Oi and greetings from Parque Ouro Fino which translated in English means Park of Fine Gold. So let`s go back in time real quick. I went to get my hair did at Flavia`s house. I finally let her talk me into it! I was scared out of my mind because those that know me know that I have bad luck with getting my hair done by "people of color" so anyways Sister M went first and I was freaking out and everyone was laughing at me. But darn if the chemical she put on my head didn`t burn like hell at all. It was super nice and fun. I felt like I was at home, becasue she has a salon in her house and her kids were in there and neighbors came over. Everyone was amazed at how long my hair was it`s so funny. The end result was pretty amazing. Of course I didn`t like it at first. It was a little to Smokey Robbinson for me, but the next day it was better. So that night we were having FHE with her family and the Elders called and he was like ok so your leaving... My stomach got all kinds of wierd. And I was like where am I going? He said Sao Bento. I was like is that still in the interior? He said yes. I was happy. I had no clue who my new companion was. He said her name but it didn`t ring a bell. And we would be opening an area, and I would stay senior. And Sis M was going to become senior she wasn`t to happy about this. And the fact that I was leaving and she only had 5 weeks in Votorantim. It was nuts. So the next day was loco. I had to pack. And you don`t realize how much crap you accumlaite on the mission. And say good-bye to Carmelino and his family and Simone and Ju. It was good. It really didn`t hit me. Simone was crying and I was like I will come to the wedding on Saturday. And Susana was super sad so was Carmelino but I said I will come back before I go home. So packing was fun. Not. I hate packing. Some things I had to leave behind and I will grab them at a later date. So we were able to get a ride to Ione and get to the terminal by 6 to get the bus with the rest of the missionaries and go to Sao Paulo. So when we were on the bus everyone was like where are you going? I was like Sao Bento and this one Elder was like no your going to Parque Ouro Fino. I was like no he was like yes. It was mass confusion. We got to the office and I talked with the assisants and they were like oh no your going to Parque Ouro Fino. So that was cleared up. I love tranfers and going to the office. Because that means you get to see all your homies. And we all know that everyone loves me so it was all good. Oh becasue my companion (Sister Monteiro) another Sister M so I will call her in the emails Sis Mon anyways since she still is new I am somewhat training her. There is this new program that we all have to use for when you have a new companion in the field. It is super intense. I was like umm... I talked to President to ask if I could go to Votorantim on Saturday for the wedding and he was said with a big smile on his face no. Droga. Votorantim and Parque Ouro Fino are about the same distance as Sacramento and Roseville but what can you do. So we go back on the bus and party all the way to the interior. I love the bus with all the homies and one Elder had a guitar and we were all jammin it was rad.

 

So the house. The area is awesome. Super small but awesome. So I asked the Elders is the house clean? He was like ya... So we get there with a irma from the ward open the door and everyones jaws fell to the floor. The house was a mess. A straight up mess. I was like I am going to kill that kid when I see him next. So we went to lunch at a members who has a resturant the food was super good. And he was like hey if lunch ever falls or you don`t have money come and eat here. So where did we eat for lunch today? So anyways we were able to clean the house a wee bit. But had to get to work. The Elders before us were lazy and left nothing in the area book. So we have been visting recent converts and such. Saturday night was the Festa Juniha. Which at this point many people have explained to me what the significane of the festa is but still I am super confused. All I got was remember when John the Batist head was cut off? Well imange my confusion. Anyway the food was super good. And the decorations were awesome. And everyone in the ward loves us. There haven`t been sisters in the ward for 20 years so everyone loves us and thinks we are so cute. I am down for that. 

 

So today we are poor. We don`t get our money until the 1st. So we went to the resturant and he was like come and eat. We were like we will pay you back he was like no no don`t even worry about it. I remember the days!! And this morning I got a call from a number I didn`t know. I was like hello, who is this? It was a womans voice. And she was like it`s Andrea. She is in the area Jardim California and I had 2 divisions there. And she loves me her whole little family. They are recents converts and super amazing. Anyway she was all I want to come and see you. I will be there at 11 at the terminal which is front of your house. So she came and started running to me and as I was running to her I saw Sister Sol well her name is Mara. She left the mission 3 months ago. We had a divsion together. She is super cool. We became really close. Anyway she is from Bahia. She was here in Sao Paulo I was like what the heck. So the four of us gabbed for about an hour. It was so so so cool. Hands down best PDAY ever. I can`t wait to go to Bahia and visit her. Then we came to use the LAN house. And members own it. We came in and were like hey we are the Sisters the Elders left can we use the LAN house and they were like yes. And we were like ok. And they were like and it`s free. We know that it`s hard. They both served missions so that is really cool. It really is who you know gente. This ward is awesome. Members are handing us references like candy. And member references are where the baptims are at. So here we go baby!! Oh and I called for a washing machine that should be in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!! Parque Ouro Fino really is the Park of Fine Gold. Boa semana gente, nosso Salvador vive e ama todos nos, orar todos os dias para ele e ele vai adujar voces, porque ele e nosso Pai Celestial!!!

