Disclaimer: As a missionary, I'm not allowed to discuss really my political opinion. However, I do want to mention that as I learned early Wednesday morning that Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, I realized just how disattached I really am from things that happen back home. I realized that I was so ingrained into what I'm doing here that these things just don't have any real importance to me. Even seeing the flash of the Fantastic Beasts trailers on local TVs doesn't really affect me too much. I just think of how I was almost literally set apart from these things of the world. That's why I chose the Tame Impala song, because "I know that I gotta be above it now."
We had an absolutely incredible week. Something about it just got us powering through with a lot of energy. One thing that was notable was that we found a lot of new people that seemed to show some real interest in hearing the Gospel. For example, we ran into this one woman named Carolina that really wanted us to help her 40 year old son Mario with his drinking problem. As we taught him he showed such a sincere desire to change for the better, that we really felt impressed to share the message of the Restoration. Yesterday when we visited he said that he had received an answer of the truth of these things! We felt that he needed a priesthood blessing, so we asked if he believed in Jesus Christ and that His authority was restored on the Earth again. He said yes, so we gave him a powerful blessing. It was really spiritual, so I think we'll hear a lot more from him.
In other great news, Elisio finally got to church!!! After missing him again last week, we asked Marina to show us his house. After finding his house, we just decided to show up on Sunday morning to knock on his door. We went up to his parents and they were like "he lives on the street behind us, but he's asleep right now." So we went back there and asked where his door was and they just said "but he's asleep right now!" so we insisted and they showed us. Sure enough, he was asleep, but he woke up and said he'd go with Marina. We go over to Marina's house and said that Elisio was coming, but she said "but he's asleep!" We were like we know we woke him up! People have this strange thing here that they think just because someone is asleep that they have absolutely no right to wake them up. Well, we woke him up and he ended up coming to Stake Conference, which just made our entire week! Moral of the story: this country needs to learn D&C 88:124.
Juçara is going absolutely great as well. She doesn't talk a whole lot and is a little shy, especially at Conference yesterday. However, she feels the Spirit, and Yannick's family has been so good at being there for her, especially the 13 year old daughter Lily. We think that she's going super well, so that means that we could be having 3 baptisms on the 26th of this month! Marina and Elisio are going strong for it as well! The Lord just seems to keep blessing us with these incredible people. I'm so blessed to be here.
One thing that was kinda lame, but not super lame: Erineu and Ronisse, that were supposed to be married on the 25th so Ronisse could be baptized on the 26th, can't be married on that day anymore. We went to the Registro (can't remember the name in English) with Erineu to mark a date for the marriage, but they said that they were super busy, so they now have to come back on the 29th just to mark a date! We were a little bummed out, but it'll still happen in December so we're still stoked for them. I just hope that both Elder Ronces and I can still be here! Transfers happens the first week of December.
Something unimaginable happened at Stake Conference yesterday. We met a native Cape Verdean who had actually been to Brentwood, California. It's a miracle that he's even heard of it, let alone been there! Most people know California, but think that California is a city that's relatively close to Boston, Massachusets. It blows their minds when we tell them how far it actually is, and how many cities are part of it. Apparently this guy used to live in Orange County. I feel like I've made one of the craziest connections that I'll ever make in my life.
Life is great! We'll have Zone Conference with Elder Kearon this week! He's the President of our Area, so it should be good! Hope you all are well, have a good week!
Abraço,
Elder Penner
p.s. Is Thanksgiving this week or next week? I can never remember how it works...
Disclaimer: As a missionary, I'm not allowed to discuss really my political opinion. However, I do want to mention that as I learned early Wednesday morning that Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, I realized just how disattached I really am from things that happen back home. I realized that I was so ingrained into what I'm doing here that these things just don't have any real importance to me. Even seeing the flash of the Fantastic Beasts trailers on local TVs doesn't really affect me too much. I just think of how I was almost literally set apart from these things of the world. That's why I chose the Tame Impala song, because "I know that I gotta be above it now."
We had an absolutely incredible week. Something about it just got us powering through with a lot of energy. One thing that was notable was that we found a lot of new people that seemed to show some real interest in hearing the Gospel. For example, we ran into this one woman named Carolina that really wanted us to help her 40 year old son Mario with his drinking problem. As we taught him he showed such a sincere desire to change for the better, that we really felt impressed to share the message of the Restoration. Yesterday when we visited he said that he had received an answer of the truth of these things! We felt that he needed a priesthood blessing, so we asked if he believed in Jesus Christ and that His authority was restored on the Earth again. He said yes, so we gave him a powerful blessing. It was really spiritual, so I think we'll hear a lot more from him.
In other great news, Elisio finally got to church!!! After missing him again last week, we asked Marina to show us his house. After finding his house, we just decided to show up on Sunday morning to knock on his door. We went up to his parents and they were like "he lives on the street behind us, but he's asleep right now." So we went back there and asked where his door was and they just said "but he's asleep right now!" so we insisted and they showed us. Sure enough, he was asleep, but he woke up and said he'd go with Marina. We go over to Marina's house and said that Elisio was coming, but she said "but he's asleep!" We were like we know we woke him up! People have this strange thing here that they think just because someone is asleep that they have absolutely no right to wake them up. Well, we woke him up and he ended up coming to Stake Conference, which just made our entire week! Moral of the story: this country needs to learn D&C 88:124.
Juçara is going absolutely great as well. She doesn't talk a whole lot and is a little shy, especially at Conference yesterday. However, she feels the Spirit, and Yannick's family has been so good at being there for her, especially the 13 year old daughter Lily. We think that she's going super well, so that means that we could be having 3 baptisms on the 26th of this month! Marina and Elisio are going strong for it as well! The Lord just seems to keep blessing us with these incredible people. I'm so blessed to be here.
One thing that was kinda lame, but not super lame: Erineu and Ronisse, that were supposed to be married on the 25th so Ronisse could be baptized on the 26th, can't be married on that day anymore. We went to the Registro (can't remember the name in English) with Erineu to mark a date for the marriage, but they said that they were super busy, so they now have to come back on the 29th just to mark a date! We were a little bummed out, but it'll still happen in December so we're still stoked for them. I just hope that both Elder Ronces and I can still be here! Transfers happens the first week of December.
Something unimaginable happened at Stake Conference yesterday. We met a native Cape Verdean who had actually been to Brentwood, California. It's a miracle that he's even heard of it, let alone been there! Most people know California, but think that California is a city that's relatively close to Boston, Massachusets. It blows their minds when we tell them how far it actually is, and how many cities are part of it. Apparently this guy used to live in Orange County. I feel like I've made one of the craziest connections that I'll ever make in my life.
Life is great! We'll have Zone Conference with Elder Kearon this week! He's the President of our Area, so it should be good! Hope you all are well, have a good week!
Abraço,
Elder Penner
p.s. Is Thanksgiving this week or next week? I can never remember how it works...
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