Another awesome week in Santa Cruz! Had some pretty amazing experiences this week that remind you how special this work is. No matter how hard it is, I say it time and time again but there is nowhere else in the world I'd rather be than here in Brazil as a missionary.
The people we are teaching right now are so awesome. We just recently found a family that is so awesome. After hearing about their past experiences, there is no doubt the Lord has been preparing them to make these changes in their lives. It's pretty special to talk about the importance of families in God's plan. Eternal life with the people we love most is the greatest gift we could receive, and being able to talk about this with a family so willing to make sacrifices is awesome.
The ward out here is a huge help and always looking out for the missionaries. This week we were super busy visiting people with members and all the people they know. This Sunday was a huge success thanks to all the help they do for us. We brought two families that have dates to be baptized and multiple other people who are changing their lives around right now. It's so cool to see people progress and completely make a 180. One of the moms in a family we are teaching stood up after church and told all the members how the missionaries have made such a difference in her life. She teared up thanking us and was beyond grateful. Stuff like this makes it all worth it!
This week we talked a lot about the Holy Ghost and how it can guide us in our lives. The Lord speaks to us through the Holy Ghost and it's important we take time out of our lives to sit and just listen. When we are in tune with the Spirit, we can hear exactly the things the Lord wants from us. We can receive answers and guidance in our lives. When we are constantly striving and doing our part, the Lord will help us through the process and give us strength to conquer anything we come across!
I love Brazil and being a missionary!
Elder Copeland
