Almost Home

This week was full of miracles! We had a good ole fashion fast. And you would think that after all this time on the mission that I would be a pro with the whole substain from food and water for twenty-four hours but that`s a huge fat lie. It`s even harder on the mission. And everytime I start I want to cry! But everytime I finish my companion and I are blessed to the upmost most! This time we found a bunch of pots and pans and things for the kitchen in the trash. All of it was pretty much brand new and we needed it for our house! And a brother in the ward gave the two of brand stinking new cameras! Out of nowhere! It was so incredibule! Our investiagators are doing well but at the same not. Sunday was awesome everyone that needed to be at church were there so that`s awesome! That`s all we ask for and it`s for there good! We are in the process of finding new people. That process is very taxing. We hit tweny four doors the other day and it was horrible. No one wanted to listen to us. But at least we got a few sure come back if you want. Hmmm. All you can do is laugh and pray for strength to finsih out the day. Today everyone in our zone twelve elders and the two of us went and climbed a mountain! It was so nice to get away from the city and get into the jungle! Full of monkeys and wind and awesome views. It was so nice. We brought sandwiches it was so rad and orange juice and cookies. Who was in charge of the food that no one brought but we brought enough? Me and my BBF it always happens that way! We are woman and the end of the day. My legs feel like they will fall off but it was so worth it! Next week I will show the pictures!

 

Five Weeks

I can`t believe I am in my last transfer. Sometimes it feels as if I just got into the field and here I am on my last transfer. I have so much to do it`s insane. This week flew by and we had some good moments. We took a young couple Bruna and Anderson to a less actives house Pamela and her husband William who isn`t a member. And they hit if off so well and totally shared the message they didn`t even need us there. Those are the moments I love the most I was so happy. It went so well. For both sides. It made Bruna and Anderson happy and excited about missionary work and William and Pamela to see that young couples who go to the church are really cool and not a bunch of losers hahaha. A lot of people think we don`t know how to have a good time, that is wrong, we know how to cut a rug. Joao Carlos is doing really well. He is just loving our lessons and the church it`s so awesome. And we marked a date with Rilza. Things are going really well I couldn`t be anymore happier. This really is the Lord`s work. And we all can partake of it!  Nike was right, JUST DO IT!

Easter Miracle

This week was good. It was slow everyone was out of town and it was semana santo, saint week because of Easter and all that jazz. So it was on the down low. But we had some really good lessons with our investigators it was awesome! We helped a less active with her thesis. She has to translate her paper from english into portuguse. So she called on us to help. We were like ok let`s do it. Ya when we got there guess what the paper was on? Theories of Frued. I was like oh no. We were there an hour and I left with a huge headache and mass confusion. But it was good we are building a good friendship with her and learning Freud hahaha. The best miracle of all was Sunday. We had five investiagtors in the chapel. It was an Easter miracle. And the bishopric gave each of us huge choclate eggs and two pannetone it was so cute. There are pictures of our Easter festivals but as you know me and my BBF don`t have cameras so we borrow from the Elders in our zone so lame hahaha. So next week we will email the pictures for everyone to see. That is about it. The week went by fast and slow at the same time. We are now in the last week of the transfer it will be crazy, and I will stark my last transfer it will be crazy. BOA SEMANA GENTE

Back Together and Better than Ever!

Hello Mate

This week was good. I got a phone call from my old companion telling me that one of our investigators that we were teaching died. That was a sad moment. He was a really good guy. He died from an appendixes ya I have no idea how to spell that. But it was so sad. The part that is even more interesting is that he didn`t want to except the gospel. Weird to be on this end of it. Hmm I hope that he is more open in the spirit world. We were walking in the street and this man stopped us and was speaking in English. But not just regular old English but awesome English from England. And of course it took my brain like two minutes to respond because I was so huh wait what. But Paul is really cool. He has been living here for over a year teaching English. He visited the church in England and loved it. I hope that we can teach him. Won`t that be way fun to teach someone in English. I have already started teaching BBF to say a prayer and share her testimony in English she is coming along really well. Other than that it was really nice to end the weekend with conference. I loved every moment of it. And I totally understood everything. I watched in Portuguese because it`s my last time and I wanted to watch it my last official time in Port with my BBF and it was heaven. So many wonderful things were said. Can`t wait to read all the talks over again next month. We even had one of our investigators there and he loved it. Well really we thought he was sleeping but at the end he explained to an exact t what every talk was about it was awesome and surprising. We loved it. It was so awesome. This week was great. The weeks are going by so fast it`s insane. I need to take in every minute and basically like Tim McGraw sang live like I was dying. Have an awesome week gente!

