Ele é esperança/ A luta é real.

March 30, 2015

That means, "the fight is real!" Man, this week was another so intense and full and good, let me just get started :) But first of all, there is something wrong with my camera and no one can figure out what is is, so for right now, I'm not able to send anything. . . :( But I'll get it figured out and send a bunch of pics as soon as possible :)

Ok, as I am so aware, my time is becoming so very limited and my heart is not taking it so well. It doesn't help that Sis. Peterson and another sister in our house are going home in exactly 1 week! Things are are so crazy! And they are seriously sooo trunky hahah. But anyway, on Thursday we had a mission conference and the group of departing missionaries all bore their testimonies, when Sister Dias bore hers I just couldn't take it. I think because I'm so close to her and loved working with her and know the passion she has for her mission. I could feel a little bit of what she was feeling and I just realized how precious this time is and couldn't stop crying. yikes. Then yesterday our ward missoin leader gave a training for the 3rd hour about the obra missionaria and he showed a few videos. One of them, funnily enough, was about Tyler Haws and how he left basketball for 2 years to serve a missions. ok cool but it showed a video of the morning he left and arriving at the MTC and his mom crying and his mom was holding his hand in the car and crying and it was EXACTLY the same scene that we experienced 15 months ago, but it feel like it was yesterday. I don't know where the time has gone. And again, I just felt someting so intense and just starting crying-I LOVE my mission so much, every single day! Here's a little bit of our week :)

Last week was Kelvyn's baptism I wish I had a pic. .. he's Kelim's brother and it was really interesting because he actually has a little bit of autism, so his family was really surprised when he accepted the invitation to go to church, and then to be baptized, no one believed it! His mom was talking to us the other day telling us how he usually never leaves the house or talks, he literally usually only says "sim", ou, "não." But since the very first time he went to church he is changing a little bit every day! He actually talks and laughs with us now and the other day we had a ward activity and he brought his friend! We were teaching him the other day and watched this video http://www.mormon.org/easter?cid=HP_FR_3-27-2015_dMIS_fMRMN_xLIDyL1-A_ with him and afterwards asked him to describe what the video made him feel in just word and he said, "esperança," or "hope." It was a really nice moment. Becaue that's perfect, that's exactly right, why did Jesus Christ come to the earth and give His life for us? To give all of mankind hope. Hope for the future, for tomorrow, hope for after this life, hope for our family. And maybe Kelvyn doesn't understand everything that's happening when he goes to church but he is experimenting of this hope that we have because of Jesus Christ and it's so beautiful to see:) This is why I love being a missionary-becuase really the little things like this are the big things, this is where it all starts. (Alma 37:7)

Another reason I love being a missionary? The other day we had started studying and Sister Inagaki was in the kitchen and started freaking out because she saw a huge cockroach in the food cabinet. I thought I could take it because it wasn't a spider. .. well I was there standig on top of a stool moving all of the food when all of a sudden the rotten guy showed himself again. Nasty. Seriously nasty. we were all screaming and he was running all over the place and finally the only Brazillian that lives with us killed it and told us to stop yelling. Hahah.

Another reason? Piraquara! I saw the sisters that are there right now at the conferencia and they told me about all of our recent converts that are still firme or returning, and the people that still remember me, yay:)

This weekend Mique and Tereza (a mom and son who is 18 years old) were baptized and I realized again how much Satan works to stop this work from happening, he attacks the investigator, the missionary, the ward, everyone. We have to be stronger, we have to win! I have been reading abou the 2,000 stripling warriors this week and it is so cool how the tactics and strategies are really for us, today! We too are battling every single day!  

 6 Now the leaders of the Lamanites had supposed, because of the greatness of their numbers, yea, they supposed that they should be privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto done; yea, and they had also prepared themselves with shields, and with breastplates; and they had also prepared themselves with garments of skins, yea, very thick garments to cover their nakedness.

 7 And being thus prepared they supposed that they should easily overpower and subject their brethren to the yoke of bondage, or slay and massacre them according to their pleasure.

 8 But behold, to their uttermost astonishment, they wereprepared for them, in a manner which never had been known among the children of Lehi. Now they were prepared for the Lamanites, to battle after the manner of the instructions of Moroni.

 9 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, or the Amalickiahites, were exceedingly astonished at their manner of preparation for war.

This is what we have to do! Satan has to be surprised because we are SO prepared- for anything that could happen! This might sound strange but something I have learned in my mission is the realness of the Devil and the spirits that are helping him. They never passed through the veil like we did, they know us and the the stronger and happier we are the more they try to impede (is that a word?) us. But as long as we stand in Holy Places and use the armor of God, we will be safe! It's all quite intense and real and I'm learning more every day. I want to invite you guys to read Alma 49 and 56 ( but especially 49:) and see how we have to prepare! 

I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers-always.

I know that Jesus Christ loves us and died so that we don't have to, He gives us hope.

I know that The Book of Mormom is essencial for our spiritual protection.

I love being a missionary for Jesus Christ, I love trying again and again every day.

I love you guys and am so grateful that I have such a wonderful, blessed family:)

I love you!

Loooove,

Sister Ventura :)