3 Days and 30 Miracles

Hey friends! I know you're thinking “I heard from this kid yesterday.” Well yeah… you did but oh well I have more updates for you! It was a wild ride; 5:20am office trip in my PJs, missed buses, EnglishConnect, police reports, pulling up to the police station in suits, missionaries wandering around the other mission, volleyball, you get the idea. However, to cap it all off, we had a baptism! 3 days that were more eventful than a whole week.

5 to 5 (w/ Miracles)

At a bright and early 5:20am, Friday morning my alarm went off. Being so real, I had completely forgotten why I set an alarm and just laid there. Then I realized that I had 4 missionaries going to get their documents so I hopped up. I put on my tag, grabbed my flip-flops and went over to the office. Lemme tell you this lil trip in my PJs started off a hectic yet miracle filled day (the amount of times missionaries have seen me in my PJs is hilarious). 

After waiting very patiently, everyone got off and on their way to catch their bus to the interior! I then went to take a shower and. not even kidding you, 15 seconds after I got in the shower I got 6 phone calls. They had missed their bus. I very quickly finished my shower to get that little situation solved. Enter miracle number 1: Having left late, I was worried that they would get there late but they somehow still got to their appointments early. Not even 45 minutes later I was back over at the office to decorate for EnglishConnect graduation. I have never filled up so many balloons like we are talking 200. It turned out great though. 

As EnglishConnect graduation started, so did the problems (and the miracles). One Elder was unable to get in because he needed a police report that his ID had been stolen. Sister Gibson (our senior missionary) and I were working to get a copy of the police report but we could not get anything to work. Miracle number 2: Finally another Elder came down to see what was up and he suggested we just walk over to the nearest police station to see what was up; so that is what we did and they told us what we needed to do. They told us that he could go to a police station there and get a copy but that we couldn’t get one. After some quick google mapping we got him over to one wayyyy over in São José Dos Campos (that is where he was at the time). Miracle number 3, 4 and 5: While all this was going on the Sisters and other Elder had zero problems getting their papers. Let me tell you why that was a miracle; the past few weeks we have been chasing down document after document for them and after getting them all they needed to be officially translated–they were in Spanish–and we could not find a translator. After lot’s of prayer it was decided that we would just send them without translated documents and hope they accepted them. The miracle; they did accept them, all of them. 

Okay back to our other Elder. Upon arrival at the police station he found out that they did not have that service there and that he would need to find another one. We got another address and sent him there. As they got there I got a selfie from them standing in the middle of a field. Well that’s weird. Luckily they asked someone on the road for help and found it. Miracle 5.5: The police station was able to emit the report and he was able to go back to his appointment. Yay! Well kinda, he got back to the appointment and was told that the police report was done wrong and they couldn’t use it. Not gonna lie, Sister Gibson and I were pretty unmotivated after that but he called and insisted he go back to the police station to try again. I reluctantly agreed, thinking it would be just a waste of time. Moroni 7:29, “My beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay.” Miracle 6 and 7: To my surprise they were able to emit a different police report with the correct information and he was able to go back to his appointment and get his documents.

An absolutely wild ride with a million other miracles in between these 7 major ones but hey, it proves to you and me how the Lord is in every single detail. I mean every single one. We see His Hand every single day in our office work and as he takes care of missionaries. It is undeniable.

Sunday!!

Sunday was amazing! It was a ward conference and the Spirit filled the meeting. At the ward conference our bishop was released and a new one was called. Being a bit honest I think a lot of people were nervous about what was to come. As the new one was called the Spirit filled my heart confirming that this was the man the Lord wanted to lead this ward at this time. The presence of the Spirit was undeniable. We were sitting up on the stand because we were singing in the choir and as the President asked for the sustaining vote I watched every hand go up. As I saw that I got a bit emotional; I knew that the same Spirit that I felt touched everyone’s hearts, confirming to them that this is who it was supposed to be. I have not had an experience like this one in a long time. 

As the meeting continued, the mom and daughter that I talked about walked in. I just smiled. A little later, one of our friends that we stopped by and visited for 2 seconds on Saturday walked in. My comp and I looked at each other shocked. We hoped he would come but did not expect much. It was awesome. 

The rest of the Church was great and then after we had our other miracle. Miguel got baptized. He has lived in Brazil for 6ish weeks and we have been teaching him for 4 or so. I talked a bit about him last week. He lives with his brother and only speaks Spanish. As we continued teaching him and preparing him for baptism he became more and more certain that this was the decision for him. His baptism was awesome, we were able to do the ordinances in Spanish for him and as we were confirming him a member of the Church the Spirit overwhelmed the room yet again. We could feel the Spirit sealing the blessing we were giving him. I wish I could describe the feeling for you but it is impossible to put into words. When you know the Spirit is there you know. 

God's Hand

• All the miracles that happened with the missionaries going to get their documents

• EnglishConnect graduation went smoothly (thanks to a lot of long, thought out prep by the coordinator)

• I got to chat with some of my good friends at EnglishConnect graduation

• A random person texted us and said they were outside the chapel to learn about EC and they we ended up being able to 

• Spiritual confirmation over the whole ward conference that the Lord is truly at the head of His Church.

• Miguel’s baptism

• My ward back home was realigned and I will come home to the ward I grew up in (more or less), kinda neat.

• Members gave us lunch today (we are broke)

Spiritual Thoughts

All I was witnessing all the miracles in these past few days I have gained an even stronger (didn’t know that was possible) testimony that God is in every single detail. During my study I read Moroni 7:42, “Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.” Hope and faith go hand and hand.

I reflected on the moment I gave up hope during the process of the Elder getting his documents.

“For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them” (Ether 12:12). 

Luckily, the Elder still held onto him hope that it would all work out. The Lord worked through that hope to show us yet another miracle. 

It is important to not lose our hope in the Lord after one thing goes wrong. He is the God Almighty. He will work miracles, we just need to press forward with faith. With hope. Especially after we have seen so many miracles we must not lose our hope and forget our testimony after one thing goes sideways. 

Okay! That was my quick few days! I hope you’re all doing well. Let me know if you have any updates. Thanks for all your support, talk to you soon!

Tchauuu,

Elder Urbano