Baptism, Transfers, and Zone Conference Oh My!

Things change at the flip of the switch!


Well, first item of business is the baptism!

Last Sunday we had a girl who wanted to be baptized and had been hoping to be baptized for a super long time. She is sixteen now and has been wanting to be baptized since she was eight! Her parents are less actives and wanted her to wait until she was older to make this kind of decision for herself when she could better understand what she was doing. She has tried to be baptized several times in the past years but each time her father stopped any progress in performing the actual baptism.


She expressed to us and the bishopric her desire to be baptized but the biggest obsticle we could see
was her father so we had a member, good family friend and young women leader of the ward who volutunteered to ask the parents. I hadn't expected anything hurried so I don't believe I made any mention of it. But, out of the blue, we got a call from the ward member who told us that both parents had given their permission and were super excitied! We were shocked! She wanted to be baptized that coming Sunday! To do that we would need to teach all five lessons to her within a period of three or so days! So Friday we taught her two of the lessons, Saturday two of the lessons, had her baptismal interview, and Sunday we taught her the last lesson after church, came back a couple hours later and baptized her!


She invited a ton of people and as a result their was about the same amount of people as we would usually have in sacrament meeting! In the closing prayer we had an older member of the ward say it. "Eu esperei nove meses para ser batizado, ela esperou oito anos...Por culpa de alguem!!" The bishop nearly died trying to hold back laughter at such an accusatory remark. However, if that was the only thing strange about the baptizam then it was a very successful meeting.


She is very prepared and very dedicated to the gospel. She accepted everything very quickly and learned extremely fast. She is the kind of person who will stay active. This experience really increased my understanding that this work isn't my work, my companion's work, or the mission's work but the Lord's. He prepares these people. We just need to find them and tell them what they are already ready to hear.

Second suprise, TRANSFER!


Elder Davis hung up the phone with the assistants on Saturday, looked over at me and said you're getting transfered. Wait. What?? There was an issue elsewhere, details unnecessary, but I was going to be transferred to Tejo, across the river back in Lisbon and I was leaving later that day! I had to pack and be ready. This was as we were taking the Zone Leaders to our investigator for her baptismal interview! Later that day as I was packing I heard Elder Davis call back to tell me to stop packing because they were going to have me leave on Monday so I could go to the baptizam on Sunday. So I am now currently in Tejo!

We had Zone Conference!


President Tavarez talk was straight fire. Awesome. He talked about how his priority was us as missionaries and our personal salvation. He said he worried that many were not taking their salvation seriously. As missionaries we are jeopardizing our salvation by being comfortable with the chains of hell. How do we escape the chains of hell? 2 Nephi 1:13, 23. We need to WAKE UP, realize our sleep, and run. He gave the story of a man traveling through the snow in the dead of winter. As the man decided he deserved a rest he sat down and began to feel relaxed, he started to feel warm and comfortable, he might even be able to take a nap. Suddenly he heard a voice that said "You are dying." Man. I got the shivers just typing that. The man got up and began to run, Not just walk, dead sprint. He ran and ran and blood started flowing again and he eventually made it to his destination of safety.


He told other stories as well such as the training of the Arabian horse. Other things were taught. The same way we keep the Sabbath day holy, we must keep the mission holy.The Terrestrial Kingdom is for those who become comfortable on their missions.

So, fun things, remember that fun and delicious Chinese buffet from last week?


Not sure if I mentioned it or not, ya, I threw up. That was less fun and less delicious. I think it wasn't that it made me sick I just...overflowed from eating too much.


We had a division where Elder Marques and Elder Paiva switched so we got to be with him for the day! That was fun to experience teaching with another Elder. I also saw this man who had more swag than any other man I have seen previously. He had dreadlocks that went to or past his knees. On his head he wore a dish cloth tied to his head with a rubber band. He wore glasses of some sort, crocs on his feet, and a bath robe. The smell that followed this man was unlike anything I have experienced. It was so awful it was impressive, perhaps even laudable.


Nearly got mauled by two dogs running in the plaza on Saturday, luckily the owner called them off. I was ready to unleash my inner wolverine and destroy but fortuanately for the dogs and for my clothes such bloodshed was not required.


Sorry about the lack of pictures from last P-Day, I didn't have my card reader with me :/


Thats all for now, lets see how this new area goes!!


Elder Cordon

In Almada on the banks of Tagus River

Companions  in Almada..Three Amigos

Bishop of Almada and His Family..Served as a missionary with Dallin's Grandpa Hillam

Love the  Paralelepípedos

Elder Jones and The Bridge..Looking from the Almada Side