Hit But Still Kicking

Hello World,

 

This week is all starting to fall into routine. Although there are new things to learn and more incomprehensible people, it all seems to be the same. However, it also makes it so I can enjoy the little things. For example, earlier this week we had the first breakfast of pancakes since I've been here. Everybody seemed so starved of pancakes it seemed like the trays were emptied before they even hit the counter. I'm among a crowd of crows! Anyway, another example is the drawings we make on the whiteboards during transition periods. I've really gotten to know my district well and they're all quite the crazy bunch. I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures to send ya'll when I hit the field in a few weeks.

 

We recently got new Brazilian roommates, and these Elders are awesome. They're the first Elders with us that don't know a lot of English, so we're helping them learn. So far we've successfully taught one of them the phrases "Howdy Elders!" and "Evnin' Ladies." :) They're helping us out with Portuguese a lot too. One of the coolest things is that I'm already catching onto the language so well. I can't speak it very well, but I can understand a lot of what the Brasilieros say (as long as it is gospel related). Just yesterday, we were practice investigators for the Brasilieros, and it was really fun. The best part about it is I also figured out how bad I would be at teaching the law of chastity. I got good ideas though. Beyond that and the random blackouts and loss of water pressure in the building, nothing else is new this week.

 

Now, for the spiritual part. This is all about Faith and action. As it says in James, "faith without works is dead." This may seem kind of extreme or harsh on the surface, but it states a true fact. If we are to claim to have faith in anything, what does it mean if we do not act? If we believe that the universe was created through the source of the "Big bang," what good does it do us if we do not seek out proofs, search for answers and test the results? Or, perhaps you don't use that knowledge to improve current technologies, advance human understanding, or simply search top advance your own? If you don't, it remains an empty belief, a bias that twists you in one direction of an argument, but does nothing for anyone but add a number to a chart. Is faith in Christ so different? Everyone, I challenge you all to act on your faith, dive deep, advance your knowledge, seek for answers, and help the world come to a better understanding of what our savior has done for us, and all we can achieve through him.

 

Thank you all for you prayers and for your support. My prayers go out to all of you as well, and I wish you all safety in whatever journey you are on.

 

Sincerely,

Elder Jess Angus