My friends, I'm officially walking in a new pair of shoes. At least,
they were new last week. My first pair lasted the first 11 months of
my mission. I'm very proud of them. Pictures of the passed-away pair
will come.
This week we had FOUR family home evenings, and learned about the
power of these. Brazilians do FHE like a party, almost. They invite
like half the ward and lots of neighbors, have a super-chique program
where the head of the family conducts, a thought, a lesson, hymns,
prayers, and games and treats afterward. It is FANTASTIC to invite
investigators to. Let's make US family home evenings like this
sometimes, too!
Baptism this week! WOOOT! A young man who will hopefully go on a
mission in just a year or so. It was truly a miracle and a blessing.
We laughed a lot this week, the three of us. We taught a 72-yr-old
little lady, Teresinha, who we met on the street, sitting on a pile of
concrete rods. We sat with her, chatted and taught, and ended with a
prayer. We then asked if she knew anyone who would listen to our
message. In her funny, frank way, she refused. "I won't tell you if
they'll accept or not," she said when we asked about a neighbor's
house. "Go knock on their door and you'll soon find out for
yourselves!" It was hilarious. I love frank people.
This week a got a letter from an incredible friend of mine (who's
coming to Brazil on her mission, too! GAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!), and with
her letter she sent an AMAZING, powerful, simple talk on the grace of
Jesus Christ. I wanted to expound more on this to you all, but I'll
just send the link. Please read it, it is short and very very worth
your time:
http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=13436&x=59&y=9
My favorite part:
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Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music
lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. How many know what
I am talking about? Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to
her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the
child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice
repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the
child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes
advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his
life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but
in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues
to call for practice, practice, practice.
If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too
overbearing (“Gosh, Mom, why do I need to practice? None of the other
kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball
player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with mom’s
eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would
choose to live on a higher plane.
In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us
and say, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19), “Keep my commandments” (John
14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask
(“Gosh! None of the other Christians have to pay tithing! None of the
other Christians have to go on missions, serve in callings, and do
temple work!”), maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s
eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.
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The mission is the best choice I have ever made. I am so grateful to
be here. I am so grateful for all I am becoming. I am definitely
feeling God's grace with me, not at the end of the tunnel but every
step of the way.
Thank you all for your love, support, and friendship. Your letters are
keeping me going.
Much love,
Sister Petty
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