6/9/14

Hey, wow, okay well where to start? So.....first of, everyone can take a deep breathe and relax. I'm okay. God is good. The church is still true. Nobody has died.....yet lol jk. But really, I'm alright. I'm still in pain, but I'm on 3 different pain killers and all I do is lay around the house studying more or less. You should be proud. I decided that, for the first time in my life, I think I'm gonna really go all out and take care of my body the way the other people do....aka rest. So, even though it's somewhat equal to torture sitting around inside all day without doing any work, (even though I feel like I could probably endure the pain and push through and walk a little ways to teach lessons) I thought to myself `you know, my body is pretty important....and I'm in Brazil.....I think I'm gonna play it safe this time´. So I'm taking care of myself and my comp is doin' a great job of reminding me to take my pain meds. 

It sounds like you guys know all the symptoms. The healthcare here is just...well they say we can't be negative in our letters haha, so I'll just say.....it's really different than it is in America. I'm so sorry that this week has been so confusing and hard to get information, but if it makes you feel better, you guys know more than me. I literally am just sitting inside and waiting for news on what in the world will happen. But, Sister Brum did tell me that I'll probably be going home this week. Time is just passing really slowly though, because, well you know how it is when you're sick and don't know why, and its been 2 weeks since I went to the hospital. 

   BUT, on the spiritual side :) I know that ALL of this has happened the way it did for a reason. I want you to know that God has not left me alone in this process, and I honestly felt that I was going home from the moment I went to the hospital. I just knew it was going to happen, but thought it was super strange, so pushed it away. Well, I never got better, kept praying, and everytime I prayed I felt even stronger that I would go home. Not only that, but that I NEEDED to be there. I think that's honestly been the hardest part. I have known what needs to happen since the beginning, but everything is progressing so slowly. Guys, dont worry about my emotional state. Of course, it's all so fast and it's hard to get everything cut short in such a quick moment. It could be really easy to feel unfinished, but honestly, after all of my praying, this is probably the very first time in my mission where I feel....complete. I feel peace. I feel a steady assurance that I truly didn't leave anything undone, that I gave 100 % and God is proud of me. That I really was and am a great missionary because I have given my whole heart. When I was doubting myself a lot and still super in the dark about what would be my fate, I talked (maybe cried a little) to my sister training leader and told her I was so confused about why I felt I would be going home, but I wasn't getting any answers from doctors or leaders. I doubted if I even knew how to receive answers to prayers anymore. But, the lull was necessary. I had to doubt everything so that I could really put my trust in God's will. My sister training leader stopped me and said ´Let's say a prayer right now and ask God again`....so I did. I asked Him to help me know if I was feeling the right things and to help me know what to do. I told God that I had given all I had to this work and just wanted to do His will. At the end of the prayer, Sis S was crying and told me that the moment I said that I'd given my all, she felt an overwhelming rush of God's love for me. She said, "Sister I haven't known you very long, but I know with a surety that you have given 100% and just know that God has fully accepted all that you have done." 

In short, I feel a lot of peace, even though this last transfer has been the loneliest and most confusing at times, it has also been the most uplifting. I have felt an outpouring of love from God and family and fellow missionaries here. I truly have a family of missionaries here and the ward and member that I have come to love have been incredible through all of this. Trials bring us together. In the end, they are always a blessing. I know this. I know that, as my zone leader assured me, God does not leave us to suffer. I trust this and I have chosen to use this time as a blessing, not a trial. I love you all. Apparently I'll be seeing you soon. Hopefully I'll be calling someday. I'm learning a LOT of patience and trying to not be pushy. I know Pres is doing all he can. Wow, well I'll see you on the other side I hope. In the end, we will look back and see how this was all one giant miracle and tender mercy of the Lord. Don't worry....but thank you for worrying. A lot of people don't have so many people praying for them, and it truly makes a difference to know I can come home to open arms.

Beijaos

Sister Hunny

6-2-14

No inserts yet.

Oh dear, I hope that taught you to always SAVE your documents along the way lol (teacher mode right there). Yeah we get the Ensign. Its in English too, which is really nice :)

So, this week was...interesting haha. First of all, we met this goliath of a man doing street contacts. I swear, imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger, but bigger, and black. That is M. He looks like the last person you would expect to be interested in the church, but he totally surprised us. This guy is like a giant teddy bear. We started teaching him and holy cow, I felt like he was looking straight into my soul. He is a super pure and innocent person, even though he looks like he could crush you with one hand. So, we are excited about this guy. Other good news, A and her family got baptized yesterday in Jaboticabal, so that's always wonderful. Another success story. Even though I couldn't be there, I'm just thrilled that she can finally continue progressing. A is an incredible example of how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can literally change people from the inside out. 

Ok.....so...other news. I'm still sick. I'm not sure if I really had worms and got rid of them and then got another sickness, or if this was the same problem all along. But, long story short, on Monday I woke up and my stomach hurt really bad. Then, by the end of the day, I was crying from the pain and breathing like a pregnant woman. So, we went to the hospital (our members are incredible. Claudia, an Irma took us to the hospital and stayed with us the whole time and even made me soup the next day. It's so great to have loving members. Makes all the difference) and then I laid on a hospital bed until a doctor came. She pushed on my stomach and hit my back a few times and then told me I probably have a kidney stone and pumped me with some painkillers. Then I went home, but the next day, the pain was back, even with meds. 

