União da Vitória Week 10

So this week was cool. On Monday we had P-day, and we made pizza with Irmã Claudete. On Tuesday we had the district meeting, then we worked for a little bit, but at 5pm we took a bus to Curitiba, for the new missionaries meeting on Wednesday. Because we live far away from the mission office, and because the meeting was in the morning, we had to go there a day early, then sleep in the mission secretaries´ house. On Wednesday we had the new missionaries meeting with all the missionaries that arrived this transfer, and we learned a lot about training, or being trained. After that we took another bus back to União da Vitória. On Thursday we had splits with the other elders in our apartment. On Friday we watched a devotional with Sister Franco, the primary general president, with the missionaries in the missions Curitiba and Curitiba Sul. Then today we went to the Temple, we are going to spend the day here, then we are going to go home. So that has been my week so far. We haven´t been able to work a lot, but we have learned a lot.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be able to go to the temple while I am here on the mission. I love the house of the Lord, and everything that I learn there.

Anyway I don´t have a lot of time, but have a great week.

-- Élder Pettingill

Pictures:
-Temple
-Pizza with the secretaries
-Pizza with Claudete

União da Vitória Week 9

So this week was cool. We didn´t have any meetings, and we have been working a lot here. It is really good to work with Elder Lima. Helping him learn about being a missionary helps me to remember what I have to do to be a missionary. It is really good. We had the District Conference this week which was really good. We were able to hear President and Sister Cuvelier speak which was really good.

We are working with some really good people this week. Rosangela, and Ana. Rosangela is excited about family, because hers isn´t very united, but she hopes that the gospel will help with that. Ana has a hard time understanding things and got married two times, and both times her husband died, so she is a little depressed. We are helping her have the blessings of the gospel in her life.

Next week we will be doing a lot of traveling. On Tuesday we are going to Curitiba (+/- 4 1/2 hours), for a new missionaries meeting (Elder Lima). Then on Saturday we are going to the temple! So that means that we are going to leave here at 2:30am and not leave there until 4-5pm. It is going to be good, but my p-day will be on Saturday so I will email on Saturday.

Thank you all for the support!

-- Élder Pettingill

União da Vitória Week 8

Well this week was interesting. This week was the first week after Conferênce. We had Zone conference this week, and we learned a lot about focusing on baptisms, the importance of the area book, and about the importance of being diligent and happy, and working with the members. I learned a lot, and now I am just trying to apply all that I have learned during general conference, and the zone conference. This week we don´t have any meetings other than the district counsel, so I will have time to apply before the next bombardment of spiritual knowledge. I just will have to wait until next week for that.

Anyway, it is great being able to train a new missionary. Elder Lima is awesome. He tries so hard to talk with everyone, when I know that it is hard for him. Because of this we are finding a lot of new people to teach this week. We have a lot of people with a lot of potential now. Now we just have to focus on teaching these people while finding other people as well. I am really learning a lot that the Lord puts his children in our way so that we can find them at the right times to help them.

Thank you all for the support, and have a great week.

-- Élder Pettingill

Pics:
-Elder Silva, Elder Silva, Elder Lima, and I on the "morro da cruz"

União da Vitória Week 7

So my new companion is Elder Lima. He is from a state here in Brazil called Paraíba, which is located in the northwest of Brazil. He is very cool, and I like working with him. He is a little shy like I was at the beginning of my mission, so that is similar to me. He has 8 brothers and sisters so his family is bigger than mine, but not all of them are members of the church.

This week was good. On Monday I spent the day helping out in the mission office, and talking with people in the street waiting for my companion to arrive. On Tuesday, I waited some more, and did some more contacts, until all the new missionaries got there. As the trainers, we had a training on being examples to the new missionaries and about some other aspects of training. After that we played a game, I think to break the ice, then President told everyone to hug who they thought were their companions, and everyone got it right. One Wednesday, we went to our area, and started working. We had splits with the zone leaders on Thursday  which was cool, and I learned a lot. We are working with some families that are making progress little by little.

General Conference was really good! I really loved feeling the spirit, especially with the hymns sung. It was really exciting hearing all the revelation, and really being able to testify that the church is guided by revelation. I really enjoyed the talk about the Book of Mormon. I know that reading it, and trying to understand God´s will for us is essential. I love how The Book of Mormon helps us to know the truth of this gospel. 

Thank you all for supporting me, and have a good week.

-- Élder Pettingill

União da Vitória Week 6

So this week was transfers. I will be staying in União, and Elder Fernandes will be going to Ala 5 (5th ward) in Curitiba. I will be training a new missionary, who I don´t know who it is yet, this transfer. This is the first time that I will train a missionary, and I am excited. I hope to be the best example that I can for him.

Anyway this week was hard, but good. We are making progress with some people that we are teaching. The biggest problem that we have is finding them at home. They are always out or going out somewhere, But we are working, and that´s what counts!

I am learning that God really has a plan for every one of his children this week. Recently I am finding more people who don´t believe in God, and they are the hardest people to work with, but the people who most need our help. I really feel the love that Heavenly Father has for his children when I talk with these people. I am learning how he feels with all his children as a missionary as well, when I know the way, and I know that it is the best way, but people just don´t take it.

I am so grateful for the support, and have a GREAT week 😁

-- Élder Pettingill