Ok. Talk about being crippled (missionary style) Last week I gave the spiritual thought for our baptism right? Right, cool, parabens etc etc. I used my Bible and afterward left it there in the church, our church building is suuuper far away so I couldn't go and get it. But no problem we just called the Elder who serve in that area and asked them to bring it to our zone mtg on Tuesday. No big deal, just a p-day without a bible! Ok, so when I got to the mtg I asked the elders and yeah, they had been to the churhc and got my bible and MOVED IT to a different room. . . . ok. I went a whole week without a Bible and was just reunited with it last night. It was a happy reunion. That was the leg. The arm: Because it was the end of transfers we all needed new planners, but our zone leaders forgot last week so I went a week without a planner too. . . .all of you missionaries know that this the worst thing ever! Our ZL's said they would bring them tomorrow I sure hope so, or there's going to be a war in camp! Just kidding. . . . .And just to let you know how cool I am and how much I needed p-day: Friday I left the house without the above mentioned items, plus I forgot to grab my writing utensils and a new Book of Mormon! Yes, my aging is becoming more apparent, (dad) after the 20th I hear everything just deterioates faster and faster.
Ok, so this week was a little rough but really good too of course. I found this quote in PMG that's by a recent convert talking about the transition of being a member of the church but it really applies to how I feel being a missionary. " This past year (8 months) has been the hardest year that I have ever lived in my life. It has also been the most rewarding. As a [missionary], I continue to be challenged every day." PMG pg 20. It's oh so true. Going a long with this I wanted to include a little ditty from my journal that I wrote last p-day after reading your letter Tayler:)
*Tayler wrote a fabulous e-mail today! She's doing so great and it made me think of her deciding to serve a missiona and what I might tell her: Sometimes you WILL feel like you're a complete joke, you will feel useless, you will want to just go home, you will feel like you physically cannot take another step, you will feel emotionally like you just can't take it anymore. But. Through all of this you have to just KEEP GOING. Pray. Read the Book of Mormon with the intention of finding peace. KEEP GOING. Because there will also be those moments, days, weeks, where you are full to bursting with the love of Christ;charity. That's what I would tell her!* And really anyone who is deciding to serve, who is serving, who isn't serving, myself!
Mom, I think that kind of answers your question too about the kind and amount of joy I have here in the mission. Yes, It's different but it's purere than any joy I've felt before ( well it's the same type I felt going through the Temple:) and it's more common than in my life before.:)
Random side note: Last Sunday Setember 7th was the Independence day of Brazil! We sund the anthem during Sac. Mtg it's groovy sauce! Look it up fam and listen to it! Also look up a little of the history of Brazil, it's cool, I had never heard any of it before also I don't have time right now to write it:)
Remember the huge lesson I learned about my timing verus Heavenly Father's timing with the whole going on a mission business? I sure do. It's interesting how we sometimes have to be reminded of lessons we already learned with little mini lessons, even if the Lesson was huge! For example: I learned so well ( i thought!) How it felt when I wasn't following the Lord's course for me and just battling to continue on my course with my timing. And then how it felt so completley different to be doing the Lord's timing ( when I waited a semester before leaving) Sister Cox and relearned this lessons this week:) We had this great righteous plan to take Joanice and Vitoria to the Temple and have a lesson there to prepare them to enter etc. It just wasn't working out with anyone, no could help us etc. We ended up wasting a lot of time going to talk to members etc because we wanted to do it a certain day. AFTER we wanted all the time we both prayed and admitted to one antoher that we had both had the thought many times that this wasn't the Lord's timing. " But this is something good so why shouldn't it be tomorrow (for example) ?" We don't know why many, many times, but this is something I DO KNOW: When wer are following the Lord's course, it will not feel really confusing and appear impossilbe. This doesn't mean it won't be hard, but it WILL be clear. D&C talks about this really well. We will have that stupor of thought! Turns out Jo couldn't last mintue anyways becaus she got sick. . . . .Heavenly Father knows people! This was SUCH a good reminder to me and I hope that I can do better at following the Lord's course for me. It ALWAYS is the happiest way, always!
I love my Heavenly Father, and I KNOW, I simply know that He loves me so much. So, so much. But the thing is, He loves every single one of His children with this same love.:) I hope you all can feel it.
Family: How is the missionary challange coming?? CALL THE MISSIONARIES!
Ardenezio WAS happy! Hahah he almost always looks like that. . . . ;)
Yesterady was so great, we had 2 solid investigators, (Ailton and Tiago) at church that have great potential to be baptized this next week. I know they have great potential because they were both excited and got all spiffed up and showed up at the bus stop ALONE without us having to get them, this is huge! And Tiago, this 18 yr old kid who loves soccer asked us if he could invite a friend and then he did!! Ailton can't read really well at all but read 5 PAGES of the Book of Mormon after our first visit! YES!
I love you people and I love these people:) I hop you all have a blessed week
Love,
Sister Ventura:)
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