Elder Ryan Pinkney: Jardim do Sol- Week One

My new area is a lot like the first. Everything is a little bit more spread out. I have already done a lot more walking than what I was use to in my other area. There are two companionships of missionaries here in the ward and the other set is a trio, which means there are five missionaries in the ward. The five of us all life together, eat with the members together, go to church together, etc. It is super crazy/fun.

I am living in a house that has three Brazilians and two Americans. (What makes it more crazy is that the house is super super small and we don´t have enough bed so one Elder is sleeping on a mattress on the floor.) The Brazilians have been really vocal about trying to learn English. They study a lot actually and every moment of the day they are practicing with us to get better. We set a goal in our house that after 10:00 you can only speak English. It is been super productive but also really fun.

This story was shared with me and I loved it a lot, so I am passing it to you all.

There once was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Saviour appeared to him.

The Lord told him He had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock explaining that he was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, and for many days he toiled from sunup to sundown; his shoulder set squarely against the cold massive surface of the rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man showed signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture - placing thoughts in the man's mind, such as ``Why kill yourself over this?, you're never going to move it!'' or ``Boy, you've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface!'' etc. giving the man the impression the task was impossible and the man was an unworthy servant because he wasn't moving the massive stone.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man and he started to ease up in his efforts. ``Why kill myself?'' he thought. ``I'll just put in my time putting forth just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.'' And this he did or at least planned on doing until, one day, he decided to take his troubles to the Lord.

``Lord,'' he said, ``I have labored hard and long in Your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which You have asked of me. Yet after all this time, I have not even budged that rock even half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?''

To this the Lord responded compassionately, ``My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength and that you have done. But never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. At least not by yourself. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed, ready to quit. But is this really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your back sinewed and brown. Your hands are calloused from constant pressure and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have. Yet still, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock; and you come to Me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my friend will move the rock. Your calling was to be obedient and push, and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom, and this you have dpne."

Let us all remember our purpose and the work that Heavenly Father has for us. It is really easy to be frustrated with the weight of the rock that each of us push, but our goal is not to move the rock. Our goal is to push with all our might, become strong in Christ and have faith in the plan that Heavenly Father has for each of us.

May we remember to never stop pushing the rock.

Some photos from Oswaldo Cruz (last area)...