Manaus Has a Temple Now!
June 11, 2012 email
It rained a loooot this week. I love it, but the people here think they’ll get sick, haha. One investigator, when seeing that I was without an umbrella and only using my rainjacket—which is AWESOMENESS dressed in a raincoat (I almost forgot the name)—was insisting that I use hers. I feel, at times, that I’m back in the 1700s here—the people caring for the women like they’re fragile creatures. When I trip over a rock, people act like I’m going to die, hahaaaaa!! They really don’t know me, do they? Bahaha!!
I guess I haven’t been mentioning Sister Diller and Sister Soneghet (neghet means lover of black people, so soneghet means she only loves black people, haha). They are the other sister missionaries who live in our apartment with us and are in charge of the Campinas ward. They’re really hard workers but get sick really easily. Sister Sonesone has an immune deficiency, and Sister Diller has a heart issue. They were sick last night and went home from the sessions of the temple dedications early. When we got home, they had been frustrated with our DL [District Leader], who is kinda tired of them being sick. I didn’t participate and wrote in my journal, instead. Afterwards, though, Sister Soneghet talked with me; and Sister Diller talked with Sister De Oliveira. Sister Soneghet talked with me about my worries of the mission. Even though I only said I was worried about the balance between worrying about numbers and people, she gave me her advice. She said to love your companion and pray. A lot. So, although I’m still trying to pin down the things I’m supposed to learn here in Santa Margarida (suburbish, really, of Campo Grande), I’m taking her advice. This morning, I talked to Sister DeO about our DL, and she actually listened. She knew I had a lot of experience with guys, since I have three brothers; and she knows she gets really agitated with them easily. She thanked me! Woo HOO! Breakthrough!
There was another breakthrough, too. One night, I was trying to voice my opinion to my companion; and she only thought I was not understanding. She got frustrated and said, “Oh Deus do céu.” People here use expressions/expletives with the name of God in it a lot. “How are you today?” “Great, thank God.” “For the love of God.” It is very untoward, most ARDENTLY, hahaha. Anyway, instead of snapping, I sat there, gave a no-tooth grin, raised my eyebrows, and then said, “This is what I’m trying to say...” and gave my suggestion or idea, which she poo-pooed. So, we went to bed with an unresolved, unplanned day ahead. And guess what? We got nothing done that day. She apologized; because when I made that face, deep inside, she realized that she was doing the thing that we talked about the day before… getting irritated at miscommunication. It was comical, really, because we literally talked about it the day before. I’m glad I’m learning how to do my part of communicating. I know I’m improving. Woo hee! My dear future husband would be proud, haha.
Before there were any missionaries serving in the Manaus area, the people of Manaus had been asking for missionaries. However, missionaries hadn’t been allowed to serve there because it was SO remote. The people kept asking, though, and FINALLY the president consented IF they:
1. had people ready to be taught;
2. found free transportation for 2 elders; and
3. understood that the missionaries would only stay for 4 months.
The rest is… HISTORY. NOW, they have a temple! How wonderful it is that these faithful saints have a temple. Let’s make sacrifices to build the work in our temples that we already have in the states.
It rained a loooot this week. I love it, but the people here think they’ll get sick, haha. One investigator, when seeing that I was without an umbrella and only using my rainjacket—which is AWESOMENESS dressed in a raincoat (I almost forgot the name)—was insisting that I use hers. I feel, at times, that I’m back in the 1700s here—the people caring for the women like they’re fragile creatures. When I trip over a rock, people act like I’m going to die, hahaaaaa!! They really don’t know me, do they? Bahaha!!
I guess I haven’t been mentioning Sister Diller and Sister Soneghet (neghet means lover of black people, so soneghet means she only loves black people, haha). They are the other sister missionaries who live in our apartment with us and are in charge of the Campinas ward. They’re really hard workers but get sick really easily. Sister Sonesone has an immune deficiency, and Sister Diller has a heart issue. They were sick last night and went home from the sessions of the temple dedications early. When we got home, they had been frustrated with our DL [District Leader], who is kinda tired of them being sick. I didn’t participate and wrote in my journal, instead. Afterwards, though, Sister Soneghet talked with me; and Sister Diller talked with Sister De Oliveira. Sister Soneghet talked with me about my worries of the mission. Even though I only said I was worried about the balance between worrying about numbers and people, she gave me her advice. She said to love your companion and pray. A lot. So, although I’m still trying to pin down the things I’m supposed to learn here in Santa Margarida (suburbish, really, of Campo Grande), I’m taking her advice. This morning, I talked to Sister DeO about our DL, and she actually listened. She knew I had a lot of experience with guys, since I have three brothers; and she knows she gets really agitated with them easily. She thanked me! Woo HOO! Breakthrough!
