As I stepped off the plane, I realized that I was literally stepping into the unknown. All around me, I heard a language totally foreign to me, saw places unfamiliar, and faces I'd never seen before. I saw the mountains outside, as well as the neighborhoods so different than what I was used to. I didn't know it then, but I would end up spending 5 of the best months of my life in that very place I was looking at in that moment. It was all so different...the air even seemed different! One would think that in a situation like that, I'd be scared. And yet there was a smile plastered on my face, one I wouldn't get rid of until the day I returned to that same airport to make the return trip back home...but that is another story for another time.
On that day, March 5, 2010, I didn't realize just how much my life was about to change. That was the beginning of the best 18 months for my life. That was the beginning of discovering countless things about myself, about life, and most importantly, about the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
I can hardly believe that two years ago today, I entered the Missionary Training Center (Centro de Treinamento Missionário) in São Paulo, Brazil. That was a day I'd been looking forward to for years of my life. And now it is already two years ago! As I reflect upon the time I was privileged to spend as a missionary in the Brazil São Paulo East mission, which I do often, I see how much the Lord has blessed me because of this. My life changed, for the better. I served a mission with the purpose of sharing the restored gospel with those who had not yet had the privilege of hearing about it, and to help other to come unto Christ through this gospel and through His Atonement. In the end, I think I was the one who was most blessed, for it is in giving we receive. I can't see how I could have possibly been as powerful an instrument in helping others as the mission was in helping me become a better person, understand the gospel and its impact, and coming to truly know my Savior.
I don't know what my life would be like had I not decided to go on a mission, had I not gone to Brazil, had I not spent 18 months of my life in the Lord's work, had I not completely fallen in love with the people and culture of Brazil. That is a part of who I am; there's no taking me out of Brazil, nor taking Brazil out of me. Someone commented to me last week "wow, Brazil really had an effect on your life, didn't it?" My only response is....I don't think anyone quite understands to what extent. I said the day I came home that I left my heart in Brazil when I stepped on that plane to return to my native country...and I still say it today. I love the USA, don't get me wrong...but my heart is still in Brazil!
2 years ago today, my life changed. For the better. I thank the Lord every single day for that!
On that day, March 5, 2010, I didn't realize just how much my life was about to change. That was the beginning of the best 18 months for my life. That was the beginning of discovering countless things about myself, about life, and most importantly, about the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
I can hardly believe that two years ago today, I entered the Missionary Training Center (Centro de Treinamento Missionário) in São Paulo, Brazil. That was a day I'd been looking forward to for years of my life. And now it is already two years ago! As I reflect upon the time I was privileged to spend as a missionary in the Brazil São Paulo East mission, which I do often, I see how much the Lord has blessed me because of this. My life changed, for the better. I served a mission with the purpose of sharing the restored gospel with those who had not yet had the privilege of hearing about it, and to help other to come unto Christ through this gospel and through His Atonement. In the end, I think I was the one who was most blessed, for it is in giving we receive. I can't see how I could have possibly been as powerful an instrument in helping others as the mission was in helping me become a better person, understand the gospel and its impact, and coming to truly know my Savior.
I don't know what my life would be like had I not decided to go on a mission, had I not gone to Brazil, had I not spent 18 months of my life in the Lord's work, had I not completely fallen in love with the people and culture of Brazil. That is a part of who I am; there's no taking me out of Brazil, nor taking Brazil out of me. Someone commented to me last week "wow, Brazil really had an effect on your life, didn't it?" My only response is....I don't think anyone quite understands to what extent. I said the day I came home that I left my heart in Brazil when I stepped on that plane to return to my native country...and I still say it today. I love the USA, don't get me wrong...but my heart is still in Brazil!
2 years ago today, my life changed. For the better. I thank the Lord every single day for that!
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