FIFTH AREA: Baptisms and a new companion

FEBRUARY 8, 2010

Companion: Elder Pourre

"Do ya'll wanna know how hot is got on Tues. afternoon, ha ha.. 105 degrees farenheit with a humidity of even more! ha ha, so i guess you could say that its been pretty hot lately, ha ha!

"So the work is going awesome and my companion is the absolute man and we are the best friends ever. He's gonna try and get into Utah State to study with me after the mission! I love him and he is an amazing missionary and helps me out so so much everyday."

"Yesterday was stake conference and our stake is huge and you should see the chapel, its bigger than the Porto Alegre temple!"

"So this week two more women are going to be baptized and it will be amazing.. I think i told you about Andreia, she is a single mom that is in her 30s and a lot of her family are members but less active except her dad that is active. Her son is about 11 and was baptized too and she has been investigating the church for a really long time, ever since they were baptized and was almost baptised herself but she never believed in the BOM and was really into the Bible and just the Bible ya know, with a really closed vision and a few weeks ago we had one of the most amazing lessons that i have had on my mission all about the BOM and reading scrips together from the Bible and the BOM and we basically just read with her and the spirit testified to all of us that the BOM is true and she could feel it and new it and it was an amazing experience and she read a part that we marked and she prayed and received an answer and knows that the BOM is true and it completely changed her life because now she has the desire and testimony to keep the commandments and she is great and came to conference yesterday and loved it, she is great.."

"Conference was amazing yesterday, so many great talks and the testimonies of a few returned missionaries, it was alot about families and it was great and the spirit was so strong there with so many ppl.. the other lady that is going to be baptized this week is Sandra's mom and do ya know how old she is? 84! She is so sweet and amazing and her daughter was baptized two weeks ago and now she came to church again so is ready to be baptized. We had an amazingly spiritual lesson with her talking just about our Savior Jesus Christ and we ended with the hymn, "The Lord Is My Light" and when we got done she had tears running down her cheeks and told us that for 84 years she has been searching for the true church of Jesus Christ and she is so grateful to have found it :) she also received her own testimony of the BOM, she is such a sweet old lady and it is amazing and i am so grateful to see the changes in her life and her happiness that she hadn't had for years"

FEBRUARY 15,2010

Max's e-mail has had a small change: max.kirschman@myldsmail.net
NEW COMPANION: Elder Bangeter from Boise, ID (Elder Pourre was called as the A.P)

"So another transfer has already come and gone and my comp. got transfered and he is the new AP, hes the man and i love him and am sad that its over but i will get a great new comp. and believe it or not, another american! ha ha.. his name is Elder Bangerter and he's from Boise, Idaho and we've only really ever said hi to each other but I have only heard great things about him and that he is a hard worker and so I am excited.."

"So guess where i am right now? I am in my old area in Porto Alegre, Cavalhada, remember?! We just passed by the Kern family and it is so good to see them and we are gonna have an FHE with them tonight! It will be great :)"

"So we found out last night that Elder Pourre would be the new AP and we had to leave Pelotas to come to Porto Alegre at 9 and so we got here a lil after 12 and he had a mtg. with Pres. and the secretaries and i came here until transfers tomorrow morning at the bus station. Isnt it a great coincidence that i am passing here today? I think Pres. did it on purpose :)"

"Sat. we had the baptism of Andrea and Wilma.. It was so amazing and they both wanted me to baptize them and so i was so honored to be able to do it for them and it was so great. Andrea is a single mom thats in her 30s and Wilma is 84 years old.. i already told ya bout them huh? They are so great and guess who came to the baptism and to church on Sunday? Leonã! Remember I told ya bout him, Wilma's grandson and his mom was baptized two weeks ago. He seemed so much happier after and was all smiles and loved it and is going to be baptized on the 27th! Hey, Kyle's bday, ha ha! So yeah, they are an amazing family and will be an eternal fam here in a lil more than a year! :) Wow, i am so grateful for the gospel in my life and for my eternal family! I love you all,