(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.
2.jpg)
