lost in translation

flashback photo - MTC April 2013

Editor's note:  This week's blog will start with an apology from Elder Forsyth to his mother:
I've got to go. I hit a wrong key and translated everything to português. You´ll just have to interpret the writing. I'm super sorry. bye bye i love you with all my heart.

For your entertainment,  faithful blog reader, here are a couple of the sentences when he translated them BACK to English using google translator:
One of my favorite things to do is try to know everyone during the water and go to the bathroom. It's becoming impossible because there are more people I do not know, so I do.

Wish me luck.

Hi Everyone,

Flashback MTC.  I was missing the mountains so I went back to an old memory card that shows the first parts of the mission. 

I cannot believe I already have 1 year and 4 months on my mission.  Sometimes there are hilarious meetings when you see all the new missionaries coming into the mission. One of my favorite things to do is try to get to know everyone during the water and bathroom breaks. It's becoming impossible because there are so many more people I do not know.  I'm feeling old, and even Brazilian.  I have been trying very hard to increase my vocabulary so I do not use the same teaching examples, phrases and words all the time. I've found seven new ways to teach the first lesson (restoration). We also found 14 new investigators this week (the people who heard our message and set up a future appointment to learn) and I found that I have to improve my teaching skills to meet the level of understanding and needs of all those I teach.  I had fun this week walking with my dictionary to truly understand 100% of everything that was spoken around me as I walk down the street. 

As I have strived a bit more to improve my language skills I have also found that I can get comfortable plateauing in certain areas of life. These little things like my vocab limitations I can take and make a life lesson out of it. I love the holy spirit. 

For all who have been studying the scriptures I have a lesson plan about the gospel of Christ. Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (authority), enduring to the end, the challenge of baptism, the authority again. 

Here are the New Testament and Book of Mormon scripture references and very, very short summaries so you can discover the real meaning for yourself:

1 Nephi 03:07 - faith and works 

Mosiah 4:9-10 - faith and repentance 

Alma 7:14-17 - atonement (to accept the sacrifice of the Savior I must repent and be baptized) 

2 Nephi 31:13 - Holy Spirit by fire 

Acts 19: 1-6 (John the Baptist talks about his authority) - this fire (Holy Ghost) must be given by someone who holds the higher priesthood of God

1 Corinthians 12:1-3 - the Holy Ghost is different from the prophetic authority and keys       (Matthew 16:12-19)

2 Nephi 31:20-21 - endure to the end 

3 Nephi 27:20-22 - Christ's commandment and invitation to come to Him 

I met some amazing families this week. Like, married people. Many people here just live together without being married. They just go on for years until they feel like separating and it's devastating. But we found three families with children who are married. Yeeeeeeees. I have learned that the Lord really guides us to those who seek with faith and determination. There are so many people waiting to hear the nourishing word - the seeds that were sown in pre-earth life.  I know that with all my heart.

Love,

Elder Forsyth