Letter #48

 Dearest, Dearest Family,

How good it is at the beginning of a new week to wake up and write to you! This is a Monday morning habit I think should be continued after the mission. Don´t you think that everyone would stop complaining about Monday mornings? I do. I'm afraid there's so much to write and very little time. . .

So quickly: My vertical nail lines went away but the horizontal ones came back. I attribute this to my recent diet, but no fear I have placed new emphasis on vegetables and fruits and even ate a pear for lunch the other day. Impressive, I know : )

As far as protests, no problems here, which just goes to prove the widely carried theory that my mission sits out in the boondocks of Brasil. All is peace. We were banned from going into the city on Saturday but nothing happened that I heard. With the start of a soccer tournament here in Brasil this last week however, everything stops regularly about two to three times a week for the games of Brasil. I mean stops! These people like their futbol, but it's kind of a bummer for us as they are glued to their tv, and less willing to hear the gospel. Booo futbol!

We threw a rocking surprise birthday party with a less active member we are trying to reactivate with all the members that lived in the neighborhood. It went off as a success and we are as a result now teaching the nonmember girlfriend and the mom. Plus we got cake, and passion fruit Fanta.

Fantastic lesson with the mom and friend of an inactive youth this week. The spirit was strong and in the closing prayer the spirit confirmed what we had taught, leading the friend to exclaim that she knew it was true. Miracles, my family, are very, very real. They happen all the time, and usually through the medium of the spirit. They are evidence that you have the spirit with you. Are miracles happening in your life? Are you looking for them? Are you exercising your faith to let them happen?

I was happy to hear of your efforts with missionary work two weeks ago. We have a powerful team of missionaries, past, present, and future. Vamos Lá!!! Put on your missionary goggles and let's go!

 

I tasted two divine examples of Brasilian avocado this week. The one in a avocado gelato in the center of Londrina last p-day, so good! I exercised a little culinary faith and tried it and was rewarded with the miracle that is avocado gelato. The other one I used to make some tacos. Turned out well, and for its knobbly appearance, tastes about the same. Dad would like the fact that it's twice the size : )

Again my letter is brief. I promise next week a lengthier one, but there was lots of homework to do today.     I close with a wow,  a Wow about that conference last night. It wasn't anything very new, in what was said. In fact much was paraphrased from Preach My Gospel.  The spirit was burning though, and I hope all of you got the chance to see it. If not, take sometime today during FHE and watch it. (Proud to say I watched it in Portuguese and for the first time was never lost : ) Didn't you love that first video with the family centered around missionary work in all that they did? I did. That is how it should be! Perfection after all is our goal, and there's nothing that hard stopping us from being almost perfect in sharing the gospel. As a thought I reiterate a scripture so frequently used last night it was almost crazy: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Amen. This is our work and the covenant we made at baptism. You didn't know it perhaps but as a member of the church you are already serving a mission. A mission to open your mouths and share the very purpose of our existence in love and with joy. It brings joy. Of this I testify,

Love,

Tanner