Elder Chipman's Adventures in Africa: Liberdade A - Week 4 - "Far Alone"

2k17, now we here trick!

So far this has been the weirdest transition of my mission with a new year, but I am super pumped for 2017 and all that it has in store! It sounds like everyone partied super hard. Brody and Annie hit up D-Land and the rest of the fam ate more candy than Augustus Gloop with the Candy Bar game and fun festivities.

The week was a really good all because of the biggest homies of all time... clouds! It was raining and cloudy for a good part of the week so it helped out a ton. On Tuesday night, we had a big family home evening at Jorge and Elsa's to celebrate their anniversary. It was a really fun night but the best part came when Jorge and Elsa gave their "toasts" and they talked about how the church, getting married, and being baptized truly changed their lives, relationship and family. On Wednesday, I had a division with my dude, Elder Babu! It was a super fun day working with that joker. On Saturday, the 31st we had a busy day to get some visits in, celebrate Elder Ribeiro's bday and also party it up for the New Year. All missionaries had to be home by 18h (6:00pm) so when we got home I cut Elder Dutra's and Elder Ribeiro's hair, we cooked up a nice dinner, and then just slept. Most peaceful New Years I have ever had except for the fireworks that woke me up in the night. I legit woke up thinking I was back in Nam' haha. This next week should be just as good with lots of divisions planned and lots of people to visit. Also on Saturday, we will be having a couple baptisms for the ward of Sister Carolina and Sister Malika.

To start of the new year, President Koch challenged all the missionaries to study the Book of Mormon and finish by March 1st. Ever since I have started my study I have some really cool experiences with the Book of Mormon but to go with the theme of the new year I will just share a little thought from 1 Nephi Chapter 16. So, in this chapter Lehi and his family had been travelling in the wilderness for a minute now and they had already passed through many hard times. Then, Lehi and his family are blessed to obtain the Liahona that gave them guidance of where to hunt and travel for a good amount of time. But once they faced a couple of problems with Nephi's bow being broken and not having any food they were quick to forgot all that God had done for them and their forefathers. After receiving some chastening the family humbled themselves and looked to the Liahona in verse 29, "And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."

So, with this new year passing and good times that the Lord has blessed us with let us not forget these things when we face our first couple trials of 2017. We have been blessed with so much things in these Latter-Days that give us guidance from time to time and especially when we need it. I hope that we all can use these blessings just like the scriptures, church magazines, and church websites throughout this year with more faith and diligence to help us in times of peace and in times of trial so that the Lord can bring to pass great things for us and for others in 2017 by small means! Love you guys so much! Have such a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman