Bom Dia Família! I love you all so very much and want to thank you
all for your letters and your support. Its is such a good feeling to know that I
have a wonderful family that gives me all their support and love as a
missionary. We had a good week this week and seemed to pass quickly. Last p-day
was good we had a zone p-day and so everyone came from Lucas and Sinop to here
in sorriso. We didn't really do much but it was good to enjoy each others company.
We played ping pong and ate ice cream and just chatted. We had a good time.
Miqueis randomly showed up at the church and so he stayed with us during the day
he had his guitar so we played guitar a little bit as well. Miquies really likes
the missionaries. I just wish his parents gave him more support sometimes. Not a
whole lot exciting happened during the first part of the week, we made alot of
contacts and tried out a new neighborhood. We met some cool people and families
that of course weren't married legally. Wednesday we taught some cool people and
taught some elects who soaked everything up during the lesson. They said they
were married but I had my doubts so I carefully asked a little bit more about
them and of course found out they they were only living together and not legally
married. Then I learned that the husband his like 23 and that his "wife" is 15
years old! I was like what!? Man there is some weird stuff going on in the world
today. It was kinda weird teaching this week because there wasn't going to have
church on Sunday because of general conference. Sorriso doesn't have a satelite
and the Internet is horrible so all the members had to travel to Lucas or Sinop.
So I did end up having splits with the Assistants this week. They came Wednesday
night at like 3 in the morning. I went with Elder Hancock who was called as an
assistant this transfer so he is pretty new as an assistant. We had a really
good day. I planned our day the night before. We had a sweet day all of our
lessons worked out, we taught 6 lessons. It was good. We even marked a date with
that couple Fernando and Ryani that me and Elder Cordeiro have worked with so
much. I am praying day and night that it will work out so that they can be
baptized this Sunday. Right now I just have to have faith and visit them
everyday this week. I ask that you guys will pray for them as well. Friday we
had to go to Lucas again to do interviews for the sisters baptisms again. This
time it worked out and we were able to get both the interviews done. Even though
it took all day. I ate subway again but this time I used my card from home.
Cause I am out of money already. Between going to Lucas 2 times and having to
pay taxi and lunch and dinner, me and Elder Geisler have no money. He has zero
money. And I have 5 reais. So probably today I will have to dip into my
personal money from home. I have to buy several things from the market today. I
have no food at the house, and also I am out of soap and toothpaste and toilet
paper haha. So I will probably have to use my card from home today. Cause we
wont receive more money until next week. So since there isn't a way to show
general conference here in sorriso we got permission to travel to Sinop to watch
it because they have a chapel there with satellite. So we took the bus there
Saturday morning, we were going to go at 8:30 but all the seats had already been
sold so we had to go at 11:30 instead. Elder Geisler already served in sinop so
he knew where the church was. Sinop is about an hour from Sorriso. So we got
there and watched conference in Portuguese. We wanted to watch it in English in
the bishops office but nobody knew the password. IT was ok though cause this
time I could actually understand the translation unlike 6 months ago haha, the
second session the branch president came and entered the password so we were
able to watch in English. Its just alot better when we can actually here the
voices of the prophet and the apostles. Conference saturday was really good and
priesthood session as weel. Even though I had a hard time staying awake, I was
super tired and here the session went from 8 till 10. We stayed in one of the
Elders houses there. There are 2 duplas there and they have two houses, we
stayed in the house closest to the church. IT was also the only house that had
mattresses. Even though it was only three, so Elder Lima got his own mattress
and me and Elder Geisler and Elder Miguel put to crappy mattresses together and
we slept on the two mattresses. We stuck a fan by us and just slept. We actually
slept pretty good, but it was cause we were so tired. I took my smallest
suitcase with me that is used for carryon. Cause I brought my pillow and towel
and stuff and my backpack cant fit all of that. I regretted it though and I had
to tow my suitcase around everywhere. Sunday was great though. General
conference was inspiring and I received much personal revalation and I had
prayers answered. I especially enjoyed the talk that President Monson gave Sunday
morning. He talked about some things at the end that are included in my
patriarchal blessing that before I didn't understand too much. But he cited a
poem that makes it perfectly clear. That made me happy and I'm glad that the Lord
answered my prayers. We had lunch at a members home in Sinop and then we went
back for the last session which was great as well. We got our passage secured
for 8 that night so we had to wait for 2 hours after the last session. Here the
sessions started at noon went till 2, and then had intermission between 2 and 4
and then went from 4 to 6. Conference was great though. That sounds like fun
that you guys got to listen to it while camping, even though the brothers were
being bums and wanted to go home. They should be happy that they have time to
spend with mom and dad. Those are times that I took for granted. I would have
loved to been together with the family watching general conference. I really
would like to be able to go to conference with the family when I get back from
my mission. I think that would be an amazing experience. I hope we can all give
ear to the prophets words. He really is the Lords mouthpiece and we would be
wise to listen to him and all who spoke at general conference. Something that I
always took for granted is that we an actual living Prophet that speaks with
Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is the head of this church, he is the one that
guides and directs it through a living prophet. I know that Thomas Monson is the
Lords chosen prophet here on the earth at this time. Of that I have no doubt.
