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So can I just say that I am SO glad I decided to come on a mission?! I have learned SO MUCH already and I feel like my testimony has been strengthened a lot already! I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I've been noticing just how big of a blessing it has been in my life to be a member of it. Seriously, my life would be completely unrecognizeable without it. Anyways, I decided to come on a mission (well, for several reasons, but one of the main ones is) for the people I will have the opportunity to share the restored gospel with - o evangelho restaurado. I know this church is true - through prayer and as it says in John 7:17 by doing the Lord's will, I have come to know of the truth of His doctrine. And I know that our Heavenly Father wants these people to receive His gospel - why? ...because they are His Children. And He loves them. A lot. I'm pretty sure that everything Heavenly Father has done is for his children - as it says in the scriptures - "For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Or if you like portuguese better, " Pois es que esta é minha obra e minha glória, levar a efeito a immortalidade e vida eterna do homem." And this purpose of His is evidenced in everything that has happened in the world. The reason why he has called prophets in the past - Moses, Noah, Abraham, etc. The reason why He came to earth and suffered for our sins and died for us - this was all so that we can repent and be cleansed from our sins and so that we can return to live with Him again. This is also the reason why the church needed to be restored. He loves us and so after the original twelve apostles were killed and His priesthood authority was lost, He brought back the church in its true form onto the earth again, as soon as He safely could. How cool is that? I know that Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ live and they love each of us. Immensely. I love this church and I am so grateful to be able to share this message with others! It has already blessed me so much in my life.
Also, I know that the Lord takes care of His missionaries. How else in the world would anyone be able to learn a foreign language (or at least enough to get by) in six weeks??! I was in Provo taking the language for longer than that!!! It is awesome the times when a concept here just clicks, but it was SO confusing when I was trying to learn it earlier. Or when I come out saying words that I didn't even know I knew. I know that Heavenly Father is blessing me to be able to learn the language. I still have a long way to go though!! But I do believe what it says in Moroni 7:33 - great scripture! Love it :)
The CTM is kind of funny - we have missionaries from the United States, several Spanish speaking countries as well as Portuguese speaking countries (Brazil, Mozambique, Portugal). It's great though because Portuguese is the unifying factor. We can all somewhat communicate with each other through it. Or just play charades, you know.. one or the other. :)
Eu amo vocês!
I love you!
For those who are wondering what the scripture Moroni: 7:33 says:
Moroni 7: 33 And Christ hath said: aIf ye will have bfaith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is cexpedient in me.
Also, if you would like a link to the entire book of mormon online here it is:
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng
For those interested in learning more about the Church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints, here is a good website: www.mormon.org
| Sao Paulo Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints |
If you would like to try a taste of Brazil. Here is a recipe for Brazilian Lemonade:
Brazilian Lemonade
4 juicy limes (try and find ones with thin, smooth skins; they’re the juiciest and the thin skin cuts down on the chance of your drink being bitter)
1 c. sugar
6 c. cold water
6 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
Mix cold water and sugar and chill until ready to use.
Wash limes thoroughly with soap (I just use hand-dishwashing soap or regular hand soap); you need the soap to get the wax and pesticides off of the limes because you’re using the WHOLE lime.
Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into 8ths.
Place 1/2 of the limes in your blender.
Add 1/2 of the sugar water, place the lid on your blender, and pulse 5 times. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you’ll serve the lemonade in) and pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher. Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher. Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer into the trash. Repeat with remaining limes and sugar water. Add sweetened condensed milk; DO NOT leave this step out unless you will die of a horrible sweetened condensed milk allergy because this is the secret ingredient! You may want to taste test it at this point; I used giant, thick-skinned limes tonight and didn’t test it and it came out a little bitter. If it’s bitter, just add some more sugar and maybe a little more milk.
Serve immediately over lots of ice. This does not keep well, so don’t make this in advance (although you can cut the limes, mix the sugar water, and measure the sweetened condensed milk in advance). Serves 4, although, people will want more; plan on 1 1/2 servings at LEAST per person.
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