Yesterday, was fantastic.  We had the opportunity to go to stake conference and invite investigators and members to go with us.  So, yesterday morning we all met at the 'casapela' (the church-house) here in Canindé.  There were 50 of us who took an old, broken-down bus to Fortaleza.  The two hour ride seemed like an eternity.  But, we all made it safe and sound and everyone loved the conference.  For everyone from Canindé, it was the first time seeing a real chapel and thousands (yes, literally thousands) of members attending one meeting.  

Let's just say that church meetings are a little different in Brazil...

We were able to find a wonderful family this past week (they are siblings of one of our investigators that will be baptized on this week.)  We met them on Saturday, taught the restoration, they went to church in Fortaleza with us, and are now preparing to get married and baptized.  They are awesome!  The two boys, I* and I** love life so much.  They are 12 and 10.  They loved church!  They thought it was so cool that an American was in Canindé, Brazil.   Also, V* and N* got baptized!  I love those kids to death.  It is really sad for me that I am no longer in their area and can't teach them, but I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize V*!  He and I are best friends.  We will still continue to play baseball...he is getting really good!

I did have an interesting experience this week…  I met someone whose uncle lives in New Rochelle, NY where I served.  He is Brazilian and a pastor there.  Based on the description, I am pretty sure that Elder J* and I tracted into him one night in New York and he didn't want to have anything to do with us. Wow, such a small world in Canindé, Brazil!!!

I love you guys!

Elder Larkin

Experience of the Week:

Elder G* and I had just finished passing by the house of Irmã F* (which is located very far outside of town--it is about a 25 minute walk on dirt roads to arrive there.)  As we left, all was normal but then the storm hit.  About midway through our journey, the paths filled with water.  I was literally walking in a river up to my thighs.  I was soaked head to toe.  Every square inch of me was drenched.  I loved every second of it!  Everything I had on me was completely destroyed but it makes quite the story to tell.  My scriptures are finally dry and they appear as if they were made a century ago--they look really cool.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to teach the Principles of the Gospel in church.  I have done this a couple of times and it really has helped with my Portuguese.  Even though I must appear to be the equivalent of a 10 year-old teaching...I have just learned to laugh at the situation.  And, although they might not understand me, I learn a lot.  I am so grateful for this opportunity I have had.

In terms of the water situation here: nada!  We haven't had water for a week and a half.  I haven't had a real shower since last Wednesday when I was able to shower in Fortaleza at my zone leaders' apartment. But, it’s awesome (well, at least the story will be in about 10 years).  Today I took a shower with one small bottle of water…be grateful the next time you are able to buy a case of water at the store!  (Right now is the rainy season but they won't turn water on for a long time because they have to build reserves.  I’m told we will probably be at least three more months without water.)

 Drenched after "swimming" through the streets in a rainstorm. 

The church building in Caninde.

Wow, what a week!  Last Saturday, Elder G* and I decided we wanted to do a day of service and try to open the hearts of the people.  We threw on our work clothes and went to houses of people that we know.  We ended up at F*’s house and said, “We are here to do service.”  At first, she was hesitant and was too shy to ask for help.  I then asked V*, her 11 year old son, who is preparing for baptism, what we could do.  He took us back to a room that was filled bottom to top with just stuff--dust everywhere!  We spent the next four hours completely emptying it, cleaning, and organizing!  Wow, so much fun!  I love manual labor!  V* and I found a long metal pipe and I asked him if he had ever heard of baseball.  He hadn’t.  This family lives out in the boonies on a dirt road with just cows, dogs, and horses around.  I picked up a few good sized rocks and blasted them out towards the empty pond.  V* was mesmerized. He said "Wow! Can you show me how to do that?"  He picked up the metal pipe and I taught him soft-toss.  He struggled for about 30 minutes and then, what do you know!  He is the next Babe Ruth!  He was blasting shots out into the "campo.”  You should have seen his face!  This experience reminded me how much I love being a missionary!

We also had another great experience last week.  We made contact with a lady who owns a small lanchonete and sells fried food called salgados.  They are delicious.  Even though neither she nor her husband are interested in a new religion, they admire what we are doing.  She told me, "Young man, your mother is in a far-off land.  If it were my son, I would want him to have a Mormon Mom!  Therefore, here, I am your Catholic Mom!  Eat up!"  We got stuffed!  Now, every day we walk past her lanchonete and she gives us juice and food!  They are pure Christians.  The sincerity of their hearts is marvelous.

By the way, be very grateful for what you have!  The water here in Canindé has been completely exhausted.  We can no longer wash clothes or shower but, you know what, I love it!  It is going to be a great story 10 years down the road.  We all stink and have to shower with the equivalent of a liter of water out of a bucket.  It is awesome!  It reminds me of scout camp!

I invite you all to join my goal: enjoy all the small things!  Because when we do, it is impossible to be unhappy!

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!