Spiritually and physically fed

Hey y'all! The skies were super cool this week! Pretty random, I know, but you need to be grateful for the little things haha. We had a pretty stormy week, so there were some awesome sunsets and cloud formations. Also, I didn't get any videos sadly, but there were a couple lightning storms that were constantly lighting up the night sky with huge bolts in the clouds. Needless to say, I see a lot of the sky because I'm outside for 10 hours a day (usually not quite that much, most days we get to actually teach people in their houses, but it's close sometimes haha).

So this last Sunday I received AWESOME news! I was trying my best to keep up in Elder's quorum (constantly translating is SUPER hard) but then they started talking about a quorum Churrasco (BBQ)! My first thought was "darn, we can't go because we need to work". However, my next thought was "WAIT! That is a perfect activity to invite less-actives to! Who doesn't love BBQ'd meat?!?!". And, when the missionaries invite people to an activity, guess who needs to be at the activity.....THE MISSIONARIES!!!! I love combining the work with eating food. I can be both spiritually fed AND physically fed at the same time! It's the best haha.

Today, I want to speak about gratitude, considering the season. On the whiteboard in our apartment, I wrote a poem that I'm sure many of you know: "As a rule, man's a fool. When it's hot, he wants it cool. When it's cool, he wants it hot. Always wanting what there's not. Never good with what he's got." I cannot tell you how many times I have needed to say this to myself in my head, but it's a large number haha. So, my invitation this Thanksgiving week is to be "good with what you've got". However, take it one step further, give thanks to the God who gave it to you. It will make the holidays SO much better.

With love from Brazil,

Elder Colton McOmber

This ladybug made me happy, I don't know why haha

Pictures of the sky and my area that I liked this week

This lake has a ton of fish and they attack anything they think is food. It is super entertaining.

(CLICK HERE to watch the video below)

Come and see...we can each Light the World in our own way🕯

Hey y'all! This week was awesome! First off, I got a Christmas tree (Thank you very much Mom!!!)!!!! It's kinda the only thing that makes it feel like Christmas though, considering it's 90 degrees like every day, and there isn't a single mountain around to possibly see snow. That's okay though because I get to focus even more on the true meaning of Christmas, Christ! I know you guys still have Thanksgiving to celebrate though, so I'll stop talking about Christmas haha.

This week we went into a Catholic cathedral because we needed some water (which, by the way, was freezing cold and AMAZING!!! (double side note: It was not, in fact, the holy water)) While we were in there, we got a ton of weird looks and double takes, as I'm sure you can imagine. My favorite part though was as we were walking away to get back to work, a lady came running after us yelling, "Elders!". We stopped, and she proceeded to very kindly invite us to attend Mass. We thanked her, but graciously declined because we had a lesson to teach. However, as we were walking away, I had a thought. What if everyone in the world was this nice? This woman was a great example of Christlike invitations. Sometimes, me definitely included, we get so caught up in proving others wrong and showing them their faults, rather than just kindly inviting everyone to come and see for themselves.

My message today is for everyone in any religion. Sorry if I seem blunt...I'm not trying to be. We ALL need to stop being so judgmental of the people around us and what they believe. It is not our place to judge how others live their religion, nor their lives. However, our place IS to be a light unto the world, pointing to their Savior, Jesus Christ. We should always have his invitation in our mouths: "Come and See". And so, to end my letter, I invite all those who read my words to come and see the joy that comes from living the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

With love from Brazil,

Elder Colton McOmber

I saw this really cool owl while proselyting

We went to this awesome park that is pretty much a rainforest in the middle of the city

This random bus just had a temple picture on it, we thought that was pretty cool haha

A cool landscape while on the bus traveling home from zone conference in Uberlandia

The bag of chips is in the blender so that ants don't get into my precious tortilla chips

Don't miss the signature of the Savior

Hey y'all! This week was absolutely crazy! Way too much happened for me to put in a letter, but I'll include the highlights. By far the most amazing thing was a blessing we gave to an investigator named João Batista. He had a stroke that left some pretty big after-effects. He has to re-learn how to read, write, and speak. It is really hard for him. However, in the blessing that my companion gave, the Holy Ghost prompted him to promise João that if he had the faith, he would be completely healed from these problems. The presence of the Holy Ghost in that room after the blessing was palpable. We haven't been able to visit him since, but I'll keep you guys updated. I really hope that he has the faith to allow God to show his hand. I LOVE priesthood blessings!

