Wow what a week of joys, heart aches, and lots and LOTS of
tired legs.
I think it's not that the TYPE of week or lessons or
experiences change necessarily every week, but the PERSON that enters each
week is a little different - a little more wise and aware, having a stronger
capacity to love, but most importantly having just a slightly greater
appreciation that my Savior is never that far away.
Man I feel different.
This week has been filled with lots of preparation for
Neto's baptism - lessons and discussions that last over an hour (this guy
REALLY thinks deeply about the gospel), lots of listening and singing along to
the beautiful music of the violão (guitar), and
lots of talk of which is the best salgado. But it's just the funniest thing - I
think my favorite conversation up to date with Neto has been our talk about the
commandments.
So normally for those who don't know, we usually breeze
rapidinho (quickly) through the 10 commandments,
talk about their application in our lives, and talk about the prophets and
modern revelation and how important they are - good basic stuff right? And with
the 7th commandment, (Thou shalt not commit adultery) we talk a lot about the
importance of family and how sacred and important this commandment is that God
has given us. But the thing is with Neto, it's never just a simple discussion -
HEY 10 MANDAMENTOS (10 Commandments). We were
totally not expecting the conversation that followed the 7th with this really
interesting conversation about marriage and Neto's life a little bit. He lives
sozhinho (alone) but comes from a pretty broken
family, which is pretty normal here, with a dad who had around 10 or more
children but really never was around to care for them. And how Neto's grandpa
was the EXACT same way - and Neto talked about the lasting impact of such
examples and a lack of a strong patriarch to really take charge and take care
of the family. That he really right now is having a hard time thinking about or
getting into the idea of finding someone to marry because he really doesn't
have that trust that it will work out. From what he's seen, there just doesn't
exist such a thing in the world as a marriage that can last an entire lifetime,
and the stress of finding someone that you love enough to struggle through it
all.
And we were like, marriage is not just for THIS life,
but we know that our family can be together for MUCH more after this life.
#feelinglessstressedNeto??
He was in such a soul searching state and he's looking to us
to confirm how he's feeling and I'm just like, woah dude I don't have to worry dating
for at LEAST another 10 months - and my companion is like
I-have-2-months-on-the-mission-and-a-serious-boyfriend-that-i-already-know-Im-going-to-marry,
so unfortunately I don't think we were much help. :3 #missionoopa
But this Sunday with Neto was just the coolest thing! We
were really hoping to get the ward to fellowship him and that he would be able
to meet some more good people (which is amazing because there's a family that
lives in the same condiminio (condominium complex)
as him #blessings) and he was totally embraced by everyone!
We were trying to leave after church and all of a sudden
everyone's running around and grabbing people to head to the chapel again and
we are all like what is going on - but it turns out that there was a young girl
in the ward that was opening her mission call! (which is the moment that
every missionary has when they find out where in the world, what language, and
when they leave for their MISSION #thebestmomentEVER). And everyone is together shouting out guesses
of countries and there's just such a feeling of love and Neto is just sitting
at my side in complete awe of everything.
And he goes, "Never in my life did I expect to be in a
place like this. I had no idea that this type of love or culture or people even
existed." The girl opened her call (Porta Legre Sul, Brasil) and
everyone's running and hugging and crying, and it really is just the sweetest
of moments right? The family that lives in his condo goes hey Neto we're
leaving, and he just goes no I don't want to go home right now. And says that
instead he'd WALK (about 40/50 minutes), just so that he could stay longer to
feel and experience more.
Man there's just nothing so exhausting for a heart than a
mission - it stretches and expands to fit more people to love, it breaks and
aches for those who fall away, it longs to be with its family, it burns with a
love for the Savior and the importance of the work.. it really is an amazing
creation.
Feeling the presence of my Savior ever at my side - He
really is never far away folks.
Also sorry if my letters are super long, don't feel
obligated to read them all - I know you guys love me :)
Sending my love!!
Sister Staheli
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jacka (or Jack fruit - that for some reason I remember that
in the States people eat this instead of meat and I'm just like WHAT THIS IS
LITERALLY COTTON CANDY)
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familia Marilhosa that I love with all my heart
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