So I have memorized a few things in Português, well actually more than a few, but here is the First Vision -
Vi um pilar de luz acima de minha cabeça, mais brilhante que o sol, que descia gradualmente sobre mim... Quando a luz pousou sobre mim, vi dois Personagens cujo esplendor e glória desifiam qualquer descisão, pairando no ar, acima de mim. Um deles falou-me, chamando-me pelo nome, e disse, apotando para o outro, Este e meu Filho Amado. Ouve-O!
Phew what a mouthful. Anyways what is going on everyone?! It is crazy to think that I have a week and a half left before I leave the MTC. WHAT?! Time has flown faster than I can even begin to comprehend. A week from today I'll be getting my reassigment! Basically what has happened is because of how long the visa process has become and because of the masive majority of delays, I am being sent somewhere in the United States to wait for my visa to come in. Right now it is looking like I will get it around as soon as September and as late as Christmas. It is both exciting and upsetting knowing that I will get reassigned into another mission. It is exciting because, for one I have no idea where the Lord needs me and I won't find out until only days before, and secondly because I get to serve in two different missions! How cool is that! It is a tad upsetting because of an experience that I had last week in TRC. Every Friday evening after P-Day time is over, our district has TRC, which is where we go in as companionships, and teach someone we have never met before about the gospel. They are usually members, in fact all the ones that we have had in the Brazilian TRC all attend the Portuguese ward in Orem (that's right, there are like over 200 people who attend it too, and they are all natives of Brazil I think). At first, I was so nervous, because before we started teching them, and I mean like 5 minutes before, we found out that they were all natives of Brazil. They each probably knew about 10 words in english. So picture 2 white gringos with barely enough Portuguese to hold a small conversation trying to teach Brazilians to Gospel of Christ. Scary huh? Plus they talk wicked fast and use conjugations and tenses that I don't know yet. Anyways when we walked into our first appointment, we met a young Brazilian woman who had just barely moved from Rio de Janairo within the last few weeks. She knew zero english. For a few minutes I was like gosh how am I going to understand her, what the world. Then I realized that I needed to be calm and just listen. Just listen with the Spirit so I can know exactly what to say to her what I needed to teach. I said a brief prayer in my mind to allow the spirit to help me, and exactly at that moment, my mind was clear and I knew what she was saying. Not every word, but I knew what she was aying because the Spirit was there and I was focused on how I could bring her to know Christ and not on what she was saying. I don't think I've ever had an experience like that. Than in second appointment we met an older woman who has been here for a few years. The same thing happened. The spirit was so string and my companions and I testified with the power of the Holy Ghost. Afterwards our teacher came up to us and said that when we left she began to cry because of the influence of the Spirit she had just felt. The Gift of tounges is real. It comes through diligence in keeping the commandments of God. He is real and is mindful of our many needs. I can bear testimony to that.
Because these two lessons were so powerful, our district stayed and talked with them for close to an hour. I LOVE BRAZILIANS! Eu amo os Brazileiros muito!! They are the most amazing people on this planet. Americans could learn a thing or two from these people. They are incredibly humble, and even if they don~t know who you are they love you like family. The whole time I was there standing and talking I was just smiling. I have never been happier in my entire life! They love it when misisonaries try to learn their language, even those who are not members of the Church. I just can't wait to get there!!
Goodness there is so much to talk about! Well the next crazy thing is what happened at our Tuesday night Devotional. we had Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles come and speak to us, AND I GOT TO SHAKE HIS HAND!!!!! I know it's not like a big deal, but in Mormon culture meeting an Apostle is a huge deal. These men are spiritual giants. Elder Anderson is one of the sweetest men ever. He bore a powerful testimony about love and about the divinity of this work and of the Savior. I just know that he is real. How can he not be? Coincidence? No way! Nothing happens by coincidence! Everything is overseen by the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth and his Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind. Everytime I hear testimonies of the Savior I just know that he exists.
Then the next day, my companions had to use the restroom. Naturally I had to follow them and I opted to wait outside. Then I see someone who looks super familiar walk past we and down the hall. After a double take I let it pass, but then he turns around and starts walking towards me. Then it hit me. Standing in front of me is the Man who plays the investigator in the movie The Best Two Years!! (which by the way, even though it is a movie is EXACTLY how mission life is, especially when the mail comes) I kind of froze, and was like, uhh are you an actor, or something stupid like that, and then we procedd to have a small conversation, and then oh yea, I shook his hand too. Bam. Not going to lie, two handshakes by well known Mormons within the space of 24 hours was awesome.
Goodness there is so much more I wish I could share but I am pretty much out of time. I love you all so much, my family, my friends, everyone. Trust me, letters keep a missionary going. Send me your love, it only takes like 5 minutes. The gospel is true. Jesus Christ lives. God is our Father. Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw. I know these things to be true, and nothing anyone says or does can make me doubt this belief or say it is anything but the absolute, complete, entire, and whole truth.
Eu amo vocês!!
Tchau tchau!
Elder Dimmick
No comments:
Post a Comment