Welcome to Jurassic Park
Hey friends! Okay it's not that in the middle of nowhere; I'm out here quite a ways but it's not like I'm walking 20 miles to the nearest supermarket (although one day I might tell my kids that was the case). It's been (almost) one week serving the Lord out here in Vista Verde, São José dos Campos - SP so let's chat about my initial thoughts.
A Little Different than City Life
If I were to describe the work in this area in one word it would be “walking.” About 11 miles a day; lots and lots of walking and clapping doors. We have no progressing people and all of the gray dots have been hit up already and there is no one out in the streets and somehow no one is ever home. I know that doesn't make sense, believe me I've been puzzled by it since day one, but the work goes on. Someone out there is bound to be ready.
The weather here is almost as bi-polar as Nebraska. We go from clear skies to a torrential downpour in one afternoon. The heat here is different. There is no wind and the sun just beats down all morning into the afternoon. In the late afternoon the clouds roll in and it rains a little which is super nice because it cools everything down. If you’re lucky that little bit of rain will decide that you didn’t get wet enough and will turn into a hurricane. Do it all for the wife, iykyk. You better pray that there is somewhere nearby that you can take shelter.
Even though all this sounds rough I am not complaining. Yes my legs hurt, but I love the area and the people I am with. This part of the mission is so pretty with rolling hills, mountains, trees, and open fields. It's a picture perfect backdrop to a city and to a missionary (as you will see in my photos). I live in four again (lucky me, I know) and I love who I live with. One American, Elder Kubik, and two Brazilians, Elder Garbin (my comp) and Elder Souza. All of them are so fun and funny. We've played some games in the house already and we all just die laughing. We always spend time together and chat it up and challenge each other to dumb things and then when the time comes, we go to work. It's a perfect balance. We also live less than a ten minute walk from the chapel and a supermarket, it's very convenient.
Baptized 2 More??
My boy Thiago from Continental got baptized! This kid is the most elect kid I have ever met. He showed up to Church by himself without an invite or anything. He said that every church he had been to talked bad about our church but he didn't believe them and wanted to see for himself. That takes immense faith. We taught him in two days and he wanted to be baptized. Unfortunately we didn’t get approval to baptize him last week so I wasn’t there in person but he still got baptized and my recent convert Eduardo baptized him! He has such a strong testimony already. He also said he has an interest in going to BYU so maybe I will see him there soon!
Emmanuely also got baptized this week. She is the daughter of my other recent convert, Sara. She just turned 8 years old so that’s why she had to wait to be baptized and is technically a ward baptism but I'll split the credit. She's awesome and so fun and already has a testimony. I can't wait to watch her grow up in the Church. Make that 10 baptisms in two transfers in one ward! I'm out here working.
A Bunch of Random
Said goodbye to District Continental :( literally all but two got transferred out.
Had a light 4 hour travel day to get to my area, found out some interesting things about my life that day
Woke up sick on Friday which sucked but a little cold never stopped the work
I'm turning back into a milk and chocolate milk drinker… along with cereal…
I might go broke in this area… we don't have member lunches everyday and we are constantly needing ubers and I am constantly hungry. It's not an ideal combination.
Had to lift a 10ft piece of 4×6? wood up 2 stories on top of a house.
Walked an easy 12.7 miles on Saturday (surprisingly not the most I've done). Hit up a light 2 hour walk in the rain to our area after lunch.
Played Exploding Kittens, UNO No Mercy and Phase 10 this week
Started doing “Almost P-Day.” If you know what “Almost Friday” is, it's that but make it missionary. Stole the idea from Elder Kubik
Had four meetings on Sunday (death)
Played Spikeball on Sunday night
Quotes
“Não sabia que a gente mora na casa de plants vs zombies (Translation: I didn’t know that we lived in the plants vs zombies house) ” [Elder Souza, 2/4/2026]
“I think when BYU wins the College Football Playoffs is when the second coming happens.” [Elder Urbano, 2/8/2026]
God's Hand
Safe travel
A good companion and good roommates
Energy
Good sleep
Rainbows
Spiritual Thoughts
As a missionary I walk (a lot), visit people, and preach every single day. It’s my 24/7 job, spread the Gospel. It’s what I have been called and set apart to do however it is not just missionaries that are called to spread the good word of Christ. “Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;” [D&C 4:3] We are all invited to share the love of God which includes the Gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints breaks down sharing the gospel into three simple steps: Love, Share, Invite.
First, show Christlike love to everyone. Listen to them, serve them, spend time with them. Second, share the things you like: movies, food, music, etc. Make it a goal to add the Gospel to that list. And last, invite. Invite your family, friends, strangers, the whole world, to participate in activities from fun youth activities to a spiritual moment in sacrament meeting.
In turn we are blessed with blessings including but not limited to: immeasurable joy, strength, forgiveness, healing, and salvation. I invite you all to do these three things this week: Love, Share, and Invite. I promise you will see blessings in your life.
Well that's what I have for you this week. I miss y'all everyday! Send me emails, I anxiously await your updates! Love you all, let me know if you need anything!
Tchau Tchau,
Elder Urbano
