*Irmã Craig*

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

March Madness - March 9, 2015

Oh family, can't believe I am already writing another letter. Man alive! Where is this time going?!

I don't know if I have told you about Raylan's mom. But she really started progressing this week, taking everything super serious and is LOVING the church! This week she went and she just started participating out of no where, making comments. She taught one of our other investigators. And we just got super happy. We will be marking a baptismal date with Eliane, this week :)

This transfer, we decided to focus on the investigators who have the problem that they aren't married. SO first we have Aldaci and Ilton, their son just got baptized recently. Aldaci's family has been a member for a while. And this week, we gave a super sweet lesson with Alma 7:14-17 mixed with Commandments with Law of Chastity, and marked a wedding date and a baptismal date! It will all be done Conference weekened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love love love this family. Aldaci and Ilton have 22 years living together, and Ilton is just a little stubborn, but he really opened up to us, and we nailed it. Oh wait, the Lord used us, and they are planning their wedding :) Their son, is 19 years old, he is our Ward Mission Leader with less than a year as a member, and he is so excited! Fun fact, in this super awesome lesson, Bishop actually went with us, and when we invited them to be married, Bishop testified, and offered to give them a church wedding too!!!!! It was awesome.

We also have Giann who is a returned missionary. She is married, and has 2 kids, and they are all SUPER firm in the church. And her husband is Catholic, but..... believes in the church, just wants to "feel it", and last night we went there, because he was on his farm get milk and meat, and we gave Giann and her son a lesson on Preach My Gospel, we are starting to read it with him every week, and this week we read chapter 4 which is recognize the spirit....and who showed up in the middle of the lesson? Her husband!!!!!!!! And we talked about how the spirit talks to us in different ways. And in the end, invited them to decide in the moment, how the spirit talks to them, and then that same night, say a prayer asking if the church is true, and look for the feeling they said the spirit uses. AND he said he would!!!!!!! And then he gave me straight from the cow, milk! Which is awesome, because I completely stopped drinking milk here, because what we buy here is like water....and disgusting. But this milk is SOOOOOO Delicious, and he gave me some :) Its like normal milk in the US! And they say here on the mission that the "prepared investigators" always give food :)

Okay, I just am super happy with that! We are all just super happy. The ward is getting super excited. And I am just grateful that my personal goal of helping people not only get baptized, but GO TO THE TEMPLE, is coming true. I loveeee seeing people make goals and enter on the path that leads to the temple. It makes me so happy!

Love you all! Miss you!!

Sister Craig

March? Already? - March 2, 2015

Can't even believe its already March. I did not allow this to happen!!!! Time is sure just flying by. This week will mark my 1 year and 2 months.

This week was awesome! Here in Palmas, we are literally dying of heat!!!!!! We cannot just catch a break. Its been forever since I have felt chills from coldness. haha. This week we also moved, FOR THE LAST TIME. We finally were able to get the house we wanted, and contract was closed......took forever, but we got there. And we are exhausted.

This week, we worked a lot with Isabel and Rafael. Isabel is that little old lady...and Rafael is her grandson. They are really progressing, that maybe they will want to be baptized this week. They are loving the messages, and have a real desire to be baptized.

Raylan, he bore his testimony this week!!!! He was sitting next to me, and he looked up at me, and said, "Sister, Can I bear my testimony?" And I about died, and then he did what they always do... "Okay, I am going to bear my testimony, lets go. You and I....." I just laughed....Raylan, I don't need to bear my testimony....but then I was like....yes I do. So we walked up there. And after that cute little 11 year old boy, I bore my testimony.

Yesterday in church was a cool experience. There to confirmations during the sacrament. And in the first one, it was raining, super strong. And all of a sudden, Irmao Fred started the blessing, and the power went out, he kept going and in the moment he said, "Recieve the Holy Ghost" the power turned back on. Needless to say, we all said Amen with our jaws in the ground. It was cool moment.

This week was normal, we are working hard. We have a lot of families who need to get married in order to get baptized, and they have a lot of time studying with the missionaries. That it is our goal for us 4 this transfer, try and help these families get married and get baptized.

I don't know about you guys, but every day......there is this deep feeling that...Jesus Christ is arriving. We don't have much time. And every moment that I feel this feeling, I just feel the desire and start to make a contact. The work is going faster and faster. We all need to bear our testimony more and more every day, for someone who may not know. We are need to help those who it has been a while since have visited the church. WE, as members of HIS church, need to put it into gear and help those lost sheep.

