Many New Companions

 Hello all!


I want to start this email by saying, this week was pretty crazy, but really great!

Tuesday was transfers so on Monday I packed up my stuff and got ready to head to a new area. On Tuesday morning I went to the mission offices to meet up with Elder Fleming who was my companion until Friday when new missionaries arrived. 

It was also very interesting to be in Lagoa because when we showed up there was absolutely no food in the entire apartment. So some of our first meals got a little creative until we got settled.

Being with him was a lot of fun, but it was definitely interesting to be trying to get to know my new area in Lago Encantada and to try to work online in his area. But I have met a lot of great members so far and have started to find some great people to teach.

Then Friday came along and we headed back to the mission offices to meet our new companions who had just arrived. But... my new companion didn't show up. I don't know the whole story, but I think due to some complications in his other mission (not his fault) he missed his first flight. So now I am with Elder Beck and his new companion Elder Christensen until Thursday when my new companion will come.

But even though I didn't actually get my new companion yet, being with the other new missionaries and President Crane during some trainings and a welcome to Brazil lunch was quite a blast. We did a big "companionship" study with the Assistants and for some practice, we went out into the street and started making contacts. Not something we did when I showed up, but a great way for the new Americans to start practicing their Portuguese right away. 

So now I am with the Elders here in Ibura. It is the area next to mine and again this week we will try our best to work both here in Ibura and as well in Lagoa. Again it has been great to be here with these Elders as well and to get to know them. But I won't lie, I will be happy to finally have one companion and one area by the end of this week. 

I honestly can't believe that it has only been one week since I got news about transfers and that everything that's happened has just been one week. But it's been a great week nevertheless.

I am definitely starting to get into the Christmas vibe with church Christmas parties, Christmas trees and Christmas lights. It is certainly interesting to have Christmas in the summer, but I am still super excited. Especially because of all the Christmas music.

This week too my Portuguese has been a lot better. I have been working really hard to only speak Portuguese, which makes it interesting in the moments when I need to speak English again haha. A lot of times it ends up being a mix of both when I accidentally start using Portuguese words when I don't mean to. But I'm learning tons and I'm able to understand and talk to people so much better now.

With all of the craziness of now companions, living in different places and being so busy, I haven't been able to take many pictures but I'll share what I have. 

And to end, I want to remind you all that God is in the details. This week has been crazy, but God has always been there to help me. I don't know yet exactly why God needed me to be here with the Elders in Ibura or why I need to wait for another week for my new companion, but I know that it is all part of God's plan. And I know that when we let God prevail in our lives, when we let his plan control what we do, everything works out in the end, and he is able to use us to bless the lives of others. That's why I am so grateful to be a missionary, and why I'm so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because I know that God has a plan for each of us. And I know that we can learn his plan for us as we study the scriptures and try to follow the promptings of the Spirit. We have the opportunity to change people's lives through such simple things! Remember that!

Elder Hill


Christmas!



Elder Fleming and I cooking with limited supplies


Zipper ties one day because why not



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