4/15/2009
Well we are sem agua here in Socorro right now. WOuld have been nice to know
after showering last thursday morning and not realizing it would be almost 2
days before i had the opportunity again this week. In totall i tihnk i´ve
showered about 4 times this week. Getting to the heart of the problem, the
whole reason water is falting is because the rainy season, which should have
started over a month ago, is just trying to start this week (meaning monday
night it rained a little and a little last night) In reasult here in Socorro
we go 2 days with water and 2 days with out, supposedly (being the only other
minisapality other than Aracaju which does everyother day with water..i tihnk).
Anyway, in a house fitted for a family of 6 Americans (prolly 8-10 Brazies....
ok that was horrible, i feel bad) we happen to have 3 water caxias of 500 L
each, so thursday when a memeber told us the water had actually been off for
almost 4 days at that point (yeah 2 days on and 2 off is very iffy we´ve learned
sense then) and we decided to check our tanks...pretty low seeing as how we´d
both done laundry having been in the dark. Friday morning came with an empty
shower head. Luckly our house has another shower but i´m pretty sure it's been
abandoned for years so i aviod it to keep from getting...AIDS...? As a
missionary, spending limited time in the house and not really cooking, i
can´t say i´ve truely felt the effects tho. But when members start giving
money for lunch because they don´t even have enough water to make it for
themselves....you start feeling it in your heart. A truck came by the hospital
next to us the other day and everyone was filling up every bucket they had,
including me. It must be pretty bad when ever brazilians are out with their
cameras taking pictures....please pray for rain
But how was your easter?
Some highlights for me this week where going to subway (awesome!), making a
song about the transfer with my comp (theres a guitar in our house, sorry but
no i don´t ´play it that often dad. I have a soccer ball, thats were any free
time goes) and lastly playing a quick game, to 30, in the upstairs of our
house with a memeber one night after doing a division with him.
Our area however quase broke my heart this week. After putting up what
seemed like some pretty great numbers (considering the walking we did) none
of the people we expected to come to church made it. Even with their legitimate
excuses, I still can´t help butthink how great these people must be to have
Satanás working on them so hard. My heart and soul go out every night to
those golden pesquisadors that we´re teaching like Camillia who just couldn´t
make it to church because her friend called her all night to go to a party the
next day. After constant refusal she gave in, but she´s living the word of
wisdom, receiving answers to LDM and is as responsive, ou seja, more responsive
and attentive than many others i´ve taught here.
Along the lines of free will, my heart was turned to The Plan of Salvation
this week as Sunday, Easter, marked the most important date in Earth´s history,
the Atonement of our Savior. In studying this, I came across the quote ´´We
all chose to have challenges and difficulties´´(PMG) when we excepted to come
to this earth and be part of the plan (ie: receiving a body e assim por diante).
But with this small (only potential) side effect we are given such a great
opportunity to have life (even eternal life) build experiences (see D&C 130:
18-19). Its also important to note that as we use our free agency to chose the
right we actually increase it, ou seja, ´´fortalecemos nosso poder de de fazer
escohas certas´´ (as stated in Priciples of the Gospel) So então, following
the mandomentos of Deus allows us to solidify our character in more knowledge
and wisdom which means a better foundation of our faith aswell. But como eu
já falei, there is also opposition in all things (please see the gorgeous
verse in 2 Nèfi 2:11) and so naturauly Satanás will do everything he can to
drag us down. BUT THIS IS THE INTIRE POINT! This is what makes Heavenly
Father´s plan different from the plan de Satanás, we´re not told what we must
do, we must chose for ourselves. I think the best explination of this is that
experience we all had as a kid when wanting a bike. If dad just bought it for
us did it mean near as much to us? Did we care for it just as much as if we´d
had to save our money, choosing to save instead of chosing other things
(things that may have seemed flashy and a quick way to spend money)? No,
of course we maintained a bike we bought ourselves better than that given to
us. It’s the same with Heavenly Fathers plan and ´´with great power comes
great responsibility´´ but its just means or is worth all that much more when
we chose what He would have us choose. Just like when saving to buy a bike
other things in life may seem very captivating at times along the way.
However (and I didn´t realize this until reading in portuguêr) the word
captivating comes from that root word capitivty, the exact thing we´re trying
to avoid. Is this all making sense? This is the plan, and as Elder Ezra Taft
Benson said the direction and principle interest of the church is (and this
was echoed by Bednar this conference, I believe….from what I understood)
´´to save and exort the souls of the sons de man´´ (1974)
Now none of this is to be overwhelming, though it may appear it at times.
The gift of free agency is marvelous and one of great joy. And Heavenl Father,
nosso Pia Celestial, is ready, willing and waiting fervently to help us in
every trial. For this I love Alma 36:27, which reads like a Psalm. This is
my testimony hojé that God lives and loves each one of us enough that He gave
His only begotten son to atone for each on of us, fulfilling the plane laid
down for us from the beinging. Now its up to us and I hope we each support
and lift one another up to all stand before Him spotless in that last day.
Sorry if that ran on but I am just so happy this Easter season ,
Elder Neuberger
PS Funniest thing I saw this week was a lazy boy bolted down to the top of a
hand cart being pulled by a horse…..beat that
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