WEEK 88 The Algarve, Julieta, Real Friends, and Street Soccer



WEEK 88 The Algarve, Julieta, Real Friends, and Street Soccer

 August 26, 2019

 Hey everyone!

Yeah so this week was sick, I really have been fraco (weak) with writing, so here are some of the weeks best moments:

1: Division in Santo André.
Elder de Lima and I have both served in Santo André and it's our fav area! We were blessed enough to return and do a division there. I got to see basically all the people that I had come to love including all of my recent converts from that area, who are all continuing strong in the faith. Man it was unreal, I went on a division with Elder Garay a Greenie (a new missionary) he only has about 10 weeks in the country but he's doing super well! He's from Paraguay and I can tell he will be a great help to the Portuguese people in this country. I loved this division, it was incredible. 

2: Division in Faro, The Algarve.
We had the chance to do divisions with the Zone Leaders in the Algarve, one of my buddies Elder Taylor, who started in the MTC with me, and Elder Paul, who has one transfer less with me. As much as I wanted to go with Elder Taylor, I felt I needed to go with Elder Paul! I won't explain much of what happened but it was necessary that I went with Elder Paul, I learned so much from him, and we had one of the most Spirit inspired conversations that I have had on my mission. It was a legit heart to heart and I think we both walked away better missionaries, better people, better friends, and even better, we walked away from our discussion more Christlike. We taught super well together in the lessons we had, and I am SO grateful for the time I spent with Elder Paul. We then had to head home from the Algarve and got home at about 1:30 a.m...... the office called and said we needed to be back home for the next morning, when in the end, we didn't but it's okay because I had a great ride home with Elder de Lima.

3: Temple Visit.
I saw all of Porto 2 (one of my areas) at the temple including my life long friends Vinicius and Josy!! As well, I passed through the temple with the Branch of Santo André and Rafa one of our recent converts. Also our recent convert here in Queluz, Gabriel, is already working at the temple! The temple really brings so many miracles.

4: Stake Conference of Oeiras.
It was packed as it gets, President and Sister Fillmore spoke and they did a great job! It was fun to see lot of people I had already seen in the past!

5: Saw some old friends.
First at the start of the week I saw Megan (Sister) Holmes (a sister missionary that is done her mission) who sat beside me on our way to Portugal, that was awesome to see and catch up with her. She and her family even took one of our investigators home in their rental car, great family.

Saw my buddy, Mateus (Elder) Vigne, we were in the same district for 2 transfers in Porto 2.

Then at the stake conference I saw Noah (Elder) Bailey which was unreal! He left the mish 5 weeks ago but came back with his whole fam! I'll include the picture below. It was awesome, we lived in a fourman house together and it was just the best time hahah. It was great to see him because all of our old roomates were there at the Stake Conference, so we had some great laughs and talked about old memories. I'm definitly planning on chillin with him after the mish! 

6: Bowling.
On Pday we bowled, and had some Pizza Hut buffet.

7: Julieta.
She passed through the temple, felt the Spirit super strongly and desired to be baptized. So we marked her to be baptized this Saturday! On the 31st. Her sister has been a member for a long time, and now she decided to be baptized as well! Incredible woman, she also made us real African food this week! Love her.

8: Soccer.
We played some street soccer with some investigaters, recent converts, and some random dudes who were already playing. It was legit, and it got pretty interesting/fun. We all walked away homies and plan to play again.

Tip: Start with the end in mind. Before you act, think of what the result will be and how the other person(s) will act. Sometimes we have to sacrifice the things we want so that the other can be happy, and we can have the results we need. 

Thats basically all, I'll try to make it better next week. But it was great, and now I have been blessed to have seen the continente of Portugal from North to South! Pray for Julieta.


Elder Out


parks.layton@missionary.org



The Santo André Family/Branch (Missing the Costa Fam)

Me with Noah Bailey and his fam!



 Division in Santo André



 The Street Soccer GXNG



 PDay Bowling



Elder de Lima

 Megan Holmes






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