ANIVERSARIO DE ATIBAIA!!!!!! (Jun. 24)

AKA---- Atibaia´s birthday today!!

Hey everyone!!!

Well, so I don't have much time today, but here goes....

Today, is a holiday in the entire city to celebrate Atibaia's 348ish years..... hahah. Naturally, nobody works, and they have a huge parade, shows, a partying in the entire city.... 

So, we are also having a party! PDAY!!! 

We are here right now with a bunch of the YSA girls from the ward, (the girls who are all getting ready to leave on missions.... Renata, Isadora, Isabela, Bianca, and Julia.)

This morning, we got to see part of the parade!!!! All the elementary schools walk through the parade with their fanfare groups????? (don't know the worddssss... you know, like trumpets and horns and people waving banners and stuff. ) FUN. 

And they have an apparently world-famous professional fanfare group called FAMA that performed at the end of the parade.... sweet. 

Then we went and bought stuff to make food and made pasta in the pressure cooker (GENIUS) and now we are emailing real quick from their house because ALL THE INTERNET PLACES IN ATIBAIA ARE CLOSED!!!!!!! Rude. 

Anyways. Fun day. Gonna play some games and maybe watch a church movie after this!

But moving on to this week!!!

GIOVANA WAS BAPTIZED YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!

We have been teaching them all week and it has been so GOOD to work with this family... 

Giulia (aka Julia...) is so excited to start coming back to church, and Giovana was so nervous and excited for her baptism! So cute! 

Giovana wanted us to come over ALL THE TIME (like multiple times a day....) to read the Book of Mormon with them.... And she always asked us to explain words to her.... hahah. like "atonement" "abundance" and random words that I didn't even know! hahah

They are adorable though. 

The baptism was great.... A lot of things went wrong.... like all the members showing up late, the baptism starting an HOUR after the time we said, the water didn't heat up fast enough...... etc. 

BUT, it was very spiritual and special. I don't think I should say it was my favorite baptism we´ve had, but, it was very cool.

After the baptism, we sang "I like to look for rainbows" with all the young women that were there and it was sooo special. It was especially cool to see her mom´s face as we were having the service and while we were singing..... She KNOWS she needs to come back to church and repent! 

This week, we are planning to take their family to the temple. 

I love this family so much!

Yesterday, we also had our stake conference in Itatiba. SO COOL. 

The ward rented out TWO BUSES to take everyone out there. SWEET. 

Presidente and Sister Perrotti spoke, our stake president--Pres. Kawai, and Elder Massagarde from the area seventy. Very cool. 

We also got to watch the missionary work broadcast yesterday with was SO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

AH!!!! Loved it!!!

I hope that its online for people to go watch!!! If so, GO WATCH IT!!!! 

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!

Almost forgot!!

I PLAYED A VIOLIN TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

We were walking around downtown looking for an internet place and walked by a hair cut shop with just a guy sitting there playing VIOLIN!!! AH!

SO I freaked out a little and then the 5 girls we were with were all like "GO PLAY!!! GO ASK HIM TO PLAY IT!!!"

So they all went up to him and asked if I could play it..... hahah. And I did. For a glorious ten minutes.... awwwwwww.  

Did I mention that I haven't even TOUCHED a violin since April??????? Yep. a long time. 

but don't worry, I didn't forget how to hold the thing yet..... hahaha. 

Love you guys so much!!! 

need to go now!

pictures next week!!

Hey Folks. (Jun 17)

Hey everyone!!

ATIBAIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

okay. So I´m having a really hard time concentrating right now to write this email.... 

Did I mention that the lady at our lan house is playing music?? Like, REAL music???!! Very distracting. Right now she is playing Kean.....a couple weeks ago it was Maroon 5........ and now its Coldplay...... ahhhh. so distracted. 

okay. Moving on. 

This week was good!

Despedida for the twins who left on missions this last week!!! Rafael and Daniel...... Dont ask me which one is which cause I can't ever remember.......  they are the 2nd and 3rd missionaries to leave from this ward just in the time I´ve been here!!!

We are teaching a new family. 

