Time flies. It is so wierd. I`m on my fourth week here at the CTM tomorrow. It feels like I just got here. And at the same time it feels like I`ve always been here. Days are packed. 16 hours without a break, everyday. We get some time to ourselves on Sunday of course, and some on P Day, which for me is Tuesday. So that`s nice. Today we went to a real Brazillian Grill with one of our teachers. It was so good! Like Tucano`s, only real. haha. And it was way cheaper. So that was good :)
Well, this week has been great. I have been missing home and all of you guys a lot, but it hasn't brought me any sorrow, if that makes sense. I wish I could be with you, but I know I'm where I need to be. This week was a little easier than previous ones. I can usually understand my teachers now, even the ones that speak moer quickly, and when they have translators speaking both English and Portuguese, what I understand is usually correct. Talking to Brazillians outside of the CTM is still really ahrd though. I have a long way to go. But it is so good :) If anybody is debating a mission, be warned, it is not easy. But it is so good. There is nothing like sacrificing your whole life for the work of Heavenly Father. You feel the spirit so much more, and when you teach with power and you can see it change lives, it is so worth it. Every second. And everyone says it is even better in the field. The CTM feel a little like a prison, but it is way good.
Anyway, big news of the week, or big-ish, I got a calling. Guess what? Assistant to the President. To anyone who knows what that means, yeah, kind of crazy. I thought I made it without a calling finally when they selected our district leaders. Turns out I was wrong haha. When the spot opened, I had a feeling it could be me, but I didn't want to say so. Then I got called in by the Branch President. So yeah, that's kind of cool. It isn't too hard to be an AP here in the CTM, not a ton has been expected of past AP's other than being good examples and keeping track of the districts, as well as conducting a leadership meeting every Sunday, so I was wondering what more I could do to serve better and really magnify the calling. After all, I must have gotten it for a reason.
Well, I we went to the São Paulo telple today, and after the session I was feeling pretty good, and while I was just sitting in the Celestial room, thoughts started to come to me. I started thinking about what makes us any different from the prophets. Or from any of the giants of faith we read about in the scriptures like the Brother of Jared. Well the answer I got was that they were obedient. They all gained all they had by trusting their lives to Heavenly Father and by obeying His commandments. We even read that Christ himself "Recieved not a fullness at first, but grew from grace to grace." He made every correct decision, thereby gaining the knowledge and faith He had in life here. Well the cool thing about this is that we can choose to do the same. We can commit to live every law and trust Heavenly Father with our lives, and we can begin to grow from "grace to grace" in the same way. So I am very happy, because that is a very clear way to always be progressing. And on a mission it is so much easier to do that too. You already gave up your life, so trusting every thought to Heavenly Father is a whole lot easier. As a missionary, your soul purpose is to bring souls to Christ. It is a privelidge to be here and be called to this work. I love it so much :)
Already I feel Heavenly Father rewarding me greatly. The best part is, everything you give to Heavenly Father He gives back, but even better than when you gave it. So, you pay 10% for tithing, you get enought to meet all your needs; You give him all your heart, might, mind, and strength, and He gives you a heart with greater capacity, a stronger body, more might, and a sharper mind all back. Ever notice how even the unlearned farmboy Joseph Smith ended up speaking and writing with elequoency and power, despite his lack of formal education? It was because he gave it all to Heavenly Father, and Heavenly Father gave it all back. And then he gave it to Him again and again. Well, we can do the same. I am doing the sdame here. And alreay I am growing in ways I didn't know I could or that I knew I needed to. I love it. And you are filled with happiness knowing that what you are doing is bringing eternal happiness to the peopel you are teaching. I have found that you don't teach and help save other people's souls without teaching and helping save your own. It is awesome. I am so glad to be a missionary.
Another cool revelation from the Temple came to me. I was pondering how I missed home and my family and my friends who were so close to me. I realized I missed it because of how happy I was to be with them. Heavenly Father then told me that missing it was okay, and told me that those things I miss so much, these people and these realationships with everyone, are the very things I am enabling in the lives of those whom I teach. I am bringing all the happiness I enjoy into the lives of others, many who want it, but don't know where to find it. Or who even don't realize there si so much more to life they can have and enjoy. I am so happy to be able to do this. I love being a missionary :)
Well, my time is at an end for this email. Keep doing good things my dear friends and beloved family! I pray for you daily! Give up anything that is keeping you away from your Heavenly Father in any degree. It is hard sometimes, but it is worth it! I know because I have given Him my whole life for now; my whole heart and all my strength. And nothing has made me happier than giveing Him as much as I can, either before my mission or now. If you wonder how I am so happy, that's how. :) There is nothing He won't do for you to make you happy if you are willing to give Him everything and keep his commandments. So quite if you aren't trying to do that already, get to know Him better and give it a try :)
Adieu dear ones!
Elder Matthew Salvatore Viglione
"For with God, nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
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