Drunk and grumbling on about how I cant sing

 (Elder Mackrory)

Fala pessoal! Tranquilão?

Essa semana foi menos frutífera, vimos apenas 4 fuscas. O total é 1384,5. A boa notícia é que agora estou ciente de um meio fusca. Sei onde está. Agora é só ir. Valeu Elder Owen

Last pday we went to a nearby shopping mall and had lunch at burger king. I for whatever reason did not have much hunger, so I put the other whopper in my bag for later. We then walked over to the other nearby mall for a really nice bookstore. I almost bought a book, but I refrained and bought some more pens instead. That night I ate my whopper while the mission president’s counselor explained about smoke detectors.

On Tuesday we did not have district council because half of the district went to the temple and therefore switched their pday. That day we focused on online work since the previous few days had let a bunch pile up. It was really satisfying.

On Wednesday we had district council, which included a training about planning and togetherness where my companion and I had to cross the soccer court (yes, it is a court, not a field) while I walked on my hands and my comp held me by my ankles. That night we talked with our favorites (If we did have favorites) Luciano and Rubi. We talked about the word of wisdom, law of chastity, tithing, and a few more. Despite the fact that the lesson was more focused on commandments, we were still able to emphasize the Savior’s atonement, which was the best part.

On Thursday we again focused on the online work, since we are trying to meet a goal for the number of people in our system that are deemed “interested”. The problem is that a majority of these are not interested. So we have to find those who are interested, and cut the rest. When I got here in this area, we were coming up on 500, which was really frightening for me since coming from the office, I knew that this area alone accounted for more than 10% of the mission’s “interested” list. We have that number down to a good 100, and we hope to get it down to 50 by the end of the transfer.

On Friday we had interviews with president! This time around, similar to what happened this time last year, president visited our house. I decided to make a cheesecake with jam on top in the shape of an American flag, but the blueberry jam I bought was not blue (ridiculous). So I made a key lime pie instead. It was, like most of my desserts that I make, more of a casserole due to the dish I use to prepare it in, but it turned out to be really good and both Sister and President liked it very much.

On Saturday we went early to do a service project, and then to lunch. Both were really good, but unfortunately my comp hurt his back doing some lifting, and that made him unfit for 3 hours of public transport to and from the temple (total, not each way). We were going to go with Carol, who was baptized this last Sunday, but we unfortunately weren’t able. To our surprise, Carol sent us a message that she went alone! Talk about really wanting to go to the temple! I let Elder Vogt rest for the day while I invited basically the entire world to church.

On Sunday, unfortunately the entire world had excuses. So we went to church and were really happy with our three friends that came. We had an awesome lunch with an awesome family, who actually has (despite the distance) a view of the Christ the Redeemer statue from the living room window. Elder Vogt’s back was still hurting quite a bit, so we stayed home during the afternoon, but we had a super cool experience that night.

Tender Mercy: On Sunday night, we went to administer the Sacrament to a family that lives nearby who was sick. Carol also came down with sickness, and so she was also there. When we sang an opening hymn, not a single person sang in tune. I can’t even say that I was singing in tune because no one followed my lead, and so maybe I was wrong. Anyway, for the first time in my life, I was not bothered by the terrible singing. It has always been a source of discomfort for me when people sing out of tune. I always thought it took away the Spirit. But I came to learn a great lesson last night. During the singing, the mother made a heart with her hands and the daughter made one back. The love and the spirit of devotion to Christ was still very much present. I decided I would focus on the words and the Spirit that could be felt. It was a marvelous experience that taught me much about reverence.

Spiritual thought: Jesus Christ truly said: Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14) The Spirit of the Lord resides with little children. He resides with children in the faith, children in singing, and with all those who are striving without perfection. All these can be called “children” for are we not all children for that reason? The Spirit of the Lord does not withdraw when a child makes an accidental disruption in church, but withdraws when others try, harshly, to quiet the child. The Spirit of the Lord, does not withdraw himself when people sing out of tune, save from those who decide to be bothered by such imperfection. As we strive to see the good and the efforts of others, the Spirit of the Lord can testify to us, despite the imperfections of others.