Elder Tolen's Adventures in Campinas, Brazil: Week 20: Opportunities and Answers

Hello, my dear people! How are you all doing?

This week was pretty normal. I have pinkeye at the moment so I can’t go out for a day or two, but besides that, it’s all good and normal!

Chapter 1: “French Horn is ‘trompa’ in Portuguese, right?": This week, while we were driving to a zone conference (we were in the mission president's car because he lives super close to us), he said to me, “Elder Tolen. French Horn is "trompa" in Portuguese, right? Because on December 1st, we will have our mission talent show. I think there are some music places in you area where you might be able to get a French Horn if you wanted to....” I got really excited. I haven’t played a horn in months. I’ve only buzzed on my mouthpiece a few times. I will happily accept an invitation to play horn again. I will have to let you all know what happens!

Chapter 2: “Good mornin-oops.. boa noite!”: One night, while we were walking, my companion saw someone walking by and said “Good morni- oops.. boa noite!” And then the person responded “Good morning! Boa noite!” Boa noite is good night in Portuguese. It was really funny.

Chapter 3: "I didn’t feel like walking down the stairs": One day after our lunch break, we were walking down a large set of stairs and there was a railing down the middle. As a joke, I sat on it as if I was going to slide down. My companion said, “I dare you,” so I was like, “Okay! I will!” I didn’t feel like walking down any more stairs, anyways. Long story short, let’s just say I didn’t make it far and I just might have gracefully ended up underneath the railing instead of at the end of it. But it was funny so it’s okay!

Chapter 4: "More opportunities": This last week, I have been praying for opportunities to learn and to grow. I have been asking for help with my stress and anxiety. And at church on Sunday, I got asked to pass the sacrament, say the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting, and help for a few minutes in one of the children's Sunday school classes. I have had a few opportunities to talk to our Uber driver. I have had opportunities to sing and to share my love of music with others. I have had opportunities to embarrass myself and get up off the stairs that I “gracefully” “walked” down and try again, and I can testify to all of you, that the Lord will always lift us above our trials and difficulties if we just have faith in him.

I have already shared this with a few of you, but I encourage all of you to go read Doctrine and Covenants section 122, and Ether chapter 12. I promise that as you prayerfully read those two chapters, you will feel God’s love for you. I testify that He loves you. He wants to help you and He will help you. Just turn to Him and He will bless you so much. You will start to notice His hands working in your life.

Elder Tolen