Week 51 - June 5, 2023

 What's up, everyone!  This week was a long one.  It felt like it was never going to end, but sometimes that's just how things go in the mission.  The weeks are all starting to feel the same, but each week seems to have a surprise to it.

This week was tough all around in the work, but Sunday was a special day for Gabriel.  He's gone through some tough things in the past and has started to find hope and peace in the church. On Sunday, he was baptized by his good friend.  It was awesome to see him smile and everyone there in support.

This week my best friend and cousin finished up his mission in Guatemala and seeing him make it home was awesome.  It seems like yesterday we were talking about serving missions and here we are two years later.  It just goes to show that time out here goes by fast.  It's a special and sacred time to give everything you have to doing the Lord's work.  It's a sacrifice for sure, but seeing your best friend make it home and hearing how much it changed his life in a good way is even more motivation. I really do love it out here and being a missionary.

Elder Copeland (Guatemala) and Elder Copeland (Brazil)

Thank you all for the support!  Elder Copeland

Week 50 - May 29, 2023

 What's up, everyone!  This week one of the most amazing miracles happened.  It was without a doubt meant to be and it's crazy to see the power of Jesus Christ.

This week we had planned to do a division with other missionaries to go work with them and help out for the day.  We originally were planning to do it on Wednesday, but my comp and I woke up on Tuesday and felt like it needed to happen that day.  Once we got over to the area, we started planning and after saying a prayer we decided that me and another Elder that doesn't have a lot of time were to visit this one family.  The parents of the family have been members for a very long time, but the last few years have been inactive from the church.  Once we got over there, we were able to understand the situation a little better and after I presented myself and where I was from the dad, Danilo, stopped me and said he recognized my name.  I explained how my dad had served here and he then remembered exactly who he was.  He went and grabbed a picture that he had taken with him the day they met and had my dad's name written on the back.  I was in shock and didn't really know what to say. 

Elder Copeland's dad in 1997 as a missionary

We kept talking and realized the family had a daughter, Carol, who is 10 years old but never been baptized because of the family being away from the church.  We shared a special message about families and invited the girl to be baptized and she accepted and was super happy.  In our mission, the president always tells us that our goal in doing these divisions is to find someone to baptize that day.  Even now and then you will hear a story of this happening, but it's not every day a miracle like this happens. 

We explained to Danilo what Carol had decided and he was very supportive of her decision.  He wanted the best for her but was a little hesitant at first about it happening that day.  He told us he would talk with his wife and would call us back later that day.  After leaving, we talked with the other pair of missionaries, and they were completely in awe just like we were.  We realized together that this was nowhere near a coincidence and that the Lord put us in this place for it to happen. 

We called Danilo and asked to visit the whole family together. The second time we went back, we explained everything that had happened from our point of view and shared another super-powerful message on families.  The parents were both hesitant at first but after talking with them and clearing up their doubts, the mom got to a point where she told us she preferred for it to happen that day with all of us there and that it was clear God was performing this miracle.  They wanted me to be present at the baptism and to have that moment remembered forever. 

We rushed to the chapel and started filling up the font with hot water.  We had to heat up water in pans and put them into the font because the heater was broken.  After leaving the house of that family at 7ish, we somehow were able to get everything prepared with all the friends and family there at about 9 o'clock for the baptism.  It was so special for everyone there and to see the joy it brought the family.  After I was talking more with Danilo, he remembered even the jokes my dad was making with him and later how my grandparents came to pick him up on the mission.  I can't even put into words how amazing of an experience this was.  The seed my dad had planted in 1997 led to the Lord putting me in a place to help the family take an important step in God's plan of happiness.  I am very grateful for my pops and his example and also for every day I have out here.  This goes to show that the Lord's work can impact generations to come and is the most special thing that can happen on this earth. 

We, also, had the baptism of our best little friend in the ward, Gabriel, who asked me to baptize him the day he turned 8.  He is such a good kid and is going to do great things one day.

Today for P-day we went to the same spot my dad and Danilo had met in September of 1997.  I took a picture in the same spot to always remember the miracle Christ performed out here.  I never want to take for granted how special it is to be a missionary and the amazing experiences you have each and every day. All I can say is thank you and be grateful for the opportunity. 

Elder Copeland's dad, 1997

Elder Copeland 2023

Have the best week!  Elder Copeland