WEEK 35 Church "Was Lit"

WEEK 35 Church "Was Lit"

 August 20, 2018

 Hey everyone! Another week in "Zona C"  and one of the best ones yet! We've been goin to work this week and having great experiences! Some of our investigators here include Felipe, Helder, Igor, Lizandra, Antony, Ana, Anderson, Amon, and some more! Another thing, I have been out here serving for 8 months! That's pretty crazy to think about... that means I am one third of the way done. I don't know how I feel about that!! I really have seen the blessings of my time and I'm really realizing how special it is that I can dedicate so much time to addin to my knowledge and focusing on the Lord. I can see how much I have grown spiritually. But anyways let's go to the week

14 de Agosto, We had a district counsel in Santarem and after that ended The Limas (Senior Missionaries) bought us all some pizza hahah! That was awesome. Then they drove us home and inspected our house... we passed with the highest degree of cleanliness soo just know I lie clean while I'm out here!  Nobody really answered the door when we knocked but we stopped by a member, Helder, and gave a spiritual message. He's super cool and even served in this mission about 2 years ago! Super cool dude, sheesh.

15 de Agosto, Oh boy.. crazy day. In the morning we went to go help some members with some physical labour... Let's just say stuff was weird and I can't explain it hahah. Just email me separately for that story. Anyways, we picked up these bed pieces and went to a woman's house to set up the bed. We rode with the guy driving the bed and he already knew the Elders so that was cool. We marked an appointment with him for later. Then we set up the bed with him, and said a prayer and blessed the woman's house. We also marked a return appointment with her. Then those members picked us up and took us out for lunch. After that we went to two of our investigator's house, Igor and Lizandra. We went to mark a time to return. We knocked on their door and they said come in! They had 6 other family members there and asked us to teach them! So we taught a group of 8 people there!! It was an awesome lesson, super spiritual and they seemed to be really interested in it! Super packed and crazy day!

16 de  Agosto, We went to Santarem in the morn, because we had a Mission Conference. We used this giant group facetime thing and it was cool. We were with our Zone and other Zones were all together. It was pretty cool. Knocked doors, no luck, but had a good conversation with our investigater Antony who is 12 years old. My funny story of the week will be what he told me hahha.

17 de Agosto, Taught our friend Felipe and he is marked to be baptized on the 25th and is firm about that date! He always looks like everything is just flying right over his head but then he gets everything we say! It's amazing and he already knows so much about Christ and the Bible. He was a reference from a member as well, so that shows what a reference can do! We have become super close with Felipe and he is super desirous to be baptized. The only thing is that he has Epilepsy, and he has had some attacks as of recent. So we might have to push the baptism a week back, just so he's feeling good and everything's all good. I just hope I'll be staying in Carregado to see him be baptized! (Transfers are next week). Then after Felipe, we went and taught a woman Leonore! She said she is excited to recieve a response from God and will be baptized when she does! She had talked with Sister Missionaries in the past, and was super nice to us. She lives in a house with like 15 other African people! It was funny because every 5 minutes new people would come in through the door, or be leaving through the door!

18 de Agosto, We went to Felipe's house again and shared another lesson with him. Man I love this guy. He lives on this big lot of land as a caretaker and has this huge Saint Bernard dog named "River". Then after Felipe we went to teach English! 15 people once again, and it was a good lesson. It's funny to hear them speak and realize that was me 8 months ago! But it's great we're all becoming homies! In the night, one of the woman from our English Class, Andereza texted us saying she wanted to go to church with us! The funny thing about Andereza is she only speaks Spanish, but it's close enough to Portuguese so she can still learn English. The cool thing is I was actually able to reply to her message in Spanish! I barely know anything, but I've had 3 companions who were fluent in Spanish and talked to lots of Spanish people here. But I am way better at Portuguese.. not even close!

19 de Agosto, best Church of my Mission! We had 7 investigators at church! Which for Portugal is awesome, especially in a branch! It was so great. Felipe sadly had to leave early because he was feeling sick! But everyone else stayed for church! All 3 hours! Our investigators Igor and Helder are both from Angola and they met each other and became friends quickly. We also have a member named Helder who is from Mozambique Africa and they made friends. After church we went to Irma Luisa's house and even brought Igor and Helder. It was a great lunch with them and some members! So it was a killer first day of church for them. The funny thing about Helder is that we taught him a couple weeks ago but he has been bumping into members non'stop and they invited him to church and he told me he loved church and believes in our prophet! Even funnier is that Helder stayed at the members house until after 9 at night! Things are cookin up in Carregado! 

Funny story, our investigator Antony (12 years old) said.... "See, this is why I love Layton. He is a strong man of God, but also loves Post Malone." Hahaha, it was a funny moment. He was asking me songs and English and if I knew them. I knew basically all of them! He basically listens to all the people I liked from back home hahah.

My scripture of the week is in the Book of Mormon. In Jacob Ch4 V6. Just an awesome scripture. I challenged our investigator Helder to read it last night. I read it and he came to mind. He was thrilled to receive a verse to go study! Hopefully you like it as well!

Jacob 4:6
Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

My challenge this week is to try and find a reference to give the missionaries. When we received the reference for Felipe, the member said something along the lines of "He's super Catholic, so I don't know if you will be able to do too much.." But now Felipe is marked for baptism!! 

A great week, obrigado por seus emails! Realmente eu sou tão grato por isto!  

Elder out 

Mamba out

parks.layton@myldsmail.net




Umbrellas!







Campera Outlets



Hard to see and not buy!



Dying Missionaries and Me



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