3/27/17 - Antonio, Isha, & Ruben

There was a lot of rain this week which means it is harder to find people. But despite the rain we met Isha who is a 30 year non practicing Muslim and moved from the Middle East to find peace. She told us she was looking for something new. We taught the first lesson to her and she was pretty overwhelmed because everything was so new.  So we starting teaching the lessons at a slower pace. She is amazing and I am excited so see what happens with her.

We taught Antonio a lot this week.  We fasted and prayed for him and he finally found a job. But because of his job he has to work this Sunday—it’s kind of a day to day thing. He is so ready to get baptized but the rule in our mission is that investigators need to attend Church at least 2 times before they can get baptized. We are praying that he can make it this week. The problem is he really does need the money so when he gets called in he needs to go.  He said he is excited to hear from the prophet and follow his counsel. We are excited for him to hear General Conference!  He was so prepared to hear our message!

We have been teaching this man named Ruben Silva who is Portuguese and has a girlfriend with 4 kids--they are so funny. When we first met him he wanted nothing to do with us and said he didn’t believe in God.  But we convinced him to let us in. We taught the plan of salvation to the whole group.  The girlfriend and kids are religious so they were really attentive and liked the message and us.  Ruben still said he didn’t believe what we taught.  A week and a half later he let us come back and finally said he know God exists. WHAT A VICTORY!!! The spirit can change anyone’s heart. Even though he has a REALLY REALLY long way to go, he is on this path and that is what makes me happy. 

This week I have been really focusing on listening to the Holy Ghost.  I can tell a difference when I TRY to listen and then be obedient to its counsel.   Also I have been reading this book, “The Power of Member Missionary Work”.  I’m reading it in Portuguese so it’s pretty slow going.  There was one part I liked a lot where he went through every blessing we will receive when we share the gospel. There was 20 some promised blessings and I know I feel more happiness!

A funny thing that happened this week--in the missionary manual it says that Sunday is the best day to knock doors. This does NOT apply to Portugal. We had a couple of men run us out of their building shaking a cane at us shouting, "This is my day of rest!!!!" Our pointing out the difference between rest and the Sabbath didn’t help! haha 

Well that’s all for this week.  So grateful that Luke came home from the NICU this week.  I love you all!  Vamos batizar todo mundo!!!! 

-Elder Herrmann​

Antonio

View overlooking Lisbon

Biting Elder Richards hahaha

3/20/17 - It is so simple!

WOW, what a week. I AM LOVING MY MISSION! There is nothing more satisfying then helping people 24/7!! Alexandre was baptized a member of the church this past Saturday and it was an amazing day! I really do love him! 

We have been working with Sister Agusta and her son Luis. We went over to their house a few times this week to teach Luis who loved the lessons, he said, "Wait, I totally need to be baptized." We were super excited. We returned Saturday night to remind them about church the next day. Only sister Agusta was there so we talked to her and she did a 180 degree turn around. She wanted nothing to do with us. She told us she didn’t need to go to church and that Luis doesn’t need to be baptized. We were so confused. We think she has a hard time committing to serving and being part of a Church.   She feels she can get the same feeling listening to evangelical speakers on you-tube as she does when she goes to church. She said she will not return and that Luis will not as well. It was really sad because we know that Luis wants to get baptized and be part of the Church but his mom tells him that he doesn’t need to be baptized and that all churches are good.  They haven’t answered any of our calls.  It’s a little frustrating but I know that the Lord will help us.  Let’s see what happens this week. 

The highlight of my week was working with Antonio. We contacted him a couple weeks ago on the street because he had a way sweet t-shirt. Last Monday we had set up an appointment to teach him. We went to his house and I was so humbled. He literally lives in a shack that is cold, dark, and very unwelcoming. He is from Brazil and has been here in Portugal for 4 months looking for a better life.  He is 24 years old and his family is still in Brazil. We knew he was searching for something when his first question to us was, "How can I become a missionary?" He has such a genuine heart. We taught him the first lesson and he loved it, the Spirit was so strong. He committed to baptism and said he would go to church. Sunday came and he didn’t show up so we called him and went over to his house that night. We brought my favorite member whose name is Diego (he is from Brazil and is literally the coolest guy ever.) Apparently, the reason Antonio didn’t go to church was because he lost his job the day before and had no money... like none. He was waiting for one of his friends to give him food, he is living from meal to meal. We taught the 2nd lesson and he loved it so much! It gave him so much hope. Diego helped him a lot, by giving him food for lunch and working with him to find a job. I am going to give him some of my p-day clothes that I don’t wear. He is someone really special. He has some word of wisdom issues but once we taught it to him he said he would stop right then and there.  The faith and will of this guy is amazing!

