La La How Life Goes On

The Beatles said it best :)

This week seemed to have dragged by and flew at the same time. It's amazing how fast 6pm shows up and then we're out working and then we're home and then its a new day (its a new dawn, its a new life! sorry...had to :) ). I've been dealing with some logistics this week. I was finishing stuff I didn't get done last week, and then working on stuff that needed to be done this week. 

Monday I got up early and stood in line with 3 missionaries (including my companion) so we go switch their American licenses for Portuguese ones. I'd been running around the end of last week prepping all the documents for that. So a few hours and a few lines later we managed to get them! (see how exciting my life is? haha) Something else I did which took way too long is up date the transfer boards. These show the whole mission, split into zones, and then Districts and then into areas with the two missionaries. We have three kinds: The digital one that is in the system we use, then there is the excel sheet we made to print out so we can see where everyone is with one look (hence it's name "one glance file") then we have the two white boards in President's office at the office and at the mission home that have little cards with missionary names, number of transfers in an area etc. that have to but updated by hand. That one was the worst. haha 

Elder Morrison is a really hard worker. He's only in his 5th transfer, and the poor guy got stuck in the office. He's doing well so far. We've had some cool experiences this week. So on Monday we go to contact this contact that the Sisters passed to us and he cancels on us as we show up for the appointment. So we go, "ok, well we're here so there must be a reason, lets go knock some doors." That night we met Nuno and Pedro who let us right in to teach them about The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! But the amazing part is that we came back 2 more times and met two more really cool people who let us teach them! He and I teach pretty well together, but to be honest it doesn't matter how we teach, it's if the Spirit is there, and we've been feeling it.

I had a long day yesterday, man. SEF, or residency is the worst thing in the world haha! But I know the process and how to make it easy if I ever decide to come back, right? ...kinda I guess.

I won't really talk about what else I've done in the office because it really isn't that interesting... :P

Today we took a p-day! Yay :) we're actually gonna go to a baptism here in a little bit so I'll have to wrap this up soon. But we decided to go down to the center of Porto! Which I've been to several times, but it was still fun. I think a lot of people were on a vacation or something, quite a few things closed. But Elder Morrison and I walked down to the river ( I'll send photos) and were on a bridge, I bought a post card and some cools ties on sale. So all in all a good day and week :)

Hope all y'all's week was great :) I miss you! Have a great week!

Abraço,

Elder Buchanan

Head Exec Sec

Wow...

I can't believe that it's already Friday. This has been a very long and yet very short week!

Well, I'm the big cheese now! Everyone calls me for stuff, I've got the fancy phone, all the responsibility is on me! And man is it heavy haha :)

I've actually had to do some heavy lifting as I just got a brand new to the office comp, Elder Morrison. The kid is very funny. On the day of transfers though we ended up leaving him in the bus station for 3 hours because he was in the bathroom and I had to run to move more missionaries around, I felt bad haha :) But he was chill about it. This week has been crazy. A lot of stress, but luckily I have Elder Morrison. They kid can be chill and roll with the punches.

Elder Hicks and I took care of transfers Monday night, and then he went with me Tuesday morning to help pick up the missionaries leaving Madeira and then the incoming missionaries later. He said it was interesting to feel the burden of the Head Executive Secretary leave his shoulders and watch it drop onto mine :P haha 

We had the training meeting and I had to run around and take care of doctors appointments and drivers licenses and bags from hotels and paying for things and lets just say I'm very tired today :)

But things are well :) I wish I had more time and more energy. Also, My p-day writing next week will be on Saturday because I'll have to do SEF or residency for missionaries on Friday next week!

I miss you all!

Abraço,

Elder Buchanan

Stolen from Facebook...

Left to Right:

Elder Peterson, Andrew Bateman (President and Sister Amorim's son in-law) Elders Buchanan and Elder Merkle

Wow! Faz Muito Tempo!

I just realized! I haven't written you all...since last year!!!! ;) hahaha :) But seriously. Sorry I haven't been writing a group letter :/ I was just being silly and didn't feel like writing.

This letter won't be too long ‘cuz I'm lame and only spend 3 ½ hours outside the office everyday! sooooo haha :)

You end up with cabin fever sometimes when you work inside the office, you miss spending all day outside and working hard, but then you get days where it's down pouring and then you’re glad your inside a warm office ;) haha :) Actually some days I'd prefer getting soaked knocking doors :) There's nothing better than teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Hicks and I are still working hard, trying to prep things, he's trying to make sure I know how to do everything before he leaves. Transfers are on Sunday and he's getting excited to leave and go serve somewhere else. The office is great, but it's hard on missionaries as well. He's hoping to go to Madeira, the island area.

I'm getting nervous that I might have to be the guy in charge. That's a scary prospect. Reminds me of what it was like to be left alone in my first area after my trainer left and having to be the missionary that knew everything. I was looking at my first planner last night, and the first page I ever wrote in and man it took me back. It was so strange. I could see it bright as day, it was my first night in the mission. I never thought I'd make it this far. Crazy!

Happy New Year!! It's 2016! I get to spend almost this entire year in this mission. That's so awesome to think about. I get to spend 2016 serving my neighbors out here. I love being a missionary. I was promised not long before I left, through the voice of a man who was ordained of God, that as I served I would know it is the best thing I can be doing at this time. And I can tell you all, that NOTHING I could be doing at home could be better than spending the last year of my life, speaking Portuguese, and talking to everyone I can and baring my testimony that I know this gospel is true :)

I hope you all had a great Christmas and a Fantastic New Year! I miss you all! Have a great week! Talk to you soon!

Abraço,

Elder Buchanan