THIS WAS JUST THE BEST WEEK.
This week was so cool because it was one of those weeks that
we really just gave it all and instead of going completely wrong (which totally
happens more than a couple times heh heh..), Deus foi bom (God was good) and completely blew me away!!
ahhh I think I've found one of the most amazing feelings -
giving yourself a real challenge, throwing everything you've got even when everyone
doubts that it'll all work out, and then.. ACTUALLY ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL.
It’s crazy how much God does when you give your all in a
righteous pursuit. #2confirmaçõespendentes #NEVERGIVEUP
Oh gente. (people) EDUARDO IS
SO FUNNY (he's the guy we ran after a couple blocks for if you remember). We probably
pass about half the time dying laughing and the other half crying because of
how strong the spirit is. He said that it has been years since he has been able
to pray because he felt that God had stopped listening. We found that one huge
source of hurt in his life is that the mother of his two adorable meninas (daughters) woke up one morning and just left. Decided
that she did not want to be a part of their family anymore and just abandoned
him with his two little girls, leaving him to raise them completely alone as a
single dad. And he just REFUSES to pray.
BUT after one of our lessons, we called his little girl
Marina to pray with us who had NEVER prayed before. After teaching her how, everyone kneeled on
the ground (except for Eduardo, unable to allow himself to kneel) and that
little 7 year old said her first little prayer. I think that was the first day
I ever saw Eduardo cry.
And then only a few days later (and although still unable to
kneel), Eduardo was able to begin to overcome his hurt and regret, saying the
first prayer to his Father in Heaven for the first time in YEARS. You could tell it was the type of prayer that
he spoke super nervous and with real hesitation. You know that first
conversation that you have with someone after an argument or disagreement and
you just get like, is it cool to talk now or are we still fighting right? And
even though he was able to pray, he STILL was not able to ask for anything more
than for OUR well-being and safety and for his family. It blows me away how he
still holds God at arm's length, knowing and longing in his heart to come home
but still unable to let himself feel how much Heavenly Father really loves him.
But the way he talked, it was clear that he really spoke with great tenderness
and reverence, in a way that showed he really felt that God was there
listening.
God listens to every prayer and I know that if we only trust
in Him and in our Savior, our pain will be turned to relief and peace.
In the end of it all, how do we want to feel?
Where do we want to be?
And now the question - o que ainda me falta? (What do I still lack?)
What's stopping me from feeling happy? What's keeping me
from setting challenging goals and then giving it my all?
What's stopping me from allowing God to change my
life?
Será que é mim mesmo?
(Is it me?)
21 Sim, digo-te, meu filho, que nada pode haver tão intenso e
cruciante como o foram minhas dores. Sim, meu filho, digo-te também que, por
outro lado, nada pode haver tão belo e doce como o foi minha alegria.
22 Sim, parecia-me ver, assim como nosso
pai aLeí viu, Deus sentado em seu trono, rodeado por
inúmeras multidões de anjos na atitude de cantar e louvar a Deus; e minha alma sentia
o desejo de lá estar.
23 Mas eis que meus membros recobraram as aforças e levantei-me e declarei ao povo que eu
havia bnascido de Deus.
This is
a story of a prophet of God who changed his past, becoming a believer in Jesus
Christ and then sharing his testimony with all who would hear. In this section of Alma he is sharing his
conversion story with his son Helaman.
Alma
36:21-23
21 Yea, I say unto you,
my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my
pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can
be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
22 Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with
numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be
there.
23 But behold, my limbs did receive their strength again, and I stood upon my feet, and did manifest
unto the people that I had been born of God.
Love you all and hope your week was amazing.
DESAFIO (Challenge) - set a goal (spiritual, physical,
emotional, intellectual) and then GIVE IT YOUR ALL. Pray for the strength to
overcome it and God will bless you in your efforts!
AMO VOCÊS (Love you)
<3 Sister Staheli