 

Tchau,

Sister White

Momma said there would be days like this...

Well this week has been hard. And now I`m even more mad because my pictures aren`t loading again. I am having lunch with the Americans tomorrow and I will have them get down to the bottom of this or else my name isn`t Sister White. So anyway this week. So there are a lot of bats here. It would be the equilvalent of seagulls all over the place or crows. So anyways they live in these really cool trees. And we were walking in the barrio trying to find a less active family and we saw some bats and it was totally normal. Well it was all good until one ran into my head. It was the craziest thing. I was screaming like a nut job because I thought he was attacking me, Sister Macedo had no clue what was going on it was craziness. I guess he was just flying to low. We didn`t even find the less active families house it was lame. I`m pretty sure my heart flew out of my chest. Of course it was funny later but in the moment no!! That bat was no Stellaluna it was a beast. Whatever... We got to teach two 15 year olds. Rebeca and Tayna they are really cool. I love teaching young people they are so open to the gospel and new things. But they didn`t progress on this week, but hey we planted two new seeds so that is all that counts. Wednesday for District Meeting the Ward Mission Leader of our Zone Leaders taught it was really good. It was a good pump. It was like being at the MTC and having a really good training. I needed a jolt and Irmao Batista was just the ticket. I went out and used his tools right away, and it worked. I love it. I got us lost on the bus, the ride was really pretty saw a part of town I had never seen before so that was awesome but at the same time annoying, but the bus driver was cool and hooked us up and dropped us off pretty close to where we needed to be. Elder Dawson came and fixed my bed yay, ok so it`s better to sleep off the ground. And he brought two letters. One was from a Sister in my mission. Sister Wolhford who is from Sac and I have never met her before but we know all the same people, her letter was a knee slapper I needed that so much. This week like I said has been rough. No one is following through with commitments and just straight up lying to us. If you don`t want us to come over tell us don`t make up some story and then we walk by your house to get to someone elses house and your inside. Ummmm really not needed. We are all adults here my goodness. But at the end of the day Sister Macedo makes me laugh pretty hard so that is good. This week is over and I am so happy about that. I look forward to a new week, and to finding new people who really want to follow Christ. Oh Wednesday as we were walking to an appointment I had a really bad itch attack because I ran out of my medicine, I was good for the first two days but then it was bad. At one point we were on the side of the road and I was like hold up hold up to Sister Macedo and threw all my crap on the floor and had a scratch down, oh my land it was bad. I wanted to jump out of my skin. And cars were driving by and people on bikes and they were like ummm and I was like yes I am aware that I am itching my body and I MEAN my entire body but what can I do. So who do you call? THE AMERICANS. Richelle answered and I was like hey do you have any Bendryl and she was like I will be right over. So she came and picked us up and took us to her mansion, it`s not a house but a mansion, were talking Bev Hills kind of house anyway she took me in the pantry and was like here take these and these. It was like the off brand of Zertic and Bendryl and she was like do you need anything else bread, butter, milk. I was like nope just to pop these pills. So I took them, then she took us home and I went to bed and woke the next morning feeling quite better. It is such a blessing to have her in the ward and that she is so amazing and cares so much about me. I think it should be a rule there should be one American family to every ward for the missionaries that are American. I love her. Well until next week. Tchau

That is me with a macadi

Our tour guide Carmelino slash our investigator he is so awesome

We are standing on these water pipes about 10 ft above the ground, isn`t the background awesome

We hiked down do this lake in the jungle, but this looks like a lake in California but you know

The waterfall, sure it`s not natural but it`s still cool

There we are the best companionship EVER

How birthday's are celebrated on a mission

Well my pictures aren`t working again how lame is that. I will take this problem to the Bishops not the Bishop but the American family in my ward they can help me out they are all super smart when it comes to the computer and things. I really don`t have time to mess with the camera while I`m on here. Only have a hour.

