Baby Bryan

I would like to share an experience that happened yesterday.  I hope that all can learn something from the example of the little boy I met yesterday.  I hope we can all see how blessed our lives are, and that we can be happy with what we have.

In a letter to President Houseman, I explained this experience:

We had the chance to give a blessing last night to a baby named Bryan.  He has a rare muscle disease.  Where his brain isn't able to control and fire up the muscles.  So he needs a respirator that gives the pressure in his lungs that the diaphragm would give him to be able to breath. He is 9 months old, and he has been in the Hospital Portuguese for the last 7 months.  He is a super animated child, and he is able to communicate with his eyes, which is pretty cool.  It was interesting to see how he, even with so little time in this life, is able to be happy despite his difficulties.  As he was preparing to leave the hospital last week, they took the feeding tube out of his stomach, and it got infected.  So he is still staying there until they can get rid of the infection and close the hole up.  His stomach acid is, however, causing some problems with the closing.

It makes me see that really I don't have anything that I can complain about in this life.  I have very few difficulties.

His mom also showed great faith in God.  She said, "I don't really know God´s purpose for Bryan here on earth.  I don't know if it is his will that he is cured, or that he grows up.  Maybe it's his purpose to come here for a short time and be an example to everyone he knows, teach me and my family very important lessons, and be brought back to God's presence as a perfect, sinless child.  Many people can think that that is something horrible to say, but if it is God´s will, I accept it."

I really cant explain how deep that quote is.  She has such spiritual trust.  For a person to be able to see so many ways that God is working, even amidst the trials, is incredible to me.  I really learned a lot yesterday as we had the opportunity to give Baby Bryan a blessing.

We have a new missionary in the office. Elder A. Ferreira will be the new Housing secretary. Elder Nunes will train him this transfer.  He is from Rio, and he is a great missionary. So the office staff will be a threesome again for a transfer. I look forward to working with him.

I hope you all have a great week, and that you see the good around you, and be happy for all that God has blessed you with.  Even the small things like health, safety, etc., that often pass unnoticed.

Elder Nielson

P.S.  Like my new cup, Riley?