The mom---Laura, has been a member almost her whole life, but went inactive when she moved to Atibaia about 7 years ago.... Her daughter Julia (16 yrs) was baptized here, but they never started coming to church again regularly. Her other daughter---Giovanna is 10, and has been going to church with her Grandma in the nearby city, Bragança. Giovanna LOVES church, LOVES primary, LOVES reading the Book of Mormon with her grandma or her mom, and the first time we went to visit them and invited her to be baptized, she told us that she wants to! 

So we´ve been teaching them this week...... Julia might already be a member, but she doesnt remember much about the church because they have been inactive since she was about 10..... So we are reviewing everything. 

As we´ve been teaching them, they´ve gotten so excited! Julia started talking about the church to her boyfriend and even gave him a Book of Mormon!! 

Laura is also living with someone, but not married, so we have been trying to help her prepare to get married and all that stuff...... But she also wants us to start teaching him as well... He´s pretty quiet and kind of scared of us, so it might be a little difficult... hahah. 

But things are going really well with them, and Giovanna has a baptismal date for Sunday after our stake conference!!

Our other awesome investigator is Auria. 

She is engaged and will be getting married super soon to a recent convert, and will be joining a big family of members. Week before this, they called us up to tell us that she wanted to be baptized that Sunday!! So we started teaching her and she is super excited. Her religious background is a lot different ( she was espirita-----dont know that in english------- for 10-15 years.....) and so it makes it interesting to teach her. 

She is progressing well, but works a TON........ which makes it very hard to teach.... She also hurt her arm at work on Saturday, went to the hospital and didnt come to church Sunday.... bummer. 

But we should be able to meet with her this week and get things all worked out for her baptism. =]

alright. 

Saturday, started off a soccer tournament..... The confederation cup????? Not sure..... Point being.... When Brasil plays, NOBODY is on the street..... and nobody wants to answer their door either! hahaha. 

Brasil played Japan on Saturday and that was our first taste of how its gonna be for every single Brasil game over the next couple weeks..... yayyyyyy. 

So glad I wont be a missionary here during the world cup!!!! hahaha. 

But Sister Menden will!!!!!!!!!!!! ahahaha. 

Gonna find my Brasil shirt this week to be able to join in on the cheering..... 

WELL. 

I love you all!!!!!!!!

Hope you all are doing well and have the best week!!!!!!!

Making brownies for our mini English class. hahaha.

BIGGEST pan of brownies EVER.............

PS----------- Coldplay is STILL playing......... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

All This Crazyness is Just Freakin Me Out (Jun 10)

FIRSTLY............ 

YOU ALREADY HAVE MY FLIGHT ITINERARY???!?!?!??!?!?!

 

ah.

this is weird.

pshhhhhhh. Deep breaths...... be calm. Okay.

Moving on now.

 

So,

I dont have too much time to write today.... We had a goodbye party with all the sisters and Sister Perrotti today and now Sister Menden and I are using the very EXPENSIVE lan house here in the rodaviara in Campinas while we are waiting for our bus to go back to Atibaia.... In other words, we´re here for a little bit and then will be heading out and not actually getting back to our area till 8pm... funnnnnn. 

ALL the sisters and Sister Perrotti. GUYS, you have no idea who longgggg it took to take pictures with EVERYONE´s cameras..... uggggghhh. The things we go through for memories... hahah

But, very much worth it. Our get-together today was a last chance to see everyone before the mission will split at the end of this month.... As of right now, 8 sisters are on the side of the Piracicaba mission, with 14 sisters on the Campinas side.... If any other changes happen, it will just be small, emergency transfers to set things straight up until June 22nd or so...

As for my past companions, Sister Bispo will be in the new Piracicaba mission.... So today was a last goodbye!!

Me and my two "daughters"!!! Sister Bispo and Sister Menden!

Today was also weird because it was a moment of realization..... everyone saying goodbye, and realizing that, yep, maybe I won't see these people ever again. Cool.

Also, realizing that after the sister who will go home next month, ITS MY TURN. ACK!

So everyone was already wishing me a great life at home and all that jazz....... which kind of weirded me out. A lot.

 

Well.

Otherwise, this week was great.

We started teaching an AWESOME new investigator who will be getting baptized soon but I don't think I have time to talk all about her today..... She is engaged to a member and their family called us up saying "oh, so she wants to get baptized..... SUNDAY"....................... WHAT???!

