...Beauty for Ashes...Meet Pai

to give unto them beauty for ashes...
Isaiah 61:3

Ahhh, it's Pai!  We shook hand with Pai just as light was leaving the island. We were on our way to some visits; he was on his way to Seminary.  Street shadows stretched us tall as we asked what they were learning in Seminary tonight.  He told us that they were beginning Isaiah.  "It is difficult, but very good",

he smiled.

"Oh! my favorite!" I said and tried to remember how to pronounce: E-Zy-E-US (Isaiah) in Portuguese.  "Right at the beginning, the Prophet said... though our sins be..." (oh, what is the word for crimson?)...Pai spoke right up: "Vermelho"... (escarlata, carmesim)... I smiled and continued..."we can become branco (white) as... "Neve" (snow) we all said together. We told him about snow and his eyes lit up.

He understands those words of Isaiah and about our Savior's promise.  Seven months ago, he was on drugs.  His hair was long and unkept; (the missionaries who taught him said that everyone told them, "don't waste your time on him...he'll never change.")  He smoked and drank and wondered about life inbetween.  Just when he thought life was not worth living anymore, two young men in white shirts and ties came to his casa and told him that He is a child of God...who loves him and his heart knew they were telling the truth.

Pai looked at the time on his phone and shook our hands again...his shadow followed him down the hill and then disappeared as he entered the church to teach his Seminary class.  He musn't keep his students waiting.

Meet Pai.  He teaches Seminary (Old Testament this year) 4 nights a week, (when the lights work).  He is also the Elder's quorum President in the Sao Filipe Branch. . We have attended some of his classes; he teaches straight from the scriptures and his Seminary Manuel held together with string.  He has a small notebook full of his own notes and asks good questions so his students will understand that the Bible words are for their lives. 

One night we were teaching an Institute class in the same building...he saw us looking for chalk and he went to his classroom and pulled out one very small piece..."I won't need this tonight" he insisted and gave it to me.  The next night I returned three new pieces of colored chalk in a zip-lock bag from America. He held the colored pieces of chalk: "I will save this" he said. "Muito Obrigado." (Much Thanks)