Week 16: The Coca-Cola Caravan

This week was a fun one, but the highlight of it all, as you might expect, was the Coca-Cola Caravan. 

We were in the street last night, talking with people, and one family we talked to said they were waiting for something called the Coca-Cola Caravan. We continued on our way back and quickly noticed the collection of families lining the street in front of us. Turns out this was a well-publicized event. And it ended up being a blessing for two reasons. First, we were able to complete our goal for contacts for the week! And second, we got to see the Coca-Cola Caravan in person. Imagine a line of trucks with flashing lights passing the street, with Santa and a polar bear and a whole bunch of other people waving, and you can see why people were so excited. Though, disappointingly, they were not giving out free coke. 

Two Americans In Brazil pt. 2 -- I had my second division this week with another American who arrived at the same time as me, Elder James! And this one was even more of a lesson in the gift of tongues than the last one. We did not speak well that day, our phrases filled with blank space and verbs left completely unconjugated, and yet, somehow, we gave some amazing lessons. We taught the Restoration to one woman, and she was incredibly engaged in every moment. Afterward, she said she would go to church and read the Book of Mormon, then out of genuine curiosity asked about the first vision and the appearance of Christ and the Father as separate beings, given that's contrary to the Trinitarian view. Elder James was about to pull out the scripture of Christ's baptism in the Bible to help explain it, when I stopped him saying, "No, you misunderstood: she agrees with it; she said the Trinity doesn't make sense, not the first vision." So, we didn't even have to try to teach it, she just understood right away, by the Spirit probably.

Cookies -- At the request of the bride, for a wedding reception, we made a lot of cookies, at least 80, and brownies. Then, when we got to the wedding reception (very very late), turns out it wasn't a potluck-type thing but very formal, so she put our cookies and brownies to the side, never to be seen again.. Actually, turns out the branch president and his fam got the cookies, and by the next afternoon, they were gone.

Favorite Hymn -- This week, I genuinely don't remember who, but it would've had to be someone who speaks english, said that their favorite hymn was Master the Tempest Is Raging. So, I took a listen. 

My favorite verse is the last one, once the storm within them has passed, and how the speaker then sees the world around them:

I love the imagery of the sun being reflected in the "calm lake" of ocean shortly after being the source of their struggle, then especially heaven and their blessed Redeemer being with them. Focusing more on the imagery, it reminds me of two things.

First is the discourse by C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (please read it it's so good). In it, he talks about what we should expect from "heaven," what the Bible says and especially how the common idea of heaven being an eternal reward of earthly-satisfaction is incorrect. By the end, he ends up casually and accidentally describing the doctrine of exaltation, but, starting with the idea that heaven is above any earthly-satisfaction, he gives an example of this with nature. Nature, as God's creation, is a reflection of God's glory and beauty. And thus, our awe and love for beautiful sunsets and majestic mountains must come from our deep and inate longing to return to God. I don't know if you've ever seen a beautiful vista and wished to just enter it, like be in the forest on the mountain instead of seeing it from the outside, but I have. He describes a feeling like this and that it is an idea of what heaven is like, entering into God's glory, being a part of it. So now, every time I see the amazing clouds here in Brazil or hear an incredibly emotional melody, I think of how it is beautiful because it is a reflection of heaven, and how amazing to take part in the real thing must be.

Then, second, of Alma words in Alma 30:44:

I know God and His promise for us if we are faithful are real because I see and hear Them every day.

That's it for this week!

Till next time,

Elder Haroldsen

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