What's up, everyone! Another grind of a week with not a lot to show for it. It's never fun when you have a great week of finding new people and teaching but come Sunday no one is there at church. We've been working extra hard lately, so sooner or later we will see stuff start to happen. The mission teaches you so many different things and every new situation or difficulty is an opportunity to learn.
I am now a district leader, which means I am in charge of five duplas of missionaries. It has been a lot of work but at the same time helped me grow. One requirement in the mission is every night I have to call each companionship and talk through their day as well as help them in any way. A normal day includes us getting home after work at 9:00pm and then an hour of calls for me right until bed. I've been extra-exhausted, but I enjoy being able to use my experiences and the things I've learned with other missionaries. This, also, means a lot more divisions with the other Elders, so this week I left the city and went to the countryside for a day. It was a nice change to work in a different area and see other parts of Brazil.
This week while trying to visit someone, we were stopped in the road by a group of about five adults. We got to talking and from the start they were very interested in who we were and what we were doing. I thought we had just found the golden group of people, but it turns out they, too, are in fact missionaries. They were actually very interested in us and wanted to learn more on how we do our work. Later that day, we found them again and this time with a lot more people and before I knew it was answering questions from 15+ people.
Weeks and tough stretches with the work teach you a lot. No matter how tough things are, I know I can hang my hat on the fact I'm doing my best. I'm giving it my all and I find peace in knowing that. What it comes down to is doing your part. Doing your absolute best and being willing to do what is asked of you. This can relate to multiple parts of life. A big example for me is sports. Sports has taught me things that I don't think I could have learned anywhere else. When things are the hardest, you have two options, give up, or keep going. And without a doubt, things always end up better when you just keep doing your part. I know there is something for me and Elder Cloward to do out here. It's going to happen! Sometimes the process is slow and steady, but in the end, it's always worth it.
Me and Elder Cloward are having a blast being together. We keep each other motivated and push one another. I'm beyond grateful to be out here in the mission, and it's truly changing my life!
Have the best week, and please send all the prayers you can!
Elder Copeland