Well, Sunday didnt work out, but here in the next couple weeks she will be getting baptized!! We´ve had some cool experiences teaching her already, but more about that to come.

 

Also, been reading the Book of Mormon a TON to make sure and finish it in Portuguese before I go home.... hahah. But it is crazy the experiences I´ve had this week because of my extra reading time...... Somehow, what I read in the morning ALWAYS applies to someone and what they need during that day..... Really cool. GO READ THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!

 

LUANA GOT CONFIRMED!!!!

So, possibly, the bishop was in such a crazy rush that he forgot and didn't realize Luana was there..... but it all worked out in the end and Luana was able to get confirmed after the intermediate hymn... hahah.

Did I mention she got a SKIRT to start wearing to church???! She also brought her Bible and Book of Mormon to church in a little purse to be able to participate in all the classes better..... CUTEST THING EVER.

 

One of the girls in the ward that is preparing for a mission got her call this week!!! Isadora will be going to the Vitoria, Brasil mission on August 1st!!! It was very cool to be a part of the excitement when her call got here.... We actually got to see her open it, and I remembered when I was opening up my big envelope. hahah. SO NERVOUS!!

I´m so excited for all these young people heading out on missions!!!

 

Well,

gotta go.

 

Love you all!!!

Sister Ward

Andddd We're Gonna Stay in ATIBAIA!!! (Jun. 3)

So, first things first...... we got our transfer news last night...... and me and Sister Menden are STAYING IN ATIBAIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!

our happy "we get to stay in ATIBAIA" picture!!!!

okay. so that´s about all I have to say about this week...... 

just kidding. 

okay. so this week...........

me and Sister Menden (maybe mostly Sister Menden.... haha) were getting pretty nervous about transfers........ 

waiting for the elders to call last night about transfers!!! THEY TOOK SO LONGGGGGGG!!!! They didn't call till 10:10 pm!!!! ACK! Practically killed us waiting!! ALSO, this was the last official transfer before the mission will split practically in half to form the new mission PIRACICABA.... But, since we are staying here, me and Sister Menden should be staying in the Campinas mission!

I also got extremely exhausted, it got SUPER cold and rainy here, and I got sick.... hahahaha. yayaaaaa. 

It is officially cold/flu season and everyone´s catching it.... 

Dont worry, we are missionaries. so we´re NOT allowed to die because of cold/flu season! =]

hehe. But really, we are doing great and super healthy now, so DONT WORRY.

other important things....

WORST news is that Luana didnt get confirmed yet!!!! AGH!

she has problems with..... gastrich.... uhhh.... dont know what that is in English.... AH. ummmm. yep. But it is a problem in your stomach... 

GREAT help, I know.... 

Point being, is that Saturday night she started to have a lot of stomach pain, didn't sleep all night, and wasn't able to go to church Sunday morning..... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Hopefully, it is just that..... and everything will be fine this week for her to get confirmed Sunday! 

Sunday at church was the BEST testimony meeting I have ever been to....

Have any of you seen a ward where the people start lining up in the front to bear testimony the MOMENT the sacrament is done being passed and BEFORE the bishop turns the time over for testimonies???!

Yep, that´s how this ward is..... INSANE!!

But it was way cool. 

Next cool thing........ from the bishop´s testimony to start it off, until the last testimony, the theme of the meeting was MISSIONARY WORK. 

This ward has several missionaries in the field currently, and a bunch more that are leaving soon and/or preparing to leave in the next year..... Before the end of the year, there will be EIGHT missionaries serving from this ward!! HOW CRAZY IS THAT??!

Several people also shared experiences about teaching/working with us in the last couple weeks, or about when we came and shared a message with their family! 

Trying to visit a recent convert family that lives on the other side of this scary bridge and fence.... hahaha. Sister Menden found it rather funny, me standing on this bridge, in the rain, trying to get a hold of this family on the phone.....

 One Irmão from the ward started talking about the conversation that we had when we ate lunch with their family this past week.... During lunch, I started asking him about how they found out about the church and how they accepted the missionaries and what they were teaching.... 

