We have a baptismal date for Christian. It's so exciting seeing someone recognize God in their life and want to become a member of our Savior's church. I'm grateful I've been able to come here to Brazil and that I was blessed to pick up the language so quickly too. My mom said she found a paper in my closet from when I was a lot younger listing out some things I wanted to accomplish in my life (short and long term goals). I don't remember writing it but I'm not surprised I did. I wrote I wanted to learn Portuguese and used to learn words from my Pops (Dad) who also served in Brazil. She said it was really touching to her that Heavenly Father heard the desires of a boy and gave him his wishes when he chose to serve Him years later as a young man.
Often we do receive answers to our hopes and desires but sometimes it's years later. It's important for us to communicate and have a relationship with our Father in Heaven that is our own because He really listens and hears our joy, our frustrations, our pleas, and helps turn our righteous desires into blessings for us and for others.
I don't have much time left to write today. We have to use an Internet cafe and we pay for our time. We were blessed by a member who gave us a gift of time to talk with our parents by paying for our usage at the cafe. We have so many tender mercies daily as Heavenly Father's children. So often we are wrapped up in our lives that we don't recognize those things. But as missionaries who are trying to teach the gospel, we are blessed to see them every day and to recognize them more than we would have before we put on our name tags and committed our lives to Him.
I love my family. I love my Savior. I love the people of Brazil and those people who have loved the heck out of me growing up because they helped get me here. Have an amazing week!
Love,
Elder Whelan
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