Wow the last two weeks have been interesting, so let's get into it, but first…
Google photos Link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/
Week of ChristmasIt started off with us visiting quite a bit of members the first day and then the following day we left with Luiz Thiago. That day was incredible because we taught 5 of our friends (Apollo, Danillo, João Vitor, Leonardo, and Luiz Paulo) and they all wanted to be baptized on the 30th of December!! It was such an exciting and fun day. We also we back the next day to talk to their parents and it went well, we were even followed by Luiz Paulo who is now saying that he is Elder Hyatt III. It's so cool. The day after we passed by again and talked to them briefly about a Christmas dinner at the church.
The DinnerSo apparently the church Christmas dinners down here are normally for just members because of some dumb reason. I even had a few members say not to bring our new friends to the dinner…well… I did. We brought 9 friends to that dinner and it turned out to be an amazing time where they were playing games and futebol and it just went well. I kinda felt like a single parent because out of the 9 the oldest was 15 and the youngest was 8 years old, so I was basically taking care of all of them alone as my companion was taking care of other things happening throughout the dinner. It was fun and exhausting. I almost wouldn't have eaten if it wasn't for Irmã Lina who noticed that I was doing 3 things at the same time and got me a plate a food. I was very grateful for her and her thoughtfulness.
Weekend 1The weekend started off with heavy rain while we were at the chapel cleaning. As the downpour was occurring we get a call from Sister Bikman saying to open the back gate. We throw on our rain gear, which was not 100% prepared for the heavy downpour, and we walked outside and opened the gate. We then open the back of their car and President is in a state that I've never seen him before, No tie, top button unbuttoned. I know it's not that crazy, but it is for us when everything we see or talk to him he's in a suit and tie. Anyway we grab our presents from out of the back of his car and run inside. We finish cleaning the chapel, wait a little for the rain to calm down and then we went home to drop off the stuff and then to lunch. The rest of the day was going down with Luiz Thiago, talking to the kids and then yeah the rest of the day. Sunday was chill, all our friends went to church and then after a meeting we ate lunch, worked a bit then met up with Elder Dani Cutler and Elder Speirs for a dinner because the Boada family invited us both. After that we had a second dinner with the Leifields and it was more singing and talking than it was a dinner, but it was awesome. I truly enjoyed talking with their family and their friends who were over. It was a great opportunity to teach and have fun. It was a good Christmas Eve.
1st ChristmasLuckily for us Christmas fell on our P-day! So we started off the day like normal and had our district council meeting in person. After that we sang Feliz Navidad and ate cake and couscous. We then go back to the Leifields for lunch which was amazing as always. Then we met back up with Elder Dani Cutler and Elder Speirs and we went to a river in their area to look around for a bit…it was cool but not worth the time nor the walk, but we had great laughs and talked to a few strangers on the way. We then ate Acaí and called our families. Yeah, that was Christmas.
Week of New YearBasically we spent the whole week with our boys. I wish I could say more but it's truly just been that and sending a bit of time with people.
Mr. InvincibleHad lunch with a one handed man. When I asked him what happened he began to explain a long and crazy story. When he was in his 20's he caught a grenade with his right hand, from a guy who wanted to kill him, and decided that it would do more damage if he threw it, so he held on and it exploded. (he was in the middle of Coronel Cláudio…a place where I worked…I know the place where it happened) He lost his hand, his body is full of holes, and he lost sight and hearing on his right side. This is just the beginning…he then goes on to explain how people were trying to kill him in the hospital and that he died four times there. He had to have a cow vein put into his left arm so that he could at least still have his left arm. Then he told a story as to how he went to the bank and was in the bus terminal going home when a guy tried to rob him and he broke the guys arm in 3 places. Then he pulls out some medals (all gold) from the Paralimpics where he throws javelin and shot put. He is truly a beast. He also is a president of an organization that I forgot what it is,
but yeah. This guy was insane and I have an audio of him explaining it.
Baptisms!!So our young friends all got baptized on the 30th and it was so great and funny. Our buddy Luiz Thiago baptized Danilo, Elder Cutler baptized João Victor, and I baptized Leonardo e Luiz Paulo. It was so fun and after I gave them white shirts and ties. It was lit!!
A Sad End to a New YearSunday was great also kinda sad. I received a call Saturday night that I'd be training again, but we weren't told anything else. On Sunday Elder Cutler began telling everyone that he was leaving and it was low-key depressing. We took a few photos and had a great Colombian lunch from Luis e Lina Rojas (basically Mr. and Mrs. Smith). We passed by the boys and told them bye before swinging by the Leifelds where we talked, laughed, and ate great food before having to leave because President said we all needed to be home by 6pm. We then raced to Luiz Thiago and told his goodbye and gave him a hug and then walked home. Within the next two hours we got a call from Elder Clawson (AP) saying that I'd be training here in Dalcol and that Elder Cutler would be transferred to Bonsucesso with Elder Canova. It was really sad because Elder Cutler got emotional and he slowly began to pack a few things with some tears in his eyes.
End of 6th TransferWe have reached the end. Tomorrow I'll receive my new companion and begin his training and I'll sadly say goodbye to Elder Dani Cutler (he is being transferred to Curitiba and becoming a District Leader) and Elder Matt Cutler. It's kinda rough, but it'll all turn out as it should I'm gonna miss all the great and fun times that we all had on P-days. Oh well, I guess it's time to look on the bright side I fault 10 Transfers = 1 year and 3 months. That's pretty crazy. Anyway here are some pictures and I am wishing you all a Happy New Year!!!
Spiritual thought next week I promise…
Elder Hyatt
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