Ola familia e amigos!!
Eu tenho muitos good news isse semana!
First, I LOVE PORTUGUESE! And I looove learning it! We started teaching in Portguese this week and it’s pretty excellent. I don’t have all the tenses and conjugations down, nor do I have a very large vocabulary, but I can get by just fine. We taught in volunteer “investigator” this week for an hour and at the end he was telling us how impressed he was with our Portuguese, especially for only being here for 5 weeks. We are so blessed.
More good news… visas are coming! 5 came on Monday afternoon, and then five people were gone by the next morning. Wowza. But before your visa comes you have to do an online application, which only lasts 30 days. Annnnnd, I did the online application! So did 5 elders in my district! Which possibly means I’ll be in Brazil within 30 days. Maybe not though, we have no idea. But things are moving along!
And more good news, so you know how we’ve had three apostles in a row, Nelson, Scott, Ballard… well, yes yes, make that FOUR apostles in FOUR weeks at devotional! Elder David A. Bednar came on Tuesday! Whoa whoa crazy daisy. It was excellent of course. He spoke on how the answer to everything is ALWAYS in the DOCTRINE. The doctrine is found in the scriptures, in words of the profetas/prophets, and in authorized proclamations by the first presidency. He told us to study and teach the doctrine. It was so good and the spirit was so strong, especially when he walked into the room. Oh I love the MTC.
We had mission conference this week. Excelllent. I realized that those of us who are blessed with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ MUST share it, and that we really should be the happiest people in the world. Ola, we have the fulness of the gospel! Fantastico!
Every Sunday we have firesides, guess who spoke at that? Sheri Dew. Yep. Fantastic as well. She said how when we know who we are, it changes everything. When we know and understand that we are children of a loving God, and He desires to bless our lives, it changes everything we do and how we live. And when we understand and know that He loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son to atone for all of our pains and sins, we appreciate so much more. The Savior suffered every pain we have ever suffered, every sorrow, every sickness, every feeling, he understands how we feel in every situation, because he’s been through everything, because he loves us.
So more good news I share today is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word “gospel” means good news. And it truly is the best news ever! The knowledge of the gospel brings me peace and hope in every situation. I know the Lord has his hand in everything and wants me to come unto him. I love the gospel and I am so grateful for my oppurtunity to represent Jesus Christ as a missionary and share the restored gospel with the children of God. Coming on a mission is the best thing in the world.
We watched a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about how our missions are so important. They should mean everything to us. They should change our lives, the lives of our families, and the lives of the people we serve. My mission means everything to me.
I can’t wait to get to Brazil and teach real investigators. And our two teachers are returned Protuguese speaking missionaries and so I learn what it’s actually like from them. One of our teachers was talking about the food and I’m so excited to have acai bowls again when I get to Brazil, and real acai bowls! I’m not excited for the mystery meat, but hopefully I’ll be able to pick around some of it. Our teacher said that one time he had a pig tooth in something he was eating. Some people use the whoooole animal in there. Uh oh. Not good for me. But I’ll figure it out. And their beans and rice are just fantastic and there are sooo many wonderful and delicious fruits. I think I’ll survive, and thrive.
I got to see my wonderful aunty yesterday which is such a blessing. It is one of the highlights of my week. And she tells me how the family is doing and says inspiring things and brings me delicious treats from the outside world. :) Love it.
Another sister I met in Jerusalem came this week too! Sister Mayfield! There are sooo many girls that I went to Jerusalem with that are now on missions. BYU Jerusalem is life changing I tell you. And my good wonderful friend from BYUH, Sister Lautiki, came too! And she told me about more missionaries that are coming. Missions are the best and I’m soooo excited for my amigas who are working on papers and preparing for the mish field. It is the BEST!
Life is beautiful here. I’m loving the missionary training center bubble. It’s fantastic. And fall is sooooo beautiful! I haven’t experienced fall in a while, going to school in Hawaii, so I am loving it. There are so many beautiful leaves! Be prepared, you might get some in the mail. :)
Well friends and loved ones, thank you for reading my letters of goodness and I hope everything is joyous for you.
Ciao!
PS I wear my parrot earrings every day.
No Comments