Yesterday was stake conference. We have had just 1 normal Sunday here in Benfica and its already the 4th week of the transfer. Yesterday we had the best day yet.  We contacted a reference from the other missionaries.  She wasn't really interested but said the closing prayer. We will see if we can still continue with her. Just after that we encountered a man walking into his house and asked if we could share a little message. We started with the importance of prayer right after the opening prayer and lead to Joseph Smith.  They accepted the Book of Mormon and will read 2 Nephi 31.  They only have time to talk on Sunday's, so that's a bit of a downer. But we will live. Anyway, Sunday we ended up with 5 new investigators and 5 lessons. It was a good day.

The work in our area is good. We have 2 progressing investigators so far, but we encountered a family last Friday night.  They are considered investigators because we had a quick lesson but haven't been back yet, and we definitely will.

If you love rain, come to Portugal. There is rain every day. And if you think the weather changes fast in Utah, haha, it's not that fast, compared to Lisboa.

One thing I learned, Always Wash Your Hands. It had never occurred to me how dirty everything really is, especially public transportation. Yuck!  People are disgusting. 

Well, I don't know what more to say.  

Have a great week. 

In Portuguese we say, Boa semana

Learning a new language is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I have never had to study for a test, I have never had to practice non-stop, I've never had a problem with this kind of stuff. Well now it's biting my back. I don't know how to study, I don't know how to make a study plan, and I don't know how to learn a language. Luckily I have people to help me with that. But what if I didn't? What would I do? Well, let me tell you. There is someone who does know how to learn this language, there is someone who knows exactly who we are and exactly what we need. That picture of Christ standing at the door without a doorknob is not just a nice picture, it has lots of meaning to it.  So, what does it mean?

Christ is standing right next to the door and will never leave it. But he can't open it, all he can do is knock. And that knock is the voice of the Holy Ghost. But guess what? It's soft, it's hard to hear. If we are in our house (which is here on this earth), and we can't hear that knock, how easy is it for Christ to help us? It's impossible. Why do you always have your music in your ears, why do you always have to be talking to someone, why do you always have to be with your friends, why do you always have to be busy? Do you have priorities, or do you just have a jumble in your head of what needs to be done so you have no plan? Maybe once or twice a week you can plan out your week, and plan a time each day for a special time with Christ so He can help you. He wants to help you. He is standing there, always at the door. We need to have our days planned out, and a little slower, so we can hear that soft knock of the Savior in our lives, each and every day. And as Elder Ballard taught, when we are on the boat and the water is still, when we are bored, we want to jump out and have a little fun. But once we do that, we step that much closer to death, not just physical death, but Spritual death. Even when each day is going good, don't get too comfortable that you don't plan, that you don't keep listening to that knock. Because once we here that knock what do we need to do? We need to open the door. So how do we do that? We Pray to our Father in the Name of Christ, to see what He wants us to do. Or let Him help us in our lives, and prevent some trouble that might come upon us. 

I have now realized how important it is to slow down during the day, and always be listening to that Still Small voice. It is the most important thing in this life. 

In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Elder Lee

This area is an old area, we are basically re-opening it. We have no area book, no numbers of members on our phone, so we literally started from scratch. We did get a hold of the bishop and now we are starting to roll. Slowly but surely. 

Written September 29, 2014

I had 2 more baptisms this weekend, Rafaela and Clarisse. I got to baptize Rafaela. It was great. Also they wanted my to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. So i gave my first talk in Portuguese and everyone said I did a good job, even when I had almost nothing prepared except for one scripture and my thoughts. But once I stood up to the pulpit, my mind went completely blank. I didn't know what to say, but as D&C 85:85 says, the spirit will bring them back to your remembrance when it is needed. It wasn't a smooth talk, but I lived and so did they.The water in the baptismal font was cold. It wasn't too bad I thought, but everyone else thought it was way cold. Pretty funny. :) Anyway, after the baptism the bishop had them come to the pulpit and bear their testimonies. and the Testimony of Clarisse was amazing. It brought the spirit so strong and it was the best thing ever. Rafaela was a bit nervous because she is young, but it was good. She knows this is the true church and that she did the right thing. 

The language is coming and getting easier. I have a new companion, Elder Porter from St. George. In the past he has been a zone leader, so he is a good missionary. We are in Bem Fica, Lisboa. which used to be the AP`s area. I just got here today.