Skip to the future. I went to a specialist, and he said I actually have a gallstone because its hurting on both sides....more like just everywhere actually haha. My district leader tried to force me to stay inside all week and not work, but we snuck in a few lessons here and there when I wasn,t hurting too bad hehehe. In the end, our numbers were still pretty decent, so that was a cool miracle. I'm really trying to show my companion that, when you feel like you can't, you can. When you are hurting and you go out, God gives you miracles. She has a tendency to ALWAYS be sick and wants to stay inside, but one night this week, she told me that I was teaching her by my example that she can work even when it's hard. 

Here's the thing though. God also gave us the Word of Wisdom and wants us to always care for our bodies. The pain isn't going away and apparently the only solution is surgery that removes the gall bladder completely. So, I'm going to talk to President today, but I know that, in the end, God wants to care for my health first. I cant help anyone if I'm not taking care of myself. I know that whatever happens is in God's plans and that His timing is very different from our expectations. I'm willing to do whatever the Lord asks, wherever He asks, and sometimes the location has to change, but I will not. I know that this gospel is true and that God has a perfect plan, and because of that, I'm not afraid of the future. I know that Christ makes everything possible and that we only have to rely on Him to see miracles every single day. I know that we can change the world by loving and serving others and by sharing the gospel with everyone. I know that the gospel is for EVERYONE because everyone deserves to be happy and forgive themselves. Everyone needs to be healed in one way or another. Only Christ has the power to do it.

Don't freak out, k. Seriously, its all gonna be okay whatever happens. But Mom and Dad, I think it would be a good idea to have your phones with you okay.

I love you guys so much and I feel the love of the Savior so strong every day. He really can be with us all the time. I'm so grateful to be a representative of Him everyday. We all can be! Actually, we all should be, especially those who have been baptized, because when we are baptized, we are promising God that we will always strive to represent the Savior. That is the big goal. If we can be a little more like that Savior every day, then it doesn't matter what we look like or how much money we have, we are succeeding. 

I love you all sooooo much. 

Sister Hunny

5/26/14

Mom, you have to eat the ice cream version of acai first, with banana and strawberry and granola and sweetened condensed milk. That will ease you into it lol.  It's the best. (I told her one of my Brazilian students bought me acai juice, but I wasn't a big fan.)

So, this week has been interesting. Sister B (the companion Tess just left) and her new comp stayed at our house, which was sooooo wonderful. I was already missing her. It was a party every night. I learned a lot this week....as always lol. But really, this week I learned more about my  purpose here. My comp is a hypochondriac...literally. We went to the doctor today and they said it was in her head. So we stayed inside a lot this week. President asked me to help her get motivated, and I was wondering how in the world to do it. I prayed every night to be able to love and help her but really felt like our numbers were super low according to standards. I thought, oh great, I am failing. But then, yesterday, after totaling up everything we did, L told me that those were the best numbers she had ever had in the mission, and that she was only able to do it because of my help. Wow, that was a surprise. I realized that, when we are helping people, we can't expect them to improve to our expectations immediately, but we also can't fail to recognize the improvements. In this life, we seldom have situations that are 100 % Fail or Succeed. No, generally everything is a process. We have to be patient with God, ourselves, the people we help, and see the little miracles all along the way. This week, we are going to do even better, and that is all that is important. Its the same for us all. We don't have to be perfect right  now. We just need to be improving, and we don't have to do it on our own. Remember that every trial is preparing us for something important in the future. When we have difficulties, it means God trusts us. Sometimes I catch myself wishing for a comp that didn't need to be fixed in some way. I imagine myself running from lesson to lesson with my comp, both of us with smiles always. And if I have a problem, I don't have to be strong because she will take care of me. Then I realize that I already had that....it was my trainer when I was a wee lil babe on the mish. Now its my turn to be the strong one. Why? Because I am capable and because God trusts me. So I will stop complaining about difficult situations and look for the blessings :)

Also, I want to pose a question: Why do you do good things? Really really truly down to the core, what is the motivation?

I have had to really face this question a lot lately, because of something wonderful that happened. Yeah that sounds strange I'm sure, haha, but let me explain. So right now, just about all of my investigators in Jaboticabal got baptized or are getting baptized. Miracles are happening left and right! Alice and her mom, who I taught for almost 5 months, is going to get baptized this Sunday! It's such a miracle. But I have a confession to make. After celebrating the great news, I had a moment of weakness and felt a little jaded. I thought, Why in the world do I always have to leave RIGHT before people get baptized. This happened in Ipiranga as well. Its not fair, I worked with them and cried with them and felt like a failure so many times, and now, nobody will even know that I wasn't just goofing off my whole time in Jabo because its not my baptism anymore.

