GET BACK!!

Whaaaats up everybody how's it going?? Happy to see all your smiling faces here again, same time same place reading another piece of Hillstead mail... I hope you're smiling anyway. But guys this last week was a real whooper, tons o' stuff happened and I've got pictures in case anyone wants proof. But enough of the appetizer let's get to the main freakin dish already 

      We had a Mission Tour this last week! This gentlemen named Elder Eddy (member of the 70) rolled up to the mission to talk with all of us and it was great. He spoke about the importance of us staying focused on our purpose, and doing the right stuff for the right reason, and my oh my was it a message for the ages. One of those messages you hear and you're ready to hit the streets and work hard as tar. So yeah super cool to meet him and his wife, they bought ice cream for the whole Macapá Zone and I'm totally not salty about it it's whatever  but ya that was for sure a highlight of the week. I think the missions going in a really good direction and the message to get back to focusing on the important values will make a tonna difference in the Lord's work. 

      Besides the event itself everything surrounding the mission Tour was also super fun. Elder Mortensen and I got to have ourselves a nice flight at 4am (we did not sleep), we got to see Zona Canaã in PERSON which was crazy, we had a super fun zone meeting, got to play some Skull King at night, got pizza, just all the good stuff. The stuff that makes the dawgs on the mish unfortgettable. Unfortunately though the Mission Tour wiped out 3 days from our work week so we hadda hit the ground running when we got back. Man it's felt great though using the advice that Elder Eddy gave, just totally focusing on loving the people instead of chasing after goals n stuff. We've been praying and fasting a lot for direction in the area and so I've got high hopes for the good we can do with our short time here. 

      I feel like one of the biggest testimonies I've gained in the mission is the power of praying. God genuinely does hear us, be it praying in sacrament meeting, with your family, alone or even in your mind, the detail we say and the heart we put into our prayers does matter. There's a scripture that a good friend of mine shared recently with probably one of the strongest promises in regards to prayer in all of scripture. 

Mormon 9: 21

Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

That's a freakin promise. That's not just a "oh it'll sometimes happen," it's a statement of cause and effect. When we pray, asking in the name of Jesus Christ, BELIEVING that it will happen, it will happen. Folks that's a promise of miracles right there. Ask, and ye shall receive ve. I have seen this work with my own eyes and I know this promise to be true. Be open with God, present to him a difficulty or a dream in your life with faith he will help, and watch as he does. That isn't my promise to you, but the promise of the Savior himself. 

      Tchau folks. If anyone needs anything I'm here to serve, love you all. Until next time