Elder Lindquist 1/28/09

Ok hello everyone this last week was a good week. And I have been feeling better about my language capabilities. Last night we were on divisions here in Beja and some old guys that own a bird shop around the corner from our house asked if we could help them this morning. So this morning at eight six of us, (the elders from Évora and our zone leaders from Setúbal) went over there and helped unload half of a semi full of bird seed bags that weighed like 15 or 20 pounds each. It was awesome! I was beginning to think that we'd never be able to find a service opportunity here because everyone refuses our help. Even if we want to help a ninety year old lady carry her 30 grocery bags up a huge hill they always shut us down. They're pretty stubborn here, but this morning was really fun. One of our zone leaders that’s been out for a year and a half said that that was the best service he's been able to do here. So it was good to have that opportunity because service opens so many doors in missionary work. The work is going good here, Pedros baptismal interview was last night and he's getting baptized this Saturday. Edson and Rose were not able to get married in time so I think that we're going to try and do their baptism on the same day as our other person we have marked for the 14th of Feb. But everything is good, we have a new investigator that is Brazilian and last night while on divisions three of us taught a Brazilian guy here that is a missionary for another church. It was a lot of fun Brazilians are so easy to teach and so willing to listen to anything you have to share. I'll tell you a story that happened a couple of days ago. The other night Elder Rissi and I were headed to talk to a referral we'd received, (the first one we've gotten since I've been here! but that's another story for another day) and on our way there we saw this guy that was drunk out of his mind. I was like let’s go talk to this guy, Elder Rissi said but he's wasted. I said lets go anyway. We crossed the street and started talking to him and joking with him a bit and after a few minutes I had a feeling to tell him something. I said António I want to share a message with you, God loves you. He stopped swaying back and forth and mumbling and he looked down at me. He put his hand on my shoulder and started to cry. He continued to cry for a minute or two as I put my hand on his shoulder and I felt for that minute he was not drunk, he was feeling the spirit. I think one of the greatest if not the greatest messages we can share with people here is that we are Gods children and he loves us. I don't know why I told him that I just felt I should. I don't know what is going on in his life but I know he needed to hear that. And even though he was wasted he is still a child of God, and he needed to know that his father in heaven loves him. He gave us a hug and we left. I know that God loves us, and knows us individually and if you do not know that I would encourage you to ask him in prayer if he does or not. I'm so blessed to be here at this time and share the message of the gospel with these people. I hope all is well with everyone, thank you for your letters and support.-Elder Lindquist