March 9th 2026

 Whats good everybody

  Im still here in Brazil, sorry for being so terrible at emailing

  These first 2 months of 2026 have not been easy, but I have learned so much. Im in inner city Maceio, and my ward hasn't had a baptism in at least 7 months. Ive also spent my 2 transfers here training new missionaries and its so fun but has its challenges. With all of that being said, heres a story rq.

  During the week of Christmas, me and my comp started praying to find a family to teach. That week we made a contact in the park with a straight chiller named Pedro. He pointed to where his house was and told us come back the next day, and we left a plan of salvation pamphlet with him. The next day we come back to the house he pointed to, but the people that lived there was not the family of Pedro. Brodie capped, but it happens, we keep it pushing 

   2 days later were in the same area, we start talking to this older dude and his buddys. Brodies hyped cuz im American but then randomnly drops the name Joseph Smith, and im like alright this is going nowhere. But as I turn around theres a lady sitting in front of her house reading a plan of salvation pamphlet. We get excited and go talk to her, and during this conversation everything clicks. It went sum like this (translated to English)

Me: ay what's good

Her: Hello

Me: we saw you reading this pamphlet that weve been giving out and had to come over and talk to you

Her: Yea my son brought it home the other day

Me:(in shock) is your son Pedro?

Her:(also in shock) Yea you know him?

Me: yea i gave that boy the pamphlet a couple days ago and then he lied about where he lived. he lives here?

Her: Yea

Me: bet can we come back this week and share a message with you, him, and the rest of the family

Her: Yea, that dude you were talking to is my husband and these are my 2 sisters, and theres my 2 daughters right there with there boyfriends

Holy buckets

  Anyways at this point we had found a family to teach and im hyped. We start teaching them and meet new members of the family every time we go there. I start getting tight with this squad cuz they're the goats, and theyre nice at cooking. So we worked out a deal that they would put me on every gas Brazilian food ive never tried and i would put them on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  Flash forward to Yesterday, when for the first time we had the whole family at church together, for the baptism of the oldest daughter, Layane. Shes the first of hopefully all of them. 

   I probably only have one more Sunday in this ward before I get transferred, and have to say goodbye to all the squad here. Which will suck but I know its not about me. As I look back on these couple months, Im humbled by the opportunity I've had to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Hes been in the details from the very beginning with my mission, with this family, and everything thats going on. 

  Im about 6 months in and so hyped for the rest. The joy that I've been able to feel forgetting about me and just serving God's children here in Maceió, Brazil has been such a blessing. 

  I know that Jesus Christ suffered alone so that we don't have to, that he's with us in every moment. I know that this is His work and His church. I know that God knows us personally cuz im pretty freakin far away, speaking Portuguese every day, and I feel right at home. Put your trust in Him, its so lit

  Anyways hope everyones chillin, love you guys. Feel free to hit me