TEEEMMMPLLLEEE!!!
April 8, 2013
Seeing Stars
[I threw my arm in the air, screeeamed, and then I cried and cried and cried some more. I was hoping you got to view General Conference LIVE this time (since you didn’t get to see the missionary age announcement live). My dear-E, you had somehow been feeling it and semi-patiently anticipating it ever since you got there. And, even more than the last big announcement, I REEEally wished I could have been in the room to see your reaction. We ALL want to hear about it.]
TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can I just say, can I just gloat? No no, I’m not gonna gloat. I’m going to praise the Lord forever. I don’t even know where to start! Since the moment I arrived here, I knew I was in the right place. WHY? Because I love temples. I understand and cherish the power of Elijah, so much so that as a greenie, I set my foot down and told our WML that we need to start family history to prep the ward for a temple in Rio; or it will never happen. I am so star-struck that I, teeny tiny ME, get to participate in the making of HISTORY.
Seeing Stars
[I threw my arm in the air, screeeamed, and then I cried and cried and cried some more. I was hoping you got to view General Conference LIVE this time (since you didn’t get to see the missionary age announcement live). My dear-E, you had somehow been feeling it and semi-patiently anticipating it ever since you got there. And, even more than the last big announcement, I REEEally wished I could have been in the room to see your reaction. We ALL want to hear about it.]
TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can I just say, can I just gloat? No no, I’m not gonna gloat. I’m going to praise the Lord forever. I don’t even know where to start! Since the moment I arrived here, I knew I was in the right place. WHY? Because I love temples. I understand and cherish the power of Elijah, so much so that as a greenie, I set my foot down and told our WML that we need to start family history to prep the ward for a temple in Rio; or it will never happen. I am so star-struck that I, teeny tiny ME, get to participate in the making of HISTORY.
So, ever since we have been planning for a temple,
I have imagined the momentous event: Would I be watching at BYU? Would I still be on the mission? Would I be married?-----psh NAAAAH! Let’s be realistic here. The Rio temple is closer than THAT. As General Conference was creeping up, I still imagined that I’d be at BYU watching, SCREAMING, CRYING, blowing snot bubbles into a hankie. I almost forgot about the possibility that it could be announced THIS conference. I wanted it so BAD last conference, and it didn’t happen; so I decided to prep myself. We were eating chicken, ham lasagna at bishop’s house. Bishop had already left to set up the internet and satellite [at the church], to make sure that nothing would happen as tragically as it had happened last time. Lunch was ready by... 12:30. Boo. [In her time zone, Saturday morning session starts at 1:00 pm.] They didn’t have internet at their house, so it looked like our chances of watching the beginning live were shot. Oh, well. During lunch, Daniella talked about the work Bishop has done, when he was called, HER doubts of him being called bishop and how she wouldn’t support him, how HE would drag her out of bed sometimes to go to church, etc. She admitted that if there would be a temple in Rio, she would lose her husband because he would LIVE there instead of at home. As we were giving a message about prophets and how they reveal secrets, the cell phone rang. Daniella picked up. “Serio! Que legal!” [Seriously! That’s cool!] EVERYONE was on pins and needles. I kept yelling at her to tell us what happened---but let’s be honest, I already knew. I already KNEW! But I needed the word. She hung up the phone and said they announced the construction of a temple in RIO DE JANEIRO! I let out a breath/laugh that I was holding in. I clasped my hands together and wanted to do SO many things, but I contained myself. You see, the daughters of the bishop are very quiet and well-behaved. They were smiling but not laughing. They were excited but not ECSTATIC. They were sitting and not CHEERING! So, I did a little dance in my brain because I only had “one malimit, one minute left in my brain.” [Tribute to Kid History, Episode 6. Hahaha!] I let out a sedated scream and STILL didn’t know what to do with myself. Then I frowned. After ALL this time, ALL this time waiting, and I didn’t watch it live NOR did I cry nor cheer nor faint. What a let-down. But then I thought about my Fan Club at home: my Primary kids who know Rio because of the movie and because of me, my former primary teachers, my mission friends, my school friends, my missionaries here with me, AND even allll the former missionaries who served here, who put a clod of dirt on the foundation that’s waiting for a temple. And I was satisfied. I lived vicariously in ALL their ecstatic shouts of joy and imagined the time when I would be able to wave that white hankie and, with shouts of glory, praise my everlasting Lord. THEN I thought of allllllll the work we have to do. The majority of people here aren’t “temple standard” yet. And then I cried. We have yet to fully prepare ourselves for this blessing. We need a temple to help sanctify us, but we need to clean this place up enough so that God wouldn’t hesitate to visit here and will feel comfortable in His house. Yes, this time is when we need to dig deep and do the dirty work. Let’s DO this! Take-Home |
As of yet, there is no artist rendition of the Rio de Janeiro Temple. Currently, the closest temples to Rio are the São Paulo and Campinas Temples, approximately 5 to 6 hours by car.
Exactly ONE YEAR ago, Sister Nelson attended the São Paulo Temple with her CTM companions, Sister Sessions and Sister Ward, as well as the elders in their district.
