I have (per usual) 100000 things to talk about it, but you guys are going to get the highlights. We had a District Meeting this week. I gave a lesson/training on unity....Our district has been having a bit of a problem, in reality it's just one Sister and our Zone Leaders, with unity. We talked about being unified with our companions as we teach, as we work, as we walk on the street (walking next to them and not one in front of the other)....basically in any aspect that you can think of. It was a fantastic meeting....the best district meeting I've had on my mission. We all felt the spirit very strongly, and there was a very different attitude among the missionaries afterwards.
So this week was the start of Carnaval....for those of you who aren't familiar with this "colorful" celebration we are blessed with here, it is a week long party that is very similar to Mardi Gras....everyone's out in the streets, drinking, dancing half-naked.... Brazil wide. Basically not a very good place to be for a person with values, let alone a Latter-day Saint, let alone a missionary. We got instructions from Pres Lanius to be in our apartments every night no later than 5:30....if there isn't anything going on in our areas, we can stay out until 7 at the latest. Caruaru was pretty relaxed....almost everyone leaves to go to the beach.
This week was pretty difficult and slow for us....we were being 100% obedient and working hard every day, but it felt like every single appointment we had and every lesson we taught had some flaw. Nearly all of our appointments fell through....people weren't home, they were sick, they were sleeping....but whatever the case, they weren't available for us to talk to them. Those that we did have a chance to teach were all super lazy...I know it's bad to say that, but it's the case. We taught a lesson to a family that felt the spirit....they said that they knew that the church was true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. A lot of people say this, but these folks really felt the spirit testify to them....when it came around to extending commitments with them, they said something more or less like this, "we know your church is true, and that ours is not, but I can't leave my church. I was born there, and I will die there". Talk about frustrating.
Well after 7 straight days of this, the Lord blessed us with a MIRACLE. In reality it was nothing miraculous, but I found a family that absolutely touched my heart. We met Iramar (ear-a-mar) walking to try and find an address that we received. He stopped us and started to talk to us. We asked if we could go to his house and share a message with them. They accepted. We went to his house, which was more or less in a favela. Generally we stay away from favela (or slum) type places....but this family was nothing like what you would expect to find in a favela. Iramar lives with his 4 kids and his wife. They were all so polite and respectful....but the thing that stood out to me was there HUMILITY. I understand what Alma was saying in the first part of Alma 32 when he said that the humility of the people prepared them to accept the word of God. We had an amazing lesson. In fact, it was the best lesson I've ever had on my mission....which is interesting, because my companion isn't exactly the best teacher. The spirit was THICK in that room. That family, humble as they were, understood EVERYTHING. I've never seen that. There's always that feeling at the end of the lesson that "Shoot, did they get it?"....there wasn't the slightest trace of this thought at the end of that lesson. We invited everyone to kneel for the closing prayer, and invited Iramar to say the prayer. He was a bit nervous but he accepted. His prayer was that of a humble.....very very humble man....it reminded me exactly of that story that I told you guys last week. He expressed thanks from the bottom of his heart for the message that we brought into his home, for the knowledge of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ. He apologized to the Lord in the prayer, because he said he was feeling a "bit emotional"....at this point I began to tear up...I was feeling the Spirit stronger than I ever had before on my mission. My heart was literally broken into two pieces. After the prayer, he shook my hand firmly, not about to let go, and just said "Thank you.....thank you". You can imagine how I felt 24 hours later when I got my transfer call....This is where you really just have to trust in the Lord, and my companion that will take over the area now.
I love Caruaru. I believe it will be my favorite area of my mission. There is a consensus among the mission that it is the best area in the state. I did not want to be transferred, but a mission is all about that....It's not my will....I'm not hear on a mission to do what I want....I'm here to serve the Lord, and He has decided and notified me through his ordained servants that he doesn't want me in Caruaru anymore. Because of that, I will leave. For none other reason than this.
Today in our transfer meeting, I found out that I will be serving as the Zone Leader of the Paulista Zone, a zone with 18 missionaries, the largest in the mission. I know the Lord has things in store for me, and for the people that he will touch through me and my willingness to serve him. I am here to serve, serve, serve, and forget everything else that might inhibit that objective. I am LOVING my mission. I know the Lord is guiding this work, and even more, he is guiding my life here.....I trust him. He does nothing unless it is for my benefit, regardless of whether or not I recognize it at first. I will leave you guys hanging in the mean time....I really don't know too much more than this, but there will be much more to come next week.
Until next time,
Elder McKinley
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