Jobs Not Finished

Gente, I hope this email finds you thriving. Life is good over here in Carapeguá, so let's get it.

PING PONG / GUYS' NIGHT

This past week, we held a wildly intense, bracket-style ping pong tournament at the church. All of the brothers showed up, and there was some quality ping pong to be had. My companion and I met back up in the semi-finals, and it was a fierce rematch, but your boy came out on top for now. It was so good to get all the guys together, bond a little, and enjoy all that good stuff. The branch nights have been huge for us.

REMODEL

We're turning this apartment into an absolute crib (Grandma, that means a cool house). Last week, we got our sink fixed, and we got a mirror put in our bathroom. Also, Carapeguá is known for their weaved hammocks and hammock chairs, so we got the landlord to put some hooks in the walls and ceilings, and we’re installing some hammock-style furniture up in here. My mom would be proud of what we're doing with the place.

LA OBRA

Brothers and sisters, simply, my joy is full. Yesterday, we got to baptize Sefarino and Dominga, and it filled me with incomprehensible peace and joy. It's been a long time coming. I also received news that I will be staying here in C-town, so I've got five more weeks to help the Lord absolutely unleash miracles upon these people, and I intend on doing just that. Some other things going on are: Sefarino and Dominga's son, Isaias, and his friend Matias are like the coolest dudes ever. They've been coming to church activities and have been super engaged in everything they're learning. They're legit our best friends. Kings. There's also some other little villages within our area boundaries, and this week we're going to investigate and see what's up down there. That and much more are in the works… I'm hyped. C-town stays on the rise.

ST

TW: Skip this part if you don't want to be spiritually enriched.

To keep it real with all of you, the past month and a half has been the hardest of my life. Blood, sweat, and tears have gone into this area, and not just the area but the whole situation here has required more patience, effort, and love than I was capable of giving a month and a half ago. However, this experience is one that I feel very grateful the Lord has given me because it has stretched, strengthened, and refined me. It's also an experience that's not over yet—Jon’s not finished. This ties into what I was thinking about today: The Lord always gives us or sends our way what we need, not always what we want. Simple yet deep. This experience is not particularly one I would have chosen, but without a doubt, it is something He knew I needed to progress eternally. I know the Lord provides each of us with our own “furnaces of affliction,” and sometimes these furnaces get hot. But we press on, folks. Because we're like that (Sons and Daughters of God). When we give it all to Him, there is no such thing as losing. So trust. These experiences, these "furnaces" that He gives you, are helping you turn into the completed, perfected, celestial being that He already sees you as. He already sees you like that. Trust that vision.

That's all.

Love you all.

Need I say more: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6pnXadUF4PCYgUtV7

Until next time,

Elder Pickett





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