So, I am typing crazy fast today, please excuse any spelling errors or grammar errors, my English is getting worse and this computer thinks every English word is misspelled, and I need spellcheck more than ever.
First, I want to eliminate all ambiguity concerning how people can contact me, since there is still a little confusion. Anyone is allowed to email me at: matthew.viglione@myldsmail.net
The only catch is I can only reply via email to family. So, if you email me and want a response and aren't immediately related to me, include in your email your address so I can reply with a letter.
Information about letters: Right now, it is taking 4 to 6 weeks for me to recieve letters, just fyi. I am not sure how long they take to the US from here. Also, a few of you I really want to write (Britta! Karee!) but I either have addresses that are old or that will be old by the time my letters get to there. So, send me permanent addresses! And mission addresses too (MTC and Mission Office), for those of you leaving in the near future. :)
My address is, and will remain:
Elder Matthew Salvatore Viglione
Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission
Rua Dois de Dezembro 78 salas 703/704
Flamengo
22220-040 Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Brazil
NOTE: Packages, letters, anything can be recieved there. Just DON'T put "Elder" in front of my name for anything that isn't just an ordinary letter. Postal workers sometimes see "Elder" and get a little too interested, but regular letters with nothing extra inside are safe.
Okay, I will respond to all confusion hearafter about email and such on a personal basis. On to the miracles :)
So, miracle 1: Learning Portuguese. I can testify that the Gift of Tongues is real, and active in my life. Right now my companion, Elder J Lima, speaks no English. My first month in the field has passed with me speaking almost none. I decided I wasn't going to let a language barrier stop me from testifying to the whole world this gospel, and started praying and trying real hard to learn. Well, we had a conference with our mission president (who also doesn't speak any English) and it is a tradition to have the missionaries who arrived in the last six weeks and also those finishing and leaving for home bear testimony, so I bore my testimony. It was quite amazing. As usual (In English) I didn't think about what to say beforehand, knowing the spirit would guide my words. I just got up, said what was in my heart, and sat back down. Afterwards, many missionaries came to me and said they couldn't believe I already could speak, and my mission president and his wife even came up to me and expressed their suprise. They and the other missionaries said in both language and power that I appeared more like one of the missionaries going home than one of the new arrivals. I can tell you all that I am not able to learn so fast alone. I've never learned so fast before in my life. And I've never felt so complete in my life either. Heavenly Father is helping me. In fact, He's doing everything for me. We give the little bit that constitutes our best effort, and He gives us a small part of the vast knowledge and power He possesses, and then He uses us to do His work and work miracles. And even more, we grow in the process.
This week we recieved a few references from the mission office of people who called for a Christmas DVD, and we went to give them out. These people lived very far away in an area we'd never been to before, and when we arrived it became apparent that no missionaries had been there in a very long time, if ever. It was so great. Everyone watched us go everywhere, and when we talked to them they always wondered who we were and we were able to share the gospel with them. The two families who wanted the dvds accepted our visits, plus another woman we met, but best of all was a man and woman we found asking for directions. We started talking to them, and as we were going to leave I explained that we were missionaries. The two of them immediately started talking about the gospel and we found that they knew quite a bit. We talked for a while, they accepted our visits, and the two of them even became a little emotional. The man had worked as an electrical engineer and when I started talking about my work and study before the mission, he was so happy. The woman told us about her life and some trials she had gone through, but she said she always sought to do what was right. I was amazed at how prepared they were for us, in every way. Truly Heavenly Father put us in the right place at the right time to find them. Before we left, the woman looked at me and said, "I can see the spirit of God in you. You are different than all these people around here. I can feel it." I can't describe how I feel about these two. They are married, and have a 14 year old son. All I can say is that I feel like I already knew them before, and we agreed that I would find them and bring them the gospel here on Earth. I can't wait to see them again.
Meu tempo está acabando... My time is running out.. but before I go, I just want to tell you all how glad I am to be a missionary. But even more important than that, how glad I am that we have a Heavenly Father that knows us, cares about us, and will help us with anything. That He has a Son that alson loves, knows, and cares about us, so much in fact that He gave everything to help us return to live with Him and His Father. I am so glad we have the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, to guide and direct us, as well as a living prophet and apostles. As we read, study, and ponder their words and the scriptures, we will find all the strength and direction we need to overcome the evil and hardship so prevelant in this world. Indeed, we really can stand apart and live better lives. We have everything we need, all we need now is to do -- do everything we know is right, and then live off the blessings. How perfect a plan! :)
I love you all so much! You better believe I pray for you, and miss you guys loads. If the salvation of souls wasn't on the line, I'd be with you all in a heartbeat.
All the best!
Elder Viglione
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