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....