Week 10: I Don't Want to Accidentally Say Heracy

Now, my language abilities and my willingless to speak up even when I don't know exactly what's being said around me are starting to line up. The problem is that both are still only at around 60% confidence. This results in many time when I misinterpret a conversation and give the wrong response, like saying "muito bom" ("great") after an investigator says they're unemployed. (Luckily that was a practice). 

Doidos -- We've also talked with many wild people this week, and when we do, I am especially careful with what I say. One was an old man who stopped his car in the street and began talking to us very passionately about how he was called by God (or something I'm still not sure) and that we don't really believe in Christ. Then, he grabbed a marker, drew JESUS CRISTO on the hood of his car for some reason, and pointed to each of us and asked if we believe in... something. I was 60% sure he said Christ, but I really did not want commit heracy accidentally, hence the title of this email, and I literally responded "I did not understand sufficient to answer." He then followed us to our coordination meeting at the chapel--angry because he didn't have internet to receive the message we sent him--and we had to kindly ask him to leave.

Rain! -- Every day here has been beautiful, only a little hot and dry, and with no rain. Until yesterday! And, it was what I would expect from South American continental rain. It started downpouring suddenly, and within 5 minutes, the sides of the streets were flooded. My companion and I both had umbrellas and we still had our shoes filled with water when we arrived back home. The other companionship was not as luckily, without umbrellas.

Fun Members -- Following the words of William K. Jackson in general conference, I've been trying to better know the members of our ward, and they're a lot of fun. One, the rebelious Thiago, we tried to visit two separate times to get some açaí with him, but both times he was sleeping in past 2pm in his bedroom in his mother's house. Another family was the opposite: they talked about their son's experience at military school, and we met their daughter who knows 3 languages and who showed off her drawings of American and Japenese culture she likes. It's good to know Gravity Falls is good enough to be appreciated here too. And lastly, at a ward bbq, one member randomly pulled out a mini drone and starting flying it around everyone, controlling it with his headset. It was wild, and I wanted to talk to him about it so bad, but all I ask was how fast it can go and the battery life.

Favorite Hymn -- I've mentioned this hymn before, but one I've had stuck in my head all week is Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy. It's a banger. And its symbolism of Christ as a lighthouse for those lost reminds me of a scripture I've heard many times now: 3 Nephi 11:11. My companion often uses the ressurrected Christ's appearence to the Nephites in our first lesson with people. The scripture is powerful and familiar for people, and it starts:

"And behold, I am the light and life of the world;"

I just realized that this is one chance I'll have in a while to share testimony of this without a strict word and grammar restraint. I know that Christ is the light of the world. His light is always shining, searching for those fainting, stuggling seamen. His light and his gospel has changed my life, and I know it can change others' as well. I love to be able to share his light, even as not everyone accepts the invitation. I invite all of you to do the same. Look for the light, and if you know you have it, share it with others.

That's it for this week,

Elder Haroldsen

 

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