So Simone and Juarez turns out are already married and don`t have to wait forever to get married so they get to get baptized on the 12th of June and then we are going to have a little wedding ceremony on the 18th of June for them it will be rad. They are so cute they are so ready. They are golden. I love them to death. Caremlino and Susana and Karen received the Holy Ghost yesterday at church that was cool. Karoline still isn`t ready to be baptized. That is ok it will be a ward baptism. So that is all good. My Birthday was wierd. Like i worked all day made the cake and we put the candles in it and sang and ate cake and then we went back to work. It is so different in the field. Sister Cooley the mission president wife called me and wished me Happy Birthday so that was cool. She is such a doll I just love her. But really I was to stressed with the work to be like it`s my Birthday besides it`s not really a Birthday unless you are with family and friends and good food. Don`t get me wrong the fun fetti cake and fun fetti frosting was the bomb just not the same it happens. Yesterday we did spilts with the two Bruna from our ward. They kill me we hit doors for two hours. It is so fun with them. I love the people of my ward. They are awesome. This week has been hard I miss Sister Knudsen like crazy and it`s hard to learn a new person and understand them and find what they need and to be the woman in charge. Whew there has been a lot of praying. Sister Macedo is cool. She is from Bahia and beautiful. She is a bit a crazy person. She is really quiet during the day but when we get home she wants to play and be crazy and I just want to sleep so I`m trying to figure out her balance. Carol who is this amazing member in the ward she served a mission and is so legit. She gave this epic talk in Sacrament and then gave the lesson in Relief Society. She was like Sister White come up here. She tied a bandana around my eyes and spun me around until I was dizzy. Then she said do you trust me and I said yes. So then she was like ok I am going to leave your side and go somewhere else in the room, and I want you to follow my voice. So I did it I was worried I was going to hit a chair or run into a stroller but I finally got to her. She was like see your safe and happy and gave me a hug and had me sit down. Then she said that that example was like our faith in the Lord. When we are here on earth we don`t see him but we have faith that we will return to him and that while we are here he will lead us in the right direction, he will never lead us a stray it is the fact that we have to have faith in him. He only wants the best for us. Everyone was crying. Then the light bulb went on. I was like ok this is just like right now. I am freaking out being senior companion but the Lord knows I can do it and has faith in me. He will not let me fail, he has provided a way for me to complete it I just have to be the one that has faith him. How amazing is that lesson. He has from the beginning had faith in us and it is our job to have faith in him. Sometimes we get caught up in the whole me me but really it`s all about the Lord. Hasn`t it always been?

Sharday of the Jungle

Another week has flown by. And I love when the weeks fly by. I love coming home tired and dead and spirtually drained it`s the best. It means that you are working hard. This week has been a week of miracles. This man named Juarez went to church last Sunday but it was at the Zone Leaders ward. So the Elders talked to them and they were like where do you live, Votorantim yes!!!!!!! So the next day we taught the first lesson with the Elders to him and his girlfriend Simone who is amazing. And it was great. Then we went back the next day and taught some more. We taught them the Law of Chasity and they totally want to get married. Then the next time we watched The Restoration DVD with them and after the spirit was really strong and Juarez was like I know that this church is true I feel it in my heart. And then we asked Simone and she still had doubts so we said ok let`s get down on our knees and pray and you ask good to help you feel that this church is true. So we did it and then she started crying and recieved her answer there wasn`t a dry eye in sight expect for mine. I KNOW I KNOW. I tried but nothing was coming. The Spirit was super strong so I was smiling from ear to ear. It was amazing. We walked with them and there two super cute kids to church and it was amazing. And they are marking a date at the Courthouse to get married this week. This was probaly the most spirtual experience I have had on my mission thus far.

 

Today we got to go to the jungle with our investigator Carmelino and his wife Susanna and all the Elders in our zone. It was epic and so fun and chill. But it really wasn`t the jungle. I need to get to the Amazons for the good stuff. But hey I got to see a lake, two waterfalls and a rattlesnake, and amazing views it was awesome. And to think that one person created all of this for us to walk through and enjoy is mindblowing.

 

Mothers Day was awesome. Talking to mom, and for a surprise my Aunt Candi and Uncle Kenny was so cool. And to top it off we had lunch at The Bishops the American family in our ward and hung out with them until it was our time to talk to our families. It was so fun. It wasn`t even wierd or anything. Just a good giggle fest. It made me miss laughing with everyone but I had to get back to work.

 

The Lord is amazing and I still can`t believe that he trusts me and has faith in me to serve here in Brasil. It is truly amazing. This gospel is amazing and is ever blessing and ever beautiful. He sent his son to die for us so that we could return back to him one day and have our families for eternity. Is there anything more beautiful than that?

Don't miss me. I'm right here!

Pasterized milk for the elders, man I miss cartoon milk

Brazilians and there first taste of oreos, lets just say they were happy

That would be my district, notice how me and Sis K. are just standing there in the middle smiling. Oh how I love the elders and my district. The one with his butt in the air yes he would be a Zone Leader....

Me and Helen she is super cute, making dough for the pasta we were going to have, the dough is the noodles.

Me and Bruna and Jennifer they are in my ward and I have become really close with them, I love them alot, and this day we all had the same color on so of course we took a picture.