We had an amazing week! Eduarda, Cleberson's sister turned 8 on Monday and was baptized Saturday! She is one of the shyest little girls I have ever met, but with bubbles, chocolate pudding and practicing gospel principles with pictures and the priesthood everything went great! Its a little funny to see that all of the people Sister Miller and I have baptized together live on the same hill.
Our great district leader and I have an inside joke where during the nightly number calls if the day goes well he says, "Sabe como chama isso Sister??" (Do you know what this is called Sister??) MILAGRE! (MIRACLE!)" Its often very funny, because I expect it and he is very animated, but its a great experience to reflect at the end of the day what we did and search and easily find the little miracles throughout the day.I think its rather easy to go through life without thinking very much, or let the monotony pass by, yes I love missionary work but often even here on the Lord's errand the days can be long and tiring. But when we can just stop for a minute and think what I did I do for God today? What did He do for me? Thats where the gratitude the profets so frequently speak of becomes a part of our soul and how we live rather than mere thank yous at a table with a turkey and cranberry sauce.
Sister Miller has a kept a journal of one blessing every day of her mission and I have joined in. Looking back somedays the miracle is that we had chicken at lunch, or we ended up walking a little less, her hair looked nice or I said something funny. But when you look through the pages of the little miracles and blessings they really add up to make a full life.
The church is true and the world within the church continues to get smaller. I have lots of friends who have served here in Brasil and when I meet missionaries I usually ask if by chance we have mutual friends, as has already proven true and this week, a brand new sister from Recife said she is friends with Mitchell! Also my old zone leader who just returned to São Paulo is in the same ward as one of my recent converts who moved back to São Paulo. The world is small, thats all I will say.
We spoke briefly to Arlette's husband(the antimormon one), but not more than 5 minutes. We are praying for her and for him to soften. He promised to come back this weekend, and we sure are going to study lots to be prepared to teach him!
Lastly, the church's program of Helping Hands is collecting hair for woman in the Amazonas. There is a large group of women who during work had freak accidents and were scalped. So, Sister Miller and I cut our hair for the cause! We decided they sure need it more than we do and its a good way to really forget ourselves and get to work.
New adventures every day!
Sister Holmes
Our great district leader and I have an inside joke where during the nightly number calls if the day goes well he says, "Sabe como chama isso Sister??" (Do you know what this is called Sister??) MILAGRE! (MIRACLE!)" Its often very funny, because I expect it and he is very animated, but its a great experience to reflect at the end of the day what we did and search and easily find the little miracles throughout the day.I think its rather easy to go through life without thinking very much, or let the monotony pass by, yes I love missionary work but often even here on the Lord's errand the days can be long and tiring. But when we can just stop for a minute and think what I did I do for God today? What did He do for me? Thats where the gratitude the profets so frequently speak of becomes a part of our soul and how we live rather than mere thank yous at a table with a turkey and cranberry sauce.
Sister Miller has a kept a journal of one blessing every day of her mission and I have joined in. Looking back somedays the miracle is that we had chicken at lunch, or we ended up walking a little less, her hair looked nice or I said something funny. But when you look through the pages of the little miracles and blessings they really add up to make a full life.
The church is true and the world within the church continues to get smaller. I have lots of friends who have served here in Brasil and when I meet missionaries I usually ask if by chance we have mutual friends, as has already proven true and this week, a brand new sister from Recife said she is friends with Mitchell! Also my old zone leader who just returned to São Paulo is in the same ward as one of my recent converts who moved back to São Paulo. The world is small, thats all I will say.
We spoke briefly to Arlette's husband(the antimormon one), but not more than 5 minutes. We are praying for her and for him to soften. He promised to come back this weekend, and we sure are going to study lots to be prepared to teach him!
Lastly, the church's program of Helping Hands is collecting hair for woman in the Amazonas. There is a large group of women who during work had freak accidents and were scalped. So, Sister Miller and I cut our hair for the cause! We decided they sure need it more than we do and its a good way to really forget ourselves and get to work.
New adventures every day!
Sister Holmes