Week 15
So this week we started of with our Zone Conference (which luckily we had before everything blew up about the Corona Virus) in which all the missionaries in our zone met up together for a big conference with our mission president. We basically had our meeting from 9:00 to 4:00 in which we listened to talks from the President, his wife, the Assistants to the President, and our zone leader. I was actually quite surprised with how much I understood from the meeting considering it was all in Portuguese. In fact, it was very nerve wracking because with each talk, the speakers called randomly on missionaries to answer questions and read scriptures. I got called on only once, and luckily it was a pretty easy to understand scripture and question, which I answered to the best of my ability, and apparently the president was quite impressed with my comment, finding only a minor issue in my language. To be honest the question was a bit of a low ball, unlike some of the other difficult questions President asked, but I was thankful nonetheless for President's compliment. The rest of the meeting was good, and after I got to talk with and catch up with my MTC companion, Elder Ruiz! It was awesome to talk with him about his experiences, and reminisce as well on our time in the MTC. It's funny actually, because Elder Ruiz's companion currently was Elder Steere's companion in the MTC too. So we all took a picture together after which hopefully I will receive from Elder Ruiz's companion to send with this email, but if not, sorry!
Also this week, we went on exchanges with Elder Loredo and Elder Prata, where I went up to their area with Elder Prata, a new missionary as well who is from a nearby city in Brazil. To be honest, it was a very hard day for me. Elder Prata spoke some English, but not much, and I couldn't seem to understand anybody. The whole day as well, I had a very bad headache, which lasted through that day, and night, into the morning the following day. But nonetheless, looking back, I still learned quite a bit from the exchange, about the language and as well how to teach, as Elder Prata had a special way of teaching that inspired me a bit. The next day looked up, when we met back up with Elder Loredo and Elder Steere, as well as some other sisters, to go help a family in a neighboring area with a move. It was a very fun morning loading tons of furniture and items onto a truck, and then offloading them onto a small elevator at the new apartment building of the family we were helping.
This week, I also had the opportunity to spend about 3 hours on divisions with Elder Vanderwerkin (cough cough Nephi cough) who I got to go knocking with. We had one particular contact in which this Elder talked with just such power to this lady named Aida, and afterwards he gave me some super great advice to help me with adjusting to the work. First off, he told me from his experience that he hadn't seen the fruits of finding people through knocking doors and contacting for a full year, but that our work, even when we don't see the fruits still has meaning, far more than we could possibly know or see. I always like to think that even the people who reject our message, or stop investigating the church have had seeds planted in their hearts, preparing them just that little bit more for when they will receive the gospel in the future. Without those seeds first being planted, these people couldn't possibly grow to receive the gospel, and grow spiritually, but with those seeds the people are made ready for the spiritual light, as well as living water of Christ, which is what truly nourishes us.
Upon first hearing about all the news of the Corona Virus this week we were at our recent convert Tiago's house, reading up on news of the virus on our church website. Well nothing seemed too crazy from what we had already heard from members about the Virus, but literally as we were leaving Tiago's house we got a call from a member of our bishopric saying that the church had canceled sacrament meetings and other activities worldwide due to the Virus. Shortly after, we also received further news that we would be limited in our missionary work, not able to use public transport unless absolutely necessary, and having to do small baptismal services with less than 12 people present. In all honesty, our area in Brazil hasn't been affected incredibly yet by the Virus, allowing us to continue the work as usual, but it was certainly a shock to discover how much has been going on around the world due to the virus. In fact, the next day we were getting little pizzas for dinner at a pizza joint nearby, and we saw on the television that all the schools, sports, and other large gatherings were canceled and discontinued due to the virus. It was crazy to discover all of this, especially in such a short time, but hearing so made me especially grateful for this mission in which we are still able to continue the work of the Lord. It has also given me a stronger testimony in this wonderful church, the restored church of Jesus Christ. Although our large sacrament gatherings are canceled now, what really drives this church is authority, the priesthood power and authority of God which allows us to continue the ordinance of the sacrament in the homes of members, and seeing how the church is still continuing on even in these crazy times is a huge testimony builder for me.
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| This was a picture taken of our little sacrament meeting we had on Sunday at Ismael's house! |
Anyway, this week has been crazy, yet also frankly amazing! I had the chance to try barbequed chicken heart, esfihas, which are basically tiny little pizzas, as well as brigador chocolate cake, which was delicious! I also had the opportunity to take the Metro here in São Paulo a couple times more this week, in which I got to see a lot of the huge and beautiful city, as well as order a burger while waiting for some other elders, which was so so good. (If you can't already tell, I have really been enjoying the food here, ha ha ha!).
But all in all, though there is a lot going on in the world, I hope everyone can continue in the faith, and to continue to have hope, that all will be well, and that we have a loving Heavenly Father that is watching over each and everyone one of us, fully aware of our struggles and adversity. I will keep you all in my prayers this week!! May god bless you all. Until next time!!
-Elder Lightheart
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