Tays Email #19

July 26, 2010

Fam -

Ah! So much news, I stinkin love it! Haha. I’m glad it seems like our family took ALL of the family vacations at the same time right when I left! Ya PUNKS! Love you more everyday in all honesty... I don't understand how my love for my family doubles everyday when I don’t even get to talk to you all! Hales... I couldn't write and listen at the same time so I'm waiting until after the e-mail to listen to your song... and cry.. hahaha cause I know it will be beautiful and I will cry. Took the boat out… Good news : ) Coach Johnson, thanks for the update dad, super sad. And also thanks for the thoughts on pioneers and our potential... I took a picture of the screen and will review later! We are super short on time today : ( Super exciting also that the basement it changing! It has been the same for a long time! Mom you mentioned that I would have been proud of Haley’s song.... I know I would have too! And even without hearing it, I am! "Only beautiful women in this family" -said one of the members of the branch here when she was looking at our family picutres! haha Keep being the awesome family that I talk about in my testimony everyday! Eternal Families = my favorite promised blessing of them all!

ALL -
So yesterday was a day of miracles. It seems like the Lord makes you work work work without seeing the results, until you don't think you are making a difference, and then he shows you that his hand truly is in the work. We had FULL classes yesterday in the Branch.. it was a miracle! So beautiful to see the rooms full of people, even if they aren't baptized yet! They were there! We were picking people up (when I saying picking people up i mean walking around the whole city knocking on the doors of our investigators and then walking with them to the bus stop) for church when a random boy we'd seen on the streets a few times stopped us, told us he was going to come to church with us, went and changed clothes, and then came with us. . . Miracles. I heard an interesting thought this week. A bishop noticed a cigarette on the chapel floor, bent down to pick it up, and returned with a smile on his face. He wasn't mad...A cigarette in the chapel is better than a cigarette in the street... why? Because it means that whoever smoked that cigarette...is trying. They were where they were supposed to be, doing what they were supposed to do, trying to get better...And when we do our part, the Lord will always do his.
I had an interesting battle Sunday... I was playing the piano, and the son of one of our investigators insisted on playing as well.... playing the notes WHILE insisting on stepping on the pedal... Oh dear. OH DEAR. hahaha I did my very best and we made it through. I tried to control him during all of the meetings yesterday so that his Mother could feel the spirit and enjoy her time there, I hope that she did... She went to church on her own (THAT NEVER HAPPENS) with a girl that we taught a while back but lost interest. They were both there, and they are both on the 'progressing investigators' list. Happy Days : )
Quick note- This morning was insane. Two brasilians battling for the spotlight, both singing different songs, in a little house in brasil, in addition to heat, and a pillow fight. I ALMOST got a headache ; )

Scripture chase. COMPARE Alma 32 with 1 Nefi 8:1 . . . I was thinking about our Faith and how it grows from a seed. One thing that I have never realized is that there are SO many different kinds of seeds in this world! Some that take a long time to grow, some that grow fast, some that are planted deep, some shallow.... and EACH and EVERYONE brings forth a different flower, a different fruit, a different tree etc. The point is, we are all different. Each of us have a different 'seed of faith' and it will be demonstrated in different ways...each of us will bring forth different 'fruits.' We just have to do our part to water and nourish the seed, and without a doubt, over time, the Lord will make sure that we turn into, or bring forth, the right fruits, the right flowers, etc... the fruits that he needs us to bring forth. Just live his word, Move forward, and he will turn you into what he needs you to be, after all you can do.

Word of the day ALMOCAR = to eat lunch. I love this verb. 'Nós sempre almocavamos' = we always used to each lunch. haha Who just has a verb 'to eat lunch'...so cool.
Also. OREM means 'You all pray' thought that was cool
"Bem me quer, Mal me quer" - direct translation - "Good wants me, bad wants me".... our meaning "He loves me, he loves me not"

I don't have time to do photos today. I apologize. Love you all dearly. Be your best you, love your family, send a thank you note today ... it only costs a dollar (or a free text). All my love - Elder Johnson