Goiânia, here I come!

Hey y'all! I just had the realization that I only have one more week in the CTM. That is SO crazy! It simultaneously feels like it has been 2 years already, and that I just got here yesterday, so ya, that's a fun experience haha.

These 5 weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions, but I have come so close to my Savior over such a short time. Second, I have also come to know my Father in Heaven much better. Third, I have realized that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the most amazing gifts ever!! We take it for granted wayyy too often, and in only this short time, I have found that its companionship is absolutely vital! I am so ready and willing to share this knowledge with other people, how great is my calling!! I love this work and encourage anyone anywhere to participate - it WILL improve your life, I promise.

This week was pretty dry as far as humor goes. I honestly can't think of anything that doesn't require a huge backstory...I'm sorry.

Last thing, next week I probably will not send an email because I'll be getting ready to head out into the field and won't really have time. You can stop cheering...I'll email again the week after.  (sorry that was areally dumb joke, but it's me, what did you expect). I'll finish with that amazing joke haha, talk to you guys again in a couple weeks!

- Elder Colton McOmber

My family has been spoiling every week by ordering from a place called "Mr. Cheney's Cookies" that is across the street from the CTM here in Sao Paulo. They have tons of options for American food that is hard to get here in Brazil. This week I got pancakes with maple syrup, and 2 ice cream cookie sandwiches! They take a picture when the missionaries pick up their stuff on p-day and post it on Faceboook...this was me VERY HAPPY about my treats!

Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite🐜🦟

Hey everyone!

This week was really uneventful except for Saturday...we went proselyting for real! We talked to real people on the busiest street in Sao Paulo and it was crazy!!! I was actually talking to people in Portuguese and they were able to understand me. My favorite conversation happened with this couple with a 5-month old girl. We were able to tell them that if they wanted, they could live as a family forever! They seemed very interested in this concept. That was pretty much the highlight of my week haha.

Next, I love the Brazilian elders!! Someone taught our Brazilian roommate how to say "Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite" so he says it every night. His accent makes it even funnier, so our whole room is laughing so hard whenever he says it.

They still have sushi here!!!!!! And it is actually pretty good!! I paid $12 for a buffet of sushi, and it made me soooo happy. For all those who didn't know, sushi is by far one of my favorite foods, if not my favorite. Needless to say, it was probably the best meal I have had here.

My spiritual thought this week comes from Isaiah 53:3-5, specifically in verse 5. I was reading, and the phrase "with His stripes we are healed" hit me pretty hard. I know that our Savior endured every pain imaginable for each and EVERY one of us. Because of that, if we come to Him, He CAN and WILL heal us. I have experienced this process, and can testify that it is the most amazing and hopeful experience I have ever known. If there is anything in your life that needs healing, whether it be from sin, or just from life's trials, I invite everyone to use the power of the Atonement in order to be healed. It works, I KNOW it! I love all you guys!

Love, Elder Colton McOmber

What? You mean YOU don't sing the Star Spangled Banner in the shower?

PSA: General Conference is the best thing EVER!!! I have never been so excited to sit in an uncomfortable chair for 10 hours over 2 days and listen to talks haha (they wanted the elders to listen to the Women's session as well). The amount of revelation and doctrine and helpful knowledge we can receive is nothing short of amazing! I hope you all got the opportunity to watch the sessions. If you didn't, I invite all those who read my emails to do so. Watch/listen to a talk at a time for the next few days and I promise you will receive revelation for your lives. I believe they are up on churchofjesuschrist.org. My favorite comment this conference was "God loves you no less when you struggle than when you triumph" -Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I love knowing that even when I fail, God loves me more than anything.

Next, I hope everyone was able to make a time to go to the temple and feel the Holy Ghost. It truly is the house of the Lord.

This week I had the opportunity to see more of Brazil. We went to the Campinas temple, which meant we traveled through some of the countryside of Brazil. This place is BEAUTIFUL!!! I love it here! The trees, the sky, the animals, everything is so new but so amazing. I can't wait to go out in the field so I can also meet the people!

Nothing too funny happened this week, but there was this one elder belting out the Star Spangled Banner while showering two floors below us. Literally the entire building could hear it. My district was laughing pretty hard wondering what the Brazilians though of it. It was pretty entertaining.

But with that, I send my email back to the land of the free and the home of the brave (as well as France for Morgan, and any other person in another country who reads about me haha) I love you all!

-Elder Colton McOmber

I love the temple!

Hey everyone!!

This week was very uneventful, but I will try my best to be interesting. ;)

The best thing that happened was P-day! We got to go to the Sao Paulo Temple and then explore the streets of Brazil around the CTM. And GUESS WHAT!!!! The endowment session was in English. I was so happy. It was amazing to me that I'm in a different country, speaking a different language, and living in a completely different culture, but the Spirit of the temple is the same. This week I challenge you guys to all go and do some temple ordinance. Find the time, no, MAKE the time to go and feel that Spirit, and it WILL help you.

Now, exploring Brazil, I DIDN'T DIE!!! I was actually able to to get around and buy lunch and stuff. I didn't tell anyone to die or even offend them in any way. Everyone should be so proud of me:) The rest of the week was just learning Portuguese, nothing really happened, so with this I will leave y'all until next week. Love you all and go to the temple!!!

Conserva A Tua Rota,

Elder McOmber