It starts from within!

A young woman in our ward here has received her mission call. This past Sunday she gave her farewell talk and it blew me away.  I was reminded of the fire that I had when I was leaving for my mission. It´s funny how much you change in a year and a half but also how much stays the same.  I think I had forgotten what my testimony actually means to me. I have been spending all this time trying to strengthen and share with others forgetting to remind myself once in a while.

When somebody speaks and it touches your heart, your testimony grows.

When somebody speaks and it touches your spirit, your testimony is solidified. 

This week my testimony was solidified. In her short talk she mentioned a few key things that I haven´t thought of for a while. Not that I had forgotten them... they just haven´t been given much light in the past few months.

I was also reminded about how the Lord answers our prayers. 

We have been praying soooo much for a spiritual boost for our ward. Something that will help them with the desire to live missionary work, (which is so much more than what people usually think).

We as missionaries can do all we can, but until a point the strength needs to come from inside.  From one of them.

The rest is with the Lord to help them move. To help them act.

This young woman will not see the fruit from the testimony that she bore in this next year and a half. But she felt what she needed to share and she shared it without shame and with love. Already the effects are being showed.

This was the answer to our prayers.

I have heard so many stories here in Brasil. And I´ve gotten to know how many levels pride really has.

"ahhh... well the church is like this..."  "ahhh... well the church there is like that..."

We´re all part of the same church people!!!

haha but seriously.

In the end everyone knows that... but culture puts strain on worldly things. 

I have heard stories of things that have happened in many missions in the world and many wards and stakes... 

The gospel is perfect. The principles are perfect. WE the people are not. 

What happens in one ward in northern brasil or in France or in Arkansas is not the standard for the church.  

We´re all trying to learn how to follow our savior together. 

We´re not perfect. We make mistakes. God still loves us.

But we has children of God need to let go of these ideas that we are better than others. That our ideas are better than others.

In life (in a general aspect) Just because other people do it differently doesn´t mean they do it wrong.

And if we finally understand this it doesn´t mean that everyone does.  It´s really easy to get defensive. 

So instead of backing up into the black hole again... use patience.

Another big thing to add to the big list of what Sister Nichele Barlow has had to learn.

I have truly grown a love for people. Instead of what people represent or show. Sometimes it´s hard to find the difference.

This is the last week that Sister Lengenfelder is here with us. She´s going back home next Tuesday (8 days). 

It´s going to be weird to be in a double instead of a trio again.  She brought a lot of light to our companionship. :D

I am in love with green olives. YUUUUUUMMMMM.

I buy packages of them and eat them as we walk. Sister Marins thinks it´s disgusting haha. Sister Lengenfelder eats them with me. :)  Usually Sister Marins eats something normal like an ice cream. :)

Time is passing fast!  Love you all!