Transfers (5/31/21)

We have had quite the last two weeks. My companion got transferred from another city here in Goiania, which will make his time here in Goiania a little over a year. I got another Brazilian in my area, and he is coming from another city here in Goiania also. A fun little fact: both my zone leaders and my companion all were in the same MTC district and group and now they are together. Kinda fun. 

There have been a few things that have stood out to me this last week. First is the temperature. For some reason, it feels like it is getting hotter here. Maybe it's just me getting weaker. The second is the words hear and hearken. The third is the Spirit. 

Hear and hearken are really interesting. You really have to put yourself in situations where you can hear the spirit. I am learning so much about how we seriously cannot survive without the spirit in these, the latter days. But when we hear, we need to hearken. If we only do one, then it really profits us nothing. If we hear the voice of the Lord but don't do anything about it, why did we even hear it in the first place? They go hand in hand, and we need to use them both. This ties right into the Spirit. We need to put ourselves in situations and places where we can hear and feel the Spirit. One of the best places is our own home. But there are definitely situations we cannot control, and I have found that in this last week. In those situations, I can still choose to do certain things, no matter what others around me are doing and no matter the situation. I can still pray when there is a lot of chaos, I can still read my scriptures in the morning, I can still be obedient to specific rules, I can still be grateful for what I have. There is great power in being grateful and having the Spirit. I truly know the Spirit can and will teach you things you need to know in any situation. My mind is brought to an experience of mine on a youth trip: one of our leaders taught us something he learned from the Spirit just from a song we listened to on the way there. An amazing lesson he taught us. An amazing feeling we felt. 

We also had a baptism on Sunday, and of course everything that could go wrong did go wrong. But in the end, it turned out really well. It started with being hungry. The baptism was originally going to be after Sacrament Meeting, and then it got changed to 3 pm. Then we were filling the font, and the water stopped. So we got a bucket and started filling the bucket and it wasn't really doing much of anything, so we stopped. Then nobody showed up. Then after a lot of chaos and calls and texts we finally got a baptism in. It was a kneeling baptism because of how little water there was, but it was great. It was really nice. This really is Jesus´ church. 

I also know that God watches over his children (you) in any and every situation. This is wonderful to know. I have seen it, and if you would like to say you haven't seen it all I have for you is look a little closer, look a little harder. It really is not hard to see God in our lives. Yes, sometimes it takes searching the little details, but that's where He works magic. The details. By small and simple means are great things brought to pass. The small things in our life bring great miracles. There is no doubt in this. 

I hope y'all have a great week and look for God's hand in your life. I hope y'all can keep the Spirit with you in any and every situation. This will bless you and strengthen your testimony about Jesus Christ also. He is our Savior, our Redeemer. He loves you. Enjoy this.

Quite the Week (5/17/21)

Hey howdy hey,

This was a good week. We were supposed to have zone conference but ended up having a mission tour with President Parrella. He's the area president for Brazil. Super cool man and super spiritual. We thought we were going to have an interview with him, but it was just the zone leaders messing with us. They messed up a few things for us but nothing major. Just caused a little bit of confusion with lunch, but we ended up having a great day in spite of it. I am learning the importance of what President Nelson said about us needing the Spirit with us every hour of every day. Missionary work doesn't work without the Spirit. 

A little bit about the contrast of using the Spirit and not using Spirit: I think the main and biggest feeling is when you go to bed. If you have the Spirit with you and you had it throughout the day, you say your nightly prayers and you feel spiritual satisfaction. It's easy to sleep, you wake up better the next day, you're happier and a better person, and you progress extremely quickly and learn extremely fast too. Words flow, thoughts come, actions are smart and easy, and everything is faster, better, and easier. Sadly, not every day is like this, but joyfully, we can make the majority of our days like this; and dare I say, we can make every day like this. It probably won't start tomorrow and last until you die. That's just not how life works. As we learn in the scriptures we gain and learn line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Every day we can build on yesterday's spirituality, and eventually we can get to the point where we are living that celestial lifestyle. Our thoughts and actions are those of the Lord. We become His angels to bless and uplift others in need, even when we are in need. Our days are easier, more fun, happier, and just better. I challenge all of you to try this. Like what Moroni says with prayer, we need a sincere heart and real intent, the Lord will make these things known unto you, He will reveal His mysteries and His way to you. What a blessing to believe in revelation and receive revelation. 

Something else from the mission tour that stood out to me was to ask for miracles. This has always been something hard for me, but we asked the Lord to give us miracles and guide us to those who are prepared to let God prevail in their lives. Ask and ye shall receive. We received. There were many blessings and people who answered this prayer. It is fun to meet these people. Their humble heart and true desire to grow closer to their Redeemer is wonderful. The Lord has big plans for all of His children. He loves you. Make those little changes in your behavior, thoughts, and actions to better have and feel the Spirit and you'll know more of God's plan for you faster than any other time of your life. A wonderful blessing indeed. I wish for a wonderful week for you all and that it will be filled with many spiritual experiences. Love y'all!

Elder Locey

Dia das mães (5/10/21)

Happy Mother's Day yesterday to all the mothers out there and all the mothers who have taken care of me and mothered me. I'm grateful for y'all. I forget where I heard this, but the love a mother has for her child is the closest we can get to the love our Father in Heaven (and Jesus) has for us. This is true. 

Y'all know those days and weeks when you try, but nothing works? Contacts fall though, lessons fall though, people block you, stop talking to you, etc. Something my companion said about a million times last week was, "Don't get discouraged" (or something on the lines of that). I thought of the scripture that says "let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power" (D&C 123:17), and this applies here I think. We had some good laughs, too; somebody texted my comp saying they thought he was cute. Heh. I thought it was funny.

A member also brought us lunch one day and put a little note in it for us. At first I thought it was going to be a secret combination love note, but boy howdy was I wrong. It was heartfelt indeed, but in a different way. They were full of gratitude. They also shared a scripture from Alma: by small and simple means are great things brought to pass (37:6). Every single contact we have who doesn't talk to us after, every lesson we had that doesn't bring forth fruits, etc., is simply just us preparing these people to accept and embrace Jesus Christ in the future. God is a merciful God. He gives many chances to His children, both who have accepted Jesus and who have yet to accept Him. We have this life and also the spirit world, the millennium, and many other opportunities. But remember this: do not procrastinate the day of your repentance. I have yet to see something good come from procrastination, especially with repentance. What a wonderful word, repentance. What a wonderful friend to have, Jesus Christ. 

I am also developing a testimony of how nice it'll be to enter the Celestial Kingdom and rest. This life really is designed to prepare us for the next life, which is eternity. I think it'll be fun there. Inheriting all that God has. I hope to see y'all there. (I'm not saying that right now I am qualified for this great inheritance, but I hope this desire will continue to turn into action. Our thoughts usually become our actions.)

But I hope y'all have a great week. Look for God's hand guiding you for the cool plan that He has for you and don't be afraid to say you're a part of Jesus' church and that He and the Book of Mormon are here to bless your lives. This is true.