Hey friends! Okay it's not that in the middle of nowhere; I'm out here quite a ways but it's not like I'm walking 20 miles to the nearest supermarket (although one day I might tell my kids that was the case). It's been (almost) one week serving the Lord out here in Vista Verde, São José dos Campos - SP so let's chat about my initial thoughts

Hey friends! It's transfer week! You know what that means… I got transfer news last night! I'm going to Vista Verde in São José. I'm sure all of you know exactly where that is, it's okay I don't either. All I know is that it's apparently in the middle of nowhere. I'm both excited and not, not really a fan of change but oh well.

Hey friends! Somehow in the shortest weeks I always have the most to talk about. It's storytimeee!

A Flood of Miracles

Okay, do you remember last week? We had a super rough week with just about everything going wrong and then we fasted and out of nowhere Carmen (Eduardo’s mom decided to be baptized). That was one miracle. On Sunday two more happened.

Hey friends! I know you missed my normal Monday update but, don't fret, I am here now. This week was a test and a testimony builder that's for sure. It was a LONG 9 days. There were a lot of flashbacks and longing for home this week but I survived yet again. So what happened this week, let's chat…

Hey friends! First things first. I invite every single one of you to get on your knees and pray. Pray for peace, if not for yourself then pray for peace in the world. There has been a lot of stuff going on in these past few weeks but the thing that triggered this invite was the shooting that happened on January 7th at a Latter-day Saint Chapel. That being said, please pray for the victims' families and strive to be a peacemaker anywhere you are. 

Hey friends! Yes, I come home in 2027. August 2027. Let's not think about how far away that is and talk a little bit about this week, shall we?

I put on my plaque every single day because I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I may not be perfect, in this life I never will be, however one day I can be perfected because of Him. He paid the greatest debt that could ever be paid. The least I can do is put on the plaque with his name and serve. I find joy in serving. It might be hard, I definitely mess up, I have rough days, but he is on my side. When I turn to him, he is there. That's the reason that I put on my plaque everyday.

I’ll let you know when I figure it out.

Hey friends! This is the most that I have procrastinated an email so far on my mission. It's been an… interesting week. I have ZERO clue what to write about or how to even put this week into words.

Hey friends! This was a fan-freaking-tastic week. Lots of laughs, lots of smiles. Success in the work and on to another transfer! 

Transfer news: I am staying in Continental 2, Guarulhos (thank goodness) and I got a new comp (obviously since mine is going home) and I lowkey don't know his name, just that he is Colombian, so I'll keep you updated on that. I got a new ZL too and he's gonna be lit (I hope).

I think I am going to come away from the mission with more trust issues than I thought possible. I knew people wouldn't keep their commitments but I didn't know it was this hard. HOWEVER, when someone does keep their commitments I am beyond ecstatic. Opposition in all things. Another thing, I am basically in an infinitely long one-sided relationship. I (try to) put my heart and soul into every person we contact with no effort in return (*cries*). No texts. No calls. Unanswered doors. You get the idea. The good thing is that I'll be unbothered by these things in a few months, even if it makes me heartless… jk… it won't… I hope (save me).

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and ate lots of food for me. While you were eating and napping and watching football, all that good stuff… I made cookies, slept very little, woke up at 4am, left the mission boundaries twice, and slept again.

I live another week! Yes, I got a gun pulled on me. Here's what happened: we were on our way to Zone Conference which was 45 minutes away so we got an Uber. All chill, right? About 10 minutes into our drive this guy starts to pull out in front of us (as one does in São Paulo) and our Uber driver gets PRESSED. He gets in front of the guy and keeps swerving so that the guy couldn't pass.

I have officially walked 500 miles on my mission… 500 more is going to be an adventure that's for sure (Sorry I took your subject line Sister Spencer). Also, TOMORROW, I turn 3 months old and I am no longer the newest in the mission.

The biggest news is that we got two kids put on date for NEXT WEEK! My first two baptisms! I will write more about them after they get baptized! Pray that their mom will get baptized with them please!

Transfer night lowkey made me depressed. First off, I bet you're dying to know where I'm going for the next six weeks. I'm going to… stay right here. Which is chill. 3 of the 4 of us are staying here and we got a new ZL, Elder Gonzalez. The depressing part is that Elder Bingham got transferred out. If you haven't noticed Elder Bingham has had a tremendous impact on my life in just six weeks and now he's dipping. When it was announced me and him just went silent. Anyways, I'm sure this transfer will still go great. Onto the email.

Another uneventful week here in Missão Guarulhos but that doesn’t mean it was a bad week. Most of this week we spent with/ helping Ika as he gets ready to move back to the states.

Before we get into this email, did you do last week's challenge? No? That’s okay. I'm not mad, just a little disappointed. You can try again this week!

Hey friends! I thought P-day would never come, goodness it was a long week, but yeah you freaking read the subject right. But not just one new mission, 55 NEW MISSIONS. 

On a casual Friday morning, of the slowest week I've had yet, the Church decided to drop 55 new missions. Insane. Hold on, it gets crazier. The area I am currently in WILL BE one of the THREE NEW Brazil missions. Missão Guarulhos. There is now a possibility that I get reassigned to a different mission and open A WHOLE FREAKING MISSION. There are a ton of “What Ifs” right now so I am not trying to get my hopes and dreams up… but… the hopes and dreams are definitely there.

Hey friends! We are back. Quick week, actually it felt like a million years, BUT I hit 2 months! At least I got that going for me.

I am (almost) a Brazil Crossy Road pro. Which is crazy because I always rage quit Crossy Road but the amount of times I have shamelessly stepped out in front of cars or casually strolled across the street is way too many. Anyways…

A 45 minute unskippable cutscene, that is what this past two weeks has felt like and it's what this email is about to be for you (except you can skip it, I'll try not to be offended).

First off, some house keeping, now that I am in the field, some things have changed. My P-days are now Mondays so that is when my emails, responses, and photos will come. I don’t have access to Messenger during the week so if you want to contact me the best way is through email so I can read it :). 

Uhh so this is the final email from the CTM, I guess. It doesn't feel real. You're telling me it's been 40 days already and in 5 days I'll be in the field… teaching… at least listening. Idk how much teaching will be done, might have to leave that to my trainer. 

Oh yes and I'm Slovenian. I got my legalization documents on Thursday and they messed mine up and put my birth country as Slovenia… so if I get deported, that's why. Jk jk I shouldn't have any issues, it should be fixed by the time I get to my mission home.

I'm officially one month old. Crazy I know. Only 23 left but who's counting.

We got to go out into the real world this week!! They finally let us wander the streets for P-day after some stalker dude made us have to stay at the CTM. We hit up this steak house that was fogo (fire) and were free for once, hence the subject.