Happy New Years everyone!
I hope that you all had a great new years and that everything is going well for
you all. This week was a little bittersweet because it was my first time not
being with the family for new years but it was a great week! The language is
beginning to get a little easier and I feel that I am finally being able to
settle down and get my mission off on a good start here in Manaus! So New Years
was pretty fun here and I would say different than the US but it was a great
experience. Everyone is on the streets and fireworks go off everywhere. Usually
just small ones but they are everywhere and it is so loud. A lot of people
drink the whole week so that was pretty difficult this week to teach people. I
can honestly say being here in Brazil that I have never felt so alone but then
again I have never felt the Lord so close to me than at this point in my life.
You know the mission defiantly is not easy, but it is because of our Savior
that it is made possible. That is one feeling that I never want to go away is
when I can feel him helping me and even carrying me throughout the day. This
past week was fast Sunday and it was probably the hardest fast that I have ever
attempted in my life haha. Going without food and water in this area is so
difficult but during this fast I gained a strong testimony that he hears and
answers our prayers. I know that when we sacrifice that he has sacrificed so
much more. That is one thing that I always remind myself being out here on the
mission. I always ask myself why is this so hard? Why do I worry about little
things? If I am doing the right thing making good decisions than why is it
hard? These questions run through my head ALL of the time. Every time I think
about that I think about our Savior and reflect back on his life. You know, he
was absolutely perfect, but his life was harder than I think all of ours put
together. He didn´t do anything wrong, but yet he has felt everything that we
have felt and that is because he loves us. He did that so he could help us, so
that our lives would be bearable. Looking back on my life it seems that
whenever I make the right decision it is always the hardest at first.... but
after sticking with it and persevering it is the most beneficial for my life. I
look back on all the decisions that I have made and I can see how when I make
the easy decision that it really just makes it more difficult for me in the end
and although it might appear to make me happy.... in the end it doesn´t make me
as happy as I could be! Just this past week we had a family home evening with a
part member family and we watched this DVD Juntos para sempre (Together
Forever). In this film it showed people making hard decisions but the end
results being true and everlasting happiness. I know that this is so true. This
decision to leave my family for 2 years has been the hardest thing I have ever
done, but I have already learned so many things that I wouldn´t change for the
world. I have learned so much about our Savior and everything that he has done
for me and I know that living this gospel is not east. I know that doing the
right thing isn´t easy and it isn´t suppose to be. If it were easy than a lot
more people would be doing it, but I can tell you one thing. That living this
gospel is WORTH it! I have made mistakes growing up...we all make mistakes, but
I can tell you that when I made a mistake I was happy at first. The difference
is EVERLASTING happiness. You can go through life and go with the crowd, be the
cool kid, do the cool things and be happy. But I can tell you one thing, you
would be missing out on so much. You would be missing out on so many blessing
and most importantly you would be missing out on having EVERLASTING happiness.
This gospel is not an easy thing to live, but it is worth it in the end. The
blessing that our Heavenly Father have in store for us is amazing. He has
provided us with a way to return to live with him.... and not only just that
but be with the one thing that I miss the most and makes me the happiest person
in this world...My Family! I know without a doubt this gospel and church is
true. I know that it isn´t easy. I know it isn´t easy to stand out growing up
and I know that sometimes we make mistakes because I made my fair share of
them. But none of us are perfect and that is why our Savior, Jesus Christ, came
to this earth and atoned for our sins so we could repent and learn from our
mistakes! I know that living the gospel is what will make you happier in the
end and I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
I love you all so much and
if there is anything that you need just write me and I will do all I can to
help you out! I pray for you guys every single day and can´t wait to be able to
catch up more when I return! Be strong and make the right decision, even if it
is the harder one! I love ya'll!
Love, Elder Brock
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