12/23/24 - Polícia!

Alright this weeks been very Interesting. 

Also, it's almost Christmas already? How'd we get here

On Wednesday we got to go to the Temple with Daví's family to visit the Vilazinho De Belém (little village of Bethlehem) exibit they have going on there right now.  A ton of lights a massive Christmas tree, and the Temple. It was amazing.  And Daví's mom and a bunch of questions we were able to answer. It was a really amazing experience for us and especially for them.  Also, Daví was baptized yesterday!! It was so amazing.  Daví chose the Bishop to baptized him and then I had the great, but scary experience to confirm him a member of the church, give him the gift of the Holy Ghost and give him a priesthood blessing.  I didn't find out I was going to do that untill a few minutes before.  Also, as a reminder, everything had to be in português. The bishop saod that he would help me out, so that was really nice to have him there, but along with him the gift of tounges was right there too.  It was an amazing experience.  I'll put photos of both the Temple and the baptism on the email and also the google photos (https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQG3K68BLWXZWLEz8)

The other exciting event this week happened on Friday.  We found out Thursday that we would be doing a division (an exchange as it's called in other places)  and I would be going to the Polícia Federal to do all the leagal work so I can stay here in Brazil for next couple years.  So Thursday night I packed my bag for an overnighter and got in an Uber with another greenie, Elder Zaehringer at around 10:30pm.  We got to the house of the office secretary missionaries at around 11 that night and ot wasnt untill around 12 that we finally went to sleep.  And then at 5am we got up to get ready to go to the Polícia Federal to be there by 7.  I think there was around 13 in my mission that went that day.  We went there with the missionaries who are in the Brazil MTC and a few other missions including the Campinas mission who there was a Sister from my MTC district there Sister Nelson.  Most of the Polícia Federal was waiting around and it didn't take too long so it was good.  Then after we went and got lunch with the secretaries at a buffet near the mission office.  The food was pretty good, but I don't know if buffets are truly buffets if they run out of food.  Overall the expected was really fun.  10/10 would recomend.

Another random experience this week, we were walking to the store on Saturday to grab some bread and this drunk dude at a churrasco told us to come grab some food and some drinks (they had soda).  Also, it's really hard to understand drunk people in foreign toungs.  Half the time he tried to communicate with me he just looked at me with a drunk smile and noded his head, then he'd point at the food.  Really strange but interesting experience, also 10/10 would recommend.

I've started reading Saints this week and it's such an amazing reminder of what the early Saints did and the sacrifices they made. There are so many examples of people who literally gave everything they had to offer for this restored gospel.  We can learn so much from the early Saints.  They were such good people (in general and not indidualy).  They had to have so much faith to give everything up, they really had an eye single to the glory of God.  They were hard working, you had to be to travel thousands of miles by foot/waggon.  There are so many examples of good traits that they had that we, especially me, need to work on in our lives.  My invite for you this week is to pick a trait and think of it like a pioneer, try to live with that trait like your life depended on it, it was like that for them. And as always this Christmas season remember Christ our Lord.  Remember he is the reason we celebrate Christmas and the day he was born is one of the most important days in history.  

Have a very...

Elder Blissfull Christmas

Daví's baptism!! 

The Christas at the Temple with the Christmas tree reflecting on the glass

Christmas Tree!

Tiny lizard i caught in the chapel.  Just look at the light in his eyes. After I grabbed him he just chilled on my arm for about an hour untill I went to play soccer, then I let him go. 

Massive moth I caught also in the chapel

Grabbing strange animals/insects is fun.