.....okay, feel free to judge. I know that was totally selfish thoughts, but I'll admit, I couldn't help wondering if I had been doing something wrong and thus wasn't worthy of baptisms. Self doubt is a common thing here on the mish, haha. Then, I quickly chastised myself and asked myself ´`Why am I here? Why am I doing good?´` Is it for the recognition of men? Is it for my own satisfaction or peace of mind? Is it an obligation? Or is it really. really because I want to help people know Christ and find eternal happiness? If it's the last one, it really shouldn't matter who baptizes whom, or who is there to see it. They really don't need to remember their missionary to be changed. They only need to have the face of Christ in their mind. I thought about the people that make huge anonymous donations and probably get criticized at the same time for not giving charity. I thought about the people who dedicate their whole lives to serving others and seldom get thanked and will never appear on the news. I thought about the life of Christ and the one in ten lepers that returned to thank him. I realized that if I am upset, it is because I am serving for the absolute WRONG reason and really need to change. I thought I was totally selfless in my intentions, but turns out I needed some humble pie. So that's my question. Why do we do good? Be really, really honest with yourself because the true joy of service only comes when we are completely motivated by charity, the pure love of Christ. That, my friends, does not require a prize at the end.

I love you all so much. thanks for all you do.

Tell your Brazilian student OBRIGADA amigo. voce é o melhor!

Beijossssss

Hunny

5/19/14

Hey everybody!!! So wow, it's only been a week, but it feels like it's been waaay longer. Okay, well where to begin. This week was pretty great. I missed my trainee Sis B a lot...and Sp...and C. But I'm loving the new area and L and I are working hard. She was with a sick comp last transfer and is really excited to be able to work now. The best part of Ala 1 is that it shares church houses with Ipiranga, my old ward!!! Wahoo, wow, Sunday was so awesome you guys. I got to see everyone from Ipiranga and they all remembered me. It felt so great to be around people that remembered and loved me even after all this time. Sometimes we wonder if we will leave and just be forgotten, but the members don't forget and it's so good to be received with open arms. The ward now has awesome members, and the Bishop is super great too. I'm really pumped, because there are some awesome people, and we just need to unify them and get them more excited about missionary work. The Bishop is really open to new ideas, which is super nice because that was one of the difficulties in my other area. Okay, but the best part of this week was a super huge miracle/ tender mercy on Saturday. So, because I left Jabo, I didn't get to be there for R's baptism yesterday. (it went great by the way) But the elders had a baptism here and so we went to help them. Then, I found out Ipiranga had a baptism after. Guess who it was: Th (C's daughter) and her boyfriend Dan. Wow, so Sperry and I are the ones that started teaching her when she was super wishy washy and didn't really care and by the time we left, she was coming to church. But past that, I didn't know what would happen with her. I didn't get to see C's wedding or baptism, but I was here for her daughter. That family is the closest thing I have to a family here in Brazil, so it was like being at my sister's baptism. Wow, God is so good, because He perfectly timed it so that I would have a baptism even though I missed R's. Even more perfect was the fact that she still was a little wishy washy about the baptism, but with me there helping her, she went for it. So perfect. Her boyfriend is so awesome. It's incredible to see the change in him. I remember when Th told us he wanted a book of Mormon, but we didn't even know he had been listening in on our lessons with C. One day, he was across the street hanging out with his friends, but me and Sperry walked over and gave him a BOM. I thought he would be annoyed or embarrassed, but later he told the elders that he knew then that everything was true. He just never told us. Wow, we really never know the difference that we make. Sunday was so great. I saw that my less actives were still going to church and staying strong. One of them is going to the temple soon. There are many moments in the mission when I have felt like a failure. Many many moments, but this week reminded me that I'm not here for nothing. I just have to trust that God has a purpose for me. 

Okay one last request: Members, please support your missionaries. You really have no idea what the work is like, what that area is like, what is really going on until you work side by side with them. Before you criticize or judge their work, please ask them how you can help first. They will gladly accept it!! And if they don't...well then I guess you can judge. Please, trust them a little more. Have confidence that God put them there for a reason. There is no such thing as a useless missionary. Sometimes he just needs a little more support, or sometimes its not him that's at fault at all. Please just....be good to the missionaries. Its really not food that we need. We are already fatter than ever before lol. Its support and confidence and HELP. Please remember that we have left EVERYTHING to SERVE your ward. We don't have a family and we aren't getting paid and we didn't get a special training. We are literally just doing our best to serve the Lord and His children. Your love means more than you will ever know. A missionary never forgets the members that helped.

5/12/14

Hey, so it was soooooo great to talk to you guys. Wow, it felt so familiar, and it was seriously such a blessing that I didn't struggle in speaking English. Way more efficient when you don't have to stop and think. I have to do that sometimes when I'm typing. Mom and Dad, you guys look so great. Oh I forgot to tell you. I sent a Mother's Day card, but it probably won't get there until Father's Day, lol. Oh well. One day, communication won't be so disheveled, lol. 

So, how weird is it that the next time I see your beautiful faces will be at Christmas! I don't know, did I seem different? I hope I wasn't serious or boring, haha. But I also hope that I at least have changed a little bit, for the better of course. I feel like I've changed a lot. Sometimes I think about how I would have acted in certain situations and am embarrassed at my past self, lol. The mission is incredible that way. It really changes who we are at the very core. Well actually I don't think it changes us so much as helps us discover who we truly are in God's eyes. 

