Better Late Than Never
Hey friends! I am so sorry this is late. I know a lot of you have been anxious for it, but hey it's here now so don't fret.
This week was a weird week. I am not gonna lie. Everything was so off all week, work wise and mentally. I am so sorry if this email is not 100% coherent, I promise I tried haha. The good news is that we still had people at church, we still had miracles, and, possibly most importantly, we laughed a lot. I also may or may not have had a crashout or two this week… but what more would you expect?
Quick correction to my email about the 100 baptisms. After talking to the APs last month I found out that it was the first time we have hit 100 baptisms in one month and the most that the mission has ever had. Pretty cool to take part in that.
Who Lives Here?
This week we had divisões, me with my DL and the other dupla I live with were with the ZLs. The divisões lowkey threw off the whole week. First off, my divisão. It started on Wednesday and was nothing crazy. We marked a date with someone I was about to stop teaching (lol) and outside of that we just followed up some with greens and yellows, people we are teaching and referrals, respectively. We went to this one family and they just kept shoving food in our face. It was super funny, I had already been there once so I knew what was coming but my DL was caught off guard. Come Thursday it was not as normal. My DL was super sick and unable to do anything, including go back to his own house. We lowkey did nothing until like 5:30pm. It also happened to be weekly planning which I couldn't do without my comp so that threw off the rest of the week because we couldn't get to it until Saturday. Thursday night after we finally finished the divisão we had a family home evening with our recent converts that made up for the sucky day. They had so much food and cake for my comps birthday.
Okay now for the more interesting one. The ZL. He wasn't on a divisão with me but he was living in my house. He stayed for three days. He turned an “originally” one day divisão into three. Of course I knew why because I knew who to ask but that doesn’t change the fact that it was three days. Luckily I did not have to deal with his chastising everyday and just got to tease him. It was super funny me and the other American gaslit him so much. Unfortunately, I have a divisão with him this week. It's okay though because it just means I get to gaslight him more haha. He probably will chastise me a bit for the random things but I'll make it fun. When he finally ended his divisão (he almost stayed for a fourth day but we didn't let him) and the other Elder came back it was so weird haha. I hadn't seen that kid in almost three days.
Família
On Sunday I was explaining to a visitor we had at church the importance of family in the Church and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered in the home. Out of nowhere she goes “but you don't have family there.” I, already having a rough week, said, “yeah you'd be right” when she cut me off and said, “but they *pointing to the ward* are your family.” “Yes,” I said.
I talked about this a few transfers ago in my email but this lady brought it to light again. On my mission I like to think that I have three families. My family, my ward family, and my mission family. All three play a different but critical role in my mission. My family is my rock, those that will love and support me in every adventure I take on (believe me I have proved that to be true). They are also the ones that I will live with for eternity. My ward family keeps me fed, they are there when I need a minute on a couch or a cup of water. They are my friends that pass us on the roads and cheer us on, the ones always happy to see the Elders and tell stories. Lastly, my mission family is literally that. One big happy family with our parents, President and his wife. My brothers and sisters that always have advice on what to do when it gets hard. And they are also the ones there to share a laugh here and the spiritual experiences.
Experiences from this week that involve my families are: talking with my family on p-day, my sister sending me golf updates, a family feeding us lunch when we didn't have a meal (with music), going proselyting with one of the youth, ward lunch after church, family home evenings, talking to Elder Bingham on the phone until midnight (whoops), talking to Elder Kubik about some struggling, joking around on our divisões, and so much more. I listed just a few things from just this past week. Every part of every family is important to me and I am extremely thankful that God has blessed me with them. Core memories being made out here.
Tidbits
Watched a soccer game on Saturday morning
Made so many phone calls this week
Ate stroganoff de frango (my favorite food) an uncountable number of times this week
Rory won the Masters again (shout out Bella for the updates)
It rained a lot again
I'm going golfing next Monday (I think)
I didn't go to the hospital this week
I took some fire flics this week
Sung a duet… no it wasn't recorded don't ask
My comp turned 20. Got some pizza for him.
Bought a super comfy hoodie last week and felt normal for the first time in a long time
Quote of the Week
“I'm scared that is going to open and we are going to see a naked man” [Elder Kubik, 4/11/2026]
God's Hand
Clear spiritual promptings
Members clutching up with lunch
Talking to my friend that just got home from her mission (shout out Emily)
Good member relationships
Finding a long lost member
A random guy showing up to Church
Talking to Elder Bingham Friday night
Advice from Elder Kubik on a rough night
On Sunday night I had a prompting to go visit our recent converts at 8:40pm. That visit was much needed even if we weren't home on time.
Family home evenings and treats
Talking to so many friends!
Perfect weather (Utah fall weather making me miss it)
Spiritual Thoughts
There is a scripture that my comp read on Sunday night that I gained an undeniable witness of this week. 2 Nephi 32:5 which reads, “For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”
This week I had some extremely clear promptings of the Spirit where I was guided to safety, the people that needed me, what I needed to say, and what I needed to do. I know that as we are baptized and choose to receive the Holy Ghost he will literally show us the way. When we choose to follow Him we don't have to guess what is next. We will know the way.
Thank you for your patience this week! I hope the email was worth the wait! Email me your updates! Miss you all and I hope you have a fantastic week! Talk to y'all soon!
Seu Elder Favorito,
Elder Urbano
