1/20/14

Hey the address is just the office so it will never change. Send away :)Sister Tess Huntington, R. Sao Sebastiao #1003-centro, Ribeirao Preto-SP, 14015-040, BRAZIL

Hey so wow, this week has been rather strange. We are opening an area in the incredible city of Joboticabal. It is so pretty and way cooler, and has hills and we have a new house, and I can see the stars at night, and my comp is incredible and yeah......life is good. 

So, our house actually isn't really ready, but we were just so excited to get here and get to work, so we are kinda camping out. We borrowed two mattresses from our neighbor and are sleeping on the ground. There is no stove or fridge or actually anything. It’s just four totally empty rooms, but it's great! Our area is on fire and our mission leader is incredible. He is a lawyer and is so together. I never even knew that leaders like this existed. He actually wants to help us! What? He actually used to be a Jehovah's Witness and then left because of a few things that didn't jive with him, but when he discovered the church, a lot of blank spaces were filled in and he joined the church. He is familiar with missionary work because of his background in JW, so he is so organized. It's awesome.

Wow, okay so funny story, it really is like we are camping because guess what we had in our house? BARATAS!!! Translation: cockroaches. 

AHHHH UGHHHH NOOOOO WHYYYY? I don't know why those guys freak me out so much. I can fight big men in jiu jitsu and it doesn't scare me, but show me cockroach and my body goes limp. Problem, my comp is deathly afraid too, and we had the biggest cockroach I have ever seen in my life!!! He was like a dog, I swear...and he wanted to kill us. I could see it in his eyes. Oh my goodness, it was terrible. We had just killed a little one and were overwhelmed with the whole fiasco. Then Sis F started screaming and pointing right above my head, and I looked at the wall and the monster was right behind me. F hid in the bathroom and I ran away screaming and we were frozen haha. I kid you not, we had to go get our neighbor to kill it, and neither of us slept that night. Our neighbor's wife said that when she heard us screaming, she said, "I bet they are battling a cockroach right now." ahahhaha. So there you go. I'm not as tough as I like to think.

We don't have any investigators right now, because we are brand new and don't even have a map, but the work is gonna start rolling. I can just feel it. My comp is just an angel. I mean really, she is celestial. She is so loving and selfless, and cries all the time just telling me how happy she is to be my comp. Her other comps were really hard and she is just starving for love. Sometimes I feel like a mom that just needs to nurture, but at the same time, she is constantly trying to do things for me and care for me. She cuts up mangoes for me ,even when she doesn't want to eat any because she knows I have an allergy to the peel. It's a good relationship :)

Okay well I love you guys so much. God is so involved in our lives, it’s crazy. I have been saying tiny prayers throughout the day, and guess what! He answers them. I think most of our sadness and frustration in this life comes because we don't ask for help. Ask and you will receive. God wants to help. He is our dad after all.

LOVE you all

sis hunny

Oooookay, wow so I'm way low on time. SORRY!! But things are going well now. I'm almost all the way healthy again. I might have lied when I said we were better. We weren't. We have been in the house a lot this week because our Pres said we couldn't work until we were 100 percent.....which I'm not sure he realizes never occurs in the body of a missionary haha. But the worms have officially left, I think, so I'm ready to be a normal person and have energy again and eat food, wahhoooo. 

So as far as investigators goes, the work has been a little dead, since we were  stuck inside a lot, but C is still incredible. We made a little headway with her in that she promised us she would definitely get baptized and she knows 100 % that the church is true. She has a stronger testimony than most of the members! But she said she wants to feel totally ready and she doesn't want to enter the water dirty. UGHH, if only she could understand that baptism is to wash AWAY sins, not to recognize our perfection. We don't have to be perfect to be baptized or even plan on being perfect after. Baptism is just the first step in TRYING to be more like Jesus. It is an open action and expression of our desire to follow our Savior and be like Him. We are literally born again. Baptism is incredible. Its such a fast moment. Its over before you realize it was happening, but everyone always leaves the water looking cleaner, lighter, more at peace than ever before. Its a simple action, but there is so much power in simplicity. I know C will be baptized. I just wish she would go ahead and stop denying herself the blessings that come from fully committing to follow Christ. If you know something is true, you cant just hide from it. BUT I know everyone needs different amounts of time, so we will be patient. I will not give up on her for sure. 

