Tears, Hardships, Smiles, Goodbyes, and Pizza
Hey friends! I am going to be straight up, this week was a heavy one; an emotional roller coaster, exhausting, difficult. However, at the end of it all I am happy with all that was accomplished, the problems solved, the people helped, and, most importantly, the spirit that I was able to feel through it all.
Conference of Goodbyes
I know I have written a lot about goodbye’s the past two transfers but this time it’s a little different. The past goodbyes have been hard but they also weren’t certain, we didn’t know who we would see again and who we wouldn’t but this time it was for sure. It was zone conference with all the zones of the Guarulhos Mission. On top of having to say goodbyes I was the one that had to buy their tickets and send them off, not very fun.
The day started with a lovely phone call at 5:40am from a missionary asking for a reimbursement. Missionaries, we love you but please don’t call your financial secretary to ask about a reimbursement he has already explained to you 4 different times, especially at 5:40 in the morning haha. That being said, I am grateful for that phone call. I hung up the phone thinking I had 40 more minutes to sleep. Thirty minutes later I got a much more important phone call that I probably wouldn’t have heard if I didn’t get the other. “Bom dia Sisteres, tudo bem (Translation: Good morning Sisters, is everything alright)?” The sister on the other end responded with all I needed to know, “No.” It’s at that moment that I roll out of bed and start getting dressed while on the phone. A very quick conversation tells me that a Sister isn’t being allowed to board their bus because her ID was in the office. I grabbed a random comp and went over to the office to get it resolved, it took a bit of digging but we got it all sorted out.
Eventually my comp and I got to zone conference but we didn’t hear much of it so I couldn’t tell you how good it was. We sat up lunch, helped out with some materials, my comp became a photographer for the day. The new mission President sent a video introducing himself and our President said his goodbyes and the tears started coming. The closing hymn was “Deus vos guarde” or, in English, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.” Sister Andrade conducted, the first time I have seen her do that. We survived the first verse but as we went on to the second verse I looked up at President and apparently so did everyone else. President was balling and there was no stopping it. All the sudden everyone was struggling through the hymn. We finished it and the room was completely silent except for all the sniffles from tears being shed. President got up to say the closing prayer and the love of God was there. His countenance was smiling down upon us.
You might think the hardest part was over but nope. After that we had a few financial problems that were pending so I grabbed a laptop and got to work. It was kinda good though because it distracted me from everything for a bit (sorry I interrupted your lunch, President). I probably looked like a madman running around with a laptop though. After that I got like 2 seconds to breathe (like literally two seconds) and then it was time to send people home and buy bus tickets. Having to say goodbye and having to be the one to send people on their way sucks. Unfortunately my internet went down and I couldn't do much but just send people off and pray they would make their bus. We had a few people that didn't have documents, I got about 15 phone calls in the span of 30 minutes but it all worked out.
Everyone made it out so it's over right? Nope, part 2 of the day started. After zone conference we had a district leader meeting. I am not a district leader but I had to feed them all. The night before I called a pizzeria and asked if they would open early and make pizza for us. I ended up ordering 29 pizzas but hey 5 of them were free. It was about 20 minutes to dinner time and I realized it forgot about the soda so we ran to a random market and bought 18 liters, 50 plates, and 100 cups. Sidequests I once again never thought I would be doing. It was so funny when the pizza showed up and they whipped out 5 pizzas carriers with all the pizzas and all I did was pass the credit card. Shout out to them though for opening early for us. When all was said and done it all worked out and everyone loved the food.
We wrapped up, I got back on the laptop to take care of bus tickets to get people home. The Elders cleaned everything up and that was that. Sounds way easier said than done. I was super stressed all day and exhausted by the end of it but looking back I am so happy with the effort I put in and all I did to make the day go smoothly for the others. Now when I say that was that it doesn't mean it really ended. President came up to me and asked if I was able to get everything resolved to which I responded I had. He says good now I need you to oversee this project that needs to be completed in 15 days. The work never stops but it means a lot to me that President trusts me with everything. On the way home I got a call that something went wrong with some Elders and they would be staying the night with us but hey, at least I got home. They may or may not have called at 11 saying they didn't have pillows or blankets and we may or may not have had to go to the office but what can you do? After that the day was officially over and I got to sleep.
