May 7, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was weird. My companion had a meeting for district leaders over in Florianopolis so I spent a day over in some random city for a "division." We made some good contacts and we had some great lessons with two families. Hopefully they will stay strong. I have no idea, since I am back in good ol´ Joaçaba. Not much has happened this week. We have been trying to get ahold of our investigators but most were not home. We did get ahold of one though and we had a great lesson on the plan of salvation. A lot of the questions that they asked were great and we had to end up explaining about outer darkness.

We had a district meeting (like a stake meeting only it is called a district) for the Ipoméa district and the mission president said that he wanted to make the district into a stake and now everyone has to look at the new district president and help him so he can help the district become a stake. President has high hopes for this district because Ipoméa was actually the first branch to open in all of Brazil and right now it is the slowest growing. The district as well. After we missionaries were told this, we actually want to do even better to help this district grow. Our job in Joaçaba is to help the branch here to grow.

The mission is tough. It requires us missionaries to change into what the Lord wants us to become. This change is very difficult and stressful, but it is worth it. I hope that I can become the missionary the Lord wants me to be, so that I can help the people here in Santa Catarina. I want to place my will with the Lord's so that we can work hand in hand together - He being the vine, and I being a branch - To bring great fruits here in the Florianópolis mission. I want to change for the better, each day of my life so I can return to Him, to live in His presence, with my family. I know that this is the Lord's work and that it is true. I testify to all that read this that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints is the true, and only true, church on earth today and will bring joy to all those that accept its teachings. I love all of you and hope you have a great week.

Love, Elder Kevin Brady