But you say it in a Tweet, that's a cop-out

 (Elder Mackrory)

Boa tarde a todos! Não tenho muito tempo hoje, pois temos pday do distrito. Então vou escrever um pouquinho menos dos acontecimentos e focar mais nas coisas espirituais. Vi 14 fuscas, totalizando 911.

This might be a surprise to some, but I could not find time to write down all that happened this week. I love to write down all that happens because to me, all things teach me. Every story shows me something I didn't know before. Next week will be a long email. For now, I'll leave you guys with a tender mercy and a spiritual thought.

Tender mercy: this week, a friend of mine wished me “I hope your week is full of miracles!”. I thought to myself, “does the amount of miracles that happen in the week depend on God or me?” So I put forth my best effort to make miracles happen, and to try to see the miracles that God works. Guys, this week was incredible. I was astonished at each and every day, each day being more joyful than the last. Too many experiences to choose one to put here. God is incredible and works miracles greater than our capacity to realize. Just the realization of this was a miracle to me.

Spiritual thought: Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Guys that's it. Doesn't matter what's going on, who's doing what, or who's saying what. Just be obedient. What is written is written and we will be judged according to these things. Go. Follow the commandments. In this there is safety and peace. Period. No ifs ands or buts. Secret to life? Ain't no secret. Stop being disobedient to what God has set as His statutes.

See yall next week! If you get the subject line, kudos.

What's your temple of Solomon?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy Y'all!!!

Y'all this was a bit of a crazy week. We had SO MANY meetings at the beginning of the week and then Sister Nybo and I got sick at the end of the week so it honestly felt like we didn't do much missionary work at all. But we feel better now so the Firle area better watch out because Sister Nybo and I are going to go HARD with the missionary work this week. We're excited!

Oh, one fun story is that on Saturday it was just Sister Nybo and I on a bus. But actually jk it was just Sister Nybo and I and a CHUNKY MOTH on a bus. So we literally spent the whole bus ride changing seats trying to get away from this creepy scary moth. He must've been really interested in the message we had to share because he WOULD NOT leave us alone. Eek, I'm so afraid of moths. But hallelujah we survived.

One thing that was amazing this week is that we got to play and perform a lot of music. I'm SO THANKFUL to have a violin with me right now (thank you Matilda!) The spirit is so strong when beautiful, Christ-centered music is played. It's so yeehaw.

Okay here's the spiritual stuff for the week:

I want to focus on 2 Nephi 5:16 which says

"And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine."

Okay, this may seem like such a random verse but I promise you that it has a lot of meaning. When you change "temple of Solomon" to anything you have that is imperfect such as, your family, your body, your faith, etc... this scripture becomes so touching. We may not have perfect things in this life no matter how hard we try. We may have members of our family that are not present or who have chosen to leave the church but if we continue to try our best with what we've got and include the Lord the workmanship of those imperfect things in our live will be still "exceedingly fine".

Also, basically I'm saying that y'all are all FINE!

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

QOTW: Why are you grateful for you trials?

Vintage tee, brand new phone

 (Elder Mackrory)

Boa tarde pessoal! Tudo joia?

Gostei desta semana, conseguimos muito. Inclusive, vi 23 fuscas! Só faltam 3 até 900!

Hey y’all, Elder Mackrory here. It's been a good week! Let's get into it. Last pday we just stayed at home and chilled. Honestly my favorite kind of pday. We had a meeting with the mission to discuss some changes being made to how we have lunch. The purpose of lunch with members was to help the missionaries save money and get to know the members. the focus is being changed. Now it is no longer to economize, but to strengthen the members and help them focus on the missionary work. As such, we will no longer be able to receive pix (Brazilian venmo) when members cannot offer lunch at home. In these circumstances, we just have to use our own missionary support funds to make lunch. This will be a big change from the norm. We don’t have all the details, but this change will take effect starting in October. After the meeting, we had our usual lesson with the part member family from Argentina (different family). Pretty average pday.

