Wow what an exciting week! It was definitely an adventure this week as we were down to the wire trying really hard to achieve our baptismal goal. We needed 4 more people and we had 3 all set and ready to go. A family from another state here in Brazil moved down here and came to church two weeks ago and everyone in the family except the dad (adriano) and one of his 3 kids (naiza) are baptized. We taught the dad and he accepted the invite to be baptized on the 27th, but his daughter didn't. Also a family from Peru came to church 2 weeks ago as well, the dad does maintenance for the church and they are not married, but have 2 younger women so we invited them to get married and to baptize their daughters in the mean time and they accepted! We prayed a lot and worked hard in the Hot Sun so we could help Naiza be baptized with her dad. She said she was praying and felt nothing, but that was just fake because the real problem was only a social thing with the family that we resolved and after a lot of prayer she was baptized. We achieved our goal of 5 this month and we are very eager for next month!
I am very glad to hear that Brother Bennett still remembers me and especially something that I said more then 4 years ago. One of my strong attributes is goal setting that I learned after a long and painful process of Pole vaulting. A good goal is one that stretches your abilities and set you up to achieve an even higher goal. Has to be reasonable and not a goal that is impossible, but every goal come with its consequences both good and bad. The Good part is always the reason why we set them. In Lehi's dream there were 3 groups of people that wanted to eat the fruit of the tree of life. The last two groups achieved the fruit, but only those who study the scriptures daily stayed strong until the end. But what about that first group, they had a great desire to eat the fruit like everyone else, but never made and followed up on their goal. Instead they wasted their time doing circle in the dark with absolutely no progress. Sometimes we may feel we are this group who had good intentions, but with lack of planning and hearing and holding on to God's advice through the scriptures we lack in progress. I am very happy to have had great leaders in my youth who helped me grow so much, from the primary (thanks to all the sisters in the church who put up with me) to the mission. All the great leaders like Bro Callens who told us that he was not our friend at the start to give us a scare haha but taught me about social and spiritual things, Bro Bennett who was always super friendly and loved all the young men and did his best to show us the right way even though he was always at the back when we hiked he always gave that great support and had plenty of jokes haha good times. Definitely some of the greatest leaders in my life would be my parents always dedicated to the Gospel and raising us in the eternal truths. I am sure it would be hard to raise us 4 boys, but I always tried my best to be less of a trouble haha. I am very grateful for those around me who loved and carried me through my troubles and made me a better person. Unfortunately I don't have time to write about all the people who helped me through my days, but all those who know me and have been a leader to me, or served me and my family I want to thank you too. May the Lord Bless you this week and I am very excited to talk to my family by skype for Christmas!
Tchau! Até MAis
Elder Crandall
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