As I walk the streets of Brazil and I talk with my companions often times they ask me what I think about the ward, investigators, members, and activities. I went from being a pretty responsible but completely independent person, to a missionary in Brazil (where the entire ward depends on you doing the will of the Lord). Often times the ask me what I think we should do... and I find my self saying (more often every day), "Tudo vai dar certo... in the end".
The Lord knows each and everyone of us. If we are trying our very hardest to do what He would have us do, why would anything go wrong??
Near the beginning of my mission I got the news about Ri's cancer. I knew he would beat it. From the very start, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that he would beat it. But in the beginning I didn't know if I could "beat it". If I could continue doing what the Lord asked me to, away from my family. But everyone promised me that everything would turn out right. We are now nearing the end of Riley's treatments, and I can't begin to wrap my mind around all the miracles we saw as a family this year. And it started with the FAITH TO BELEIVE that everything VAI DAR CERTO.
At zone conference with President this week we learned about, "Starting with the End in Mind." When we are given a trial, what do we want the end result to be? Do we want someone who learned and grew, or someone who wallowed in self pity and missed the opportunity to become what God wants us to? When Heavenly Father gives us a family to teach, do we picture them entering the temple to be united forever?
We are teaching a family, Moises and Ana. Ana started with the End in Mind. Not only did she accept baptism, but she asked ,"You said I can be with my family forevery through covenants similar to baptism. How?" We explained the temple to her and the marvelous blessings that exsist there. She said, "When can I go?"
Ana knows that she will have to get married and then baptized with her husband and children, and then prepare to go to the temple! There wasn't a question in her mind what the end result would look like!
If we could have the faith of Ana and ask, "Father, you promised I could learn from this trial. How?" I am certain that he will show us a clear path to the new person he has in store.
I am a completely different Sister Culley than when I entered the MTC. And I am continuing to receive trial after trial, but I know that Heavenly Father knows me and he knows you! He knows who you can become, do you?
This week I began to make candied yams "with the end result in mind". Like most trials, I didn't imagine the obstacles in store. First off, Sweet potatoes are white here... secondly I had to sell my organs to afford brown sugar, and lastly marshmellows don't exist in Brazil. I evaluated my situation and decided to perservere with the end in mind. I made the brazilian sweet potatoes with brown sugar. And I made marange.... without a hand mixer (if that isn't faith I don't know what is...) So with serious damage to my shoulder and my pride I arrived at Thanksgiving today with something ugly as sin... I put the marange on top and put it in the oven. it came out looking okay covered in white... So I thought to myself... I will put it on the far end of the table and everyone's plates will be too full to try my candied yams. I didn't even have the courage to taste it, let alone tell anyone I made it... Sometimes the end result isn't what we had in mind. Sometimes it is BETTER! Three people worked up the courage to try them, and they liked them! Or were kind enough to tell me so!
I love you all, and I hope you can begin to see the person your Father has in store for you! And I promise you... TUDO VAI DAR CERTO!
Com muito amor,
Sister Culley
The Lord knows each and everyone of us. If we are trying our very hardest to do what He would have us do, why would anything go wrong??
Near the beginning of my mission I got the news about Ri's cancer. I knew he would beat it. From the very start, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that he would beat it. But in the beginning I didn't know if I could "beat it". If I could continue doing what the Lord asked me to, away from my family. But everyone promised me that everything would turn out right. We are now nearing the end of Riley's treatments, and I can't begin to wrap my mind around all the miracles we saw as a family this year. And it started with the FAITH TO BELEIVE that everything VAI DAR CERTO.
At zone conference with President this week we learned about, "Starting with the End in Mind." When we are given a trial, what do we want the end result to be? Do we want someone who learned and grew, or someone who wallowed in self pity and missed the opportunity to become what God wants us to? When Heavenly Father gives us a family to teach, do we picture them entering the temple to be united forever?
We are teaching a family, Moises and Ana. Ana started with the End in Mind. Not only did she accept baptism, but she asked ,"You said I can be with my family forevery through covenants similar to baptism. How?" We explained the temple to her and the marvelous blessings that exsist there. She said, "When can I go?"
Ana knows that she will have to get married and then baptized with her husband and children, and then prepare to go to the temple! There wasn't a question in her mind what the end result would look like!
If we could have the faith of Ana and ask, "Father, you promised I could learn from this trial. How?" I am certain that he will show us a clear path to the new person he has in store.
I am a completely different Sister Culley than when I entered the MTC. And I am continuing to receive trial after trial, but I know that Heavenly Father knows me and he knows you! He knows who you can become, do you?
This week I began to make candied yams "with the end result in mind". Like most trials, I didn't imagine the obstacles in store. First off, Sweet potatoes are white here... secondly I had to sell my organs to afford brown sugar, and lastly marshmellows don't exist in Brazil. I evaluated my situation and decided to perservere with the end in mind. I made the brazilian sweet potatoes with brown sugar. And I made marange.... without a hand mixer (if that isn't faith I don't know what is...) So with serious damage to my shoulder and my pride I arrived at Thanksgiving today with something ugly as sin... I put the marange on top and put it in the oven. it came out looking okay covered in white... So I thought to myself... I will put it on the far end of the table and everyone's plates will be too full to try my candied yams. I didn't even have the courage to taste it, let alone tell anyone I made it... Sometimes the end result isn't what we had in mind. Sometimes it is BETTER! Three people worked up the courage to try them, and they liked them! Or were kind enough to tell me so!
I love you all, and I hope you can begin to see the person your Father has in store for you! And I promise you... TUDO VAI DAR CERTO!
Com muito amor,
Sister Culley