Ó élderes e sísteres,
One more week went by and i didn't even see it. i sure felt it, but the
time is flying by. i hit another milestone and realized that i will be going
home in 5 months. I feel like i still have so much to learn! we had a special
multi stake conference that was presided by Pres. Richard G. Scott and directed
by Elder Stanley Ellis of the seventy ("do you want the truth? or would you like
it with sugar?"). The conference was excellent, the spirit was strong and so
pure. i love being gathered together with the saints. so many singing proudly-
"i am a child of God" ... it was a very special moment. it was neat seeing
president scott speak portuguese. he and elder ellis didn't use translators and
i felt once again the sweet truth that the spirit doesn't have an accent. he
speaks clearly to each and every one of us.
The week was a little rough running after less active members, trying to
schedule visits, calling tons of people, confirming plans... and a million other
things.
Sorry is don't have a recording, but there isn't a TON to report from this
end. We have a solid companionship and my comp is a super star. he is from
germany and his dad is the architect behind the temple in rome... and preston...
and kiev... and some other temples haha. he comes from a very strong family in
the church and has had a pretty rad upbringing living in various countries. his
dad served in england as well! haha. only the best are sent there right?
;)
i love you guys so much. i hope you feel that in my emails. i think about
you guys, i pray for you, and i am really trying to work hard so that you can
all be proud of me. My mission saved my life. i don't regret a single day. i
don't regret a single moment. i don't regret a dime. this is the best investment
that anyone could ever make. The church is true.
I love the book of mormon. i am in 3 nephi 18. Christ is such a great
teacher. He really loved those He served. i hope i can learn that:
Experience! - we were making contacts yesterday on a road and i have never
been received so terribly. we started to be a little sarcastic and jaded because
of the way people were talking to us. Élder luschin said- élder we need to say a
prayer. we can't keep doing this because it makes us no better than them, it
drives away the spirit, and without the spirit we are never going to reach them
the way we want to. we said a prayer and made our last contact of the night. The
girl that came to the door was horrid. she was incredibly disrespectful, but we
were okay with that. we didn't make rude comments after and i realized
something: Many missionaries who slack off on the mission will go on the leave
the church. but also, missionaries who become jaded and are frustrated for their
entire mission will also fall away. Even missionaries that worked hard, kept
every rule, and were diligent will fall away. why? because they didn't learn to
LIVE the gospel and be happy living it. They never learned to LOVE like Christ
OR be a true disciple. as we learn in a special hymn: "by this shall man know ye
are my disciples- if ye have love one to another."
I love you all. pray that i might have charity and patience and pray that
you might have charity as well.
Amo muito vocês, tenho saudades, mas estou perto de meu pai celestial. sei
que ele nos ama. Saibam que ele está cuidando muito bem de seu filho e seu
irmão. Vocês são os melhores :D
-Élder Grondel jr.
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