Mar 9, 2022: Week 3 going on 3000 in Macabu

 Hello folks! Good morning from here on the bus to Macaé, a journey I am getting all to familiar with... I'm headed to some tourist attraction or another that I'm not really sure anymore haha. I guess I'll find out when I get there, and you guys will find out next week hahaha.


Anyways, this last week(s) (?) (Im pretty sure time has no meaning for me anymore) have been good! A different story every day, but I'm just trying every day to keep the work going here! 

MEMBERS

So story time, the members when I got here in Macabu were a little bit... reserved. They had had some missionary problems in the past, and were still recovering from that. The branch has been a branch for a really really long time, and even was almost a ward at one point before covid. But everything fell through for them. We meet in an apartment chapel every Sunday, and attendance is usually limited to say the least. So we have been doing some fun member work here! And I have seen a lot of progress even just since I've been here. Every day we are trying to help the families and the people in our ward and every week were seeing a bit more support and love in the branch meetings! It's really cool to see and were hoping to start the process of adding to the ranks and also reactivation people who have fallen away! I'm excited for that!

FINDING EFFORTS

So finding efforts here in macabu is just the slightest bit... different. Our area book is a mess, even after three weeks of picking away at it hahah, and everyone know everyone, which includes the missionaries! So everyone here is really really nice to us!! Buuuuut, they also know our message more or less,  and not too many people are interested in that part hahha. We could pass hours on the streets just talking with people but when we start talking about the gospel it's a bit different. But we have had a few finding gems, josias, and poliana. One online, and one personally! So I'm excited to work with them! 

CHALLENGES

I don't know how many of you know this, but the mission field is full of challenges. You've got a full day every single day, a balance of companions, physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of every person, and dealing with people on the streets. And that doesn't even mention struggles with your own mind. For me I've been a bit stuck in my own mind the last few weeks, with a few challenges arising from the people around me. It's always a really hard thing to just be stuck, but  I'll just say to you all right now that I know that through Christ alone is how we get through these times. I've been relying alot on him and his power to lead me through the darkness that feels to be around me sometimes. And I know that that darkness might never go away, but I have faith that if I just keep following, I will never be led astray. 

So that's my thought on the last few weeks and also my spiritual thought right there haha. Thanks yall for all your prayers, I am always needing them when they come. Yall are the best and you are always in my heart and prayers. 

Love you!
Elder Bradshaw

Email to Mom (Mar 9, 2022):
I'll get a response to the questions right now cause idk if I'll call honestly probably won't be able to.

Physically 5
Mentally 4
Emotionally 4
Companion 7 with one, 3 with the other
Language 7
I've tried to serve my comps in little ways and also a member named hildemar

I'm still feeling pretty down/depressed but I've been able to have the spirit with me which is good, I've been able to feel the power of never being alone with Christ

I honestly don't know of anything that made me laugh

Food: dinner after fast Sunday haha

Elder Munafo blessed my life this week cause yesterday I was feeling really really down at like 1 am and then we were able to just talk for a while cause he happened to wake up to get water.

If I knew the advice that my future self would give I wouldn't be in this situation still haha. Probably just to keep trying different things and hope that something eventually works.

Nobody specific for the prayer thing

No specific questions that can't wait till next week

It's  been another rough one but I'm still here living. I'll probably write to President today to talk to him about how I'm feeling and what I can start to do to help

I love you

Thanks for sending your email early Last night I was still awake and feeling pretty lonely but I got a prompting to check my email and you had already emailed with that quote about just waiting for things to work themselves out and that helped me. It was a little miracle for me.

Have a good week If I don't get to talk to you

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