Well. This week was a miracle. Pdays are sent from heaven. I know I was called to Brazil for a reason! Its really neat here, and gosh the food is good. The people are ever so nice, friendly. When we pass out passalong cards and people are like thank you for the invitation! I keep thinking about how in America even I would be like, get lost I dont want your flyer haha. But its a blesing, its makes making so many contacts possible. People also have so much time here to listen to our message. Everybody really is either catholic or familiar with God which also is a blessing to teach.
First, Marina and Edil are getting baptized Sunday! When we refer to the light of Christ, how it is in everybody and when we teach gospel truths we are merely connecting to the light that already exists in people, we are talking about Marina. Its so fun to teach her. Edil still creeps me out sometimes, but I know he believes and thats what matters.
We met this one lady Mariana outside her house, she invited us in and we walked into a room that was a shrine to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Pictures and dolls everywhere. I thought, oh boy, this will be good. She was receptive, but very firm in her faith, which really I do respect. Anyways the entire lesson I felt that I needed to give her a Book of Mormon so strongly that I thought God would smite me with lightning if I didnt. Dont worry, I gave it to her. It was kind of scary, especially because my companion stopped the first lesson before explaining Joseph Smith, but I got to testify of the power of the Book of Mormon. I know that I followed a prompting of God. I do not know the purpose, but I know she was touched by my testimony. My companion was really annoyed with me for doing that because Mariana was very adament in her faith and had previously heard the missionaries and thought there was no point but I know that there was a purpose in following that prompting. Maybe one day she will remember me and read it, or one of her children will read it. There is a purpose to all things! And I know that peace comes from following promptings.
Besides people being friendly and more than willing to tell you their life story for as long as you are willing to listen plus a more, they are rather blunt. I get made fun of for not talking and for not eating enough at lunch everyday, and people dont often say please. However, its good for me, I need to build a harder outer shell!
Well I can only testify of the power of the Book of Mormon and the trait I studying the most this week was hope. Hope is active and lively and an expectation that through faith in the Lord all things will work out for your good. Ether 12:4 Faith and hope are the anchors to our souls.
First, Marina and Edil are getting baptized Sunday! When we refer to the light of Christ, how it is in everybody and when we teach gospel truths we are merely connecting to the light that already exists in people, we are talking about Marina. Its so fun to teach her. Edil still creeps me out sometimes, but I know he believes and thats what matters.
We met this one lady Mariana outside her house, she invited us in and we walked into a room that was a shrine to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Pictures and dolls everywhere. I thought, oh boy, this will be good. She was receptive, but very firm in her faith, which really I do respect. Anyways the entire lesson I felt that I needed to give her a Book of Mormon so strongly that I thought God would smite me with lightning if I didnt. Dont worry, I gave it to her. It was kind of scary, especially because my companion stopped the first lesson before explaining Joseph Smith, but I got to testify of the power of the Book of Mormon. I know that I followed a prompting of God. I do not know the purpose, but I know she was touched by my testimony. My companion was really annoyed with me for doing that because Mariana was very adament in her faith and had previously heard the missionaries and thought there was no point but I know that there was a purpose in following that prompting. Maybe one day she will remember me and read it, or one of her children will read it. There is a purpose to all things! And I know that peace comes from following promptings.
Besides people being friendly and more than willing to tell you their life story for as long as you are willing to listen plus a more, they are rather blunt. I get made fun of for not talking and for not eating enough at lunch everyday, and people dont often say please. However, its good for me, I need to build a harder outer shell!
Well I can only testify of the power of the Book of Mormon and the trait I studying the most this week was hope. Hope is active and lively and an expectation that through faith in the Lord all things will work out for your good. Ether 12:4 Faith and hope are the anchors to our souls.
Lead kindly light is my new favorite hymn. Go read the lyrics. They could not describe my week/my life/my mission better.
Lead kindly light amid the encircling doom, lead thou me on.
The night is dark and I am far from home, lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see
The distant scene, one step enough for me.
Its fantastic.
Hugs from South America!
Sister Holmes
The night is dark and I am far from home, lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see
The distant scene, one step enough for me.
Its fantastic.
Hugs from South America!
Sister Holmes