Week 101: THE END.

 

Acai on repeat

Monday- I am grateful for searching, exercise, and beans.

Tuesday- I am grateful for oranges, copies, and righteous families.

Wednesday- I am grateful for young families, district council, and deep breathes.

Thursday- I am grateful for amps, slowing down, and cooking.

Friday- I am grateful for faith, dodging cars, metaphors, and not knowing how to describe what I've learned today.

Saturday- I am grateful for writing, fasting, and recognition.

Sunday- I am grateful for 20 years of life, positivity, The Book of Mormon, and nuggets.

So how does the last week of the mission go down and what are my last words? I hope you're ready.

It's a long one but the last one so bear with me just one last time.

My last week was definitely the MOST anxiety filled week of the mission, man it was weird.

It was actually just like the rest of the weeks of the mission just with a certain weight behind it all because I knew it was the last...(fill in the blank)...

My Portuguese still wasn't understood by everyone.

We had district council in person that was good but the poor missionaries got stuck at our church for 6 hours after the meeting. Bless their hungry stomachs.

We had some VERY busy days that had me in bed promptly at 9:30 and asleep before that.. not sure how that works but it does.

I made sure to take advantage of the açaí because the US really doesn't do it right.

Elder Christofferson and I had some quality jam sessions.

 

I found myself waking before 6:30 because I was just so ready for another day.

 

We hit the streets and tried to visit all the people we could.

 

I finished my study of the 4 Gospels.

I really don't know why but Brazil just doesn't know how to keep their mannequins clothed. It's a problem.

We went on a real adventure on Friday. We took a 2 hour walk one way to teach our friend Jenifer. It was a true adventure that took us on some beautiful roads and through an extremely wealthy town. It was really weird because I never thought that a neighborhood as rich as they were existed in Brazil. We also didn't have any sort of shoulder to walk on for a bit and it was a very skinny road with dense forest on one side and a mound of dirt 20 feet high on the other. One time we saw a huge truck coming down the road so we booked it to the other side of the road and up unto the bank as high as we could. Definitely sketch but we survived. The road was also super windy so we just had pop our head around the turn every once in awhile to make sure we wouldn't get smashed like a pancake. 

On the journey we also passed an equestrian center/park, weird place, and there was a huge vineyard right next to it. It was seriously like a uber rich community with their fancy horses and wine in the middle of nowhere. Weird stuff. If you have money, please DON'T use it like these people do.

Anyways we finally got to teach Jenifer which was excellent and a huge step in her relationship with the missionaries but by the time the lesson was over it was dark...we then took the sketchy road home, there was a lot of spiritual metaphors that came into my head during that walk, like how the Lord sometimes lit the way for his people by the light of the moon, how important the light is, how dark the darkness can be, and simply moving forward in Faith. Out of nowhere a homie stopped his car and offered us a ride into town! It was a miracle and a really good time. That was a 16+ mile walk day, straight blessings. 

I got one last good raining on completely out of nowhere, thanks Brazil.

I had my exit interview which was a good, wholesome, and a very Spirit led conversation. I'm very grateful for my mission president.

I also turned 20 yesterday. Though all of the excitement that is usually held in a birthday was just swallowed up in going home! 

I did give myself the best Birthday present though... I finished the Book of Mormon one transfer! Making this the 4th time in the last 6 months. I. LOVE. THE. BOOK. OF. MORMON.

And you need to too.

I'm going to the temple tomorrow morning along with all the rest of the goodbye mission stuff. It will be my first time in the temple in over 19 months. I am beyond excited.

Then I hop on a plane Wednesday night to get home Thursday before noon .

I am grateful. Simply that.

I am grateful for the prayers, thoughts, and messages of support from each and everyone who has followed my last 2 years. 

I am grateful for the scriptures, my testimony, angels, the prophets and apostles, and the continual Restoration.

I am grateful for God and His perfect son Jesus Christ who suffered, died, and resurrected for me.

I am grateful to have learned how to live worthy of the constant companionship of The Holy Ghost and to obey His whisperings.

I am grateful for all the memories, experiences, sights, thoughts, and struggles.

I am grateful for wisdom, patience, love, diligence, and cleanliness.

I am grateful for the blistering heat and the numbing cold, the difference in companions and countries. 

I am grateful for who I have become and will continue to strive to be.

Thank you.

16 mile walk to end the mission on!

Week 100: God's Plan

 

Sister's watching my daily scripture study.

Monday- I am grateful for simplicity, sleep, and PB&J's.