On Tuesday we had district council, and this change is making missionários bonkers. I'm totally OK with it, but apparently outside of our house, it's a big big deal. People are worried about going hungry on the mission and totally overreacting. It'll be fine. Promise. Just learn how to cook.

On Wednesday we had a super cool lesson with Jamile who is the neighbor of my favorite sassy Venezuelan grandma, with whom we had lunch on Saturday past. She was excited to hear our message.

On Thursday, we got unexpected news. First, I got a message from the ZL's asking if I could lead the music at zone conference the next day. So I said sure, no biggie. Then they said, “actually, do you wanna do a solo?” So I said “maybe, what's the song?” “I dunno, you choose”. So yeah. So I quickly give it a look on the gospel music app and find the only song that has sheet music and a recording of the accompaniment. Thank goodness it was I Am a Child of God. Quickly memorized the lyrics in Portuguese, and started practicing. We didn't have any confirmed appointments in the evening, so I was able to get the music down. Great to be able to get lots of notice for things.

Friday morning we left the house early and headed to Cabo Frio. Got to see my good friends Elder Patterson and Elder Roberts. Got news from the missionaries in my first area that Kamila and Douglas are being sealed next month and that Kaique is still being taught! Just good news from that area. The solo went very well, although it had been more than a year since my last solo, and so for some reason I was really shaky. The assistant to the president behind me was ready to catch me because he thought I would fall. But on the other side of the pulpit it looked alright I hear.

I also got to switch my phone out! By luck, the mission office had a newer phone available. It's a A23. Same year and line as the other one, but not the base model. Camera is nice, slow-motion capabilities, faster processor, and for some reason the font size can be smaller, which I really like. A friend of mine, Elder Hayes, who was actually Elder Kjar’s comp in the MTC, traded cases with me. Def won that trade. I basically ended up with an otterbox and he got some yellowing silicone case. He proposed the trade, his loss. The only thing I didn't like about the case is it made it hard to access the fingerprint sensor. A knife and red hot spoon made short work of that problem.

On Saturday we had English class. I figured out that Brazilians have a hard time hearing the difference between “thirty” and “forty”. They all think the TH sound is impossible. That and making the “L” sound at the end of a word. “I will learn to say thank you” becomes “I wiu lawn choo say fanku/tanku”.

Sunday we had lots of changes! We had a special meeting in Cabo Frio with our two branches. Our branch was discontinued and absorbed into the other branch. And apparently it will turn into a ward next week. Why they didn't make all the changes next week beats me, but for this week and this week alone, I'm serving the Cabo Frio branch. We had two lessons yesterday in the farthest neighborhood in our area. Because money is always tight, we decided to take the bus direct to there. But that meant we did about an hour of study in Cabo Frio before the time came for us to catch the bus. We had amazing lessons and met Jamile’s daughter Yasmin.

That's It for this week. Super good.

Tender mercy: We had something come up at the last minute before catching the bus on Sunday, and we almost missed the bus. By some miracle, we were able to make 19 minutes of travel in 11 minutes. Barely made the bus.

Spiritual Thought:

In Portuguese, the lyrics to hymns often change drastically to make the words fit with the music. In I am a Child of God, they do not. Each line corresponds to their English counterpart. The wording changes, but the same truths are taught. Why are these Truths so important? Why does knowing about our divine origin and potential have so much import?

1. I am a child of God,

I am here because of him.

He sent me to earth, gave me a home,

And such good parents for me.

Teach me, help me to keep God's laws

So that one day I may go and live with him.

2. I am a child of God,

Do not forsake me

And today begin

To teach me the laws.

Teach me, help me to keep God's laws

So that one day I may go and live with him.

3. I am a child of God,

And I will have a reward.

If I fulfill his law here,

I will live with him.

Teach me, help me to keep God's laws

So that one day I may go and live with him.

 

1. Coffee made with corn is pretty good

2. My leaf is bigger than your lead Shane

3. My bros going to Curitiba

4. The blood moon smiled at us

5. Eu amo buzios

6. Piña colada wafers go hard

7. Throwback to Sept 7, 2023

8. District Açaí

9. Zone conference 

Even if it's a fake god We'd still worship

 (Elder Mackrory)

Fala aí gente! de boa?

