Hey friends! Goodness gracious this week was crazy but so good. Tuesday we traveled to hear an Apostle speak, Wednesday was transfers and my comp left me, Thursday I traveled back to the city to get my son (the missionary I am training), Friday we got him settled in and started to work, Saturday we rounded everyone up for Church, and, last but not least, Sunday came and my son had to speak in Church. All that brings us to another p-day and another debrief. If you want to know how I got 7 people, 14 pieces of luggage, 3 non-portuguese speakers, 5 non-english speakers, and myself through the metro of São Paulo (in the rain too) you better keep reading.

Hey friends! Welcome back! I know you missed me! This was a very eventful week full of surprises. Transfers, a visit from the AP (whoopsies), speaking in church, and, most importantly, baptism. 

First off, to get it out of the way, transfer news! I will be staying in Vista Verde but in a different district which makes me a little sad. The sisters were so fun. I will also be training a new missionary!! I get a son (mission nickname for a missionary you train)! It’s gonna be a fun transfer.

Hey friends! This week was blessed. Those miracles were a sign of God's love for me, for missionaries, for the people here in Vista Verde, everyone but, there is no greater sign of love than the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The spiritual thought this week might just change the way you think about the Savior's love for you. We will get there though, first we have to get to the many miracles of this week. So many that I don't think I even got half of them in here but I tried. 

Hey friends! Holy this week flew by, what a blessing. This week was so busy with the most random stuff and side quests, but hey… it happens. From immigration to listening to the Tabernacle Choir, this week had a little bit of everything and not a single normal day. Actually I still don't think a normal day even exists.

Hey friends! Remember when I said I hope that I get to send a more exciting email this week… yeah that is not going to happen. However, I hit 6 months this week!! On that day we got 3 pizzas to celebrate but besides that it has been a very normal week soI don't have too much to talk about. I also waited to write this email until today (p-day morning) so it's going to be short. I'm sorry.

Hey friends! Jesus Christ and P-Day. Those are the two lights at the end of the tunnel. This was a long week with a lot of walking (surprise surprise) and not a lot of finding but hey we made it through.

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.