Oct 8, 2014
Subject: Conferencia Geral! [General conference]
[Note: After writing last week's letter, Sister Yoshimoto learned that the beloved family dog and loyal companion through her youth passed away.]
Oi minha querida Família, [Hi my dear family]
I had a chance to read the emails from last week only
quickly before I responded. but I understood what was happening. I felt this for a while, but now that I read
them (haven’t read from this week ainda [yet]).
I just want to say thank you.
Please don’t worry about me here, but thank you sooooo much
for telling me. It hurts sooo much but I would much rather hear it now than
when I return home. or long after it happened.
So thank you for telling me.
It was actually quite a miracle how everything worked out.
Heavenly Father reallly REALLY takes care of His missionaries, even in the
little things. When I read the emails last week, I was at the stake chapel about an hour by
onibus away. We were there for
preparation day with the other American missionaries teaching some kids Ingles [English],
but at lunch time we had the chance to email … so I was there at the chapel
with all the missionaries. It was
realllll tough because I cried a lot. But
when the elders returned from getting lunch and heard what happened from the
other sisters, I believe it was literally God’s tender mercy for me. Two of the elders had similar experiences 2
weeks and a month before, so they totally understood and were able to give me
some talks and stuff that really helped.
We talked a lot about our dogs.
haha. It was funny because the
other sisters didn’t understand because they have dogs but It’s different with
them, I guess. They were kind of just
confused and didn’t know what to say so it was literally a tender mercy that I
had the chance to talk with the elders and have people who really understood
what was happening.
However, I am more grateful yet for the blessing of being on
a mission. and the blessing of God’s bigger picture for us. As you know, as part of a challenge this
week, I wasn’t able to ask for anything in my prayers. It was real tough especially with everything
going on there. I just wanted more than anything to ask for comfort and peace
with all of you who have to be there every second. But I learned to thank God for the amazing
blessing Rusty has been in my life, for the amazing love and life and laughs
and everything that he truly brought to our lives. I learned to see the good and the happiness
in this all rather than the temptation to ask God to change His will and let
Rusty live until I return to see him one last time. I learned to truly use the
Atonement in just trusting His will and accepting with gratitude. I am so grateful for this experience and for
your prayers and your love and support from home at this time. It’s been a stressful week, but it was
good. Being able to work real hard and
really feel the spirit and get my mind distracted with the real work here. It has just been hard at night when
everything calms down and I’m left with my thoughts. but I know and have felt
your prayers lifting me, so thank you so much.
I received some cards from the Hale family , Sis Pino, Sis Stevens, the
Garrett’s, the Skinner’s, and of course the Bertagnolli’s! I love you all soo
much and the rest of the ward who I know is truly supporting each one of us
missionaries. You all make a
difference. Thank you!
I loooooved General Conference!!!! Wow, it was sooo amazing! We got to watch it together, the Americans,
in Ingles [English] and wow, every talk was so powerful and bold. It was sooooo great. Man, I loved it. And Elder Godoy who spoke … WOW! What an amazing talk. We got to hear it in Portuguese and it was
soooo great! Even greater for the
natives. Finally being able to hear
conference in their native tongues. We
watched priesthood in Portuguese with the voice overs and man, it’s just so not
the same. It’s still really good and you
get a lot out of it, but it’s really not the same. When I imagine that’s what the rest of the world
hears every time. I’m so grateful to
speak English and hear really the prophets voice. It is such a blessing. And is is such an amaaazing blessing that the
rest of the world has this chance now with the speakers in their native
tongue. How amazing!!
Also, HAPPPPYY BIRTHDAY KEILYN!!! Im sorry I didn’t get to
write it last week, but I did remember and I celebrated! We had lots of food at the conference and I
ate cake for you :) I love yer guts and
hope all is well!!! Thank you for
emailing me. I love being able to know
what’s going on with you all !
Anyway, I’m out of
time, but I would like to just put in some few sidenotes … hshaha.
one, I got piolho …
which is like lice, but bigger. UGH.
haha. Soooo yeah, I had to cut some of
my hair off. It’s not super a lot but it’s
enough so I can get those suckers out. I got it from one of the families here
who live in an area that is really humble. They are such a good family. We helped to reactivate them. Unfortunately, the youngest has a tonnn of
piolho [lice] and gave me a giant hug and they always play with my hair because
it’s so long. I didn’t know she had
piolho haha. But it’s all good. It comes out quick. I think. We’ll see. Got some time haha. but
yeah, I love that family so much. It is
so worth the piolho. Hahaha.
Also, I ate opihi!!
It’s actually really good ahhah. yummmm.
I’ll send some photos of my zone and the sisters and the hair
cut. I love the mission. I’m so grateful for this experience and
privilege. We have been teaching some amazing people. I will tell you
more about Rafaela, Ana, Glayson, Leando, e Wagner next week. Miracles are happening and I’m so excited to
finally see the progression with the ward and the members!!!
Love you all sooooo much, I can now pray for you all, again,
and am every night. I thanked Heavenly
Father for you all every night last week haha.
I love you so much!!!
-Sister Yoshimoto
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