WEEK 59, Elder Gondim, A Legend.

February 04, 2019

WEEK 59, Elder Gondim, A Legend.

February 4, 2019

Hey Everyone. First thing hbd Chris. Second, my friend Vinícius in Porto is getting his mission papers started!!!! So awesome, I saw him get the melchezedek priesthood, go into the bishopric, and now he's preparing for a mish! And third... it's been one of the sadder more difficult weeks of the mission. One of my dear mission friends, Elder Gondim passed away last Monday. He passed away due to a surprise attack in the heart or brain. The Dr.s still need to figure everything out. He was playing soccer and once they stopped playing, he fell and died immediately, luckily he felt no pain. It's sad to see someone that you've grown to love pass away so suddenly. I'll share a story about Elder Gondim that forever touched me in the "cool story" section that I usually do. He was a great friend, and an amazing leader, and easily one of the best missionaries that I've ever met. My testimony on the Plan of Salvation however has increased, and my faith has moved forwards in big steps. I've realized how important being faithful and loyal to the commandments is, on a daily perspective. I can say that I know that God has prepared a plan for us all to return to home, in His time. Seja sua vontade. Here's the week.

29 de Jan, We woke up in the morning and had to head off to Setubal for our district meeting! District meeting was pretty good but quiet. Lots of us there were still in a little bit of shock about our friend Elder Gondim. But it was also a more spiritual district counsel. After that, we went to Irma Zulmira and Irmao Antonio's house to help out on their farm. We received lunch and dinner there hahah. It was nice to just take out some trees and think about stuff. I also got to hold a little baby GOAT and it was surprisingly light. It was overall a good day.

30 de Jan, I'd been, and have been, fighting a cold for about 2 weeks and this day was the worst of it. I felt really sick and we mostly stayed home and did some studies. Later in the day though we went to our investigator/Less Active's house for dinner. Miguel and Marcia. They found a house closer to the church and are planning on moving right away here. Hopefully they can, because then Miguel is one step closer to baptism!

31 de Jan, HBD Chris. I was still sick but we had to go help out Irma Zulmira at the church. I ended up getting a priesthood blessing from Irmao Antonio, and my companion Elder Mansfield. Right after that, Irma Antonio asked if I had 20 minutes... in which he proceeded to do some Acupuncture on me... he put some small needles in my hands, forearms, and then right under my nose. He put them in with his hands. I was caught off surprise but, I don't have a fear or needles or anything like that. With time I apparently turned super white, and then I started to sweat a bunch hahah. So they took the needles out. So that was quiet the experience, I felt like I was gonna faint! Then we went to work knocking doors! We got let in and taught a woman from Cape Verde named Maria de Luz, or in English, Mary of Light. It was a great lesson and I invited her to bapism on February 24th, where she said she'll think on it. We kept knocking after that and went to this man Pereira's house, he's also from Cape Verde. We taught the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and he committed to start reading the Book of Mormon. From there we went to a recent convert's house. Catarina and her huband Carlos' house. It was a great lesson, and she has about 30 family members coming. She is firm on baptizing all of them! So if I stay in this area, there should be some magic happenin! Such a great opportunity and blessing from God to change people's lives through His Holy Spirit.

1 de Fev, Basically my 1 year day in Portugal! It was either this day or January 31st, but the plane ride across time zones messed everything up! I totally still remember getting here and knowing nothing hahahah. I feel so much more different now, than that version of me a year ago here! We ate at a chinese buffet to celebrate that. Gotta have fun sometimes! God is happy when we are! From there, we went to an appointment that we set up the day before with Elena, Jessica, and Tiago. They're totally elects of the Lord. They are all from Brazil and were so happy and accepting of all we said. We shared the message of the restoration and they loved it. We marked with them again to pass by the next day! Jessica is 14, Tiago is 22, and Elena is Jessica's mom. She also has a baby who is 8 months old! Then we passed by a less active familia to get them back to the blessings of the Lord! We always have to drive from city to city. After that, we found a giant toad and it reminded me of the toads that I used to find back in British Columbia! Good day overall.

2 de Fev, In the morning we had a house inspection... which we killed! Always nice to live in a cleaner environment, a little bit of extra help on my part there lol. Then we made some brownies to take to a three year olds bday. She's the daughter of one of our investigators. That was cool but we quickly left to go teach Tiago, Jessica, and Elena again. We basically just read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon with them, while stopping and explaining things. They said that they're excited to continue! We then returned to the party to pick up our brownie pan, and we talked to a couple members there as well. We then left of to a city named Santiago de Cacem and visted Irma Irina and Irmao Ilidio who are some members. We then had dinner at our ward mission leader, Irmao Jeorge and his wife Irma Valqueria's house! Irmao Jeorge made some UNREAL food, he killed the game on that one. Sorry I can never explain what the food is like here, but it's usually awesome. We then left them with a message and had to drive home!

3 de Fev, Church! Church was good, we had a bunch of less actives there and an investigator, Laura, as well. The members of the branch here are so great. Honestly nothing much else happened on Sunday. I fasted hahah, but that's about it.

Cool Story, about my good friend Elder Gondim. When I had about 5 weeks on the mission, we had a big Zone Conference about 2hrs away from my area, Braga. We had to go sleep at some other Elders' house the day before so that we could get to the conference the next day! We ended up staying in a house with 6 Elders (Including me). They were all good friends and all Native Portguese speakers... and then there was me! We had to walk an hour from the train station back to the other Elders' house and it began raining, I forgot my umbrella. I was walking behind everyone else alone in the rain on the way back. I couldn't speak the language and I was the random, new, young guy. So it made sense they'd just talk to each other. But Elder Gondim left his umbrella with the Elders in front and joined me in the rain. He could not speak English at all, and I basically couldn't speak Portuguese... But I tried and we walked in the rain together somewhat talking for about 45 minutes. That's the kind of guy that Elder Gondim was. He sacrificed his time so that I wouldn't feel lonely. He did what the Saviour would do. His actions have motivated me ever since, and I really do my best to make everyone feel welcome. As a leader, he was the perfect balance of coolness and straightforwardness. He was the type of leader you actually wanted to be friends with. As a leader, I've tried emulating his attributes. Time passed since that event and I'm sure that he forgot about it, but I didn't. And I won't. What type of lasting impacts do we make to others? Think about what your little actions do, for it is through little things, and great things are brought to pass. I eventually was transfered to the area of Carregado and in the same district as Elder Gondim for 2 transfers. We became great friends, as I could then speak Portuguese. We often would sit together on bus rides and stuff and just talk about life and the mission and who knows what. It's hard knowing he's gone and I miss the guy but I know the Lord needed him on the other side because of his skills to help all of our ansestors find and accept the truth.

Scripture of the week. Enos Verse 1 until 12. As Enos sacrificed his time he was forgiven and essentially granted his wished because of his faithfulness. Read that part and look at what he did, and what his desires were focused on. Powerful stuff.

Enos 1-12

1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that hewas a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—

2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them.

10 And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments. I have given unto them this land, and it is a holy land; and I curse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity; wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and their transgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own heads.

11 And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites.

12 And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith.

Challenge, Pray for the family of my Friend Elder Gondim. He has a mom, dad, and a younger brother. I know that the Lord will hear our prayers.

That was my week basically, we have transfers next week.

Thanks for all the emails, it really means a lot.

Elder out.

Mamba out.

parks.layton@myldsmail.net

Elder Gondim and Me