Week 35 - February 13, 2023

 Eight months into this thing.  If you put that into perspective--I'm 1/3 done.  Time passes by quickly but at the same time, the days are slow.  Time--it's extremely slow.  In all honesty, it's pretty cool to see the point I'm at in my mission from when I started.  One year ago today, I received my call to serve here and since then everything has gone by in a blur.  It's a blessing to be out here and I will never take it for granted.

For the most part, the people you meet on the mission are amazing; however, sometimes you come across those that just don't be rocking with the missionaries.  About two months ago, Elder Cloward and I met a guy named Eduardo.  He was on a date to be baptized who loved meeting with us and was very grateful for how we were helping him.  However, something wild happened and one day, he called and cussed us out and everything about the church.  We still to this day don't know what happened and have yet to see him until this past week. Cloward and I had our game plan ready to go give him the biggest smile and wave the next time we saw him.  Once we saw him rolling up on his bike, we did exactly that; however, he was not about it.  He threw his middle finger up and pumped it back and forth multiple times letting us know he still ain't rockin' with us.  Cloward and I had a good laugh and kept on going like another day in the mission. 

This week was a bit tough, and we didn't have a ton of success, but we are still pushing forward.  One more week until transfers and odds are Cloward and I will be split up. We've had our fun and although we aren't looking forward to it, change is good.  

Today we went by the Gremio stadium which is the huge soccer team down here in Rio Grande Do Sul.  I had the jersey on and was ready to go if the coach wanted to call me up.  I know right now it is probably a stretch, but if I keep up this improvement on the pitch, I have no doubt in my mind I will be suiting up for the hometown team representing Gremio.  It's either that or I become a Brazilian cowboy singer.  I'm keeping my options open and only time will tell.

Not a whole lot to add this week.  Just another week of putting our heads down and going to work.  Success takes time and is never easy to come by.  Thank you all for the continual support.  I hope everything is well back home!

Elder Copeland