The Gospel is Simple

Monday we had our Mission Conference/Christmas Party so we didn´t do internet. Then, Tuesday morning Irmã Walker had to go back to Lisbon to to visas so i was on a division almost all day with Carina Joaquim, a 19 year old awesome missionary full of love for the Savior and His gospel. I learned a lot when i was with her. I learn a lot every day, just that many times it takes me longer to recognize how blessed i am. As i was praying last night, i felt this peaceful feeling of the love that the Savior has for me, and that angels are all around me to help in this the Lord´s work. Generations of family and friends who have already gone, and generations who are waiting anxiously to come to this earth to gain a body, and be tested, to prepare to return to live with Heavenly Father.

I am learning a lot here in Portugal. I am learning to love in the Savior´s way. He knows every single one of us. Everything about us. He knows perfectly how to comfort us. All we have to do is look to Him and believe. This morning in personal study i read Alma 33. I really love the scriptures, and i love even more when investigators also begin to develop a love for them. In Alma 33, Alma says something so simple. Those who look unto Christ, and believe in Him will find true happiness.

The gospel is simple. It´s us who complicate things too much. I know that with my Savior by my side i can do all things.

We are going through the process of change here in Setubal. Last night we had a powerful meeting with our bishop Santos, who baptized every week of his mission. He shared powerful testimony about how the Lord knows how to do His work. We just have to ask, nothing doubting.

Mission Conference was spectacular!!!!! Elder Texeira of the seventy and his wife shared powerful wisdom with us. Every day we are representatives of Jesus Christ, every hour and every second. It is our responsability to use this time wisely, and follow the Lord in all things. Irmã Torgan sang a beautiful song about how the world would be if we were all more like Christ.

President Torgan shared powerful testimony about power, authority, and light.

This is the true church on the earth today. Christ is the head. This Christmas is going to be amazing and white!!!

I love you all. thank you for your love and prayers.

It´s so great to hear from Elder Maikolo again!!

Have a great week!

com amor,

irmã Michael

PS mom and dad, we will be at members house on christmas. i will talk to them to arrange how calling will go. either i will call, or you can call me on our cell phone. i love you tons!!!!

MUNDO FELIZ

Mundo Feliz nasceu Jesus! To start i want to share something that Douglas Silva wrote in my planner yesterday when we were at he house for dinner. We had finished eating and for some reason i had my planner on the table. I have a quote inside the front page that is from an article i read last week called "that we might have joy" that i really identified with. It talks about how we find true joy and happiness when we obey Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They are the ones who have given us our lives! The quote says something like..."We can feel joy thanks to our understanding of the Atonement of the Savior.... Our situations and circumstances don´t have a lasting impact to feel joy. In reality, true happiness comes through obedience to Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ and our belief in them, that They gave us this life and the future life so that we can have joy." I roughly translated it just now... anyway, so i told Douglas that the thing i least understand is the atonement of Jesus Christ. it is like my question of my mission. He then took my planner and wrote in the back: When we understand to love of the atonement, we are changed in a natural form as well as a spiritual form. This happens when we do our very best every minute of our lives. Therefore, perfect comprehension of the atonement comes when we are in the presence of God." I pondered on this a bit, and last night i was talking with Irmã Walker about how it all works. Honestly, i don´t understand many things and i feel like during my whole mission up until now, that i won´t ever understand everything that i want to, but isn't´t that really what it is all about. Learning a bit more each day, changing a little each and every day, falling down, but getting back up and moving forward, until we come into the presence of God and face to face tell him all that we have done in our lives. many times i look at what i have been doing with the name of Jesus Christ on my badge each day. Sometimes, often i feel like i haven´t done enough, almost always i feel like i haven´t done enough. But, still He has called me to do this work. I am here to be His hands. I have been learning a lot from our bishopric here in Setubal. They each strive to speak with the power of the holy ghost. this is God´s work that we are here to do. His children need salvation. There is one door that opens the gates to salvation, baptism. And it is just the first step. This week, we worked a lot with 2 girls Daniela and Ana Catarina (12 years old) they both are excited to learn more. Daniela´s brother and sister are already members. she wants to know and feel, but for some reason she has fear. her step mom goes to a baptist church and she is having a hard time making a choice to leave there. Ana is her friend and she wants to learn more. she has already felt that this is the true church, but she has a hard time making a decision on her own. she is kind of waiting for Daniela... we´ll see how it goes! Please pray for them, they need the angels to help them have courage to make the leap! Hope to hear from Jacob soon. i love you all! It is December! spread the joy of the restored gospel! This is the greatest gift we can give! com amor, Irma Michael