So I got transferred back to Ipiranga, but another ward. How awesome is that!? It was sad to leave my comp and my district. We were really a family there. I cried when I left my trainee B at the bus station. I'm really nervous for her because she is going to have a hard companion, and I can already see that she is starting to close up a little bit because she is afraid of getting hurt. Ugh, I don't want her to lose the progress she has made. But she knows I will always be there for her and I know that all transfers are inspired. My new comp is sister L. She is from the AMAZONS. Que chique. She told me this past transfer was really hard because her companion didn't want to work at all, and she told me I'm an answer to her prayers. When I told her she would be happy this transfer, she told me she had a feeling as if she had just received her testimony again. Haha, I really hope I can help her heal a bit. Something that really made me feel great is that she told me my reputation in the mission is that I work really hard. Wow, I honestly had no idea. I haven't had a baptism since December and sometimes wonder if maybe I'm not working hard enough...but I feel like I'm working really hard. Its really easy to doubt yourself. But L told me that when she found out I was her comp, missionaries were calling her and telling her she was going to get to finally work super hard and that I am super diligent. It was really an answer to my prayers to know that God approves of my efforts. It's so easy to feel like you're not doing enough, but I have seen miracles every day of my mission, so I know that Father is not far from me. Another really gratifying experience was after I talked to you guys. Remember Luc, the lady that talked to you. I love her so much, and have become very close with her. I always gave her little challenges to grow and she always did them . There were many times that  I had a heart to heart with her because I could tell she was struggling. Last night I talked to her some more and she told me she has never met a missionary that changed her life so much. She told me she knows that we knew each other before this life and believes God sent me to be an angel in her life. Wow, well moments like those remind me that baptisms are important, but they aren't a measure of our success. God will use us in ways we never expected if we only listen to him. 

I love you and I'm so excited to make this last part of my mission the best part. I am rededicating myself to this work 200 percent.

Love you. and SHARE the gift of the Gospel. We can't be stingy with something so fantastic.

5/5/14

​The email this week is very short...I think because we get to talk to her on Sunday (Mother's Day). I can't wait!

​I think I will be able to call/ skype you guys around 3  my time, but be ready before and after because I'm not sure. But plan around 3. 

​

 H

​

ey so 

​

I

 literally don

 ​'​

t have time to say anything, but we will talk soon. Just know that this week was THE best and 

​

 I

​

 love my trainee so much

​,​

 and she has really opened up and is a gift and a miracle. Love is truly the cure for all pains. Love more and trust more, even when it is scary. Forgive when it isn

 ​'​

t fair. 

​

U

​

 ntil Sunday :)

MY comp is Sister B. She is in the orange. Isn

 ​'​

t she just gorgeous? She is the best

​.​

4/28/14

Hey there minhas queridas!!
First, let me give you a health update because I'm sure that's what
you want to know first.
Well I took this killer medicine that turned my pee neon and hurt
worse than the worms haha.....but things are looking up and I'm able
to leave the house again :) I'm getting stronger day by day and
looking forward to that moment when I eat something and don't even
think about throwing up lol
I'll take another round soon that kills the eggs because apparently
they stick around. These guys are really troopers. But Hey, everything
worked out the last time, so it should this time too.

So, highlight of this week was fo sho interviews with President. I was
really feeling down about the work...especially because two of the
symptoms of worms are apathy and depression. Uh oh. So I told Pres I
was really having a tough time getting excited about the work because
it just didn't seem to matter what I did' and I couldn't do anything
at the moment and my comp has difficulties believing that anyone can
love her. So I was a bit discouraged.
He really helped me just chill out and something important that I
realized is that my work is my work and my value is my value, and they
don't define each other, As sacred as this work is, it's still
basically my job right now, and will always have ups and downs,
regardless of my efforts, desires or intentions. But my value in Gods
eyes and my purpose in this life does not waver. I used to be a little
afraid of talking numbers because I always felt guilty after, but now
they don't scare me. Duh, if you teach more people, there are more
people that are going to get baptized. It doesn't mean I'm obsessed
with numbers or that I'm a failure, but instead, President just wants
us to always be looking forward.
Also, my comp had a great experience with Pres as well and he told me
not to give up. This week has been great. She doesn't pull away when I
hug her, and she is opéning up more and more. She told me that she
will NEVER forget me for the rest of her life and that even if she
likes other sisters, nobody will be her trainer. She told me she knows
I have affected her entire mission and helped her to stay. Oh man,
that was the best thing to hear, because I just love her so much. She
still hasn't said she loves me back, but its coming. I can feel it :)
Sometimes the very best thing we can do for people is just to not give
up on them. Everyone seems to be waiting to be failed or abandoned.
Let's be the one that doesn't leave even when we would be justified in
doing so. We can't let others hurt or discourage us, but let's give
them the benefit of the doubt. Lets believe that they are just around
the corner of changing. That is what Christ did for us. That is what
Heavenly Father does every moment of every day.

Other news, I got packages!!

