Happy Thanksgiving!

Well its been another great week here in Porto Alegre. Ive been having so much fun working here with my companion and the zone. This week didnt have quite as much action as the past few weeks, but the time still doesnt seem to stop slowing down and we are still running around trying to get as many baptisms as possible by the end of the transfer. This is the last full week of work for us because next week will will be forced to spend alot of time preparing my companion to go home! Ill give more details on that next week.

So this week we are baptising two young men that have 14 and 16 years. They both are suprisingly interested in learning more. They fight to see who will do the prayer (they all wanna do it) and they are excited to learn how to keep the commandments and are really really excited to be baptised on Saturday. Theyre names were announced at church on sunday and they both had beaming smiles! Theyre parents and family will be at the baptism so we hope to have a really spiritual experience so that they can get baptised too!

For the group of people that will be baptised on the 7th, we are working really hard that they keep their potential. Some of them have had a few problems that have shaken their faith, but I know that they are all ready to be baptised and we will do everything so that they can get baptised and reep the blessings.

Its extremely hot here and I have to put on sunblock every day (55). I forgot how many bugs are out during the summer. Its really annoying because we still dont have fans that the mission gives us and we hav to sleep with the windows open and all the bugs get in. I cant sleep with a blanket cause its so dang hot! Luckly there is lots of wind on the 5th floor.

We have some sick plans for thanksgiving. Were gonna buy some pizza and have a nice dinner together with the other missionaries that live with us.It will be fun and everyones excited for it. I hope that everyone has a great thanksgiving!

Love you guys,

Elder Horst

Baptismos!

well this week we have been thinking, eating, working, and dreaming about baptisms. All we seem to be doing is inviting people to get baptised. Its really great. We have tons of investigators that are working towards being baptised next month and my companion and I are really happy because of that.

The Lord has truly been blessing us in our work because every day it seems like someone new wants to be baptised. We seem to be getting the members involved too and everyone is getting excited to do missionary work.

The zone is also doing very well. Every area is able to get some baptisms marked and investigators at church. We are working hard by visiting lots of areas and working with the other elders.

We were able to teach Paulo who is the brother of a member. he has a few kids but is living a really hard life since the death of his wife. he lost all track of who he was and went into serious depression. Now we are helping him by teaching him the lessons. it seems like the gospel gives him more hope and happiness and I can truly see a difference in him. I know that baptism is the best way for him to suceed in life and return to the guy that he was before.

Also, we are teaching Milena. She is a 15 year old girl that is a friend of some of the members. She wants to get baptised because her parents are fighting and getting seperated. She knows that baptism will help her feel more comfort and peace. She will have the holy ghost that will always help her in all the difficulties of her life.

Another investigator that we have is Maite. All she wants to do in her life is protect her three little kids that she has. its hard for her to be a single parent without a job but she is turning to the Lord because she knows that through baptism she can be forgiven of her past sins and recieve help fro, the love and mercy of the lord.

We are also teaching many others with many different problems. But they all seem to have a few things in common. They all love their families. They all want a better life for themselves. They all want to be happy and they want to be baptised because they know it will make them better. They know that through the gift of the holy ghost they can be eternally blessed and one day can return to their father in heaven with all eternal glory and power. 

Love you all,

Elder Horst

Good Week

Well its true, im burning hot here!!! I actually got a bit sunburnt on Wednesday but ive been putting on sunblock ever since. Everything is going well and we are having lots of sucess as a area and zone. Really nothing too exciting has been going on differently this week. We are just marking lots of baptisms and trying to get them all to follow through.

Adriana finally decided to get baptised. She wants to get married too! So she will get married in the next few weeks and than get baptised on the 23rd. If things dont work out by the 23rd she will get baptised on the 7th along with the rest of our investigators.

We have the zone leader meeting this tuesday and on thursday Elder Del Pino and I will be giving the training. I am really excited because the zone is doing so well right now and we can just help them more with this training. The zone had 4 baptisms yesterday and we are all expecting to baptise on the 23rd.

Well sorry its such a short note but ill be sure to write more next week!! Have a great week, love ya!

Elder Horst

Happy Halloween!

Well Halloween passed by very quickly. And now im already hearing Christmas music and seeing trees in stores!! Its crazy how fast Christmas is coming up. Its starting to get extremely hot here but the rain storms seem to keep the tempurature down. The mosquitos have woken up and its starting to feel like SUMMER! (not chirstmas). But im realy excited! We are going to have a ``white Christmas´´ Baptism on the 8th of December I believe and Im really excited to baptise so many people. My companion and I are working really hard and we have a huge list of investigators and almost all of our investigators have a baptismal date. Cool huh??

Were working really hard each and every day. My companion and I have learned alot on how to be a good Zone Leader and we are taking it to the max. Our zone seems to make its goals every week which is really helping every single area. Basicaly at the end of the week if one area isnt getting good results or if they will fall short on their goal, we go visit their area and give them some help. Our zone is really united and we love working and being together.

The ward here is getting SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER. When I arrived here the spirit wasnt really strong in our meetings. The members were split into groups and there was a lot of gossip. We are starting to see a change! This week the testimony meeting was absolutely amazing. Everyone talked nice about someone else and the spirit was so strong. President Castro was able to visit too and it was nice to see him again. All the members talked good about us to the president. haha. Better yet, we were able to confirm Loeci as a member of the church and it was a special day.

My companion and I have been able to see so many miracles each and every day. It seems like God is just GIVING us people to teach and help. Obviously we are teaching people based on our obedience, work, faith, and diligence, but we feel really good doing all this.

On Haloween we had an interview with one of the members of the Area Presidency. he gave a great pep talk and I learned alot about my work and how Ican be a better person. Before the meeting some of the missionaries in our zone ate lunch together! It was a great day.

Well that sums up the week for us. Have a great day!!

Love,

Elder Horst