This is SO COOL but I totally forgot about the fact that
all the stars and constellations are different down here! We were outside last
night playing basketball with a recent convert and her fam (ok my companheiras
may have just cheered us on from the sidelines but still there in spirit) and
it blew my mind how bright and clear the sky was. I mean here we are in a CITY
with hundreds of thousands of people and from one spot, we were able to see
Venus, Mars, Pluto, Saturn, and JUPITER. Man every time I look at the stars, I
really appreciate how small we are when you think about the universe and
everything that's in it. God has such an eye for beauty it's seriously
amazing.
But this week was of course Fast Sunday and I love that on a
mission, we begin our fast the previous day. Because it really helps me
appreciate what it means to prepare for the sabbath you know? You don't have to
wait until you wake up on Sunday morning to feel the physical famine and
spiritual feast, the spirit is already there with you to help you feel the
power of the fast and the strength that comes from it.
Ok so this fast Sunday I was sitting in the row and I was
pretty comfortable right, because of all the times in my life - NOW was really
the time people really wouldn't expect me to bear my testimony because claro,
primeiro (clearly, first) transfer in a new
country with a new language tudo bem right? But then one after the other, my
companions get up to bear their testimonies and I am sitting there on the pew
alone feeling a little sheepish, but still with a whole lot of fear. Then our
sweet little Daniel, who is about 11 years old and who wants to be baptized but
his family is against it (yet still comes to church every week #stud), leans
over and says Sister, why are you not up there with the others? And his words
just pierced my heart with the truth I already knew. So rather reluctantly, I
plucked myself off the pew and waited my turn to bear my testimony. I can't
even describe the nerves that were building up and the fear that I was feeling
about not being able to express how I felt, but I was also feeling the
overwhelming amount of gratitude and testimony burning inside that I knew I
needed to share. So when my turn came, I stood up and did it - I bore my soul
about how blessed I felt to come to this place, that even though I still have
fear every time before I open my mouth that once I begin speaking, I realize
that there really was nothing to be scared about in the first place. Because
what am I doing when you really think about it? What should be scary or
intimidating about bringing your brothers and sisters who are lost and alone,
probably feeling the same fear I was, back to their loving Father in heaven? I
shared a scripture about how there are angels round about you bearing you up,
to have LOVE over FEAR and wow. It was a powerful experience folks - even in my
far from perfect Portugues. (She may be talking
about this scripture in D&C 84:88 - And whoso receiveth you, there I
will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your
left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about
you, to bear you up ).
Man everyone needs more Daniels in their life to remind them
of what really matters.
Wow this week I really saw the blessings and the hardships
of life in Brasil for these people. We sat in casas that were immense and
expensive, sitting by the poolside and drinking sweet suco, (juice) gazing at beautiful and priceless paintings
with the servant of the house while the member was away traveling. In the same
day, we sat on the doorstep of a neighborhood tucked away from everything else,
the people dirty and forgotten, teaching a 15 year old girl about the gospel of
Jesus Christ while her 16 year old married sister sat smoking a cigarette.
Being here just blows my mind how different our circumstances are in life and
how sometimes, we really have no control over the type of environment we are
born into. But no matter the person or the house, I can feel the power of the
love our Savior and God have for each soul.
The gospel is one of the most amazing things in the world
for this exact reason - who needs worldly things when you have the knowledge
that you have a loving Father in Heaven with a very specific plan for you in
your life.
We are all so blessed.
Sending my love across the miles amigos :)