Thanks! to Claire, Mom and Dad...and Amanda (haha those drawing were
de mais) and Rachel (my new British friend. the sisters loved the
British sweets).

Oh and we made american pancakes today....America!!!!
Ill send pics next week

4/21/14

Hey, so life is chugging along here. I hope Easter was fantasic for
you guys. I know a lot people don't like the non-Jesus parts of
Easter, which I understand, but in my opinion, chocolate can only make
things better, haha. Easter isn't really a big deal here, except that
they eat fish all week, so that's kinda stinky...literally lol. I know
it would be great if the focus was perfectly on Christ, but to be
honest, I really am grateful that there are so many American
traditions centered around Easter. Even if they aren't all directly
related to Christ, they all have a link that helps remind me that this
day is special. Christmas and Easter here in Brazil are kinda just
another day to eat a lot of food. I truly think traditions are such a
blessing to have. I want to have loads in my future family because
even if every single activity  isn't pin the beard on the Jesus (sorry
if that was sacrilegious, haha), it makes the day special and
meaningful. Then it's our responsibility to keep our own minds focused
on the true motivation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that
everything can be a blessing if we make it. I think we need to make
things special for them to really stick and have meaning. Think about
baptism. It's not like God really needs water to be able to clean our
souls, but he has us do it that way so that we make our commitment a
special event.
As humans, we are awfully flaky, and so many well-intentioned people
say they want to give their whole life to God, but then they don't
want to do something that really commits them. To me, baptism is like
taking something that we know God can do and doing something special
to commemorate and show Him its real to US. Even though we take baths
all the time, its OUR faith and mindset...and of course the proper
priesthood authority that really gives baptism meaning. God always
works this way. I think He really wants us to make things special as
much as possible. I want to make every Sunday, every family day, every
scripture study something special for my future kids so that they have
more opportunities to direct their minds to the ultimate source of
happiness: God.
People search for happiness in so many of the wrong places and in the
end, it really is just a hollow chocolate bunny, but when we direct
everything back to the true source, we can find even greater
happiness. Our circumstances have so little to do with our emotional
state. It truly is what we choose to believe, feel, hope for, and act
on that determines our overall joy. What am I trying to say? Haha,
that's a great question. I think, all in all, I am learning as I write
this that WE choose our happiness. We choose if our circumstances
around us promote or inhibit our happiness. We can choose to make each
day special. Let us look forward to each day with a new hope and
excitement. Let us plan on a better tomorrow, and if we are expecting
a bad day, then fit SOMETHING good into your schedule. Men are that
they might have joy, and sometimes we have to remind ourselves of that
20 times a day, but if so, then do that, because God wants nothing
more than happiness for us.
I was thinking about Job and how all of his trials came from Satan,
not God. God just permitted them because he trusted Job so much.
Really, we should take our trials as a compliment. It means God thinks
we are ready...no actually he KNOWS we are ready, even when we don't.
Right now, the work is.....not going too smoothly. We have had to cut
almost all of our investigators because, more or less, they just don't
want to change....and sometimes I feel like I came to Jaboticabal just
to get my heart broken over and over and over again. Oh..we also have
worms again.....hahahaha yeah. Me and Sperry seem to have that effect
on each other. That's really just a whole other adventure that I don't
have time to explain, lol. But at least I will lose those extra pounds
I gained last tranfer, lol. So there's that, but you know what, there
really are so many blessings that I need to recognize. And just as I
said before, my happiness really is my choice. My trials only mean
that God knows I can handle it, and its the same for all of us.

Thanks for all you do. Make this week a great one. Make it
special....and throw in some chocolate, lol. I miss ya'll, but we will
be together soon.

Beijo,
Sis Hunny

4/14/14

Okay so this week...lets see. Well, I am always learning, so let me tell ya'll what I learned this week. I will be honest, lately I have been a bit disanimated in the work. I mean we still go out and work hard, but it just felt like the same old routine every day. I felt like a robot, which is really sad, because we were still seeing miracles every day and I knew it, but it just seemed like the same old thing. So, I knew I needed to change something.

I have been trying to take President Uchtdorf's advice and have an attitude of gratitude. I am trying to see success with eternal eyes, not with human, impatient eyes. Wow, guys, I have never had such a hard time with investigators just dropping out. I mean, we do everything for them and they know that this church is the answer to greater happiness, and yet they still lack action. I am just at a loss of what to do, other than just continue working patiently. Frustration is such a temptation and self doubt often creeps in. I thought, what am I doing wrong?!!! 

I was really thinking, Wow I must be a terrible missionary because we aren't having any success, but I had an awesome experience. My comp's health is kinda falling apart. and she is getting really discouraged. She has a hard time accepting love as well, but she is learning to trust and accept my love. As I was studying with her one morning, I had the strongest impression that right now, she is my most important mission. Sometimes we have to endure things because those around us have something to learn, and we must be there for them to lean on. Right now, my most important job is to love my comp, support her, and be her rock. I must stay positive even when we don't have success....in our eyes....because she is looking to me to know how to react. Sometimes, we think so narrowly that we think our circumstances are only occurring because of us, but in reality, sometimes trials come so to us because we have to be the wall that others lean on. So I will be that wall, and I will smile and will continue to help Sister B see daily miracles. I know that it will change me in the end too :)

Miracles: our less actives are returning, which is just as good as baptism, and Eduardo, a less active member, bore his testimony at church. Woooo. 

