The Field is White

This transfer has been so great for Miles.  He's super happy with his companion.  The people they have been teaching have had a lot to work through, and this week everything was finished and they were able to be baptized!

He was especially excited about the couple this week.  They were attending church, but they weren't officially married because it is expensive in Brazil.  So a lot of people don't go through the trouble of making it legal.  Miles helped them through that process, which took a month or longer, and they were able to be married this week!  Miles was excited to be invited to watch the ceremony, since only their best friends were there.  The husband is a mechanic and Miles bonded with him over that.  He really wants all the people he is teaching to come to the US.  They were baptized yesterday and it was super special.  Their ward has been really supportive.

Another baptism was their cute little friend Matteus.  Matteus sounds like an extremely energetic kid.  He loves church because he likes to ride the elevator, have nice new friends in Primary, and he gets treats.  Matteus lives with his aunt because there are some problems with his parents.  His aunt was worried that he was too young to be baptized, but Miles talked to her and was asking who will be his role models?  He lives in an area where there are a lot of drug deals and crime.  By the time the kids are 13, 14 they are already involved in a lot of that stuff.  She agreed that having friends and connections at church could make a difference for Matteus.  The Primary president in the ward offered to get him to church each week.

They taught Fiama, who was a referral.  When they tried to contact her from the referral they didn't get a response.  So Miles and his comp walked hours to knock her door.  And finally she was home and they were able to teach her.  Her phone was broken.  She has two young boys who have autism.  She's got a tough life and had some really cool experiences that directed her to attend church and eventually be baptized.

Another person they taught was the girlfriend of one of the members.  He was happy that so many of the ward members came to support all these new members baptisms.  They had only 1 new baptism in their ward in all of last year.  So to have five in one week was very exciting for them.

Miles was definitely frustrated with his bishop for a few things relating to the planning of the baptisms.  But it sounds like they got it all worked out eventually.  I wondered if Miles might have been enjoying having a bit of drama in his life?  Haha.

Last week he got a referral from some of the sisters in another mission.  They had been teaching a lady with two kids.  She straight out asked Miles, "When is my baptism?"  He was shocked and found out that she'd attended church in a different area for three months and that was verified by the bishop there.  But this woman moved to a new ward this week and was baptized there.  Still so many cool things going on in his area,  

When Miles arrived at the train station when he was transferred to San Jose do Rio Preto the departing missionaries told him that this area was "cursed."  He was joking of course but it is tough in some ways.  Miles wishes their apartment was not so many miles from their area.  They walk a lot and nothing is close to where they live.  Although it is a very nice new apartment with good fans and that is a big deal to him.

But despite that, he just loves all these people he's been working with and the idea of leaving is really tough.  He's attached.  He loves cute Matteus.  He talks about him like a parent, which is something he's always done with Soren too.  I think it's sweet.  He says he would stay in that area for ten more months if he could.  But he's thinking he'll probably be transferred.  We will find out soon.