Pneumonia Shpoomonia
March 25, 2013
So, I’m not quite sure where to begin. Pneumonia Shpoomonia The weekend before the baptism of Licurgo de Oliveira 3-3-13 (pretty awesome date, huh?), I got a nasty sore throat. Then, what always follows? Phlegm. Of course. It has lasted thiiiiiiiiiiiiiis looooooooooong because I’m broken. There’s this thing called P-DAY that I use to run around with my head chopped off; so I can write letters, write in my journal (that I’m behind in, as usual), wash clothes, buy food, clean the house, organize, fold clothes, ya know. So, this thing called relaxation doesn’t exist in my vocab. The mission has killed my procrastination dead. I can’t sit still for a moment. Not a single moment. |
Being quite exhausted from coughing after a lunch in the house, I slept a nice, sweaty nap. I was worried about our investigators, our teaching group that disappeared after this past transfer, my inanimation [lack of enthusiasm], and my lack of knowledge of what to do with this ward, which needs to be more unified. I dreamed that I was reading the scriptures in Portuguese. (WOO HOO, it’s been a while since I’ve dreamed in Portuguese.) I woke up during my nap and wrote down what I read. “Enfracecem por não conhecer o Senhor.” [Weaken by not knowing the Lord.] So, I have become weak—physically and spiritually—because I don’t know God well... hmmm. Usually, the answer for me is I need more faith. This was quite a puzzle. But I liked it. I know that this sickness will only disappear when I figure out how to put all my heart, might, mind, and strength in this work even when I’m sick. “Are you asking for a CHALLENNNNNGE??” Oh, Strongbad.
These Mashed Potatoes Are So Creamy So, the family who so perfectly lives like the family in While You Were Sleeping hasn’t progressed much. Nilda can’t leave the house because of Tereza BUT wants us to tell our “church leaders” her situation; because she really likes going to hear the word, but she needs someone to stay with Tereza. Tereza fell and cracked her skull when they were vacationing in Rio. She was operated on there and is functioning pretty well. Márcia can’t imagine terminating with her boyfriend to get baptized. Carolina is still addicted to the computer, BUT she prays like I’ve never heard anyone pray. “Let me know if I should stay in this church. Tell me if all this is true. I still haven’t received an answer, but I want to know.” We’re going to teach her about |
hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
Licurgo’s video game-addicted son made friends with our WML [Ward Mission Leader] and will go to the video game tournament the YM [Young Men] will have.
Vandilson WENT TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!! He sat with Wanderlei and Ivone because he already was friends with them! He works on base, so he basically knows half the ward. The ward seemed pretty juiced to have him there, even our head-strong Daví who gave his typical “first lesson” Gospel Principles lesson aimed directly at him. He even said before starting the lesson that it was for HIM and that we should have more people like HIM who are visiting and wanting to know the truth. Heh heh, Vandilson, who is a reserved, well-educated
Licurgo’s video game-addicted son made friends with our WML [Ward Mission Leader] and will go to the video game tournament the YM [Young Men] will have.
Vandilson WENT TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!! He sat with Wanderlei and Ivone because he already was friends with them! He works on base, so he basically knows half the ward. The ward seemed pretty juiced to have him there, even our head-strong Daví who gave his typical “first lesson” Gospel Principles lesson aimed directly at him. He even said before starting the lesson that it was for HIM and that we should have more people like HIM who are visiting and wanting to know the truth. Heh heh, Vandilson, who is a reserved, well-educated
30 year-old was a tiny bit intimidated, needless to say. BUT the lesson ended on a spiritual high. He left pretty quickly after the final hour ended and various other people wanted to still talk to him. Slippery Fish has a weak side, though, because he likes to talk on facebook; SOOOOOOOOOOO Sister D’Avila, my mini missionary daughter [who is home now], has been sending us all the details.
Does that rock or what? Yep, totally. What the BUS?? So, our money every 15 days is R$130, which isn’t even R$10 a day. The bus we have to take every day is R$4 ONE WAY because we work in São Pedro. Soooooo, I’m praying a LOT, ahhaha, and abusing my credit card at home... and hating months that have 31 days. |
WOW Moments
I’m LOVING to learn. There have been so many marking moments—me and the Spirit—that is really taking me by surprise just how profound your testimony can become. In the talk “Joy in the Journey” by S. Michael Wilcox, he says the Holy Ghost “guides us into all truth.” (John 16:13) Into? Why into? Then, I imagined a door with the word TRUTH on it. We, as missionaries, have the privilege to open this door and let our investigators look in. The Holy Ghost has the power to open their eyes, but it is only after baptism and the commission of the Holy Ghost that the Holy Ghost can take them by the hand and tour them around inside. When we get distracted by the world, we leave this room of hidden treasures and try to find treasures elsewhere. It’s only through this door that we can find the door to Eternal Life. Personal revelation is required to acquire eternal life. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2004/01/joy-in-the-journey?lang=eng |
March 16, 2013