I hope my English isn't too horrible. I know I'm not super eloquent these days, but Portuguese makes me think in a weird order, haha.

I love you guys sooo much

4/7/14

(In response to news that her cousin, Austin, is going to Mexico on  his mission) Wow, MEXICO. Ahh he will rock it. I'm a little jealous that he gets to eat Mexican food.  I really miss it...a lot haha. But at least we have pao de queijo haha. No the food is great here, I just am not going to need rice and beans for a long time lol.

Okay so first off, lets just have a moment of silence about how awesome conference was. Woo. I just loved it, and get this, one of my favorite things was the Women's Conference. Wow, I have never been so proud to be a woman and a member of such a large sisterhood. Truly, women are so wonderful and have something so special to offer. I loved the contrast of black and white suits...then you get to the Women's Conference and it is soooo full of color. That is perfect. I just felt so....good about who am in God's eyes. We are all precious children. I thought that two interesting themes were that God always acts out of love for us and that we need to watch out for building our foundation on material things. Truly, the only things that can't be destroyed in seconds are who we are and our relationships. It is a great thing to remember in this busy, materialistic world.

Okay, so this week was really interesting, but great! A can get baptized!!!! Her parents finally are letting her! What a miracle. It was such a great test of patience for A but she passed and now she can finally start on the wonderful journey that God has prepared for her with the guidance of the Holy Ghost at her side. L...yeah....well we saw her, but she is just so discouraged by the opposition of her parents and has more or less given up. She has stopped praying because she is ashamed to face God. She feels like she is just not strong enough to change, and it was so hard to look into her face and see that she knows it's all true. She knows she could be happy but doesn't have that last bit of courage. Sometimes Satan just really stinks.

But R is reading the BoM and loving it and loving church...and Luc still wants to get married! All miracles. The work is progressing, but it's not about numbers, folks. My purpose, especially as a woman, is to nurture people and share the love of our Savior with others. I am trying my hardest to listen to the Spirit and stop to talk to those who need to feel it tooo. This week, a member was having a hard time, and I could tell, so I told her to stop the car during divisions, and we just talked. She cried, and we read some scriptures, and it was great. At the end, she told me very few missionaries in her life had impacted her like I had. Wow, that was all I needed to hear to feel fulfilled. I think missionaries often forget that we are representatives of Jesus Christ for members too.

So, this week we were both injured; My comp blasted her tendon in her knee and I got an infection in my toe. It looked like a big purple grape and hurt soooo bad. I finally understood those National Geographic episodes on Africa that show the animal that gets a tiny bit injured and they're like...Oh its all over. We have been limping around and its pretty funny, but also is impeding the work again. I'm excited to be able to visit my people again.

Nothing changed in transfers!!! Wahooo. I love our house of four sisters. We always have fun and laugh a lot and nooooo drama. YAY. I'm really happy and am so happy to be a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. I am working to have a spirit of gratitude in all situations, just as Uchtdorf advised. 

Women, you are awesome and beautiful and wonderful. There is nothing more valuable than family. Nothing. Men, you guys are super awesome. Live up to the potential that God has for you. Be worthy of the power he has offered you. 

Love you all.

Sister Gimpy lol

4/1/14

so....this week... was great I think. I was sick one day, and my feet are pretty messed up. (Tess broke her orthotic shoe insert and we're trying to work out the best way to get a replacement to her.) Also, something really sad happened with L. She marked (made an appointment) with us to meet up and talk but then didn't show up, and then I think she lied to her mom and said that we stood her up...but we had been sitting in the church for almost an hour waiting. Her mom called us and said that  would never come to our church again...and L still hasn't called us....

I was pretty sad. BUT  right after we went to Luc's house, and I just adore her family. The kids are the most precious, tender things you have ever seen. They all sit together for our lessons and grab their Books of Mormon to read with us and then volunteer to say the prayer at the end. Its incredible to see how the Spirit has changed their family. So when we went to see them, we talked about eternal families, and Luc and A accepted to get married! Wahoo!. Wow, family is such a beautiful, incredible thing. It truly makes home a heaven on earth.

Sorry I'm so short this week. I'm still happy and learning always. I'm working hard and seeking to learn what my Heavenly Father needs to teach me. I'm so grateful for this short opportunity to serve.

Love yall

3/24/14

Okay, so this week! Well, it was the best of times and the worst of times, lol. I had some really hard stuff happen, but I guess that's how the mission goes, lol. I still feel so grateful to be here and am content with where I am, which is a huge blessing. Okay, so I'm going to tell you guys a story.

So, I was having a really bad day because of something that happened, but at the end of the day, guess what! I get a call from L, one of our investigators, and she asked me when the next baptism would be. I told her this Sunday and she said, Okay then I'm getting baptized this Sunday. Wow, okay so I was super excited and we saw her every day this week so that we could teach her all the lessons. She is so brave and incredible. She already wants to serve a mission, but the problem is that her family is super anti and is making a huge fight against the church. They are super devoted to their church, but L has courageously defended the church and her happiness to all of her friends and family, even if it means losing friends.

