Goodness gracious 1 year! Can you believe it? I truly feel a lot different, I don't know why. It is so fun to think next year from right now I will be home!! I have also never felt so happy here in Brazil. I love this ward. I love the friends we have that we are teaching. I love the members. I love the scriptures. I love my President.
We had an amazing experience last Monday night with a friend of Erick (the member who left on his mission). We marked to teach his friend Monday, and when we got to Erick's parents house Cida (Erick's mom) called him and he said he woudn't come. She said wait a second, talk to Elder Calvert. We talked about our days and about his car and then he said, “Alright I'm coming over”. We talked about his church, and just listened and talked and talked. Then he began asking questions about the church. He had questions from his heart, and we answered the questions. Without planning or trying to teach about the Restoration, we did. We showed him a picture of Joseph Smith receiving the Priesthood from Peter James and John. He began weeping. The Spirit was so strong. He offered a closing kneeling prayer and thanked the Lord deeply, even for the ability to smell (he suffered from drug addiction and is very thankful to be alive), and for the Lord to show him the correct path in his life. I know he will be baptized.
We taught this woman named Aline and she will be baptized this next weekend. We are teaching her in a member's house and she loves the gospel. Also we are teaching this woman named Mary and her two sons Igor and Hudson. Testifying last night, I felt so much love for them as we testified about eternal families.
Yesterday was stake conference and President Cooley came and talked. I really will miss him. I felt the Spirit so strong during the last hymn, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." The key changes and harmonies and moving parts were beautiful. I felt a profound piece during the talk of Elder Almeida, a Seventy in the church. I realized that happiness is not a destination, but is much more in the small and simple things. After all, it is in by small and simple things that the great things are brought to pass. I am feeling the culmination of many small and simple things, small and simple moments of happiness, small and simple miracles and answers to prayers, and it is filling me with joy. I am beginning to feel with my heart things I have known with my mind for a long time. It makes this work wonderful. I feel the Spirit so strong as I write these words, and the fruit of the Holy Ghost that is most powerfully being felt in my heart, is that of Joy.
Experiment upon the words of the Prophets and Apostles. I promise you, with absolute certainty, that there is peace and joy in righteous doing. Those things that are asked of us are not a list of sacrifices or self- denial. Rather, it is a pattern of living that yields peace in this life, and Eternal Life in the next. I love the Savior Jesus Christ. I testify He lives. I have much hope in Him. I have hope in a rich, beautiful future for all of the true followers of Jesus Christ. The first fruits, are repentance and baptism by someone who holds the Holy Priesthood of the Lord. This authority was restored to the earth to Joseph Smith. No combination of good intention and knowledge can make valid a baptism outside of the true church of God. I know these things. I love all of those who are reading, for you are taking the time to read of my life. For this, I invite all of you to speak to missionaries about the restored gospel. Go to mormon.org. Ask for them to come teach you. I know it seems strange, and will require courage. But I promise you, there exists a purpose, and essential purpose to this life, we can be taught this by missionaries. They are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. He really lives.
Love, Elder Calvert
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