Jan 28

Dear Family,

Oh my goodness!!! I am so happy for Mark and Aup!! She´s beautiful, your little girl. What´s her name? How long was she nameless after being born? I can´t believe my brother is a dad!!! Crazy! I´m so happy for y´all! How´s it feel being parents?

Kit—Thanks for all the cute news about Ryn and Elle. It made me kinda baby hungry, not going to lie, but I´ll get over it. ;) See how Ryn can´t even be happy with her accomplishments now without you saying good job? Just a comment to ponder…Hey! If you get a chance, could you send some pictures of your cute belly before Eden comes?

So…life is beautiful as a missionary. We´re really busy preparing for Elder Cook´s visit. We´ve been visiting less actives and recent converts like crazy! I just hope they will have enough room for everyone to hear Elder Cook! Thankfully, Sis. Bulhões and I will have a front seat as I am going to accompany the choir. Oh how grateful I am I learned to play the piano! Thanks, Mom and Dad! Tonight he is going to speak to all the members in Cuiabá at 8pm. Tomorrow, just the missionaries have a meeting and lunch with him. I´m pretty excited!!! I read the article Elder Holland wrote about Elder Cook in the Liahona. He is truly an amazing man. What a blessing it is to receive the visit of an apostle of the Lord on my mission—esp. here in Cuiabá which is in the middle of nowhere! I´ll let you all know what I learn from these meetings next week. Or maybe on Friday if I have time. Pres. Milder split our PDay because of the visit of the apostle. Today we´re only sending an email to y´all so y´all don´t get worried. Then, we are going to work like normal to visit as many people as possible to tell them about the apostle. Then, Friday, we will have our normal PDay.

Today I studied about prophets. I liked the promise in DC 20:26 to those who heed the prophets´ words. Truly, they speak for God (DC 1:38). So, even if we don´t understand the reasons for their counsil, we should follow it anyway. God knows much more than we do! (Isaiah 55). We had a meeting with Pres. Milder on Monday. It was truly a spiritual feast! He quoted Spencer W. Kimball when he said that any excuse—even if it be valid—only weakens our character. That was pretty bold and I was touched in my heart of the things I need to improve on. As they teach in SW, there are 2 kinds of people in this world—one looks for an excuse and one finds the way to accomplish their goal. Pres. Milder ended talking about the last week of Christ´s life. I was so touched by the Spirit, remembering all Christ did for me! Yes, He was perfect in all things, but that doesn´t mean it was easy for Him to do what He did to atone for all mankind! What a perfect example we have of 100% selfless love! He had lived a perfect life and then, all within about 24 hours, He felt all the pains and sufferings of every imperfect being that ever lived! And the pain was so terrible, He didn´t want to go through it. Yet, He focused on doing the Lord´s will (saving us) and not on His own (being free from the immense pain). How grateful I am Christ did all He did for me. It is because of His love and selfless sacrifice that I can repent of my imperfections and gain eternal life! What perfect love!

--Sister Ellis III