Eaeee

How's it going y'all? This past week was quite busy because we had a competition against the other two Elders in our city to see who can get more people's contacts this week. Whoever lost had to buy the others açaí.

On our mission, the starndard weekly goal is 40 contacts. This week, we got 205, and invited every single one of them to church, personally and with a sent invite. We got our WhatsApp blocked mid-week because of how many messages we were sending, but by Saturday night we were able to send them all invited, and 1 of them came to church! Not an amazing ratio, but the Lord did bless us with lots of other people at church!

And, we also won the competition, so that's free açaí.

In other events, at district council this week, we stayed a little longer after and made pancakes! (With what was left of an Elder's $20 bottle of maple syrup) Then after, our bus didn't follow the path predicted by Google Maps, then got rear-ended by someone, so we were a little late coming home.

Also, we had to make lunch at home one day this week, and we made strogonofe with chicken. I dethawed, cut, and cooked the chicken... badly. It wasn't *uncooked* but it wasn't completely cooked. For me, it just had an odd taste, but for my companion, by the end of the day, he was feeling awful. (Note that we were already in the contact competition so he would say how awful he was feeling, then immediately ask to talk to someone and invite them to church.)

He told our mission president's wife, and she said it was imperitive that we take an uber to the best nearby hospital, a 40 minute uber away. I was a little worried because last time a missionary went there with their bitten by a dog, he was there the entire night before being attended. Luckily though, we weren't there too long before he was perscribed some anti-nasuea and pain meds.

Also, for those who don't know: There's a very popular pain medication here called Diparona (in Portuguese). It's banned in the US for causing mood swings and other mental problems, and yet every step of the way they tried to perscribe it to my companion. He had to just say we're alergic to it.

Favorite Hymn -- This week, my hymn is a little meta. This week was a little tough at times, but one thing the mission teaches me plenty is how to rely on the Lord and the Spirit to find comfort during hard times. And one of the ways I most commonly do that is through music! I'll say it again, I looove my choir music and my hymns. I've been learning more hymns my ukelele and I just love being able to play one or two when I'm feeling a little down.

Think a sacred song when scared or feeling bad.

Hum the quiet tune whenever you are sad.

Your heart and mind will open to let the Spirit in,

And you will feel His comfort again.

One thing I've been able to notice more and more as I study these hymns is how effectively they convey simply gospel truths, like "Choose The Right" and "I Am a Child of God." And it's also made me realize how incredibly simple the gospel of Jesus Christ is and ought to be for us! A lot of times we become more focused on specific beliefs or practices than we are on the 4 principles of the gospel, as layer out nicely in the 4th article of faith:

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

As I continue to search for answers and knowledge myself, the thing I've easily learned the most is the truthness of those 4 things. More than any little question I had about whatever.

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

(2 Nephi 31:21)

That's it for this week!

Till next time,

Elder Haroldsen

Images

At the hospital!!!

Week 38: Competição