One of the things I liked about Sinop is that next door to the elders house is
an ice cream cone shop. I hope I don't go to sinop because I will get fat from
the ice cream there. Sinop seems alot better than here in Sorriso as far as the
city itself, its alot greener and has alot more trees and more people in the
street. But from what I heard from the Elders there it still has its problems
with the branch. One of the things I don't like about these small ramos is there
is always alot of drama and people that say and do things that drive alot of
people away from the church. BUt I guess that is any branch or ward. Satan tries
hard to destroy members. Just do everything to avoid gossip and talking bad
about other people. Pride is a terrible sin, I know that the pride of many
people here has hurt the Sorriso branch alot. Never let the things of the world
or our own desires to look good blind us to what is really important. So we left
Sinop and got back to the bus station in sorriso at 9:45 because the bus was
late and really slow, it was also raining alot. So nobody had money to pay for a
taxi and also it was sunday so we just decide to walk home. Which stunk for me
cause I had to drag my suitcase for about 2 miles till we got back to the house.
Plus it was still raining and I had my scriptures and camera in my backpack. I
just remember praying that the Lord would hold back the rain till we got back to
the house. So finally we got back home and sure enough the heavens started
letting out all their rain. Good things we were in the house. I was pretty dead
and just took a shower and passed out on my bed. But it was a good week. I felt
close to you all during conference. We had our little room of three americans
when we watched general conference. It brought back good memories of home. I
remember when the session were all over I said well lets return to Brazil now
haha. But it was good. We talked alot of English which was weird but nice. So
this is the last week of this transfer. Wow it passed fast, I think the fastest
transfer so far for me. Its been really good with Elder Geisler. I have more
self confidence and more confidence in the language. So I am really wanting to
get transferred, I'm pretty burnt out with this area. But seriously, I think that I
will be staying one more here. I don't want to but I have a gut feeling that I
will be staying again. I am ready to move up and be the senior companion but
that is unlikely for anyone because there are so few missionaries coming into
this mission. We will receive one Brazilian Elder this transfer. There is still
a bunch of Americans waiting on their visas. But as I always ask pray for
transfers that all will go well. But I know that everything is according to the
will of the Lord. I will do what he wants me to do. He is my Master and I am His
servant. I will do what he asks and what he desires. This is his mission not
mine. But I think that's about it for this week. I want you to know how much I
love you all and am so grateful for everyone of you. I hope you all have a good
week, sounds like its cooling down there and you guys are getting snow. We got a
little rain here but its still hot as heck! But yes love you all have a good
week. So here is picture of last weeks p-day with the zone, and also a bug that
is everywhere here in sorriso, this one was flying around in our room when the
assistants were here so I smacked out of the air with my flip flop. and then we
took pictures of it. It looks like a frog with wings and they aren't afraid to
attack. Anyways Paz e amor daqui no Brasil! Amo vocês muito! Fiquem firmes na
fé!
-Elder Kennington
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