Ok guys I know I haven't been the best at writing these sorry but I want to let y'all know I am alive and absolutely thriving out here. Anyone who tells you missions are hard are not lying to you but they aren't always hard. It's just a journey with a lot of ups and downs. I recently have just come out of one of the downs and am now once again enjoying my mission to the absolute fullest.
So to the explanation of why I am thriving. Recently we had a missionary go to his original assignment and he was the zone leader here in my area which means we had to have someone replace him. Luckily that was not me however it was my district leader and I got asked to be the new district leader. Now the reason why this is literally the best thing ever is the fact that as a district leader I get to choose when and where we do exchanges. Exchanges is where we switch companions for the day and get to hang out with the other elders. Well my district is all elders which means I can do a lot of exchanges and they are all soooo fun to be around. So I've been doing 2 exchanges per week for the past 2 weeks and have another 3 coming up before transfers. This is because I only had 3 weeks as district leader this transfer and need to make up for lost time. Needless to say it is literally soooo fun to be able to serve these other missionaries and have a blast. (also our exchanges are overnight so it's literally just sleepovers all the time!!!)
But as far as somethings about the area. We have our friend T who came to church this Sunday!!! He finally didn't have work so we will be able to plan his baptism which should come in the next week or two!!!
Also as the title says we had a Karaoke ward party which if y'all know Brazilians you know they know how to throw a party. Now you throw in 8 missionaries who love to party. Let's just say my name is Rod and I like to party. It was a blast
We also have been teaching a ton of English classes which is super fun to be able to help out these Brazilians and it's also an amazing way to find new people to teach!!! Knowing Portuguese is such a blessing!!
Finally I'll leave y'all with a thought from my scripture study this week. It comes from Mosiah 2:22 "And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you." Do we realize that really means? Literally everything we have is from the Lord. We literally do not breathe unless he allows it. Sometimes we think we are so independent and we have so much talent or ability. Except we don't. We are all like little babies who can't even live without God willing it to be so. Hoooowever God has given us all this and then he says if we do what he asks he will give us even more!!! Like how is that fair? We don't even deserve what we have. The generosity of God already is too great for us to comprehend but then if we do what he asks which we already should because of what he's already given us he's willing to give more *gasp* like is that not just the best thing ever. God literally loves us soooo much and we don't even recognize it most of the time. I know he loves all of you, I've seen his hand in my life. I know he knows each of us individually and wants the absolute best things for us. I love my Heavenly Father. I definitely do not deserve everything he's given me. I'm just a scrub. But I'm so grateful for the 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 chances he gives me. He has been so generous and do not even deserve half of the things he's given me, none of us do. And yet he does it because he loves us and if we are willing to let him prevail in our lives, we will see him there even more. We really will prosper, whether that is in our jobs, with our friends or family or sometimes just in the love of God, we will prosper. I love you all and I'm always praying for y'all!!!
-Elder Pettingill
Pics!!!
-Our weekly service we do for a food bank!
-my boy Elder L who got moved to another zone:(
-Also Elder L finishing an insane ice cream challenge in 15 minutes
-setting up for a stake youth activity
-Zone Conference with our boy Matthew Holland
-All the missionaries in our ward at an awesome member meal!!!
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