Esta semana foi boa. Estávamos fazendo mais trabalho nas ruas, então vimos mais fuscas. Esta semana vimos 18, levando o total a ser 874.

Hey guys! How are y'all? This week was different than any other week on the mission. It was probably the week in which we had the least success in the field. But at the same time, I was still able to feel motivated to keep going and to have joy. As such, there aren't many stories, but I'll recount the ones I do know.

On pday we went to cabo Frio in the rain and ate at the mall, except I was out of money so I packed a lunch. Apparently raw carrots are not acceptable food here. Everyone thought I was crazy.

On Tuesday we had district council, the first one of the transfer! As a district, we set good goals to promote unity between ourselves and within the mission. Made me super excited to get to work. On the long bus ride home, I wrote up and finalized all the programs for our district councils. Last transfer, planning DC's was something of stress for me, so I just went ahead and did it all in one go. In our district, both of the sister companionships are training, which, according to how mission family trees work, I now have two daughters. This means I've got a total of 6 kids on the Mish. And we've still got 11ish months to go.

On Thursday, we were informed that our lunch for Saturday was moved to a different family. Then, on Friday, it was moved again to a different family. Then we got a message on Friday night, and the conversation went like this:

"Good evening, Elderes!"

"Good evening, sister! Lunch changed?"

"Yep lol"

Writing it out, it seems less funny, but Elder Flores and I were dying of laughter.

Also, this week, I finished the Old Testament except for Isaiah (best for last). I also finished the new Testament except for Revelation (best for last). So, study has been really intense. After a chapter or two of Isaiah, I'll think, wow, that's a lot of information. Let's go to some lighter reading. Nope, revelations isn't easy either. So then we have the trust old Book of Mormon. Do you wanna guess where I'm at? Smack dab in the middle of 2 Nephi. So I can't catch a break. Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely loving it, but it is so much.

On Sunday, we had a problem. We woke up late. Not terribly, just about 30 minutes. But why? I was so confused. Neither of the alarms on our phones went off. Turns out that during the night, something happened, and my charger burned my phone and caused it to close the alarm app completely. So now my phone charges at the slowest rate possible. It takes about 10 hours to get a full charge. Luckily, I got in contact with my boy Elder Kjar at the office, and he'll have me hooked up with a new phone this Friday at Zone's conference. Until then, I'll have to be careful with my battery because I might not wake up with 100%. I think I might have a curse, lol. This will be the third phone I have on the mission, not because I'm reckless. Both times this happened, it was beyond my control or something completely unrelated.

Well, that's it for this week, now here's the good stuff: Tender Mercy: after a really long and tough day with almost no success, we got açaí. The way the guy prepared our cups was confusing, and we ended up getting each others orders mixed up. We didn't realize until we had eaten a little bit, and by that time, it was too late to switch. So we laughed and teased each other all the way home, saying stuff like "wow your Açaí is really good😀" "Yes, I know😒". Just a good pick-me-up.

Spiritual thought: This week, a friend of mine sent me a post from an anonymous member of the church. I really like their thoughts and completely agree. I will attach the image below. But the point of the post is to say that the things that bring the greatest blessings in this life are following the principles of the Gospel. Firstly I'd like to leave it clear that I have certainty of the doctrines that I believe. God exists and is our loving Heavenly Father. He sent His Son to prepare our path to return to Their presence. All of the prophets have testified of this and I believe in their words. But this certainty doesn't stop people from asking "what if it's all for nothing? What if none of it is true?" Well, if so, then the "fake" principles by which I live lead me to be a better person. The "fake" commandments give me real safety, assurance, and happiness. The "fake" Savior taught me how to live a life of fulfillment and love. I learned to forgive and move on, comforted by a "fake" knowledge that everything will work out in the end. What if it's all fake? Then so what. I'll live a much fuller life pretending it's real than accepting its fake. If it's real, then only God can imagine what is in store for those who live by such "fake" principles. Either way, I come out on top.

