So, this week was full of miracles! We had two baptisms!
The first person was a young woman named Gabrielly. Her friend had brought her to church a few times, and after watching a baptism she told us she wanted to be baptized. We wanted to meet her and get to know her family, but we had no idea where she lived or how to get ahold of her. One day we were doing a service project at a member's home, and Gabrielly walked by in the street! She yelled to us, and we went and talked with her and found out that she lived on that very street!
We got to know her parents and we started teaching them too even though they said they weren't looking for another religion. It turns out she has five other sisters who live with her there, and we taught her father the Word of Wisdom because he drank alcohol and cofee. After a few more visits, he told us that he wanted to follow our church and be baptized, and that he hadn't touched alcohol or cofee again, that he felt disgusted every time he even thought about it.
Their mom is also investigating the church now, even though she is active in another church. Everyone went to Gabrielly's baptism, and it went very well. She has other sisters that are also investigating, and we are hoping to baptize them soon. I also got to confirm Gabrielly in the sacrament meeting the next day. Her and her family are absolutely wonderful.
Meet José Abraão, an elderly man of 66 years of age, but with vitality and health more characteristic of 40 or 50. He has been investigating the church for about seven years, and is married to a member. He has frequented many churches, and was even a pastor of another denomination. When Elder Quiroga and I arrived in the area, we started teaching him all over again because we didn't have any records of what he had been taught, and focused on the doctrine of Christ.
It turns out he had a dream about the temple, and decided to go there to see what it is. While he was there he felt the spirit really strongly, and remembering what we had said about baptism (even though he had been baptized already in another church) he decided it was right for him and asked one of his good friends (a member) to baptize him. We kept visiting him and teaching him, and despite opposition he was baptized Sunday morning before church and confirmed in Sacrament meeting.
José Abraão is an amazing man, with a firm testimony and a lot of faith. We consider ourselves highly blessed to have known him, and have thanked Heavenly Father very much for the opportunity to be one of the ones to see him enter the kingdom of God here on Earth. Miracles are real.
We are still teaching Gabrielly's family, and have a few other people who are progressing very well. The mission is not easy, but I know that when we work hard and seek to always do what is right, Heavenly Father will use us to make miracles happen. I love being a missionary! I have never felt such divine purpose in all I do, and I am frequently overjoyed despite much opposition and many trials of faith. Being a missionary is wonderful :)
Well, I will add the photos and send them too. I pray for you all and wish for you the very best! I am so glad to have the chance to be here, on the Earth at this time, and to be part of this great work. I love you all so much!
All the best!
Elder Viglione
PS Emails and letter are always greatly appreciated :) And I will get my letters on Friday, its been about three months since I've gotten them from the mission office, so sorry if any of you sent me one and I haven't replied. I will reply as soon as I get them :)
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