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| Birthday twins |
I had a surprise this week! Elder Patty in our district also had a birthday and this family in the ward wanted to do something for him and someone along the way said that he had this undying love for bolo de milho (corn cake) (which he does not not even like that much) and so everyone started giving him bolo de milho. And there was a night that they invited everyone over to share it, but I wasn’t really interested about going because we had other commitments. But my companion managed to practically drag me there and I get there to find that it was actually a birthday surprise for me too. And as I sat there surrounded by these people that I love so much, I felt super loved as everyone shouted and sang to us and we all ate homemade bolo de milho. Did I already mention how much they love corn here? #PrepareYourselvesStaheliFam #Anne’sBringingTheMilhoToColorado
I want to talk about a miracle this week which was
Dilene. So we actually were looking for
a different house of a member but simply got super lost and confused. I saw this little purple doorway of a house
that looked like the type of place that sells acai (there is a lot here) but as
we got close, we realized it was actually all alcohol. My companion just gives me this – Are you
sure kind of look? But the spirit was strong and I plowed on and bati as palmas
(said let’s go) and proceeded to ask if she knew
our friend. And thus emerges Dilene –
one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met.
After talking for a little, she quickly calls us in and starts to open
up and tell us her life story. I think
one of the most powerful ways to love and help someone is just to listen. I think that’s been one of the strongest
lessons I’ve learned on the mission – the importance of silence and letting
that person release everything that they had been guarding for so long. Sometimes you don’t even have to know what to
say. Just being there and taking time to
listen is already more than enough to cure the wounded soul.
And so with us there to listen, Dilene opened her heart about her 2 daughters who she loves so much but has stopped talking to for several years. How her husband passed away and how she only feels less lonely in her empty house when she kneels by her bed to pray. How she sometimes will drink with her friends but really would leave it all with the simplest sign from the Lord that He was there. And she’s just crying the whole time. And then in the end she surprised us by throwing her arms around us in a tight and strong embrace.
And so with us there to listen, Dilene opened her heart about her 2 daughters who she loves so much but has stopped talking to for several years. How her husband passed away and how she only feels less lonely in her empty house when she kneels by her bed to pray. How she sometimes will drink with her friends but really would leave it all with the simplest sign from the Lord that He was there. And she’s just crying the whole time. And then in the end she surprised us by throwing her arms around us in a tight and strong embrace.
I think it was one of the lessons that I said the least
and felt the spirit the most. Listening
gente (people) is a gift God’s given us that I
think we have come to neglect. When was
the last time we took time to see if someone really was doing ok or just
accepted “fine” as being “good enough” I
know we get busy, but there are so many around us that are suffering so
much. My challenge this week is to not
only take time but make time to sit down and listen to someone who really
needs it.
It makes all the difference and is what the Savior would do if He were here!
LOVE YOU ALL
Sister Staheli
