Araraguera, 27 Janeiro, 2009
Nice to meet you Linford’s family! In first place, I’m sorry for my English. I am still learning and trying to improve (lol).
My name is Elder Zamboni (now just brother Zamboni). Your son Steven Linford, was my last companion in the mission field and I was his first one. It was a great privilege to me to work side by side with him. He’s really good!
I want to share one specific experience with you. When Pres. Richardson came to the Brazil Mission I was with six months left in my missionary work. He asked for every missionary to greet him with a shake hand. When my turn came he said to me many things, and one of them was “I will make your six last months’ become the best of all your mission.
I remembered him about this promise in my interview before my last transfer and asked him to pray carefully about me to decide my last place and my last companion.
I need to explain that I was oftenly used as the missionary who “takes care” of “bad missionaries”. I don’t know how to explain it in English, but I cannot number how many times I got emergency transfers to stay with a “bad or rebel” missionary to take care of him. (And that was the reason that I asked Pres. Richardson pray carefully about my last companion) (lol) (lol)!!!
And the blessing is: I received Elder Linford! I really love him! He’s now a good friend to me. I explained to him that I was fisicaly (physically) tired but I would do my best to walk and teach him the best things I could.
I want to thank you for preparing and sending that great son to do the Lord’s Work. I’m aware that you have a big family. I Trust in Christ. He will do the best for us. And some day, our neighbor (even our family) will know about it. They will realize it in us.
I bear my testimony about Jesus Christ, the Lord, whom I’ve represented. He is our high Master and only Savior. The Church where we are, is his Church.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Elder Irmao Alessandro Manuel dos Santos Zamboni