How to Be a Missionary
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.
Week One of Seven, Send Prayers
The first week of this transfer has been ROUGH. My new comp is… unique to put it in the kindest way possible. My new ZL, Elder Eysser, is dope. He's from Idaho and he's super crazy, someone I can talk to and be entertained by after rough days. Do I want to be like him? No, but he’s cool. Elder Gonzalez, my other ZL, stayed and, from not talking at all when he first got here, we now talk and joke around all day every day. It's made things much more bearable. It is going to be such a blessing that I am living in a four-man house this transfer.
I'm sure y'all are dying to know how my new comp is. I'd love to tell you but I can't really find a way to describe it. I'll just tell you what happened. On day four of the transfer he interrogated me about my beliefs. The first person that bashed my beliefs on the mission wasn't some rando on the street, it wasn't a referral, and it wasn't an investigator. It was my own comp. What can you do? When I brought it up to my ZLs he then lied to their face about it. He also told me that I was a joke and did not meet his expectations and that he was hoping for a good missionary for this transfer. Yeah.
I got told that I needed to raise my standards and live better. I'll admit I am not the best at having a set schedule, planning and goals. I've never been good at it but I am trying. The next few days I made an extra effort to stick to our schedule and help him understand what was going on in the area and somehow that made him more frustrated and he refused to sit with me during study and plan, he just went and sat in his bed. What can you do? Last thing, he told me that if I am laughing and having fun on my mission I am not fulfilling my purpose. So yeah. That's my comp in a nutshell.
What is a Missionary?
Yes.
I'm kinda stuck on what to do with the work. Especially on Sundays. I currently have 3 referrals and 4 progressing people. Knocking doors failed, contacting in public is impossible with a bunch of drunk people watching soccer, inactive members have no interest in us. I have no clue how to do missionary work when all this happens. If y'all have any advice please please help me.
What Actually Got Done this Week:
Lemos made it home
Had all you can eat pizza.
I received my new comp
Played Cover Your Assets during transfers
Marked 3 baptismal dates! They are all holding strong too so it's looking good!
Played card games with the youth (Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza but in Portuguese). I got crushed.
Got asked to help with a Christmas present for my President. It's a video with every single missionary in the mission, 205 missionaries. It's actually been so hectic but I finally get to use my video talent! It's also been nice because things are super slow in the work right now so this has given me something to do.
Got to talk to Ika
I got 8 bug bites on one arm in one night
I made cookies
My soccer team won! Vai Corinthians!
Quote
“Where is the mall?” [Elder Eysser literally standing under the sign, 12/16/2025]
God's Hand
I'm still living in a four-man
I'm sleeping better this week
We get fed good food every single day
You guys
Marking baptismal dates
A break from the heat
The Spirit of Confirmation and the Gift of Tongues
Spiritual Thought
God loves every single one of his children. Yes, even you. He loves you. I can promise you that. Whether you pray 200 times a day or fight to get down on your knees and converse with him once a week, he loves you. He loves your effort and will make anything happen as long as you have faith in him and align your will with his.
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
Holy crap I forgot this week is Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone! I love you! Enjoy your Christmas cookies for me but most importantly remember the greatest gift is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Feliz Natal,
Elder Urbano
