“Are You Brazilian?”
October 8, 2012
Cabo Frio is FRIO MESMO. It’s ALWAYS winding... I mean… NOT winding... always... blowing? Windy? Yeah,
Cabo Frio is FRIO MESMO. It’s ALWAYS winding... I mean… NOT winding... always... blowing? Windy? Yeah,
I guess. Oh, dear brain, please don’t apply the “DON’T NEED IT, DELETE IT” phrase to my English. Pretty please. [She is so cute when she loses her English skills.] God is really watching out for me; because although Cabo Frio is on the far reaches of the mission, it’s one of the coldest areas the sisters can serve. God didn’t want me to turn into the Wicked Witch of the West: “I’m meeeeeeltinggggggg!” Now, I really can’t wait for Christmas to come. All the sisters have been waitin’ for Christmas to come (singing Christmas songs; Sister Céspedes talking about the mini tree she somehow packed and has been guarding this whole time). But I was a bit reluctant because of the inevitable word SUMMER glaring at me.
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The Story of Cabo Frio
Cabo Frio is an area that used to be dominated by elders. (I’m saying in quantity, not quality, unfortunately. However, the elders I know of who served here were relatively good. It just goes to show that just one set of missionaries can leave a bitter taste in the ward’s mouth very quickly.) The ward was NOT getting along with the elders (I don’t know exactly what happened). They prayed, fasted, and even had a ward council to figure out how to get rid of the elders... hehehe? Yikes. So, they special-ordered sister missionaries; and Sister Diller and Sister Taylor arrived last transfer. The chapel here is brand spankin’ new—only 2 months old—to the point that the cushy chairs haven’t been broken in yet. You sit down, and they don’t even get close to giving way to your weight, hahha.
Our district has a DL from Idaho (THICK American accent), a Chilean (lots of hard syllables in this accent that I, thankfully, got used to with Bolivian Céspedes), Sister Diller (THICK American accent), and ME. So out of our teeny district, I have the best Portuguese accent, hahaha. THREE people have already asked if I’m Brazilian when they met me. Score one for the Big Man! The gift of tongues rocks!
We have 3 families who will be completed/baptized/married this transfer or next. There’s a lot of work cut out for us. However, I have yet to feel overwhelmed, AND I have yet to meet the other 2 families... strange. This week was relaxing because I was still taking it easy with my ankle. Sister Diller was eating it up, almost to the point that I was being bothered by how much she used me as an excuse to stay in the house, etc. Sister Sone warned me of this. I don’t really blame her, though, because she’s “dying” in t-minus ONE transfer. She doesn’t think she’s getting trunky; but, haha, well, we can’t always see our weaknesses as well as others can.
I CAN’T BELIEVE SCOTTY IS ALMOST DONE!!! I bet all those “knuckleheads” have returned from their mission by now... Jared? Mark?
So, the Saturday morning session of General Conference was supposed to announce the exciting * RIO DE JANEIRO TEMPLE; * but, boy, did I get blindsided by the news of the new age of missionaries!!!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!?!?? I must admit, I played the “What if?” game with myself: What if I had the chance to go when I was 19?? The answer really opened up the heavens for me, telling me to “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s because all the things that have happened were a real manifestation that I was in the mission field at the right time and with the right experiences that prepared me to be here, NOW, getting to know these people and preparing this mission for a temple. I know that our Heavenly Father knows what’s best for His children. He really can direct us through our stresses and worries, so we will never have to have regrets if we will but have faith and “BE a good boy, BE a good girl, and STOP WORRYIN’ about it.” |
Hmmm, she may be right. See for yourself by looking at the Google Map of this beautiful building: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Estrada+de+Jacarepagu%C3%A1,+6981,+Freguesia,+Rio+de+Janeiro+-+RJ+22753-033,+Brazil&aq=0&oq=Estr+Jacarepagu%C3%A1+6981+-+Freguesia,+22753-033+-+Rio+de+Janeiro+-+RJ&sll=-22.934622,-43.176849&sspn=0.013537,0.026157&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Estr.+de+Jacarepagu%C3%A1,+6981+-+Freguesia,+Rio+de+Janeiro,+22753-033,+Brazil&ll=-22.946686,-43.339772&spn=0.001601,0.00327&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-22.946605,-43.339778&panoid=ouqEJYz0tXu_KGqu04H32A&cbp=12,239.81,,0,-8.33
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I will write a letter today and send it. There is JUST TOO MUCH that I wanna say. Dear World, (Post this) Parents and families are one of the best gifts known to man. Don’t take advantage of them. Tell them TODAY that you love them. Mommy, I got your care package and almost died at how wonderfully organized and packed it was. My mom is a miracle worker, really; and I feel bad at how often I forget to express my gratitude for ALLLLLLL the things she does for me. I have no doubt that SHE knows it. Daddy, I love always always always your little letters you send me. Know why? 1 Cor 4:20, the importance isn’t in words, it’s in power. |
Troy, I love you and am so lucky to have you as my biggest brother.
Rachel, I will always cherish all the crazy pictures and energy you infused into our family. We had a Family and Friends lunch in Anil and couldn’t help but miss the buzz of the home. “These mashed potatoes are so creamy.” Cody, I really appreciate your good example you always have been to me. I’m so lucky to have lived with you and Jessi. Really, it was quite a blessing; and the things I learned will help me for the rest of my life. Benji, I thought about you a LOT during conference. Maybe it was because there were TWO stories about a “Ben” and three references to King Benjamin. If you could be a king of something, what would you be a king of? How would you govern your kingdom? I love my family and know they are blessings of God to learn discipline, patience, selflessness, and charity. |
It’s not easy to say good-bye to Jacarepaguá!
But, if I get to live like this in Cabo Frio, I’m sure I’ll be JUST FINE!