LOVE. THE. VERY. ESSENCE. OF. THE. GOSPEL.

Hey Everybody!!!

This has been a good week here in Santo Amaro. 

The rock was so soft, I carved my name with another rock!

First off, today we went to this waterfall close to this city. Haha, we didn't know we had to walk upstream and half of us wore shoes and before we knew it, our shoes were soaked. So we all went barefoot. Ha, it was a cool spot to visit. A lot of people were slipping and falling in the water. Haha.

This week we were able to find some new investigators. Right now, we are teaching an older couple! This past week we went to their house, and he was so drunk he could barely stand up. When he starts drinking, he doesn't stop until he gets so sick, he can't drink anymore.  These past couple weeks he drank for 10 days without stopping. We have been trying hard to help him stop. The doctor already told him if he doesn't stop soon, he will die. He told us he has drank ever since he was 16 years old. We found out that his dad died the same way. He drank so much he ended up dying in front of a market.  It is a hard thing.  We have been trying really hard to help him, so that won't happen to him also.  Everyone please keep him in your prayers.  I really enjoying helping them out. He has stopped drinking now for a little bit, so hopefully we can keep him away from the alcohol. 

But that's about it for the week. I'm grateful to be where I'm at right now, and to be a missionary for our Heavenly Father. I'm excited to get to know our new investigators and get them to church. 

Thomas S Monson said, We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey.  Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all.  The Apostle John tells us, "This commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."  We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father and, as such, are brothers and sisters.  As we keep this truth in mind, loving all of God's children will become easier. 

Actually, love is the very essence of the gospel and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar.  His life was a legacy of love.  The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.  At the end the angry mob took His life.  And yet there rings from Golgotha's hill the words: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" - a crowning expression in mortality of compassion and love.  

Thanks for everything. I hope you all have a good week. 

Talk to you guys later. 

Love, 
Elder Nickerson