Weeks 78 and 79 - December 21, 2023

What's up, everyone!  A lot of change in the last little bit, so I've just been adjusting to the new stuff.  We had transfers last week and I am now up in the serra in an area called Cinquentenário in Caxias.  My new comp is Elder Gamperline from Utah who has a little less time than me.  This new area is insanely hilly and very big.  It's been a beat down to walk from place to place but there's no way around it.  There isn't really a way to explain it to understand the slope in this area, but just know it's no joke lol.  Also, our ward is about 95% Venezuelan so now might be the time to study Spanish. Second hour of church last week was almost all in Spanish, and let's just say that the two years I took in high school was nothing like the real deal lol.

Leaving my last area was tough, but it was time.  I spent six months there and I met a lot of amazing people.  The members and recent converts became like family and so saying goodbye to them for the last time was bittersweet.  It's crazy to think how much time I spent there and how fast it went by.  When I showed up it was freezing cold and when I left it was 110 every day.

I'm looking forward to this new area and opportunity.  Change is always a good thing to help you stay locked in and not get comfortable.  It's starting to feel somewhat real that one day this will all be over and it's kind of a weird feeling.  I don't want to leave anything on the table, so I'm working as hard as possible to make every day count.  Been thinking a lot about consistency lately.  Something that can be easily confused as perfection.  Expecting to be perfect all the time isn't reasonable but what we need is self discipline to give maximum effort. Opportunity comes and goes, and we aren't always in go mode trying to make the best out of what we got.  We find ourselves constantly complaining and regressing.  It's easy to make excuses but right to trust the daily process!

Elder Copeland

Weeks 75, 76, and 77 - December 8, 2023

What's up, everyone!  I've been bad about sending emails and haven't sent one for the last few weeks, but I'll give a quick update on what's going on!  Last three weeks have been super busy and gone by super quick.  I'm still in the same area with Elder Weaver.  However, we are already at the end of the transfer and are entering into the last week. 

This past week after multiple weeks of planning and teaching this awesome family, the parents João and Solange were married officially and got baptized!  The ward pitched in and helped out a bunch with the wedding decorations and ceremony that happened in the chapel, and it was pretty fulfilling to see it all come together in the end.  The day after the wedding, the couple was baptized and are now members of The Church of Jesus Christ.  This family is amazing and super special to me and my comp.  I've been here since day one when we first started teaching them and over the last month, I've seen them change in so many ways in preparation to be baptized.  The ward did a great job of making them feel loved and a part of the ward family.  It's funny to think that two 20-year-old kids who know nothing about getting married helped a couple through the entire marriage process lol. Everyone that was involved did a great job and the whole weekend was very memorable. 

Also, last week we had the baptism of our guy Luis.  The guy is an absolute stud and is willing to do anything he was asked to.  After giving him the Book of Mormon for the first time, two weeks later he had already read the entire thing and wanted to learn more.  He was baptized on Sunday, and it was awesome to see him make this decision.  He's almost 70 years old, but every Sunday he walks the 45 min to church to show up and participate and he never once complains about the distance.

My 4th transfer in this Zone is finishing up as we are going into the final week.  I've been here for so long in this area that it just feels like home!  I know my time here in the mission is going by quickly and I'm trying to make every day count.  It still is hard to believe that one day this thing will all come to an end, but it still doesn't quite seem possible.  It's all about taking things one day at a time and trusting the process.  The everyday challenges are what shapes you.

Love you all, Elder Copeland

Weeks 73 and 74 - November 17, 2023

What's up, everyone!  I'll update everyone as best as possible of the last two weeks and everything that's been going out here.  It's been a blast to be back with Elder Weaver! We were together for the first time a little over nine months ago which seems like yesterday and now that we're back together we've picked up right where we left off. 

Last email I talked a little bit about the family we had been teaching but now there are more updates.  The kids Ana Júlia and Daniel got baptized this past Sunday!  A ton of family was able to make it there and show support to them on the big day. The parents as well have finished up almost all the paperwork and have a date to be married and baptized here in about two weeks.  It's been a blast and really special to not only teach and help this family every day, but also see how in such a short time they have changed and grown their testimonies! They treat us like family and every time we go over, it's a guaranteed laugh! 

We've also met through this family more family members and other families that we have started teaching this week.  We've been trying our best to grow our teaching pool, and it's been a whole lot easier with the help of this one family!

I hit 17 months and a lot of good has been happening.  I've been out here and doing this for so long, it just feels like normal life.  The everyday grind has become a routine and I've come to love it.  Each day is a new challenge and something else to achieve.  Nothing better than teaching people about God's plan of happiness and how we can live with our families forever! 

