Week Another (Week 39) — Called to Serve in Cuiaba

I literally got my chicken fritters frozen off this week and I don't even know how it felt so cold. One night it got down to 60 degrees and I had to wear a sweater to visit our people and then had to sleep with a hoodie when I got home. Our shower doesn't heat water so I was just a piece of cubed ice after I showered haha. I've never had 60 degrees feel so cold in my entire life.

On Tuesday night we went to this one restaurant that has this deal where you buy a bread bun for 6 Reais, which is like $1.50 and then there's like a ton of meat and toppings and you can just put whatever you want in the bun. I woke up Tuesday morning with the most sour gut and just absolutely upchucked the freak out of this hotdog. It was horrible hahaha and then I literally just laid in bed all day until 5:30 pm. It was a horrid experience, and it was super cold all day hahah. Such a hose job all around.

This week I really realized something super incredible. I am here away from the people and things that I love the most, helping people who are here in Brasil. What's kind of crazy is that after these 2 years I'll go back home and continue on with my life, driving fast cars with hot chicks, and eating some huge A hamburgers, but there are people here whose lives are literally obliterated. Some people literally live in houses the size of my bedroom and they're struggling to find happiness. I know it's an insane sacrifice to be out here but i can't even comprehend how little my sacrafice is compared to the pain and sadness that so many people feel here in Brasil. I am so freaking glad for the opportunity to help these people and help them become truly and everlastingly happy through the knowledge we have of our Savior Jesus Christ. I just wanna tell you guys how sacrifices always come around to benefit us. Every single sacrifice we give ends up helping us way more than we thought. Whether that be going out of your way to visit a bro, or leaving your house for 2 years be a missionary, we will never be able to weigh the effects of our sacrifices in the lives of others. Don't ever be afraid to sacrafice what you have, and love, to benifit others. God will take care of you. <3

Just as a closing driplet I'd like to note something super quick. As I continue to serve here 100000 freakin miles from my house, I notice more and more how much I love my family, and how much they love me. I find it incredibly interesting that an increase of physical distance brings an increase in the love. We don't have to be right next to those we love to show them we really love them. It's the demonstrations of the love that do just that. I feel like it's the exact same thing with our Heavenly Father. It doesn't matter how far away from us He physically is, we can feel the love He has for us as much or as little as we desire, based on our actions. I promise you guys if you do the little things to pull yourself closer to God, you will feel his love, and your relationship with Him will grow immensely. I promise you the thing He likes the most is hearing about your day. Say a prayer and talk to Him about how you're doing. He gives pretty good advice if you listen.

Shout out to Caleb Johnson, love you bro you're gonna be an incredible missionary.

Elder Porter

After I hurled and we left the house in the 60 degree weather, and I got sleepy.