Bom dia irmãos
Good morning family! Hows it going, ill be p´retty honest sounds like you guys had ana amazing week! Happy Birthday mom, and Dad! Going golfing, chillin, watching movies and eating homedade pizzas and steak sound like quite the treat to me over here haha. Well the fact that I havent done any of that for the last 7 months too, but who cares. Im glad you guys are doing well there :) Makes me smile! Jake, I always enjoy the photos you send too, Ill be honest there are pretty unreal. Hearing you guys do all this stuff is so weird to me haha like jake said This is a picture of kimball at 11:30 at night... Staying up that late! WHat is this!? I feel like the adjustment going home will be the weirdest thing ever.. But I dont need to worry about that now. Im glad to hear that someone read the Talk I gave last time. Way to go Dad, thats how you do it! That talk is so amazing, ive studied it so indepth, for the last month in a half.. its been great. For the rest of the family, I call you to repentance... for that is my duty :) just kidding. love you guys.
Anyway, What happened this week here in Grajaú? eh, não sei haha. Its been quite the week, so many things to say but at the same time Im not sure what to say.. Its been quite the roller coaster here this past week. We've put 6 people on date for baptism. Which is awesome, litterally the usual here haha. I ended up cutting the family that ive been working so hard with to be baptised. The kids want it so badly, but the parents are hindering the situation and continually lying to me about things.. so we had an appointment with them to do a batismal interview I get over there the mom lies to me about how it cant happen today, (this happens on a weekely basis) so there on the spot I was like alright, well you want your kids to have a better life and to be prepared for baptism. How in the world can that happen if you always have an excuse for us missionaries not to be able to help them. We want to help you and your family, but you arent helping yourself... we'll wait for you guys at church next sunday but we wont mark any day to come back unless you sincerely want that. Then we cut the tie and left. It was so hard to do because I honestly love that family, ive been waiting my whole time here to get them baptised, been working my butt for them. I just guess its not there time right now, theyll be the fruit for other missionaries in the future.
You ask dad, about how you are surprised how im not getting baptisms.. Its pretty.. discouraging to be honest. Its been my biggest battle here in the mission to realize my purpose. Honestly from what Ive heard from every mission and President is that Grajaú 1 is the most hard area in the mission for many many reasons.. like the ward is really really weak, the area is super far away from the church, everyone is super poor, and its just straight crime and drugs here. No one wants us in the streets here. Its been really really tough for me. Ive gone through three companions here in Grajaú, with all of them I havent gotten a Baptsism. My companion right now, in his last area had 25 baptisms. When he got here we havent been able to come through with just one. The fact that this area is so hard has been eating at me slowly haha like I just want to reap the benefits.
What it comes down to though, is the measure of sucess comes from what you know, and what the Lords knows youve done here. Not about numbers. I feel like im under the gun here, this is the refiners fire here. This is the area that either makes or breaks missionaries. Its not broken me just yet, dont worry it wont ever! IM planning on breaking the area instead this transfer :) I feel like Ill have one more here after this transfer, to make a total of 6 months here. I dont really care to be honest, this is where the Lord needs me and Ill give him everything I got. This is his mission, not mine. Never was mine!
Ive been blessed though! Yesterday we had an investigator in church! That doesnt sound like much but it was the best thing ever. His name is Tiago! I think I talked about him last time. After trying to contact all of our dates to get them in church, after traveling to there houses, calling, everything none of them came.. but the one we couldnt contact or anything just showed up at church without us! I ran from the front gate and gave him the biggest hug ever haha. In my mind thats such a blessing, After all my work with everyone else not being to get them in church, and him showing up was great. He´s so amazing. I love my investigators! I just cant wait untl they make there decision to walk through the gate of baptism. Ill defintiely be there to guide them, im definitely giving as many people the chance to do it. Thats all I can do I guess. Thats really about it though!
