Hey folks, hope you got your runnin shoes on, because I´ve got alot of ground to cover and not much time (like always). This week was interesting. The week before we had interviews with the President and I told him that I wanted him to look at our numbers, because I was going to give it everything I had, literally. So, the week comes and goes, and I´m just busting my butt to get stuff done. And, lo and behold, this was the WORST week number wise. I think I got better numbers back in Gerogia. Go figure. So, the one week where I talk big and have the Pres look at our numbers, is the one week where everything went wrong. Elder Barbosa´s Asthma started acting up, and so we couldnt do a whole lot. Then, he catches something else and gets sick. Murphy´s law was in full effect last week. But, I learned something very important - Doing your best isnt about numbers. I learned alot, and I knew that whatever happened, I had done my best, and the fault is not mine. It´s just the way things go sometimes.
Another thing that´s been happening lately is realizing that I´m here in Brasil. We´ll be walking down the street, and I´ll just stop and think to myself - "Holy crap, I´m in Brasil". You´d think I´d be a little more aware of that, since, ya know, I´m in Brasil and all I do is speak portuguese. But this feels like home now, and sometimes I just get complacent. Riding the bus around, looking out the window, and in some places you´d think you were in Tyler, Texas. Turn the corner and you think you´re in the Amazon. This really hit me two days ago. I was reading the conference edition of the Liahona and I just got done with Elder Richard G. Scott´s talk. I paused, looked at the page, and realized, "holy crap, I just read an entire talk in portuguese". And folks, I didnt just read it, I actually understood enough of it to glean something useful. Just 5 months ago, I was holding the Livro de Mórmon in my hands, and trying to read it, understanding nothing. Now, I´m plowing through the Livro de Mórmon, Gospel principles, and others.
I can hardly say what I want to in english, and now, I´m teaching people what their purpose here on the earth is in portuguese!
When people ask me how long I´ve been studying portuguese, they think 5-6 years. Then, when I tell them I´ve got about 5 months, they dont believe me. People that have been studying english for 8 years are suprised that I can speak as well I as can for the miniscule amount of time that I have. Dude, seriously, it´s nothing of myself. I give full credit to Heavenly Father. If anyone needs further proof that not only God lives, but that this is His church, and His work, then this is one more drop in the bucket. What do I do to study? I read books. I talk to people in the street. It´s nothing special. It wasnt a $400 program that Nasa uses. I read a book, that we hand out for free to people.
I know that I literally can do anything with the help of Heavenly Father. I know that if I humble myself, and have faith, I can literally do anything. In fact, I think humility is the key to almost everything. If you are humble, you can be taught. You can be instructed. Otherwise, if you try to do everything with your own power, you will plateau. You can do alot of things under your own power, but there will come a point where you can do no more. And that is where you will need help. Divine help. It´s like climbing the mountain and reaching the top is only half the journey. For the other half, you need wings.
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And now, for something completely different -
Have I ever said how much I love Texas?
Seriously, it´s the best state ever. And I´ll tell you why. Here in a couple of weeks, Jacarezinho, Brasil, will be having a Texas fest.
Here, I´ll say that one more time - Here in a couple of weeks, Jacarezinho, Brasil, will be having a Texas fest.
I´ll give you some background:
Jacarezinho is a tiny little town, nestled in the hills of B.F.E, Brasil. Where the only people that know about it, are the people that live here. Notwithstanding, they will have a festival to honor and celebrate the awesomeness that is Texas. You never hear about Illinois. Kentucky. Iowa. It´s always Texas. You here alot of New York, but who´s got the festival coming up? Eh?
It aint California folks!
So yes, there will be pictures, there will be shirts bought. There will be had a merry time by all. Because everyone will be united in the same thing, bowing down to the splendor of Texas. The Texan spirit has reached even that of southen Brasil.
So, that´s all for this week.
Check yo´self,
Elder Standard
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