Week 44...Paulina, Brazil

Well, this week I got over the shock and it was time to get to work. This week, I think I have grown more than almost all my mission. I feel like I say that everyweek but I think that is just part of the mission now. We all grow a ton(some in the waistband) and the time always passes by way to fast. I have actually been think about that alot recently. How in 6 weeks I´ll be halfway done with my mission. I have set some personal goals and am planning to grow so much more. I realized this week that I am really blessed when I learned that 6 Elders from my group will come here this week, including Elder Todd my companion from the MTC. I can´t imagine how they are feeling and how it will be. I feel like it took me 6 months before I could start to really understand and just now is when I feel comfortable giving talks and teaching in another language. Actually, this week, I think there was 4-5 times that they didn´t think I was from the United States. The only thing that they thought was different is that I was white but there are alot of German people in the South. That made me feel pretty good.

This week the growth but also the stress is starting to set in. I have learned that those two always go together. We will not learn when we are comfortable, sitting back, eating cheetos in our over stuffed sofa. I have learned to love my companion super quick and right now we are working super well together. It is funny because we have to correct people alot of times and I have a problem because I´m not very nice on the people that are here on a mission but that don´t want to work. My companion loves everyone and tries to make everyone feel good. So, to learn, we switched up our roles. Right now he gets to be the "bad cop" then I come in with all the mooshy, gooshy, feel good words, to help them know that we are trying to help. I feel like it is so much easier to rip them apart but I learned that the Savior isn´t always that way. I have been learning alot how to correct with love and that I need to love the missionaries more than the problems. Also, I learned that all people can change and we need to "let people repent" as Elder Holland said. 

This week I also had the oppurtunity to learn from the Assistants. We had splits with them last Tuesday and I learned so much from him. I had many questions about why the Lord chose me to lead 26 Elders and Sisters in the best zone in Campinas. He said that is because our mission is full of pride and the fact that I´m asking the question shows that I don´t have pride. Then, General Conference came and reapproved everything that I learned. Lastly, to put the cherry on the cake, we had a leadership meeting yesterday and President left nothing doubting in my mind of my purpose and what I need to help those around me. I have really been humbled this week as I´ve seen the Lord put words into my mouth, show me the people I need to talk to, and the Elders/Sisters that are going through problems.

I love you guys so much and thank you so much for all you guys do for me. 

Love,

Elder Zachary

Week 43...Paulina, Brazil

Well, this week was definantly a tough one. It´s a big change from worrying just about you, your companion, and your area to about 10 areas and 20 missionaries. I´m just grateful that our mission president likes small zones. I am in Paulinia right now. We are living with another group of Elders in our house. I am living with 3 other Americans. It is alot different going from living with only Brazilians to Americans. I lost alot of phrases that I used before my mission and it´s pretty funny to hear them again. Our area is super nice and our zone is the richest in the mission. We will have a zone activity at the house of a billionare. I love our new area because it is rich but also the people are really open and we are having alot of success. Right now we are trying to find new people to teach. I think my mom wouldn´t recognize me. My companion and I are talking with literally every person that passes in the street. I am that annoying missionary that everyone in the street is scared of. It is really hard to change but I´m sure one day it will almost feel normal.

I think the Lord knew what he was doing when he put me with my companion. His name is Elder Lee. He is a really good missionary and has the same desires to work and be obedient that I have. He has a little more than a year on his mission now. So we are two newbies leading our Zone. The only problem that is frustrating is that some missionaries have pride in our zone and they don´t want to accept the counsel from two new comers. The thing I love about our zone is that the Assistants are in our zone so if they don´t listen to us, when it comes time for Zone conference they will hear it from them. Our mission changed alot of the leadership this last transfer. They took out 6 Zone Leaders and put us in. They said that the leadership was old and they weren´t wanting to do anything. I love our mission now. It is so full of energy and I have a feeling that our mission will be changing soon.

We also heard some good news and bad news. Tbe Elders that were waiting for visas in the United States will have to stay two weeks now in the MTC if they serve one or more transfers there. I heard my companion from the MTC is waiting in São Paulo. I´m super excited to talk to him. That´s basically my week with alot of stress and sleeping at 11 or 11:30. It´s all good though because some times we need to sacrifice a little bit. I love you guys tons

Love,

Elder Zachary