Message from Sandra 11/28/2011
Family,
I know Lela did her message sometime ago, sorry about the delay.
Thanksgiving was great for everyone it sounds like. I was probably sleeping through most of it trying to
over come the lack of sleep that flying often causes. The flight was good though and we are safe here in Brasil.
I love it here, however, if it had not been for my mission I think I would of had a hard time with the smell and not
being able to understand anyone. I like the strong smells and the strong and beautiful language of the Rio people.
Daniel has taken great care of me. It seems a little more dangerous then I anticipated but he is always there
to pull me out of the street or to the side before I get hit by something. haha.
So on the plane ride over, there was some turbulance and at one point
the plane dropped pretty forcefully. I was just coming out of my sleep
so it scared me pretty bad. Daniel said people actually flew up out of
their sits before landing back in place.
There was smaller amounts of turbulance here and there, but nothing quite so bad as that one.
Sometimes in life, we have a plan and we are moving forward. The plan may be the best that we can come up with and what
we feel is right, but turbulance will happen. I don´t just mean trials but sometimes our path is shifted just a little.
It doesn´t mean that we wont get were we want to go or planned to go, but it might mean we need to take a few other steps first.
Sometimes simply to prepare us better for the goal ahead. I know that
if Savior is our pilot that we will make it to the end safe, even if the
flight was not as we planned. I love you all and know that you all try
your hardest to be not just good but great people. I know that you are
a wonderful family and I am very blessed.
-----
Hello, Its been a wonderful oportunity to fly back home and see my
family and friends in Rio de Janeiro. At first everything looks so
different and weird but after the first couple of days I got used to all
of it again. Sandra and I are having a unique moment, she is enjoying
this new environment with new people and a new language. its so funny
when my mom and Sandra try to have a conversation but the interesting
part is that Sandra understands my mom and my mom actually knows better
english than I knew. We are hanging out with friends and visiting the
touristic places. This week we will be going to the Christ Statue and
the Sugar Loaf which are the 2 most important ones I think. We will soon
be going to the temple in Campinas SP and have fun with a friend and
his wife there. Well, we are enjoying it and I know Sandra is still
adjusting to all of this new stuff.
We know that nothing would have been possible without the love and
support of each of you. Im so grateful for your care and zeal for us, I
learn a lot with your example and humbleness... And its a blessing for
me to have found Sandra with such an amazing family. Sometimes I talk to
Sandra about the so many important events we are missing because of
this trip but i know that Heavenly Father provided with everything for
us to be here, it was a miracle and you know about it... My friend LOVED
the IPHONE 4S and the Sunglasses, he was so happy and anxious that he
was playing with that one day after... He even called me from it
yesterday night... hahahah!!!! He even payed our dinner. Jim and Sharon
you guys are awesome thank yUoUoUoUouOuoU
....
Sincerely
Daniel & Sandra Anastacio
Monday, October 22, 2012
A Note from Amazing Moroni written 10/21/2012
Hello Family,
Well it is my turn for the message. I am sorry I am late getting it out. I thought I would mention briefly what we talked about in Sacrament meeting in church. The talk was on "Patience", something that can be very rewarding but very difficult. I know for Me Patience is something I must get better at.
We live in a fast paced world that at times can make it very difficult to have patience. We have a world that throws opportunities for us to have the things we want now for a price. Debt is way too easy to come by, and far too hard to eliminate. Mom and Dad are a great example of patience in this regard, they taught us to be content with what we have, it is not a bad thing to have an old car, old house, or old clothes. If nothing else it taught humility. On the flip side if we are impatient and try to acquire the things we want now, the consequences can be devastating. Debt can become all consuming, it can ruin relationships, and drive the spirit out of the home because of contention. It also sends the wrong message to our children. If we have patience and are willing to be content with what we need we can build for our futures and be in a position to better serve our families and to do the lords work in the future. To serve missions as a couple later in life you must have the financial situation to make it possible, and that does not happen unless we have patience and direction to get us there.
Spiritually we frequently come up short as well due to a lack of patience. I had a friend that was going through a hard time and went inactive in the church because he felt he had had his fair share of trials and had decided he had reached his breaking point. He was a little angry at God for pushing him past what he felt was his breaking point. He ultimately came back into activity, but he missed out on the blessing of the Gospel/Church for over 6 months. How much patience do we have in the afflictions or trials we are facing. Do we trust the lord, and are we willing to have patience and allow him to guide us through life. In our prayers do we spend little time and have great expectations. I know I have been guilty of getting caught up in not spending enough time to stop and really listen to the spirit. When we pray or read scriptures if we want to reap the full blessings we need to be patient and listen and look for the spirit to teach us.
When we are with our children and they are angry, and throwing fits, do we yell back and respond in anger, or are we willing to be patient and listen. It was mentioned in church that if we aren't willing to show patience and a willingness to have patience with our children in their distress, then when they get older they are not likely to come to us when they have a serious problem. We need to be loving and patient with our children as God has been loving a patient with us. We must have Faith, Hope, and Charity, and all three of these are impossible without patience. It take time to develop faith, If we do not have patience we are not acting on the hope for our future, we are sacrificing our future. Love demands we think of others if you are impatient you are thinking of yourself and thus cannot truly love.
