True Loves Challenge

Chapter 21

Matthew's POV

It has been two months since I said goodbye to Rosie and my family. For the last two months, I have been studying the Portuguese language and lessons to teach for the next two years.

I am going on the mission field today. I am very nervous, I can't even think right now. I don't remember how to walk anymore, but my legs walk for me.

The main area of my mission is Rio. The colors of the buildings are so bright, it really makes the place shine.

As I am walking in the street about to walk from house to house with my companion, Elder Tree, I look up at the Christ Statue. I wonder what the people here believe when they see the statue.

I stop Elder Tree from walking and walk up to a person I picked at random, a women holding a little baby boy in her arms.

"Umm... excuse me miss?" I started to talk in English. The women seemed to understand me, but I asked her if she could speak English anyway.

"Yes." She spoke perfect English.

"Sorry, I just want to ask you a question."

"What is your question?"

"I just want to know what the statue of Jesus means to you" I said while pointing up to the statue.

"Well, Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He watches over our city, protecting us."

Elder Tree joins into the conversation. "Do you think that there is something more?"

"More? How?" asked the women.

I pull out a Book of Mormon. "We are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and we would like to tell you more about Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer."

The women, Amelia, asked us to tell her more. Since it is my first time and the first person that I have talked to, Elder Tree talks to her about Christ's birth, life, and death. I walk close listening.

The child that Amelia is holding starts to cry. I couldn't stand to listen to the one year old boy cry. It always makes me sad to see others sad. "Poso Segura lo?" I asked if I could hold him to make him happy and to help Amelia listen. Amelia hands him over to me without hesitation.

The moment he was in my arms, the little baby boy stopped crying and stared at me with wide eyes. I guess he isn't used to seeing someone with my pale white skin.

I started to think about my nephew and started to clap. The little one catches on and started to clap as well. Amelia looked over at us and started to smile. "He has never done that before. Do you have children of your own?"

"No, not yet, but I do have a nephew, a niece and two more on the way. I don't know what gender yet."

"Wow! Are either of you married yet?"

Elder Tree and I both said, "Not yet" at the same time. Amelia smiled.

"Well, soon I guess." Amelia moved on from the questions about our future and asked Elder Tree why we are in Brazil.

I kept playing with the little boy, Amelia told me that his name is Paulo.

Once we got to Amelia's house, five more children came out. Two of them are girls and three are boys. They all stop in their tracks when they see me holding their baby brother. The tallest boy got in a position that looked like he was ready to attack me. Amelia stopped him.

"Fernando! Don't hurt this sweet man! He and the other, the Elders are on a mission."

"What's a mission?" asked the littlest girl also speaking perfect English. This family is very well educated, and their house is the best in the neighborhood. This family is considered lucky compared to the other families in this city.

I felt the urge to ask another question. "Amelia, just a small question, how do you all know how to speak English, and where did you learn it?"

"Well, I lived in California when I was fourteen years old. I lived there for five years. When I moved back here to Rio, I decided to teach my children to speak English."

"That's fascinating!" Little Paulo started to clap and the two little girls smiled and took him out of my arms.

I started to play with all of the kids as Elder Tree kept teaching Amelia while they were sitting on Amelia's porch. The kids and I played in their front yard.

We all started to play tag. The five kids all chased one another until the littlest girl stopped and looked at me standing, looking at the chaos of kids running. She came up to me and touched my leg. "Tag, you're it!" I smiled and started chasing all the kids. Once I got the tallest boy, Fernando, I ran away for dear life. I had such a wonderful time.

Once all of the kids started to get tired, I looked over to Amelia. She was in tears. She found it. She felt it. She felt the spirit. It was faster than I expected, but she must have been desperate for an answer, and luckily, she found it.

She got up and told the kids to get inside the house. The asleep baby in her arms snored from exaction from being bounced on Amelia's lap after Fernando took him away to put him to bed.

"I would like it a lot if you could visit again sometime, I want my children to hear your words" said Amelia wiping away her happy tears.

"Well," Elder Tree pulled out our schedule, "We are open to come over and visit on Friday, if that's okay with you." Today was Wednesday.

"Perfect! Although, the kids will be with their father, but I still want to learn more."

"Good. I'm glad" I said with a smile. We said goodbye smiling and walked to our assigned neighborhood.

Amelia was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints three months later. She started taking her kids to church with her, then Fernando got baptized three months after Amelia. He was nine years old, so it was a good time. You can get baptized at age eight. It is eight because that is the time when we start sinning and knowing it. So, we can be forgiven when we repent. Baptism is there so you can become a member of the church, while all of the sins that you have committed in the past are forgotten. It gives you a fresh start. I got baptized when I was eight, just like every other child who grew up in the church. I am glad that I am a member, because I get to learn something new every Sunday.

I took the wonderful opportunity to baptize both Amelia and Fernando since I am worthy. I hold the Melkesidik priesthood, which is how I am worthy.

Only men can hold the priesthood. When I turned twelve, I was given the opportunity to hold the Aaronic priesthood. When I became an Elder, which was the Sunday after I got my mission call, I was able to hold the Melkesidik priesthood. So, I have held the Melkesidik priesthood for nine months.

It is weird to think that I got my mission call nine months ago, and that I left eight months ago. It's been eight months since Rosie. Since I last kissed her, held her, seen her. I have sixteen months left on my mission, until I get home. Until I see her again, I don't know. Twenty two months at the most. Soon, I will see her soon. Her birthday is in March, and right now is March, so it wouldn't surprise me if she was opening her mission call right now.