Andrade's Decision...

Righteousness is a Seven Minute Decision.  I really believe that.  When the spirit touches us, we must decide what to do with such a blessing.  A few minutes for a prayer of gratitude and a few to write down our decision.  Then...that decision if never un-decided will blossom and bless our lives forever.  Ten months ago...Andrade made such a decision. 

He lives in a small town named Relva; really only lava rock homes going up and down the hill.  No bank, no grocery stores to speak of, one truck in town to haul things here and there, some cars, many many barrels to catch rain, dogs looking for food or shade, some pretty mango and papaya trees, and open-hearted people.

Andrade gathers friends with his smile and he has many.  Last Aug. three of his friends came to him to ask if he would help them sell drugs. For one with no money, this offer was great. The drugs would come through connections on the boat from Praia.  At the same time, another friend of his, Maria da Silva, told him that she wanted to introduce him to some young men wearing white shirts and name tags.  For one who had questions about this life, this offer was great.  He was a friend to all of these requestors...of course he said, "Yes!"

Andrade sold a lot of drugs during the month that he began taking lessons from two missionaries who walked 2 hours along the windy mountaneous roads from Mosteiros to his home.  The things they taught him on those Sunday afternoons made sense to his spirit...and soon he began to travel to attend the meetings in Mosteiros. 

When his mother found out what he was doing, she asked him, "How can you go to church and sell drugs at the same time?"  The question stared at his heart and at once he understood his own sadness and his own happiness.  He had a decision to make.  He explained to his three friends that what he was doing was wrong and he would not sell drugs anymore. 

On September 22, 2011, Andrade chose to be baptized.  Two weeks later he was called as the 2nd counselor to the Young Men.  Two weeks later, he was called as the Young Men's President.  He told his friends about the church...and soon more people were traveling to Mosteiros for Sunday meetings than there were people in the Mosteiros branch.  A home in Relva was for rent.  It could house the church and serve as an apartment for missionaries.  He called the church leaders.  With permission, he gathered a few chairs from Mosteiros and some from Cova Figueira.  On January 25th, 2012, the first meeting in the Relva Branch was held.  Sixty-three people were in attendance. 

Meet Presidente Andrade.  He was called to be the Branch President of the Relva Branch in March.  During our April visit, there were 90 people gathered in the room with people out on the veranda, some sharing chairs, and some standing.  To get to the pulpit to speak, I practically climbed over the laps of the leaders due to lack of space. I could have gone the other way and knocked over the tiny keyboard and climbed across some of the members laps instead!  A plan to extend the building is in the works.

Last month, Presidente Andrade gave his mother a blessing and promised her that she could quit smoking and quit her daily-life-habit of drinking coffee. And she did.  She smiled when he told us her story, "I have not had coffee since that blessing," she said. "I don't even want it anymore."  She was baptized the end of May.  One seven minute decision can influence many lives forever.  When I see the happiness in the eyes of Presidente Andrade and his Mother and the members of the Relva Branch, I am so thankful to witness the miracles of this work.   

"Let's go visit some more of your friends and family..."

It really is such a gift that each of us get to choose for ourselves what kind of life we want forever.   Many become deceived by indecision...but in the end even the decision of apathy applies.  We get this time to choose to go forth or not.  Faith is a fierce, yet fragile gift given  to those who seek it...and who walk with it...like Andrade.

                                                                         2nd Nephi 10:23