Elder Tolen's Adventures in Campinas, Brazil: Week 3: Finding Purpose

Ola minha familia e meu amigos!! Como voces estao?

This week on Wednesday (My P-Day) we went to the Campinas Temple! It was so, so, so beautiful! (I am biased though since Campinas is my mission.) I am so excited to get to Campinas in three weeks! Also, I can't believe I'm already halfway done with the CTM!

After the temple, some people from my district, one of our instructors, and I went and got sushi. It was actually really good! Oishi! (That's Japanese XD)

Lately I've been praying a lot for help understanding my personal purpose as a missionary and for help being away from home. It has been hard for me to adjust and I still miss everyone at home. Then, a few nights ago, I had a dream, and in that dream, I was on my mission. In the dream, I went to bed, and when I woke up, I was home from my mission already. I was with my family. I had my music. My phone was literally in my hand XD. I said to my family, "Wait, I'm home from my mission? That didn't feel like two years..."

They said, "Haha! It felt like two years to us!"

Now, there was also another problem. I couldn't remember any of my mission experiences! I didn't remember any of my bad days, or any of my good days. I didn't remember any of the stories I had to tell from my mission. I didn't remember any of the spiritual experiences I had. I looked at my dad and said, "Wait, I don't remember anything! I can't be home yet!"

To which my dad replied with something along the lines of, "Well, then go back there, and fix it."

Now, if that isn't an LDS version of Its A Wonderful Life, I don't know what is.

My dear friends, though I miss you all so, so much, I know that I need to be here in Brazil for 2 years. I know that the Lord has called me here for a reason. I am always praying for all of you. I love you all!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Elder Tolen