(Elder Mackrory)
Opa pessoal, tranquilidade?
Essa semana eu também tenho pouco tempo para escrever, então
tentarei sei breve. Vi 10,5 fuscas essa semana, totalizando 1336,5. Temo que
terminarei a missão com a contagem entre dois números, mas tenho fé que verei
um outro meio fusca.
Ok, lets get into things. Last pday we took it slow and went
to the store. Just that the store we went to doesn’t accept card. And someone
(I won’t mention my comp’s name) forgot to tell me. So there I am with a cart
full of delicious fruits and milk and condensed milk and all the other
essentials, without a way to pay. Thankfully the other Elders were leaving the
house to make their purchases as well and so they just brought me some of my
cash. I got my hair cut, deep cleaned the bathroom, and made Milk Tart. My
roommates ask me when I'll make it again. That night we did a lot of online
contacting, but not with too many fruits.
On Tuesday we had district council and interviews with the
president. We took the wrong bus and almost ended up going to the airport (I
promise I’m not trunky). We arrived on time still and had a great time
practicing stuff and being interviewed by president. He’s awesome. We again
geeked out about spreadsheets (just a little). We then went to lunch. After
lunch we saw half a fusca, and had a total of one in-person contact with
someone who signed up on the site. This contact lasted two hours, was
exhausting, and I will never go back to that house again. Tiktok brain rot does
some crazy things to 75 year olds.
On Wednesday I had a division with my district leader Elder
Roca, who also happens to be part of my departure group in July. He’s super
dedicated and hard working, albeit a little trunky. He recorded no less than 4
videos of airplanes passing overheard while asking me “How many days, Elder?”.
We spoke some Spanish and I learned a lot about grammar differences between Spanish
and Portuguese. I hope to speak a lot of Spanish with people at college. It’ll
be super fun. We were also blocked on WhatsApp.
On Thursday we went to lunch in a rather sketchy part of
town. Upon entering the area, we were stopped by like 5 guys with some super
sweet assault rifles. Like, super nice. Drum magazines, 10x (at least) scopes,
laser guides, and flash reducers. On top of that there was a table bigger than
a car with assorted “candies” and money. They asked us where we were going,
thought it was the coolest thing that I was American and then recognized us as
the people who always show up on Instagram ads. Then they offered to take us up
to meet the boss so that we could get our favela IDs so that we can enter and
leave without any trouble. We politely declined and went on to lunch. After
lunch it was just normal work, more fruitful. Unfortunately we were blocked on WhatsApp
again.
On Friday we had lunch with a member who bore strong
testimony of the truth of the Church. He said that there are about 75 thousand
clueless and crazy 19 year olds as the main source of growth in the church, and
the Church hasn’t gone under. So the Church must be true. We laughed and all
but there’s actually some truth in that. It goes to show that despite the
imperfect efforts of missionaries, God still directs and hastens his work.
On Saturday we went to a wedding for lunch, and found some
new people to teach, who are family members of the couple. Super awesome
experience. Then we went to go finding in a rather strange part of town. More
assault rifles and stuff, but this time no one stopped us since we are pretty
well known in that neighborhood. However, there was a crazy lady passed out on
the ground (somehow still smoking) who woke up very suddenly when we passed by,
and gave us both a big hug and tried to kiss us but we were quicker than that.
She then laid back down. I played some soccer with some friends and we were
able to get to know Ruby, who has been coming to seminary for the last few
months and is interested in being taught by the missionaries.
Sunday we got blocked on WhatsApp again, and had two people
come to church! We were able to remark Jeiel’s baptism for next Sunday (hope it
works out). We also had a super cool lesson with Jeiel in which my testimony of
the mercy and justice of God was really strengthened. We finished the week
super strong. This week was probably one of the most successful weeks in terms
of finding. We found 13 new people, and a good number of them are member
referrals.
Tender mercy: This week I started a deep study on the
process of spiritual conversion, guided by the Holy Ghost. As I wrote my
impressions, it was so clear. It was as if the Lord Himself told me. At least
that’s how I felt at the time. Later this week, as I continued the study, I had
trouble focusing and feeling the spirit. Then, as I prayed fervently to regain
the presence of His Spirit, I came to know exactly what it was that I lacked.
Although the experience itself I consider too personally sacred to be put in
the email, I came to see how humility, repentance, and forgiveness brings the
presence of the Spirit in such a real way that made my previous impressions,
clear as they seemed at the time they were received, were like foggy class in
comparison to the clarity of living the principles of the Gospel.
Spiritual thought: Faith and humility are inseparable
friends. Without humility, it is impossible to have faith. Without faith, it is
impossible to have humility. As I read Enos, and focused on his conversion
process, I saw how it was his faith and humility that brought his forgiveness.
When the Spirit works in us to convert us totally to Jesus Cristo, we desire
the well being of others, that is, we desire that which Jesus Christ desires.
This is part of the sanctification process. We are brought to not even want to
sin and we desire that all humanity be blessed as well. Search in fervent
prayer that which lacks in you, and you will find a love incomparable for God,
yourself, and others.
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