New Days

Hello everyone! 

 

 

I had a fantastic week in my new area! I'm absolutely loving my new companion and area. Elder Marques is a Godsend, I've learned so much from him already. He loves to work hard and he loves soccer, so you already know that we get along great. I'm super excited for what the next couple months have in store. This new area has a lot of promise and we've already seen lots of miracles happening daily.

 

 

One of these miracles is a girl named Lais! She was a referral from Church headquarters and she is pretty incredible. She's been searching a long time for a church but hasn't been able to find the one for her. A few weeks ago her friend shared a little bit about our church and she started to do her own research. That led her to get in contact with the missionaries and we invited her to church! When Sunday rolled around she said she had to cancel, but last minute she decided to come! She said the meeting was really different, but she enjoyed the calm and peaceful feeling that it brought. We were able to share the message of the restoration with her afterward, and she said she would be baptized when she knows for herself that the Gospel has been restored! Incredible story! Please pray that everything works out.

 

 

I love you all so much!! Have a great week!

 

 

Elder Larkin

Sorry I don't have a ton of pics this week! But here's some pictures of me and my companion, and the view from our apartment.

Caruaru

Hello everyone!

 

 

We had an incredible week this week! The transfer ended and I'm super pumped about all of the progress that was made with all of the people we're teaching and the ward itself. I'm definitely going to miss this area!

 

 

I was transferred to the Mauricio de Nassau ward in the city of Caruaru. It is more into the interior of the mission. My new companion will be Elder Marques, and I'm super pumped!! From what I hear, he's a great guy who likes to work hard. Sounds like we'll get along great.

 

 

Sorry I don't have a lot of time to write today! I've been busy getting everything ready to go today. But I wanted to leave you with a scripture that I came across this week. It's found in Alma 37:36 and it says, "Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever."

 

 

I love the message found in this simple verse, and I invite you all to apply it. I really focused on it this week and it made a HUGE difference. :)

 

 

I love you all! I'll catch up with all of you next week!

Elder Larkin

Barra De Jangada

Olaaaa todos!! Tudo bem?

 

 

Another week in the books! We had a great week this week, got a lot of work done, and saw a lot of miracles. 

 

 

I had the chance to go on an exchange with Elder Montagna one of the Elders in my District! I went to Barra de Jangada, we taught a whole bunch of youth in a big group lesson, and I learned a whole lot. It was interesting because in this group they had 2 of them marked for baptismal date, but it looked like they were running from it. We decided to teach the restoration again and be very sincere, but show that they needed to make some changes in order to make their baptismal date. So, we both taught and testified, then asked if they understood what we teach and believe it to be true. Every single one said they did. They we asked if they would put their faith to the test and be baptized. Everyone declined, only because they weren't willing to change. We left that appointment super sad. It's hard to see so many people understand the truths we love and reject them! It made me all the more grateful for the path that I've chosen and the blessings that have been promised as I endure to the end. 

 

 

On a happier note, we had a pretty incredible miracle with our friend Elisabeth! She is part of the Jehovah Witnesses, and she has incredible faith. She keeps our commitments we give her to a T, and she even came to church on Sunday! She absolutely loved fast and testimony meeting, the Bishop and her made fast friends, and she accepted to be baptized!! The only hold up is that she needs to get married, which would be a miracle because of many other details! Please pray for this miracle to happen!!

 

 

I've also been feeling very blessed with the gift of tongues. Although I'm not perfect yet, I've improved immensely with my Portuguese in only 3 months of being here! I'm so grateful for all of the blessings I've been given. I couldn't be more grateful to our Father in Heaven.

 

 

I love you all! Have a FANTASTIC week!!

Elder Larkin