 Their experience was actually a very cool one.... This family is from another state here in Brasil, the state of Bahia. After they moved here to Atibaia, missionaries knocked at their house. This was about 3 or 4 years ago. He told us that the first time the elders came by, only his wife was home. They came back several times after that, but they never wanted to let them in and made up excuses.... But the elders didnt give up and kept coming back. Finally, this Irmão decided to let them in so they could "say what they had to say and then leave them alone"..... Well. That´s not exactly how it happened afterwards..... They said what they had to say, and this Irmão decided to go to church that Sunday..... His wife was very pregnant at the time, but after she had the baby, she came to church as well.... They got baptized and have an adorable family of 4 kids and are currently preparing to go through the temple and be sealed as a family. 

So cool. 

I always like to ask the members about their conversion experiences, so I didn't think anything of asking about it that day...... but when he got up to bear his testimony about it, it was crazy to see the difference that it made for him to be reminded of that special time in his life. The change that the gospel brought to their life. 

It was very cool. 

Anyways. It was a very special testimony meeting and I am SO EXCITED for all these young missionaries heading out from this ward!! there are three more elders leaving this month, and a group of 4 sisters preparing to leave within the next year!!! So cool! 

This ward is really gonna change lives!! 

After church on Sunday with the 4 preparing "sisters" in our ward!!!

Well. 

that is about all I have to say for today....

alright.

My companion Sister Menden in the rain!!!! GUYS, she is from Arizona..... and never gets rain. So here, she gets INSANELY excited everytime she even THINKS that it might rain!!! haha. She does a happy rain dance when it actually starts raining...... hahahahaha.

well.

I hope you all have a great week!!!

love you all SO MUCH!!!

Sister Ward

 

Luana's Baptism! (May 27)

Hey family!!!

 

 BIG NEWS!!!!! 

Luana got baptized this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOO!

 

Okay, so a little on the history of Luana since I can't remember what I have said in my emails...

Luana is fourteen and has a friend named Axel who is a member but lives in another branch in a nearby city. She was interested in the church so he took her to church a few weeks ago. She liked it a LOT. 

Luana and Axel!!!

That week, we started teaching her and her family. Her mom lives with her stepdad, but they´re not married and not very interested in learning about the church (especially since her mom doesn't read or doesn't read well.... bummer). But, at that first lesson, Luana LOVED it and agreed to prepare to be baptized. We also have been teaching her sister Jaqueline, but she is not as sure.....

The night after we left the Book of Mormon with Luana, she FORGOT to read or pray about it..... But I guess Heavenly Father was willing to help her out anyways. She had a dream where she was dressed in white, inside of a church with the Book of Mormon in her hands....... She told us afterwards how she "felt the presence of God" and knew that the book was true. Then she heard a voice telling her to "never give up". WOW.

What better answer can you ask for??!?!?!?

After that, we´ve been teaching her a lot. Going by almost everyday to follow up with her and teach her. Every chapter that we´ve given her to read she read and understood super well!! And she kept thinking about baptism, and understood completely how she needed to be baptized.

Her biggest difficulty is that she is shy and didn't have people to go with to church..... One Sunday we went and walked with her to church..... all her friends that she invited had bailed, but she was there waiting for us at her door when we went by that morning!!!

This last week, we were able to take a couple girls from the ward to go with us to teach her..... Made ALL the difference in the WORLD.

Since that was her big worry, it was also one of the only things that was making her have doubts about her baptism..... This week, we are planning to take her to mutual so that she can keep making more and more friends at church!!!

Teaching her about the commandments this week was very cool. We taught basically all the commandments in just one sitting...... She is already living pretty much ALL of the commandments..... was happy to hear about commandments like the word of wisdom and law of chastity because she has seen a lot of the problems that happen when people DON'T live those commandments. Yeah, she is AWESOME guys....

As we were teaching her that night she told us that she has been thinking a lot about how she wants to be a missionary one day..... SAY WHAT??! She wants to go on a mission!!!!

Regardless of wanting to go on a mission, she still wasn't sure about her baptism yet.... So we just kept telling her to pray about it.... (she kept "forgetting" and putting it off....)

