(Elder Mackrory)
Boa tarde a todos! Feliz Páscoa! Ele vive!
This week wasn't even real. It was really successful and
efficiently spent, which unfortunately means I don't remember anything. Perhaps
I'll keep it short.
Weekly Highlights:
-we watched “The Other Side of Heaven 2” and it was pretty
good. Well actually we watched “O Outro Lado do Céu 2”.
-it's holy week so our favorite bakery was closed most of
the time
-it’s been really cold here. Like it gets down to 70°F at
night. It's been wonderful to use a jacket and sleep with a blanket.
-we upgraded our fan. It's really powerful, but German
engineering is really complicated and maintenance is really expensive.
-I saw 15 fuscas! Brings the total to 564. Good week.
-we had zone conference this week and it turns out that my
name has been spreading through the sisters as “The Elder who likes Taylor
Swift” so that's great. It'd be nice if I was “The Elder who works really
hard”, though.
-It took us an hour and a half to call an Uber from zone
conference.
-we got a panini press and it's a game changer. I complained
about the gross panini sandwiches at the CTM, but these are amazing sandwiches.
Perhaps my tongue has lowered its standard. Not mad about it.
-our lunch appointment fell through, so we made corn dogs
from scratch.
-I got a bucket of water dumped on my head because of a
challenge that the zone made. If you marked a baptism date, you could choose
someone in the zone to get a bucket of water dumped on their head. I got
chosen.
-Brick happened
-On Sunday I was allowed to talk to my family briefly, so I
made sure to call right after church got out so I could say hi to friends too.
I got to share with them my testimony and it was really cool. Shout-out to
Koko, Drew, Brener, and Preston.
-got mistaken for Jahovah's Witness more than usual
-Got called “Ken” for the 4th time
-a gang member took a photo of us, so next time we go into
that neighborhood, we will either be shot dead or we'll basically be in the
gang. We'll see. We have lunch there this week.
I would really like to share my experience that I had this
year with Easter. In Brasil, the Easter celebration is extended real to be the
entire Holy Week because of the catholic tradition. It's wonderful. Full of
chocolate and happy faces. But it gave me the opportunity to have more time to
ponder on the event leading up the resurrection of our Lord. Especially His
suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and at Golgotha.
About a month ago, I found a talk given by Elder Jeffery R.
Holland. It's called “None Were with Him” from the April 2009 general
conference. It's now become my favorite discourse. It taught me many things
about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I felt His love for me. I felt that what
He did, He did out of love. There is no greater truth than “God loves you”. But
there is no truth of greater significance than “Jesus Christ lives”. Because He
lives, we will all live again. We can be comforted in all moments, no matter
how much it feels like no one understands. He understands. We will never be
left without aid. “Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone,
we do not have to do so.” I testify with all my heart, might, mind, and
strength that Jesus Christ lives. He knows each and every one of you because he
experienced every sorrow, sickness, and suffering. He was the firstfruits of
them that slept, and we will all eventually do the same. Search for the truth,
pray to know of it, and apply its invitations, and by the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, you will be saved in the Kingdom of God.
Little Tender mercy to leave you guys with: In a lunch
appointment, I shared my testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and my
testimony of this aspect of the gospel grew to beyond my capacity to express.
Testifying of the truth brings the truth to all, not just to those who are
taught.
Tchau Tchau, vai com Deus,
Elder Mackrory
Fotos:
1. Volkswagen ventilador
2. Road work ahead? Uh yeah! I sure hope it does!
3. Sunset
4. Balde de água
5. Favorite Easter quote
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