Sadly, I wont be able to do much more in teaching her because I was transferred to Jaboticabol. Its another city about an hour from Ribeirao. I will be comps with Sis F, who is just soooo great. I already love her because we sang together in the xmas conference. She has the exact same time in the mish as me and is a sweet, happy go lucky Brazilian, but I know she wants to work. Oh man, I am just so excited to work. I'm sick of resting!! I know we have to take care of ourselves, but I'm ready to collapse in my bed because I walked all day and taught all day, not because little bugs are eating all my food, haha. 

This gospel is so true. It changes lives, and the Spirit is incredibly intimate in guiding us if we will only listen. I'm super pumped for my new area, but sad to leave some people. One of them is an Irma in our ward, M R. She is incredible and  I have gotten super close with her. She has had so many trials and is really suffering. Sadly, I can see that her testimony is weakening. You know, there are just some people that you meet and you know you were meant to be here for that person. She is one of those. The Spirit has always told me the exact perfect thing to say to her, even when I barely understood what she was saying. She was super sad to know I was leaving, and she said to me: you cant go because you perceive things about me that nobody else does. You always know how I'm really feeling.  

I know its really just the Spirit, but I am so glad to be able to speak for the Spirit when prompted. I'm so glad to be a part of God's efforts to love and comfort His children. I hate that I have to abandon M, but I trust that God will send more guardian angels her way. Pray for her please, and C. 

L is still out of town, ughh, so I wont get to see his baptism, but I just hope it really happens. He is so innocent and pure. He had a stroke and can barely walk, but he is at church every Sunday all alone. He is only 13. He said he wants to be baptized because he feels love and peace and charity. Its so simple, but so pure and perfect. We don't have to know everything to love God and follow Him. That's the whole point. HE will teach us.

Okay love you all. I'm starting to get mail again. Yay! the holidays just slowed everything down. Hoping to get your package soon :)

1-6-14

Alrighty, well this week was interesting. The worms are gone, I think haha. We hope, at least. Just be glad we don't have them in the states. That's all I'm saying about that. So, New Year's was pretty cool. We had to stay inside our apartment, but we had a little party with the roomies and watched the hundreds of fireworks blast throughout the city. It was incredible. There were more fireworks than a Disney show. We made some resolutions and ate some dark chocolate M&Ms. So speaking of resolutions, what are those anyway? Shouldn't we always be making goals? Still, I can never resist making a resolution. Oddly enough, after thinking of all the things I need to improve on, I realized there is just one that is worth writing down: Be Happy. 

I don't know that there is anything more important than this one thing. If we aren't happy, then what is the point of any other achievement anyway? God said that "Men are that they might have joy" so that really is the big goal. I think sometimes we focus on all the things we need to Do and Be and we get overwhelmed and before we know it, we are miserable because we only see what we haven't done. But here is the thing. 

I know a lot of missionaries come to the field to learn how to work, but I really think I'm here right now to learn how to rest. That might sound odd, but I have always pushed myself to the limit, and then still I'm only thinking about the next thing to do. But what if I had enjoyed every day, stopped for more people on the way, smiled and laughed at the crazy things that happen instead of getting frustrated? Wouldn't this be more meaningful in the end? I know that hard work is super important. I love feeling the sense of accomplishment after giving it all I got, but after experiencing some suffering (that's all I'll say about it), Sis S and I have really been learning the lesson that we simply CAN'T control our circumstances. We can only control how we react. So, my goal this year is to be happy with any circumstance. I know I can't be happy every single second of every day, but I want to end every day with a laugh and a smile. My resolution for this year is to make every day better than the last. Just imagine how great my last day of the year will be! I hope that by the time I come home, I will be a more optimistic, happy person, so I will be worthy to spend Christmas with all you incredible people. 

BE HAPPY! its really so simple. Smile even when things are hard and the scenery will suddenly change.

Christmas Pictures

12/30/13

Wow, okay so can I just say, it was incredible to talk to ya'll on Christmas. Just the very best :) Sperry and I went home and just smiled for the whole night. It made you guys feel so much closer to me, like you really were just one phone call away. You all just looked so wonderful and happy and that made me so happy :) Best Christmas present ever. 

 I hope Amanda liked the boxing glove hahaha. 

Oh speaking of packages, you know how you asked me if I needed anything and I was like...No....well I actually thought of some stuff if you ever have the fancy to send another. I know they are expensive though so no pressure. A few ideas though: Kings Hawaiian bread. Delicious, and one of the few things that doesn't melt :)

Good pens. they don't have those here.You know the Pilot G-2 kind....colors please.

Pics and more pics! Oh and a new journal would be so awesome Dad. I'm running out of room (be proud) and it turns out they don't have cool journals here. What's that all about? All they want is American stuff haha.  Okay those are just some ideas. 

