved to Canindé five years ago and could no longer attend because the Church wasn't here.  She was so excited to see us--she lives a long ways out of town.  She came to church today and brought her two daughters, who aren't members. She bore her testimony of how true the Restored Gospel is and how she had yearned and prayed to be able to have it again in her life.  Well, her prayer was answered (she was crying in her testimony because Heavenly Father knows her)--she even mentioned that during the past five years she has gone to other churches to try to fill a hole in her heart but they could never do it for her. This morning she said she was finally at peace.  How humbled I am to be a part of the answer to her prayers.

Thank you for all your words of encouragement.  I am beginning to realize that my mission isn't to learn Portuguese or even baptize...it is to become the person Heavenly Father wants me to become and help those around me.

Love,

Dave (Elder Larkin)

Happy Birthday, Elder Larkin!