I hope you all had a fabulous week! Things are good here in Almada...on Tuesday we had zone conference, which I always love. The zone leaders, assistants, Irmã Torgan, and Presidente Torgan all did training, and it was really good. What Presidente Torgan talked about was really interesting. He read Alma 42:30, in which he says (my translation from Português) to Corianton that he should not seek, even in the smallest things, to excuse his sins and deny the justice of God. Presidente Torgan talked about how one of the weapons that Satan uses against us is excuses- we give excuses for why things didn´t happen, or for the way things are, and for many things, instead of accepting responsibility and allowing the atonement to change us. When we use excuses for our behavior or circumstance, we deny the power of the atonement in our lives. It´s really interesting that I had read the same verse last week, and the same thing had stuck out to me. There are alot of times we when do things wrong, or don´t do things that we should, and give excuses (at least to ourselves) to justify that behavior (or lack of action). But it is true that when we use excuses, we deny the opportunity to change, to progress, and to apply the atonement in our lives to instigate a mighty change of heart. The first step of repentance (or change) is to recognize the error or omission, and excuses don´t permit this first step to occur. The conference was like a major faca for me...all the things that I need to change!

But, fortunately, change is possible for each of us. As I think a lot of you noted, my atitude and perspective here needed to change. I am grateful for the power of the atonement that we can access every day, to gain strength beyond our own, more faith and love, and to change our hearts and desires. And through the atonement of Jesus Christ, miracles can happen!

Last week we did quite a bit of procura to find new pesquisadors. We talked with one man outside his house, and it was a contact that was pretty normal. As missionaries we have pamphlets about the Restoration, the plan of salvation, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, for quite a while the mission office has been out of the First lesson pamphlets, which is really frustrating. So we´´ve been using pamphlets of the Joseph Smith history. We gave one of these to this man, and he said that he is lazy, but that he would read. We went back 3 days later when we had an appointment marked, and received a big surpise. He said that he had read the whole pamphlet, that he had prayed and felt good about it, and that also he had read in a small new testament bible that he has. He only read one verse, but it said something to the effect of ´´take this calice upon you...and be baptized´´. IT was in Marcos, but I don´t know where. But basically he said that he had recieved an answer and that he wanted to be baptized! We were both like...huh??!! He asked what he had to do to be baptized, and I almost didn´t know what to say, I was so surprised. It was like that moment in the Best Two Years when he says he wants to be baptized and they don´t know what to do...So, we taught him everything he needed to know to prepare to be baptized this week, and he was baptized yesterday! He is really different than anyone else that I´ve taught (of course they´re all different...but still). The other missionaries in the ward that meets in the same chapel had baptisms as well, so we did a joint batpsimal service. It was really neat. It is interesting all the people that the Lord places in our paths...

So, yep, that´s pretty much this week. I hope that you all have another fantastic week, remember I love ya, and enjoy the summer