Missionary blog of Sister Emily Heyer, Brazil Campinas Mission, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Unexpected Miracle

This entire month just FLEW by. And now it’s two weeks until Mother´s Day (significant because of two reasons: 1. My mother is amazing and deserves AT LEAST one day dedicated to her. 2. I will see my family!!!!) 

Lizard skeleton...found in their house.  Surprise! 
This week was pretty...slow. But we did have one miracle that made the rest of the unexciting and unproductive week seem a lot better. Sister L and I were walking past the huge park that is here to go into a different neighborhood. A bunch of people were passing us on bikes as normal and runners were flying by on every side. This made it even more of a shock when a man flew past us on a bike....and then 2 minutes later pulled up from behind us and asked us in English if we speak English and if we are Mormons. We of course said yes and then he began to explain his story. 

His name is N (age 30). His dad is from the United States and his mom is from Argentina. He only speaks spanish and English (with a heavy spanish accent) and he moved to Brasil a week ago. He is a boxer and is training with the Brasilian team for the Olympics! He is trying to learn Portuguese and is looking for a church. He said he had been wanting to learn more about our church for years but because of moving and training for the Olympics he never got an official chance. He said he has been going to a few different churches but that the one he was really looking for was ours. He was so excited to find us! He asked for one of our books and wanted to know ALL activities that will happen so he can go. He said he has been "putting his life in order" to hear our message and join our church. He was married for three years and then 3 years ago they divorced because his wife was only interested in drinking and partying and he wanted to start a family and settle down and find a church. He said his dream is an eternal family and our church is the only he has seen that really focuses on that. 

Pizza!
We gave him ALL the information and then continued shocked at the experience. That night we prayed that he would actually come to the missionary dinner we had invited him to scheduled for the next night. We almost passed out when he showed up (on bike because he has NOTHING here and because he exercises 24 hours) and wandered down the hall and ran into us. After we picked our jaw off the floor we introduced him to as many people as we could and sat talking with him and eating pizza. It was so neat. It is a little difficult because he doesn’t know portuguese very well. But our ward is FULL of people that speak English and Spanish. He couldn’t have picked a better ward to be in. Then to top it off he asked to see how baptisms are done AND he came to church Sunday and made a ton of friends. He is....what we call GOLDEN. It is truly a miracle that we were not expecting (which we need to repent for...we should ALWAYS be waiting and expecting miracles or they won’t come!) and we are so excited to continue teaching him. :)

Noah's Ark?
 This week I studied something that really opened my eyes. I was studying about the atonement and I stumbled upon the true meaning of Grace. This word "grace" is something I have been studying and trying to understand better my whole mission. This week another piece fell into the puzzle. I learned that Grace has two definitions. Grace is the way of repentance, the ability and opportunity we have to repent of our sins because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for each one of us. But Grace is also....the power of Christ. It is a physical, mental, or emotional POWER that each one of us can pray for and have with us that helps us do things that are normally beyond our natural human capacity. It is strength and power to do what is right, to understand the spirit and God´s purposes for us individually, and the ability to overcome our weaknesses. I read a few scriptures that really opened my eyes to this power that is "grace". 

Jacob 4:7 
7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore wilI 
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I also found a talk that really put it all together for me in the Ensign of March 2014 (see below):


It was just a really comforting thing that I learned this week. That when we feel like we CAN’T do something....we are right. Alone we CAN’T. But with the grace of Christ we can. We just have to be worthy and willing to ask for help and receive it. Recurring human weakness is NEVER beyond the Savior´s willingness to help and to save. 

Have a wonderful week everyone. Above all else remember that you have a loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for you, his beloved son/daughter. Don’t be afraid to accept the best that is being offered. We never have to settle for less. <3 I love you all. 


Sister Heyer



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