I hope a good week for y'all, until next time!

The Scriptures have something for everyone!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey y'all!

Okay y'all this week was GREAT. Sister Nybo and I were SO BUSY but it was so amazing. We've been trying to talk to as many people as possible so we've been getting lots of rejection everyday. Which sounds hard but it's actually just been really hilarious! Sister Nybo and I laugh so much!

This is going to be a long spiritual stuff section so I apologize in advance but I just wanted to share with y'all what I've been studying as of late.

As some of you may know, in the past I've struggled with body image and eating disorder related issues which were very real and very hard. Well, the trials that I've had to overcome and am still working to overcome with these issues have really molded who I am today. They've refined me and have helped me to turn my mind and heart to my Savior and to His Gospel. They've given me the motivation and desire to study His words and to strengthen myself as I've learned more. However, recently, I've found myself wondering, "what do the scriptures have to say about eating disorders and body dysmorphia? How can they specifically help me and others in my same boat?" Well, I have found the answers to my own questions so let me share:

To start off, I want to share a quote from President Jeffrey R Holland that really started this whole study of mine. He shared these words in a BYU Devotional titled, "For Times of Trouble" and he said, “In this church, we ask for faith, not infallibility. Immerse yourself in the scriptures. You'll find your own experiences described there. You'll find spirit and strength there. You'll find solutions and counsel. “There’s one thing that I want to say about this quote and that is AMEN President Holland! Anyways, shall we see what the scriptures so far have had for me?

The first counsel the scriptures provided me can be found in 3 Nephi 13 in verses 30 through 33 which state:

"30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

 

Okay, let me tell you what these scriptures mean from my perspective. Through the filter of my trials. It means that God's got me completely. He knows the things that I worry about. He knows that I worry everyday about what I'm going to eat and what I'm going to wear and how I'm going to look but He wants me to trust Him. He's asking me to put more faith in Him so that I have less capacity to worry and be anxious about these other more worldly concerns. He wants me to seek Him first for comfort and counsel before I seek anything else.

Here's the next bit of counsel and personal understanding that I've found while studying. It's found in 2 Nephi 4 in verses 17 through 21 (sorry it's a long one" which say:

"17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my [flesh]; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh."

When I first read these verses, I just wanted to give big ol hunky "large in stature" Nephi a great big hug. I too sorrow sometimes because of my physical body but I know in who I have trusted and I'm going to continue to trust in Him because He's the only one that knows EXACTLY how to help me and provide me with aid.

Anyways, sorry if that was a lot but I just wanted to show y'all that the scriptures have something for EVERYONE. God is a GENIUS because He has inspired each prophet and writer in the scriptures to say the exact things that so many people need. If you feel like the scriptures have nothing to say about what you're struggling with then I'm sorry but you're wrong. Both me and President Holland can attest to that. So please read your scriptures!

I love y'all! Sorry for this massive email!

- Sister Cummings

Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find

 (Elder Mackrory)

Fala aí gente! Tudo joia?

Essa semana foi muito boa. Vou contar pra vcs aqui. Vi 17 fuscas, totalizando 856.

On pday last, we had transfer news. We were like 90% sire one of us was leaving. I was pretty sure it was gonna be Elder Flores. Welp. I was wrong. Turns out we're both staying here. So the time we planned to make our bags, we just hung out. Kinda nice.

On Tuesday we had district council, and went back to our area and had lunch with some of our Investigators from Argentina. Argentinian pizza is bomb. Since we thought we would be making our bags on Tuesday, we didn't have anything planned. So we did tons of online work and managed to fill Wednesday and Thursday which were pretty empty to allow for travels and unpacking/getting groceries.

On Wednesday we went around visiting people in the rich neighborhood. One person we tried to visit only had a street name, no number. So we decided to knock every door asking for this person. You wanna guess where she lived? On the last freaking house on the street. We knocked every door except hers when we got to her house. Amazing experience there, worth red knuckles.

