Mission week 17 We Chillinš„¶ (01/29/2024)
I decided to be early with my email this week cuz last week was late....
Chill week. Literally it was wayy colder than normal out of nowhere! Usually it is like mid 30's (reminder this is in Celsius) but this week was averaging 14 degrees and humid cold, windy with rain... so cold... and wet lol. But not that it was a bad thing, it was just a strange rapid change. we got to break out the sweaters and coats.
This week we made some goals. normally we were getting about 130 contacts in a week. This week we made some higher goals. my comp said he had a crazy idea to go for 250 contacts! i looked at him like he was crazy!!! but then a thought crept into my mind..... 300. I said it halfway but stopped because it was soo absurd. but he was thinking it too. it is possible we said. So let's do this thing!!!! we got 323 contacts this week. lets goooo babbyyyyyyy!
We had a division this week with the district leader and his new comp Elder Da Silva. He is Brazilian and came at the same time as me here to the mission so he doesn't speak a lick of English. The other elders were gonna try and take it easy on me and let me work with the guy who speaks a bit of english, but i said nahhh imma choose to struggle. i can't get too comfortable in life ya know haha, but I decided to go with the Elder who only spoke Portuguese and was a little bit timid. Before we left we set another absurd, crazy goal. 75 contacts. for each companionship! so together it would have been 150. If any of you know me, when I set my mind on something... it will be done. no matter what i will find a way to get it done. That day I contacted 76 people, taught many multiple lessons, 2 BOM's and many more pamphlets and I was the senior comp. and we spoke only portugues. because that was the only possible form of communication. I did all those contacts because my comp was a bit shy so we basically just did not pass anyone by. I struck up a conversation with all and everyone. we spoke with everyone in sight. Each new person seen was the next target. It was awesome! and the other duo only got like 37 contacts so we held up on our end lol.
We had a baptism this sunday! Rosaly progressed super fast and loves everything about the Church, the BOM and it all! She was baptized and it was a very happy day. She plans to return to her family in Cuba and teach them the gospel because they don't have missionaries there, but they have a church!
Somethin kinda wild but awesome... our investigators literally cleaned the church!! they said they wanted to help on Saturday to clean and they did!! so we just have some superb people here.
Saturday ballin was dope as usual but this time it was a little extra! Our friends bring their friends to play so we have investigators always coming which is awesome and we share a message with them, but this time i met this dude who spoke perfect english, with slangs too, and he loves Russel Westbrook (Brody). he actually works at the NBA storer here in Brazil! and he is this bigg tall dude who is cracked at basketball! He said he hadn't played in like two years but was still goin crazy on the court! We started out with him, me and another guy on a team. and we were undefeated the whole time!! destroyed everyone in our path!! i was jumping super high that day too so i was throwing down all sorts of crazy dunks and just felt awesome!! He was super hyped that I could dunk and do some cool stuff and he started callin me Brody (Russel Weestbrook) every time he got hyped! it was littt cuz i was popping off and we just wreaked everyone. he also told me how he has been trying to grow closer to God and Jesus and basketball with us also helped him. so he wants to learn more and keep ballin with us and hearing lessons!! but he lives super far away which is a little sad. but its ok the guy it dope!
My boy Marcio is on Bap date!!!!! lets gooooooo!!!! We have been working with him since i arrived here and he has started meeting with the missionaries even years ago when he lived in Manaus! but he is about our age too so we have been playing ball with him, and he speaks english perfectly. he really became our friend and now we get to help him make covenants with God! he finally made up his mind!
One other thing tho. We made a deal... me, Elder Eyring, and Thiago all shook hands on this deal with Marcio, that if he followed the commandments and everything that he is supposed to do in the Church 100% for 6 months and if he doesn't feel the spirit or anything good.... then we would all down shots of Vodka at his side and to top it off kiss a dude.
Crazy stuff right!? but. not so, Because I have faith and I KNOW, that if a person does everything 100% reading the scriptures, praying, going to church, following the commandments and everything 100% in his power to do God's will. it is literally not possible to feel the spirit or realize the truth. it is not possible. and you cannot deny the truth. So we are safe lol i won't be drinking vodka and i won't be kissing any dudes lol.
Some dude on the street was singing a weird song and swaggered up to us telling us that he was Jesus Christ. he literally pointed at our name tags and pointed to the picture on our pamphlets saying "i am him, that is me," I am thinkin in my head, "You're not that guy pal, trust me, you're not that guy" LOL
Another homeless guy claimed he was the bishop of a ward in our area,(there is no ward there, it is our ward) and he said he had a meeting that night. bro was crazy.
Had some Crepes, they were actually fire! i had not had them like this before, they made them on a stick and in some machine with cheese and meat so you ate it like a corn dog. It was super good!
Recently I have been listening to lots of General Conference talks and it is awesome! I love hearing the words of our prophets and their wisdom and guidance for us straight from God! It is powerful! When I listen to them speak with such power I just know with even more clarity and suraty of the truth of their words and that they truly are a prophet of god.
listen to these talks people. They are here at our fingertips for a reason.
Always find ways to Let God prevail in your live a little more or a little better.
Always strive to be 1% better everyday!
Remember our Prophet said, "your choices today will determine three things: where you will live throughout all eternity, the kind of body with which you will be resurrected, and those with whom you will live forever. So, think celestial."
That is powerful. and it is true. So think Celestial!
Remember that there are no accidents with God. Everything happens for a reason in our lives.
God is Good! God is Great!!!
Until next time... Tchau!
-Elder Martin
Ps. I am having withdrawls from the gym.... i am shrinking lol
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