Next, something really funny happened. So we went on divisions/splits this last week (we change companions for 24 hours for training) and so I was helping teach some different investigators. One of them was a mom with a young baby. This baby started crying because of hunger while we were teaching. I am sure you guys can tell where this is going...I did not. The mom just started breastfeeding right there in the middle of the lesson, no cover or anything. My companion and I looked at each other with pretty surprised faces, then we just continued talking about Jesus haha. My companion told me after that my face got pretty red, I definitely was not expecting that experience.

Lastly, I want to share a deep insight from an investigator. He was talking about atheists, but I believe it applies to everyone. He said that in life, sometimes we see the world and everything in it as a beautiful painting. We stand there and admire how all these tiny markings make this beautiful picture. However, a lot of the time, we get so caught up admiring the work, that we miss the most important part, the signature of the painter, Jesus Christ. I loved this insight because I know I have fallen into this trap. Sometimes I see everything around me and admire it, but then I forget to show my gratitude to its Creator. My challenge to you guys this week (also to myself) is to show gratitude for everything you can think of. Currently, my method of doing this is whenever I want to complain, I just start listing off things I am grateful for. However, there are a ton of different ways. I promise you will be happier as you show more gratitude.

With love from Brazil,

Elder Colton McOmber

This is why I now hate parrots haha

(CLICK HERE TO PLAY VIDEO)

Random skyline photos and a couple friends we made haha

I missed burritos, so I made myself a bacon and egg burrito

This is the view from my study desk

Yes that is a hat haha

I thought that the sky looked cool haha

Why yes! I LOVE cold showers.❄️🙄

Hey everyone!!!!

These last two weeks have been crazy! Brazil is awesome!! I got to meet my mission president and his family last week and I love them! After that, I went on a bus ride to my first area until 3 in the morning> My area is Bom Retiro, Uberaba!!!! And you know the best part about being a missionary? We still woke up at 6:30 to get to work haha. Honestly though, it is so much fun. I absolutely love the work of bringing souls unto Christ! It is harder in every way than any other work I have ever done, but it is also SO much more rewarding. The absolute best part about it is knowing that I am working directly for and with my Savior Jesus Christ. This is His work, and I am just the person who points people to the Savior.

A little about my trainer: His name is Elder Diel and he is the best! He speaks pretty good english But I make sure to only use that when I can't figure out a word in Portuguese.He pushes us pretty hard, but I feel like it is the perfect amount. My Portuguese has already progressed so far in the last five days. I testify that the Gift of Tongues is a real gift. Without it, I would be in a lot of trouble out here haha.

So the first couple days in the field, I was taking my showers, and they were absolutely FREEZING (hilaious right? jkjk) I kind of just assumed that is how it would be and took my showers. Then, on the third day, my trainer came out of the shower and this was our conversation:

Elder Diel: "Elder, do you like cold showers?"

Me: "They aren't my favorite, why?

Elder Diel: "I take cold showers for my skin, but you're able to change it by turning the setting on the shower head."

Me: *facepalm*

So ya, I was freezing my butt off for no reason. It was fun lol.

My spiritual thought this week is about the Lord's work and plan. He has given us all a promise that when we are doing His work and following His plan, whether at home or abroad, He will take care of everything else. I testify that is true. I have noticed in only my first week in the field that when I work harder, I am happier, less homesick, and more excited about working. In our lives at home, when we focus on keeping the covenants we have made, and try to share the gospel with others, I promise that we receive greater help in our trials. They won't always be taken away, in fact, they rarely will, but we will be strengthened so we can carry them easier. I promise.

With love from Brazil,

Elder Colton McOmber