Week 70: December 17, 2018 - Porto and Ponta Delgada

Well, we had Christmas conference this week. I learned so much! We talked about growing and making ourselves more capable. We talked about how the promise in Doctrine and Covenants 84:85 only happens if we do our part and study the word of God so that the Spirit can bring back those things to our remembrance. The Spirit cannot bring back something that wasn't there.

The zone leaders did something pretty cool too. They had one elder play the piano while we stated questions that people have asked us during our service here in Portugal. He played the same note over and over again only after the question was asked. Then another missionary came and when we asked the questions, that missionary played a super amazing piece on the piano the whole time without stopping. They talked about how we need to constantly practice and learn new things and adapt to the needs of the people. Our efforts also have to be constant. We can't just practice once or not prepare. I thought it was a really cool analogy.

Elder Ray got super sick during the conference. He left during the conference and went to the bathroom because he was feeling super sick. I went with him just to be there and comfort him. He felt terrible and was just getting overwhelmed with being sick all the time and not knowing what it was. At one point, a whole bunch of elders and I gave him a blessing. He had good spirits the whole time. He went with President and Sister Fillmore in a big van to Lisbon with a few other elders to go to the hospital there. After that, I stayed in Porto and went on a split with the Zone leaders. I stayed with Elder Baugh the whole time. He is a great missionary. We went to a busy spot on the street and put up a light the world banner and gave out a bunch of light the world cards to everyone and contacted everyone. It was awesome!!! I always love the energy I feel after doing that. It was super cold in Porto! Made me super grateful to be on the island!!!

(Elder Baugh and I on the Street with the Light the World Banner)

There was a non member family that lived right next to the elders in Porto. They gave us dinner every night!!! Such an amazing family!!!

(from left to right: yours truly, Antonio, Elder Pina, Filomena, Beatriz, and Ines)

They had a bunch of times in the past where they were almost baptized, but they had a few bad experiences. This family was so funny and super nice!!! The people from Porto were a little hard to understand too!!! hahaha!! I almost think the people on the island are easier to understand!!! Antônio, the dad in the family, was way to kind to us!! He got me and another elder watches from Decathlon!!!! So awesome!!! I gave him and the family some of those Reeses you sent me right when we left. I seriously loved that package!!! Thanks so much!!!! You guys are way too thoughtful!!! I got a text later from them. The mom, Filomena, said that she was angry that I did that!!! hahaha, she was just messing around, but I wrote them a long message back thanking them for everything!!!! Super neat family!!!

I learned a ton from Elder Baugh though!!! He sort of reminded me of Benjamin Birchall. He was just super chill and super fun to be around. He taught me a lot about patience. We read in Preach My Gospel about patience, and we read one part that I forgot about patience. I always thought that if I wasn't getting super angry at stuff right away, I was having patience, but we read that it also includes not being anxious and trusting that God has a plan. I forgot about that anxious part. I feel like I get anxious a lot, whether it be long term or short term, like right in the moment of finding someone and teaching on the spot. I need to be better at that.

Elder Ray is staying in Lisbon. I have been with Elders Harper and Zamora in Ponta Delgada on the other side of the island. Elder Ray seems to be in high spirits still. They are trying to figure out what he has. He will be staying in another area until they find out. I get my new companion on the 19th from what I know. It has been going great here in Ponta Delgada.

We had a branch Christmas party here. Tiago, one of the people we are teaching, and Inês, his member girlfriend were there. They wanted to talk to me during the party. Tiago seemed super nervous. He talked to me about his baptism and some things he was worried about. He said how everything seemed to be going against his baptism. We read a scripture in 2 Nephi 2 about opposition and we talked about how he could be stronger. He and Inês seemed a lot happier and more comfortable after. We made some plans together and feel pretty good about it.