First full week down out here in Brazil. Super super good stuff happening out here. I am grateful for the challenges that have already arrived and also for the love I have received from my God, my companion, and the members here in Ibiuna. Vamos la!
Okay so this week we hit the ground running. The area had not been worked in too much recently so we decided to contact every non member on our cell phone. And so we did. It was over 200 people! Day after day we sent messages and had conversations and tried to invite all to listen to the message of the Restoration. It was an interesting week, we did not leave our house very much nor did we teach a whole lot. 2 things that are VERY odd compared to the last time I was in Brazil. It is actually a whole new ball game here. I found myself reading scriptures, pacing, staring at the wall, and trying to come up with things to do so many times this week. I almost felt a time or two that I was in jail haha. Which is much different than the last time I was here. Last time I was here it was a sin to be in your house from the hours of 10 AM- 9PM haha. So it has taken some adjusting. And on top of the adjustments, this last weekend Sao Paulo returned back to phase red with this corona virus, meaning they are back to similar lockdowns that they were in about 10 months ago. So, basically nothing has changed since I got kicked out last year in regards to Covid. And despite all our best efforts, we ended up only being able to successfully teach 5 new people from those 200. And these 5 since then have decided they did not want to hear anymore haha. So, here we are left with not much to do.
One thing I am learning so much about when it comes to being a missionary is accepting the revelation that my mission president has for me. As long as I am trying to do what he has asked, i will be blessed accordingly. I have 4 mission presidents in my mission(5 if we are counting President Milder haha) and each one, though trying to do the same thing which is to invite all to come unto Christ, have asked very different things of us. My first mission president focused more on our relationships with other missionaries and how that could help us find, teach and baptize. My second mission president used a lot more of a hands off style approach. Not in a bad way but more in a "I will teach correct principles and allow you guys to govern yourselves" meaning youth leadership really had a hold on how things operated in the mission and president rarely gave mass correction. My third mission president focused SO MUCH on member work. It was integral and in fact was something we had to report each week. We needed to have at least 21 lessons with members each week and then report lessons we had with people being taught that had members in them and such. Very very member focused. My 4th mission president(the one I have now, though chronologically he is number 3 we are making him 4 because I am hoping I finish with him) focuses on 3 things that he believes will help us find, teach and baptize. And okay really quick, when I say these mission presidents, "believe this is the way" I really mean that they have received revelation for the mission and this is how it is to be done. So President Horsley(my current mission president) believes in 3 steps: Ceasing your spiritual rebellion NOW in whatever thing it may be, seeking personal revelation through diligent study, and then teach with power and authority. He has felt strongly that these are the 3 steps we can take as a mission to better find, teach and baptize. Sorry I just took you on a long tangent to basically say that I am learning not every mission is the same and not every mission can function the same because revelation from God to His servants is personal to each and every situation(or in my case, mission).
And I did not really have this perspective until Sunday night when I was talking with a member, Kilton, about how I was a little frustrated with how I feel like I am just waiting around to teach and am waiting on referrals from the church. He then taught me the principle I just tangented off on. In fact he also had 4 mission presidents in his mission and each one worked differently. He explained to me how if I were to just truly follow and do what my leaders have asked me to do(through revelation), that the work would go exactly as God intends it to. Which brought me a lot more comfort. Because step number 2 on the Horsley Baptism Formula is to receive personal revelation through diligent study. Which now I have AMPLE time to do. So, I have been brought comfort and even clarity and direction as I now go forward in my time here in Brazil.
That was a lot to tell you that I am learning again and again how important is it to listen to, and trust our Priesthood leaders. They have keys, priesthood permission and power, to help us find more joy in this life and do God's work here on the earth!
That is all for this week:) I am happy here. Life is good! Go pray for your Priesthood leader and try and do what he tells you to do! He has been praying for you and has been receiving revelation for you!
Love you all!
Elder Hixon
