WEEK 21: Just a lil Baby Email & a Poem
Hello world!
Didn't do a day-by-day this week lol. Things are pretty much the same as usual, but that doesn't mean things aren't happening. We taught a bunch of lessons this week and started teaching some new investigators. Last week we were having a bit of a dry spell but now we have plenty of people to meet with. We talked with Taynara a bit about temples again. I'm so so excited for her to be able to go to the Campinas temple next year. She's an example to me and her testimony is already so strong.
Really our biggest struggle is getting people to come to church. Commitment works a little differently here. Culturally, people don't really say no to invitations to things like church, they just say I'll think about it or say they'll totally be there and don't show up. But it's alright, doesn't really get me down. It makes it that much more special when people actually do come through and come to church or pray about what we're teaching or read some of the scriptures. Missionary work truly is hard, but truly is rewarding. That's for sure.
I've been practicing poetry recently. I wrote one the other day, mainly as a reminder to myself to serve people who need a friend even if I'm not exactly in the mood.
I thought it had some good principles so I put it down below.
Seven-Billion and Counting
And each person seems to have their own troubles surmounting
We all have problems we've learned to call our own
And despite seven billion and counting, so many feel alone
In seven-billion and counting, some have lost their way
Some are broken, discouraged, can't stand another day
Life plays for them a dreadful chorus, an everlong refrain
Indeed the days of brightest skies are cowered in clouds of rain
They, with a smile, conceal the gloom
For not to trouble me and you
Because it seems to them, the trouble is:
No one on this planet has a care to give
We walk on by with frown-etched faces
And worry about our personal spaces
We guard the passions of our heart with a lock
And conceal authenticity with ingenuine small talk
We're given our cards to play, but we play them all randomly;
It seems that we've forgotten that we're all a human family
So when you see someone with tearfilled eyes,
Who can't see the light beyond those abismal cloudy skies
Who feels unloved, unimportant, unwanted
Or maybe nothing at all
Don't let them go at it alone
Take a step out of your comfort zone
Be the unexpected smile in the hallway
The bit of relief, the glimmer of light that they've longed for all day
Ask them how they're doing.
And mean it.
Be amiable, be sincere, open up your heart a bit
Because in the end,
The world has seven billion and counting,
but it only takes one to be a friend.
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Thanks for all the emails and love!
I hope everything's spectacular for everyone back in the States and on missions.
With love,
Elder Young
PICS:
1) A lil shack we found in the outskirts of Pedregal. Kinda wanna fix it up and live here.
2) Yall see anything funny about this mario game? The pirated things here made me chuckle.
3) Bought a guitar FINALLY. Best thing ever.
4) One of our Pday runs with Ruy
5) Joao Gabriel's Baptism
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