There was another breakthrough, too. One night, I was trying to voice my opinion to my companion; and she only thought I was not understanding. She got frustrated and said, “Oh Deus do céu.” People here use expressions/expletives with the name of God in it a lot. “How are you today?” “Great, thank God.” “For the love of God.” It is very untoward, most ARDENTLY, hahaha. Anyway, instead of snapping, I sat there, gave a no-tooth grin, raised my eyebrows, and then said, “This is what I’m trying to say...” and gave my suggestion or idea, which she poo-pooed. So, we went to bed with an unresolved, unplanned day ahead. And guess what? We got nothing done that day. She apologized; because when I made that face, deep inside, she realized that she was doing the thing that we talked about the day before… getting irritated at miscommunication. It was comical, really, because we literally talked about it the day before. I’m glad I’m learning how to do my part of communicating. I know I’m improving. Woo hee! My dear future husband would be proud, haha.
Before there were any missionaries serving in the Manaus area, the people of Manaus had been asking for missionaries. However, missionaries hadn’t been allowed to serve there because it was SO remote. The people kept asking, though, and FINALLY the president consented IF they:
1. had people ready to be taught;
2. found free transportation for 2 elders; and
3. understood that the missionaries would only stay for 4 months.
The rest is… HISTORY. NOW, they have a temple! How wonderful it is that these faithful saints have a temple. Let’s make sacrifices to build the work in our temples that we already have in the states.
President Lima [Rio de Janeiro mission president] wanted us to go to all 3 sessions of the temple dedication. That was so cool. We also got to see the broadcast of the temple cultural celebration. ALL ages participated in the temple cultural celebration! That means... haha... it wasn’t as organized as I remembered the Sacramento Temple cultural celebration being. It was nostalgic, nonetheless. For Sister DeO, it was the first time she had ever witnessed a temple dedication. |
I received a lot of personal revelation, and it was great to hear the stories 3 times. President Uchtdorf and Elder Cook were there. Also attending were Elders Claudio R. M. Costa, Jairo Mazzagardi, Carlos A. Godoy, and William R. Walker. I will talk of 3 or 4 favorite points. They talked to the youth A LOT.
So, YOUTH, please, please PLEASE don’t ever do anything that would disqualify you from entering the doors of the temple.
Return FREQUENTLY to the temple, and drink of the divinity of the work you are doing.
Increase your testimony.
Do Family History work! I am working really hard to have my voice heard here in Santa Margarida. I have a strong testimony of the work we need to do in geneaology before we can have a temple here in Rio. If we build stakes here among the living and the dead, we will have a temple here twice as fast. Turn your heart to your family, living and dead. You are part of the responsibility of the work of eternal families.
Every cornerstone and temple lessens the power of Satan on earth and increases the power of God and Godliness on this earth. Let’s drop-kick Satan to the curb!!! BOOOMSHAKALAKA! Jesus put a large emphasis on temples. He taught there when he was only 12. He cast the money-changers out of the temple. He answered questions when he was in the temple, specifically, which law was the most important. Let us be known as people who love God with all our heart.
MINI EDMONDS!!! Thank you so much for your letter. It touched my heart and is hanging on the fridge for all to see!! Smiley face!
Cody and Jessi, thanks for working so hard with the missionaries. I wish we had you here.
I can’t even RECOGNIZE Baby E. Craziness.
P.S. The LAST NUMBERS reported OUR ZONE WAS LEADING THE MISSION! WOOT!
We can still do so much more!!
So, YOUTH, please, please PLEASE don’t ever do anything that would disqualify you from entering the doors of the temple.
Return FREQUENTLY to the temple, and drink of the divinity of the work you are doing.
Increase your testimony.
Do Family History work! I am working really hard to have my voice heard here in Santa Margarida. I have a strong testimony of the work we need to do in geneaology before we can have a temple here in Rio. If we build stakes here among the living and the dead, we will have a temple here twice as fast. Turn your heart to your family, living and dead. You are part of the responsibility of the work of eternal families.
Every cornerstone and temple lessens the power of Satan on earth and increases the power of God and Godliness on this earth. Let’s drop-kick Satan to the curb!!! BOOOMSHAKALAKA! Jesus put a large emphasis on temples. He taught there when he was only 12. He cast the money-changers out of the temple. He answered questions when he was in the temple, specifically, which law was the most important. Let us be known as people who love God with all our heart.
MINI EDMONDS!!! Thank you so much for your letter. It touched my heart and is hanging on the fridge for all to see!! Smiley face!
Cody and Jessi, thanks for working so hard with the missionaries. I wish we had you here.
I can’t even RECOGNIZE Baby E. Craziness.
P.S. The LAST NUMBERS reported OUR ZONE WAS LEADING THE MISSION! WOOT!
We can still do so much more!!