Week 86: Jesus Loves You

 

Monday- I am grateful for hill's, running, optimism, growth, and studying.

Tuesday- I am grateful for The Book of Mormon, video ideas, God's grace, and specific revelation.

Wednesday- I am grateful for PB&J, music, effort, and hamburger patties.

Thursday- I am grateful for free agency, truth, and time in the sun.

Friday- I am grateful for exchanges, honesty, and monumental scriptures.

Saturday- I am grateful for gratitude, hope, Charity, persistent thoughts, and sweaty walks.

Sunday- I am grateful for Reese's cakes, spiritual lessons, running through the church, and giving Priesthood blessings.

Broken broom

Man I love the Book of Mormon.

We had random exchanges with the ZL's. It was a good time though and real good to see other missionaries.

A dude stopped us on the street with a half-smoked doobie tucked in his ear and eyes very bloodshot. He asked for some money and I said not today mate, but gave him a fat roll of mints that was worth more than what he wanted in money. He said well thanks, but apparently that wasn't enough. He then pointed to my sunglasses in my hand, very precious to me, and asked for them. I said, "ha no", and we walked away.

Some people are so ungrateful.

City view

We gave 2 bags of goodies to a very thankful father to give to his children. It was tender.

 

It's been a week for sure. Mentally tiring at times but that's how it is sometimes and you just keep doing what you can.

 

I found peanut butter in the store and took a real gamble and bought it. It turned to be pretty darn good and now I think I like chunky peanut butter more than normal. Huh.

I've been focusing a lot on Charity and have already noticed changes in myself. Some of them are astounding to me.

 

My stomach misses American food and eating habits.

I forgot to mention that last week during weekly planning I heard some weird noises, I looked over to the tree at my left and there were 4 monkeys! Pretty rad.

 

 

T'was a Sunday night and we were packing up to head home. We closed the door to the classroom we were in and shut off the lights then started hearing the beeping of the alarm meaning that it was going to be activated in a couple seconds and if we were caught inside the alarm would go off making us practically deaf and also alerting the police. I didn't want that. So I said to my comp, run! And thus we booked it through the dark church. 

We made it safely and the member who started the alarm was like, "what the? sorry, I didn't know you guys were still here ha." Yep. We are always there.

I made a chocolate peanut butter cake last night. It was quite fantastic, definitely the best cake I've ever made and it tasted just like Reeses.

Welp that's all.

Jesus loves you.

Week 85: Don't get comfortable

 

Monday- I am grateful for KFC, super glue, and perspectives.

Tuesday- I am grateful for grass, 1 John, and a personal Atonement.

Wednesday- I am grateful for outdoors, happiness from the Gospel, crazy dogs, and small apples.

Thursday- I am grateful for step goals, referrals, spiritual guidance, and music.

Friday- I am grateful for grass hills, excitement, instruments, and Elder Sales.

Saturday- I am grateful for Angel's, deep breathes, patience, opportunities, and growth.

Sunday- I am grateful for prayers, organization, and good personal studies.

Frisbee anyone?

I was minding my own business one lovely Friday afternoon with a comp study out at the track. Sun shining, you know all that good stuff and then I realized man I'm doing really good. I'm happy, I feel successful and like I'm doing a good job, and I'm comfortable!

Welp the exact moment I thought that, I also thought oh shucks, this won't last long. 

Friday late afternoon rolls around and we get a mid-transfer call, super random. We weren't expecting anything and it was right after a good weekly planning session, so we were feeling good about the upcoming week. 

Handstands for good luck.

Anyways, they said to my comp, you're out of here, and then to me, you're the new DL. Rad.

On the way to transfers Saturday morning, we get a text from Bishop saying, "hey we need someone to give a talk tomorrow!" Well, uh my comp was getting transferred and you can't shaft a companion who you don't even know yet to give a talk to people they don't know, in a language they might or might not know. I took the talk.

Elder Sales

We go to transfers the next morning and my new comp is directly from the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave with 4 months out total. Bless his soul, and he doesn't speak the language.

New comp Elder Rosario, he's Filipino!

It's been an interesting last 2 days.

BUT boy have I seen the blessings!

 

The first day we had a phone call that was excellent and I was understood and the sweet lady wanted more of the truth. 

We got this.

I prepared my talk in time and it all worked out quite nicely.

I've felt the Spirit guide and correct me.

 

And my district doesn't hate me, just yet 

Also 2 years since I got my mission call, wahoo. 

Week 84: Simply a Joy

 

Cake Anyone?

Monday- I am grateful for who I am, church pews, heart warming emails, and constancy.

Tuesday- I am grateful for Christmas music, updates, and satisfaction.

Wednesday- I am grateful for The Book of Mormon, outdoors, truck beds full of tangerines, A GOOD DAY!

