"1, 2, 3, 4, can I have a little more?"

Freeeaaaak is up everybody, thanks for clicking on another Elder Hillstead email! I promise this one'll be shorter than the last. Really quick, wanna know something crazy I learned? When I arrived here in Brazil, I met Elder McLane as my trainer right, and the other missionaries also met their trainers. Apparently EVERY comp I've had until now was training the same time McLane was, so they were all in the same place at the same time and I didn't even realize I'd be comps with them later on. I pointed them out with the order of when they became my comp  too, check it 

(Flick credit Elder Seal) 

Isnt that nuts though? All my comps until now were sitting in front of my eyes and i didnt even know it. Can't forget the one who got me to Brazil in the first place homeboy Elder Schudde, but he was among the greenies that arrived with me so he's not in the photo. Still though he was there with me, so that means all my comps were in the room at the same time 

Anyways though this week was straight stellar, no massive massive miracles but still miracles are going on every day. We met some people out of the blue that came to church with us this week which was awesome! They invited us to lunch out of nowhere on Satursay, and it was this member that hasn't been to church in a fat minute, and his girlfriend, who is taking an interest in the Church as well. We taught about the restauration before lunch, gave her the invite to work towards baptism, and put her on date! Super cool how the Lord's prepared people to accept the Gospel, and sometimes we just gotta find those that he's already prepped. 

Oh ya and we had zone conference this week! It made it kinda tough to get a tonna people to church cause we had to call Uber for everyone that wanted to come, but we were willing to set fire to our wallets to get people to the church. Sunday morning we booked from house to house with everyone who said they would visit the church on Sunday, and all of them straight ghosted us. Must've forgotten it's Easter not Halloween . And also a rando bird totally mistook my right shoulder for a toilet which was awesome. But the conference was super good! President and his wife pulled up and dished some heat, genuinely some talks that I loved. And we had that couple come and watch which was super good, amped to meet with them more and see how more we can help em out! 

THE WEEK'S GOODIES 

      -Elder Bingham freakin torched me during a District meeting and said I'm "the type of guy to count how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop"  didnt know we were enemies like that 

      -I bought the fattiest pair of boots of all time today and gosh am I excited. Kissing goodbye to the months of unhas encravadas now that I've got some space for the tootsies 

      -Me and Elder Johnson saw this pizza place that was Mario and Luigi themed?? we got it AND it was fire 

For the thought today I just wanna share a brief thought I had the other day that I loved! It's been super cool here on the mission to meet so many people devoted to the Lord, to hear their different testimonies and especially the different ways in which they shine the light of Christ while teaching. I think everyone's like a different instrument, and the Lord is like the master musician. Everyone's got a whole different sound, but that also means a whole different beauty to bring to the table. The way that someone invites the spirit could be completely different than someone else, but that's the beautiful thing about how everyone's made different. The savior works through his different servants strengths to be differing testimonies of the same truth, just like different instruments can work together to create a beautiful piece of music. To anyone reading (missionaries especially) who feels bad about the way you're doing things because it's not the way someone else is, remember that Heavenly Father made no two people the same. You're where you are, at this point in time and in your life because you've got the exact skills he's blessed you with to blessed his children around you. You've already got the light, it's your choice to let it shine. Be yourself, and be your best self! The lord will show you the music you're capable of making, we just have to be willing to let him. Love you all so much, you all are incredible and I hope you're all so excited for Easter! Send me an email if you're tryna make someone happy, and I'll talk to yall in the next one. Peace ouut 

Email Title is from the lyrics of The Beatles’ “All Together Now,” from their album “Yellow Submarine”

1. Zone at the conference  (earned the nickname Sister Hillstead )

2. The bishop Bashers 9000

3-4. Sweet couple we found

5-7. Pizza night 

8. Forgot to smile guys