Mission Brazil Floriano

Alrighty gents so this week was perhaps one of the best and worst weeks of my mission. Let's see with all the changes it made it all so difficult to work but however we still tried our best and destroyed. We had 4 people in "church" and a lot more working towards baptism. But unfortunately we received news this morning that all the american missionaries are leaving and coming back to the united states. So tchau Brazil. I love this mission so much. I'm truly devastated that I have to leave. However I'm hoping I'll still have the wonderful opportunity to serve the lord stateside. If you think this stupid virus is gonna keep me from bringing people to Christ you are dead wrong. See y'all in the US. However some fun facts. I only served here in Floriano and have only visited a single other area in the mission. The first time I will be packing my suitcases will be for going home. And Piaui is the only state I've visited here in the Nordeste of Brazil!
 -Love Elder Pettingill

Season 2 Episode 17

Yeah this week is legit. First off, I' m starting off my 18th week here in Floriano but I'm getting a new companion. His name is Elder Mullin and he's from Alaska, that is all I know about him. But this week was legit. We are working with a few people to be baptized and it's pretty funny. Our elect were sleeping underneath our noses. Literally. We are currently helping a couple homeless people prepare to be baptized. A member began helping them and brought us to them and they started wanted to take the discussions and now want to be baptized so badly! I'm super excited for them because I know it'll bless their lives.
We also found some more monkeys which of course we taught them the gospel. Luckily they are already keeping all the commandments and happily accepted a pass-along card. (Pics will come next week sorry) They are progressing quite well, and don't have a problem with the law of chastity because that's between a man and woman not monkeys which usually people have a problem with. We are hoping that they will continue with the lessons however it does seem almost like they are avoiding us these past few days.
Finally we had a confirmed case of the COVID-19 in a nearby city to where I'm working so these next few weeks will be interesting. We are building up a food storage in case we have to stay in our house. Also smart phones will be arriving shortly here which will be legit. And Elder Durante tried to buy a AppleWatch Series 4 but because he is naive and innocent he was tricked and just wasted a lot of money to say the least. Not the smartest move on his part but oh well, it is Brazil.
Love you guys, and I'm always praying for you. Try not to die to quickly from that virus I'm hearing about.
-Elder Pettingill

Demons, Death, and Hellfire

Well this week certainly was interesting. Let's hit some main points,
First off, if you did not know CHRIST IS BACK. We were walking to one of our appointments when this homeless dude stops us and asks if we knew that this city (Floriano) was going to burn in (which of course yeah I already knew that)  So I asked if he was talking about when Christ returns and he said Christ doesn't exist and when this city burns and we are in Hell we will know that he IS Christ.

Secondly, we found this lady while knocking doors, and she invited us to share a message. Then when we asked if we could say a prayer to invite the spirit she straight up just said no. Then at the end of the message she told us she thought we were part of some Demon Cult or something and that's why she didn't want us to say a prayer. But we were able to explain that we do in fact teach that Christ is our Savior and she was a little more accepting. Unfortunately her family said stuff about us or something because she started avoiding us again. :(

Thirdly, I don't know if the Corona Virus has really affected you guys or not, but everyone here seems to be freaking out about it. But anyways one of the recent converts of the other missionaries here died this Saturday. It was crazy because she was in perfect health Friday and dead Saturday morning which was rather shocking. Don't worry she was confirmed and her ficha (baptismal record) was sent in so everything is in good order. They had a nice funeral for her but still freaking crazy.

In some other news, we were able to bring a family to Church this last week which was super awesome. We are working towards baptizing one of the members of the family because she is the only one actually able to be baptized. However, we are also working towards baptizing another guy who has come to church several times, but hasn't been entirely interested in meeting with us, haha until now when he has started liking one of the young women in the ward but of course she says she will only date a member. So looks like we will be having two baptisms this week and we are working with a few other people to have another 4 next week. All in all this week was one of the better ones here in Floriano

Love you all, and know I pray for you always
-Elder Pettingill

P.S. the things in this email are jokes and are not meant to be taken seriously so please to do not get offended

 Also Pictures!
-Classic sunset here in Brazil
-Super legit house we found
-poor little frogo that got stuck and died
-mine and Elder Sly's anklets we made of the US flag
-In case it wasn't hot enough here we had a bonfire

So Much Profoundness

This week has been super legit. We have been working super hard and we have had a little more success. We found 2 new investigators who are super awesome, and we are working towards baptisms with them! Some other things that happened was that some of the elders in my district came and visited us and they blew my mind. I will refrain from recounting the happenings but let's just say, my mind is expounded and its rather difficult to think about everything in the same way. But also while they were here we played soccer which was super fun. And while we're playing there was a 12 year old chilling on the side of the court. We invited him to join our game and let's just say he was by far the best one there. Luckily he was on my team so we won.

This week has been rather uneventful other than those two things but one thing I love is that when we get down deep into the Gospel all we can see is God's love for us. Everything he does, everything he has ever done, and everything he will ever do is for us. Know that you are not alone. He will never abandon you, he will forever be reaching out for you because he loves you more than you can imagine. That is why he sent Christ. To do the unimaginable, to make the impossible, possible. Because through him, we can become perfect, through him our burdens become light, and the sorrows of life are drowned out by his love. BUT it is also our choice. God will never force his love upon us, we need to reach out and grabbed his extended hand and only after can he help us.
Eu amo vocês. Eu espero muito que tudo em suas vidas seja bem. Eu oro por vocês e sei que seu pai celestial te ama muito. Ter uma boa semana.
-Elder Pettingill