Promised Land

I'm in the promised land, it's official! Another tough and blessed week here in Monte Castelo. I have learned so much this week and have seen the hand of God in just about every aspect. 

Those of you who have been wondering about my health. I went to the hospital again this week and took seven hours of tests, but now I'm chilling. And had another surgery on my toe this week because the inflammation doesn't seem to stop. But I'm praying that this is the last time at the foot doctor, because now I'm down to half a toenail and it hurts worse every time. But that's enough complaining, let's get right into it. 

zone conference

We had our zone conference this week and it's always so nice to see the other missionaries on our half of the mission and get that must needed end-of-the-transfer energy. The trainings were really focusing on getting out of the house and getting to work, and about the high and loving expectations that we have here in João Pessoa. Let's just say our President let out some of the football side of him. But the entire atmosphere changed when president gave everyone a blessing from the pulpit. Crying, he blessed us that we would see miracles in the work and in our lives, as well as, our families would be watched over and protected. Super spiritual!

fasting + opposition = miracles

One of the things that I have developed the strong testimony for here on the mission is the power of fasting. This, coupled with the fact that every time that I work through my sickness and health drawbacks, I am always able to see miracles. Well on Wednesday, we decided to do a district fast to help with some of the problems that we were facing. At that same time, I was fighting the health and toe problems, limping around from lesson to lesson. Well because God is so good, we were able to see a couple of really cool miracles, which included a family of inactive members who were just waiting for the invitation to come back to church! We were also able to mark a bunch of the people that we were teaching for baptism this day, which was a tender mercy!

humbling sunday experience

I had a much needed sunday experience. I had a strong feeling that this would be my last sunday here in Monte Castelo, so I had set some really high expectations for myself and our friends that we were teaching. Seeing the growth that this transfer brought, I was getting greedy and wanted more. Well after waking up and getting a text that some of our investigators were sick and knocking on a door to pick someone up who was still sleeping, I realized, while walking to the chapel alone (with my companion) that I had relied to much on myself and my expectations, that what the Lord had in store. I was getting a little too prideful about the list of people that we had planned to bring to church and not about the reason that we were bringing them. Definitely a much needed humbling experience! But God still blessed us and some of the other families that we were teaching showed up and love it!

other cool things

- Lucas was decked out in the white shirt and tie and received the Priesthood on Sunday!

- I realized that I need to start eating healthier. 

- I hit 11 months as a missionary!

- I've been walking around in flip-flops with a plastic bag on my foot. Not the prettiest outfit. 

- I'm literally in the promised land and don't want to leave, but we'll see when transfers come this week! 

Love you all, have a great week!

Elder Ware