It was yet another good week in Brazil! Pedregal is the best!
I'll start off with a funny story. I was waiting at a bus stop and this old guy starts coming up to me. He seemed angry and I could tell he was gonna be trouble. He came up to me while I was getting in a car and started making all these weird hand signals. He didn't say a word, just a bunch of hand signals. I was super confused but I got in the car and tried not to look at him. I awkwardly glanced out the opened window to see if he was still there and to my great dismay he was still staring at me. When we made eye contact he pointed to the ground and said "A NOITE" (which means 'tonight'). I have no idea what his plans were for that night but I didn't get mugged or killed so TUDO BEM.
There's some really great people here that really love the missionaries- even non-members love to invite us over to have a family night, dinner, bonfire, etc. This week, a semi-recently baptized member named Suzanne had us over for pizza. I got to play with her kids/nieces and we jammed out on their keyboard. It was DIVERTIDO DE MAIS.
A few weeks ago, this old senile lady told us that she saw the devil. She said that he, indeed, is red and has a tail/horns. Apparently the stereotypes are true. But then another old senile lady told us that the devil came to her in the form of a dog and started talking to her. I don't know what to believe anymore.
Random stat that I have been observing and pondering about very much: I think approximately 40% of the men here wear shirts. Generally, they are dressed up like they are ready to go to the beach. They wear swimsuits, flip-flops, and rarely wear shirts even though the beach is hundreds of miles away and there is not a pool in sight.
This week I attempted to play piano for sacrament meeting. It went terrible, but it wasn't all my fault. The chorister started singing in the most random time during the introduction and the congregation decided to follow. It didn't help that they were way off key. The Ward is probably the least musically-gifted group of people ever assembled. To make matters worse, I am terrible at piano.
Today I was reading some really good chapters in Alma. Alma 5: 14-16 had some really good questions that made me think about my personal conversion. Alma was asking people questions about conversion and Faith. I think they are questions that everyone should consider, specifically the question "Do ye exercise Faith in the redemption of Him that created you?" In church, we always hear about how we should "Come unto Christ", and I was thinking "what is the best way to 'come' unto him?" I think that the main way to 'come unto Christ' is repentance. Jesus Christ suffered all things and understands all of our struggles, sins, and trials. Alma chapter 7 explains this better than me. Alma 7:11-14 explains the Christ's mission and Atonement probably better than any other scripture.
We are having some success down here, thanks to some work, luck, and some help from a member. On September 28, we are set to have 6 baptisms! I'm stoked to say the least. The people we are teaching are really great right now. Also, a group (like a branch but smaller) will be opening in Pedregal next month! The work will really blow up once it opens, so I really hope I get to stay here for that!
If you're reading this, I want you to go out there and have a great week
ATE PROXIMA SEMANA
<3 Elder MacLay
1. THE SQUAD
2. Ruy stylin
3. something very artistic
4. photo shoot with my homies
5. photo shoot pt 2
6. photo shoot pt 3
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