Week 12: Flour From the Same Sack

This week was a wild one, and also, very sadly, the last with my companion and my father, Elder Port. He's been my trainer for 6 weeks, and he's challenged me and helped me learn an incredible amount while here. And, I'll miss him most of all because, using the Portuguese expression I discovered, we're flour from the same sack. I wish I could've spoken with him more to get to know him better--maybe we're have the opportunity again later.

Two Americans In Brazil -- Another missionary I feel like is from same sack as me is my companion from the MTC, Elder Hinton. Amazingly, him and I have been in the same district here, and even more amazingly, because my companion is our district leader, we were able to have a division together! This meant we spent the whole day, just the two of us, teaching in my area. Elder Hinton is far ahead of my in the language, but were still just two Americans trying the absolute best. But as the Lord sent us lobs and curveballs, we worked hard teaching literally anyone possible. Along the way, we had a woman ask to marry us for a green card (my second time now), an awkward 15 min after a lesson when we didn't refuse an offer of water and juice confidently enough and ended up sitting in the family's house watching the news while we waited, and had many powerful lessons of the restoration. Overall, we ended up breaking the record of lessons and street contacts in one day of me and Elder Port. It made me a lot more confident in my abilities to teach and listen to people.

The Work is Working -- I think our division made the leaders of the mission more confident in Elder Hinton also, because he is now going to be a trainer to another American! I would like to emphasize how crazy this is: two Americans with less than 10 weeks of combined experience will be living and teaching together here in Brazil. And, it's only happening because the mission is growing like crazy, and there aren't enough trainers! And, around the world, every mission is growing! The church recently announced 55 new missions, which is difficult to believe: often times, it really seems like our world is walking away from religion. But at the same time, the Church of Jesus Christ is growing, and its missions are growing.

Children of a King -- My favorite hymn from this week was from our Stake Conference this week. I still don't understand the specifics of what's being said in the talks still sadly, but I do understand music, and one amazing one was Filhos de Um Rei, Children of a King. I have no idea where this hymn is from. If someone is able to find it in the gospel library, please send me the link, cause I can't find it, but it's so good. 

It talks about who we are: Children of a King. It starts with a question: 

Já pensanste se Jesus sabe quem és? - Have you ever thought if Jesus knows who you are? 

And really, I believe strongly that this is why people are returning to Christ so much today. The world tells us to discover who we are, but doesn't tell us where to start. But, like anyone with a paintbrush and a completely blank canvas, this can be incredibly difficult. But, the knowledge that we are children of Gods tells us so much about ourselves. We have incredible value, created and known by our God, and our purpose is to one day come back to Him.  

Like D&C 18:10 says -- "Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;" This is why the missionary work exists for me, because God wants as many people as possible to have the opportunity to accept His assistance, and this is the most powerful message of missionary work. We are children of a king, princes and princesses, preparing for our kingdom.

That's it for this week!

Till next time,

Elder Haroldsen

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