Mission Office - Week Five

One more day, one day more...

This past week was a lot more normal that my last week. There was a national holiday that let everyone had a four day weekend. A lot of people went to the beach, went on picnics, and a lot of stores were closed. We had lunch with the Stake President and he made us a really good BBQ. His son is serving in Japan, so I think it tried to spoil us a little. 

I had some things to take care of in the center of Curitiba. It was the first time I really saw the down town of the city. Curitiba is a lot bigger than I had ever seen. Our mission does not have a lot of areas in the center of the city, so there are a lot of missionaries that stay here two years and never go down town. My companions and I are going to ask president if maybe we can get a city tour bus one P-Day for us to see all the site. 

I am doing great. I am learning a lot. I have been working hard to try to finish the book, Jesus the Christ. I started it at the beginning of my mission and it is taking me a while to finish. It is the only book in the missionary library that I have not read yet. It is a really amazing book and I seeing my knowledge grow by reading. I am seeing my testimony grow also. I feel the Spirit with me when I am reading. I am grateful for this.

I hope you all have a great week. Love and miss you all lots.

Elder Pinkney

P.S. Sorry, I do not have any photos this week. I will try harder this week to take more photos.

Mission Office- Week Four

Hello World, 

This past week was super, super crazy. So much happened that I think I will just make a short list. 

• Monday-- We had transfers, which was super, super crazy. I stayed the office all day dealing with transportation and other problems with Elders being transferred.  Elder da Silva, who is friend of mine, went to the CTM. He was on a temporary two transfer missionary that stayed here for three months, received his mission call, and is now going to the CTM. He will be back in three weeks. I stayed in the office with President until 1:00 in the morning preparing everything for a group of missionaries going home. Sister Cuvelier drove me back to the apartment afterwards. 
• Tuesday -- I woke up to a phone call about two missionaries that missed their flights and needed immediate rebooking. I ran to the office, half-dressed, on the phone with the flight agency. The two missionaries were luckily able to catch the next flight and got home safely. I got to eat lunch with the new group of missionaries that came in that morning. I spent the whole day briefing them on documents, health cards, etc. There are some really great Elders that just arrived in the mission, which was cool.
• Wednesday -- I think was the most normal day of the whole week.
• Thursday -- I spent 6 hours going to the Policia Federal and dealing with the Visa for a missionary from Colombia.
• Friday -- I went back to the Policia Federal again and tried to keep on top of the other work that I need to get back.  

Anyway, all in all, the week was super good. We are still focusing on our recent convert from last week. My Spanish is getting better too. I am reading the new book "Saints" online too. It is really awesome book. I am learning a lot of details about church history. I recommend for all.

Also sorry the only photos I have this week are of us eating. I swear I am doing lot more than just eat. 

Mission Office- Week Three

More adventures with Spanish

Hello World!

This week was incredibly crazy. We had so much happen in these past few days. 

Monday, I took a group of missionaries to the Policial Federal, which is where we resolve all the renewing of the visas. It was a group of 10 Elders on a bus for one and a half hours. For how crazy that sounds, everything actually went perfectly fine....lol.  I was also able to get some Subway with Elder Ball and Elder Grover.

Then, Elder Quresma finished his mission this week and went home on Wednesday. He was in the office to get all his bags together and to talk to President. He had this really funny stuffed monkey that when you threw it started making monkey sounds. 

I, also, did not let Halloween go by without celebrating a little. It took me two hours, but I decorated a Haunted Houses that Mrs. Kaynor sent me (shout out to this amazing lady). Can I just say that everyone here in the office thought that I was very talented for having put together that Haunted House. I put it out for everyone to see and put some small candy for people to take. It was awesome. I am going to leave it out until at least Christmas...lol 

Last of all, we ended off the week today with the baptism of Mirella (the lady from Venezuela). I have been basically teaching her in Spanish for the past three weeks. In a effort to make her baptism really special, we decided that we should hold the whole program in Spanish. The talks were in Spanish, we printed off the music to sing the hymns in Spanish, and Elder Arscott did the baptism in Spanish. It was really really cool, because I couldn't say that I have ever been to a baptism in Spanish like that before. Even in the other language, I felt the Spirit presence and a deep love for the Savior and this amazing family. Definitely, a memory that I will not forget. 

Love and miss you all lots, 

Elder Pinkney

Mission Office- Week Two

Hello World,

I had a really busy, running week in the office. When I came to the office on my first day, President said I would have to hit the ground running. I understand a lot better what he meant by that. There is so much to do in the office. It really feels like a full time job with the level of responsibility and the amount of time I spend here. However, I love it. I feel like I am really growing as a person, learning more about how the real world works, and how to use more Christ-like attribute (especially patience). I really feel like that it is something that Heavenly Father had been preparing for me. I look at what are my strong points and it is a lot of things that I do as a secretary (organizing, remembering lots of things,  working on computers). I am grateful that Heavenly Father and President are giving me this chance to serve.