Next

I got a package!!!! woohoo. It was from Sister Perry and at first, I gotta be honest, I was super confused, but then I opened it up and realized that the wonderful YW had sent me all kinds of cards and goodies and oh my, I cannot even tell you how wonderful it was..especially the Reese's. You might find this disgusting, but I ate them all in one day...I'll explain in a moment haha. Anyhoodles, thank you all the Young Women!!!! It was incredible to hear from you and it made me and my comps Christmas. My comp almost cried because she had prayed for Bath and Body Works soap lol. So, you done good. Thank you times a million!

Okay, so here's some updates on my life. First of all, I'll explain why I ate nothing but Reese's for a day. First off, they don't exist here, so they are a coveted delicacy. Second of all, we found out what is wrong with us in regards to our sickness......we kinda sorta might have worms. Bleh! Yeah, so there are currently little bugs living inside of our guts!!! It's been quite the journey trying to figure out what was wrong with us, but I gotta be honest, I was thrilled to find out I wasn't just becoming the laziest person ever with a disturbing love for chocolate and sweets. So yes, that is why I lived off of Reese's for a day. The worms made me do it! Don't worry, we are taking medicine right now, so that should take care of the problem and that's all I will say about that lol. BUT get this, we finally found out our problem and were going to get better and THEN...I got mango face haha. So it was back to bed with a big red allergy face. I guess God just really wants us to learn how to rest. Oh man, I just want to work again, but I am learning a lot about what it means to rest. That is for sure. Right now, S and I are learning how to rest, how to trust God, how to love ourselves and most important, how to find joy in every moment, even in trials. As our President said, if God needed the rocks to preach the gospel, he would have them do it, but he wants US to learn how to trust and rely on him. 

I'm out of time, but I just want to share a part of a poem that I read and loved by TS Eliot. It says: 

Where is the Life we have lost in living?

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

As missionaries, we get really good at keeping busy, but we often forget how to be still. 

As missionaries, we get really good at finding our faults and seeking to improve, but we often forget how to love ourselves in the process.

More important than what we DO is what we ARE....and we ARE children of God. He already loves us perfectly. He sees us as we are and will help us to improve. Trust in Him a little more. Love yourself a little more. We are told to love others as we love ourselves, but if we don't love ourselves, then how are we to fully love others? I'm still working on not beating myself up  every second, but recognizing that I am WORTHY of love is the first step. You are all incredible. Remember to be still and see the beauty around you. Remember that you are allowed to love yourself, that God wants us to, and that if we refuse to recognize our worth, its like telling God He made a piece of junk....which I don't think He would appreciate too much. 

LOVE YOU,

Thanks for EVERYTHING and all the people who sent me things. Jenny, the Shepherds, Grandpa, the Young Women, and anyone else that I just haven't received yet. You are all angels!

Sis Hunny

12-23-13

Okay so first business stuff: I'm pretty positive you can do the 3 way skype thing. It will be done via skype and it should be around 6 oclock my time. I already went to skype and created an account and requested Amanda as a friend, so make sure that it worked. It will be in a members house. Be ready before and after that time, because nothing is ever on time in Brazil haha.Sorry that's like super flakey, but welcome to Brazil.

 

Okay so Wow, Christmas is basically here! That really snuck up.....probably because I am black and my hair is white and I'm sweating as I type this haha. But still, Christmas is coming and that means I get to talk to you guys. What a blessing! Can I tell you though, I never thought I would be grateful for the cold. God has a sneaky way of forcing us to be grateful for EVERYTHING, doesn't he? Even things we thought we hated lol. 

I'm not going to lie, it really is hard to be away from family and loved ones at this time. Really hard. But, once again, I'm so grateful I only have to give up one Christmas in order to experience a tiny bit of loneliness. There are others in this world who have it the other way around. It is more rare for them to feel love than to feel alone. How tragic, but true, and that is why I'm here for just a short chunk of my life. Of course I am missing everything about the Christmas I know, but I'm here for a little bit to tell people every day something I was already blessed to know: That they are children of a loving Heavenly Father. That they are more precious than all the stars in the sky and all the gems in the ground and as cheesy as it all sounds, its true as well. Its true and I know it is a fact that one day, there will be no more tears or pain or loneliness, but only love in its place, and all this is because of our Savior Jesus Christ (Rev 20). Even though I'm missing out on all the Christmas traditions this year, I don't think anything could be more true to the Christmas spirit than going into streets and homes and reminding people of their eternal, sacred worth. I have the chance to teach people about a perfect friend and brother that died for us, even though we rejected Him. This is powerful. This is the reason for Christmas. We must remember and MUST share this gift. There is no gift more important that we can share than the gospel of Jesus Christ. It will change lives and bring light to the world. 

