Tuesday, July 22, 2014

7 Years Bad Luck! - June 30, 2014

Oi gente!
Just really quick? Did I see in pictures that Braden is blonde?!?!?!?! Whaaaaa? We got ourselves a new Jeff in the works?! Haha, thats awesome. 
So this week..... was a roller coaster. To start off, we have a new president!!!!!!!!!
Welcome welcome President and Sister Lundgren!!!

Okay, so Monday we couldn't leave our house. The game started at 4 o clock and then after that, we have to go straight to our house. So we had pday, and then watched Brasil and then....made skirts. I love the World Cup. Its like a holiday for missionaries. 

Okay, now lets just get down to the dirt of what happened. Wednesday morning, we woke up and my companion is sick. Her stomach is killing, she can't get up. Actually we all were a little bit sick, but she was the worst of us all because she went to bed sick. At 7:45 am we received the worst phone call. Our district leader called us and said that the assistants have released word that on Saturday we won't be able to watch the game at 1 o clock. Okay, well that just sent off the emotions for the sisters I live with. Hahaha....So then we were all sitting out in the living room and talking, some of us crying (Sister Blair), and all of a sudden our one and only tiny little mirror fell of the sink in the bathroom and SHATTERED. Nobody was even close to it.  Ya, so we are pretty convinced that it we live with Ghosts, who were also mad about recent news. Haha. 

As if that wasn't enough, our plumbing system SUCKS in this house. Okay, maybe this might be a gross, but its a rule in the apartment (for the plumbing sakes) that you can't make huge poops, and if you are going to, you gotta break it up. (Brazilians are very front about talking about this stuff, so sorry.) Anyways, well some missionary in the past transfer before didn't follow these rules, and it finally bit us in the but this week. Yes that is right, we had no toilet usage for more than a day. And OF COURSE, every single one of us got sick, and needed the bathroom that day. So we were always running to the church (thank heavens its just across the street and we have keys) probably about every hour. And what is worst is that we had a Sister Trainer with us in this day. It began to be funny after a while when Sister Blair walked in my room and said "Okay, I am marking a bathroom run in about... (looks at watch) 23 minutes. If you would like to accompany me, you may." And so it got to the point where we planned our bathroom runs. 
Okay, no...our week doesn't end there. First I need to explain our apartment. So we live above a house that has like 2 apartments above. And we live in the back one, and we recently received neighbors in the one next to us. But the thing is, is that our apartment isn't very secure, our door looks like a huge window. And the window in our living room, goes into one of their rooms. Its basically the same house with 2 entrances. So as I said, we had neighbors move in. They have 2 kids, who are weird and are always knocking on our door, asking, "Our mom wants to know what time it is" And this happens about once every hour. Anyways, so we were leaving for the store one day, i think Thursday, and the mom calls us and asks us if we had seen her husband in 3 days! And we were like...uhhh no. And she begins to talk about how he is a drug addict and the last she saw him he jumped out the window (second floor) and nobody had heard or seen from him since. So I mean its fine. 

We are moving this week. But we did invite her to come to church and she really wanted to, but Sunday morning she received a call saying that her husband turned himself in to a Rehab center, and has 2 broken legs (that's what happens when you jump out the window ladies and gents!) So she went to deal with that mess. But the kids are cute, and always are running up to us and hugging us now and its adorable. 

This Saturday we are planning a mini MTC for our ward. So we have been super busy with getting that all ready and prepared for Saturday. Which meant a lot of meetings with our Bishop, and a lot of visiting the teens. But through this we have had a lot of opportunities to make visits with them and find some new investigators (finally!!) 

Friday night was a stake party called Festa Juninha. Its a Brazilian holiday that lasts from June until August. And its basically a hillbilly party. Haha, but its funny and cute. And it was stake wide, which means....a ton of other missionaries. So Friday we helped everyone set up in the church and then after spent some time there. There was a TON of people, and some people from Guara 1 came and visited me. It was blast! I felt like I was on cloud 9. 

Saturday....well the game was at 1 o clock, and we aren't aloud to leave after or and study session was before. So we pretty much put our mattresses in the living room and watched Ephraim's Rescue, 17 Miracles.... All day.  But it was horrible during the game because all of Brasil would SCREAM at the top of their lungs. So we were just sitting there like...what do you think happened... do you think brasil is winning? It was a really depressing day. Haha. But good news----Brasil won!!!!!!! It was an ugly win (we heard) but...a win. And during that time, we were all laying there watching a movie, and it hit me. Our presidents were lunching, and meeting in that exact moment. And we weren't ever going to talk to President and Sister Gaertner as mission president again. So that was even more depressing. But last night, we had to talk to the new president about our house, and he was so cute! And his Portuguese will be a work in progress. But he is funny, and just like Pres and Sister Gaertner. So I am WAY excited! 


This week we were walking, when a member of Nova Gama stopped us and gave us a reference. He just finished talking to a woman with 2 kids, whose husband is a drunk. And he said we really needed to visit her. Her name is Katia. Then the next day, we had planned to visit her at night, and we recieved a call from the Elders that live across the street giving us the same reference. And they said that she really wants to receive the lessons. And when we went there, it was loud and obnoxious, because her husband was there. And it was so hard to talk. But when we asked to say a prayer, everyone sat down. And during that prayer I asked for the spirit to be with us, and that we could feel of our Saviors love. And when I finished the prayer, it was dead silent for about 5 minutes. It was INCREDIBLE. Katia isn't going to be an easy one to teach, but her desire will be what moves it along. That night, I really truly felt the power of prayer. I know that God answers our prayers. I know that he loves each of us, and WANTS us to feel of his spirit. I am so grateful for this knowledge!!!

Sunday it was just Sister Blair and I on a division. Because sister Blair woke up sick still. And 2 of us 4 needed to go to another area an hour and a half away with our Stake President. 
I gave a talk Sunday. I talked about how God will always provide a way in our church callings, even if we think we are incapable. And I used the example of Moses when he was called to take the people out of Egypt. And talked about his Obedience, his faith and testimony, and perseverance. I mean I was nervous to be talking in Portuguese in front of a ton of people.

Okay, today we are visiting Guara 2 because my companion wants to say bye. And its Elder Fonseca's birthday so we are going to lunch. Which by the way, I am in Guara 1!!! Home sweet home. I missed this place. But, it will be a short visit, just for emails. 

So that's my weird sketchy week.  But somewhat good. This week its preparing to move apartments which will not be in our area, but in the Elders area....tomorrow we have our first meeting with the new President. Friday is 4th of July. And I already asked the members to make watermelon and hamburgers. And they said they would. I made a 4th of July skirt. I am such an American. Haha. And that day, is also a Brasil game. Lets see if the new President allows us to watch it!

How was that for a monstrous email? You guys are so welcome. hahahahahaha.
Everything seems good back at home...praying for you ALL. I love you!

--
Sister Craig!

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