We attended church for the first time today here in Brazil. Aside from one other American family, the wife of the Rio de Janeiro mission president, and a couple bilingual Brazilians, everyone spoke exclusively Portuguese.
The kids did great. Matt attended Primary with them to translate and make sure they were comfortable. Initially it was a little scary, but it is amazing how loving and accepting children can be and don't allow language to inhibit their communication.
I tried to follow along with the lesson in my Relief Society class as best as I could using my English manual alongside a Portuguese manual, but quickly became lost. I ended up just read the lesson quietly to myself in English, trying not to feel completely isolated while contemplating what on earth I’m doing here.
I suddenly felt a great deal of compassion and understanding of the loneliness, frustration, and confusion that many people I have known in other settings must have felt being the foreigner in my country. I am grateful that my testimony is strong, as I can see how easy it would be to simply stop attending church when it takes so much effort to understand and communicate.
Then it came time for the closing hymn. As the chorister stood for the second time to lead the music without an accompanist at the nearby keyboard, I quietly asked the mission president’s wife sitting next to me if they have anyone to play the piano. She said no, asked if I play, and immediately volunteered me to accompany the closing hymn.
The words were unfamiliar, but the song was the same. I held back the tears as I felt the Spirit for the first time during the meeting while I played for my new sisters and sang to myself, There is Sunshine in My Soul Today.
21 comments:
What a sweet experience. I think of you often and how I don't think I could handle the challenges you are and have yet to face. Thanks for sharing
Oh Mary! Part of me aches for you and knows some of what you're going through and another part of me is just so happy for you that you're finding your way amidst all the confusion. Someday soon, and probably sooner than you think, you'll be understanding the language and then even speaking it. It makes me so thankful for music and for the spirit to read about your experience today. I know you are too! :)
Every week gets easier, I promise! Some weeks won't seem easier, in fact they may seem harder, but then all of a sudden a couple of months will pass and you will laugh at the things you found hard!
these tears you were fighting are all too familiar and come with digging in to a new place in a new time. they are such great tears though and they will teach you so much as you have already found out.
i love how you write about the experience of being foreign. i think most Americans are not used to this feeling and don't understand it in the faces of people in their own country because America is presumably a place for foreign people. Feeling foreign is such a great thing to know and understand.
PS - there are many languages flying around the air at my church. not sure how common it is, but can someone translate for you as the lesson is going on? that's what happens here in Istanbul...although we have a rather "intimate" branch -- I don't think that is the case in Brazil :).
you are a brave soul. happy you are safe and sound.
Mary, I once sat in a sacrament meeting in Freiberg, Germany, confused by the language & wondering why I was there, until "Kommt, Heiligen, Kommt" began to play. "Come, Come, Ye Saints" felt much the way "Sundshine in My Soul" felt for you, I'm sure.
Amazingly, that ward I attended was the home ward for a number of sister missionaries I became friends with on Temple Square -- you are blessed in that it won't take five years for those sisters to become people you love.
I laughed when I came to the end of your post. "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today" was the only song our pianist knew in Romania. We sang that song every Sunday. Every time we sing it here I revert to singing it in Romanian. Church was hard for us too, but it is a good chance to recognize the spirit of the congregation.
How beautiful to feel the spirit in a foreign country, and to offer your talent of piano playing. How lucky your ward is to have your family there.
I am so glad to see you have made it safely. I loe all the posts and i'm slightly jealous of your adventure. I look forward to all your posts. Good luck with everyone!! You are amazing!
Thanks for sharing such a sweet and touching experience. I know you and your family will do great things in the ward...and Brazil. Much love.
That was really sweet, Mary! You made me tear up a bit! I am so proud of you and your little family!
I felt like I just read a "latter day saint voices" article from the Ensign! You should send it in and inspire a bigger audience.
Very touching.
And I can testify as well that music is the best conduit for the spirit in all languages.
That is so great Mary! It is so much fun to see what updates your family has and I am so excited to see what the next 6 months bring!
What a neat experience. I totally agree...music transcends everything! It sounds like you are doing GREAT down there in Brazil! I am so amazed at your positive attitude and willingness to take on this challenge. I can't wait to hear more updates!
It is amazing what music can do! I didn't know you played piano. You guys are missed out here. I wish James could have a playdate with Ethan. Preschool is great still but not the same. :(
Hey Mary and Matt!
I know...voice from the past to say the least! You guys look like you're doing well! Brazil...wow! can't even believe it. It must be exciting though. Your family is adorable and I'm just thrilled for you. I just love the internet and being able to catch up with people I haven't talked to in years!
Here's our blog and hopefully we can keep in touch that way. http://beckysbusyboys.blogspot.com/
Take care and have fun in Brazil. I have some dear friends that are from the southeast part near the shore...but I can't remember the name.
Becky (Baumgarten) Garfield
Are you going to submit this to the Ensign?
Great story! You have such a positive attitude. It's so true about gaining understanding for what others go through where we live who don't speak English. In Cayman, there were several members of the branch who only spoke Spanish but came faithfully every week. They sat through church, even though they couldn't even understand. I've thought before why they would continue to come but like you said, the Spirit is a universal language and can be felt by everyone!
Ha ha! Reminds me of the first time I lived abroad (High School exchange student in Austria). The first Sunday I went to church was Primary Sunday. I didn't really understand anything, but the primary got up and sang, "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam." The best part was, they sang it just like the American kids, "Jesus der Herr will mich brau-CHEN!!!!!!" And they jumped up and everything. It touched me a lot and I admit I shed a tear or two... Good luck with the rest of your stay and don't wish it away.
Ryan Koch
www.thekochco.com/today
THANK YOU all for your kind words and encouragement!
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