Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Elder Jonathan Engle 05/18/2015 Letter to the ward




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.


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