(Elder Mackrory)
Eae tropinha. Belezinha?
Essa semana tivemos uma colheita menos exitosa, devido
àlgumas coisinhas. Vi 6 fuscas, para um total de 1366,5. Espero muito ver outro
meio fusca.
This entire week has been absolutely freezing. I think at
one point it got down to 55 degrees. Needless to say I’ve been using my jackets
all week and sipping my hot tea in these bitter and trying times.
Last pday we had transfers announced, and I found out where
and with whom I will spend my Last transfer. Turns out I'm staying here in
Irajá, which I expected, and I'm staying with my companion Elder Vogt, which I
kind of expected. We spent the day kinda doing nothing since we had left some
time to spare in case one of us had to pack bags.
On Tuesday we had our last district council meeting, and
unfortunately I didn’t make any cheesecake. We said goodbye to some of the
elderes in our district that were being transferred, and I started to realized
that since this is my last transfer, I know exactly who I won’t see again until
after the mission. It is kind of a surreal experience. The rest of the mission
that I will get to see again I will for the last time this week at zone
conference. After council, we went home in the freezing rain and made lunch at
home. Then, because of the rain, we stayed at home to catch up on our never
ending list of referrals. That night, some members made us a churrasco to say
goodbye to Elder Amorim who was being transferred.
Wednesday morning we said goodbye to Elder Amorim, and he
and elder Roca left for the mission office. We did our studies, went to lunch,
and started to do our normal visits, and then Elder Vogt started feeling not so
good in the stomach. We rushed home and he spent the rest of the day in and out
of the bathroom while I gave the house a good deep cleaning and did some online
work. Upon the arrival of the other Elders, Elder Roca and the new Elder Cunha,
we came to find that Elder Roca had been feeling the same way. So for our
lesson, we did a quick division and taught Rubi (I figured out that you spell
it with an “I” here in Brasil) and Luciano with Elder Cunha. We ended up
marking their baptism dates. We stopped by the store so that Elder Cunha could
have some food for the week since he’s new in the area, and I took advantage of
the opportunity to restock on my tea, which had been going out. I got some
really good raspberry, blackberry, and hibiscus blends that are so awesome.
Sugar in the raw also helps with the quality.
On Thursday not much had changed about Elder Vogt situation,
and so we spent the day online.
On Friday Elder Vogt was a little better and we were able to
go to lunch. Upon arrival we heard loud orchestral music from a nice speaker
system. It was really good music, so it stayed on during lunch, including an
arrangement of Amazing Grace by a bagpipe band that may have pulled a few
tears. Afterwards, we were able to do some visits nearby before Elder Vogt
became fatigued again. Dude’s a trooper.
Saturday was a little slower again because the dumb stomach
bug didn’t leave my comp. We had our usual soccer night, and this time, for the
first time in forever, no one really got in any fights about who made more
goals. That night we taught Jessica, who has been coming to church for the last
few weeks, and while we didn’t get to marking an exact date, she is super
interested in being baptized. There is, however, one small difficulty. She
lives in the Rio South mission. So we’re in contact with the Elders from the
neighboring ward and Jessica and her son Miguel will get to know the church
there, and she said she will be baptized there. So it will all work out.
Sunday was nice, we only had 3 of our friends show up,
which, while it was lower than what we are used to, it was kinda relaxing to
not have to rush to get them to sit with members. Before church, however, there
was a gang war happening super close by with all sorts of gunshots and grenade
explosions, and so we decided not to go visit anyone before going to church.
Afterwards we got a ride to lunch in a way over packed car, but it's ok,
everyone fit, including my comp in the trunk. Lunch was divine, but unfortunately
for Elder Vogt, it had too much cheese, and so we again spent the day at home,
with exception for one close-by visit with Carol, where we went over the
baptismal interview questions. Had a chat with president, who renewed my temple
recommend, and made it online, which is super fancy.
This week, while it was a little slower and less fruitful
because of complicated complications, was full of miracles and tender mercies.
The greatest of which, in my eyes, was the opportunities to serve Elder Vogt
when he was sick. It has helped me to see more clearly the love Jesus Christ
has for each one of us.
Spiritual Thought: During my mission, I’ve thought many
times, “I’m a good missionary, why doesn’t president make me a zone leader? or
assistant, or district leader?” I don’t think I ever really made those roles my
goal during the mission, but sometimes I’ve thought that perhaps if I was a
little more obedient, a little more diligent, I would have been a more
prominent leader. Then one day, I was reading in Matthew 8:5-13 about the
centurion who had his servant healed. Jesus commended his faith as not having
any equal in all of Israel. Wait, more faithful than even the apostles? Yes.
Among all of Israel, Jesus had not found faith equal to that of the centurion.
Christ did not, however, promote the centurion to senior apostle in that
moment, but simply granted what the centurion desired and let him live a
faithful life. Like the centurion, we can have faith as great as the apostles,
and still not be called to leadership. We can decide to be no less serviceable
to the Lord, leader or not. For this, I’m content that I have done my best to
develop myself as a disciple of Jesus Christ on my mission.
