18 August 2014
Hello my lovely, lovely family! I hope that all is well there! I
can't believe that ya'll are staring sch ool already! Looks like your little
get away trip was so much fun!
Ok, this week's letter will be a little bit different.
First of all, this week was pretty stinkin' cold. We worked so
hard,walked A TON! And felt the spirit, invited our brains out (you know, that
missionaory thing, inviting the world to make changes!) And arrived in church
yesterday with no one, nada. Yikes! But we are learning a lot about faith and
patience and trusting in the Lord's timing and ficando positivo:) Oh, we did
have a pretty big vicory yesterday actually: 15 minutes before church started,
( we were running around like chickens after getting their heads cut off trying
to gather all of our investigators for church) our ass. to the ward mission
leader called saying that he was sick and could we please teach Gospel
Principles? Yuuuuuus. So. 2 Americans taught a class of 25 + brazillians the
lesson yesterday about the Word of Wisdom. It was actually really fun and I'm
glad we could do it. It made me feel better about our day:)
Ok Mom your questions:
1 (the one from 2 weeks ago about how I apply the Atonement in my
life on a daily basis. Actually, many days the hope of the Atonment and the
reality that because of the Atonement I will live with my Heavenly Parents
again is what gets me through. The general Plan of Salvation concept of the
Atonement is for the day to day! I've learned a lot during the mish abou the
"Eternal Perspective" that we need to have, it helps with everything!
Moroni 7:41 talks about this perfectly! Also, there is a phrase in PMG on pg 11
that I love! It says that by working with all of our might, mind and strength
is the way we can show our Savior our appreciation for His Atonement. Wow. Also
a coupel of pages before it says that to the extent that we give of ourselves
and work show our understanding of the Atonment, the harder we work, the more
we are learning about the Atonment! This week especially. When i thought I
literally could not take another step, when I thought I could not handle
another person not showing up, falling through, lying to us, feeling the spirit
and then STILL choosing not to change, I rememberd those phrases in PMG. I
remembered why I am here, and remembered my Savior and His Atonment for me.
That through the grace of His Atonement I can be so much greate, help so much
more, than I could ever do alone. Teaching the Plan of Salvation in it's most
simple form many times a week has helped me realize this so clearly!
Ok pause. My companhera just died laughing for like 5 minutes. Red
in the face everything. when I finally asked her why??? Ok, story time. She was
writing to her family about an experience that happend to yours truly earlier
in the week. oooooooooooooook. Everyone ready? So. it was dark, we were walking
from one app to another and had just passed a group of drunk men outside of a
bar. " Oi, tudo bem? Tudo, otimo." Ok. We noticed a little comotion
on the other side of the street, with some police men and a dude, they were
looking in his back pack etc. In my defense this was REALLY interesting, ok?
Remember that. I was watching this all go down when my foot caught on the
cobblestone. Seriously, next thing I know I'm laying flat on my stomach with my
hands still in my pockets staring down a bench. Yes. I literally walked and
then fell right exactly onto a bench. It actually was incredible. My toe hit
it, I made a sound like a dying cow and fell, face first onto a bench. I stayed
there for a couple of seconds wondering where I was and Sister Cox was dying
laughing. After I had time to compose myself I was laughing my head off too.
Only in my life! We were lauhing and reinacting the scene for like 10 minutes.
Eventually some policemen passed by and asked if everything was ok.. . . . no!
Aaaand the word for bench in portuguese is banco^:)
Rest assured, I'm still my special self over here!
Ok,Mom, i don't know why I thought I could answer all of your
questions. . . the rest will have to wait, I really thought about them and have
answers all ready!
Here is your list pops!
There are sooo many churches here. Seriously, every road has like 5.
Everyone is part of a church and some of them have services every night of the
week! Lots of them have rules like you have to wear skirst and you can't cut
your hair etc. Lots of times walking down the street you can tell what church
people go to. The thing is though, they all have people yelling, chanting or
singing weird stuff. . . . During the night walking a long you can hear
like 5 church services happeing at any given spot.
Lots of people here still use horse and buggies! Or there will be a
teenager just riding his horse down the road, it's awesome!
They don't have speed limit signs here and so just have these really
annoying speed bumps, or lampadas ( i think. . . . ) riding in a car is
annoying! Luckily I don't do that very often:)
Well that's a wrap folks. Someday I'll be able to tell you guys everything
I want to. . .
I finished the Book of Mormon this week! I love that book with all
of my heart and am so greateful for the testimony I have of it. I will never
let it weaken or die! Please read the Book of Mormon with a prayer to learn and
you will!
I love you family! To the moon and back!!
Sister Ventura:)
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