Week 87 (Week 41 Back in Brazil!)

 

Elder Shepherd's first Pastel, a fried food very popular here in Brazil.

Wow, what a crazy week and a half it has been! A lot has happened, so I'll try my best to sum it all up in a short email, but can you believe that I'll only be making 3 more of these e-mails after this one?? Crazy!


Earlier last week, while visiting a few less active members in the Poá área, we received a  phone call from our AP's saying that we would be receiving a new American missionary, and would be serving as a trio for a time. I tell you what, I was very surprised, but also very excited to hear this news!! Thursday night, we prepared everything in our house and area for his arrival, and then waited Friday morning for the planned hour for him to arrive. Well, the missionaries arrived a little later than expected and ended up eating at the mission office, and we had district council planned in person... so basically as soon as the Elder showed up at our house in an Uber, we grabbed his stuff, brought it inside, called another Uber, and drove right away to our district council meeting. The rest of the night was full of visits and lessons as well, making for a tiring, but satisfactory, first day for Elder Shepherd, our new companion, the third musketeer! 

Vai Corinthians!!

Elder Shepherd is from Spanish Fork Utah, and the oldest of 8 kids, 7 boys and 1 girl. Yeah, I know right?! Crazy! Well, he is a dancer, and also served for about 2 months in North Carolina before making it out to Brazil. He's a really sweet guy, and is learning the language sooooo fast! I'm honestly very impressed with him, and happy to be training yet again one final missionary before I go home!


On Sunday, we showed up at the Itaqua church building at about 8 o'clock to find a barely filled baptismal font, which was nerve wracking since we had a baptism scheduled for 9 o'clock, of our friend Davi. Another member had filled the font the previous day, but the majority of the water had drained out for some reason, but thankfully we were able to fill the font in time, and have a wonderful baptismal service. Davi is now officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, woo hoo!!! Our friend Denise was also able to watch the baptism, and felt the spirit super strong as she watched that little boy enter the waters. Another member who has an 8 year old boy was so touched as well, that he would also like his son to be baptized next month, so who knows, maybe I'll be able to participate in Márcio Junior's baptism as well! 


The baptism of Davi!


Today, we also celebrated Thanksgiving with our district!! There was chicken (because turkey is very expensive), sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, sandwiches, cookies, rolls and cucumbers! It may not have been the most amazing Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had, but it was still a very good meal, and a super special day. We also played volleyball, ping pong, and Five Crowns, a card game from the U.S. that I love playing with my family. Let's just say, the day was a huge success!


Thanksgiving with the best District in the world!


New profile pic?


Gotta love street graffiti, am I right?

~ Elder Kasey Lightheart

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