Today for p-day ill be going to eat in some paderia in the center and then to the office to take care of some business. Then at 4 I need to go to the hospital with my companion because he has some problems.. That im just learning about yesterday. SO we'll see what happens haha. Wish me luck, love you guys so much! Dont have too much fun there in the states without me :) Have a good week!
Love Elder Kenning
Spiritual thought: I forgot my scriptures.. Just remember Like I tell all my investigatores. Pray, read the scriptures every day. If you guys do those little things, miracles will happen and you guys will just be more happy :) Love you guys haha!
Oh I have no photos this week.. nothing special happened. Sorry :/
Anyway, What happened this week here in Grajaú? eh, não sei haha. Its been quite the week, so many things to say but at the same time Im not sure what to say.. Its been quite the roller coaster here this past week. We've put 6 people on date for baptism. Which is awesome, litterally the usual here haha. I ended up cutting the family that ive been working so hard with to be baptised. The kids want it so badly, but the parents are hindering the situation and continually lying to me about things.. so we had an appointment with them to do a batismal interview I get over there the mom lies to me about how it cant happen today, (this happens on a weekely basis) so there on the spot I was like alright, well you want your kids to have a better life and to be prepared for baptism. How in the world can that happen if you always have an excuse for us missionaries not to be able to help them. We want to help you and your family, but you arent helping yourself... we'll wait for you guys at church next sunday but we wont mark any day to come back unless you sincerely want that. Then we cut the tie and left. It was so hard to do because I honestly love that family, ive been waiting my whole time here to get them baptised, been working my butt for them. I just guess its not there time right now, theyll be the fruit for other missionaries in the future.
You ask dad, about how you are surprised how im not getting baptisms.. Its pretty.. discouraging to be honest. Its been my biggest battle here in the mission to realize my purpose. Honestly from what Ive heard from every mission and President is that Grajaú 1 is the most hard area in the mission for many many reasons.. like the ward is really really weak, the area is super far away from the church, everyone is super poor, and its just straight crime and drugs here. No one wants us in the streets here. Its been really really tough for me. Ive gone through three companions here in Grajaú, with all of them I havent gotten a Baptsism. My companion right now, in his last area had 25 baptisms. When he got here we havent been able to come through with just one. The fact that this area is so hard has been eating at me slowly haha like I just want to reap the benefits.
What it comes down to though, is the measure of sucess comes from what you know, and what the Lords knows youve done here. Not about numbers. I feel like im under the gun here, this is the refiners fire here. This is the area that either makes or breaks missionaries. Its not broken me just yet, dont worry it wont ever! IM planning on breaking the area instead this transfer :) I feel like Ill have one more here after this transfer, to make a total of 6 months here. I dont really care to be honest, this is where the Lord needs me and Ill give him everything I got. This is his mission, not mine. Never was mine!
Ive been blessed though! Yesterday we had an investigator in church! That doesnt sound like much but it was the best thing ever. His name is Tiago! I think I talked about him last time. After trying to contact all of our dates to get them in church, after traveling to there houses, calling, everything none of them came.. but the one we couldnt contact or anything just showed up at church without us! I ran from the front gate and gave him the biggest hug ever haha. In my mind thats such a blessing, After all my work with everyone else not being to get them in church, and him showing up was great. He´s so amazing. I love my investigators! I just cant wait untl they make there decision to walk through the gate of baptism. Ill defintiely be there to guide them, im definitely giving as many people the chance to do it. Thats all I can do I guess. Thats really about it though!
Today for p-day ill be going to eat in some paderia in the center and then to the office to take care of some business. Then at 4 I need to go to the hospital with my companion because he has some problems.. That im just learning about yesterday. SO we'll see what happens haha. Wish me luck, love you guys so much! Dont have too much fun there in the states without me :) Have a good week!
Love Elder Kenning
Spiritual thought: I forgot my scriptures.. Just remember Like I tell all my investigatores. Pray, read the scriptures every day. If you guys do those little things, miracles will happen and you guys will just be more happy :) Love you guys haha!
Oh I have no photos this week.. nothing special happened. Sorry :/
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