I know our Heavenly Father is the perfect example of patience, he is ever so patient with each of us. As a family I believe there are many great examples that we have amongst us of patience. I pray we can all be patient and allow the spirit to direct us in our lives, and not allow our impatience to take our eyes off what is important and drive the spirit away.
I love you all:
- Moroni
Hello Family,
Well it is my turn for the message. I am sorry I am late getting it out. I thought I would mention briefly what we talked about in Sacrament meeting in church. The talk was on "Patience", something that can be very rewarding but very difficult. I know for Me Patience is something I must get better at.
We live in a fast paced world that at times can make it very difficult to have patience. We have a world that throws opportunities for us to have the things we want now for a price. Debt is way too easy to come by, and far too hard to eliminate. Mom and Dad are a great example of patience in this regard, they taught us to be content with what we have, it is not a bad thing to have an old car, old house, or old clothes. If nothing else it taught humility. On the flip side if we are impatient and try to acquire the things we want now, the consequences can be devastating. Debt can become all consuming, it can ruin relationships, and drive the spirit out of the home because of contention. It also sends the wrong message to our children. If we have patience and are willing to be content with what we need we can build for our futures and be in a position to better serve our families and to do the lords work in the future. To serve missions as a couple later in life you must have the financial situation to make it possible, and that does not happen unless we have patience and direction to get us there.
Spiritually we frequently come up short as well due to a lack of patience. I had a friend that was going through a hard time and went inactive in the church because he felt he had had his fair share of trials and had decided he had reached his breaking point. He was a little angry at God for pushing him past what he felt was his breaking point. He ultimately came back into activity, but he missed out on the blessing of the Gospel/Church for over 6 months. How much patience do we have in the afflictions or trials we are facing. Do we trust the lord, and are we willing to have patience and allow him to guide us through life. In our prayers do we spend little time and have great expectations. I know I have been guilty of getting caught up in not spending enough time to stop and really listen to the spirit. When we pray or read scriptures if we want to reap the full blessings we need to be patient and listen and look for the spirit to teach us.
When we are with our children and they are angry, and throwing fits, do we yell back and respond in anger, or are we willing to be patient and listen. It was mentioned in church that if we aren't willing to show patience and a willingness to have patience with our children in their distress, then when they get older they are not likely to come to us when they have a serious problem. We need to be loving and patient with our children as God has been loving a patient with us. We must have Faith, Hope, and Charity, and all three of these are impossible without patience. It take time to develop faith, If we do not have patience we are not acting on the hope for our future, we are sacrificing our future. Love demands we think of others if you are impatient you are thinking of yourself and thus cannot truly love.
I know our Heavenly Father is the perfect example of patience, he is ever so patient with each of us. As a family I believe there are many great examples that we have amongst us of patience. I pray we can all be patient and allow the spirit to direct us in our lives, and not allow our impatience to take our eyes off what is important and drive the spirit away.
I love you all:
- Moroni
A Note From Mom, written 5/16/2012
There is a lot in my Heart at this time that I want to
express. First off let me say I am
sorry for the Many Times I got angry it made the spirit leave. There was so much I needed to learn that I
am surprised that the Lord sent such special spirits to me. Your Father has taught me a lot and I know
that there is still a lot for me to learn.
I have learned not to demand respect but to respect myself is more
important and to respect others is just as important. Even with their different
views and ideas. Christ did not demand
respect he did not lash out at those who spit at him. Am I greater than him? No!
As we
have read the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon, I see our day and what
is to come. It is sad to see the Loss of
Freedom. We must not let anger fill our Hearts or let
fear enter in. For they are the tools
of Satan and will drive the Holy Ghost away.
We are here at this time for a purpose.
We are the generation that all the prophets have seen. We have the gospel and the Knowledge and the
Scriptures with a Living Prophet to guide.
But most important we are a covenant People and have the Gift of the
Holy Ghost. We have the Protection of the
Lord. We know the outcome of the
future. The Future is as bright as our
Faith. So cast out doubt and fear and
anger. We may not see our next step but
if we study and pray and read and listen to the prophet. We will
be guided by the Holy Ghost. I have
found that my Faith grows as I study the Scriptures and my Family History. Another way for Faith to grow is to take
time and see all the things and in all the ways God has blessed us. It is also vital that we forgive for it is a
main factor of repentance which we all need. We must follow the promptings of the Holy
Ghost. So we must stay close to the
Spirit. There are hard times ahead. But these are tests that we need to go
through. Let us do our Studying so that
we may pass these tests with Flying Colors and grow stronger with each
test. They are our lessons and our test
that is for us personally. So let’s hit
the books and our knees in diligence that we are ready. That the Lord may use us to build his Kingdom
and be his valiant Soldiers of the Last Days.
I love you all and could not ask for better Children.
Your Loving Mother
Your Loving Mother
Sharon
N Ashby
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