1 corinthians 12: 11-14.....thats what I studied this week. We, as members, make the body of Christ. Everyone of us plays a role in His work. WE are important. I know that the work is hastening, and there are reasons. Study your scriptures, study the latest talks of our Living prophet and apostles, and follow their counsel. Let us all press on, in the work of the Lord.

Love you guys.

Sister Craig

Just hanging with the kiddos.

Baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Palmas doesn't go half way on anything.

Dropping off our companions for them to be transferred in Brasilia. :(

The worlds cutest little guy!

I made pão de queijo. And it was delicious!

Saudades - February 23, 2015

Hi Family,

So, I think this week....its better that I just say I love you all. And let you know that my prayers are there, daily.

I want to bear my testimony, that I know God's plan. I know that our Heavenly Father is taking care of our sweet Barbara, and that His blessings are with Grandpa. I have no doubt, that Families are ETERNAL. I have never felt so confident in my knowledge that we will all be together and that this is just a "See you Later". I am so grateful to have this knowledge. I am so grateful that Jesus Christ completed this plan, with His sacrifice. He made it possible to live with our Heavenly Father. It was that humble example, that he left for us to follow. And I am so grateful to be here, helping others, follow this example.

This week, we don't have much to report. My companion left Saturday, and we are in the waiting for our new companions. They arrive tomorrow.My companion is Sister Aparicio (didn't spell that right at all!), and she is from Argentina. She is super duper cutsie. And really good, I have already worked with her 1 day, and we loved it.

This week there were 2 baptisms. Wellington, and Andrea. They are awesome, and we are super happy for them. Andrea and Rodrigo are already planning the wedding in the Salt Lake City Temple. Rodrigo got baptized 2 months ago, and his wife, yesterday. It was a great day for them.

This ward is awesome. I love it. There is so much to do here. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. But it just pushes me to do better.

I think thats about all.

Love you guys, and know that this week my thoughts and prayers are with you in the States.

......At least its Monday. - February 16, 2015

Well family, as everything is okay. I am sad to say....that the Baptism of Matheus....did not happen. Its the worlds longest story....and not really interesting. But, as always, the work continues on. And this week is Raylan! We are super excited for him, and his eager eager decision to move his date to this coming Sunday, instead of next Sunday. He just "couldn't wait any longer".

Raylan is 12 years old, and has been visiting the church for quite some time. His mom visits with him sometimes, but every week, without doubt, he is there with his Book of Mormon. I thought he was a member, until 2 weeks ago. And I started reading his sheet that talks about him....he was never even invited to be baptized! I almost cried. We invited him to be baptized, and he accepted. And the following Sunday, in church, (yesterday) asked us to show him the font, and wanted to know EVERYTHING to there was to know about his baptism. And then he asked if it could be earlier...and we accepted....he has already had all the lessons, loves church, has a testimony. And I just started crying. I pictured Joseph Smith, interested in knowing the truth. And the excitement he must have had when he received his answer. We are super excited for him, and the family that introduced him to the church is also excited!

Also, this week....we started teaching this little old lady, Isablie. She is going to get baptized the 28th. We arrived at her house to give her a ride Sunday morning, and out walkes her, her 2 grandsons....and I am like....there isn't room in the car...what are we going to do.....and still have 1 more to pick up. It all worked out...and her grandson, Rafael LOVED the church. This week is a youth camping trip, and he signed up to go, and is there.....met everyone yesterday. But he was begging his grandma to return to church. And the leaders who were with him said he was participating in the class, and loved it. We got super happy with all of this.

Its amazing, how happy the people get when they enter in to the Lord's house. I am so grateful that every week, I have the opportunity to take time out of life....and, honestly relax. Church just gives me so much peace, I finally feel comfortable 100%.

FOR EVERYBODY TO MARK IN THEIR CALENDARS NOW!!!!!!!

JUNE 19TH, 2015 I will be boarding the airplane here in Brasilia. And Saturday, June 20th, 2015...I will be arriving in Denver International Airport.

Our mission does it different, we leave the Friday before transfers.JUNE 20TH I WILL BE ARRIVING (AKA LANDING IN D.I.A)!!!