Finally, when we went by on Friday night, she had PRAYED asking SPECIFICALLY about baptism the night before..... She told us that she felt "something good" and it made her want to get baptized more. So we invited her again for Sunday and she said okay!!!! AH!!!

It was such an exciting moment. It was funny as well, because as we started telling her congratulations she interrupted us and was like "GUYS, I just dont know what I am going to do with my hair!!! It will be a MESS when it gets wet!!"

hahahah. Since she always straightens her hair, her BIGGEST worry was how to make sure she looked okay afterwards..... hahaha.

We had another member with us--- Renata, who helped her feel okay and not worry about all the people that would be there and such, and figured out a plan for her hair..... hahaha.

Saturday, she was interviewed for baptism and everything was set.

Sunday, we went by to pick her and her family up in the morning......... sadly, all of her family and friends that she had invited BAILED that morning..... so she went with us ALONE to church, for her BAPTISM..... and only her friend AXEL was there... Frustrating. Apparently a lot of her friends have been giving her a hard time for going to church and wanting to be baptized, but she didnt let it faze her and is staying strong!

 

I made brownies for Luana´s baptism!!! (GUYS, first time I tried to make brownies NOT out of a box!!! Turned out pretty well I think!!) Sister Menden decided that using a ladle to eat brownies was the most effective method.... not sure why.....

The baptism went well, was very special, and she was so shy and nervous about the whole thing!!! We had to practically drag her to take a picture beforehand..... and then practically drag her out of the bathroom after she changed to go into the room with the font for the baptismal service.

hahaha. Her friend Axel was SO excited.... So excited guys..... ahhhh.

Us and Luana at her baptism!!!

 

some other cool stuff happened this week, but that was the best of it..... =]

 

my companion -sister menden, was a rockstar this week, doing contacts, talking to people, teaching parts of our lessons and even gave an AWESOME message ALL BY HERSELF at our family night Saturday night!!! She´s a rockstar guys!!

And her accent is so good that it makes me want to just call it quits and go home!!! hahaha. nooooo just kidding... but she speaks VERY VERY well.

 

oh and some funny portuguese stories....

when I was trying to explain to Luana that she would wear a white jumpsuit for the baptism, I got confused with the word for jumpsuit "macacão" and the word for pasta "macarrão"...... well. I guess you guys can figure out the rest...... I tried to tell her that she would be wearing "white pasta" for her baptism...... OOPSSSSS. Everyone laughed at me.... and then Renata took over and explained what it would be like for reals.... hahaha

 

And another one..... Renata´s family was slow cooking overnight a GIANT hunk of pig leg for their special Sunday lunch with a bunch of visits and guests over.... This peice of meat is called "pernil" or something like that.... When they were talking about it, I kept hearing "pneu" which is a car tire...... So I asked them what they were talking about "cooking a tire..." hahahaha. They thoroughly enjoyed that one..... "yeah, we´re cooking a TIRE for lunch........ Dont worry about the BURNT RUBBER SMELL....... Would you like to try some TIRE??? I´ve heard its pretty tasty!!"

hahahaha. Welp. I guess SOMEDAY I´ll get this portuguese thing down...... 

 

This is my face when the jar of peanut butter that Sister Pedersen left ran out...... =[

 Alright.

Have a great week guys!!! 

Love you all bunches!

 

Sister Ward

 

Just Lovin Atibaia (May 20)

HEY FOLKS!!

 

Good morning Atibaia!!!

 Okay,

the millions of emails waiting for me today was the BEST. Man. you guys are the best!!

As for anouncements.................. This week, Elder Conner from the office called me up to ask me a scary question..... namely "so Sister Ward, which airport will you be going home to??" Because they are booking my FLIGHT HOME right now!!!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Okay. So, done with being dramatic.... but yep. I will be leaving here on August 26th and probably getting home late on the 27th..... for all of you folks who are dying to plan the partyings.... hahah.

 

Lots of stuff happened this week so lets just sum it up real fast.... got completely worn out hiking pedra grande last week, then we had to spend the whole next day in Campinas sorting out Sister Menden´s visa, then my cold I´ve been getting for weeks completely took me over and I got sick and we had to go back home for most of the afternoon on wednesday, andddd lots of stuff fell through, but its all good. 

