Week #44 - Beira is on FIRE!!

Literally, I cried when I read your letter today. I think because I love  the song, "Abide with Me Tis Even Tide" It's the first song I've been trying to memorize in Portuguese so its been awesome.  I'll never forget them singing that at my farewell - that was awesome... I love to hum and sing in Portuguese so I definitely will do that more.

About my foot, I still have pain, so please keep the prayers coming.  For sure it's better, it doesn't hurt to walk as much, but running hurts.  Its really awesome because we live by the beach so every morning me and Elder Van Orden will do exercises right on the beach.

The work in Beira is incredible!! We had 11 baptisms this week!!!!  Elder Van Orden's and my goal is 20 baptisms this transfer.  So, I think we will be able to achieve it!  There are a ton of people that come to church every week.  Pres Senna said in this area that there is such incredible growth, he wants all the people to have attended church for 4 weeks before they are baptized.  So we had a few set up for baptism and then we followed up on some others and they have been coming to church for over 2 months.  They love it and are already keeping the commandments they just needed teaching and interviews  They asked if we could teach them the lessons because they want to be baptized!  So Saturday a whole family was baptized along with the ones that were set up previously.  

It is overwhelming how many people want to hear the gospel!  We are trying to reach each of them, but it is hard to keep up with.  I don't want to miss anyone!  I am excited because we have set up a meeting with all the people that have been coming to church for over a month that have not been baptized to meet at the Church on Tuesday.  The Bishop is joining us and we are going to find out where each of them are at and set baptismal dates at that time so we all are working to help them progress.  When there is a temple in Mozambique, I think it will be in Beira!  This area is on fire!! 

Its really awesome, I'm speaking Portuguese lots better.  I was talking to a man and he thought I was from Portugal and another man was way impressed about only having 9 months on the mission, let alone almost 7months here in Mozambique. 

I had a really cool thing happen this week,  Elder Van Orden & I were walking home late at night and I saw a basketball court .  I asked Elder Van Orden if we could talk with the men playing basketball and also hold a basketball, haha! I started to talk with them about basketball and about the church.  Some of the guys said they would come on Sunday... way awesome we spoke with them during the week and marked dates for them for baptism so that was incredible.  I shot around with them they were way impressed with how good I was, haha.  Mozambicans don't play basketball much so I think they would say that about anyone, hahaha.

That's about it for the week.  Thanks for the prayers!  I'll send photos to you.  But really the mission is a kick in the pants!  I'm loving it!! We have marked 6 this week for baptisms and 5 the next week.  So we are in a good spot right now.  I need to be more humble and patient, so I'll work on that.  haha thanks … Elder Grange and Thornton are awesome! Love those guys and Stephens home - my Portuguese Cousin!! That's amazing and crazy that the old guys are now gone, but the work will move forward - thanks! 

Love ya, Elder Rees