Things of a better world!

 

Song of The Week- I will walk with Jesus ( Portuguese ) version because its better 

Come to Jesus moment 

   Hey everyone! I'm gonna do this email a little differently this week, I wanna take a moment to just share and express some of my thoughts from my journal and to just share some of the amazing examples of Faith and sacrifice I see everyday on my mission, it is threw there examples that my testimony and love for my family, life, and this gospel has grown so much!!!

I am constantly humbled and reminded at how blessed I am, and how I can always be giving more. 

- the cute sister I live with had to chop her hair and sale it in order to try and have enough money to pay for her mission, because she is the only member in her family and had no support. 

- My STL has no support from her family and basically got kickout when she became a member and has little to no contact with her family. 

- I work in some seriously poor areas at times.. everyone always says well Brazil is a 2nd world country its not Africa. Guys I am serious when I tell you I walk into "houses" that are concrete floors, no doors, no windows, no Furniture.. except for a queen size mattrass on the floor and a few plastic chairs.. It will be a family of like 5+ in a house. However, they are the happiest, loving and most giving people. They will feed us literally whatever they have and make us feel so welcomed and loved. 

- lucas an 11 year old boy we are teaching rides his bike by himself 5-7ish miles every Sunday in order to come to church! ( did not have that desire at 11) 

- People will literally see us and just drop everything to serve us! The members give us so much when some of them have SO very little. 

- The members are so giving, and each one of them have had to sacrifice so much in order to have there family's born and raised in the convent. 

    I have countless other stories and examples I have heard / seen from fellow missionaries, Ward members, people im teaching ect... But I am forever grateful for the amazing examples of there faith, they have changed my heart forever.

   I have never had to give-up anything hard to be a member of the church. I never had to give a huge sacrifice other then leaving my family, friends, and school for a short time to serve my mission... I have realized just how easy/comfortable/ blessed my life has been. 

    In a world full of adversity, temptations, and false beliefs / Ideas. It is scary at how easy it is to get lost and caught up in ones felf. We tend to lose focus on the things that matter most. I know because That was me, before the mission I never had the faith, the understanding, the conversion that I do now. However, with that I never had to work for it, like I have to work for it now. 

This weeks come follow me talks abouts seeking the higher things! 

D & C 25: 10 

And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.

  My mission has taught me so much about the importance of " seeking things of a better ". The joy I feel doing the lords work, growing my testimony, serving, and seeing gods hand in my life everyday has been the greatest experience of my life. Its not easy, its definitely not fun. But I can testify that as we humbly submit to gods will, and act / show our faith in him. He will turn us into something we cant! Challenge you all to do something each day this week to grow your testimony / relationship with our savior 

Love you all, have an amazing week! Feel free to reach out!!! 

Love sister ( Hal ) Tebbs