 Me and Sister Menden before hiking pedra grande!

 

an example of some of what we had to hike up..... yep. it was entertaining....

on the actual "pedra grande"

 

View of ATIBAIA from the top!!!! This is almost all our area guys!!!!!

Our group at the top!!!

 We´ve been working a lot with Luana and her sister..... It is going well, but Luana is still a little unsure about baptism.... So we are trying to help her with her doubts and worries. We were very excited for her AND her sister (finally!) to come to church with us, but they went to a free show downtown saturday night, didnt get home till way late, and then didnt come to church the next day..... bummer.

Actually, none of our investigators came to church this week due to various problems/excuses.......... nooooooooooo.

Yep. Pretty frustrated with the brazilian custom of tellling people you will do something, and then never doing it.... Cool.

 

But, otherwise things are going well.........

Since Sister Menden is still in training, we are studying lots and watching lots of preach my gospel movie clips that are gonna help us be AWESOME missionaries. Yeah, thats right folks.

What do missionaries do for fun after getting home and changing into pajamas at ten pm????? Make some popcorn and watch "the district" for the last half hour until bed......... I know you all are jealous.

 

Today, we had an awesome pday.

We spent the entire day with the wonderful Nascimento family.... Aka--Renata´s family, the family with 11 kids that always take care of us.... They are the best.

Well, we got invited over to play volleyball with them on the teeeeensy little "volleyball court" that they set up in the back yard/area. It was great fun. We wore ourselves out playing volleyball with everybody until Renata made the smooth move of hitting the ball over the back wall and into the scary old lady´s yard..... (uh oh....come on Renata!!! jk jk.) Turns out, the lady doesnt like kids and noise very much, so she doesnt get along to well with her backyard neighbors.... haha. But, one of the girls peeked over the wall, decided that the coast was clear, jumped the wall and grabbed the ball and climbed back over again! haha. Not sure how she did that, since these walls between everyone´s houses are generally HUGE, but, we were able to get the ball back and play some more. Later on, one of the other girls hit the ball back over the wall, never to be found again..... woops. But, there is a plan in action now to put up a giant net wall and buy a new volleyball, so next pday party will be a blast. =] hahaha.

Yep, but I love hanging out with this family. They are wonderful. And it reminds me of all the craziness at home when we have get-to-gethers with all the cousins. Did I mention that they make a point of always coming to our sacrament meeting in the tanque (the neighborhood far away that has a seperate small meeting) just so they can drive us home afterwards so we dont have to try to catch the bus in the dark on the scary freeway??? Yep. they are angels. 

 

Alright, well I love you ALL!!!!!! 

have the best week!!!

 

Love. 

Sister Ward

How to Paint a Giant Wall Brasilian Style (May 13)

Hey Guys!

Welp. 

Me and Sister Menden finally just arrived in the lan house....... Today, we decided to do something AWESOME with some of the missionaries from our zone and we went on this INSANE hike up a big mountain-thing with a giant rock at the top. Ironically, this place is called "pedra grande" AKA "big rock". haha. 

The hike itself is pretty intense, but we made it a little more intense leaving from our chapel, heading to the trailhead on foot, hiking/crawling/slipping-and-sliding all the way to the top and then heading back down and returning to our neighborhood. AH. 

We left our house at 5:45 this morning, got to the top of pedra grande at about 10, and then headed back down, went and ate açai (mmmmmmm!) and JUST NOW (aka 4:15pm) got back to where we live.... yikes.

But, dead tired and all, it was great fun and a SUPER cool place to go. 

Anddddd..... what else...

We had a family night with an ADORABLE little family---Brian and Cintia. Cintia just got baptized, and Brian has been a member for a few years.... They have two little boys and we have been talking a lot with them about the temple and making a goal to go and be sealed in the temple. 

It was awesome. They are all excited to plan to be sealed a year from now, and we made a bunch of goals with them to help them get there..... ex. doing family night every week, praying as a family everyday, reading scriptures as a family, and working out a way to start coming to church every week (because they work 3 out of 4 Sundays every month.... =[) 

But, it is cool to see their excitement and desire to prepare their lives and apply these habits in their lives everyday. 

