The great thing is, is that that quote actually didn't make any more sense when given in context.
We were at branch council yesterday and pres. Stutz (he's a character for sure!) Was trying to explain to us what we really need to do to involve people more, ie. less-actives, investigators etc. and make them feel welcome. He was demonstrating some examples of missionary work and fellow-shipping, aaaand that was my take away. Please apply that one to your lives this week! ( But actually, really!)
This week was another week jam-packed with miracles, laughs, learning moments and joy!
Tuesday: This was just a golden day! As in, it was actually sunny and and we taught uma pesquisadora de aureo! It's just a lovely happy haze in my mind! I don't remember if I talked about Prakash last time but. . . We taught him the restoration lesson and it was just beautiful! It was the first time I said the First Vision in English and I definitely messed up! Just a little bit but it didn't even make one bit of difference because the Spirit was so strong! Something I've noticed as I teach these basic principles over and again is that I'm learning them just as much as anyone and being able to testify of them over and over again strengthens my testimony so much! I realize the clarity and truth and simplicity of what I'm saying as I say it, It's an amazing opportunity I have right now! (Yoda style, why not.) Anyway, Prakash is from India, and just moved here in January to start working at one of the universities here. This is COMPLETELY foreign to what he's used to and he doesn't know a soul! But, he's the kindest man, and just wants to be friends withe everyone! He said he was feeling lonely right before we came and then when we came and gave him a book of mormon he knew it was an Answer from God! We'll meet with him again this sat. and he said he would have read the entire Book of Mormon by then because he's going on a business trip this week! Ay carumba! We'll see about that one:) Stay tuned! I can't wait to someday tell you guys all the details and amazing things about these fantastic people I'm meeting minha familia! I wish you could all meet them!
Wednesday: This was the day that it snowed literally like 3 feet. The entire city shut down including buses! We had to trek home and switch our weekly planning day so we could still be productive:) It's sad that now I consider 45-50 F to be warm but Tuesday that's what it was and we were bathing in the sunlight, we could actually see the grass and then. . . this had to happen! Mom, like I was telling you, because of the weather 2 sisters got to stay with us and one is also a visa waiter so we had legit language study! It was SO great! She's a native spanish speaker so she sounded almost fluent and it was SO good to be able to talk with her! We practiced teaching lessons to each other quando nossas companheras pobras (disculpa, when I talk, little phrases that I can actually say in Portuguese pop into my head and I just decide to use them because. . . why not? Realize, I'm not exactly sure if they're spelled right and I don't know how to do accents on here. . . :) tried to participate, they gave us lots of good study ideas and it really motivated me to be better at my Portuguese study and SYL! Falar em minha lingua todas vezes!
Thursday: Belinda! Another completely prepared person! I know this because she was just given to us and I know she's been waiting. We taught the restoration again, she had never heard of the BOM or Joseph Smith and kept saying how much sense it all made, how so many churches had come to be etc. She's on a quest for the truth because she wants to teach her children the truth! Her husband (she's married!) is also religious but a different christian religion and they're trying to figure out what to teach their family. They have three beautiful kids, and are just this great little family trying to do what's right, it's beautiful. Sister C and I were talking about how amazed and grateful we are that Heavenly Father is blessing our are so much and allowing us to see all of these miracles, it is so exciting and so humbling.
Friday: We taught Duane and Ke two of our Chinese investigators and Ke said his first prayer! It was the cutest thing! He was SO nervous, (he's never prayed in his life!) but he he said the opening prayer and it was just so simple, and sincere and perfect. It's really strange teaching people that have absolutely no previous concept of ANYTHING we're talking about! Kind of nice, but also kind of strange. What a leap of faith though. We also taught Mandie and wow, every time she surprises us with something new! The time before we asked her to pray about the Lei de castidade. Well she is, and she really wants to be baptized and she told us that the only two options she can see are tying the knot with Collin or breaking it, which she really doesn't want to do. Aaand they weren't planning on getting married for 2-3 years , but she doesn't want to wait that long to be baptized, which is good! It's quite a complicated situation, and it's real life. It's not easy. We are continuing to teach her and pray for her. Please add her to your prayers, she's so close and completely deserves and is ready for this happiness. Wowow moment: When we were teaching she said, " just a minute! I read something about this!" Pulls out her BOM to her most recent reading and applied a verse to what we were talking about! It was the best ever! I can barely do that! She is the coolest!
Saturday: Today was basically like Christmas because we went to ta baptism with Duane and Mandie and Ke! We had a really great mini lesson on baptism in the Chapel right before, it was awesome! We had dinner with a little Italian less-active, Sister Hakes. So she has these 2 cats and there is hair everywhere, what's new right? I sit on a stack of magazines, put my bag up high, it doesn't matter, we leave with hair everywhere! I learned this trick with a squirt bottle that Sis Hakes has just for that reason, it works pretty nifty. Just hold the bottle in the cats face and it is out of there! It got to the point that I would just look at "baby," reach my hand toward the bottle and he was donzo. I was feeling pretty powerful. One time Sister Hakes saw me and just starting laughing her head off and said, " you're going to give my cat a complex!" It was classic. There was also the time when she spit here water out because I called her special Italian macaroni stuff noodles on accident. .. it was hilarious. I wish I had time to share all of the other hilarious/disgusting, animal inspired humor that I now posses!
I absolutely love the scriptures and I want everyone to know it. I have never known or understood how much is in there. I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true and that the Bible and Book of Mormon compliment each other so much! I wish everyone could see that! My Book of Mormon study is one of my absolute favorite times of the day!
Eu amo voces muito minha familia!
com amor,
Sister Ventura Alma 17 <3
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