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The most important feeling I had after seeing Aunt Mindy and cousin Danielle was joy. [Danielle had just finished HER mission in Brazil.] I just saw my family! My FAMILY! HERE in BRAZIL! That’s my family, whom I am bound to, not only through marriage, but through the sealing powers of God! My testimony I always share here is: even though I live far away from my family, I don’t miss them because I’m here among my family members, helping my brothers and sisters come closer unto Christ. But NOW I really understand this testimony. I can HAVE my Brazilian brothers and sisters forever! When I help them come unto Christ and make covenants with God, I am guaranteeing yet another eternal bond with my spirit family. That joy I felt just SEEING my real family can be had here with the relationships I’m making here.
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TYPO!!??
I found a typo in a letter you wrote to me. I think you wrote “I” instead of “I’m.” And, of course, I’m one to talk; but it was a fun shocker to find a rare Mommy typo. Good to know you’re human, BUT you’re still Super Mom to me.
I found a typo in a letter you wrote to me. I think you wrote “I” instead of “I’m.” And, of course, I’m one to talk; but it was a fun shocker to find a rare Mommy typo. Good to know you’re human, BUT you’re still Super Mom to me.
Thanks to Didi
[When I saw the journal, I had to check when you finished it. December? You didn’t receive the next one until February. How soon will you need another journal? I have two more pink and brown ones. Do you want me to send cookies at the same time? Any other requests? I always send my love. You don’t need to ask for that. (Super cheesy smile.)]
Yes, I was really sweating it, wondering if I should buy a cheesy princesses notebook that are the only options around here. BUT, thanks to Didi, she sent a lovely personalized notebook with my name on it and everything. I’m finishing up with that one. PLEASE read my journals. That’s why I wrote them. If there are any good stories, you can share them as PS’s on the blog.
The Smell of New
I haven’t touched that pink and brown journal. (I’m just worshipping it for now. There’s something special about un-written-in journals. It has an energy to it, a power to make you want to LIVE to tell the tale on its white sheets.) It’s almost as if the Spirit of Elijah lives in journals, too… almost as if my future children are already anticipating the legendary stories.
My dear friends, WRITE YOUR STORIES. Just as important as reading scriptures is WRITING them.
Favors
Find all the pictures with Carla Fabiana—pictures when she was pregnant, then had her baby, and then when her 10-year-old daughter, Kamilly, got baptized. We’re going to make a special something for her. Her birthday is the same as yours. It already passed, yes, but she is really needing a lot of prayers and love.
I always love your cookies. I’m still hoarding some from Valentine’s Day. However, I always end up using up all the frosting before the cookies; BUT that means that I’ve found some inventive ways to “frost” cookies.
[When I saw the journal, I had to check when you finished it. December? You didn’t receive the next one until February. How soon will you need another journal? I have two more pink and brown ones. Do you want me to send cookies at the same time? Any other requests? I always send my love. You don’t need to ask for that. (Super cheesy smile.)]
Yes, I was really sweating it, wondering if I should buy a cheesy princesses notebook that are the only options around here. BUT, thanks to Didi, she sent a lovely personalized notebook with my name on it and everything. I’m finishing up with that one. PLEASE read my journals. That’s why I wrote them. If there are any good stories, you can share them as PS’s on the blog.
The Smell of New
I haven’t touched that pink and brown journal. (I’m just worshipping it for now. There’s something special about un-written-in journals. It has an energy to it, a power to make you want to LIVE to tell the tale on its white sheets.) It’s almost as if the Spirit of Elijah lives in journals, too… almost as if my future children are already anticipating the legendary stories.
My dear friends, WRITE YOUR STORIES. Just as important as reading scriptures is WRITING them.
Favors
Find all the pictures with Carla Fabiana—pictures when she was pregnant, then had her baby, and then when her 10-year-old daughter, Kamilly, got baptized. We’re going to make a special something for her. Her birthday is the same as yours. It already passed, yes, but she is really needing a lot of prayers and love.
I always love your cookies. I’m still hoarding some from Valentine’s Day. However, I always end up using up all the frosting before the cookies; BUT that means that I’ve found some inventive ways to “frost” cookies.
Dreams Come True
I dreamed the other day about BROTHER CRANDALL. I had to return to the Provo MTC for some reason to learn some more. When he saw me, it was as if he saw his long lost sister. We shook hands and smiled. Boy, do I cherish my MTC teachers! He took some of us into another room and said that our training now will be with these tools: a table-full of technology. I was worried because it had been a WHILE since I’ve had access to any of these things; and I thought, “Well, yeah, I’m going to take a while learning here again in the MTC.” Result: MEMBER Missionaries are those who are taking a while to learn how to use these tools of God to not only spread good news but to spread The Good News, which is the gospel. SO, GO OUT THERE! MISSIONARY FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also dreamed that we missionaries, as a new training in the MTC, had to go out to the train station and help load and move trains, etc. BUT everyone was ignoring us and denying our help. And thus, they chugged up the barren, hot mountains WAY loaded down with unnecessary junk and coal. |
I felt really sad that they didn’t see us as helpers but as hinderers. I thought that there is no better way to explain the feelings of missionaries. Many of our brothers and sisters are chugging up their mountains of trials alone, overloaded, tired, and unable to trust anyone.