Thursday- I am grateful for Eternity, the BOM, Batata palha, and happiness.

Friday- I am grateful for the scriptures, testimony, quality lessons, the poor, and THIS work.

Saturday- I am grateful for views, hymns, Christmas, and smiling.

Sunday- I am grateful for TODAY!, joy, fasting, prayers, Christmas, the Book of Mormon, flashbacks, and progress.

Full steam ahead out here in Jundiaí!

Our phone went through a whole afternoon of updates. That was frustrating, but hey more time to read The Book of Mormon.

Speaking of, I started reading it again (of course, it's the best book ever) and I'm circling all references to The Godhead, so Christ, God, and The Holy Ghost. It has been so good!! Any free time I've got I just want to be reading the Book of Mormon!!

Wednesday was a real good day. I mean a good day as in hard, satisfying work good. AND we were outside for most of it. 

At the end of this great day of work we were leaving the church and a homie with a truck bed full of tangerines pulls up and says, "Hey grab a sack and take as many as you want". Must've been one of the 3 Nephites 

Quick week, sorta.

Real good week too.

A member gave us 2 pizzas for dinner one night this week and we were ecstatic. We ate little over one pizza and then were like huh should we keep the rest? After about 5 seconds Elder Sales said nah, let's give it to the poor. So we went outside and the first man I saw was a homeless guy. So, I offered him some pizza, he was hyped and asked if he could invite his friends. His friends came over and I've never seen a happier group of 4 homeless people in my life. It was amazing. I loved that. 

I am just so excited for Christmas you have no idea.

If you want an insightful study, read Daniel. Good stuff right there.

I've been flyinggggg through the Book of Mormon. My love has grown so much for it.

I had a flashback, since an American fresh out of the home MTC came to the district this week. It threw me for a loop to realize how far I have come as a missionary and with my Portuguese. I feel extremely blessed and to all those who feel like things will never get better, keep trying, they will. 

I love playing my guitar each night. "Silent night" and "O Holy Night" were top hits for me.

4 months until I see my Family 🤣🤠

Week 83: Peace and Success

 

My Zone

Monday- I am grateful for goals, walking, gardens, Popeyes, yogurt, my guitar, peace, and covenant conversations

Tuesday- I am grateful for miracles, new days, and answered prayers.

Wednesday- I am grateful for orange cake, TACO BELL, Chastity, and teach Isabella!

Thursday- I am grateful for milk, THE SUN, invigorating, working ovens, and fruit.

Friday- I am grateful for views, silent prayers, lessons on the read, coconut cake and integrity.

Saturday- I am grateful for fasting, modesty, BOM, Portuguese, outdoors, rejoicing, completion, and success.

Sunday- I am grateful for conferences, patriarchal blessings, my guitar, and beautiful afternoons.

Meetings

A speedy week for sure. 

Also last week of the transfer.

We walked outside our apartment one morning as usual and when we opened the door, we stole someone's pillow... the man was asleep and would not wake up for the life of himself. So we had to kinda sort close the door gently, but not so gently because our door is difficult, on this man's head. He never once moved, opened his eyes, or made a sound. BUT at least he was breathing. When we came back a couple hours later he was gone.

We took an adventure to deliver a Book of Mormon and got to see some pretty good views of the city. It was nice to get out and enjoy the sun.

Wednesday was a BEAUTIFUL day and we planned to take advantage of it by walking to our favorite outdoor destination, the track, for comp study and whatever else. Then we got a lovely message for a Facebook meeting that was 1.5 hours during prime outdoor time. Then right after that we had a surprise meeting with the mission leadership for another 1.5 hours. Bam gone, there went our beautiful day out in the sun.

I don't like meetings.

Sis. Saucedo, Elder Sales, me and President Saucedo

We found out that our oven worked this week, that is rare and a blessing. I made an orange cake and then 2 days later a Coconut cake. Good stuff right there. My comp was so amazed that I knew how to make a cake, aka follow instructions on the package, that he called the other elders to show them my amazing (very humble and simple) cake.

We had an EXCELLENT first lesson with our friend Izabella then uh the next day when we were planning to get her a BOM. We got a lovely text that she talked to her church leader about the Mormons and didn't want to continue. Real sad.

I am very grateful for my mission.

 

I finished the BOOK OF MORMON, IN PORTUGUESE (AGAIN) BUT THIS TIME READING ALOUD.

Yes, I have now read the whole entire Book of Mormon in another language, out loud. Good stuff right there.

My testimony on modesty has been strengthened.

 

We had an amazing week of work out here. I'm finally feeling like I've made a difference in an area!

 

Saturday was a good day.

Sunday night was excellent because I found Christmas music that I could play on the guitar and sing along. That peace is priceless.

Transfer news came and both of us are staying, should be a good time.

Until next week.

Taco Bell, a gift from heaven above.