Faith is an Action 'Work' of Gratitude...
Words cannot even weakly describe a week of a Mission. The ups and downs and wonderment and gratitude and lessons that fill our minds and change our plans. Time is not sufficient either to record more than a skimming off the top of all that lands in our hearts.
Our visit with Carlos was definitely a highlight this week. He was just called a Branch Missionary and wanted to know all about his calling. Talk about animated! He is ready to go and when we arrived, he had already read all about his assignment on the Church website and had profound questions and took voracious notes! He showed us his thoughts on ways he thought he could best serve, Including a project for the community and showed us his paperwork. At one point, he was reading off his responsibilities and wanted to make sure he understood each one. When he read,"strengthen the new members" Grandpa laughed with him, "That means you as well, since you are a new member!"
We had an appointment and needed to hurry back to Ponta Delgada to read from The Book of Mormon with Ireneiu and Susyleide. Carlos could not come with us due to his work schedule but wanted to fulfill his new calling and so over zoom, he took turns reading with all of us! We sent him the above photo to thank him for helping and for taking his time to share his testimony with Ireneui e Susyleide.
For many weeks we sat in the car, preparing lessons while the different young missionaries would teach Filomena and her cousin. Our current missionaries asked us to go with them into the lesson and it was so nice to finally meet these sweet ladies in person! We love the young missionaries who serve and appreciate all they do as they teach and share their testimonies. After much study and prayers, Filomena made the decision to become baptized this past Saturday. The branch was so happy to welcome her and it was a nice day!
The Elder's quorum hosted the weekly branch activity and it was well done!
We were almost out of bottled water and so stopped into the grocery store. I heard a lady ask, "Do you know where the salt is?" She was speaking English! "Oh! where are you from?...you are speaking English" I asked. She told me she was from The United States. "Idaho." "We are from Idaho!" Since I don't believe in fun coincidences, I had to find more out about her on our way to find the salt. She has come to The Azores to learn more about her grandfather who was born on this island. He ended up in Idaho, met her grandmother and they had 11 children. Larraine is from Boise and has come by herself to search for her story. We invited her to come to the Family History Center on Saturday...and she came! Her grandfather made violins and also made one for each of their children. Such a beautiful story about the process. She showed me a photo on her phone of the violin that he made for her mother. It has the names of his family on the violin. 
She was so thrilled to learn more about him on Family Search! And now with her own account, she can read about many other family members right on her phone.
She wanted a photo with me in front of the Church to show her cousin
who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!
and off we go to another week! (I take photos along the way...because when we have time after the mission, we will savor all that we are experiencing. I collect stories like some people collect jewelry or dishes or books or cows or art! I try to be fast about it because Grandpa is not a fan of taking photos on a mission...but every now and again even Grandpa will look at a mission photo and smile at a memory). (smile! wink!) Mostly, we love you all...Make a great Week!
