June 11, 2012

My companion was sick last week so we had a couple days where we stayed home. I took advantage of the time and did some serious studying. I took almost full day just studying the book of Revelation. It was good though because we were pretty worn out and it was nice to be able to relax.

 

The church is doing a Brazil-wide service project. We are packaging rice and beans to ship out to other countries that need the food. Last week we had a day where we learned how to package the food in soda bottles. Yours truly learned how to seperate the bad beans from the good ones. I am pretty much 100% Brazilian now. 

 

The Manaus Brazil temple was dedicated yesterday. There are now 138 dedicated temples in the world, and 6 in Brazil. With number 7 being constructed in Fortaleza. The dedication was broadcasted and we were able to watch. It was awesome. The spirit was really strong. We were able to watch all 3 of the sessions also so it was extra awesome. President Uchtdorf told many stories of the faithful people of Brazil. Manaus is really remote so the area presidency back in the 70s wasnt sending missionaries there. The members of the church kept asking the mission president at the time and he kept denying them. He asked the area presidency many times and finally they told him that he could send 2 missionaries under 3 conditions. 1. The members would have people ready to teach and that the missionaries wouldnt have to spend time finding people. 2. The members would find free air travel for the missionaries. 3. The missionaries would only be there for 4 months. The members asked the mission president again and he told them of the 3 conditions. They agreed and did their part. The missionaries had so much success that they were never taken out after four months. More missionaries were sent. Now there are 8 stakes in Manaus and a temple. This all happened in about 33 years.  

 

While President Uchtdorf was puting mortar on the cornerstone, he invited the other leaders there to do the same, along with their wives. Afterward he invited 4 children to put mortar on the stone also because they are the future of the church. He asked a little girl what her name was and without waiting for the translater she said "my name is Gabriela" in English. It was really funny and really cute. Thats a phrase that every Brazilian knows from school and she responded without hesitation.

 

Well, that was pretty much my week. I hope every had a good one also. Tchau!

 

Elder Siemers