I GOT A GOLDEN TICKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those exclamation points do not really explain how I felt at that moment in time. Quick recap
So this past week I have really been struggling with the whole visa thing. We had a devotional and the guy told us to start praying for the people where we will be serving. Which I was already doing and I feel like I already love them and the culture and everything even though I have no idea what it is like. I've been praying that the Lord will prepare the Brazilian people for our message and to help me find those that need the message. I've been praying for the people of Brazil. And with the whole visa thing I've was having a inner conflict because I couldn't pray for the people of Brazil because there was a chance I might not end up serving there. We sent out two more districts to the states and I talked to one elder, going to Texas, that hasn't even done his electronic visa and I thought - "that's going to be me". I've been pouring my soul out to God every night long past the 10:30 pm bed time hour. Don't worry I'm in bed and lights are out, I just wasn't sleeping. I explained to Heavenly Father that I believed my call came from Him and that I was called to Brazil, I told him that I was happy to serve Him wherever I might end up but it is really hard for me to be studying a language and to end up not using it. I've failed to learn French, and Spanish, the third time was going to be the charm. It is hard for me to be praying for a people I may never get to meet. I felt like this MTC experience and studying the langage was a leap of faith believing I would get to Brazil. Faith are things hoped for which are not seen which are true. The problem was that I sure did have hope but I did not know if me going to Brazil was true. Every night I plead with Heavenly Father to bless me with hope and to help me have a desire to serve him wherever I end up....but to please help me get to Brazil. I've been praying so hard all day everyday that it was getting to be quite the distraction. I coudln't focus during personal study and would get discouraged during language study. I never prayed so hard for something in my life. I knew my call was from God and it was a righteous desire for me to want to go there. I don't not want to go to states just because I want to go foreign serving. I want to go to Brazil and only Brazil. So I just kept praying for hope or comfort.
Lo and behold this last Friday during our afternoon class I got a golden ticket (it was actually a blue slip of paper) that told me to go to the travel office. I grabbed it and screamed and ran down the hall and shouted to everyone on our floor that I got my electronic visa. I've never been so happy in my entire life. I completed my electronic visa and now it is just a matter of time. Who knows how long I'll have to wait until my real visa but I've done my electronic visa. But there is a God and He is too good to me. That was definitely an answer of prayer. And now I truly have faith that I will get to Brazil. When President Uchtdorf gave his talk for the RS (which I watched while the Elders were watching priesthood). HE talked about always looking for a golden ticket and missing the cholcate inside. I know I will get to Brazil eventually but I need to enjoy the chocolate wherever I end up getting temporarily assigned. There still is a chance I may never get my visa - I think it will get it. Besides what missionary can say they served two missions - state side and foreign? Ever since Normal, IL I know I will find good things about anywhere I end up and love the people.
I did feel a little bad for my companion - Sister Connell does not have her electronic visa yet while Sister Hall and I both do. It was bitter sweet for her when I got mine. I felt the same way when sister hall got hers. I was happy for her but so insanely jealous. So keep all of us in our prayers that we will eventually get the real visa. Thank you for your prayers for my visa too! They must be working so keep them coming!
This past week was conference weekend and what a weekend. I felt like I ate and watched a session, ate and watched another session, ate and watched yet antoher session for two days straight. I did that for all four conference sessions on top of a MTC devotional sunday night and RS broadcast Saturday night. It was very spiritually uplifting yet so uncomfortable. We sat in hard chairs with no cushions for 12 hours. Regardless it was very spiritually uplifting. It was cool to hear them talk about missionaries and think " I am one!" It was also kind of fun to hear all the little whispers of excitement when a favorite speaker got up to speak. And can you believe another temple in Provo!!!! Up from the ashes come the Roses of Success! How exciting! I hope I will be back when they do the open house.
The langage is slowly coming. I did my first lesson without any notes or having to memorize any phrases, this week . God is really helping me. I went from having to read everything I said to now being able to speak with a limited vocabulary. I have also started reading the portuguese Preach my gospel and only have to look up a handful of words. So I've got the gospel vocab down - but that's about it. The rest will come later.
Hope things are going well back home and hope you are all enjoying the fall colors. Get out into the mountains because you can. My heart hurts everytime I look at them because I can't go climb them.
Love you all!
Com Fe,
Sister P
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