Áurea Uva Verde And Also Almost Got Robbed

Whattup negãos, 

I'm alive! And I'm getting "cada vez pior" at writing emails. But now that I'm adopting the stoic philosophy of Journaling, my email frequency should improve as well. I might even write another one this transfer! 

So last transfer passed like half a kidney stone and half of one of those nerd gummy ball things. Lots of sweet experiences, and lots of acute pain. I learned a crap ton about pacience, psychology, the gospel, and cooking. I'm making some killer stir fry these days. 

But I digress. 

Unfortunately, I got transferred from beautiful Parelheiros to less-beautiful Capão Redondo. If I haven't lost the gift of tongues, Capão Redondo roughly translates to "big ol' round cap". That has basically nothing to do with the quality of the area: it's a big ol' round favela filled with pleasant people. 

And also weed. 

And maybe some other drugs. 

So here's how the first two weeks went down:

Leadership counsel

Last week we had to wake up super early cuz my comp had to go to a leadership counsel for the whole mission. I got left out :/ but it was chill as fetch cuz I got to go with the other elders and eat at the patriarch's house. 

For nonmembers on this email, a patriarch isn't an old guy who oppresses women. The patriarch is a special old guy who gives patriarchal blessings, which are basically like personal, individualized scriptures for the person receiving the blessing. 

You know the old oracle wizard who gives the hero a big prophecy about his quest and a bunch of special guidance and specific warnings and stuff? Think that. That's basically what it is. 

Anyways the patriarch in our stake is hilarious and totally crazy. Also his lasagna is fetching delicious. Spent the rest of the day hanging out with the elders and waiting for my comp to get back and then the leadership counsel took way to long and we got back to our area super late. But it was a lit day nonetheless. 

Seeing

We had a lunch with this member and her inactive friend. The lunch was delicious and super funny- the member spent the whole time making fun of her friend for dating a gay guy- and then at the end during the message we were talking about how we could help them and basically the inactive member launched into a whole story about her house that she wanted us to dedicate and whatnot. But anyways as part of this discussion she's randomly like "elders I promise I'm not crazy... but I can sense people's auras" and she looks right at me and was like "Elder, your aura is uva verde (grape green). It's like... hope and peace."

So basically that was like the coolest complement anyone has ever given me. I just wanted to share this story because I'm proud of being the grape green aura guy. 

Capão

So on our second day in the area we almost got robbed 

We love Capão Redondo

So we were walking home and were just about arriving when this car randomly starts following us. We notice that the car is kind of sus and right as we get to the door they turn on their blinkers and start to pull up right next to us. I- well know for my dexterity and quick reflexes- turned the key about 8 times in the wrong direction before figuring out that the door wasn't opening. Right before they get out of the car I managed to rip the door open and we rushed inside. We caught a glimpse of them driving away as we slammed the door. 

The other elders also got surrounded by like 6 guys in an alley on that same night. But they just walked away and nobody messed with them. 

So yeah, safety is our first priority among the wild lamanites out her in capão redondo

It's beginning to look a lot like

Little spiritual thought this week. 

It's December now, so there's one thing that's on everybody's mind: New Years. But if there were a second thing on everybody's mind, it would probably be Christmas. 

I love Christmas. The music, the food, family. Shame I'm going to miss basically all of those things because I'm in Brazil. But at least I have my Charlie brown Vince Gauraldi trio music to keep me company. 

And this year, I'm tryna really put the Christ in the Mas. Without the birth, the cross couldn't have happened. Mr. "Never Confusing" Isaiah himself gave us some awesome prophecies about the birth of Jehovah in the flesh, one of my favorites being Isaiah 7:14.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Emmanuel-- God with Us. 

Matthew 28:20

Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

D&C 31:12-13

Pray always... Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you.

God is with us. Are we doing what we need to in order to notice his presence? To receive the blessings of his presence? Are we with God?

Let's pray always, be faithful to the end, and pump that Christmas music. Cuz it's the best time of the year- a time for us to focus on what really matters and really brings joy. 

Like the Son of God in the flesh and his Infinite, Continuous Atonement for all creation. 

And also Christmas food. And maybe some Charlie brown music in the mix there. 

Em Fim

Well that's it. Not that anybody's counting but I've got approximately 71 days left before I'm back to the land of the free, which means I've only got like 10 more opportunities to write an email.

No promises but I'll do my best to crank out a few more emails in that time.

But that's all folks! Love y'all and have a great week!

God is Good, 

Elder Ebbert