We had a little bit of a bummer with our couple that we are teaching..... Cleonice and Juracì..... He had a relapse and started drinking again this week.... and fighting with his family and everything.... They also didn't come to church because they went to visit family for mother´s day (who does that??? come on... hahaha) But anyways, we´re still hoping for the best with them....... 

We started teaching a 14 year old girl named Luana this week. She came to church Sunday before last with a friend and liked it a lot. We taught her and her family the first lesson and she accepted the invitation to be baptized on may 19th! 

She is very cool, and very curious and interested.... but also very shy... the only thing that would keep her from wanting to be baptized is if she is able to make friends with the other young women in the ward easily or not..... hmm. but we´re gonna help her out with that one this week! 

ALSO, after we left the Book of Mormon with her, the next time we went back, she unfortunately, hadn't read.......... Agh. SO, we decided to read with her.... We were reading in 2 Nephi 31, and as we started talking about the Holy Ghost (in the first few verses...) we somehow started talking about prayers and answers.... I asked her if she prayed to ask if the Book of Mormon was true. She said no.... BUT, then she said "but I had a dream about it...." WHAT??! 

Yep, so she started telling us about this dream she had.... in her dream, she was inside of a church, dressed in white and holding a white book (which she thought was the Book of Mormon) in her hands. She said there were two other people dressed in white on either side of her.... She didn't say too much more, but she said that she felt "the presence of God" and felt that the Book of Mormon is true. She also said she heard a voice at the end of the dream telling her to NEVER GIVE UP. 

WOW.

Who can ask for a better answer than that???!

So we talked about her answer and how it related to what we were reading as well---about baptism. 

Since she is really shy, she still is little hesitant about baptism and was VERY nervous to go to church yesterday (since her friend is from a different ward and couldn't come to go with her this time...). 

But, we went and picked her up to walk to church with us, and it worked out great. We also are going to bring some young women from the ward to make friends with her this week, and HOPEFULLY, everything will go well for her baptism on the 19th!! =]

Now that that is said............ there is really nothing worth saying left to say. =] =] =]

Yepppp. 

One more story...

So, this week we FINALLY were able to find a service project to actually help someone out. (usually, nobody wants to let us do ANYTHING to help them!!)  But yeah, Renata´s family (the awesome family with 11 kids that live close by and always help us out and threw me a birthday party.....) are repainting their house. So, when we stopped by one day, Irmã Leticia was covered in paint and told us how she had been painting all afternoon. Since I really like painting walls and stuff, (AND have been trying to find someone who would let us paint for them for SO LONG!!) I got very excited and we planned to come back the next morning and paint for them. 

Little did I know the fun we were getting into.... hahah. 

When we came back the next morning Irmã Leticia was like "well, since you are tall and are so excited to paint, let´s have you paint the BIG wall..."

SIDENOTE--- this wall is about 5 meters high (approx. 16 feet).......... Yep. Like, an entire two story wall..... AH!

OTHER SIDENOTE--- the ground is VERY sloped where this wall is at, and so they didn't have any way for us to use a ladder....

With that said, try to imagine how we worked this out......

Irmã Leticia (in the super brazilian "lets figure out some way to do this even if its crazy" manner) went and grabbed two BIG bamboo poles and a broom stick. Then we rigged a way to tie them all together, and put the paint roller on top of the broomstick. 

PERFECT. Now I had a GIANT paint roller that could reach ALLLLLL the way to the roof!! 

Every time I had to put paint on the roller, we had to go through an interesting process of me swinging the entire giant bamboo contraption towards the ground, having Irmã Leticia or Sister Menden catch the top end of the contraption and then having them dip the paint roller in the paint basin and get it all full of paint. Once it was ready, Sister Menden would help me push the contraption off to get it up in the air again, and I would try to get it up as quickly as possible to avoid spraying paint on everyone and everything..... hahahaha. 

It was great fun guys. Very entertaining. 

Only took us two mornings to get the job finished..... haha. And my triceps are still a little sore..... ahhh. 

 

Us painting the giant wall!!! Check out my paint roller contraption!!! hahaha. Painting brasilian style!

love you all!!

have the best week!!

love you guys.

 

Sister ward