All are invited to be present in the airport, and at my homecoming talk that is TBD.

Love you all. But you all now can stop asking when is my official date to come home. This girl is getting trunky.

96 days.

But who is counting?!

Love you all. Praying for ya daily. BEIJOOOOOS.

Sister Craig

Sister Miranda, Me, Elder G. Santos.

Simario, an investigator who found us taking a little swing.....

Last Monday, we ate the worlds healthiest lunch. Cheese bread and a milkshake. Nobody would ever believe me if I said my dad was a nutritionist. Hahaha.

My companion and I on Tuesday, at our Zone conference with President.

Sister Miranda, Sister Craig, Sister Soares, Sister Hill. I live with these goons.

Just to show you missionary life isn't always a glam scene.

Matheus Franco - February 9, 2015

Okay, so today we have interviews with President, and we just had a training with the Sisters....and tomorrow is a Zone Conference with Assitants, so....today is going to be fast, yet again. Sorry, but this week...I have the worlds coolest story.

LAST Sunday night, my companion and I were making goals for the week, and we started to joke around about how baptisms we would have, this week, we didn't have any marked. But....all of sudden we got serious, and decided to have a baptism. We didn't know who, or how...or what to do....but we wanted to help someone be baptized. So we put it as our goal. Then after we started planning for our Monday night after Pday. We looked through our Area book, and found a bunch of ex-investigators that had already been to church a bunch, had received a good portion of the lessons...and planned to visit them. We had planned from the top of Palmas, until the bottom. Full of plans, with alternatives after alternatives. After pday ended, we were on the road and out the door. Ready to go. We visited the first, determined and ready to find the star of our week, the child of God that would be baptized on Sunday. The first one, was a 14 year old who has been meeting with sisters for quite some time, and visiting the church for 3 months.....but when we arrived there, he was leaving and not able to sit down. And when we were leaving, a member who lives across the street, started calling us and asking us to come in. And I just heard myself accepting to go visit this member. And as we were walking, I was just thinking...wait.... I need to work! If someone is going to be baptized, we have to find them TODAY! And then I enterned in the house, and I sat down. Thinking, " WHY DID I SIT DOWN!! GO TO WORK SISTER!!!" And then, out of no where. And investigator who we had been trying to teach walked into this house. (The investigator and member are good friends). And I just got sad, because he promised he would go to church, and he didn't....but we decided to give him a lesson and take advantage of him being there. We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in the end, invited him to be baptized for Feb. 22. He accepted. Then the member started joking, ahh, he could be baptized tomorrow. He is a member without the water.

Okay, his name is Matheus. Other sisters had been trying to teach him, but he is super busy and hard to find in his house. Oh better, he WAS super hard to find. What ended up happening is they started to joke around with Matheus, and I don't know why, asked him how many times he had been to church. He said, 4/5 times.... And it hit me and my companion. HE IS YOUR ANWSER. INVITE HIM TO BE BAPTIZED, SUNDAY!!!! So we did, and he accepted.

This entire week, we were just running from place to place teaching him all of the lessons, hearing of his cool responses. So you all are probably wondering if he was baptized, right? Well, saturday, we marked his interview with Elder, and he PASSED! He was excited...and everything was going good...when he said, Sister.... I want my parents to be there. So we naturally responded, INVITE THEM. Please, the more the merrier. And with a serious face, "Sister, can I be baptized on a Saturday? This upcoming Saturday? Because my parents, out of nowhere, traveled, and aren't here until Tuesday. But I want them there." Obviously we were a little sad...we prayed, fasted, worked, to have him baptized on this Sunday. But in the moment, I heard the spirit whisper, "Eternal Families". Remembering, that families are one of the central points in this gospel. And who am I to not respect that this 19 year old is wanting his parents see him take the best step of his life. We agreed. Saturday at 6 o'clock, will be his baptism.

I am SO grateful, for the reminder of how important family is. Being away from home for 1 year and 1 month, you can't just help but forget that families are forever, and important here on the earth. And Matheus helped me put value where I needed to put more. I know, that families are forever, and that when we do things as a family, we grow as one. And we will have Celestial Glory as one. I am so grateful for this.

This week, everyone pray for Matheus. I didn't even tell you half the work that came with him. He is one ordinary boy. The Lord has a lot in store for him.

