Conference and Ice Cream!

Well hello there my absolutely favorite people in the whole world!!

Goodness it feels like forever since I last talked to you guys. I am pretty sure this past week was a solid 5 seconds faster than the last week.  Looking on the positive side of things.. those 5 seconds will add up each week and by the end of the mission... time will be flying! haha!  Dang I hate being positive!! Ü 

Thank you for your letters, prayers, thoughts, and positive influence. You don't even know how much you mean to me.  

So this last week was a little rough. Pray for me to find a more positive outlook in the mission. I need it!  I have decided that my comp is a mixture of two of my favorite people.... The Grinch and Sid the Sloth.  But, just like ketchup and chocolate.... both are absolutely amazing, but they can't be mixed together. Ü
Also, I don't know if my belt is growing or my waist is shrinking, but I have lost another belt loop. I promise I am eating. I am probs eating more than I should.  In fact, I had the most amazing ice cream EVER!!! I had Açaí ice cream (Dad.. I promise we will have this when you come. It is okay to be a little jealous!!) But anywhoo... I am losing weight and I blame it all on those dang hills.  Rain and bug bites are life here. It pretty much rained all week!  I also have like 20 bug bites.  But, I am blessed in so many other areas of the mission life that I have no room to complain. 

I LOVED CONFERENCE!!! There was no English for the first two sessions, so I listened to them in Portuguese.  I was feeling pretty good about my speaking/understanding Portuguese until Conference, and I didn't understand a single thing.  Very discouraging!!  But I learned a lot from this experience as it forced me to find the positive in every situation.  Although I couldn't understand anything, I did understand the language of the Spirit.  The Spirit is the only language I need as a missionary.  If I can teach and help others by the Spirit, I will have a successful mission and be happy.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to listen in Portuguese and have this moment. I am also so grateful that I can apply this to become a better missionary.  It is such a blessing to be a missionary.  I am also glad that I was able to listen in English as well!  A member was kind enough to let us watch the Priesthood session in English, and also fed us pizza. (Yes the Pizza is better here than the States. That is a fact!)  I watched all of Sunday in English as well. Conference was pretty special. Some of my highlights:

Elder Uchtdorf, "Through the Light of Christ we can see our mortal trials in an eternal perspective."  Eternal perspective is everything!! 

Elder Bednar, "Sometimes we run so fast that we forget where we are going and why we are running. We need to elevate our vision from the things of the world to the blessings of Eternity."  Again, eternal perspective is everything!! Eternity is the most precious gift that we have been given from God.   

We have a loving Heavenly Father who is always there for us. He cares about us and has made a perfect plan for us. Through Him and Our Savior, we can obtain the greatest blessing of Eternal Life. Times are hard... but we just need to have an Eternal Perspective and everything else falls into place.

I miss you and I love you all so much!!

Love your blessed missionary, Elder Abel!