   Yesterday I had an amazing experience. It was so small, but very tender, which is basically the sum of a mission-- tiny miracles every day. Anyway, it was at C's house and we are also teaching her 18  yr old granddaughter I, who is just so broken and has NO self worth, but she hides her sorrow well. She once told us that she it didn't matter if she lived or died, because she is just going to go to Hell anyway. ahh!!! So sad. Last night, as we were saying goodbye, I  hugged her and told her she was so special, but she couldn't look me in the eyes. So I lifted her chin and told her again that she was special and beautiful and that God loved her. Just those simple phrases caused her to collapse into my arms and cry, and in those moments, I know I'm here for a reason. If all it takes is a few simple phrases to make someone cry, then think how much more good we can do. We need to strive to live as an example of Jesus Christ. We need to share His love with everyone we meet, and we have this ability. You guys are all amazing. 

I hope you know that. Thank you for everything and the amazing example you are to me. 

Feliz Natal

LOVE Sis Hunny

12-16-13

Oi!!!!

Como esta meus queridos? I am doing great. We had a baptism this past Saturday and have another one coming this Sunday. Sis S and I are being so blessed by Heavenly Father. He is truly just carrying us along, because I mean....look at us, we are just two Americanas trying to survive in another country, but we are finding success and truly helping people. Haha only Heavenly Father could make this possible. Brendon was our baptism, and he is sooo good. He was just so ready to follow Jesus Christ and dedicate his life to growing and learning in the gospel. He truly is so humble and wonderful and only 14 yrs old! Sorry this letter will  be short, the key board is all messed up and it's hard to type.

So today we lose our P day because we have a practice all day for the missionary christmas chorale. Its gonna be pretty awesome though. Tomorrow we have our Christmas conference/banquet for the mission and we are going to sing our little hearts out for all the missionaries and President Brum and other special guests. Yeah, we are kinda famous...you'll have to wait for autographs ;) Some of the songs are in English and its pretty adorable hearing the Brazilians try to pronounce their Rs, but they are really doing so great.
  So, this week is going to be great. I just know it. Sis S and I have so much fun together, but even more, we are witnessing so many miracles and have so many opportunities to help others. It's truly a blessing to be able to help others, but this week was also kinda hard. So, here's the deal, S and I.....we got really excited about the area and all the good we could do, and we worked our little bums off. We have tried to always put everyone else first and its been really awesome, but it started to catch up with us. Our house was getting dirty, we were going to bed late, and we weren't ever eating because we were too busy. We were getting super stressed. Oh yeah, and we had a baptism, but our bishop wasnt interested in helping us and nobody would answer their phones. So.....all of a sudden, about two days ago, it hit us that we were both kinda dying haha. We were both sick and Sis S said I looked like a Holocaust victim because my eyes were all tired and sunken in haha. Yet still, we felt like we weren't doing enough, like we should be doing more because there is SO MUCH TO DO!!!

Listen up everyone, we have got to enjoy life. We have got to stop and smile every once in a while, and we have got to take care of ourselves just a little bit before we go save the world. Sis S said she cant imagine Jesus Christ running from place to place, because he stopped for Everyone. Remember the story of the woman who touched the hem of his robe and he stopped? Well he wouldn't have felt that if he was only worrying about his next appointment and all the OTHER people he has to help. So, right now, sis S and I are trying to discover the balance. Christ had a lot on his mind, but he also had perfect peace and joy, so we are working on resting as well. Its actually really hard to do, but I think its something everyone needs to learn, Americans especially. Thats why Sunday is just such a gift. Its not a sacrifice to keep the Sabbath Day holy. It's a gift. It's a day when we can force ourselves to just rest and not feel guiltly. Look, God is so great, He gave us a guilt free way to force ourselves to relax and meditate on life and enjoy our families. SO give yourself a moment to rest. It doesnt have to be sleep. Just remember that every moment is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

I'll let you  know next Monday what time we will skype, but probs it will be in the evening. SOOOO EXCITED. Excuse me now, I'll probably cry, so dont judge okay, haha.

LOVE YOU ALL merry  xmas.

PS- it's so weird that it's Christmas because I'm going to bed sweating every night haha.

Oh and forgive me for my lack of writing right now. Like I said....I've been really busy. Ill melhorar! I promise. Disculpe!