Oi! Tudo bem? Como vai?
Yet another week has passed. Time is fluid these days. I didn't get any questions to answer this week, but I have enough to talk about I think.
To our surprise, we had a second apostle visit us. Russell M. Nelson last week, and Richard G. Scott this week! It was amazing. It was almost a mirror image of last week. I was singing in the choir again. We were singing an arrangement of "Faith in Every Footstep." Right in the middle of prelude music, the leader reminded us to stand in the case that one of the Twelve were to arrive. And sure enough, like clockwork, there is Elder Scott.
I don't know if anyone realizes this, but Elder Scott's wife died in 1995. He is aging, and on the surface looks very tired. Yet, when he speaks he reveals that he is very wise, and puts a great deal of effort into making sure that the things he says are clear and really quite poetic. His comments focused on feeling the Spirit and being able to recognize and be guided by it. He composed a sheet with forty-one points of truth about the Holy Ghost that he said was essentially all of his learning about the Spirit and its guidance throughout his life summarized and compacted onto one piece of paper. Each missionary received a copy of that paper through their Branch Presidencies the next day. He encouraged us to listen to his remarks, instead of focusing on taking notes, since all of his main points were on that sheet. He addressed about half of the points throughout his talk and encouraged us to review the remainder in our personal study time. Elder Anderson and I have enjoyed doing so as of late. Also of note, five different times he spoke the words "I exercise my apostolic authority, and invoke a blessing upon you that..." Two times were to the sister missionaries if I recall correctly (my notes are back in the apartment--and yes, don't worry, I focused on him and not not on taking notes, though I took some). One of the blessings stuck out most clearly though. It was powerful. It was the fifth blessing. He said that to all those missionaries learning a new language that as we exercised faith we were license to have the fullest power of the gift of tongues. He said that as we practiced and focused--preparing in all ways that we could--that in those moments when our language skills were needed that we could recall words and phrases, answer questions, and have the correct grammar come to our minds without any difficulty. It was powerful. Typing this now, it seems like common sense, but there was real power in what he said, and I felt the truth of his words and the special help that came with his statements. Even though I am not (at least not yet) struggling with the language, it was a comfort. Good experience. More to talk about. Moving on.
There has been a new rule enacted. Suit coats at all times. Apparently, this is the normal rule, but over the summer they allow you to be in white shirt and slacks. This is interesting, because I have only one suit. And I have only one pair of matching pants (the suit is subtly pin-striped). It's fun. It has been getting colder though. The mountains have been dusted with snow, which I imagine will stay till summer. We had a pretty heavy snow a few nights ago for the first time though it melted in the 60 degree high the next day.
I was a host on Wednesday. It was fun. I had an Elder from Florida who was shivering violently. He is headed to Las Vegas West. I also hosted an Elder from Salt Lake City who will be going to Kennewick, Washington. I was a good host. I explained a lot but not too much and I feel I made them comfortable. It was a fun experience.
This last week in our official Portuguese teaching appointment things went well. However, we were short a volunteer investigator. So, Elder A and I had to split up and join two different companionships. It was interesting, because it was last second, and you become accustomed to teaching in a certain way or manner with another person. Yet, we both felt we had very successful teaching experinces. Elder A felt very good about his Portuguese and it was definitely a positive appointment. Happiness and joy.
I must share my favorite quote of the week. Out of context, quotes can be most entertaining from random people as you walk through halls and around the campus. My favorite this week was from an Elder. I was in the cafeteria. (I must explain, on Sundays, everyone in the congregation (we are split up into over 100 branches if I'm not mistaken) has to write a talk about an assigned topic and then two missionaries are called randomly to speak. So sometimes its nerve-racking. Because you have to give the talk in your mission language.) It was Sunday morning at breakfast. Anyway, he said to his companion as I walked by "Well, my thinking is, if I am going to throw up because I have to give a talk, I want it to be beautiful puke." I did a double take and looked down at his tray. He was eating four blueberry muffins for breakfast. Oh dear.
The end is soon at hand! I am scheduled to depart on November 9! That is less than 2 weeks! If the visas don't come, which is most probable, then we will find out that we are reassigned soon- most likely on Wednesday. It will be a temporary reassignment somewhere in the states. Excitement and nerves! It's like getting a second mission call. We will see. It is amazing how much two months can change your perspective and change the way you think. And yet, I still feel like there is more to know! I suppose that's part of being human.
Have a lovely week everyone. May you have God's comfort with you in trials and God's joy with you in your happiness.
Elder JOSHUA BODILY
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