Muriaé

Gooood morning friends and family!

Transfers!

After about 7 1/2 months of living in the big city I'm back out here in the boonies! Haha ok it's not quite the boonies because it's a city with about 100,000 people but I'm out wayyy in the eastern corner of the mission in a city called Muriaé. My comps name is Elder Skelton and he's from Colorado so im hyped to be with an American again. Also the area was a Sister area but me and my comp are opening it back up for elders, making this my 4th time whitewashing an area.

I've only been here about a week but it already feels like home cause it reminds me a ton of my first area. The church is just a branch here with only a few active priesthood holders but I have come to love branches because they have the BEST members. They have such firm testimonies and are so dedicated to serving, partly because there is literally no one else to do it haha. The church has been here around 20-30 years I think. It's grown to be a branch of about 80 members and then shrunk down and closed back down to just a group with a couple members during the pandemic but now it's a branch again with about 30 members and a super dedicated branch president who moved here recently from the ward I served in Juiz de Fora. 

I'm super excited because I feel like everything I've learned from my mission has been preparing me to help this branch as they try to regrow after the pandemic.

Fun stuff from the past couple weeks:

Went on a exchange with Elder Jones and Elder Price, some of my best friends in the mission. I think 3 Americans walking around speaking English must call a lot of attention because I've never been stopped on the street more than that day haha. Also Elder Price almost got in a fight so it was a pretty fun day.

For zone conference we made a dope video. Ill see if I can send it.

Made some absolutely gorgeous cinnamon rolls for the district 😍 

We came home one day and found the house completely open (front gate and door literally open) so we had to sweep the house with weapons to see if it was clear. Either it was, or the intruders fled because they were scared of our ferociousness 💪 #deusestáconosco

We helped this random old guy set up a security camera. It took a couple hours over the course of a couple days but we did it. But his name is Floriano and the man's fit was fire so it was worth it. He's SUPER catholic but he's reading the book of Mórmon and came to the ward barbecue so service works.

We were trying some different ways to find people to teach back when I was in JF and it was SUPER hot so we decided we would try to stand in front of the chapel and offer people a cup of cold juice to get them to stop and talk to us. It was one of the funniest things I've ever done because everyone was super confused and almost no one stopped haha. But we did talk to a couple people so it was a success.

THINK CELESTIAL! I'll have to study this talk better when it's transcripted but I love hearing the words of the prophet! One thing I have learned here on the mission is the importance of a living prophet! He helps us to follow Christ by guiding and unifying the Church! I like this message because when we start anything with the end in mind our decisions become more focused on achieving that goal, so why should it be any different with the most important goal we can achieve, eternal life!

I love you guys and I'd love to hear from you so feel free to send me an update!

- Elder Keeler