Yes, it is good to be here in Portugal in January. I love this country! I do feel bless to have had the opportunities I have had in growing up in the United States, but really the people here are....Óptimo! So, Sister Phillips and I are having way too much fun here for our own good I think, but we are enjoying it. It does get a bit scary sometimes when we start quoting the same random things. Of all the sisters here we may very well be the only two who know the song "You´re Older Than You´ve Ever Been" by They Might Be Giants. We have fun singing the missionary handbook during our weekly planning session. We also have really been enjoying the work more and how the Spirit is able to use us. It is amazing the things that we have learned in these last couple of weeks about the people we are teaching. We have been able to encounter their doubts so that we can resolve them. It is great, and we have a couple of baptisms scheduled for February!!! I probably will have to leave right before they happen, but to be able to help in the process as these great people progress is awesome. For example...This week was a great week for Rufino and Margarida. They are not married and he smokes and drinks and has problems with anxiety...which are not helped by his addictions. We taught him the "Stop Smoking Workshop"(c) and he was so excited. He was kind of dancing around the house putting away all of the supplies (vitamin C, juice, toothbrush, and mouthwash) and then he amazed us by running right into the bathroom and used the opportunity to brush and rinse. He proved this fact by coming out to the family room again and breathing in our faces to show the minty freshness of his breath. It was absolutely hilarious and we were doing our utmost not to laugh aloud because for him it was so serious a thing. The gospel has great power to help him along with the psychiatric help he is receiving. We are really excited to watch his progress and enthusiasm. He´s a great guy and Margarida is really a saint (not one that the Catholic church recognizes and is worshiped by the masses) but just a really pure hearted person. She´ll be a great Relief Society President someday because that´s the calling that they give saintly women....(like someone we know)
Anyhow, we are having a great time in the service of God. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Jesus Christ lives and is my Savior and Redemer. I love Him with all my heart and try to serve Him the best I can. We are part of an amazing work. At times it is difficult to see the progress we are making in the lives of people and in the nations in general, but that is the purpose of the Book of Mormon. In 2Nep 3 (basically the whole chapter) but verse 12 talkes about the establishment of peace. The thing that many people in the world are wishing for...we´re helping it to come to pass. We´re bringing peace to the world. It is a great feeling to be part of such a nobel project. The most nobel project their is.
Love you all. Portem-se bem (Behave!) Beijinhos!!
ellen
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