I was so impressed with her, but was a little worried that things were moving so fast. I worried about how her family would react and she still hadn't told them. Apparently, they were taking her pamphlets and throwing them across the room and yelling at her. Poor thing, she was so anxious the night before, after she had her interview with Elder C. For some reason, I was so anxious about her and had this feeling that things weren't going to work out. I fasted all day one day, even though we had to walk all day and I just NEEDED her to be okay, but I didn't feel good about the whole thing. I told Elder C that I wouldn't rest until she was in the water.

So, then on Sunday....we waited...and waited and waited and called and called and called...and yeah it didn't happen. I still don't know what happened, but I'm hoping she is alright.

So yes, moments like these happen a lot in the mission. I felt bad for B because I wanted to give her a miracle, but I guess that isn't mine to give in the end, haha.

 When I talked to B about what happened, I learned something as well. I told her that after moments like these, most people decide to lower their expectations of people and of God. But, we actually need to do the opposite. We have to keep our HOPE. We have to keep our expectations extra high and ADJUST our timing to Gods timing. When we lower expectations, we lose faith and we lose miracles, but hope is an anchor to the soul. We have to keep our faith, keep our hope, and trust that all things work out for the good of God's children. I have decided to trust in Father and believe that whatever happens, His timing is better than mine.

Never lose hope, and we can smile in the good times and the bad with the constant peace that we truly are in God's hands.

Love you guys.

 Tess getting a makeover

 Sister Barbie

3/17/14

In response to Carol telling Tess about a facebook video of two sister missionaries who changed the words of the Cups song to be about the restoration of the gospel, Tess said, "Haha Mom, that's funny, cause me and sister Sperry always sing the Cups song together and taught some investigators how to do the cups. They are so cute. 

In response to the following question from Stewart, "Some of us at church keep discussing what difference it makes to pray for you , your companion and your investigators, when Heavenly Father, it seems, would already do what is best for them anyway.  Your thoughts?" Dad, that's a really good question. Hmm, uhh, my answer, in short, is that I KNOW for sure prayers do make a difference. They align our will with God's will, but I think we truly do have our own power in prayer too. The Prophets have said that there is nothing more powerful than a mother's prayer and I believe it. I guess the question you have to ask yourself is if miracles are possible, and miracles depend on our faith, then doesn't that mean that our faith has power. Think about the miracles that Christ did. He could only perform miracles for those who had faith. Remember Peter walking on water. Christ's power didn't waver. It was Peters faith and trust. WE have power in faith. Prayer is an expression of our faith. Prayer is literally a conversation with God, our Father. Now, if our faith really does have power, then imagine how much positive energy and power must be headed toward those who need it most. Faith brings prayer and prayer brings faith and miracles are only possible this way. We are not helpless. Yes God has all power and knowledge and His plan is perfect, but do you really think His plans are so rigid that he can't make tiny adjustments to give His children something good that they truly desire.? God makes the plans. The plans don't make God. He wants to make us happy and He gives us things that are most important to us that will bring us true happiness. How does He know what we want? How do we know what we really want? Prayer. Remember we are here to learn. This plan was made for us, so it makes sense to me that we could could have a little influence here and there... lol...Just my opinion.

So, guess what guys? This week was so full of miracles. S, a less active member that I have been desperately trying to get to come to church, came! Also, C, my investigator and Brazilian mother, is getting married and baptized the 29th!!! She hasn't smoked for almost two week and her daughter T will get baptized too. Ahhh, it's such an awesome miracle. Elder J will baptize her, which is even better, because he is probably my very best elder friend in the mish. Also, a contact I made in Ribeirao Preto got baptized. I remember he flagged us down in the street, and we brought him to the mission office to get all kinds of books; then we ran into him again that night and invited him to a family home evening, and he actually came. That night, I got to bear my testimony to him, and later I found out he was going to institute. Now, he is baptized!! Wow, it made me realize that I honestly will never know how much my mission impacts the world. If I hadn't gotten a call from sister Zapata, I would have never known what happened to Anderson, but his life will be changed forever. This work is not about numbers. It is about people, hearts, souls, and smiles. I am working super hard still, but its different. I am working for love now. I walk till my legs feel like jello and my eyeballs are sunburned, but it's not because I'm supposed to WORK. It's because I am walking to those I love.

I'm so happy right now. I love training and I love Sister B. Sometimes I REALLY feel like a mom' and it requires a lot of patience, but I don't mind it at all, because I know I am serving an important purpose. My goal is to help Sister B have the best start to her mission so that she can know that a mission is more of a blessing than it is a sacrifice. Right now, we are still working on that one, lol. But she really listens and remembers the things I teach her, so I can't complain.

Hey guys, this life is a good one. Remember that we never need to despair, because Father is watching. We are in His hands...and prayers really do work. HOPE is the anchor to our souls.