This past week on Friday, we had the Second Counselor in the General Presidency of the Primary, Sister Franco come and speak to the two missions in Curitiba. It was a really special event. She is from Argentina and she spoke with us in Spanish, which was good to help me with my Spanish. Her husband also spoke. He was a mission President also in Argentina. We had a very special conference with them and I learned a lot about how the Spirit leads us in our missionary work. I learned that we all have to work really hard to always be in the zone of personal revelation. Revelation is the foundation of our personal relationship with Heavenly Father. Revelation will help us know where we need to be, with who we need to talk, and what should we say to touch the hearts of our investigators. I know that Heavenly Father will always lead us to the people who are ready to hear the gospel. 

Also, we are still teaching our family from Venezuela. The grandmother now is really close to baptism and we are super excited for her. My Spanish is also getting a lot better.

You and miss you all lots,

Elder Pinkney

Lots of photos this week...

Mission Office-Week One

Hello World!!!

This past week, I arrived at the mission office. My new companion is Elder Arscott from Utah. He is the old Executive Secretary and he will be training me on how everything goes here for the next three weeks. I will just say that now that I am in the office, I am seeing a whole 360 view of the mission. It is really different than what I am use to seeing. However, I am loving it. The other two secretaries that we work with are Elder Cappi (from São Paulo) and Elder Lira (from Pará and he was also my first companion in the field). I am excited to get to be with him again. 

Here is what I am responsible for doing... I am in charge of buying all the materials that we need in the mission, buying airplane flights for everyone, renovation of visas for all the missionaries from other countries, etc. It is a lot of work, but I am loving it a lot. 

The highlights of the week:

• Zone conference for all the zones in the mission. I got to see all my old companions and all my friends in the mission. 
• We made BBQ at our apartment one night that was super good.
• We went to the temple on Saturday, which was really good because it has been a while since my last time.
• I taught the Restoration in Spanish. We are teaching a family in this ward that are from Venezuela. They have been in Brazil for one month. The speak very very little Portuguese. Elder Arscott speaks a good amount of Spanish. After our first lesson there, I was completely lost, but the Arscott taught me the pronouns and some other stuff. The next day we went back, I was able to testify and respond their questions all in Spanish. I know that the gift of tongues is real. I feel comfortable saying that I speak Spanish now. It was a really cool experiences. I know that Heavenly Father uses our talents to do His will.

Thank you all for writing. Love and miss you all lots.

Com amor,

Elder Pinkney

P.S. My P-day is now Saturday because I am in the office. I will only be able to write on this day.

Afonso Pena- Week Two and Final Week

Hello World,

Thank you so much everyone for the special birthday wishes. I am truly grateful. 

This past week, Elder Eidem and I have been working a lot and really seeing the miracles of the Lord in our work. We started teaching a lady on Tuesday that I meet in my old area that actually lives in the area I am in now. We taught her and I will say that she is super prepared by Heavenly Father for our message. She has gone through a lot of things in her life and is really just ready for the gospel in every way. We are going to baptize her this coming Saturday and I am simple grateful for having meet this amazing lady. 

Elder Eidem and I have been teaching an English Class in these past two weeks. I am super impressed that in this ward there are a lot of people that speak really good English. Elder Eidem and I have been fighting with the temptation to not speak English will little success.... However, at this point our conversations in English are not getting in the way of our teaching, so that is good. He and I have become really solid friends in these two weeks, which has really made fun.

Sunday, it rained a ton. At church, Elder Eidem and I ended up giving the class on Principles of the Gospel (something that I had not had to do for a couple months). We had really like the talks and classes on Sunday. I have found that in the mission going to church is just really great. It is so good to just stop and reevaluate how I am doing and feel the spirit. (It is also good to get to sit for three hours and not have to walk). 

Love and miss you all lots, 

Com amor,

Elder Pinkney

P.S. I was surprised when after church on Sunday a family that I know from my old area came and brought me cake, ice cream, and presents for my birthday. It was super special and grateful for that. 

Afonsa Pena- Week One

Hello World,

I have started a new adventure in my mission in my new area. My new companion, Elder Eidem, and I are seeing a lot of amazing miracles in our work. Here in Afonsa Pena, the people are pretty open and receiving of our message. We have several people we are teaching that are really changing in the gospel and it is incredible to see. I love being companions with Elder Eidem. 

This past week, I have been getting use to all the new streets and members and investigators. The biggest highlight of the  week was probably that I am now in the same district with my CTM companion, Elder Leptich, which is fun. Also, Conference was really really great. We watched it here in the chapel. 

I learned a lot about at Conference. I was really excited about the move to two hour church. I really felt a confirmation that this next schedule will help us be more focused in our homes. I felt an incredible Spirit during all of the sessions and I know that these men are truly apostles and prophets of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for all the dedication they give to the special callings and all that we learn from them every Conference session. I have a very strong witness of the gospel and the plan of salvation. I know that we experience trials to learn and make us stronger. Here on my mission, I have seen many people with very heavy loads. It's hard to see someone going through difficulty. Very difficult. However, it all has a purpose. We are here to do the will of Heavenly Father. As Christ always did His will, we also need to be obedient in all things.

Com amor,

Elder Pinkney