O Loco

This week has been fast and full of lot`s of interesting things for the books. Where to begin. We got to teach a really cool man that we made a contact with in the street. His name is Jõao Carlos and he is a learned man. He has two college degrees and is way smart. He liked our message a lot. A lot and invited us to a seminar, well I guess that`s what you could call it. What is the name of the thing where you go and speak on something. He said that we could come and represent the Church. My beloved companion was super excited. No that`s an awesome chance to set people straight and help them understand what we believe, but I was like oh no sometimes my Portuguese get`s a little fuzzy when I`m nervous so who knows what I would say we shall see. We were looking for a house at night and we heard this woman call our names well called us. She was like I need help. She was this tiny woman carrying a baby and two large backpacks. We helped her to her house. She was cool. She was like well you can come back in the morning and teach me. We were like oh ok. Ya these moments in the mission are always a mouth opener for sure. We went back she wasn`t home. It`s all good. We are going to go back again. No worries. And one of our investigators we were teaching who never really let`s us talk we taught her daughter and it was awesome and the mom stayed quiet this time. It was good the spirit was strong and all it was nice. And then to finish the weekend strong. Sunday one of the recent converts was like I`m going to call my husband I`m not feeling to well. We walked down with her to the parking lot. And it was me and another irma and Edna passed out and went into a seizure It was crazy. Luckily Marcello was walking out who is a big and tall and buff Brasilian which is unrare and helped us out. Edna totally whacked me in the face but it was all good. She has that once disease where you have seizures and pass out I can`t think of the name. But it was crazy. I was totally calm and calmed her and supported her head. Poor thing it was so sad. But she is good. This week has been really good. I love the work of the Lord and how it always pops out of nowhere. When you feel you are on your last leg of hope he enters in and calms the storm. Tchau gente boa semana!

This week went by really fast. We had some really cool experiences. We taught a woman named Marlene. She is suffering from the loss of one of her sons and her husband. She is a really sweet lady. She expressed to us that she adopted three of her six children and how speical that is to her. Then we were able to add to that specail moment by saying that me and my BBF are adopted as well it was pretty cool. She was crying all over the place. The spirit was pretty strong. And then we got to teach Adalva. Who is this litttle old lady who has a lot of problems that she likes to act out it`s rather funny. But we got to help her out it was pretty legit. And the rest of the week was filled with talking with literally everyone in the street. When you don`t have a lot of people to teach you have to find. At times the finding part is really taxing on the soul. But usually that is where you get the more funny moments on your mission. Excuses that people give are pretty funny. But I really like my area. If you don`t mention the problem of cockroachs, slugs and ants in our house it`s alll good. Ya our house is a zoo. But it`s all good. And the best news of all I think that summer is ending. I am so so happy! Bring on the "cold" weather! Have an aweome week gente. I know that times are tough. There are moments when you want to call it quits or sit on the sidelines but there is always someone who is rooting you on, just like a silent cheerleader. That would be our Savior Jesus Christ. Where can you find that peace and comfort that your are always searching for but can never seem to find in any other place. Take it to the Lord. Pray. Pour your heart to him. He is there twenty four seven and it`s free.

Out of Left Field

Well I was totally prepared to stay in Jardim Simus with Sister Armstrong. But we got the always anxious transfer call on Monday night and I was totally thrown off my rocker. I was moved to Osaco. With guess who... SISTER OLVEIRA. I was pretty much excited out of my mind and confused. I have never seen that happen in my life as far as thing on the mission. Going back to your old companion is super unherd of, but I guess in our case it`s different. I guess the Lord has a huge plan for us. I am down. The good news is that I love her to death. She is my BBF so that is good. This area is really cool. It`s a city. And we get part of downtown I am pretty excited. I like it a lot. There is always so much to see and so many people to teach. Not to mention clothes here are super cheap so that is a nice added BONUS! So it`s all good. I am super excited to work with her. We just have this awesome jive when we teach it`s pretty UNTOUCHABLE. I am excited to see what the six weeks will bring us. I hope lot`s of success or at least really cool spiritual experiences. I`m stoked to have this chance to work with her again. She is a rock star. Boa semana gente. Deus nòs ama!!!!!!!

me and my companion

The boxes that we made, this is the first project that is ugly, next week I will send a picture of the pretty boxes

me and my new short hair, do you like it?