For p-day today we went up to this abandoned hotel in the forest that overlooks Lisbon.  Some other Elders went with us and it was way fun! In the forest we found some ropes courses!!

This week when we were teaching the second lesson--the truthfulness of it really hit me. We can return to our Heavenly Father if we just follow him and try our hardest and Christ will do the rest. IT IS SO SIMPLE!!! Many times just because it’s simple we don’t take it seriously enough, we think going to the celestial kingdom is almost impossible. It’s not.  We just need to do all that we can do and Christ will fill up or do the rest. We just need to keep giving it our all. Through Christ’s love and grace we can return and live with them again!

Love you all! Fica bemmmmm

-Elder Herrmann

3/13/17 - Knowing Christ

Wow, life can’t get any better than this! I feel like I am really losing myself in the work which makes me so much happier.  I want so badly to bring the gospel message to everyone!

I love this ward! I’ve never met such funny, loving, and dedicated people in my life. They are always there to help us with references and are always feeding us. I have learned so many things about Brazil and am always crying by laughter because of their stories. They truly love the gospel and it really gives us missionaries a boost of energy. Having the members help with the work and be supportive of missionary work makes all the difference.

This week I had interviews with President Tavares. I entered the interview and he said, "Well Elder Herrmann, we tried to send you home but your country doesn’t want you so I guess you’re stuck with us, hahaha!" He is such a great man, truly inspired of God. He asked me a question that really made me think. He said, "Elder Herrmann, what is your goal for yourself while on your mission?" After thinking about it for a long time I came to the conclusion that my goal is to change, to come back home and be changed and not make the same mistakes I made in the past. He told me the only way I can do that is if I learn to really know Christ, not just like know him and what he did, but really know him personally. The figure the only way to really know Christ is to come unto him and follow his footsteps. So that is something I have been focusing on every day—knowing Christ.

So in district meeting this week I was trying to help us be more motivated. My district is so awesome and we are all really competitive so I thought of a new challenge for every day. The area who wins the challenge chooses the next day’s challenge. For example, the area with the most contacts with a return appointment wins for that day. Little stuff like that has helped our district a lot and we have so many new investigators!

Last week we visited a family in the ward and they have a 10 year old who is not a member and didn’t really have a desire to get baptized.  His name is Alexandre.  After teaching him and going to Church with him he’s gained a love for the gospel and is getting baptized this Saturday. I love him so much!

Something cool this week, we found a less active member who is from Angola, her name is Agusta. She is amazing and has a son, Luis, who is 13. He is super shy but we connected over magic tricks and soccer.  We have been working hard to get Irma Agusta to return to church but she hasn’t gone in 10 years because she felt judged. We focused on how the gospel is perfect but the people are just human and trying. We thought last week she was going to come but she called last minute and cancelled. We knew that to teach Luis the lessons they needed to go to church together. SO we focused and prayed for Irma Agusta. When Sunday came around we were confident she would show up since she said she was going to come. At church we didn’t see them. It was 30 minutes into the meeting and I felt very sad. So I went outside to call them and while I was calling them I heard her voice behind me! She made it to church! In church I was scared that she would feel those same judgmental thoughts but she loved it! And apparently Luis had a friend who is a member which was great. It was truly a blessing! That night we went over to the house and started teaching the first lesson then showed the First Vison. At the end he looked at us and said, "Wait.... so this is the only true church on the earth right?" We told him yes, and he said, "Well then, I want this to be my path!" He gave the closing prayer and started crying and it was really powerful.

This week I learned a lot about the history of the church.  My studies are picking up and at the end of every study session I think, “Like whoa, our church is freaking DOPE!!!!! I am gaining a love for the organization of our church and am so proud to be a member. Many times I use to think our regular lives and our church lives are separate. But that is so wrong, our lives and our church lives are one life, and with that we will have the most happiness! 

I love you all so much! This gospel is true and will bring the most joy!!!!!!!  AGUINHA!!!!

-Elder Herrmann

Alverca

This means "Street of Children" (I'm still a kid)

Castle in Sintra

The District in Sintra