Preparing for a BIG week

Oct 19 19

Happy Saturday!

So every once in a while the general authorities of the church comes to the mission for a mission tour, to give training, help the missionaries and see are the work of the lord is going. This week Elder Adilson P. Parrella, who is the first counselor of the area presidency of Brasil came to visit. So Monday and Tuesday were busyyyy planning everything and getting it all ready.

Wednesday and Thursday we had the whole mission here in Juiz de Fora. We had training, heard advice and did lots of practices.

It was a little intimidating, you can tell he is a man that calls for respect.

Cool story. I got to sit down with him and talk. Also I got to ask for advice and ask questions and he saw my name and said "You don’t have anyone in your family that works in the church office in Salt Lake do you?" I told him about dad and how dad attends humanitarian meetings at the church offices, and he said “Oh yeah, I know him.  He was always at the church office building.”

So yah,  dad your pretty famous.

Elder Sanbria from Columbia (Assistant to the president)
Elder Thompson from Indiana (the other assistant to the Pres.)

The members helped out so much. Our ward mission leader, Geraldo, who is the best guy ever, helped out a ton. Also Wellington who is the stake maintenance guy (who reminds me of uncle chad- same sense of humor) In the middle of all this, we got to teach some interesting people. Some less-active members trying to overcome their problems.

Some awesome families that were so excited to talk to an American, especially there 10 year old boy who is so funny. We found a man who said that he was waiting for us and that it was a sign from God. The miracles never stop. He is going to church with us and if you could pray for Adriano, that would help a lot.

Elder Guiterrez from Peru (who has been staying
in the mission office for the past couple of days)

We are getting to work a lot more, outside the mission office, and getting to know our area better. My companion and I decided to use our time better, so we had splits for a few days to cover twice the ground and get to our appointments. It’s good to get to know and learn with other companions.

This week was a little rough but it was great to see a lot that I need to change and better

I love my family!!

Hey mom, I read a scripture that made me think of you.

20 And oh, what ^ajoy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

24 Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto ^arepentance; that I might bring them to ^btaste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be ^cborn of God, and be ^dfilled with the Holy Ghost.

25 Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth ^agive me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my ^blabors;

I liked it a lot because it’s the two sides of the coin the pain and the joy.

I think it’s a great mission scripture but I think it’s also a great life scripture. That when there is no joy greater than that from the Lord when we are on his path for us. And sometimes we pass hard times and pains but the joy is so much more.

Sorry your feeling discouraged and confused about everything just know that I pray for you every day mom.

love you so much

-Elder Sheffield