Week 13: A Temple in the City of Missouri

Somehow, I don't know how, I survived a whole transfer and the move between those transfers. But now, I'm in a whole new city, and it's exciting, but also a little difficult.

Ônibus -- I was told that every transfer in the mission is done using Uber. I was proved wrong when the four of us made the amazing journey to Brasília by bus! My pair of suitcases are big and heavy, but are actually quite easy to transport, when you're in a airport. Walking on the side of a highway, it's a bit different. I was lucky to have everyone else's help, but I will definitely be trimming down some of the stuff I have and don't need. 

Trio Life pt. 2 -- I will forever be blessed with trios. We have a trio because one of our comps will be heading back home in 2 weeks. And, he talks fairly often about the things he's excited to return to, haha. My other comp, Elder Dickens, is also an American with suitcases as large as mine and who wants to search for nerd stores in our city, so it should be fun with him! Maybe I'll finally learn how to play Magic and Pokémon Cards.

Big City, Small Branch -- My new area is a relatively big city, and one that is incredibly organized. This is nice for finding addresses, but also hard because it makes it maze of identical street corners. But, despite the many people here, the branch is quite small, with about 40 people in attendance this past week, and the work is slow, it sounds like. Though, I'm excited with my new comp to tear up these streets!

And, the title of this email comes from our sunday school lesson on D&C 124. Some of the members in attendance didn't have the context of the chapter nor any knowledge of US geography and asked where the temple commanded here was to be built. As the resident Americans, we were asked, "in the city of Missouri, ne?"

Favorite Hymn - This week, I made the goal for myself to practice one hymn from the new hymn book in Portuguese. Many of them I don't know the melody along with the words in Portuguese, so it's a good challenge. And, I need to sing more if I wanna keep my range at all.

But, the very first hymn in the book has been my favorite for quite a while now, O Senhor de Toda Benção, in Portuguese. The words are very poetic originally so it's interesting to see some of the symbolism changed for a simpler translation. 

One of the lines in the first verse especially is simplified:

When compared with the original english:

It makes it feel more like a children songbook hymn, which I like in some ways. The literal feeling of singing with the Lord reminds me of a scripture from my personal study this week that really impacted me. Here, as a missionary himself, Alma shares his glory for the Lord:

Alma 26:36

On the mission, there is a lot you can focus on: you can focus on how hot it is outside at the moment, or on always following the rules to a tee, or on what you miss from home. I've already met missionaries that primarily focus on each these three. But here, Alma shares the focus that I seek to have: a focus on Christ. The chapters around this one are amazing for how to be a humble and focused missionary, and I absolutely recommend them. Whenever I find myself drifting to one of these other focuses, I try to remember Christ and what he has done for me. I think of all of the ways that me and my life are better when He is my life and my light. 

And yet, very often, it doesn't feel that way. And Alma even felt the same. Similar to how the hymn Poor Wayfaring Stranger (one that I shared previously) says, it can be difficult here and in life in general. Along with a loved instrument in the hands of God, I also often feel like a Wanderer in a Strange Land. Things are never perfect, but that's why we have hopes and goals.

And with that, that's it for this week.

Till next time,

Elder Haroldsen

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