Week #81 - Hey Gente!

Hey family! What a week, let me tell ya... we have been doing lots of run around and lots of work in the area like normal. 

Well,  the week started out with divisions with our district leaders. I went on divisions with our DL in Dondo and we got in some great work and some solid 6 or 7 visits.  I love the divisions so much because you get to teach and see how the other missionaries are doing and how they act with other comps.  So it was a blast in Dondo. 

Thursday I went on another division with a new Brazilan, Elder Mandadori.  Wow!  The things I learned from a new kid straight for the MTC!  We witnessed a miracle and had a real interesting experience together.  I took him to visit Domingo (He is the boy who just got baptized that has been real sick).  He has had struggles with his family and he has not been able to walk well or do much.  When Domingo opened the door I saw him walking around and asked him how he was walking so good.  He said he had faith and now that he has been baptized he is able to walk and is doing better with his family.  He was still skinny, but is doing so much better!  

When we visited them they had these huge cement bricks they had to move to build a wall.  It was Domingo, his Mom, and his Grandma.  So we asked if we could help them.  They said no.  They said we are "men of God" and we cannot get dirty!  So I tried to explain to them that we are ministers.  We teach the gospel and help people do physical things.  They said we could teach a lesson and that is all.  So I quickly turned to 3 Nephi 18 and shared a message.  Then my companion and I ran over and picked up a large brick in each hand.  And started quickly walking.  There is no way the grandma and mom could do all this.  They were grabbing our arms and pulling us and trying to keep us from helping.  Then the grandma put one her head.  So we walked faster.  Then we grabbed 3 to try and get done faster so the grandma would not lift them.  She then grabbed 2 and tried to walk fast.  It was crazy.  Every time we would pass them they would yell to us to stop! leave it alone! leave it alone! you are men of God!  Finally we got them all to the location.  There was more work to do, but they were so upset, we finally left.  I am grateful they have such respect, but they really need help.   

Then the week started to get crazy! 

Got a call from the president about some stuff we had to do pretty fast.  We were running around all Friday going in and out of stores and buying stuff and trying to get everything ready. At night we got a call from the stake president and mission president that we will be the designated drivers for an area 70 that's coming to Mozambique Saturday morning! Wow, what an honor! 

His name was Elder Ephriam Msane and he is the area 70 here in Southern Africa.  When we got to the hotel to pick him up we found out that he doesn't speak Portuguese! He's from South Africa so me and my comp. helped translate a little for him, 

All day Saturday we were with him driving him from his hotel to the chapel and staying there with him, so it's been a great week talking and eating lunch with Elder Msane and getting to know him.

 Sunday was the zone conference, and that's why he came to speak.  Wow, it was so powerful! Our stake president talked about repentance and Elder Msane also talked about repentance and how we got to get off the couch and go to the temple. He shared so many quotes from our prophet about how ''we need to be better and do better''.  I'm so grateful for that, we all need to be better we all sin and there is no way back without repentance and without the help of the Savior's Atonement, Elder Msane said. ''If your off the path... repent... and get back on the train and go to the temple!''  It is so true.  I'm so excited to go back to the temple and excited to repent everyday of my life. This is the Church of Christ, we are here to prepare and one day meet our Savior Jesus Christ.  I'm so grateful for the Atonement in my life and how we can literally use it everyday!  I love you all!! 

Much love from Mozambique, 

Elder Rees