Feb. 3, 2014

Oi minha querida família!!!

 

Well it was another week of work, joy, (serious) heat, yes some challenges too, and miracles! :) Our district here in Parelheiros often calls our area "Pareleitos" because we indeed find (and believe in finding) many Eleitos (the Elect of God)! Só milagres every day, not only this area but on the mission. It is amazing to me each and every day to see the miracles that happen by the hand of the Lord. This week we were especially happy because three of God's elect children were baptized yesterday- Mayara, Mariane (twins) e Flavio. They are truly special and as always words cannot describe the joy and light seen and felt as they entered the waters of baptism. Flavio, 10 years old said to us in response to the question Why are you excited to be baptized? He said, "I am excited because I know I will be happy because I will be following the way of God and Jesus Christ. Someday I want to be an Elder (missionary)." And he will be, no doubt about it.

 

We are also teaching a family- Amanda and Giovana are sisters (15 and 14 years old) and their brothers Guilherme and Mateus (19 and 17). They LOVED church yesterday and the ward is really helping us with them, making them feel welcome and comfortable. Testimony meeting in our ward was so amazing yesterday. Every single testimony was truly powerful. One testimony in particular I will never forget and I don't think anyone will. There is a member of the ward, an older man probably in his 80s, with cancer who is in truly bad shape. But there he was at church, and oh how powerful his testimony was as another member of the ward wheeled him up to the front in a wheelchair so he could fulfill his desire to bear testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel. After him, his daughter got up and told us how he can't remember a lot of things because of memory loss, but one thing he remembers perfectly and talks about frequently- His Priesthood and his love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He understands his role as a faithful holder of the Priesthood of God and his desire to bless others still lives on and is remembered by everyone, especially his family members. It made me think about and realize how very important, even vital, it is for all of us to live in such a way that we will never forget our divine roles as sons and daughters of God.

 

What a privilege it is to be living on the earth today. What glory it is to have the restored gospel in our lives. And what a necessity it is as members to share this glorious gospel with all the world. The Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through the calling of the prophet Joseph Smith. Thomas S. Monson is the prophet for all the world on the earth today. I know that as we follow the prophet- in every way possible- God blesses us tremendously! This morning in my personal study I learned about how the first thing that Adam felt after partaking of the fruit was fear. But as we know, God provided for us a Savior. And BECAUSE OF THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST, WE DON'T NEED TO FEAR. I love my Savior and I strive each day to do as Helaman counsels in Helaman 3:35.

 

I love you all! Until next week,

 

Sister Thornhill