‘Tis the Season (to Party)
Hey friends! This was a fan-freaking-tastic week. Lots of laughs, lots of smiles. Success in the work and on to another transfer!
Transfer news: I am staying in Continental 2, Guarulhos (thank goodness) and I got a new comp (obviously since mine is going home) and I lowkey don't know his name, just that he is Colombian, so I'll keep you updated on that. I got a new ZL too and he's gonna be lit (I hope).
The Spirit Burns
Hey y'all, remember at the beginning of this transfer when I said the Spirit Guides? It's true. And remember the Elect I told you about last week? He is still awesome. Since he is still working on following the Word of Wisdom, we weren't planning on marking a date with him quite yet, BUTTTTTT, when the Spirit is burning in your heart you can't deny it.
We were wrapping up our lesson for the day about the Plan of Salvation, one that people usually have a ton of questions about, but he had none. He simply sat there and said “Yeah I believe it, I have no doubts.” We've never had that happen before so we just sat there like what do we do now. My comp started bearing his testimony and I'll be honest I spaced out. I heard him wrapping up his testimony and saw how intently our investigator was listening and one word came to my mind, baptism. I knew he was gonna get baptized just now was not the time. Spoiler alert: the Spirit will always win. My heart started pounding and I started sweating, so, without thinking, I just asked him if he was going to be baptized in three weeks. His response: “Of course, without a doubt.” Just like that. Date marked. He will be baptized this transfer. I would love to take credit for marking the date, but it was the Spirit. I was just the mount that the Spirit used to speak.
Ward Parties!
Thursday us missionaries put on a celebration for the youth because it was the end of seminary and the end of school. Ika paid for 20 liters of açaí (it was a ton) so we set up an activity and had the youth bring friends. We shared a brief message about gratitude, ate lots of açaí and played some basketball and volleyball. Such a good night.
Friday was the ward Christmas party! Does America put on better parties? Of course we do, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t fun! We were doing some online work in the Chapel when people showed up to decorate so we helped out with that, then it was time to party. People started to show up and Christmas music started playing and having not been able to listen to any I was having a blast. We were dancing and singing and welcoming everyone. It was so fun. We also hung out with the youth and ate a bunch of free food of course. I even got dragged into singing in front of the ward. That was… special and none of you will ever see that video. Oh and Santa was there too. We stayed out way late… definitely past curfew… but it's okay, we were serving and building relationships. In my book that's more important.
The APs Came to Town
On Tuesday I had a divisão (exchange) with my ZL, Elder Johnson. Since we live in the same house we officially started our divisão at 5pm and ended it at 9:30pm. It was supposed to be 24 hours but it was only 4.5 lol. Kinda hard to do a real divisão when you live together, I don't really mind though. The divisão was alright, we didn't have much success but we got soaked in the rain which had me like a kid in a candy shop. I love love love being in the rain.
Wednesday morning I woke up to my ZLs on the phone with the APs. I was trying to eavesdrop as much as I could without leaving my bed. I pretty quickly put together that the APs had randomly decided they wanted to do a divisão with my ZLs and they'd be over in the next few hours. No pressure. The AP that stayed at our house was the chill one so it was actually pretty enjoyable. The other three that lived in the house got flamed for their messy desks though, it was funny. Elder Bahia (the chill AP) goes “why are you all more disorganized than the novinho (newbie)?” I didn't get called out for anything so guess I am doing great. This also happened to be on the day that I marked a date. As a bonus, Ika called us that night to check in and asked if we wanted pizza. Of course, we weren't gonna say no so all of us (even AP) stayed up to eat pizza and tell stories. If any of y'all are in leadership, please find the balance in being a good example and having fun, it's possible I promise. It's better for everyone that way.
Random
We had Zone P-day and made chicken, waffles, and cookies for everyone. We also made a pickleball court out of chairs and hymn books.
OUR MASADA (Missionary Support Fund) GOT RAISED! You know what that means… more PIZZA!!
Ordered 216 pieces of sushi
Wednesday was so so windy and it was always blowing into you which made it a pain to walk always.
Flamengo (a Brazilian soccer team) played Cruz Azul (a Mexican soccer team). My comp's dad's team versus my dad's team.
Got a youth’s mom’s permission to keep teaching him and invite him to be baptized!
Had a family night to make cookies and play some games with the ward members!
Or ZLs ordered THREE PIZZAS
My Brazilian soccer team, the Corinthians, are going to the championship of some tournament.
My comp officially dies this week, he goes to the office today.
Vocab
Elect - someone ready and willing to receive the gospel in their life
Divisão (exchange) - trading comps for a day to be trained, evaluate the area, and learn from each other
ZLs - Zone Leaders, the companionship over the missionaries of a Zone (made up of areas)
APs - Assistants to President
Quote
“Bro that [mission] family tree is a circle” [Me (Unfortunately), 12/13/2025]
God's Hand
Getting soaked in the rain
Laughs and smiles
The Gift of Tongues
Places with music
Not getting sick
The power and promptings of the Spirit
Spiritual Thought
Small, quiet, and humble moments are often some of the most life changing moments.
The greatest example I can think of is the birth of Our Savior. Mary and Joseph humbly made the journey to Bethlehem to be taxed. They humbly accepted a stable to stay in when the inns were full. The night is often described as silent and still. Christ was born in a manger. It's nearly impossible to be more humble than that, but that humble act, quite literally changed the world.
What first triggered this thought was the talk by President Farnes from this year's First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. He told a story from his mission in Brazil where a poorer family invited him and his companion over for Christmas Dinner. He admitted he wasn't excited and wondered what the family could possibly offer. He then recounts the following: “On Christmas day, we were welcomed into this family’s humble home… In the middle of the room was a table with heaping plates… there were only two chairs—one for me, and one for my companion. I was speechless and overcome with emotion… the children, sitting against the wall, watching us eat, I saw smiles on their faces. Making a sacrifice for us—strangers from another country—had brought them genuine joy… That Christmas changed my life forever” (Accept the Gift — President Timothy L. Farnes, December 2025). I love this story, especially serving in Brazil myself and seeing these sacrifices first hand.
Invite
“This Christmas, may I invite each of you to be… a family for someone who is otherwise alone” (I'll Be Home for Christmas — President Jeffery R. Holland, December 2025)
I also invite you to read the full talk by President Farnes and reflect on the small and humble moments of your life and the effects they have had on you
And so begins another transfer. Prayers may be needed. I'll keep you updated. In the meantime, let me know if there is anything I can do for y'all! If there isn't anything… email me anyways, I want a life update! Until the next one!
Muito amor,
Elder Urbano
