So the title my email this week literally happened. We hiked up a mountain for lunch, and we get there and they are like lets go eat sugar cane! So we went behind their house and they grabbed a machette and chopped down a huge bambo looking branch, peeled off the bark and cut it into pieces and then we chewed on sugar cane. -_- that happened. I really feel like Jane sometimes, you know, without the whole Tarzan part. But its really awesome! Once in a lifetime kind of experiences.
In other news, I had a neat experience listening to the Holy Ghost this week. We had planned to visit a less active up one of the more dangerous hills and I just felt a weird vibe that we shouldnt go up that street, so we tried a different way and I still felt this weird force to just not go that way, so we decided to turn around and just go home because it was almost 9:00 anyways. On the way home, we looked back up that street, and it was full of police cars. We dont know what happened, but the police dont do much here, so when the lights are on and they are in action, something really bad is happening. That was one of the first real moments I had experienced listening to the Spirit in such a real way. People have been killed on that street, and as two americans, anything could have happened. I am so grateful to have the influence of the spirit in my life, and I know how important it is to listen, whether its something small, or if it could potentially save your life.
There is a lot of crime here, it was much more out in the open in Itauna, Ipatinga is more dangerous, but its basically secluded to the staircases in the mountains and the houses alongside them, so its easier to avoid. We see a lot of horrible things, I have seen diseases I thought only existed on discovery channel, drug deals, I have companions that have seen murder, stories of fathers killing children, but we have the bright light of the gospel to contrast and the very real power of the Holy Ghost. It truly is a blessing to have the gospel in our lives.
There is a quote by President Benson that I love, "We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family."
So dont worry about me! The world might be dangerous but I am positive that if we listen to what we know and what the spirit tells us we will always will be safe, both spiritually and physically. I am positive that this is the best area in my mission, the members rule, they are really excited to work and help, (everybody in our apartment building is a member, including the bishop, its awesome), I have great leaders here, a great companion, lots of great investigators and a new adventure every day!
The church is true!
Sister Holmes:the explorer
(heres my cute companions and the youth that help us!)
In other news, I had a neat experience listening to the Holy Ghost this week. We had planned to visit a less active up one of the more dangerous hills and I just felt a weird vibe that we shouldnt go up that street, so we tried a different way and I still felt this weird force to just not go that way, so we decided to turn around and just go home because it was almost 9:00 anyways. On the way home, we looked back up that street, and it was full of police cars. We dont know what happened, but the police dont do much here, so when the lights are on and they are in action, something really bad is happening. That was one of the first real moments I had experienced listening to the Spirit in such a real way. People have been killed on that street, and as two americans, anything could have happened. I am so grateful to have the influence of the spirit in my life, and I know how important it is to listen, whether its something small, or if it could potentially save your life.
There is a lot of crime here, it was much more out in the open in Itauna, Ipatinga is more dangerous, but its basically secluded to the staircases in the mountains and the houses alongside them, so its easier to avoid. We see a lot of horrible things, I have seen diseases I thought only existed on discovery channel, drug deals, I have companions that have seen murder, stories of fathers killing children, but we have the bright light of the gospel to contrast and the very real power of the Holy Ghost. It truly is a blessing to have the gospel in our lives.
There is a quote by President Benson that I love, "We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family."
So dont worry about me! The world might be dangerous but I am positive that if we listen to what we know and what the spirit tells us we will always will be safe, both spiritually and physically. I am positive that this is the best area in my mission, the members rule, they are really excited to work and help, (everybody in our apartment building is a member, including the bishop, its awesome), I have great leaders here, a great companion, lots of great investigators and a new adventure every day!
The church is true!
Sister Holmes:the explorer
(heres my cute companions and the youth that help us!)