Letter to the ward:
Dear Oak Hills First,
Wow! It´s hard to think about
seeing you all in August. Honestly, I don´t want to come home . You´re going to
have to ask the Executive Secretary to send my membership form here, because
I´m so happy here. President Gordon B. Hinckley was correct when he said that
if we want to be happy, we need to forget ourselves and live the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. Back home I always thought I understood what´s happiness. Now I
know that I knew nothing!
I´m so thankful to be lost in
this true work, for it is here that I´ve found myself. I´ve learned better to
trust in the Lord in all things. I´m currently serving in Santa Inês, Maranhão,
Brazil. It´s the most humble region of Brazil. People here are simple and
loving. The culture here is open and loving. On every street corner there´s a
church. We´ve actually visited some of the churches here, teaching the pastors
and members about the Restoration of the gospel.
I know the Lord says that He
never gives more than you can take, but He´s sure giving us a lot to do here!
I´m currently serving as Group President, District Leader and Missionary
Trainer. The Church is here for less than two months and yesterday we had a
frequency of 37. I don´t say all of this to be GH (Gloria dos homens, which
means in English for the "Glory of Men"), but to give my written
witness that the Lord does His work, and He does it quickly. We don´t talk with
people in the streets, they talk with us. The call us from their homes, invite
us inside, give us delicious juice that you all will probably never try (it´s
the best in the world!), and they only want to talk about Jesus.
"And if any man among you
be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be
edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also." D&C 84:106.
I know that we´re the weak ones being helped by the example and Atonement of
our Savior, Jesus Christ.
When I began my Mission, the
Lord responded to my prayers telling me to forget about music, which I have
done. I´m currently serving with Elder Walker, from Brigham City. He may not
speak Portuguêse as much as he´d like, but together we bring the spirit,
singing beautiful duets in Sacrament Meeting. This Sunday we sang "Ye
Elders of Israel". Inspired by how many people were there, the church
shook with the spirit as we proclaimed this holy calling which we hold. I then
discursed. Full of the Spirit, I never saw a congregation be so reverent and
pay so much attention, in spite of being more than 100 degrees Farenheit.
Yesterday (Sunday), I feel was the most that I felt a broken heart and a
contrite spirit. I feel like I haven´t breathed since I got here! As I gave my
talk this Sunday, I realized that the last real meal that we´d eaten was our
Friday lunch. I hadn´t realized how much time it´d been since a proper meal.
The Lord carried us upon His shoulders. After our Sunday meetings, I found
myself full of a pure gratitude for God having carried us so far.
What a joy it is to proclaim this Eternal Gospel to the ends
of the Earth. I know that it´s true. I used to think swords and dragons were so
interesting, as I contemplated this fantasies. They´re passing dreams that will
never be realized. What is true power? It´s the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it
is this that brings us to an eternal rest with our families in the Celestial
Kindom. I still haven´t watched most of General Conference, but I´m listening to
it on my pen drive as I prepare myself every morning. I ask the same question
of you all: "Is it still wonderful to you?" I give you my answer that
yes, it´s absolutely amazing. There aren´t words in English or Portuguese that
truly express the joy within me lift my fellow brother, pointing him on the
path to our Father´s Home. I bear testimony of these Eternal truths, in the
name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
