To: Allred, Kevin
Subject: Missionary Board Update
Hello to Lyman 3rd Ward from São Paulo, Brazil!
I´m just writing to say hi to all of you. I´ve been in Brazil for less than 3 months, but I can already see that this work is amazing. I entered the MTC in Brazil on 22 August 2007 and spent 2 months there learning the Portuguese language. Now I´m out in the mission field in my first area. I love teaching these amazing Brazilian people. There are literally millions of people here that need to know the gospel.
For those of you who are still deciding whether or not to serve a mission, I wanted to write and tell you that there is nothing better you can do with your time. It´s the most rewarding work someone can do at this time of life. It´s amazing to see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change people´s lives.
The best way to prepare to teach on your mission is to study the doctrine. Study the doctrine of the Restoration. Study the doctrine of the Plan of Salvation. Study the doctrines behind the principles and ordinances of the gospel. Ponder why it is important for us to have a living prophet. Learn to appreciate the commandments of God. Live worthy to enter the temple before your mission so that you can be a missionary with faith of action and faith of power.
Learning a new langauge is fun and tough. Pay attention in your English classes in school. Knowing English grammer will help you learn a new language faster. For example, before you can learn how to a past participle in a new language, you have to first know what a past participle is. Even if you don´t learn a new language on your mission, you need to learn how to speak correctly so that you can more effectively represent the Lord Jesus Christ.
Others areas in which you need to prepare include social skills and physical ability. Remember that you can´t teach the gospel to a family over a text message. On my mission, we walk everywhere. I don´t have a problem with all the walking, but other missionaries here get blisters, cramps, and ingrown toenails all the time. Before my mission, I really enjoyed walking or riding my bike into town. I think that activities like those really help.
I have a lot of other advice for preparing missionaries, but I don´t have a lot of time to write; there are families out there waiting to be baptized. There are plenty of returned missionaries in the ward. I challenge every preparing missionary in the ward to spend time with a returned missionary to learn more about the joy there is in preaching the gospel and to find out other ways to prepare.
--
Elder Allred
Elder Jason Allred
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil
No comments:
Post a Comment