Office Life and A Little More
On Tuesday we received 43 chairs and 16 tables in the office and it cost me a pretty penny
On Thursday I got a package from my mom and we got emotional support dino nuggies for the office. It is actually the greatest thing ever and everyone that has walked in and seen them has smiled. They are working well. It’s almost like my mom knew we would be sad and stressed with the division
I hit 10 months on Thursday. Shout out to the gang that hit it with me! I was too dead to get pizza though
Friday I went through every single paper in our to-do and filing bin and organized our filing cabinets. Since I have got here it has been a mess and no one has known why papers were where they were but now everything is in its rightful place and we only have what we need. I found papers from 2023 in the to-do bin. That is how bad it was.
Friday night we bought 3 pizzas to celebrate 10 months and a Brazil win
Saturday morning we had some Elderes that needed bus tickets and some deliveries in the office
Saturday evening we had a baptism in our district! It was super spiritual and I could not stop smiling and let me tell you those smiles were much needed after the draining week. Irmão Sidnei of Vila Prudente was baptized and he came out of the water a different man. Visibly different, it’s always my favorite thing when I get to see the light of God shining down on them.
Sunday we got a phone call that there was a house without electricity for two days and they just forgot to tell us that they didn't have power…
I got to watch some of Uruguay vs Cabo Verde and wow I miss sports. Cabo Verde's second goal was beautiful. I also got free Açai during it.
I got the worst haircut of my life
We had mission pday today and we played soccer and volleyball. It was so much fun. I also got to talk to a bunch of people which was so good. There were so many people there, the whole São Paulo East Mission. When President saw me he was so happy (did he have tasks for me… maybe but it's okay they were easy)
I sleep with my ringer on every night because you never know what is going to happen
Do you ever wonder what your secretaries do when there are 5 houses without water or electricity? Well let me tell you. If we aren't too stressed out we get it handled but if we are to stressed to even think straight we go shoot a few hoops on the basketball court and then go back to work (okay we didn’t do it on purpose we were playing a little bit to lighten the mood and then we realized there were still houses without water ahaha our bad)
Quotes
“Tem 5 casas sem luz, 3 sem água, e estamos aqui… jogando basquete” *continues playing* [Elder Ichi, 6/18/2026]
“Mexicanos tem o jeito deles. Peruanos… limpo. Perfeito. Agora argentinos… tudo bagunçado.” [Irmã de Vila Prudente, 6/20/2026]
God's Hand
Seeing Sideni a different person after his baptism, a light over his head, and a smile the light of Christ behind it
Getting to meet more missionaries!
Getting a final chance at goodbye
Being able to serve so many missionaries
Teaching a family using our phone flashlights
Feeling the spirit on even the most stressful days
Understanding Spanish
Food!
Hugs from friends
Being able to give 3 blessings with words that came straight from heaven.
Power of the priesthood
Hearing from my best friends
Missionaries happy
Didn't crash out
Finding an inactive member on the road and bringing a light to her eyes
Spiritual Thought
Alma 26:28 - And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.
I spent most the week studying Alma 26, a really good chapter about mission, and I loved this verse. Being someone that takes care of 250 people is not easy believe it or not, I love it but it's not easy. It requires me to be patient with others but also with myself. At times it also requires myself to be humble and ask for help. As I do all this and do it with love, God makes my load lighter. He helps me and He inspires me. I am extremely thankful for that blessing.
God is with all of you, just look for him. His hand is in everything. You will see miracles if you just look and pray. I say this because I see them everyday, I know it's true. Share your miracles with me, I would love to hear! I probably forgot a bunch, my memory is getting really bad. However, I hope you enjoyed my thoughts of the week. I love you all. Until next week!
Deus vos guarde,
Elder Urbano
