Letter #8

Family,

So, another exciting week. This one was highlighted by an absolutely marvelous experience but I´ll save that until the end.

First, it was sad to see the Elder Hales passed away. I really did like how Nelson was in the hospital with him and his family.

Second general conference thing, Elder Rasband. That man is a straight savage. Pulls up to the pulpit wearing a shiny gold, matte black striped tie??? In the words of Elder Clifford, too pure.

This week was the week of the Onibus, in case you missed the subject line. Had a couple things happen.

1- I saw a man fly from end to end. The driver stepped on the brakes rather hard and the man, who was not secured to anything, went from the pay-gate to the rear window. Glad I saw that

2- Teenagers in Brazil think it´s cool to step of the bus while it´s moving. Not gonna lie, it´s pretty cool. But, not all of them see the concrete telephone poles. And they, this one thuggish young lad in particular, stepped right into one. Ouch

3- And lastly, the doors of death. I´m stepping off the Onibus, driver shuts the doors around me and takes off. I´ve got one leg in, one leg out, doing 40 down the highway until he finally heard everyone yelling. Everyone was amazed at how calm I stayed, including myself. A smile never left my face.

Annnnd, speaking on the power of a smile....

We got mugged this weeek   *awwwwww, yuh*
It only took two weeks. My companion goes around the corner about 10 feet in front of me, I come around and he´s being stuck up, robbed, burgled, the man, a small, unarmed older gent, has cut off his path and is trying to snag some Reais from Elder Silva. So, I, a rather large person by their standards. came around the corner and smiled, just smiled at this man. Maybe I was flexing a little too. Anyways, he changes his mind about robbing my companheiro and we all went on with our work.

 What´s up with them 12 year old Brazilian youths??
Two full sleeve tattoos and three, 3, cigarettes in HER mouth at the same time.
The future

I got yelled at this week for something I never thought I´d get yelled at for. Unplugging an iron. Apparently they don´t do that here, they just let them toast on the ironing board. Don´t think I´m gonna go with that though.

I cracked open an egg this week, half a dead chicken fell out. Gross, extremely. Also it smelled so bad. Didn´t taste great either, not sure why. Kidding Mostly

Food highlight of  the week, this one is for the Rich Hutchins clan, especialy you Aunt Kelly. This week I had

PICKLED, CINNAMONIZED, CHEWED ON WATERMELON RINDS IN CONDENSED MILK.
Yes I would be lying if I said I didn´t enjoy them, they were honestly phenomenal

AND HIGHLIGHT TIME!!!!!!

HERE IT IS

THE WHITE LIGHT EXPERIENCE

I thought this was an Ensign only type of experience, BUT it happened. To me.
We were teaching a recent convert of about one month, we were talking about the Book of Mormon, great book, highly recommend reading it

While I´m talking, he keeps staring around me, over my head, took of his glasses and cleaned them, the whole spiel. I was confused.

Right after I finished talking, he hugs me and says, multiple times beacause I don´t speak Portuguese that well,
"When you spoke you had a white light, around your face and over your head. This light made me feel happier than I ever have before."

I promise that it wasn´t my words that were making him happy, it wasn´t my light that he was seeing. It was the light of Christ and the Spirit testifying to him that the words we were speaking are true. All week, I´ve had a scripture in my head.
Matthew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This was my experience, having my light so shine forth. It was a good experience for him, I know, but a better experience for me. It helped me to see the power and difference that our words and actions make. As members of this church, we have this knowledge within us. And, as missionaries, we have the opportunity and blessing to share this with people. People the Lord has prepared to receive it. And they are receiving it.

I love you all, hopefully more good experiences coming your way next week,


Elder Cheshire Cat