This week we had the opportunity to meet R*. He has been a member of the church for 29 years. However, 23 years ago (when he was about to go on a mission) he fell away. He just lost interest. Over the past few months, his life has fallen apart. A few weeks ago he decided that he needed to start praying again. He got the courage to talk to a member who lived in the area who gave him the bishop’s number. He said he knows if he wants to be happy and successful he needs to return to church. So this is what he is doing. We met with him last Saturday in his home. His wife is evangelical and of another faith. However, we had a fantastic message on the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sunday morning arrived and R* rode his bike the few miles to church, with his five year old daughter on the handlebars. I have never seen someone so happy when he walked through those doors of the chapel. It was fast and testimony meeting and R* bore his testimony. It was powerful and simple. He spoke of the love of Christ and the beauty of repentance.

R* comes from such a humble background...he lives in a very poor area which is notorious for drug abuse and crime. However, you would think that he had won the lottery with how happy the past week of his life has been—just because he returned to church. His story has been such a strong example to me that anyone can be happy if they simply live two basic principles—faith and repentance.

This past week I discovered a new pastime in Fortaleza—making juice. Fruit here is so cheap because it is a very hot climate and they grow oranges and coconuts like grass. So, I bought a hand-cranked juicer for R$5 and every morning I juice ice-cold oranges to make the best orange juice in the world. Elder S* and I have learned how to “milk” coconuts and we are making liters of the juice. It is so good.

We started teaching an English class here. I have been put in charge of the more advanced class (people who have already had a lot of background in English). Therefore, the class is super fun. I think I have learned more about English and Portuguese this past week than ever before in my life. I have learned so many rules in English that I never realized existed.

Love,

Dave

P.S. This morning as I went to go take a shower, the entire wall was moving. I have never seen more ants in my life. These ants are about the size of the end of the thumb to the knuckle. They are huge and they bite. Let’s just say that it was the fastest shower I have ever taken....

This past week I read a talk by Papa Dade which touched my heart.  

It talks about life and purpose.  It reads:

"Life, brethren and sisters, is an overflowing river on which one embarks at birth and sails, or is rowed, for fifty, seventy, eighty, or more years.  Every year that passes goes into an eternity, never to return; yet each carries with it into the past no personal weakness, no bodily ailment, no sorrow, no laughter, no thought, no noble aspirations, no hope, no ambition: all these with every trait of character, every inclination, and every tendency remain with each individual.  In other words, our lives are made up of daily thoughts and actions.  We may resolve to let all our sorrows and weaknesses go with the passing of time, but we know that every thought and every inclination has left its indelible impression upon our souls, and we shall have to deal with it today..."

This has forced me to think about eternity...Many think of eternity as some time-span far beyond comprehension.  And yet, if we read the scriptures, and understand them, we know we have already existed for eternities.  Every day we pass in this mortally-tried life is another day which will slip into the history of the eternities.  Everything, therefore, is dependent upon action and thought.  The only thing we may take with us throughout an eternal progression is character.  Every impulse, then, should be dedicated to character.  This has greatly transformed my outlook on life as I have pondered it this talk.

This week, we have concentrated on reactivation.  We analyzed and reconstructed the entire ward list, which includes over 400 inactive members.  We have visited over thirty individuals in the past few days.  We had a wonderful experience with one of those visits.  E* and S* are a couple who were baptized 15 years ago and soon became very active and the moving force of the ward.  They alone brought four or five families into the church.  And then, eight years ago, they were offended by thoughtless members and fell away.  We left a powerful message with them and I shared some of my personal experiences in which I have struggled with the same subject.  I bore my testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect but, because the Savior has to rely on mortal leadership, the church is not.  They told me they had never thought of it like that before.  We left them with the invitation to go to church but they said that right now isn't the time to go back.

Well, Sunday came around and I was talking with members right before sacrament meeting.  I got tapped on the shoulder and turned around.  There was S*.  She told me, with a smile on her face, "I'm here!"  She immediately went and hugged all of her long-lost friends with whom she hadn’t talked for many years.  She was so happy.  She was showing pictures of her family and recounting everything that had happened over the last decade.  Then, at the end of all the church meetings, she said to me, "Elder, thank you for being willing to deal with our stubborness.  You can be assured that I will be here next week.  I haven't felt so much peace in so long."

Everyday we have the opportunity to choose between Christ or Satan; selflessness or selfishness; love or offence.  My new goal is simply always try to choose love.