Tuesday- I am grateful for love, piercings, and WORK.

Wednesday- I am grateful for reality, The 1st Vision, crepes, and Book of Mormon studies!

Thursday- I am grateful for God's plan, vegetables, and revelation.

Friday- I am grateful for pizza, oranges, scheduling/planning, general conference prep, and the smell of rain.

Saturday- I am grateful for this Christ's church, piano breaks, being in awe at Gods goodness, loving myself, and feasting!

Sunday- I am grateful for inspired letters, feasting, being taught by The Holy Ghost, and the power of music.

We have a young friend who has gone to church ever since he was a lil kid but never got baptized. This week I felt impressed to simply ask him if he wants to be baptized. He responded with some concerns that were really misconceptions! He said that he breaks the Sabbath day because he has BBQ's on Sunday with his family, is addicted to Coke, and (the last/best one) has a piercing! 

We cleared up his concerns right away and I sent him a picture of my piercing and we asked him wait you mean you've never noticed Elder Morrisons piercing?!?! 

It was a good good moment and taught me that God always has a plan for everything. 

We went out on the street, this time praying before and I accidentally led us to the wrong house. We knocked anyways and couldn't find the referral we were looking for but offered to share a message and a very nice lady accepted! We shared the whole Restoration with her and the Spirit was so strong! By the end she was completely open with us and wanted to hear more. It was awesome! 

It was one of those moments where I thought I was in the wrong place but then God showed me that He needed me there and it was all part of His plan.

Good stuff.

Had a technology training. 

Saw some monkeys trying to cross the street. Funny lil guys they were. They had really ugly faces and made weird noises. Cool animal but yeah.

Conference prep and hype were real.

Good guitar jams.

Music truly has become such a powerful source in my life of relaxing, calming down, and becoming better.

Conference was truly a feast for me and I hope it was and will continue to be for you too! 

It really is not all sunshine and rainbows all the time, but that's why we are here.

An interestingly blessed week.

Onto the last one. 

Week 99: A Teary One

 

Monday- I am grateful for a clean house, cereal, fruit, and working out!

Tuesday- I am grateful for weather, growing up in the church, and music. 

Wednesday- I am grateful for windy weather, fearlessness, and the street.

Thursday- I am grateful for temples, recommends, efforts, BEAUTIFUL nights, productivity, happiness, and final testimonies.

Friday- I am grateful for A personal Savior, adventure, and fancy bread.

Saturday- I am grateful for prayers and miracles.

Sunday- I am grateful for conviction, my ukulele, macaroni, and My Savior.

I have to thank Elder Brown for teaching me about sweet potatoes and how to cook them. Thanks

Last zone conference for me this week! The opening hymn was, "I'll go where you want me to go". That put me in tears. Then right after I gave my final testimony, also in tears. Not quite sure on all that I said but you can bet that The Book of Mormon was in there!! It was as if all the emotions from the last 2 years were wrapped into that crying... 

I am working on knowing my Savior and not just knowing about Him.

I've become very straight forward (even more than usual)(oops) and fearless in my last transfer. I'm sorry people of Itatiba, I just want to save your souls.

 I'm not sure what's happened to me but I go to bear my testimony and I'm just crying and filled with conviction.

 

I had good experiences this week where I was taught to pray always! When I did so I was immediately blessed! Obey the commandments! Jesus Christ will immediately bless you!

Another week. I'm not sure if it's all the walking we get to do now, or the emotional trials of a finishing missionary, or if I'm just feeling all my 23 months., but I'm real tired.

Onto the last 2 weeks

Last Zone Conference

Week 98: He done did it again

 

Monday- I am grateful for my family, Gospel discussions, and aggressive angels.

Tuesday- I am grateful for The Sacrament, listening to the Spirit, açaí, and doctor visits.

Wednesday- I am grateful for music, diligence, and caldo de cana.

Thursday- I am grateful for Elder Gonçalves, success, and surprises.

Friday- I am grateful for my guitar and The Book of Mormon. 

Saturday- I am grateful for K.I.L.L., member meals, and the peace of the Holy Ghost.

Sunday- I am grateful for good conversations, 2hr church, and watermelon.

Elder Gonçalves had a doctor's appointment and so that left me alone in the waiting room for what turned into 2 hours. But they were some of the greatest 2 hours because I spent my time studying The Sacrament!! I love those opportunities that God gives me to strengthen my testimony.

We had exchanges with the ZL's - really nothing significant there.

We had President interviews which are always enjoyable. 