Thursday was a day. We confirmed 3 lessons in the morning far from our house. So we went. The first guy cancels with us saying “sorry I'm in São Paulo” like what? We confirmed with you yesterday. How is this possible? Oh well we had a backup plan. Second one cancels because we took too long to get to her house (we arrived early). Third guy didn't respond and was not home. Great. Now what? Well, the Lord provides, and we were actually able to visit a less active member and have a good conversation! Then we left for lunch, and went back out to work. a few lessons, contacts, and lots of walking later, we arrived at home at 9pm. Exhausted. 12 hours without stopping. Longest day ever. But it felt good to work and get home exhausted. Slept well, but even in my dreams were knocking doors and finding people. I really don't get a break, but I love it.

On Friday we had leadership council in Cabo Frio, so that means 4 hours on the bus again. Yippee! But it was good. Learned a lot of good stuff and I left there feeling really motivated to organize everything in the district and make things moving well. So I did. Sent everyone messages and assignments and asking questions and everything else, and by Sunday I managed to organize the programs for the district councils and set up follow-ups for everyone.

Saturday was also a very long day. We had English class early in the morning and no one came. Then we had a very rushed trip to a lesson and then on to lunch. After lunch at least 3 people stopped us to talk. We met a guy who read the Bible in 22 days. Something like 60 chapters a day. Insane. Visits, lessons, walking, and the rest until 9pm.

Sunday was really cool. After church, we went to prepare the new house of a member. The previous owner did not clean the house like ever, and the house was disgusting. But now it's limpinho. We had a very good lesson with our Argentinian family and I spoke my best Spanish yet. It got to the point where speaking Spanish was easier than Portuguese. I couldn't bring myself to say “Igreja”, all I could think was “Iglesia”. Definitely felt the power of the Gift of tongues.

Tender Mercy: On Tuesday, because of the extra time we didn't plan for, my companion and I did a transfer planning session. We arranged all of our goals and we arranged the calendar all beautiful and it actually relieved a lot of stress that I didn't even know was there.

Spiritual thought: Yesterday I finished the Old Testament minus Isaiah. I'm saving the best for last. In the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ teaches “And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.” (3 Nephi 23:1). The Lord Himself gave us the commandment to search the words of Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is hard to understand, sometimes seemingly impossible. That's because the truths contained therein are so precious, the Lord saw fit to hide them, as He did with His parables. Because it is difficult to understand, we need to study it more, and line upon line, it will be given us to understand.

Photos:

1. Beautiful rooster

2. Super old car from Argentina

3. Panini press is the best way to reheat pizza

4. Sunset at the beach

5. Super good thing I made. Ate it with rice (not pictured)

6. That moment when your ear hair is longer than your actual hair

7. Yellow cocos?

8. The sun was dark one morning

I Miss Playford

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Y'all!!

This week was AMAZING! So much happened. So much good!

This week was my last week in the Playford which is so sad! There's so many people there that I've made such genuine friendships with. I'm going to miss them bunches! But that's okay! There were absolutely zero "goodbye forevers". I know I'm going to see all those amazing people again!

I got transferred to Firle which is the area that has the temple and the mission office so I'm so stoked to be here! I got to bear my testimony in my new ward and I ended up saying "y'all" a lot in it and got teased for being so Texan. It was fun!

Moving onto the spiritual stuff!

I wanted to talk about what I bore my testimony on this Sunday and that's this:

Since I've been on my mission, I've been telling myself this one motto over and over and over to keep myself going and it's this, "I'm not here for me, I'm here for Thee."

This motto has been sooo helpful in keeping my mind where it needs to be as I deal with the difficulties of day to day missionary work. Sometimes I really have to remind myself that I'm here on the Lord's errand and not on mine. But, as I've been pondering more about this little phrase l've found that it doesn't just apply to missionary work but to our whole lives. We came here to Earth to prepare ourselves to return to Him again. We are here for Him.

So, keep living your life for Him!

I love y'all. Have a good one!

- Sister Cummings

Question of the week: What do you live for?