Elder Clay Giles

  Opa! Blaza? How is everyone doing? This week went by really quickly! Why? Because every night I went to bed exhausted from running around Nelson Costa all day😂  This whole week it rained, hence the title, so I was soaked every day! But it was so worth it! The week has been colder ( high 70s, low 80s) but pretty humid! So as we were running around, I was sweating from the inside while being soaked by the rain, what an interesting experience it was😂 And yes, the power was out quite often because...let's say...Brazil has an interesting way of setting up their power lines, which means water can easily get in and break things, but all is well when you're in the service of the Lord! The language is coming along, I understand what my Companion says and what any missionary from the States says, but I only understand about 20-30% of what the people here in Bahia say, which is frustrating but every day I'm improving! The Gift of Tongues is real and it truly works! One funny thi...

  Opa! Tudo Bem?  How is everyone doing? I hope your week went well and wasn't as crazy as mine! This was my first full week here in Brazil and I loved it! It also was probably one of the hardest weeks of my life but suffering only brings us closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! On Tuesday I met my new trainer! His name is Elder Alves! He is native Brazilian and is from Sâo Paulo! My prayers were answered! He is an amazing missionary! I'm so excited to learn Portuguese from him and learn how to work here in Brazil and learned I have! My first day he had me do contacts in Portuguese and he watched as I stumbled through them but he said that the Portuguese I was able to string together was really good, so thanks to the Butters for helping me out in Michigan!  After meeting our trainers, we were given our bus tickets and sent to the bus station! Elder Alves showed me the departure time and...it was at 10:30pm! It was currently 11:30am...yeah but it was ok though! I go...

  Oi! Tudo mundo! This week was pretty crazy! I said a lot of goodbyes and a lot of hellos. I love the Jonesville, Michigan area, the members, the amazing people we taught and the people in the street. They brought me so much joy and happiness even when they weren't the nicest😂 I will miss them, especially Drake and Danaca. But I'm now in my original assignment, Brazil!!!! The travel was quite long, about 40ish hours, but I'm so excited to be here!  I've been waiting to get here ever since I got called! I love it here and I've only been here 3 days😂  The jet lag has been pretty crazy but the work must go on!  The food here is quite amazing, I haven't had something that I didn't like😂  But other than that I don't have too much to say. Tomorrow, I'll know who my Trainer is and where my new area will be. Right now, I'm in the neighborhood that is called, Feira de Santana 3, which is interesting. I love you all so much! I hope you all are safe and...

  Oi! Como vai! The time has come! My last time playing pickleball in the Church gym today, because I'm going to Brazil! I haven't received my travel plans yet, but in the words of Sister Steed, our mission office secretary, " I have faith that they'll come this week." I know that I will be leaving, hopefully, this Thursday, but I don't have a flight, a time, no nothing!😂 But the mission presidency wants me ready to leave, so I'm packing up and heading to Lansing on Wednesday! I love Jonesville, this has been the most amazing experience to be doing the Lord's work here in these small towns, the people are so kind and caring. This area is tough, but the Lord knows where His  elect are. One quote that has stuck to me these past two transfers is "There are no Dead areas, only faithless missionaries" It's so true, the Lord knows where His people are, you just have to exercise faith  and put your trust in the Lord that he will guide you where...