With my report date still a few months away (May 22, 2013), I've been working incredible hard to get everything I need ready for me to leave. I'm supposed to report to the Brazil MTC, but there are some visa issues with Brazil, so it may be the Provo MTC, and hopefully I will get my visa soon! At the same time, wherever I am supposed to be is where I am supposed to be.
Getting prepared to serve a full-time mission is some tough stuff. Refamiliarizing yourself with the scriptures is a difficult task in general, and then putting into Portuguese is a completely different animal! I just keep going back to what I know. I know the Church is true. I know that Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, loves his children. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet.
I've been reading the Book of Mormon in English and Portuguese to get familiarized with words. It really helps, but so far I haven't learned much conversational things. It scares the crap out of me! But I keep remembering and reminding myself that I am not the teacher, the Spirit is, and through the spirit, I will be able to teach those who are looking for the Gospel.
This last week, I've felt the God's love for me so strongly as I have been preparing myself spiritually to teach His children. I was able to go to the temple today, and it was absolutely incredible. I keep thinking about when Christ was talking to Peter, and he reemphasized that if you love me, feed my sheep. I've also thought a lot about how I need to love everyone. If I am going to do the Lord's work, I need to learn to love. That is what I have mostly gained from this week. Christ taught through love. Our Church is all about love. We love our families and we believe that we will be with them after this life. The gospel is such a wonderful blessing in my life. It has brought both me and my family so much happiness, and if we truly care about those around us, we shouldn't be afraid of sharing that happiness with them. I read a story earlier this week about a lady who was a convert to the Church and she said, "I don't think you members know what you have. Don't you understand the world is in a famine? Don't you know we are starving for what you have? I am like a starving person being led to a feast. And over these eight and one-half weeks I have been able to feast in a way I have never known possible."
Those words are so true. There are people out there looking for the happiness and the knowledge that we have. We shouldn't be afraid to share it in fear of what others may think. This is why I want to become a missionary. I have been blessed so much and I have felt the Savior's love so strongly in my life. I want everyone to feel the joy that I have felt as I have prayed and read the scriptures. I want others to understand that Heavenly Father loves each of His children and that we have the potential to become so much in this life and after this life.
Getting prepared to serve a full-time mission is some tough stuff. Refamiliarizing yourself with the scriptures is a difficult task in general, and then putting into Portuguese is a completely different animal! I just keep going back to what I know. I know the Church is true. I know that Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, loves his children. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet.
I've been reading the Book of Mormon in English and Portuguese to get familiarized with words. It really helps, but so far I haven't learned much conversational things. It scares the crap out of me! But I keep remembering and reminding myself that I am not the teacher, the Spirit is, and through the spirit, I will be able to teach those who are looking for the Gospel.
This last week, I've felt the God's love for me so strongly as I have been preparing myself spiritually to teach His children. I was able to go to the temple today, and it was absolutely incredible. I keep thinking about when Christ was talking to Peter, and he reemphasized that if you love me, feed my sheep. I've also thought a lot about how I need to love everyone. If I am going to do the Lord's work, I need to learn to love. That is what I have mostly gained from this week. Christ taught through love. Our Church is all about love. We love our families and we believe that we will be with them after this life. The gospel is such a wonderful blessing in my life. It has brought both me and my family so much happiness, and if we truly care about those around us, we shouldn't be afraid of sharing that happiness with them. I read a story earlier this week about a lady who was a convert to the Church and she said, "I don't think you members know what you have. Don't you understand the world is in a famine? Don't you know we are starving for what you have? I am like a starving person being led to a feast. And over these eight and one-half weeks I have been able to feast in a way I have never known possible."
Those words are so true. There are people out there looking for the happiness and the knowledge that we have. We shouldn't be afraid to share it in fear of what others may think. This is why I want to become a missionary. I have been blessed so much and I have felt the Savior's love so strongly in my life. I want everyone to feel the joy that I have felt as I have prayed and read the scriptures. I want others to understand that Heavenly Father loves each of His children and that we have the potential to become so much in this life and after this life.