I hope that all is going well with you. This week was an interesting week with lots of ups and downs, as is fairly typical. One thing out of the ordinary is that I had to go to Lisboa to renew my visa, which took up the whole morning of two days. But, we have to cross a river on a ferry to get to Lisboa, so the journey is a little fun! It took a miracle to get me visa renewed, however. On Tuesday we did the first part without any problems, it just took about 4 hours of waiting. However, on Wednesday when we got on the metro to go to Lisboa, the metro stopped working! We waited for about an hour on the metro, and eventually it got going again. However, we had an appointment for the renewal I needed to do, and if you miss the appointment they don´t let you in at another time. There is a 30 minute grace period. My appointment was at 9am, and we finally arrived at the loja at 10:15. We got in line, but when we started talking to the check-in lady at first she said there was no way that we would get in today. If it didn´t happen that day, it would mean problems with my visa! But after she said that it wouldn´t happen, she stopped, paused for a second (we could see the spirit working on her to soften her heart and change her mind!!) and then wrote my name on the list! It really was a miracle...I´m glad that Heavenly Father wants me here and that He´s helping me to stay!!

This week I was invited to give a talk in sacrament meeting, so I used a lot of my personal study time to prepare. I felt like I should talk about unity, and it was really interesting to study unity. Unity is becoming one in thoughts, desires, and purposes, first with God and then with other Saints. We know from the book of Moses that the work and purpose of God is for us to have eternal life, or, to return and live with Him. When we have unity with God, this is the purpose of our lives as well- to prepare to return to the presence of Heavenly Father and be worthy to stay with Him...this is possible through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. Preparing ourselves through these principles is one way to have the same purpose as God. But, His propósito is to have ALL of His children (as many as will accept) return to live with Him. So, if we truly have unity with Him, we will have this desire and purpose as well, and will help all of His children know and receives the principles and ordinances of the gospel so that they can prepare for eternal life...in other words, Missionary Work!!! This truly is a labor of love, and as we fulfill this responsibility we are becoming one more fully with our Heavenly Father.

Last night we (the missionarys) held a fireside for our ward. Basically it was a fireside to pedir desculpa, and ask the members how we can work with them better. It went really well, and I felt such a love for the members here! I realized more fully that truly we are all children of God, we are brothers and sisters!

I love you all, and I hope that you have a great week. My convite of this week is to read Mosias 18:17-22, about Alma and his people by the waters of Mormon...they truly had unity.