Opa so last email I said I got transfered to Uvaranas. It is definitely different, not bad, just strange since I spent basically 3 months in my first area. I will say the first couple of days I was trying to get used to the new area and now I got it down alright. Our apartment is almost out of our area, haha. We are about 45 minutes from the church and man it is very hilly. It feels like I'm climbing a mountain at parts because of how steep it can be. The ward is smaller than the other two and from what I've learned it's a harder area to work in. Since being here in the Uvaranas ward I now have a new mission goal for all my future areas. I want to strengthen the wards to work with the new members and visit the people who are interested as well as build a strong youth group like in Jardim Florença ward. The youth helped us out so much and if it wasn't for all their hard work and tolerance with us we wouldn't have had as much of a success as we did. So that's my goal for every area from here on out so we shall see how well that goes.
As far as interesting things goes for this new area there really isn't much. There is a road that Elder Gull will not walk at night because only a few weeks ago a teenager got shot there so yeah we avoid that road at night. There are many people who we are working with who are members who have recently stopped going because of reasons and so we have been working on helping get them back to church and it's been going alright. The stake recently announced that they are going to help us out more by doing visits with us so that'll help a ton.
Oh one thing that made me happy and more motivated to turn all future areas like 31/Jardim Florença was the fact that one night as we stopped at the church to see what was going on, JF was having a Pioneer night and all the youth came up and were happy to see me and asked about Elder Blackburn. All of that made me so happy, but it was what Amanda said that really stuck with me. She said that Elder Blackburn and I were her favorites and that we were fun and nice. I don't know why, but hearing that from her pushed me to make the goal of turning other wards youth groups like JF because they have such a great and strong youth which I really enjoyed.
Now let me talk about my new companion Elder Gull. I have never met a missionary so dedicated and so in tune with the Spirit as he is. He not only is constantly studying, but he actively applies it all. He has never been a district leader and he is naturally a supportive leader. He leads by example, but also is constantly making sure to give help and positive feedback to everyone. Before the mission he was in at a music college in Boston and it really shows how he is very musical. Everyday when we get up he is always either beat boxing or humming different songs. He is never not tapping a beat or thinking of a song, but it's cool because we bounce off of each other pretty well. I remember one morning I was studying the Book of Mórmon and then just out of the blue he goes, "Gangnum Style". I laughed so hard after that it was so funny at the time. I will say it's nice how "by the book" he is because it's helped me focus more on my studies and helped me be way more confident. He is a little less talkative when it comes to members and so it pushed me to start conversations and become friends with them more for which I'm glad. Plus he is helping me correct my Português grammar because I still get somethings wrong here and there. All in all, a great companion who loves the pizza that I make.
As for my spiritual thought I'd like to leave a scripture that has been my focus this week.
Alma 37:35-37
35 O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
This scripture has stuck with me all this week and I feel like it was what I needed. I would like to testify that prayer really changes you. I have gone from just asking the Lord for help, guidance, and whatever to actually having a conversation with him. I have taking this scripture and applied it. As a missionary we are constantly saying prayers, but when those prayers are offered with a sincere and faithful heart, then they are truly heard. There have been many miracles that I could talk about from my mission from prayer, but then this would be a short novel. I would like to testify that prayer does indeed work. That pouring your heart out unto the lord and then continuing with all your might in faith brings miracles. I know that when you council with the Lord, he truly does help and guide you. If you feel like you ever need help or just need someone to talk to pour out everything to the Lord, and if you don't know how to pray it's simple.
1. Call upon the Lord (Dear Heavenly Father)
2. Give thanks for anything and everything.
3. Humbly ask the desires of your heart
4. Close with (In the name of Jesus Christ Amen)
Don't expect your life to change in one prayer because it takes many prayers and you have to put in the work to see the miracles transpire. Even in the Bible it explains how Faith, Prayer, etc without us putting in the effort or the work to bring about what we want is basically dead. You need both Faith and Works.
James 2:14-18
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Ok that's my spiritual thought for you all to ponder over. Anyway here are some pictures oh and my P-days changed from the morning to the night so that's why all my emails will be later in the day now. OK pictures!
1. Elder Gull and I
2. A beautiful Brazilian sunset
3.Our District
4.Just something I found in the new apartment, pretty cool I think
5 & 6. The music man and cats
7. No explanation necessary
Elder Hyatt
No comments:
Post a Comment