Hey hey hey,
Okay so sister Kunkel and I have strategically planned out our day so that we can spend a little time in the morning doing emails.....then you can answer, and then we can use the rest of our hour in the afternoon, so it's almost like having a conversation!!! Yeah, we're pretty smart. Of course, it will only work if you respond.....or send an email in the first place haha...which you didn't, just sayin. I did get Sister Mildenhall's letter, which was sooooo sweet. Please give her a hug for me. She is such an inspiration to so many women, including me :) Also, please tell Loretta that she has a thank you letter on the way for her package. Imagine the biggest smile on my face when I picked up a massive package filled with amazingly delicious cookies and new clothes! So cool. Everything fits great and I was just so overwhelmed by the amazing generosity. Packages are seriously the most exciting thing in the world. People walk by with a package and tear into it while they are walking, eating goodies out of the box, and everyone wishes they were them haha. Speaking of packages, if you choose to send one at any point, there are a few things I would request. Mom, those tan socks we got for my dress shoes. Yeah, I wear those everyday....and I'm gonna need more, much more if I want to avoid having constant blisters that bleed. Also, Mom, I think I forgot that tan and red dress that you altered for me.....because it's not in my room.....so I hope I forgot it or we might have a little leprechaun stealing things from our room. Finally, I bought a watch! I feel like Dad would be proud. It's really cute too. I was constantly asking Que horas sao? and I got so sick of not knowing what time it was (not to mention that telling time is not one of Sister Kunkel's MANY strengths....she really is so amazing though). I was wondering though, how long do watch batteries last? Do you think I should buy an extra just in case before I go to Brazil? Just wondering. Also, thanks for the Dear Elders. I think they are backed up at the front office, so I haven't actually received them yet, but saw them in my email and read them. Make SURE you send them to the right address too. Also, remind everyone that they are so easy to send....and the highlight of the day. Also, you can send as many emails as you want, just so you know and then I can print them and read them without using up computer time, so feel free. Just some ideas.
Anyway!!! wow, things are still busy busy busy here, of course. We have taught so many lessons in straight portuguese and yesterday our district had an english fast, so we ONLY spoke in Portuguese. It was actually a lot easier than I expected and sooooo helpful for my speaking . During the lesson we taught, I was just chatting away and words would just pop into my mind. I'm telling you guys, the blessing of the Spirit are so real. Once you start speaking so much in another language, you start thinking in it too. And you know how I sleep talk? One of the sisters in my room told me she heard me sleep-talking in Portuguese! I thought that was pretty neat, although Im sure my grammar was waaay off. I can't believe how much I can see and feel the power and love of
God since coming here. You know, it isn't the location. It is the mindset. Anyone can come closer to the Spirit with the right mindset, but we have to shed our mind and hearts of all the doubt that sinks in and floods us with fear. It's so easy to be afraid and start to doubt that God knows us and loves us. It's something we all must go through. Now, I just said that the environment doesn't determine how we feel the Spirit, because I worked at the MTC and it was just a bunch of buildings to me. BUT immersing yourself in the right environment is so so helpful. I think one of the reasons I'm able to feel closer to God is because I'm not a part of all the distractions that bombard our minds every day all day. It's such a privilege to have the chance to clear my mind of all my past worries and future plans and just think in the here and now. Everything we missionaries do is focused on others, but as a result, we learn so much about ourselves. I think that is because as I learn to love others, I come closer to Christ, who knows me better than anyone. As I grow closer to Him, I'm able to see myself as He sees me. I can feel it. When I feel the Spirit, I feel valued. I feel loved. I feel like I have limitless potential, but most of all I feel like sharing it with others. Dad, you said that you were worried about the direction our world is going. It's true, there is so much sadness and confusion, but there is also light and the light is spreading. We can each be a beacon, and we have to share the love of Christ constantly in order to give others "hope for a better world". I don't worry so much that our world is filled with sorrow and suffering, because we live in a universe governed by opposite forces. If there is darkness, there must also be equal light of that measure. We can be that light. We can live up to our purpose, which is to share this light and help it grow, so that it can spread and overpower the darkness. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I know it, and I'm coming to understand it a little more each day, but there is so much to learn and even more to feel. Christ is our hope for this world. Share His love. It's really very easy, and remember that we are soooooo sooooo loved by God and we CAN feel it if we sincerely ask for it and strive to come closer to Him. I know that the nature of God is a loving Father. I know it and we can all know if we ask and search the scripture for answers with an open mind. I love you all soooooo much. I'm sorry if this was preachy. I really don't want it to be. I just want everyone to know how great they are and how much God loves them. I want them to feel it, because then they will see how amazing every human is and can become :) I'll check my email again this evening and give a few more updates. Love you love you love all
Bom gia!
sister Huntington
