Hello! How are you all? That is a serious question. Write down the answer, and send it to me! :) I miss all of my friends and family, and it is so good to hear from you guys. Halay and Maria, thanks so much for your letters! I will reply! Might take some time though.. .mail from here to the US is quite slow right now. On the order of a month or so.. But I will send replies! And I've already sent out a bunch of letters, so hopefully you guys are getting them whenever they happen to get there.Thanks so much! Unless you've been all by yourself in a country where nobody speaks your language and you don't have open communication with anybody, you have no idea what getting a letter from home feels like. It is so wonderful! So you all should write :) Either me, or some other missionary you know who I am sure would appreciate a letter.
Well, another week has gone by! They go so quick here! When you are busy all the time, you don't even notice the time's passing! I keep thinking about how crazy it is to think I have already lived here for a month and a half... it feels like I just got here! And three weeks from today I will finally go to Rio de Janeiro and start the real work. I can't wait! But at the same time, I am glad I have three more weeks to learn more here and to improve my Portugués.
So, what is the mission like these days? As amazing as ever! Living a life like this is so fulfilling. I love it. Everyday I get to study the scriptures and study Portuguese and teach, all day! I really love it. I get to devote my whole life to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has brough me unmeasurable happiness. It makes me happy to know I can bring this happiness to others. This week my companion and I got our first baptism scheduled! For the 2nd of November! I am so happy! It was amazing when our investigator, Evelin, accepted. She is so great. We have been teaching her very slow, because our Portugues isn't very good, but she has been so patient and is so receptive. I absolutely love it. The moment she committed to be baptized was one of the happiest of my life. I can't even describe it. It was amazing. The joy and love I felt for her quite literally defy description. But happiness like this is nothing new to those who live the Gospel. I love it! How lucky we are to have such happiness!
So there are some super cool benefits to being a missionary and living so close to the Spirit. What I am referring to are Spiritual gifts. We have heard a lot about gifts like the gift of tongues, the gift of healing, and others like those, but there is another amazing gift that I and a lot of other missionaries have been noticing. It is the power of the spirit to "quicken understanding." This means that the spirit enhances all of the talents and abilities you already have.
I was talking with the other missionaries in my district, and we have all realized that we learn many times faster and easier than we already did. Not only in gospel matters, but in everything. Where before my mission memorizing something wasn't terribly hard, but took some effort, I have found now that if I read something I remember most of it, and usually in about a minute or two, I can pretty much memorize anything. You have no idea how helpful this is when learning a language. I love it. Whenever the going gets tough, Heavenly Father shows us just how much He loves us, and empowers us to do anything we need to.
I wish you were all here with me and that we could experience this together. This really is one of the best times of my life.
Well, here are some good scriptures! Gotta go! I love you all so much, and so does Heavenly Father! Don't forget it!
Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:27,16:33
Peace I leave with you, my bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ctroubled, neither let it be afraid...
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Peace I leave with you, my bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ctroubled, neither let it be afraid...
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Ether 12:4
Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
All the best!
Elder Viglione
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