A Service Project

Oi! How has everyone been this week? Things here have been really great. My companion and I have been pushing forward with a lot of work and are starting to see a little more success in our area.

On Tuesday we had an opportunity to do service for a less active member in the ward. Basically she had a huge pile of dirt and rocks in the front of her house that needed to be put in the backyard. The pile was huge. We were able to find two shovels and a wheelbarrow. Us four

missionaries got to work and by lunch we had hardly made a dent in the pile!! I cant even imagine how many times we filled up the wheelbarrow! We finished for the day and scheduled another time to continue the project. It was so much work! We were all really tired and sore but it definately felt good to help someone.

Then on sunday,halfway through the meeting the less active family walks through the doors! It was great to see them and after sacrament everyone went up to greet them. Its always great to see how simple service can affect peoples thoughts and actions. We didn't have any investigators this past sunday, but we did get three less active familes to come!

Our district in Pelotas has four missionaries. We serve in the same ward and we live in the same apartment complex. Its fun to spend time with them throughout the week. Every monday, wednesday, and friday, we take turns walking to their apartment each morning for exercise. We

have a push up program - after six weeks of this program we are supposed to be able to do 100 push ups in a row. Well , its week five and i am nowhere close!! Its such a challenging program but there is no better way to wake up than with exercise!!

Elder Measom and Elder Davies made mac and cheese!

Saturday, we had a Fiesta Julhina activity at the church! It was a really sweet activity with lots of food, games, and dancing. The 20 of July is a cultural day for Brazil. All the kids dress up in hick like clothes and play games. I had a really good time. I was able to talk to a lot of people in the ward. The best part was that some members brought nonmember friends. We took down a few addresses and will visit them soon. We're really excited. It was a really fun, successful event,

and I took pictures!

We have a few progressing investigators right now. Sunday we went to Carlos house. He is a brand new investigator for us. When we walked in he was so happy and had such a different attitude. We sat down and he told us that he read all of 3 Nephi 11, all of the restoration pamphlet,and has started the book from the beginning. He loved it! We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and he accepted a baptismal date in a few weeks. We are really happy for him and hope everything will work out smoothly.

I want to share a short message on `Leaving your comfort zone to do something good.´ Sunday I was asked to bless the sacrament. I was no good with the language and wondered why on earth he would ask me instead of other missionaries but I said sure! I quickly read through it and asked for a few prononciations. I was not nervous at all but  I felt uncomfortable. I didn't want to mess up something that was of such great importance to the members! I got through the prayer and when I looked up, nobody was laughing and nobody was looking at me wondering what I just said. Instead, the spirit filled the room and everyone had the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. Everyday we are faced with uncomfortable situations. Maybe you're uncomfortable handing out a book of mormon to your friend or maybe you're uncomforable when you're in

a bad situation and you want to keep your high standards. Just remember that as long as you do good, the Lord will always be on your side. Nothing can go wrong when you have that promise! I would like to challenge everyone to do something good that you wouldn't usually do.Find time to do service or talk to others when you know they are having a bad day. It will help their lives and yours!!

Stay safe and have fun!

Elder Horst