March 2, miracle Musical

Ever since I learned I'd be learning another language for my mission, I always thought that one of the coolest aspects would be to compare scriptures/hymns that I know by heart in English and in Portuguese. 

This last week, the Tabernacle Choir had a show in São Paulo that we had the priviledge to watch over here on television! It was amazing, if you guys haven't watched it yet get on that. The Tabernacle sung amazingly, they got guest singers that are apparently way famous here in Brasil, and the whole performance was just incredible. 

There was a couple of songs they sung that was half in Portuguse (for the Brasilian audience) and half in English, like the original song. It was amazing to hear the renditions of these songs I've known for forever, and seeing the small differences in the messages transmitted through the two languages. I also watched this performance on Saturday, which was my last full day in the Buritizal Ward so it was an excellent goodbye! Shoutout to the boys in the Zone + Dannyo, love you guys forever 

#Uncateers #MMGA

We got transfers yesterday, and ladies and gentlemen. Ima become the comp of the legendary ELDER DOMAN  esse cara é brabo demais, tô super animado. We're gonna be the Zone Leaders for a zone called Zona Castanhal, out in the middle of nowhere. Don't know much about Castanhal, but I know you've gotta take multiple hour bus rides to get to various areas in the Zone, and that the area where I'll be working is called "Milagre," which means Miracle! Boutta be working in the area of miracles in the mission of miracles, I'm so pumped.

Doman's the bloke on the right (feat. AP Emett) 

The more time I spend here amongst this people, the more they impress me with the culture here. I have seriously never met people SO generous, SO friendly and so so willing to serve and to laugh. I'd be lucky if I could learn how to love like they do, and put my heart into everything like them. The Buritzal Ward, where I spent the last 4.5 months, has a special place in my heart. I love the members here like family, and I told all them Ima visit them again someday so gotta make good on that promise hahah. Seriously though, shoutout to B-tizzle for being incredible, and shoutout to Elder Assis for takin over for me as ZL1. Dude's gonna kill it. 

Also, for all of you that prayed for Moisés, thank you so much! It sincerely made a very big difference. Without him even knowing I'd invited you all to pray for him, he commented to me this last week that he feels like he's had more spiritual protection in his life recently. This last week, because of your prayers, his heart was touched and it was the FIRST Sunday in my 4 months of knowing him that he took enough time out of his day to come to church for the full 2 hours. He also came to one of the activites that we had this last week, and overall was able to meet lots of members and get to know the ward better. Miracles, miracles, miracles. The power of prayer is HUGE, and especially including specific names of specific people we are serving. Thank you to all of you once again, and even if I'm not in the area to see him get baptized with my own eyes, the moment I hear about it I will let all of you know. 

Also bro is gonna be the next ward pianist. Dude's never even seen the hymn book but because he's such a goated musician, sat down and started playing the songs perfectly. Un-shoutout to the bishop who walked in front of me when I went to take a pic. He's gotta be jealous of the talent hah. 

Anyways you guys

That's gonna do it for the Buritizal Chronicles. Listen to the Tabernacle São Paulo event, music invites the spirit faster than like, anything else. Also, I hit 1 year and 6 months on the mish today!!! 3/4 of the way there, Senior year's starting up. We gonna keep moving up up up working harder and harder every day. Elder Doman and I are gonna leave it all on the table this transfer. Peace out folks, dream sweet in sea 

ELDER HILLSTEAD