WEEK 29: Farewell to Pedregal

TUESDAY

Today started off slow but got way better after like 6. We stopped by Ruy´s cousin´s house and they fed us dinner and gave us some suuuper good white fruit juice. I think it´s called gravolia: I don´t know; it´s some fruit from the Amazons.

I know I mention Ruy in literally every email lol but he shaved his entire terrorist beard. He´s an entirely different person now hahah I didn´t even recognize him.

After, we went to a family Rudger and I baptized the first week I was here. It was nice seeing them again and being able to actually speak Port with them now. I could tell we all felt something with the scripture Elder Maclay shared, it was a nice message about repentance and Jesus Christ. 

After that they wanted me to sing some songs for them. People go CRAZY for Ed Sheeran here so I sang Perfect and finished it off with Fly Me To the Moon. Sadly they didn´t know that one. They all snapped along to the songs lol it was fun.

To finish off the night we went over to Daiane´s and I shared my new favorite scripture. Its Ecclestions 3:1-9. I´ll put the verses at the bottom so this email doesn´t look mega long.

Daiane liked the scripture a lot. We kneeled and had family prayer with them after. (Other missionaries serving right now: kneeling and having family prayer with people changes everything. Nothing invites the spirit more) Daiane said Jane (her daughter) is really excited about baptism, which is awesome because a few weeks ago she really wasn´t interested. We´ve worked a lot with her. One of Daiane´s other sons said he wants to get baptized too.

Days usually start out really slow and the nights are amazing (but hectic)

WEDNESDAY

Pretty chill day. We had a morning lesson with Lucas and his hilarious family again. They fed us cheesebread and corn cake, whih was super super good. And then we had a huge lunch after from one of the best cooks in the ward. I was so full I had to lay down for 20 minutes to be able to walk again.

We met a sweet old lady today who talked a lot but I couldn´t understand a word she said. It reminded me about a poem I´m currently writing about how elderly people always have so much to say and rarely anyone to tell it to (and how we should lend an ear). I´ll send it in a few weeks.

THURSDAY

This week so far has just been incredible. Today was our record on how many lessons we taught and this week we´ve already met over 20 more people to teach. I´m loving it here. The work is progressing.

FRIDAY

Today had a pretty half-moon so Maclay & I spent all day singing "Half-moon" by Blind Pilot. Good song; yall should check it out.

SATURDAY

Elder Maclay and I started a game to play when we´re walking countless hours each day: I decided to give him a random word, and he has to think of a story in his life that has to do with that word. It doesn´t matter how insignificant the story is, as long as it goes with the word. It´s made the days really enjoyable and we´ve had a lot of laughs from it. 

Other missionaries reading this: try it with your companion if you guys are bored throughout the day. It´s way fun.  

SUNDAY

Today we recieved our transfer calls: I´m being sent to Taqauralto and I´ll be companions with someone named Elder Barros. It´s a sixteen hour bus ride so I won´t be leaving until after President Nelson comes Friday.

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 To every thing there is a ^aseason, and a ^btime to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A ^atime to be born, and a time to ^bdie; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to ^alaugh; a time to ^bmourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to ^aget, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to ^arend, and a time to sew; a time to keep ^bsilence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to ^ahate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

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May we use our time wisely and enjoy every moment.

Elder Young

PICS:

1) Our district

2) Me and a cat

3) Elder Maclay with a cat

4) Ruy without a beard

5) A sunset

6 & 7) The sun was being awesome as it set over Lago Azul so I took a few pics

8) Just hangin out in the nature u know me

9) Our last night at Wagner´s house

10 & 11) BRAZIL

12) Idk just a cool pic

13) Goodbye Pedregal