Too many cool kids

 (Elder Mackrory)

Fala Pessoal! Tudo joia?

Essa semana vi 16 fuscas, totalizando 1082. Tanta coisa aconteceu essa semana, nem sei aonde começar.

This week we had transfers, found out about them Monday morning. So technically I could have told y'all last week, but I felt I'd leave the suspense. Turns out I'm staying here in Macabu, and Elder Mena is leaving. My new comp is Elder Hernandez. He's fresh out of the states. So yeah. I'm training again. This means I'm the missionary who has trained the most out of everyone in the mission. Five kids in the mission is too many kids. So we just spent pday packing bags. Well, I just relaxed while elder Mena packed. On Tuesday we went around and visited members and people, and then early Wednesday morning we headed over to the mission office. It was pretty chill at the office, just that it was raining, which is important later. We met Elder Hernandez and he's got a real big Texas accent. It's so weird since everyone I know here has a Utah accent. It's been a while since I've heard the word yall used unironically.

After lunch, we booked it to the bus station. But we ended up missing the bus. It was an early tine anyway, there was not way we were making it. So everyone in the travel group got in line to switch their tickets for a later slot. No biggie, just pay a small fee. But when I went to switch ours, we couldn't. Everyone else switched their tickets just fine. But since we were going to a pretty rare destination, the next time slot was the next day. So we call the office and Elder Kjar hooks me up with some passage to a close by city where we would sleep at another missionary apartment. It's just that this ticket gave us like 6 different possible gates that the bus could pull up in. Since there's no logic in that, I didn't understand at first. I didn't even realize until after what it meant. So we went to the first gate in the list and waited for a bus that came and went in a different gate. So we were confused and went to ask about the bus. “it just left from this other gate” they said. That's when I found out that we had to have been attentive to 6 different gates. So we went to switch our travel again. We got it done and finally, after four hours at the bus station, got on the bus. At 10:15 we arrived at Macaé (also raining) and walked with our bags to the Macaé house. Slept well there and took an early bus to Macabu Thursday morning. So for Elder Hernandez, who had just taken a 12ish hour flight from Salt Laķe, it took a total of 46 hours of travel to arrive in our area. We were able to go work that day, but needless to say we slept like rocks that night.

The next days were filled with finding, teaching, serving, and ministering to the ward. On Friday we had primary rehearsal for the program. Since I'm the pianist, we were there too. Turns out Elder Hernandez is goated at piano. So we split the songs and now I only have 3 songs to learn. On Saturday we stopped by the chapel to practice the piano, did that, and out of nowhere he started playing Cardigan. I tried to sing along, but became immediately embarrassed because I've forgotten the lyrics. Then he played Wildest Dreams and I was glad to find that I hadn't forgotten those lyrics. I even remembered some harmonies and we had a good time. Then we got a call From a member at like 7pm (remember that its Saturday) saying that we need to teach Sunday school. Alright. That's fine. Two hours is enough. Then we get a message from the branch presidency asking us both to speak in church. So. Yeah. So we went home and Elder Hernandez wrote his talkzinho and I got on Sunday school. I decided to use a talk I already had prepared to save time.

Then came Sunday. We basically did everything. Elder Hernandez played the piano, I led the music, I blessed the sacrament, we both spoke, and I gave the lesson in Sunday school. Other than teaching Sunday school, that's not far from what happens every week.

Well, that's it for this week. Tender Mercy: On Sunday we had lunch with a member family that Is having some difficulties. I get very uncomfortable when lunched go longer than two hours because of how lunches were in my first area. But after about an hour and fifty minutes they invited us to stay while they made cake. Usually I would politely decline, but I felt that it would be ok to stay. I was very confused by the feeling since I get stressed when we don't stick to the time schedule (thanks Elder Kjar (that's not sarcastic)). Anyway, we stayed and chatted and had cake. Got a good tip that using hot water in cake instead of milk makes the chocolate stand out more. Someone go try that and tell me how it goes, I didn't have a point of reference. The cake was good, but I have no idea I it would have been better or worse with milk. Anyway, we left after some time there and got a message from the mother thanking us for the sweet spirit we brought and that she hasn't seen her daughter so calm and happy in a while. So then it all made sense. We needed to be there a little longer.

Spiritual Thought:

President Boyd K. Packer taught: “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the [doctrine] of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”

I love this quote because there is no knowledge in this world more valuable than a knowledge of the doctrine of Christ. The doctrine of Christ will guide you in EVERY situation, something that a study of behavior cannot.

Fotos:

1. Noite familiar at the pizza place

2. Some nature for yall

3. Birthday party

4. Last night with Elder Mena

5. Ice cream in the bus station

6. Elder Kjar sent me this not realizing it would be in my email.

7. Jesus paid for our sins

8. Mango season!!!

9. Nature and me and my youngest son