The gang yes this would be a family home evening Brasilian style legit right

Me and Sister Hayes at her first Brasilian BBQ

Funny little moments

This week has been full of funny little moments left and right. We finally got a hold of Prsilla and she was like ya I want to be baptize but I don`t feel that I`m exactly ready like tomorrow. I was like that is totally fine but you don`t have to run from us and act like we don`t exist when we see you. She was like ya I guess your right. I was like ugh. But I know that the investigators that are more trouble are the ones that stay firm in the church in the end. It is good that we went back because I really was ready to call it quits. And our other investigator Vanessa is killing me. She a short attention span. But I am still going and trying to help her out. She is really cool. Really sweet. We invited her to baptized and she was like yes I want to be baptized but can I be baptized in a river and said it really seriously. It was really funny. I was like (in my head) why would you want to be baptized in a river when we have nice clean baptism fonts in the church? She was like ya your right. So we at this moment have these two that we are working with really hard but we are still on the hunt for the elect for the golden. I know that there out there the question is where? It will happen? This work is true. It`s hard but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am doing the Lord`s work and that I am never alone. It`s me and him with his host of beautiful angles. Boa semana gente!!!!!!

15 Months BABY!

Hello world. Greeting from the jungle. All is well where I am at. Just take out the fact that it is still hotter than heck and the one baptism date that we had fell yesterday I am good. Man that was a sad day. She literally fell off the face of the earth. I don`t know what were going to do about her. Just pray and have a lot of faith and hope I guess. That`s really all you can do. Our Zone Leaders gave us this really cool but different idea. We are struggling to find people to teach and what not. So they said to make these boxes with a lot of pictures of Christ and put a really good question on the box like "Did you know that Jesus Christ visted the Americas?" And then under the question you put do you want to know more put your number and address and you will get a free book. a.k.a. Book of Mormon. For about a week S.A. and I were like hmm I don´t know this idea is a little wierd I don`t know.  So we finally made the boxes. We used milk cartoons and put some picutres of Christ and the question it looked really ghetto but we went out and asked a few places if we could leave the boxes there. There were a lot of no`s and a few yes. But the next day we showed our ward mission leader and he was like hmm let me help you with these boxes trying not to laugh at our kindergarden attempt. We made them over and they turned out really nice. So we will see what happens with those results. This week is CARNAVL so we are pretty much staying on the low. There is no one in the street to talk and teach to. Well there is but they are drunk hahaha. But it`s all good the parties and what not will be over by Thursday. It´s so funny on the mission you dread holidays because everything is closed and there is no one in the street it`s literally ghost town. But it`s all good. We`ve got high hopes. Sometimes I have to sing that song in the street. But anyways I love this work. I have been studying D&C everyday this week and that book is so powerful. I can spend a whole hour studying and understanding one section. I find it breathtaking. The fact that Christ and his Father live and communicate men of God to guide us is brilliant. This church is so true I can feel it in my bones and every time I open my mouth the spirit testifies of the realness of it all. Gotta love that "good news" Boa semana gente.

 

Sister White

me and my new companion Sister Armstrong

every Wednesday morning there is a flea market across the street
from our house full of every type of fruit you could imagine.

 

 

 

 

 

Little Miracles

This week has been slow but full of little miracles. We are working
ourselves to a tizy looking for the elect. And it`s a lot harder than
it sounds. The key is to find people that have the desire to follow
Christ. Thursday we had a really good leadership training with
President it was really good. President is the type of man that will
talk for hours and hours and hours. At one point he started talking
about the sandwich islands and started some sort of story. When he
finished he was like but today they are not called the sandwich
islands they are called what Sister White? I didn`t even blink an
eyelash and said Hawaii. He was like exactly and went on his
lecturing. All my girls ?(The Other Sister Missionaries) were like how
did you know that? I was like my momma! So what is my shout out. After
twenty-two years of my mom always talking about history and taking me
to endless sites of history and always making me watch the news and
read the newspaper I knew the answer to that question. So what is my
point we need to be prepared. Not just with things from the world but
things that are important in the gospel as well. You never know when
you will be called. Study up, maybe your calling will be in a few
minutes. But we have been working a lot with old investigators
passing by and seeing what happen. Well it must have been a mixture of
prayer and faith and luck that the Lord blessed us with a mother and
daughter who needed us at that very moment. The mother is baptized but
hasn`t been to the church in twenty years and the daughter has never
been baptized but they were like we were talking the other day how we
wanted to go to church and you guys passed by. It was fate. I believe
that is was  totally fate and God. We are nothing without our Lord God
we must never forget that. Other than that the week has been slow but
it`s always slow in the beginning. I have to be strong and patient and
wait for the miracles to fall from the sky.

