The PAD

Mi beloved gente, I hope this email finds you enjoying your Monday, I know I am. Let's get straight to what's going down here in C-TOWN (Carapeguá).

SANTIAGO

Just a funny little detail/blessing. There's a kid who lives here in Carapeguá named Santiago. Now Santiago is a reincarnated version of my little brother Conner. They talk, act, and they even LOOK the same to me. He's my BOY. Getting to know Santiago, his life is not easy, none of his family comes to church and they're kind of all mixed in a bunch of bad stuff. But this 13-year-old kid comes to church and the activities anyway by himself, even though all his family, extended and immediate, are Catholic and bully him a little for coming. I love this kid. When I'm talking to him I truly feel I am speaking to my little brother. There is no doubt God did his thing and crossed our paths.

DATE NIGHT

So Elder Decima and I have been trying to eat at this fancy restaurant here in Ctown for a minute now. Saturday we had the opportunity to eat there and it was nuts. Nuts. Some of the best food I have had in a minute. Got me a little trunky missing the land of the free and whatnot.

JANITOR DUTIES

Because there is no one to clean the church, Elder D and I took on the hefty task of cleaning it. Ladies and gentlemen, it was bad. I don't know how they let it get that dirty. But now? We made that place SPARKLE. QUIT PLAYING. We're even in the process of buying decorative plants and whatnot trying to beautify it. Out here feeling like I'm on an episode of chapel makeovers or something. So yeah, we're in business now. La “casita del Señor” is a little more up to the standards of the big man now.

LA OBRA/LA COME UP

The Lord has BIG things in store for Ctown. This past Sunday we had TWENTY people in church and 6 new friends. The improvement is crazy. This upcoming week 4 of our friends are on date to be baptized and in the weeks that come after there's more. So stoked to keep working here, giving it all I got to help the Lord make some miracles go down. This past week, after being in touch with our branch president and firing him up to reactivate himself and come to church, he baptized his son! More signs that C TOWN IS ON THE RISE.

ST

If you read anything I hope you read this part because incoming is UNLIMITED HAPPINESS HACK. No, this is not clickbait; this is real. Let me explain. This past week I had divisions with my good buddy Elder Hansen. We talked about something called the “Gozo zone.” Changed my life. Gozo means joy in Spanish so we talked a lot about this “Gozo zone.” Like what is the Gozo zone? How do I get in the Gozo zone? How do I stay in the Gozo zone? Brothers and sisters, the Gozo zone is exactly what it sounds like, it is a zone of joy. A state where you simply yet deeply enjoy life. So how do I get in the Gozo zone? One might ask. The DOOR to the Gozo zone (I hope you're listening) is GRATITUDE. I don't know why it took me 19 years to understand this but it's simply that. There is INTENSE JOY in noticing and finding joy in the little everyday things. I know I sound like a sign a Pinterest Mom would hang in her laundry room like “Find joy in the little things!!” but the Pinterest moms were RIGHT. There is immense joy found in the simple, overlookable blessings that are in everyday lives. So Brothers and Sisters, I know some of you might be in a tough spot, not really loving life too hard, maybe some of my fellow missionaries. However, I formally invite all of you to the Gozo zone. Notice, slow it down a little, take heed of the small, intricate blessings that God is working all around you. God is an artist, the best one there is, try to appreciate his detailing.

So hop in the Gozo zone (and the Google photos, trust): https://photos.app.goo.gl/6pnXadUF4PCYgUtV7

Hit the inbox, let me know how life's treating you.

Les amo,

Elder Pickett







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