Being Bold with a Cold

DEEP Deep deep meditation. (or a bad cold)

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow! I cannot believe another week has already gone by! To begin, I'll respond to some of the wonderful letters that I've gotten this week. THANK YOU for sending me so much mail! It is really a blessing, and it helps boost our tired missionary spirits after a long 18 hour day. All of the sisters in our district have been sick for the past week. 
   
I swear I'm going to hug you guys (referring to her brothers) all the time when I get home--it is hard to not be able to touch people here! I'm not even supposed to show affection for my awesome companion! I would kill for a littlest brother back rub right now haha. I've learned a remarkable amount of Portuguese in just two short weeks, and now feel very comfortable teaching the first lesson, bearing my testimony, reading scriptures, reciting the first vision and missionary purpose, praying, and carrying a light conversation. It's awesome. The church is true. Your line (referring to Sawyer's letter to her)  "When you think about failures or other negative thoughts, you can't focus on anything else or anything good" is ABSOLUTELY true here. ST and I will walk out of a lesson, and it's very easy to focus on every little thing that we "did wrong," instead of focusing on how many things go right. That is something that we're always trying to work on. 

My wonderful companion, Sister T!

We did NOT plan this twin day.

 

Garrison has been doing great.  He is very positive and encouraging, and has really helps his companion, Elder W feel more confident.  Garrison is starting to get sick, which is a big bummer. I think it's kind of inevitable in this type of environment, but once one member of your district gets sick, all of you are wiped out. Course when the energizer bunny gets sick, he just seems to move at a more normal pace.

It's really interesting to be stripped of all worldy influences. I love what you said about King Benjamin and the people crying out in one voice. The MTC is a unique experience to feel that unity, and that's something that we really have to work on within our district. I LOVE our district, but sometimes we goof off a little too much, and it gets out of hand. It's hard to keep a whole group of 19 year old young men uber spiritual all the time.

Rio District Elders trying to contain themselves.

 My crowd angst is SO BAD. I just want some time to myself! I find bathroom time and shower time to be some of my favorite moments of peace haha. Sundays are way crazy--EVERYONE is in the cafeteria at the same time, and they basically stampede in order to get to the green jello pudding.(no picture of this...yet) 

Devotionals at the Marriot center involve a long long walk with thousands of missionaries.  It is nice to get out of the classroom and move a bit, and the devotionals are really inspiring. Elders and Sisters are segregated of course, so I can't sit next to Garrison during devotionals.

Not feeling well on this day...can you tell?

Sleeping is going much better, and I actually had a really interesting experience with that trial this week. Last Tuesday, as I was completely exhausted, my head was pounding, the world was spinning, and I felt completely humbled, I realized that I completely had to turn to the Lord for help. I had prayed to him, but for whatever reason, I had not asked for a blessing of heath and comfort. Even though I feel comfortable with the elders in our district, I figured that I could power through this trial, tough it out, and then be fine....but I think sometimes the Lord gives us trials to help us recognize that sometimes, we're not fine. Sometimes, we have to be "humbled even as to the dust of the Earth." It was such a trial of humility. (See D&C 8). As I turned to those young elders in my district, admitted that I had a problem, and rooted my faith in the Lord and His healing authority, I felt immense peace and love. Elder Arnold (the 22 year old in our district) anointed the oil, and Elder Papworth (the baby of our district @ 18.5) gave the blessing. They were both extremely nervous, but their words were incredibly sincere and simple. I am so grateful for their worthiness to have the priesthood power. After that blessing, I felt so much peace! Even though sleeping was still a struggle for a few nights, I felt calm and at peace through that trial. The church is true!

AUAGHGHGA EMAIL IS SO STRESSFUL. THE CLOCK COUNTS DOWN YOUR TIME SO FAST.

Mom & Dad:
Thank you so much for your letters and words of encouragement. It's a huge blessing. There have been at least 2-3 people from every district that get their VISAs in time to go to Brazil, but it seems completely random as to who gets them and who doesn't. Keep us updated!
 
My roommates are getting a kick out of hearing about Levi's flat tires--if my bike kit will help him to repair his tire and not have to carry his bike through thick brush, then so be it!

Close quarters!

It's so interesting to hear your different perspectives about the church tour. One thing I have learned so far is the missionaries are BOLD. At our first lesson with Francisco last night we straight up asked him, "so, your wife and kids have been baptized, why haven't you been baptized yet?" I think you can get away with that a lot more in Brazil, but it's always important to go by the Spirit. We are encouraged to always extend a baptismal invitation--often times if the person says no, you can get to the root of what their needs really are. Right now we're working on Faith and feeling God's love with "investigator" Francisco.
 
Ah! Almost out of time! This is so stressful! I still have to send pictures! Ah!!!!
 

Rio District

Yeah!!! Elder S's Mom sent us some Brazilian decorations for our classroom!

Temple grounds are as close as we can get....temple is closed until August 11th : (

I'll try to write you some funny stories about this week involving trash cans and Disney songs!
 
I love you all! Read Deuteronomy 31: 6-8.

Com muito amor,
Sister Colvin

PS~remind A. M. that she is a best friend of mine and should write me a letter ;)