Hey hey hey everyone! I hope that everyone is still alive up there with this
cold weather that has hit there. Sounds like it has been getting down to zero
even. I cannot remember the last time that happened. I wonder why we are having
such extreme weather these last couple years I have been gone. Like it goes from
one extreme to the other, and it's just wacko. Anyway, it sounds like it is
winter there. Everyone is just working, and trying to keep warm.
Dad, Brett, and Tyler went out with some of the kids ice fishing it sounded
like. That had to have been fun even though you guys got skunked. Ha. Dad sounds
like he is going to try to hit up some other areas he has not been to in years.
He we go, the old man pulling something out of his sleeve. Anyway, I was
thinking you should call up Mike and get him out there to. I bet that the old
man is dying to get out there and get the old line wet.
I can't forget I have to tell you guys, this week I made home made chocolate
chip cookies a couple of times. I did not even have to eat any to bring back the ole'
home cooking days. When I put the first batch in the oven I knew that I had done
a good job! The only thing is is that I don’t have that many chocolate chips, so
I have to conserve them. I made some with peanut nut m&ms. they turned out
perfect! I ate a couple only because I am trying to prevent from being the fat
American here. The only way you fit in is to be skinny and have a good accent so
I am sticking to that plan. I kept making cookies and feeding them to Marcio and
Marizar, the awesome couple that we live with. They ate and ate and ate….ha. In
the end it seemed like I had everyone and their dog asking me for the recipe,
but I told them it was a secret Gatten thing. Mom and Dad will have the
opportunity to meet the people I live with because they will be driving us
around and showing us all the waterfalls, and giving us the Real tour. Yes dad, I
know I am getting it all hooked up for your sweet trip to the Amazon.
This week was awesome for me to say the least. The weeks seem to be getting
progressively better. Like one week I think wow that was amazing everything I
experienced, the spirit I felt and the family that we found, but then I find
another cool family, and have sweeter things happen. I love the work. The key is
to always be animated, always be happy. It is easy to get used to things and do
what you’re comfortable with. It’s all about getting out of your box. We marked
two more baptisms for this next week. It is an awesome little kid and his older
sister. Their mother is not a member, but she knows that she has to support her
children in their righteous decision to follow the Lord. It was really touching
the other night when we were teaching them, and their mom was coming to tell us
if she would give them permission to be baptized because they still live under
her roof, and we said the final prayer and Melina the girl started balling in
the prayer. She prayed that her mom could see into her heart and permit her to
be baptized. I don’t think there was a dry eye. So yes she permitted and their
baptisms are next week.
We brought a couple families to church this last Sunday. They had previously
gone, so they knew more or less how things were run. So Cristiano was called to
be the president of our gospel principles class, so he loved it. Usually he is
shy, but he totally got up and took control, picked a hymn he did not even know,
and chose someone to say the prayer. I could already see his growth. Then in
priesthood he was sitting by my side, and he leaned over and told me how good he
feels in the church, and how much he loved the people. He finished by asking me
what he had to do for him and his wife to be baptized. Can you believe that?! We
will have there wedding sometime soon, but we are still working with Madrilène
his wife because she is trying to quit smoking…bummer. The other couple loved
church too. So these are just a couple fruits of my labor. I feel the Lords hand
in this work here in Laranjeiras. I love the people and I just strive to serve
them. I even played football with investigators again today. It is such a great
way to get people converted. Tell President Wood he is a knuckle head for taking
stake sports away.
I know that this gospel is true. Our burden is light, just share the gospel. I
love the opportunity I have to just open my mouth and preach the gospel as a
representative of our savior Jesus Christ. How blessed we are to have the
knowledge we do of the Savior and His eternal plan he has for us. Many people
walk thoughtless. They don’t know why they are here and they don’t know their
purpose. How blessed we are to know ours. Open your mouth that they can one day
come to know these same things. I love this work, I love it with all my heart,
wither I am a missionary or not I will always work to bring the light of the
gospel into others lives. I love the Lord, I love you all. Thank you for
everything!
Have an amazing week, and don’t forget keep your head up and stand for what you
believe in.
Elder Gatten
