Olá minha família e meus amigos. This is week 3 of being a missionary and things are slowly yet surely progressing. This week our schedule was a lot calmer than it was the first two weeks, we’ve been getting settled into our class routine but I’ll share some of the best and funny events of this week.
On Wednesday, we got to go to the temple in São Paulo. We did an endowment session and afterward got to spend time in the Celestial room. I was one of the last people to enter and being one of 40 missionaries in attendance, there was not a lot of seats left. I ended up just standing there and leaning against the wall. I was thinking a lot about my family at that moment and was feeling down. I looked up to see an older Brazilian sister, who was in the session, walking up to me. She asked me a question in Português which I didn’t catch at all. She saw my confusion and asked in English “Do you feel happy?” I said yes and was given an unexpected hug. I don’t think I ever felt more love in the temple than in that moment. She let me go and then said “I hope you feel this way all the time on your mission.” This sister was a complete stranger to me, we didn’t even know each other’s names but she comforted me and showed me love. I aspire to be willing to share my light that selflessly on my mission.
On Saturday we got to teach a mock investigator in Português. Sister Fuller and I prepared a lesson throughout the week, practiced it several times, and did a pretty good job during our actual lesson. The Elders in our district were not so prepared and had some pretty interesting stories to share afterward. Elder Hiatt and his companion Elder Smith went into the lesson completely unprepared. They decided minutes before teaching to open up Preach My Gospel, read a scripture from it, and then just ask questions and lead a discussion on it. Elder Hiatt, by the way, lived in Portugal for a year so he’s already fluent (#fluente) except for his accent so he was going to do most of the talking and leave the reading of the scripture up to his companion Elder Smith, who is very much not fluent (#fluente). When they opened Preach My Gospel, Elder Hiatt chose the first one he saw which happened to be 1 Nephi 10:20-21. Which basically just says those who are unclean and live unrighteously cannot dwell with God and shall be cast off. Elder Smith read the verse and had absolutely no idea what he was saying. Elder Hiatt realized halfway through the scripture that they were not sharing a very uplifting verse and watched the mock investigator’s face fall. After reading, Elder Smith, wanting to be a good missionary, bore his testimony in Português about the truthfulness of that scripture without even knowing what on earth it was. He said, “I know that what you’re feeling right now, is the Spirit telling you that what I’ve read is true.” Poor Elder Hiatt after that had to try and save the lesson while Elder Smith just sat, smiled, and nodded along. Needless to say, they won the funniest lesson so far award.
Now for the title of the email. This whole week, my companion has been very stressed about the language. She’s never tried to learn a new language before and everything is stressing her out. Most of us in our district took Spanish in high school so while we might not be fluent in Português, we are at least familiar with rules and structure. This has been making her feel very behind in her progress. On Sunday, the two of us were walking back from Relief Society to our room when we bumped into Presidente Silva, the CTM President. He greeted us in Português to which we responded with just a simple ‘Olá’. He turned to my companion and said, “It will come. Don’t worry, in time you will do it. Little by little.” I stood completely shocked at how quickly he understood and addressed her biggest concern, while she cried. Afterward, she told me how much she needed to hear that and it made us both have an even better Sunday.
This experience made me reflect on all the little ways I’ve been improving since coming here. I am not a completely different person than when I left but I’m not the same either. I’ve been improving, little by little. My Português vocabulary grows by a couple of phrases every day, I appreciate my scriptures more every time I read, I meet more of my goals in studying, and I even have improved in more trivial things like basketball and Uno. As I entered the CTM, people told me to look for the gifts of the Spirit I would receive. I think I was blessed with assurance and hope. I just have this feeling that no matter what, everything is going to be alright. I know it will be hard but I can’t seem to fear or worry because I know where my trust and faith lies.
Thanks again to those who messaged me and shared testimonies. I loved your spirits.
That’s all for now, the work goes on. Photos to follow.
Tchau Tchau
Sister Alyssa Grace
São Paulo, Brasil