I love you all! Yesterday was my 1 year and 1 month. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Even President is getting trunky. In my email today said that my time is short. WHAAAA? Thats a lie! 4 months is a long time. I can do lots of stuff!! Haha.

LOVE YOU GOOBS!

Monday, February 2, 2015

She has never been so tired! - January 26, 2015

OH family......HI...You guys sound like you had a great weekend!!!!!! I am so jealous that everyone was together for the weekend...but....hey. I am here in Brasil....thats pretty neat.

This week was....hard. Hardest week on my mission. I feel like....looking back...every problem that could go wrong in one house...went wrong. I am going to talk to dad for a bit. Dad, you know that day (I don't remember exactly what problems, but there were a ton). But we had a leak, and you spent hours fixing it, and then when that happened, the dish washer stopped working...and when you fixed that...you looked up and saw moms "honey-do list"...well that was our week.

Problem after problem in this new house. Haha. But it was awesome, because my companion is like Tim the Toolman...she fixes EVERYTHING!

As for our investigators. We have an investigator that we are helping with Drugs and Alcohol. He is really special. His name is Semario. And we have been trying to get him to do little steps, baby steps. Longest story short. This week we decided to talk to him about Alma 34. TODAY is our day of preperation. And as long as we are trying to prepare to do the right thing, we will have enough time to do it. We started talking more about the atonement, and how the antonement was done for every single one of us. Semario, the worlds most hardest investigator.....that night, said a prayer. Humble, sincere, and full of faith. For the first time in many years, one young man took the first step to changing his life. I didn't realize how important doing the smallest things would make the biggest difference. I saw one young man, 26 years old, fight off Satan and his worldly temptations. And then this Sunday morning, I saw one, head to toe, dirt covered 26 year cigarette smoker, alcohol drinker, walk into to our chapel. When I saw him walking in...that quote from an apostle that says "My favorite smell, is the smell of cigarette smoke in the middle of the chapel. Cause that means, that someone who isn't perfect, is trying to become more like his savior, and that he is in the right place to start." (Something like that....)

SEMARIO PRAYED AND WENT TO CHURCH. I cried, I totally cried, of happiness to see a son of God, fight off the temptations and start doing the Lord's will.

This week we also were able to really begin teaching Paulo and Gabriel. They have a date to be baptized February 7th, and they are really progressing. During the lessons, Paulo shows his desire with the sincere questions he asks. Gabriel shows his desire by reading and praying every night. Paulo is the dad, and Gabriel is 11. And they are awesome!

I am loving Palmas. I know that a lot more cool things happened, but I am short for time, and without a brain today! Love you guys!! Praying for every single one of you!

Sister Craig

She's got an Athiest who paints - February 2, 2015

FAMILY! I don't have too much time. Its seems to me like Pdays just fly by....and even worse.... the rest of the week flies faster. I can't believe its already FEBRUARY!

I am just gonna get to the points.

This week, we started teaching Jordan. He stopped us in the road an asked if we really believed in God. Y'all remember him? We started teaching him. Talked about Faith...and the next lesson... "Tell me about this Book of Mormon, It is something special." We explained to him the Restoration....and it was awesome. He was understanding everything..... and the best part. He went to church and LOVED it. Said he had never seen anything like it. And all the members were just like all over talking to him. It was testimony meeting, and Tiao, a member we all love, bore his testimony. And his story is alike. He was atheist....and explained all of this. It was awesome. Jordan loved his testimony. God is good. He blesses people when we have a desire to know. He is there, listening in every moment.

Also, fun fact. For those who know me well. Before the mission, there was a girl who found me on Instagram that is from my mission. She started talking to me before the mission, the day I opened my call. Well, I am here. In her ward...and sunday, I watched her open her call to Porte Alegre Norte!!!! We both cried when we saw each other. It was just a weird moment of..."Hey, I know you. Wait...hey we both were there when we received our calls!" Funny how things like this happen!

This week, we moved BACK to our old apartment. Elder called us Wednesday before lunch and said, sisters you need to move to your old apartment today. So we lostwednesday in the middle of a move..... And we will be moving again in upcoming weeks....Oh mission life.

Palmas is an area where everyone accepts us, and reads, and prays...and goes to church. SO we have a lot of people to try and help. I love it. I have never been so busy in my mission. But it came in just the right moment..... :)

I love this gospel.

Sister Craig