Sister White

The Country is Where I Belong

So we had transfer calls and I got moved back to Sorocaba where it all started. I am in Jardim Simus with Sister Armstrong you think that she is American with that last name but she is Brasilian. It`s funny what she has on the mission is how much time I have to go home. For those that have lost count 4 months. But anyway she is cool we were in the same zone two times together so I know her pretty well. This area is cool it`s small. And I opened an area again that had Elders. The house was once again a disaster. But the rule in the mission is this know if you find the house a wreck you get to call a maid and the money that get`s paid to the maid get taken out of your "allowance". It is a good plan so we called and she came and did wonder on this house it looks like a completely house. So happy. Our area is small and the ward needs a lot of building up so we will be working a lot but I`m excited. The members here are so so amazing. I just love them. They are all so sweet and love Sisters it`s so nice to return to that. I love country folk. Today was crazy. We got to Sorocaba on Wednesday. Friday we get a call that we need to be in the city São Paulo Sunday night because Monday way early I needed to go to the police station to renew my passport can`t be going and being an illegal alien and all. So that was bananas. But I was so happy all my girls are in the city so I was super happy. But the journey was going to have to be without the mission`s help. So that was way fun. We left after lunch on Sunday. Members gave us a ride to the bus station here and then we took a bus to the city which was about two hours then we took two metros then a bus to the sisters house. Had a fat eating, and laughing party. Slept and then went the police station at 7 but got up at 530. Way fun to get up before the sun by the way. Then after we went to the heart of São Paulo and meet up with our girls and ate at this awesome place. I get to see and talk and laugh and cry and hug it up all afternoon with S.O. that girl is my better half it was a much needed moment. Then we had to make the big journey back to the countryside. Where life is a little slower and a little more simpler but oh so good. Boa semana gente!

Sister White

The Icing on the Cake

Well this week has been one heck of a ride. Tuesday we had interviews with President. Which was good. I needed a good talk with him. I was down and out and he helped me out. President isn't the type that will cry with you or give a lollipop but he is hard and builds you up. And that is exactly what I needed. It was really good. Things in the area aren't going to well. The members are still favoring the Elders over us and no one no one wants to follow Christ. But hey that's the mission. You have to take it's ups and downs. Thursday we went to lunch at a members restaurant which was really really cool. We went back to our house after lunch. S.O. tried opening the door but the key wasn't working. Then I was like let me try. We were in the front of the door for about ten minutes trying to figure it out. Then we noticed that the lock had a screw missing. S.O. pushed down on the handle and the door opened. On our table there was a blanket and Bernard (my brand new guitar) was missing. We were like hmm maybe the Elders that take care of the houses came in and needed something. We walked more into the house and we had been robbed. Our room was a disaster clothes all over the place. They took everything. All that we had left was our clothes and each other. It was really really crazy and sad and scary. Then it was a circus afterwards. The bishop and his wife came, then we had to go the police station and fill out a report. Then President came and we had like this family meeting. He and Sister Martins sat on our couch and me and S.O. sat in the chairs and they gave us this pep talk. So we slept with them again and then the locks got changed and then we are staying in our house until the transfers Wednesday because President asked us to which is fine. We are pretty sure who did it and we know that they aren't going to come back. We are all packed and ready to be transferred. The good thing is that we weren't harmed and didn't have to go through some kind of horror experience. We were the lucky ones. So President gave us permission to go the Temple and do work and fill uplifted in the things of the Lord. One day as we were walking leaving the Temple this lady stopped us and she was a member and she was like I served a mission three years ago I love Sisters can I buy you guys Mcdonalds? We were like ya you can. And Mcdonalds here is super expensive. Every meal is almost $20 so we were like ya girl. So we talked with her and had like this therapy session she helped out a lot. And today we are with a member who loves us a lot and she gave us both flat irons and jewelry and took us to the store and bought us both branding spanking new tennis shoes. And made us lunch. We have about five families who are gold to us in the ward that exactly care about us so we were super excited and super grateful. The moral of the story is. "Why do bad things happen to good people?" So we can learn and grow. Every experience good and bad the Lord wants us to learn one thing from it. And it's better to learn that one thing now and with grace then kicking and screaming because he see that we still haven't learned what we needed to learn. I love my mission there are days were I'm like what am I doing here but then I think real quick about our Savior and all that he did for me and how easy I have it and my mouth shuts real quick. Is it easy? Heck no!!! But it's not suppose to be. 

