Dear people with a fondness for a certain Elder Valentine,
Fortunately, Helder is actually a name in Portuguese, and everyone thinks we are named Helder just spelled wrong, so that title works!
It is SO HOT here in Portugal! I am sure there are plenty of people and missionaries in hotter places, but sometimes it's hard to believe - it's nuts! The humidity is crazy high and it makes the air nice a and thick feeling, and by the end of the day you feel nice and sticky from working all day. Missionary life is the BEST! It makes me feel like I'm really sacrificing!
This was a pretty slow week, but we have been working a lot with the recent converts we have made here in Gaia and it's awesome to see the progress of people in the gospel! I love seeing them change and understand more about how God plays a part in their lives.
Sometimes, I feel like we forget that God really cares about everything we do. For example - most of us say prayers to bless the food, but is it sometimes forgotten that God actually wants to bless that food for you? Or when you have a sports game or a concert to do, that God wants you to be safe and to do your best? Or when two missionaries in the summer heat are having a hard time going forward in a less successful week of work, and need some extra celestial strength? I sure do! I read Alma 34 this week, which is an amazing testimony of Amulek about the Savior, but he also gives this counsel -
17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
God really really loves all of us, and wants us to pray to him and recieve blessings! Prayer has the power to perform miracles. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father worries about us and wants us to grow and succeed. I know that He does! Have a fantastic week, and say lots of meaningful prayers for God to answer!
- Elder Valentine!
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