Gerson Jorge Rodrigues

You would love to meet Gerson.  What a wonderful young man!

Five years ago, he was playing at the dock with his friends, jumping and diving
into the cerelean ocean and having a great time--when one jump went wrong.
Gerson was lying in the water for a minute with a broken neck and no ability
to move any part of his body.  His friends helped him out of the water.
He was completely paralyzed (except he could move his eyes).
He was taken to Praia, and then to Portugal where he lay flat in a hospital bed
for 9 months.  After the first 5 months, he was becoming very discouraged
when the doctor told him that he would never be able to move again.
But his mother would not listen.
She said, "Ele e o medico, ele nao Deus!"  
"He is a doctor, he is not God!"

Those words filled Gerson with new forca (resolve) to count on a miracle.
He worked very hard to do whatever he could along with the blessings
he was given and very slowly...bit by bit...
he could move his fingers... and then his arms.
Today he is in a wheelchair and gets along just fine. 

He volunteered his frontroom, bedroom, kitchen, (all in one room)
for the new 'group' here in Santa Maria to hold Church meetings in.
People arrive early to move his bed, table, and set up chairs and even then,
some stand to hear the meetings.  This coming Sunday we will move into
a larger building.   Grandpa is helping haul chairs there right now!
Plus, we just got 35 more chairs from off the boat today
and hopefully we will get a chalkboard too.

I am thankful that we moved here at the beginning of the 'new group'.

It is fun to watch the growth, to hear the stories, to meet in Gerson's home.

After he told me his story, he added:  I am very happy!

Thanking him for his attitude and example, I asked him why he was so strong.

He shared another quote that his Mother would often tell him:

Tristesa nao paga a Renda!

(Sadness doesn't pay the rent!)

And so he wheels himself to work at his internet company and pays his own way.

To work is such a blessing, to do hard things makes us happy and strong.

Then he told me about the greatest happiness in his life, 

the best part of the whole story to him.  

He received a phone call from his mom in Portugal this past May.  

She told him that she had found the original Church of Jesus Christ 

with the same power and promises! 

She had called leaders on Sal 

and wanted him to listen to them when they came to his door.

Gerson had no trouble trusting his Mom 

because she had saved him many times,

and he waited to hear this important message.

He received the same answers to his study and prayers 

that his mother had and then with a big smile he told me 

that he had been baptized in June.  

Another family that had discovered the gospel

in Mindelo had moved here and also wanted to start a group 

in Santa Maria and Gerson volunteered his home.  

I don't know if great people see themselves that way,

probably not, because they are too busy serving others to notice.  

But, in my book, This is a GREAT young man.  

At the end of our conversation, he said, "I know that 

someday I will walk again. I just feel that I will!"  

With his gratitude and faith...I think he will too.

D&C 64:33

Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, 

for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  

And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.