Crashout City
Hey friends! I'm alive… I think… I don't really know. Everything feels like a fever dream.
Insane Asylum
Guys. We've only been here two weeks and are already going mental. Literally every other word that comes out of our mouths is funny for some reason. It could be the dumbest thing and we will laugh for ages about it. Jokes aside, it makes it so fun and so much easier to be thousands of miles from home (although sometimes I forget I can't just drive home really quick and so that's really annoying).
Crashout City
The crashouts have officially started. I'd say the worst day so far was when we started learning imperfect and perfect conjugation. That day was ROUGH. We have learned to appreciate and stretch our 10 minute breaks to 15 minutes. If I am being so for real there are times our breaks will turn into 50 minute yap sessions with a crashout or two in there. I've only crashed out once… Sister Aguilar might disagree with that number though (shout to her for putting up with me even in Brazil).
Temple Trips
This past week we went to the temple twice. First we went to the São Paulo Temple. GORGEOUS. If you remember from my last email, we did some eventful baptisms there but this time we did endowments and sealings so we were in a part of the temple we hadn't been in yet. So pretty though. There were some amazing paintings. My personal favorite was one of Daniel in the lion's den with an angel holding back the lions. And, my goodness, the stained glass work had a level of detail I've never seen before. Go look at the pictures on churchofjesuschristtemple.org if you are interested! We also went to Campinas on Wednesday to do endowments and sealings. I did both in Portuguese which was muito fogo (very fire). I love going to the temple.
Holanda's Adventures
Irmão Holanda is our Preach My Gospel teacher and he is the best. We love him so very much. In his class we get off to so many side quests it's amazing. I swear we learn for 15 minutes and side quests on random things for the next 50. For example we tried to teach him how to pronounce “sheet” and well I'll just let you guess how that went. Somehow I convinced him to pull up the Apple event in class that was so random. Also, this week, we planned his trip to the states for when we get back. We are picking him up from the airport and taking him to a BYU game and giving him the full American experience. And then, I handed him my credit card and he left our class to go buy us all cookies from a shop across the street. He's such a sweet dude.
I Shook Someone Important's Hand
The 2nd counselor of the Brazil Area was here and that's that.
Random
I learned how to do a Rubik's cube
Never did I think I would struggle to order food in ENGLISH. I went from learning to speak a new language to not being able to speak any for a second… whoops.
I've already filled half a notebook with… things… a whole bunch of yap.
People exist. Our classroom windows face an apartment complex so we have started people watching. We have a 20-something year old that just got a tattoo. A plant lady. A fofinho (cute little kid so I'm told) that loves to play with trucks. And his mom.
The ground breaking for the new Brazil MTC is in two years in Campinas.
There will be a BYU campus in Brazil with construction starting as soon as next year.
MY MISSION HAS ROOT BEER! I MIGHT SURVIVE
Every Wednesday they tell us how many missionaries are in the MTC so I set a betting line at o/u 277 and hit it right on the nail. It was actually kinda crazy.
Irmão Calado asked us when President Nelson's birthday was and we told him it was that day and his mind was blown.
Quotes
During the devotional President couldn't get the slide clicker to work and our english translator said “Everyone call the police… please… he needs help” on our Zoom call and it was so funny.
“This is gambling” -Someone
“Não… is lucky.” -Irmão Calado
God's Hand
Sister Aguilar. It is 100% by divine design that me and Sister Aguilar are here, in the CTM at the same time. It's been a massive tender mercy. (Shout out Sister Aguilar)
I was able to teach my first lesson in Português with meu companheiro!
The sunset. The sky is God's canvas.
Having the power of the spirit with me while I'm teaching.
Spiritual Thoughts (I know it's long but I promise this section is worth reading)
“And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.” (D&C 98:13)
This verse has helped me A LOT because over the past few days I have thought about how much of my life I am leaving behind to serve God… my friends, my family, my jobs, my schooling, etc… and it's been difficult but the more and more I study and read the more I know that I will be blessed and God will help me find my life and purpose.
I can promise that if you do the same thing and devote your time to finding God and serving him (not necessarily leave your life for two years) you too will blessed and find a life he has prepared for you.
Since getting to the CTM there is one video that I have seen over and over. The “Because of Him” video. It never gets old. I have a testimony that it is truly because of Christ's sacrifice that we can find our way back onto the straight and narrow and find our way back to heaven. I encourage you to watch it and pray that you may feel the Spirit and know that it is true.
Another thing that has been a huge focus is that Christ is the “light of the world” (John 8:12). We all have someone in common and that is Christ whether you know him or not he is there and he loves you. If you look for him you will find him. I promise.
If you want to see a testament of this, watch the “Light the World" campaign video from a few years ago.
(Stealing this from Sister Olander's email because it really applied this week) “Just love them.” You never know what someone is going through, how they are adjusting to something, or what their intentions are, so love them just as Christ would. Show them compassion and strive to understand, not jump to conclusions. (Thanks Sister O.)
“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)
Bang. End of the email. If I am being completely honest I don't know if I would have the patience to read emails this long but y'all do it with no complaints. Thank you for reading. It means a lot.
Miss you all. I am keeping you (yes, I am talking about you) in my prayers so let me know if there is anything specific you need! Please email me. I promise I read them and I am working on responding (also if y'all want to send me BYU highlights I would be so grateful)!
Muito amor,
Elder Urbano
