The Cake of Divine Potential

 Happy belated Halloween ladies and gentlemen! How was everyone's Halloween? Good? Spooky? Even though Halloween isn't much celebrated here, there was still a distinct Halloween spirit in the air. Additionally, there has been a bunch of ash and smoke in the air, from all the unexplainable fires that have been starting in Tapanã for whatever reason. But in the end, isn't fear what Halloween is all about? Well fear not, for this week was most definitely a splendid one for ol' Elder Hillstead. 

      My Halloween in Brazil experience was for sure one for the recordbooks. I had one piece of frozen candy I found in the freezer at our house, and there was a giant fire in the cemetary right next to us so the whole morning smelt like smoke. Isn't that just hooorifying? But that's about the extent of the festivities. The Portuguese Language is coming along better and better every week I'm here, which is fantastic! I think people have picked up on my masterful technique of smiling and nodding when you don't understand what's being said, cause most of the time when I speak to others that's about all they're replying with. However I am DETERMINED to teach in this Language where the spirit is invited someday, so I've just gotta keep on putting in the right work into the right places and I should see the sweet results in no time. We also had a Baptism this week! Young Moisés (from last week's photos) got baptized yesterday! He's like our best friend here so it was amazing seeing him have the faith to take that next step on the covenant path. We've been working with him for a couple of weeks now, and he's got such a strong testimony already. I have no doubt he'll be a General Authority one day.
      In other news, we didn't have very many meals with members this week, so Elder McLane has been demonstrating his cooking skills big time. He made hamburgers (see photo 1 below) and this real good Spaghetti, and because he's the master chef that makes me the master dish washer. And lemme tell you guys, I'm convinced I could take gold in dish washing with how much practice I've had. Speaking of food, that brings me to my main point of this email, which is what I call The Cake of Potential. So I was thinking this week about cakes and bread and the process to make them, and then a simile came to me. So say a cake represents the end goal of the person the Lord wants me to be. Right now, I'm basically like the human equivalent of flour. And what purpose does flour have on it's own? Like zero. Now, say you throw flour into a bowl and add eggs, milk and sugar, flour becomes a lot more useful right? Those other ingredients represent the other ingredients in my life, like my family, friends and support, my companion and my natural strength and testimony of the church. With all these things, I'm a lot more of something. However, put all these in a bowl and mix them around and you still don't have yourself a cake. It's only AFTER these ingredients are baked in an oven can a cake be achieved. To me, the oven represents the path the Lord has set out for you. It's at times uncomfortable, and it's hot (literally for me) and you feel like there are so many changes going on and maybe don't know why. And then that oven timer goes off, and you open that freakin oven and there's a whole cake in there. THAT'S the cake of potential. And this cake is delicious lemme tell ya, that's exactly why they call it "divine" potential. My point is this: I trust my savior. I'm grateful for all the ingredients of my life that have gotten me to where I am, I trust that I have the experience I do for a reason, and now I've just gotta endure the oven to become the person I'm meant to be. I invite you to reflect on your life, what circumstances or experiences have you been given? And how do you feel like they might contribute to the bigger picture of who you're meant to be? And I can testify to the fact that the vision the Lord has for you and help that he offers, is much more than you could make of yourself on your own. Combined with gratitude, trust and repentance, I know I'll have that cake made in no time. That Jake cake. 
       Anyways you guys, sorry for the big message this week and please let me know if it was cohesive. There's a good chance I'm starting to become in cohesive in English as well as Portuguese now I'm not gonna lie. But thank you ALL for reading this, it means so much, and thank you all for responding to last week's email. Every-time I hear from you guys throughout the week it gives me an extra spring in my step! Until next time, Stay safe, love you all. 

1. Elder McLane's McBurger
2. The Sunday baptism squad
3. Me and Moisés
4. In the mighty jungle 
5. Street food for Halloween (tw








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