SISTER WHITE

City Folk...eh!

So city folk are super funny. They are very direct. This less active was at church last Sunday and was like come to my house and teach my woman (yes he said this) and so we went. Let me describe this man. His name is Gino and he looks like he works for the mob. He has a black leather jacket and this crazy accent and talks to the side of his mouth and is filthy rich. He lived in Chicago for a long time and then returned to Brasil but didn`t give a real explaniton to as why he returned. I think it was because something went down in the mob and he had to bounce. So his lady name is Flora. She is this tall woman and is super classy. She sat down with us and was like look what I bought at the Temple store today. She had bought all these books and what not from the Temple store. We were like oh here we go she is ready. She was all I love these books tal tal tal. Then we were like this is good. Then she was like but I don`t need to follow any kind of religion I just like to study about all types of religion and live my life. I was like ummm.  Then she was like who wants to eat. So she was like I am going to make us dinner. But me and S.O. weren`t hungry but what can you do. So the first cousre was bread. Then it was this soup with like chunks of pumkin and rice and cheese I was confused. S.O. almost barfed in her bowl. Then they made omlets. But what was in the omelet? Good question it was brown and stringy. This time I almost barfed in my plate. I couldn`t even finish it. So we ran and S.O. barfed in the street. I didn`t but I wanted to. It was intresting. Flora was like come back anyime but not to talk about the church but everything else we can talk about. I was like umm. Oh the sacrifces of the mission. City folk are funny. They will tell you right away if they want to follow Christ or not. Out in the country people will have you going to there house for almost one month and then say no I don`t want anymore. It is very intresting. I don`t know what to do with it. I think I like it more because it is more upfront. But it is still hard to take when people are so frank. But what can you do. We had a baptism Saturday. Her name is Rita and she is perfect. She is super cool. She is the most perfect investiagtor. Never caused any type of problems she is so good and awesome I just love her to death. And she is super sweet. And we all sang When I Am Baptized I think that`s what it`s called. But the week was good. Full of funny and intresting moments as always. I have been reading in The New Testament and I am infacutated with Paul. He is amazing. His grace and love for the Lord is amazing. His patience as well. I love his example and want to try and be like him. He was just an honest man who saw and worked side by side with Jesus Christ and wanted all to follow in his example. What could be anymore noteworthy and lovely. Have an awesome week gente and remember that is was through him that we are here and can return again. 

Now I can officially say I will be home for Christmas!

This week has been intresting. Slow everyone is one vacation. Everyone in this area is super rich and just bounces to Austraila and the US so it is a little quiet on the streets. But we are still going strong. It has been raining like crazy. It is summer time but I think summertime here means rain and random hot hot sun out of nowhere. This week has a little on the blue side. Being away from home on the Holidays isn`t easy but it`s all good I have my BBF. We still aren`t having a  lot of luck as to find people to teach. As of now we are blessed with two awesome investigators. Carol and Rita. They are really fun and way fun to teach. At least we have them. Sister Oliveria and I are trying to think of new ways to stop people in the street. You can`t really hit doors here it dosesn`t work to well. But anyway. The other day we were walking in the street and this woman out of left field was like do you know where a certain street is. I put my arm around her and we walked with her to the street. Two things that were amazing. One we were walking in that direction so it all worked out. Two she was super amazing and let us teach her. But the sad part is she doesn`t live in our area. Which always happens hahahaha. But at least we found someone that is ready to here the good news and ready to follow Christ, at least we made the day of some other missionaries. This work is hard, but I always have to remember that this is the work of the Lord and that I am never alone. I hope everyone`s week is great and remember to praise him, it`s the least you can do. Look at what he did for each and everyone of us.