Week 20 Why Is Presidente Calling Me?

We had been waiting for information about my new companion and the emergency transfers all week. But when "President Tonini is calling" flashed on my phone, I knew I was in for it.

My new companion, Elder Lezama, who had about 20 days in the field when he arrived here. Between the two of us, we have less than 8 months of missionary experience, so we're basically professionals. Thankfully he's lived in Brazil the passed 8 years. Technically I'm training him, but if training ought to be thought of as “learning together”, we are the prime examples.

The highlight of our week was probably our friend Gelson getting confirmed. The fact that he wasn't confirmed the same week as his baptism makes his story a bit of a saga of “What not to do”, but now all has been set right, and Gelson couldn't be happier.

But other than Gelson and a handful of others, it's the cycle of finding, teaching, them not coming to church, and cutting. However, we are getting some progress going with members, especially with the Ward Mission Coordination Meeting. That is to say we are finally starting to have them. All the older missionaries say that these meetings make all the difference, I wouldn't know because this is my first time having them too. So it's going to be me, my companion, and ward leaders learning together! Please pray that these members have paciência.

Spiritual thought this week is this quote from another Elder, who happened to be my first DL, that was stuck above my study desk when I arrived here in Pinheiros: “God didn't send you here to fail”

I wish to testify that this is 100% true. The Lord is leading and placing you in green pastures. And yet at the same time, we have been sent to learn and often part of that learning process is falling, of being painfully imperfect. But falling is only failing if you stay down. The Fall was part of God's plan for humanity, You falls are part of God's plan for you.

Elder Pinkney (Rosa-Ney...mar)