It's transfers week...woot!

This next Wed. (the 24th) is transfers so this week the President, my comp and I locked ourselves up in President's office and did the transfers. It sounds really funny but I loved it. It's hilarious. You sit there (in the spirit of prayer of course) and look at the board of the missionary's pics trying to decide whose life you are going to change by making him change areas, companions, houses, and/or responsibilities...and they have no idea. Haha.

That's why I am emailing today because we had a transfer meeting on my regular p-day so we switched it. This past week and a half was really good there. We are officialy just traveling missionaries here without an area so the free days of the past week were spent traveling the mission doing divisions.

I know these names don't mean anything to any one of you but it's funny to see all the zones names; we went to Barueri and Pirituba last Thursday and Friday then on to Jaraguá on Tuesday here in the capital then this Thursday and Friday were spent out in Sorocaba at Barcelona and then to Itú.

Yep, Barcelona was my old area last transfer so it was sweet to be able to do a division for a day there. I even got to spend the day with my old comp Elder Jara and got to visit a bunch of old investigators and members. When the Bishop found out I was there, he and his wife said that we had to come over that night. We went over and they ordered us 4 a bunch of pizza and stuff. It was awesome. It was a really good ward and area.

It's awesome to see the working-styles of all the missionaries. I learn new stuff on every division because every missionary has some sort of good quality about him that I can take with me and teach the other missionaries. I also get to see all the amazing investigators of the church that are in our mission.

Haha, the other day at Jaraguá one of their investigators told me about how she found out that the BoM was true. She was coming home from work and was really tired while waiting for the subway to pass by. At night the subway is REALLY crowded, hot, and it is really rare that you get lucky enough to get a seat. She had been investigating the church but still had doubts about the BoM. Standing there she silently said a prayer and said "Father, I am SO tired, and if the Book of Mormon is true then the subway is going to stop with a door right in front of me for me to be the first one to get on in order for me to get a seat." She finished her silent plea and waited for the subway some more. It came and the subway came to a stop as one of the sliding doors opened right at her front. She entered and was able to get a seat. Haha! She said that after that she knew the BoM was true and should be getting baptized in the coming weeks hahaha. It was really funny. Not the usual answer that people get but it works I guess :).

In Pirituba we were knocking doors and a lady came out and we could see that she really didn't want to let us in. But all of the sudden it looked like her countenance changed and she became warmer with us and let us in. We shared a message with her and her two daughters which was really good. She loved it and said "I never let anyone in my house because I am scared for the safety of my family and I didn't want to hear what you guys had to say. I was about to lie to you both and say that I didn't have any time to hear your message, but then I took a good look at you two and something whispered to me that you guys meant no harm and had something that I need to hear, so I let you in." There are tons of these little experiences that I am having on the divisions that strengthen my testimony of the Lord's restored gospel.

Throughout my whole mission I haven't been exactly very diligent with my exercises in the morning. I've been pathetic, actually. However I always told my self that "when I have 1 year and 6 months on the mission I will start doing them faithfully every morning." 1 year and 6 months just always seemed so far away so I never felt like I would have to start doing them again. But 2 weeks ago I made 1 year and 6 months on the mission ha. I have been faithul to my promise though and let's see if I can rid myself of the extra beans and rice I have accumalated around the waist-region.

I am grateful for all the supporty ya´ll give me. Farewell!

-Elder Brent Parsons