Called to Serve: Elder Jeffrey Carroll's Joao Pessoa Journey: I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS, I'M GOING TO BRAZIL!!!

August 4, 2015

I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS, I'M GOING TO BRAZIL!!!!!!!! I was so thinking that I was gonna go stateside, but it turns out the Lord has different plans. Yes, I am nervous, but if I've learned one thing since being at the MTC, it's that there is a reason for everything and the Lord always knows more than I do. I feel incredibly blessed to have been at the Provo MTC for the past 5 weeks (plus one more week this upcoming week), being able to be in a familiar area with friends and being close to BYU and being able to speak English and such, but now it's my time to go and serve the people of Brazil. It's an incredible honor and I know with the Lord on my side, I'll be alright.

Okay, my week. I entered the MTC on July 1st and it is now August 4th, which means I've been here over a month! Crazy! The time really does go by fast and you have to make the most of it. I had a couple of rough days in the week where I just wasn't in the best mood and it seemed like everyone was better at Portuguese than me. But it's all about confidence and not comparing yourself to other people, in the mission field and in life. We all learn at a different pace and I'm exactly where the Lord needs me to be with my Portuguese. I have had an incredible amount of support, kindness, and respect from the people in my zone and I am so grateful for that and will use it to motivate me to not be too hard on myself and just work to do my best.

I got a little bit of the “real world” this week, I went with another Elder to the hospital because his companions stitches from his tonsil surgery opened up and he had to have them looked at. It was a little worrisome, but he had a great attitude about it, and he was sitting and studying Portuguese while he was waiting around. If that's not dedication, I don't know what is.

I lost my scriptures case which had not only my quad but also my PMG and a Portuguese vocab book in it, so I was really distraught and unfocused, but I prayed really hard and I was able to find it again, thank goodness! Heavenly Father really does answer prayers if we are humble and sincere, I promise you all that.

Sunday sacrament meeting was great because it was testimony meeting and I always love hearing people's testimonies and bearing my own. A couple of people from the zone did a beautiful acapella rendition of "Nearer My God to Thee" that brought me to tears, and it was just a really good day, much in contrast to earlier that week.

Another group of missionaries left this morning and yesterday, which is sad as always, but they are all gonna do great out in the field.

Well, next time you all hear from me, I'll be in Brazil, so wish me luck! I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to and that Jesus Christ is my Savior.

I'm so grateful for all of my many blessings.

Thank you all for your support, until next time! - Elder Carroll