What I Am Grateful For...

Querida Familia e amigos! Another week in Duckberg! It rained a lot this week, I am grateful for the coolness because it has been super hot and sweaty especially walking up giant hills all day every day! Feliz por Dia de Gracas! Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is not celebrated here in Brazil, but I will celebrate with Sis. Ball in our tiny, little apartment! This week I want to share what I am grateful for because I have much to be grateful for! I am grateful for my body. That I have a strong body that can work hard and walk for miles every day. I am grateful for my mind and spirit that I can continue to develop attributes of Christ every day in my mission. I am grateful for my family. For their love, support, and example to me. I could not serve a mission without them. I am grateful for the members in Brazil, in this little Ramo. They already make me feel right at home! We eat meals every single day with the members and they always hug and kiss me on my cheeks when they see me! They like to touch my hair and ask if I am American or Brazilian and they always tell me I speak really good Portuguese, haha I think they are just being nice! I am grateful for Sundays, days that we can have time to partake of the sacrament and remember the sacrifice of the Savior. I am grateful that we have a day set aside each week for this opportunity. I am grateful for our investigators, those progressing and the new ones. I am grateful for their desire to do what is right, to change their lives, and I am so grateful that I can be here to see it. I am grateful for Sis. Ball. I am ever so grateful for her love, faith, and desire to serve the Lord. I am especially grateful for her patience with me and how diligently she works every single day to teach me and help me. I am grateful that the Lord is helping me to share the gospel every single day with people on the street. That we walk into peoples homes every single day and teach about the gospel and that I have a chance to tell others about the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for my Savior. For his sacrifice for me. That the Atonement can and does change peoples lives every single day. I am so grateful that I can share this knowledge with others and help them come to the understanding that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them and has a plan for them. That I can share my knowledge of the Savior and Atonement with everyone. This week was difficult, we have not been able to find a lot of new investigators and we were rejected a lot. I am grateful when people are honest and just tell us they do not want to listen. A lot of our investigators were not home when we went by and none of them were at church on Sunday. But, I know with all of my heart the Lord is mindful of this work! I know that his hand is here in Patos and he will direct the work every single day if we are faithful and work hard! Miracles! We did find a few investigators with a lot of potential all because we knocked doors! I will gain a testimony of knocking doors eventually! We had no luck on Saturday afternoon almost all day, but finally we were able to teach two different women that evening and they were both powerful, spiritual lessons! Thought for this week. The gospel of Jesus Christ requires sacrifice. We need to sacrifice something every single day to be closer to the Lord. This gospel, this church, is a gospel of sacrifice. Joseph Smith said we do not deserve salvation if we are not willing to SACRIFICE EVERYTHING for the Lord, just as he did for us. Truly, my sacrifice as a missionary is so small in comparision with what the Lord did for me and what he does every single day. Love you all and I am so grateful for all of you! Flying high from Duckberg, Brasil and Happy Thanksgiving for all of you! Enjoy the torta bobra! Pumpkin pie! Sister Brotherson