Sister Lynette Lewis' letters home from the mission: To be changed to be more like HIM -- THAT is the purpose.

-We found lots of new short cuts this week on trails that we were really excited about and i feel like this is how i imagined brazil would be.

8-11-14

Dear Family,

Yesterday was Father´s day here in Brazil and this week is dad´s birthday so I´ve been thinking about you this week dad! Thanks so much for your wonderful example and being the best dad ever (I know we always say that, but it´s true!)

This week one of my favorite families in the world got baptized; One of the most special baptismal services I´ve seen.

I think I told you about this family, but a while back I really wanted to visit this house and then it just so happened that the 6 yr. old daughter, Jovana, found us and well we became fast friends. We ended up teaching her mom and 2 siblings, and yesterday they got baptized! Now we’ve got to get their eye set on the temple. The changes in this family are amazing! During gospel principles yesterday Rosie shared about how much she has changed just in her relationship with her family and how she has become so much more calm and loving since we started visiting them. The baptism was definitely a testimony of that. Those kids couldn´t stop hugging each other and hugging their mom and when Luiz (the 11 yr. old) left primary he gave me a big hug and said "I love this church! I want to come here every single Sunday!" We´ll make sure he follows through on that promise. J

But there really is a special spirit in that home and I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father placed us in their path to be a part of that! Also Sidnei received the Priesthood yesterday and it was so cute, he was just beaming from ear to ear with all of his books in hand and he just wants to do everything right and not mess up, it´s super cute :)

I had a goal to finish the Book of Mormon again before the end of my mission, so this week I was reading Moroni 7. I LOVE that chapter every single time. Something that hit me especially this time is where it says towards the beginning that "except he shall do it (give a gift) with real intent, it profiteth him nothing." In EVERYTHING that we do in life: yes we can accomplish many good things that can benefit many people, but if we don´t do it with charity it does absolutely nothing for us. It reminded me of a quote from Elder Corbridge I´ve always really liked throughout my mission: "Even if you give your body to be burned, lay down your life for the truth, if your heart is not right, you will not profit by it. Good will be done, the poor will be fed, and the truth defended, but the good that you do will do you no good, unless your heart is right, unless you have charity." So even if we´re doing our callings, going to church, reading our scriptures, doing FHE, etc. it doesn´t do us any good if we are just doing it because that´s what we´re supposed to do. Our goal is to change ourselves so that doing the Lord´s will is what we WANT to do, not what we HAVE to do. I really liked what he said about the scriptures specifically as well: "From the dawning of time there has never been a people as blessed as we are blessed with volumes of scripture. And yet all of it is only ink on pieces of paper bound together in leather. IT HAS NO INTRINSIC VALUE UNLESS IT BECOMES YOU. The purpose and essential blessing of life is to be changed to become more like the Lord, to realize the full measure of your potential." So that´s my invite to you this week; Don´t just do what you´re supposed to do each day, but let it become you.

I love yáll lots!

Love, Sister Lewis

-Oh and PS everyone always asks about how I'm feeling about going home. I do realize it is only 2 weeks away, but to be honest I don´t really feel any different. Sometimes it hits me and it makes me nervous and excited but in general I feel the same, maybe just a little more motivated because i know I have a time limit.