Epistle #4 February 27

Dearest wonderful family and friends.

This has been quite an eventful week for us here in the beautiful country of Brazil.  On Sunday while at the CTM the music director for the Missionary asked me if I would like to play the flute that they have there with the Missionary Choir. This for the visit of Elder Russell Nelson.  Of course I jumped at it.  I love playing, but forget how nervous I get with no practice. I did not get the flute until Wednesday when the Missionaries come to the Temple to do a session.  They come here every week, because many of them haven't taken out their endowments until they get here. These are the new Brazilian Missionaries and Spanish ones.  Rick and I went with them on the session and were so thrilled to see this beautiful Sao Paulo Temple from the inside.  The gorgeous mahogany wood moldings in the endowment rooms (2) are amazing.  We had headsets to listen in English, but Rick braved it and did the Portuguese and said he did well.  They had a English speaker take me through into the Celestial Room, Small but beautiful.  The Sisters in the temple are very sweet and I was able to communicate a little with them.  There were 7 missionaries from one of the missions who had their parents with them because they were on their way home and wanted to do a session before they left.  It was fun to visit with them about their missions after we were all outside.  We have decided to go every Wednesday morning now.

Got the flute and tried to practice a while in the office.  Then practiced with Sister Jeppsen in her apt. with the old out of tune piano she has.  Luckily we live in the same complex of apts.  They asked us to play prelude for 15 minutes while Elder Nelson shook hands with all the missionaries then accompany the Choir for two numbers.   We had to rent a van to take us all over to the CTM Thurs morning (10 of us) at 7:15 because the traffic can be so bad.  I hardly slept the night before because our practice went really bad.  I had to bend over her table to see the music.  I asked Rick to give a blessing before we left and felt a little better.  I must say that after one good practice,it began to feel good again.  We made it through and Elder Nelson came and thanked us for our short time and efforts.  I am so grateful that I can have the priesthood power in my life with my sweet husband.  He is truly my hero and I am so thankful to be here with him.  Needless to say I was very grateful when it was over.  Only one problem....one of the tutors came up and begged me to play at her wedding in May.  I laughed, but she was dead serious.  Will let you know on that one.  I am so grateful for all those years of practice, NOW I can say that.  But little did I know that I would use my talent so qickly and so often.   They asked us to do prelude for Mission Conference this Sunday too.  Ok you kids,  Keep Practicing because you never know when or where or how OLD you will be when service in different ways comes to you.

Yesterday morning the Sister who is here with her husband doing Humanitarian work in the area office was put back in the hospital with cystitis in her leg again.  This is the 4th time she has been in there for the same thing.  She has diabetes and they haven't treated aggressively enough with antibiotics to kill the streptococcus bacteria that is there.  I think they are going to send them when they get it under control again.  She is such a sweet loving and kind person.  It was soo hard for her to go in again.  We went over to see her after Church today to cheer her up.  It was us and one other couple, the Clarks who are temple workers.  She was so happy to see us.  Then Elder Clark asked her if she would like the Sacrament.  There was a roll on the tray and some fresh clean unopened water  next to it.  Rick opened the scriptures, I led the song, Elder Clark broke a piece off the roll and knelt on one of her slippers and blessed it.  Then Rick knelt on the slipper and blessed the water and gave it to her.  Then Sister Clark gave the most beautiful prayer.  The tears were truly flowing by then.  Again  ........what a blessing the Priesthood is in our lives.  The spirit was so strong in that room.  Just as we finished the lightning came and the thunder roared and the rain came down to hard you could not see anything our the windows.  I was hoping it wouldn't wash the car away since it was sitting on a hill.   We had to wait for a while till the guard at the door brought us a big umbrella  and Rick ran to get the car and bring it under the canopy.  We haven't had rain for 3 days now and boy does it cool things down. It was two shower day yesterday for sure.  We only get the car for Sunday Church at the CTM which is 30-45 min. away depending on the traffic.

My knee is almost all better.  I have another testimony about patience, long suffering and diligence.  I really listened to my doctor and my Sister friend at the CTM and stayed down for a whole week and did my exercises faithfully and iced it and took my anti-inflamitory and it is almost brand new.   See what obedience can do.  All those attributes came from our Saviour and if we will only listen and obey good things,(blessings) will come.  It is so hard to wait sometimes and follow the rules, but when we do it really works.  Oh yeh, I gave my first talk last week too,  can you tell?  

Thanks again for being our big support and loving us, and don't forget your mission while we are on ours.....Love each other and help each other to be the best you all can be.   I understand that you are all meeting at our house tonight.   Have Fun and maybe Skpe?

I Love the gospel and can honestly and humbly tell you all it is true, we have seen it for ourselves in so many ways.
Love you all,
Sister Sue, Mom and Grandma..