Week 5- One month down!

 Hey guys!!

It's been such a fun week! On Wednesday,  I hit one month as a missionary. Here are some blessings that I've noticed in my life since becoming a missionary: I'm less anxious, I'm happier, I'm learning quickly, I'm not stressed, I feel God's love more, and tasks like reading my scriptures feel less like chores and more like a privilege. 

So while I do experience negative emotions, I feel like they're less common and I'm less likely to dwell on them. I'm able to bounce back quickly from setbacks or mistakes.

Anyways, it's been a fun week! Last week on PDay, we went and got free cookies from this place across the street. They give missionaries free cookies on their first trip. Afterwards we went to the missionary store. Its a small store right next to the CTM and it sells stickers, ties, notebooks and jerseys! Everyone in my district got either a blue or yellow jersey. We then got açai again. So good!

On Friday last week, we did yet another jejum de ingles, and it was so much easier this time. We had actual non gospel centered convos with each other. We also did one yesterday. Its a good way to get our FSL (fale sua lingua/speak your language) scores up. 

On Sunday, we had an amazing church service. We talked about the Plan of Salvation, Christlike attributes and missionary work. The lessons were taught by Elder VanSlooten, a member of the Branch Presidency. He and his wife are just the most wonderful people. 

Sundays are awesome because we get so much time for personal study. I made a goal last Monday to read the entire book of mormon before I leave. It means that I need a LOT of time to study, because in order to finish I need to read around 10 chapters a day. And I need enough time to really study each chapter. As of right now I'm 47% done with the BOM. This book is such a blessing! I feel like I'm learning so much, and that I'm truly getting to know my Savior. If you've never read it all the way through, you should. It's changed my life.

Besides Sunday's, Mondays are the best days at the CTM. Why? Churro bites!! Every Monday at breakfast, the CTM provides these little churro bites that have doce in the center. They are wonderful. I had 6 on Monday. If you can get them fresh out the oven, even better!! The CTM is really trying to fatten us up. They provide desserts at every meal, and they have vending machines all over and they GIVE us 17,00 a day to spend at the vending machines, which are stocked with chocolate bars. Once I arrive in the field I won't be eating like this, so it's fine. I've got to take advantage of the churro bites while I can! I am cutting back on mid day chocolate bars though because I've been feeling thoroughly sick because of them. All things in moderation! But seriously y'all, these churro bites are to die for.

On Wednesday we got to go to the São Paulo Temple again. I'm going to miss weekly temple trips when I'm in the field. It's so sad that Teresina's temple isn't built yet. Oh well, it just gives me a reason to come back in a few years!!

Oh!! They also served us chicken nuggets for lunch the other day. I was so happy, it's not chickfila, but I will take it.

Okay, spiritual thought for the week. Doctrine and Covenants 78:19. "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

Being grateful every day really changes your day, every single day. There are so many blessings that God gives us that we don't always recognize. The more gratitude we express, the more we will be able go recognize what we have.  I encourage you all to be more mindful with what you have. I've been writing down 5 things every night in my journal that I'm grateful for that day, and its changed the way I look at days. There's always something to be grateful for.

I love you all, and I hope that you have had an awesome week! Im thinking about you guys and praying for you. Thanks to all of you who wrote me this week, it brightens my day. 🩷

Photo comments:

1- My district after signing our names at the missionary store

2- We're so cool

3- Elder Young is a thief!

4- This is the second week that Sis Ruchti and I managed to match dresses on accident! 

5- Prettiest Brazilian sunset!!

6- My favorite picture of Christ from this week.