Week 87 Letter

Monday, Oct 22, 2012

Wow, sounds like a crazy week!  I am glad that everything is okay.  My first though was how grateful that I am that God is protecting my family while I am here.  He can do more for you than I could if I were there.  His promises are real.  Ryan, I did want to say happy birthday to you!  Cangrats!  I cannot believe that you are getting so old!!!  You also look good.  You are one handsome devil and the bike looks awesome.  You will have to be trying it out when I get home, hahaha.  I bet that you ride it better than I would.  You are the man!!!  

So, this week was good.  We had two baptisms.  One was Mikael, the kid who was supposed to get baptized last Sunday but his mom and dad were not able to come so be baptized him Saturday and it was awesome because he parents came and they liked it.  We take advantage of the opportunity to talk to them and teach them.  The mom lives in Cuiaba in a different area but we will call the missionaries that work there.  The dad is a less active who has some serious problems, but I think that he felt some of the power of the atonement at his son's baptism.  Sunday we had the baptism of Gaby, a girl who I have been teaching for a while but whose mom just turned around recently to let her get baptized.  Everybody was very excited.  It was a great baptismal service, both of them with lots of people and a great and powerful spirit.  I am going to miss being a missionary and this is one of the biggest reasons.  I am going to miss the opportunity to baptize almost every week.  It is incredible to see people change and grab on whole heartedly to the gospel.  It is a joy and privilege to be a part of the great work.  My love grows more and more for God's sons and daughters.  I was talking to Elder Grantham last night and we were talking about how our perspective on life has changed. Are we humans living a spiritual experience, or are we spiritual and living a human experience.  I will try and send some pics of the baptisms for you, if this computer will let me.  I love you all and wish you all a great week.  You are all in my prayers.  

Love Elder Lee

Dad,

Wow, what an intense week.  I miss talking with you about stuff like that in the car with you dad.  I think that our talks in the car had more of an effect on me and my thinking pattern than you know and most of that is because you are my hero.  I sure love you dad, and I sure look up to you.  I know that you live a hard and busy life, but I also know that you never want to look at it like that.  You always seem to stay on the side of how blessed you are to live that hard and busy life.  I know that it was a great blessing to me.  I have learned from your example what it means to dedicate your life to the lord.  I also know of the blessings that come because I was able to enjoy many of these blessing because of your selfless service.  Thank you so much.  This week, I taught a girl who has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and the church, her mom has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and the truthfulness of the church, and they want to be baptized but the dad, who does not go to any church and is never home, will not allow the daughter to get baptized and the mom cannot because they are not married on paper.  So, I suggested to the young girl that she write a letter to her dad, explaining why she wants to be baptized and thanking him for being her dad.  She did not know what to write and was even afraid, so I suggested that I write a model for her to look at and help her.  In writing, it made me think about how hard it is to now have the dad that I have.  I know that you love me and want the best for me.  I know that you would do anything to help me.  I know that you are a wise and faithful servant to our Heavenly Father.  It really made me grateful and it made me feel a great desire to serve because of the amazing parents that I received.  I know that much is required because much was given.  Thank you dad and have a great week!  

I sure love you!