02.25.13 - A New Mission!‏

Olá Queridos! 

So this week our mission president called a surprise meeting with all of the missionaries, and everyone was wondering what was going to happen. He had never called a meeting like this before, and it is hard to gather the far-spread missionaries all to one place. Everyone thought he was going to notify us of a new mission rule or tell us that we needed to work harder. I was really wondering what he would say, but I didn't think it was bad news. Well he arrived, and started talking about the announcement thaqt President Monson made in conferenc about missionaries being able to serve at a younger age, and then told us that our mission is going to divide! 

So, on July 1st of this year, the Brazil Juiz de Fora Mission will be opened, and roughly half of the missionaries here will go there and both missions will recieve many more missionaries. So, I might end up serving in two different missions. The Lord is hastening His work. Saturday 58 new missions were announced around the world. Nothing like this has ever happened before all at once. And I have the chance to be part of it all! The world truly is being prepared for the Lord's return, and I am so glad to be part of it. But, in reality, we are all part of it. Just by living the gospel, we are sharing it. We are the lights in an ever darkening world, and we all have the responsibilty as members of God's Kingdom on Earth to help however we can. 

My family, my friends, I just want you all to know more than anything how much I love you all. How much I pray for you and truly desire that you find the same happiness in the gospel that I am discovering more and more every day. It is hard for me to describe the gratitude I feel towards my Heavenly Father for having given me all that I could possibly desire. Not that it is easy, but it is so good. Whenever I feel like I can't go on, I realize that He has already taken me further than I ever dreamed possible. Whatever it takes, I will not give up. I will not lose the battle. We all have what it takes to wage the war against the evil of this world. If we were alone, I might fear. But we are not alone. Our all-powerful Father is on our side. Whe then can stand agaisnt us?

Sorry for the short letter this week, I will write more the week to come. Thank you so much for your help, your letters, your emails, and your prayers! They strengthen me! 

All the best!
Elder Viglione