Family!
Alright-- I guess I will start the letters this week!
Conference was INCREDIBLE. Seriously by far the best conference I have ever experienced. Yes the conferences talks were amazing ( I will go into that later) but our investigators!!!! The church is true!!!
1) Francisco and Pricila- These are the investigators that cannot grip the Book of Mormon. Children of a pastor. They love to ask other people, and the internet their questions instead of asking our Father in Heaven. They are challenging, but they are amazing people! And I love working with them. And they finally came to church!!! They came to the Sunday Afternoon (Sunday night for us...) session. Two members in our ward, Amauri and Gabi drove them to the chapel and they came! These members were a gift sent from heaven. Everything this couple needed. Afterwards, Francisco and Pricila said that they loved it! And it looked to me that they really like Amauri and Gabi! Wahoo! Member friends...this ward is incredible. During Elder Cowbridge (spelling???) talk I was crying. Because I knew they were there. And this was the talk that they needed to hear. And they did, they heard every word. Foi Incrivel! Yup.
2) Domingas--She is the mom of two Recent Converts. Milena and Bea are 10 and 13 years old. And have the biggest testimony of this gospel. We have been trying to work with their parents, but its difficult cause they are always working. But Domingas came to church. And she loved it too. And loved the time with her two daughters. Incredible.
3) Paulo ´Miracles´ Agusto- He is a 17 year old boy that works in the grocery store really close to our apartment. And we always go there..cause they have Pao de Quejo with Carne. And its incredible. And when we go, and he is working-- he is ALWAYS just eyeing us. But we never thought twice about it. Mainly because my companion said that she contacted him with her last companions and he was totally not into it, and didn't want it. But as we were checking out, he contacted us! Asking us where our church was and if he could come. Uh......OF COURSE! And he actually came. We had a member pick him up too. Andre (Reminds me of Rob Mansell...seriously.)and his wife Barbara. And so he came and he sat with Andre and a bunch of men during the Sunday night session too! We rode home with them after the session when all of a sudden Paulo just starts to talk. Starts telling us how he is looking for the truth. This alone made us happy. He begins questioning about missions. Well tell him about the ages, and how its optional for woman and its expected of men. When he says, (and I quote and translate...) Im not ready to serve right now, but If Im ready when I turn 18, I will go. Every member in the car after that statement was silent. We didn't expect that to happen..haha. We quickly picked up our jaws and answered more of his other questions. I am pretty sure we taught a mini version of every pre-baptism missionary lesson in the 20 minute car ride...just because he had so many questions. But as my companion was explaining...all of a sudden I heard her inviting him to be baptized on April 20th. Again--silence in the car. This time he was silent too. When he says--if I know this is the true church, then yes, I will be baptized in it.
UH DOUBLE WHAT? Seriously by this moment in time Im just sitting there in shock, praying to Heavenly Father in gratitude. I don't even know how to sum this story up...where to go... It was just incredible all in all. A real testament to me that I have people here who are waiting for us to teach them. And just because a person has been contacted, doesn't mean that their time is NOW. Just like Paulo--he wasn't ready when contacted...but we can try try again. As Elder Ballard talked about-- Consistent, Persistant, Follow up. Rise up and walk--Replace your fear with your real faith.
Anyways-- now just to even talk about conference.... Yes, I watched it in English. It was really fun. Haha, all the American missionaries (fluent in portuguese or not) listen in the english session...cause its better! So it was really fun to kind of just relax in our own special room and just talk in english. Actually--it felt really nice to talk in english! haha. I cant even pick a favorite talk! They all were incredible! I loved Elder Bednar's talk about the Atonement. I loved all the talks about loving one another, and treating others with respect. I double loved Elder Cooks talk about temple work when he told the story about the lady who heard, And the prisoner shall go free. I got chills.
I cant believe they just started out with the bam of Elder Holland! Haha, Man, I don't know...I seriously loved them all. I think its different when you are a missionary...because every talk is something an investigator needs, and others are exactly what you need. Difficult!
Life has been different here with other Sisters in our area! One--I am learning portuguese a LOT faster. Haha.. and two...we are double contacting each others contacts! Our area is not that huge to begin with...but now we have double the missionaries to work in it. But I love the other Sisters! They are so awesome!
We had another splits. This time Sister Tanaka went to Aza Norte with Sister Jackson, and I stayed with Sister Groneman. But...sadly...Sister Groneman got Dangy. So we had to stay inside and she slept all day. Haha.
This week was my companions birthday! I made her an american fun fetti cake with fun fetti icing. Haven't had that much sugar in a while. Haha. And our Ward Mission Leader invited us over for a ´family night´ but really he bought Brazilian pizza and the bishop and fam came over and we had a mini party. By the way..you should all know that Brazilian pizza includes eggs, green olives, peppers, tomatoes...I am missing a solid Dominos pepperoni pizza.
Other than that--just a normal week here in Guara 1!
Hope everything is swell on the other side of the equator! Love you all! Cant wait to hear whats going on over there and how everybody's conference was!
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Sister Craig!
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