Into the Amazon

 Monday, December 25, 2023; Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil: This week, three of our friends-Lucas, Eraldo and Letícia-were baptized! It was awesome to help them with that important step in their lives! Baptism is an awesome start to the most important path in life. It leads to what's most important: returning to be with our Father in Heaven.  On Sunday, for Christmas, we had a special Sacrament Meeting. Both of the Wards [congregations] meeting at our chapel met together. During that meeting, our friends who were baptized, received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  On Christmas Eve, Elder Schmidt and I went with 4 other Elders to be with some members in the other Elders' area. There we talked for a little while, ate an awesome dinner, and then returned home. We had to be home at normal time, by 9:30pm.  Also, Christmas Eve, from 6pm until about 11:45pm, there were frequent fireworks going off, combined with the occasional super-loud motorcycle zooming around the block.  Ri...

 Monday, December 18, 2023; Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil: This week was pretty normal for the first half. It was normal studying, lessons, contacting... few results but for one or two awesome lessons. But then Thursday it got really busy. On Thursday we had a Mission Conference with ALL of the missionaries in the Brazil Manaus Mission. It's the first in-person one I have had with the whole Mission. There are 160 missionaries in the Mission, and a decent number are serving outside of Manaus, so, it was cool to see and meet them. We received training, some tips and encouragement. We also sang a song called 'Verdes Matas', which was super awesome. Then we ended with a healthy lunch :) Then Friday some of the missionaries, including my companion and I, sang at a little performance in a mall. It was fun, and the music was awesome. Christmas music is always good. The people there enjoyed it, and really helped me feel Christmas, which is hard to feel when it's always super-hot, ea...

 Monday, December 11, 2023; Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil: This week there was a lot of rain, and I think I got a cold from it. But at least it usually makes the temperature cooler.  This week I did a big service project with my District of 8 other Elders. We moved some bricks, knocked down a brick wall, and worked on clearing dirt out to make a garage space. Mostly, it was just removing buckets of dirt. Our ward held their Primary [Children's] Program [in our worship service], which included all the little kids singing and reciting Articles of Faith, bearing testimony, etc. It brought back fond memories. I especially liked the part during one of the songs when a little boy (maybe 5 or 6 years old) commandeered the microphone. Then a minute later he did it again. All the exhausted parents and leaders. But it was awesome, the kids sang out and the spirit was felt by all. So thankful for the many years of Primary [I attended], with the many awesome leaders and awesome primary program...

 Monday, December 5, 2023; Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil: This week was pretty good, had some awesome lessons and contacts.  I have started having some allergies (seasonal I think?), that have been a little bit annoying. This week it rained a few days. Nice cool rain, followed by hot and humid days. Still pretty hot here, though some days are cloud-filled before the rain comes.  It is inching towards Natal (Christmas). Honestly not much changing other than a few decorations. Really missing cool fall and cold winter days now But #LightTheWorld started, go check out Ideas of how to serve others!!!!!   www.LightTheWorld.org   We ran out of gas for cooking, and while we can get reimbursed for it by the mission, we need a receipt and none of the places we have found will give a receipt. This week my companion and I were making some street and door contacts with people. We were working in an area with lots of industrial buildings, such that we didn't always know for sure i...