Dec 26

Anyways so the CTM experience in Sao paulo was pretty great ha.  I remember when I first got into the CTM (mtc) and was thinking to myself.  This is the hardest thing i´ve ever done in my life.... By the end of it, it was so easy I was getting bored haha.  And now i´m in Fortaleza.  FIRST missions are no joke haha.  They are so absolutely hard.  Let me rephrase that.  TO be obedient on a mission is so absolutely hard haha.  A lot of missionaries don´t follow the rules (especially here because fortaleza is in the top 3 baptising missions in the world) so missionaries think they are doing a good job so they slack off..... Luckfully my companion (Elder Waldron) is very obidient so that is a ton of help :) it makes it a lot easier when you have someone else being obedient with you.  but yeah the first like 4 days in Fortaleza I didn´t get to bed until like 11:30 - 12:00... and waking up at 6:30.... So tired... but it´s getting better.  I think the true beauty and the thing that god wants us to be doing is constantly pushing ourselves to the limit.  So just when you are getting confortable and/or bored of something he throws a new challenge at you... It´s not a bad thing it´s just because faith is constantly being tried.  And when you conquer it he is going to take you to the next level.  Like right now it´s really hard to keep pushing forward, but I know that when I get used to it, he is gonna give me something to keep bettering myself.... after all that is what he wants us to do. Learn and grow.  But I feel like a mission is a bit different.  I´m taking like LEAPS of growth rather then steps.  Missions ask for a 100% of your well being, mentally, physically, and emotionally.  It´s hard but there is nothing like going and telling Heavenly Father in your prayer that you gave it your all that day.  VERY satisfying :) So I know it will get better I just need to endure the trial and learn to teach and help people with more conviction.  When Christ was here during his mortal ministry he took upon himself the form of a servant!  Missions are basically what Christ did ( except he didn´t have a p day :D ) .  I´ve been really blessed to be able to have the opportunity to get to know my savior better through the service I am doing.  He really does love us and want us to suceed.  Which brings me to the next thing I´d like to say is the one thing that never fails is charity.  Charity is the perfect love of Christ.  It never EVER fails.  I´m trying to develop charity so I can give these people the thing that they need most, and that is love.  It´s what everybody deep down inside wants and the savior has the perfected version of love.  I forgot the scribeture but it tells a lot about what it is I think it´s like Moroni 7?? IDK but yeah hope all is well at home I love you all tons and you´re all in my prayers every night! PS I have two baptisms tomorrow :) later! love you all
Elder Diamond