11-25-13

hello hello hello

I got Dad’s letter last Monday right after I wrote my email. I guess the mail service is on strike right now so some are taking longer :(

So....well....we have a baptism this week! That’s a miracle. It’s been up and down, on and off with Agatha. She is the daughter of a less-active member that we met in the street and hadn’t been active for about 20 years. Now she is coming back to church and hopefully her 11 yr old daughter Agatha is getting baptized this Saturday. Her most important request was that we make her chocolate cake, square not round, with brigadeiro and coconut haha. She really likes cake. She really wants to be baptized too, but she has been scared that her Mom won’t stay active and she didn’t want to make a commitment to God that she wouldn’t keep, so that’s why she has been off and on. I have been fasting every week and was fasting yesterday when we set the date. I truly believe it was an answer to my fasting. 

This area is not easy. We have so many people who want to be happier, but they just aren’t willing to give up their addictions or face their fears. I wish I could show them that it really isn’t a sacrifice, because the blessings they will receive through their faith will immensely outweigh what they give up. It’s like trading a piece of stale bread for an entire wedding cake! 

What else? The language is coming along. I’m feeling more and more comfortable every day. Yesterday, sister A was really sick so I taught a lesson all on my own while she was sitting there super out of it. That was a miracle too, for sure. Half of the time I was just hoping I was responding correctly, but I know the Spirit was helping me. 

So transfers are coming up. A and I both have a feeling that something is going to change but we aren’t sure. I’m a little nervous, because she has been such a help to me, and I don’t want her to leave. But I know Heavenly Father will help me and qualify me if that’s what needs to happen. Wow can you believe I’ve been on a mission for 5 months. Next transfer I’ll hit 6. Weird. Time goes by really fast and really slow at the same time. I can’t really explain it. 

I sent you guys a letter with more details about life in Brazil, because it’s hard to think of stuff during email time, but I don’t know how long it will take. 

What else, oh Celia, our awesome investigator, fell off a wall the other day and got hurt really bad. We are hoping she is okay. We have dinner at her house today, so we will see. Oh funny story really quick.

So, the Bishop doesn’t really like the Sisters and we aren’t sure why, but his wife also was really cold toward us. I really wanted this to change, so I asked Rita, his wife, if we could visit her. She was so excited we had thought of her and said she would make us bread. So, before we went there, we were going to Maria’s(another member/angel) for her birthday and we had bought 2 necklaces for her. But sis A thought we should actually give one of them to Bishop’s wife. Well, we did and it was so cool. She started crying and appreciated it sooooo much and couldn’t believe we would do that for her....and now we are basically her favorite people in the world. Thanks you Holy Ghost. I think that will help a lot. Seriously, the Spirit can guide us in ALL things if we just act and listen. Don’t be afraid to act immediately on a prompting and don’t doubt your thoughts. God can have a hand in EVERYTHING if we only let Him in.

That same day, we didn’t follow our plan at all and went to a lot of random houses, but people cried in every single house we visited. It was so cool to see how we are constantly guided to those who need us most. This work is not about numbers or baptisms. I mean, yes those are super important, but baptism is only a quick step on the path to following Jesus Christ. The true importance of this work is just to be a tool in God’s hands so that we can help people endure to the end, progress, and enjoy the many many blessings God has in store for all His children. Please keep an eye out for less actives. Look for new faces or people who are sitting alone at church and go talk to them. People are waiting to be contacted. People want to matter and they want to be thought of, but they don’t know how to reach out. The ward is a family. We need to take care of one another. Our area is 90 % less active and I know the Lord is just as happy to see inactive members return to church as he is about new baptisms. Those of you who want to be a missionary, but can’t think of what to do, go talk to someone who hasn’t been to church. Find the ward list and give people a call. Be a friend to those who need one. Keeping people in the fold is just as important as bringing others, because we all need to be uplifted. We all struggle at times. That is why we are all here on this earth together. I love you all. Shine your light! Share your love, and you will receive more!

I miss you guys so much, but it’s truly a small sacrifice for the blessings that God has and is giving me. 

Love sis Hunny