I Would Walk 500 Miles…
Hey friends! 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!
The Spirit Guides
Guys. Listen to the Spirit! If you don't know if it is the Spirit but the thing you feel like you should do is a good thing, I promise you that it is the Spirit. Now let me tell you why I say that…
Every morning I listen to a General Conference talk. Some mornings I know exactly what I want to listen to but other times it is more difficult. Thursday morning was one of those mornings, I browsed around the topics section for a little longer than usual, trying to find something that interested me. As I was scrolling I saw the word “prompting” and had the thought to click on that one. A prompting (ironic, isn’t it?). I listened to the talk “How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?” by Elder Gary E. Stevenson. It is a really good talk and I encourage you to listen to it but that's not the reason I am writing about it. Usually I'll listen to my talk for the day, annotate it, pray, and store it in the back of my head for a future time. This time the story Elder Stevenson told would not leave my mind.
Fast forward six or so hours, we had our meal with a member. I prayed that our hearts would be touched with what she needed to hear and the story from the talk WOULD NOT LEAVE MY MIND. I knew that is what I had to share. So I shared the story and a little bit about the Holy Ghost and my testimony. The Spirit was there. I know it in my heart. So my takeaway and what I want to testify to you guys is, if it is undeniably fixed in your mind and it is good, it is the Spirit. Listen. It's there for a reason.
Finding Joy in the Little Things
I have discovered that missionary work gets repetitive very fast and some days are the most boring and slowest of your life. When I left on a mission, I left a lot of things that brought me joy on boring days; my family, my photography, my work, my friends, sports, music, movies, Mexican food, etc. You get the idea. That means that now I am learning how to find joy in the little things and look forward to new things.
A few examples for you: Me and my comp try to nutmeg each other with rocks as we walk. If I come across hop scotch on the road I will do it. Other times it's looking forward to the cookies waiting for me back in the house or buying some on the way home. Somedays it's getting rained on or watching the sunset or passing a pretty flower on the road. Some mornings it's receiving random emails or getting to listen to a conference talk. Learning to appreciate the little things has brought me so much joy and I have noticed how much beauty there is around me. I encourage you to look for and find joy in the little things too!
Stats
In the CTM I decided I would keep track of a bunch of numbers throughout my mission (because, you know me, why wouldn't I?). That being said I have officially hit 500 miles walked AND I am three months in so I figured I would share some stats with y'all.
Miles Walked - 538.4
Books of Mormon Handed Out - 39
General Conference Talks Listened To - 109
Days Walked in the Rain - 8 (I wish this was more)
Emails Sent - 187 (I have no clue how)
Pizzas - 17
Times cat-called - I lost count a while ago but it's funny (I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a sister missionary… thoughts and prayers)
(Started tracking: August 18, 2025. Last updated: Today, November 17, 2025)
I am keeping track of 27 different things so this is just a few. I have a 90% confidence level on the accuracy of these but either way they give you a good idea of my life.
Random
Last p-day we made waffles for our district and they were SO good. I want to make cookies now.
Played Cover Your Assets and I crushed everyone (thank you game nights at BYU)
As me and my comp walk we try to nutmeg each other with rocks. Brings entertainment to the endless hills and unanswered doors.
Got invited by a bunch of drunk guys to play soccer every Tuesday. I want to play soccer so bad but not with them.
Ika bought us Pizza even though he lives in the States now
Listened to some guy on the news rant for an hour about how Ronaldo makes too much money. The funny part is he'd randomly stop his rant and do an ad read.
I lost my Gospel Library (the Church's app) streak somehow…
Had the DENSEST cake I've ever had. Like I cut a slice and the slice was solid. No air. No fluff. It was fire though.
I currently have 8 bug bites on one leg and 6 on my arm and like 43 in total.
Got to decorate the chapel for Christmas
Made brigadeiro with my comp and bought way too many cookies
I got shot at (don't worry it was an orbeez gun)
Quotes
“Eu não entendi o que você disse mas eu sei que foi sus (Translation: I did not understand what you said but I know that it was sus)” [Elder Lemos, 11/10/2025]
God's Hand
BAPTISM DATES!
A spirit guided message (See “The Spirit Guides”)
Had a lesson start with 4 people in the room and end with 8 people.
4 PEOPLE AT CHURCH
RAIN!
Spiritual Thought
You guys kind of get two Spiritual Thoughts today… consider yourselves spoiled.
Christ is the center of the plan Heavenly Father has for us. When we think of Christ we think of his sacrifice for us. I also invite you to remember, in addition to His Atonement, that Christ established His Church and taught His Gospel during his time on Earth. His Gospel tells us of the redeeming power we have access to because of his atonement. Without his ministry and sacrifice nothing would be possible.
“Keep your eyes and your hearts centered on the Savior Jesus Christ and the eternal joy that comes only through Him.” (Fruit by Elder Neil L. Andersen, October 2019)
Challenge
Follow up on how you did with the challenges I've given you in the past three weeks.
Write down how you see God's Hand in your life everyday and share experiences
Be an example of a disciple of Christ to someone. Sit with them when they are alone, testify simply to someone, etc.
Go to the temple (and send me a picture :))
That's all for this week! Baptisms next week to look forward to! Só água!
Love y'all so very much and miss you every day. Send me emails please, I love receiving them, they make my day! Let me know if I can do anything for you!
Muito amor,
Elder Urbano
