Ola! Tambem!
This week when Sister Van Buskirk and I
were walking in from dinner she got super excited and confused
simultaneously, and exclaimed "Holy-que!", which I think pretty much
summarizes my life right now! Every thing's very exciting and confusing,
but most of all holy. Not to mention, I laugh at myself a lot.
The
Spirit is so strong here, it's almost easy to think that I'm not
feeling it because I feel it so constantly in my life. Every day I
become more and more astounded at how my capacity to learn, grown, and
teach has been increased exponentially by the power of the Holy Ghost.
God is truly consecrating my efforts here.
One
big example of this was on Friday, when my district decided that we were
going to have an English Fast, or um jejum de ingles. I was really
impressed with how much we were able to communicate, while also laughing
at how little we spoke during meal times because we don't quite know
enough to tell complete stories in Portuguese yet. The Lord truly does
bless His missionaries to learn the language.
I
think that one of the biggest mistakes that missionaries make is
focusing TOO much on the language, thereby omitting important spiritual
study time. Yes, it's frustrating when you can't communicate the
thoughts and feelings of your heart, but the Holy Ghost CAN! I know
this, because whenever I stop looking at the notes, open my mouth and
speak, even though I make a thousand and one mistakes, the Spirit
conveys the message of my soul to them, and if they're willing, they can
receive it. That doesn't mean that I'm going to stop learning
Portuguese, but it does mean that I'm focusing more on being that person
that can invite the Spirit and demonstrate God's love to those I teach.
Another
huge thing that I felt inspired by this week was the Christmas
Devotional on Sunday. For anyone who didn't have the opportunity to
watch it, go to lds.org/
and you can watch the broadcast. The music and words given truly helped
to point my focus towards the Savior as we celebrate His birth.
I
really love my Savior so much. I don't know if I've done the best job
at showing it the past couple of days, because I haven't let it show in
my countenance as much as I ought. Last night, listening to the choir
and the Prophet speak about the power of Christ's grace, I remembered
something that one of my Portuguese teachers told us. "Sometimes it's
easy to have faith that the long term will work out - like that one day
you will be fluent in Portuguese. But it's equally as important to have
faith in the short term". I realized in that moment that I wasn't
showing my faith, because I was letting my heart be weighed down by
things out of my control. Yes, I know that one day I'll be with my
family forever, that one day I'll find success, and reach those people
who need me in their lives. However, I need to have faith in the now,
that right now I am okay, and that Christ's atoning sacrifice, His
infinite love for me, has the power to change me and my heart NOW. I CAN
be happy now. And I am.
Christ didn't atone
for us so that we would be sad forever and live life as shadows and one
day receive joy. No. He atoned for us so that we could have joy Right
Here, and Right Now. It's a process, like everything else in life, but I
know that the Lord is with us ever single step of the way. He is
cheering us on, He is lifting us up, and if we lay our burdens before
the Lord then He will bear them with us.
I
really do apologize for my super long emails, but I hope that y'all know
how much I love you and how much God loves you. He knows your
weaknesses and infirmities, and He will remind you in the little ways.
Like having Mac 'n Cheese as an option for dinner on a really hard day,
your companion making you laugh until you snort San Pelligrino out your
nose, and most of all by reminding you that life is beautiful when it
snows, even if it's really really cold outside. Take a moment and
realize that God's hand is truly manifest in every detail of our lives,
and live life wondrously, knowing that you are beloved.
Eu
sei que Deus ama seus filhos. O livro de Mórmon testifica de Jesus
Cristo, e ele é lá palavra de Deus. Por meio da Expiação nos podemos
voltar a viver com nosso Pai Celestial e nossas famílias também. Por
favor, vai orar a Deus saber a veracidade do Livro de Mórmon. Você pode
sentir o amor de Cristo quando você lê as escrituras e orar. Você vai
ver o mão de Deus em sua vida, e saber que Ele ama você. E se eu consigo
aprender Português, você conegue ler o Livro de Mórmon e receber um
testemunho.
Todos de Meu Amor,
Sister Avery
YOUR
CHALLENGE: Pray to recognize God's hand in YOUR life and BE the Light
of Christ in someone else's life. Visit the link below if you want help
getting started :)
*fun
fact: seja a luz do mundo is how you say "light the world" in
Portuguese, but literally translated it means "Be the Light of the
World"*
Later in the day.......
I’m going to the medical clinic for another check up at 9:45, so maybe you’ll be able to keep me from getting too bored? Sister Van Buskirk and I are also planning our first complete lesson in Portuguese for tonight. Everyone lose is doing the first vision/restoration, but we felt it was important to do the doctrine of Christ and invite them to repent, so we’ll have to see how that goes.
The language is coming pretty well, I officially have the basic core, mission purpose, first vision, and most Moroni 10:3-5 down. So that’s good XD Irmão Cannon and Irma Miller have been great helps and say that we’re getting the language super well. But they also have to say that, so I’m not too sure how much it counts XD
Love you!
Yes, I am living, don’t worry.
Sister Avery
Happy Belated Thanksgiving! (November 26, 2018)
Did You Not Tell Them that They are the Lord's Chips? (December 10, 2018)
Did You Not Tell Them that They are the Lord's Chips? (December 10, 2018)
