Optimism on a Rough Road

The following e-mail was received today:

Elder Claudio R.M. Costa

So this week, well, was a bit tougher than others. But still went well for the most part. We didn't do anything for Thanksgiving, seeing that it´s not a holiday here. But the same day we had a meeting and got to hear from Elder Costa. He is the area Seventy for Brazil. He went into great detail about the calling of an apostle and of a Seventy. He told us everything that they do and the process of everything. All of the Elders here now know information that 98 percent of the rest of the church members do not....ha! He also talked about many other interesting subjects: ways to teach, how to use the Spirit, and what not. 

Also this week we had an "integration." Basically a talent show at the ward. Everyone was invited. Me and Elder Brody played and sang a song. It was great. 

Sadly we´ve been having a tough time with our investigators. It´s hard to find new people, and many of the people we have have many problems to overcome to be baptized. But we´re trying. For example, Viviane. She is a mother of three girls that are all members. She wants to be baptized but the only thing that is holding her back is smoking. She was good for a week, but then we came back Saturday night and we found her smoking--and singing loudly to forro in the dark (forro is the typical music here--a.k.a. the worst music you´ll ever hear in your life.) She was doing that because of an even bigger problem happening in her life. We talked to her, and we´ll shoot for next week. 

Our zone is baptizing zero this week. Which has never happened. We had a baptism for Sunday....but he left in the middle of church so he could go eat somewhere and refused to come back until next time. So we have a bunch of problems we need to try and fix. But as long as we trust in the Spirit and do our part, things will pull through.

Elder Castagno