Take some time this week to study the scriptures and you won't regret it!

Hope everyone is doing well back home!

Elder Copeland

Weeks 71 and 72 - November 4, 2023

What's up, everyone!  These last two weeks have been awesome and flown by.  Today marks the end of another transfer and my third one in this area. 

Last week we had the baptism of Manuela!  Her mom has been a member for 24 years and her dad was baptized about 10 years ago, but they have been away from the church for a significant time.  However, about a month ago Manuela was invited to church by a friend which brought the mom and dad back.  We have been working with them for the past few weeks and last week was the big day.  A ton of family came in for the baptism and the support there was amazing.  We are now taking the next steps with them so that early next year they can be sealed as a family in the temple.

We also have been teaching a new family that is awesome and in the process of learning about the gospel to be baptized. They came to church for the first time this week and loved it. We've been visiting them almost every day and are praying that everything goes right with them! 

Yesterday we got transfer news, and I will be staying in this area for another transfer which will make it four.  The place has kinda become like home and I'm happy to stay.  Elder Freidiech is on his way out and will be leaving the area.  We had a blast together and I learned a lot working alongside him. My new comp just so happens to be one of my best friends out here who was also my comp early this year.  Elder Weaver and I are back together for the second time, and we are pumped.  We are excited to get things going! 

Love you all.

Elder Copeland

Weeks 69 and 70 - October 20, 2023

Two more weeks down!  I hit 16 months and this transfer is getting towards the end.  Last two weeks have been busy with a lot of the same stuff--running around talking with everyone to grow our teaching pool.  We've got a solid group of people progressing and making changes in their lives. Nothing new or secret to finding people.  You have got to put in the time to see your efforts pay off.  Some people accept it and others don't.  Our job is to talk to those who are willing and to give everyone a chance.

This past week we had interviews with the mission president and after he took me and my comp out to dinner.  We gave him the option to choose because we didn't know what was around, and so without hesitating he brought up the idea of going to a place called Mundo Animal.  We showed up and it was straight up a fancy Chuck-e-Cheese.  The only people that were there to eat were for little kids' birthday parties and then us three in white shirts and a tie.  We thought it was a joke at first, but Pres was being serious so we trusted him.  It ended up being a blast and the food couldn't have been any better.  I couldn't tell if Pres or us were more excited to take a picture with the mascots after dinner.  Everyone in the place was just as confused as to why we were, there but we just owned it and had a good time. 

Something I've been reminded of in this last little bit is that there are no shortcuts to doing things the right way.  Doing things the right way in order to have good quality results always comes with a sacrifice that is usually our time and effort.  Taking the easy way out is a decision we make because of the desire to have success fast.  However, that's not necessarily how things work.  The steps taken in the process to achieve something are there for a reason.  Whether it be school, sports, work, or our testimonies, failure and setback are meant to happen.  The process gives us a chance to learn from our mistakes and grow and become better.  This type of mentality is key to being able to maintain focus on our end goal but trust the process and be willing to change with time to achieve that.

Love this work and all of the experiences it gives you!

Elder Copeland

Week 67 and 68 - October 6, 2023

What's up, everyone!  Didn't get to send an email last week but I'll fill you all in on what's been happening!

This past week we had the baptism of Gedeão!  He just recently went through the whole marriage process and got married to a member!  Gedeão had been taught a very long time ago by the missionaries, but the marriage process took so long that he had remembered very little.  We started teaching him again and shortly after he was baptized.  He has been going to church for close to the last year, so the entire ward family was there to support him and show him love. 

Yesterday was one of the coolest days on my mission.  This is now my third transfer in the stake and I've been here for about four months.  Yesterday I went to the temple with five of my recent converts that all went for the very first time.  We were able to organize it all at the last minute and get everyone there to have this experience.

It's crazy how fast someone's life can change in just a short amount of time.  In just a few months, these people have grown so much as people and in the church.  It's days like yesterday that remind me how special this work is.  It's a night and day difference to see these people now and from when we first met them.  The restored gospel changes lives and as soon as we accept it in our lives, the more we will be blessed.

My comp and I have been running around trying to grow our teaching pool as much as possible.  These last few days we've had a lot of success and found a bunch of people in super cool ways.  It's pretty crazy sometimes how you come across people.  Oftentimes you meet people in miraculous ways that aren't just coincidences.  The Lord is without a doubt preparing people and guides us to help those in need.

It's always nice being at the temple and seeing old comps. Had to say goodbye to Elder Castro who I lived with in my first few transfers.  Crazy home time flies out here!

Still loving it out here being in Brazil and in the culture.  The mission is amazing and such a fulfilling experience.

Hope all is well with you guys back home.

Elder Copeland