I love you guys more than Hawaiian pizza and cheesecake and Mexican food. ....yeah, i really love you guys :)

Beijoas

sister Hunny

3/10/14

Hello my people!! How's it over there in the states? Is it finally warming up, because it's starting to cool down, and I cannot begin to tell you how much of a blessing that is? Finally, I'm not sweating in my sleep. Actually, one night Sperry and I were outside looking at the stars and we actually got cold...what? It was a little miracle. Journal- worthy I think, lol.

Okay, so can I just tell you guys I am super happy right now? Life is good. Life has always been good, but right now, its super good. What changed? Well, the people and circumstances did change (so happy to have my Sperry back), but honestly I believe it has more to do with my attitude. So  what I've realized is that I am not so bad after all, you guys. I have a lot of capacity to help others, and I really know I am making a difference, even when our numbers aren't fantastic. I am learning to TRUST IN HEAVENLY FATHER. He really does know what he is doing. I am practicing patience with myself and patience with Him, and guess what! Now I'm happy go lucky no matter what happens, because I trust that His plans are better than mine. We are having success with A and L. A is so set on getting baptized and rode her bike all the way to church, and then just switched her sweaty shirt. She is awesome. 

B is so awesome.She is so willing to do everything I ask and always wants to learn. What I love most about her is that she is always laughing!! Always. It really helps to lighten the day when things don't work out. I am trying to help her have the best beginning of the mission ever, because a lot of the times, the very start is the worst. That's not going to happen to my novinha, no sir. I am learning so much.

This week we made pizza with an Italian family.....which was awesome because they actually use tomato sauce and lots of cheese. Heaven!!! Me and Sperry loaded up the tomato sauce. The Brazilians were pleasantly surprised lol. We even filled the crust with cheese. Pretty legit. Its crazy how people who don't know us invite us into their homes and feed us, lol. Cracks me up sometimes where we end up in the mission life. Every day is an adventure for sure. Love you guys sooo much.

3/3/14

(In answer to Stewart's question about the leaders in the mission) Of course they are important....but like, yeah....they are doing their job. I'm supporting them.....haha.....not sure what to say. President Brum loves and cares for us and I know he is so inspired because this transfer is perfect, and I'm so happy.  Our ward leader of mission (Haha, her English is starting to sound a little funny now, isn't it)  is super great too. He does so much and is super organized. Leaders are important. We are all just learning and it's so great to see them learn and grow as they serve us. They may not be perfect, and we don't have to agree with all of their opinions about everything, but we do need to support them when they act in their jurisdiction, because the Spirit is guiding them and we will receive blessings. I promise. Our district is super great. We are just like a family, and today we had a water fight and played hide and go seek for p day. So fun!

So all of our investigators are incredible! BUT they all have a huge roadblock. grrrr. L already wants to serve a mission and she hasn't even been to church, lol. A is waking up at four in the morning to attend seminary and reading chapters of the Book of Mormon every night. One day we taught her and L together, and A bore her testimony about the Holy Ghost like she has been a member forever. The only reason she can't get baptized is because her parents won't let her yet. Then there is R, who is so pure and knows everything is true and wants to get baptized but her husband won't let her. I'm really afraid he might be abusive, which really frustrates me. She can't go to church, but she is still trying to quit drinking coffee. the only way we can see her is if we run into her in the street, but God has made it happen twice this week. Guys, if you could have seen the way she cried and fell in my arms......but then afterward she tensed up and couldn't accept my comfort. Ugh, it kills me to see that people don't know how to accept love. She wakes up and sees the church house every day, but she can't go in..or she won't let herself go in. Please pray and fast for these incredible, pure hearts. 

We are all sooo hard on ourselves. My new comp, Sis B (brazilian) included. She is sooo cute and funny. At first, I think she was scared to death of me, and she cried her first night. It was pretty rough, haha. We arrived in the middle of a horrible storm and all the lights in the city were out. She kept saying she wanted to take a shower, and I was like Oh dear, welcome to the mission haha. Anyway, she told me she doesn't like to hear compliments because she doesn't believe them, and it makes her sad that they aren't true. She has been so broken by her past that she can't accept love anymore. I am working so hard to build her up and just love her. She told me that this week, I taught her that miracles happen EVERY day, which made me super happy. 

We must recognize our worth. We have to remember that we were made by the hands of God.....God doesn't make junk. He makes masterpieces. Think of how sad it must make him when we fail to recognize the masterpiece He created within each of us. You have a part of God in you. It is impossible for us to be ugly or useless. We are sacred and marvelous and beautiful to Him. He doesn't see us as we are, but as we will become. Its just like a work of art. The artist sees the final product in his mind, so he loves the painting from beginning to end. He KNOWS what it will become, so the painting is a masterpiece throughout the whole process to Him. Others may not see it, but He does. He knows. Let Him show you. Let him love you the way you deserve. If people could accept God's love, I am convinced we wouldn't hurt each other like we do. We hurt because we are afraid, but there is no fear in love. John 4

Okay I love you guys, and I'm so happy right now. Really, really,truly happy. I love to serve and help and uplift people. I have been given so much this transfer and pray I can use this time to really help others.

Oh by the way, I got your x mas package!!!! ahhh haha a little late but hey, I get two Christmases. Thank you

Beijo, sis Hunny