When it Snows and You Pray it Sticks
Hey friends!
Transfer night lowkey made me depressed. First off, I bet you're dying to know where I'm going for the next six weeks. I'm going to… stay right here. Which is chill. 3 of the 4 of us are staying here and we got a new ZL, Elder Gonzalez. The depressing part is that Elder Bingham got transferred out. If you haven't noticed Elder Bingham has had a tremendous impact on my life in just six weeks and now he's dipping. When it was announced me and him just went silent. Anyways, I'm sure this transfer will still go great. Onto the email.
So you know when it snows but, only for a few minutes, and melts right away? That's what it has been like when we get new referrals and new people to teach. There are a few flurries that very quickly melt. This week it “snowed” A TON. 9 new people (compared to our last two weeks where we totaled 3 new people… none of which we are teaching anymore… that's a lot). So far they are sticking and I am praying that they stick for a while. So that's my metaphor for the day: People are like snowflakes. Sometimes they stick, most of the time they don't. Someone put that on a shirt for me.
Futebol Finding
In my mission playing futebol is a big no-no and watching futebol… it depends… it's not the worst thing but also like you could be doing something else. That being said, my comp and I have had an unusual amount of success doing things we “shouldn't” be doing… don't question it.
In the center of our area there is a pretty fancy field. Wednesday, we were wrapping up our visits for the day but still had an hour left in the day. We walked past the field to go try to visit someone and a kid started yelling “Elders! Elders!” while running after us. His aunt is apparently a member in another ward. We talked to him for a second and told him we'd come back to watch the game in a second. We returned and dapped up him and his buddies and stood there to watch. Eventually I was like "we mind as well just sit” and of course we sat down behind a drug deal and smokers… punishment, divine intervention… you can decide after I tell you the next part.
I was ready to leave but my comp said “lets go sit over there.” We moved and these three other kids asked for Books of Mormon so we gave them to them and left to go sit down. They kept looking over at us so we went back over and shared a brief message and told them to meet us in the same spot the next day. Imma be so for real, I did not expect them to show up BUT me and my comp went to that spot. 3 minutes later we see two boys walking across the field, waving, Books of Mormon in hand. I was jaw dropped. The futebol finding worked.
Random
Last P-day Ika took us to a churrascaria. It's like Tucanos or Fogo de Chão if you have ever been there. They basically walk around with all different types and cuts of meat and you just endlessly eat. It was so so good. He has officially moved back to the states but he said he will be down to visit in two weeks.
It took the green team the whole hour and a half we were watching soccer to score
The weather here is ALMOST as bipolar as the Midwest
Walking into an appointment dripping in sweat is humbling
Got a haircut and my barber cut open my ear and then told some members to tell us he didn't want us to come back… lol
Went to a super aesthetic street market
Pizza with chocolate stuffed crust is still the best
Almost got robbed lol
I went to the store to buy cookies and ran into the Stake President…
I put up Christmas lights in my apartment
I talked to some Elders from Canada about a referral
Had 4 people at church
Went on a blitz divisão on Sunday evening with Bingham and it was just a 2 hour yap session while NO ONE answered their door.
Quotes
“So like did it hurt… when you broke it” [Elder Draughon to Ika about his femur, 11/03/2025]
“Eu vou beijar presidente na boca” [Elder Bingham, 11/04/2025]
God's Hand
Spirit of confirmation
His little reminders that he is there: sunsets, yellow flowers, joy in children, rain
Spiritual Thought
Always strive to be in “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion” (Elder Quentin L. Cook, October 2015)
This includes but is not limited to being temple worthy. Being temple worthy is a decision that you make. It requires you to exercise self-control in everything you do. In turn you will be blessed and have joy in your heart. I promise you.
Self-control is like a muscle. The more you use it the easier it gets to choose the right.
Another thing included in this is being prepared. As we proactively prepare our minds, bodies, and spirits, we need not fear.
As we prepare and remain temple worthy, God will endow us with his power.
Challenge
Go to the temple. Members and non-members. Whether you sit on the grounds, go inside or go to the visitors center. Go to the temple, it always brings me so much peace and I promise it will bring you peace too. For bonus points, send me a picture :)
Quick read this week. It was a very uneventful week out here but it's about to get exciting (I hope). Stay tuned! Send me emails, tell me if you need anything, I want to hear from you!
Muito amor,
Elder Urbano