There we were, Elder Gonçalves and I having just one of the best days of the transfer and bam out of nowhere a random call saying that Elder Gonçalves was getting transferred.

We went out one evening to contact on the street and had the goal to give out one BOM. We did a whole circuit and then in front of the church decided to knock one last door. We then found Rosinei, a man very ready for The Gospel. He opened his house right up and we shared The Restoration and gave him the Book of Mormon, it was powerful. 

My new comp is Elder Christofferson! we've already been comps once! Well for a day because it was a exchange, but anyways should be a good 3 weeks with him.  

Oh and he's also a musical genius and brought a violin so that means that the nightly jams have just gotten THAT much better, good stuff.

We had an excellent youth activity and taught them all how to play KILL which they enjoyed quite thoroughly.

We also had our first lunch back in a member's home and man was it good. Pork, rice, beans, salad, & mashed potatoes. Then ice cream at the end. To top it off for reals though we shared a great message on D&C 105:37 that inspired a very spiritually led convo. Love that.

The Spirit has continually guided me and comforted me this week. Whether it be in questions of what do I say to this person or what do I need to invite them to do or simply feeling peace in the storms of life.

Trying to bless a screaming child with a blessing of comfort, is very difficult. In the end, peace was felt by all.

Another week in the Lord's work. 

Never forget folks that ALL your tribulations are for your good! 

Love y'all

Week 97: Highway Huggin'

 

Monday- I am grateful for renovating, cleanliness, The Book of Mormon, and peace.

Tuesday- I am grateful for missions, a loving God, humility, and a loss for words.

Wednesday- I am grateful for clouds, funny conversations, and puppies.

Thursday- I am grateful for rain, participation, and the color white.

Friday- I am grateful for strength, life, and English.

Saturday- I am grateful for trust, tie-less-ness, and productivity.

Sunday- I am grateful for free rides, emotion, spiritual promptings, Vani and her family, and LIFE.

A truly miraculous week out here in Bragança.

We spent our whole pday here cleaning the mess of a dump that this house was, gosh darn, Elders are terrible.

I'm talking graffiti, dog poop in the back, clogged drains, trash never taken out, dust as thick as a milkshake, weird signs/writings all over the place, and more. I'm done with irresponsible young adults.

Although the house after our cleaning was a whole other place.

 

I also feel the need to mention that a couple of weeks ago I had a nightmare that I was failing math class, hadn't done ANY of the work, didn't ever go to class, had no idea how to do the math, and my teacher was PISSED at me. It was not a comfortable night of sleep.

I hope Mrs. Boucher, my last math teacher, reads this email. Also, I may or may not be anxious about college in a couple of months.

We are terribly effective now because we have technology AND old missionary ways. Hallelujah.

Side note: I hid my *possibly* BEST weekly email under a random title so that only the real ones get to appreciate it.

But if I had would retitle it, it would simple be that GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS.

I tried crab this week, good stuff.

So much symbolism in the color white.

There are times, moments, and nights that are just simply impossible to describe out here on the mission. Tuesday night was that for me. What I saw, felt, experienced, learned, shared, realized, and became because of that night cannot ever be completely expressed. I could write a book on that one night. 

I was humbled and felt the ministry of angels to say the least.

There is just so much that happened this week.

Follow your spiritual promptings. 

We spent the week in Bragança with the sole purpose/plan/goal to baptize a sweet sweet lady. Her name is Vani. 

We met her on Tuesday and invited her to be baptized then taught the Restoration.

Wednesday we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and some commandments.

Thursday we taught the Plan of Salvation and some commandments.

Friday we taught the commandments/laws and baptismal questions.

Saturday we read 3 Nephi 11 with her and she had her interview.

Sunday I had the privilege to baptize her.

Vani lives an hour walk from us one way so we had 2+ hours of walking each day-a pure joy.

Somethings that happened while on the daily walk to teach Vani.

(The way included a good 15 minute stretch of what I named 'highway huggin')

-a guy on a bike, out of nowhere, flip over his handle bars and smacked the ground hard- exploding something in the bag he had- in the middle of the road.

-2 guys on horses pass us.

-lots of rain.

-highway spray making my white shirt not so white anymore.

-many thoughts.

-hymns sung.

-a whole litter of puppies show up.

Vani's baptism was simple, sweet, and so emotional. She really said it best.

"I feel like I'm on another world"

It's people like her that make it a blessing to serve and a heartbreak to leave.

What. A. Week.

Back in Itatiba.

31 days and channeling my love for Brazil.