Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Ferrari Party
I might already be clear but brazil is in a limbo state in terms of wealth and development, some things like large stores, skyscrapers, and some houses are basically the same as any equivalent in the US but it’s the other side of the spectrum that creates the biggest diffrence. The poverty the trash filled streets in the poorer neighborhoods the hand constructed houses, lack of proper sanitation and more. The strangest part is how these two parts will coexist simbioticaly, one large well built house sitting right next to one poorly built favela house covered in trash is not uncommon. One day as we were leaving our house Elder cummins and I were walking through the “tunnel” Bassically the same type of tunnel you would see in a nfl stadium that the players run out of but this is to leave our house, (we basically run out like were running onto the field for the superbowl every day).
Deep in the tunnel we see a porsche pass by (having any kind of car here means your super rich) and of course we start sprinting out to catch a betterr look when one more passes and another, ad another and then passes a ferrari and more and more porsches. As we took of sprinting after this parade of luxery cars we chased them for 5 or 6 block until they stopped at some litle breakfast shop. So of course we began to take pictures with there cars. Im not sure how or why they brought millions of USD cars to our little farm and favela town but they did. For those that dont know a ferrari is a multimillion dollar car and depending on the model it only goes up. to put it in perspective a destroyed one with just a frame with its original serial number sold for 1.8 million but with the conversion here these guys were definitely close to billionare status in brazzilian reals the currency here.
Christmas
I’m sure all of you guys were so sad to see christmas above 50 degrees this year but lets just say it gets hotter so count your blessing. I’m not sure what the temp was but I think it was 90 ish… what a blessing. In the truth the real blessing happened christmas morning. I woke up to silence, no diesel trucks passing, no loud music blaring from cars with 12in speakers on their roofs, just the still peace and quiet. This air of tranquility continued as we observed this peace in an awe like state, we quickly dressed and prepared to leave the house, saying a short pray and exiting the apartment. Getting on the bus and descending, at the next big town, we found ourselves quickly walking down the streets of a desolated city. As we neared a brightly clolored building we saw other missionaries approaching, their hands laden with presents, our were too. The closer we got the more noise we heard, not a disruptive sound but the sound of excited kids on christmas day. We had finally arrive to the orphanage, passing out our individualy planned present for each and every one of those children. This was christmas, it wasnt about me, it’s wasnt about what I would receive it was only focused on sharing the light of christ.
Art Of The Month
Called Out By God
We’ve been seeing a lot of little miracles recently one which happened on the way back from lunch one day (lunch is the biggest meal) when randomly I had the desire to drink a coconut water smoothie at a place that would detour me and my companionfrom our route. I’m not even sure why because I don’t like coconut water, but it was as if my body went on autopilot and i started to run towards this large coconut stand. Right as I got to the other side I heard a guy ye ELDERS!! this in itself isn’t very strange here ths happens more than 20 times a day.
This guy seemed like he knew us, as we went over to him and his family he began to tell us his story, he had served a mission and was once and Elder himself 25 years ago but for the past 5 years he had stopped going to church because of a conflict with someone in his area. He told us how much his son (16yo) wanted to go on a mission too, and how much he wanted him to because it changed his life but how unwilling he was to go back to church. As we talked to his son and family he begin to soften and he told us that he lived a city 7 hours away from Brasília (the distance from this city to the one we were in is basically like missouri to new york) as we began to realize how many things lined up for us to be talking with him and his family. The crazy thing too is that my companion and I for some reason had been promted to bring 6 Books of Mormon with us instead of our usual 3 or 4, but because of the we were able to give each one of them a book so they could start to read and study on their own. They are going to come to church with us and they will be here for 3 weeks! One thing I’m starting to see is how many things like this just happen daily this is just one of the most recent ones. It really is a blessing to see the lords constant guidance in the work.
Loss & Lessons
Elder miranda my first companion, and my first trainer and I parted ways hopefully only for a little, as he went to be an ZL (zone leader; the leader of a group of multiple districts) I stayed in carpina and recieved a new companion, Elder Cummins, he’s American. This guy is a spiritual giant, he’s helped me grow my own personal relationship of the holy spirit and the power of it. As i’ve gotten more comfortable with my role here as a missionary the language, the accent (it’s like a creole accent would be to a new yorker) I’ve been able to take a more active role in our companionship. We have recently been overhauling our method of teaching, and learing what tools and resources are the most effective.
It’s amazing to see the things that each companion helps me with, and the diffrent areas. Elder zimmerman and Elder Haskins with leadership and timelyness and obidience, Elder Miranda with leadership and now Elder Cummins with the Holy Spirt. The biggest thing hes taught me is the frequency of prayer really makes a diffrence in the strength and frequency of the spirit in our lessons. This verse from Helaman 3 Bassically describes what been happening. 35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
Notable Events
-I may or may not have bought a batman suit for and absurd amount of money.*
-I’m losing weight down to 196lb
-I played drums with a member from our church he has a guitar shop.*
-Explored the jungle and may have found a weed farm nearby*
-68% fluent now 😅
-I started personal study in Portuguese
-I’m currently on the most bumpy bus ride of my life and I’m getting sick so I’m not going to proofread.
*Video in the google photos
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