Weekly email number 30 something (Week 34) — Called to Serve in Cuiaba

Another week another dollar folks. the time is flying out here I am just absolutely buckled down. I've never had a week that I walked and worked more in my entire life. Like I told you guys I got a haircut last P-day and I decided to shake it up so I asked the dude to give me a fade and he just gave me the most wicked fade ever hahah. The back of my head hadn't seen the sun in a while so now its just completely crisped. It's pretty bad. I ended up having to put sunscreen directly in my hair and it was just so unpleasant. Geez.

But on the bright side Emerson's baptism happened! (: Sadly Tiago's fell through because a couple months ago when he was moving to a new house and someone stole all of his possessions out of the moving truck so he has been working like 13 hours a day to try and get some money back. He didn't have any time to get married. But back to Emerson. So the baptism was just awesome! We tried to invite a ton of members and people but not really anyone ended showing up and turns out that was exactly what Emerson wanted hahah. He asked the Bishop if he could baptize him and the Bishop is like 5 foot 4 and Emerson is like 6 foot 2 and he looks like Elvis so it was quite funky in the font haha. But after Emerson got dunked his just stayed in the font running the baptismal water over his arms and hands and then he just looked up and gave a speech chillin in the font hahah it was so rad. He just goes “Firstly I'd like to thank the Academy for getting me here” hahaha nah just kidding he just stood there for like 3 minutes though telling all of us how grateful he was for our influence and how happy he was to be a part of this gospel and it was actually really nice. He's changing so much and it's making me so happy. He just seems so much happier and that's just such a testimony builder to me. This gospel, simple and sweet, is the true source of lasting happiness through our Savior. It doesn't need to be complicated. I promise every single one of you as you simply just let Christ's love fill you through his simple and perfect gospel, and do your best to not fight or complicate the process, you will encounter a greater happiness than you've ever felt in your life.

Something that I have really been learning lately is that there does NOT have to be a reason for everything. Sometimes things are just how they are and they must not be more complicated. For example... I know that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. I know that truly. How high they were standing off the ground, or where exactly were they, or how long was Jesus' hair does not matter. What matters is that is happened. It truly happened. One day we will have the answers to all that our heart desires, but for now simple and sweet is all that I need.

During the baptismal reunion Vanderline's kid was watching a little show on his dad's phone but he turned the volume way up like right in the middle of the meeting so I just reached up to the bench in front of me and turned the phone off and he just turned around and looked at me with such rage I have never seen and just says "I am going to kill you alright” ahahah and I just lost it laughing and the thing that's even better is the Bishop heard it too and couldn't help laughing hahahah. This kid is a wild one. I'll take a picture of him and send it to you guys next week.

Last thing. This week my older brother Drakey taught me one of the most valuable things that I will treasure forever. When I was emailing him last week he told me to be more grateful in my prayers. Like for example don't ask God to bless you with a good day, Tell him you're thankful for the day, and go make it a good day. That really hit me and this week as I tried to do that I noticed the incredible difference I had in my life. I truly felt happier, I felt like my week went smoother, I felt like I had more energy, I literally just saw my whole life go smoother. I wanna challenge you guys to firstly, if you don't say your prayers start saying at least a morning or night prayer thanking God for what you have. It will change your life. If you already pray then this week try your hardest to really focus on thanking Heavenly Father for what is already in your life. I promise you blessings and happiness will fill your life. The difference is humungous.

Welp the end has come. Thanks to all of you who still read these giant things. I love you very much. Even if you're one of those dudes who just skips to the end and reads this part and looks at the pictures I still love you too.

Also a bird deuced on my sheets while they were out back drying. Extra sheety sheets. So unfortunate. Also Tiago said that he is literally going to do everything he can to get married this week because he really wants to get baptized this Saturday. (;

Weekend baptism under the lights (Emerson)

I made hotcakes for Elder T and a member who did visits with us.