Email from 2/14/11

Hello my ward family. So here's a little update from the other side of the world. The church here is still small but it's learning and growing everyday. The people here are very hospitable and they are a very tight-knit community. It is clear that the Lord loves all his children and works in every place in the world no matter how small or unkown that place is. After living here for sometime I realize how blessed our lives are when we live the commandments. We sometimes think commandments are a list of things we can and can't do. Really though the commandments are as a guide to life. We all have the opportunity to accept or reject the commandments and counsel of the lord. I've seen two profound examples of obedience and disobediance that I believe best show the results of choice. The first is a youth I met. She used to live on another island with her family but now because she made a choice she lives with her boyfriend and his family. She is 16 and pregnant and can't get baptised unless she buys her own house to move in or gets married. Because of a few choices her life is extremely complicated now and she has a lot to deal with. But on the other hand we have a woman named Mana. Mana found us when we were walking in the road one day and asked us to teach her. As we started teaching her she had many questions for us. In particular she said she had heard about the word of wisdom and was already living that commandment. She also asked about our standerds on the way we should dress. When she asked she was not dressed very modestly so we hesitantly let her read in the pamphelet "For the Strength of the Youth" about dress and appearance, praying that she wouldn't be offended since this was the first time we had ever talked with her. The next time we showed up to teach her she was dressed modestly and was once again ready to learn. She also asked on a later occasion if she had to remove the stud from her nose to be baptized and when we told her yes she said "O.K. I will take it out tonight." This past saturday she was baptised and she's never been happier in her life. Because of her willingness to obey she has been able to start her life again washed of all her sins and is on her way to being closer to her heavenly father. I know that obediance is the only thing that will bring true joy into our lives, and when we are obedient we can be guided by the spirit. I know that this is the church of God and that we are always blessed when we do what the Lord asks of us. Em nome de Jesus Cristo amem.