Mission Tocantins!!!!! -January 19, 2015

Its a whole other mission here in Tocantins. An entirely different mission...hahahaha. I am literally dying of heat. If you thought texas...or florida....or washington dc was hott......you ain't never been to Palmas. 

So this week was great----then.....it went a little crazy. I got here, my companions name is Sister Soares. She is absolutely HILARIOUS. It is like looking in the mirror when we talk. We just laugh and laugh at what we say. I am living with Sister Miranda again, and I love it. And then Sister Hill, she is from Utah. Her and my companion only have 3 months on the mission....(tradgic....) but they are incredible!

The members here are INCREDIBLE! And the people here just invite us in!!!! I should start counting how many houses I just entered in without knowing anyone. They are so receptive!!!

This week...as always...we moved houses. Yes, this will be the 5th time that I have helped the mission change over into a new house. I think President puts me in the areas that are going to move. And as always, something went wrong. We moved everything there, and there isn't water....air conditioning...nothing was prepared for us to arrive there. So here we are, with 2 houses....but no where to sleep. haha. All of our stuff is in the new one, and water and air condition are in the other. But, President let us sleep in a members house....so for 2 days, we slept in a members house. It was weird. I felt like I was at a sleep over. But, it was cool, got to know this member a lot. 

Palmas is incredible. Members are great, and there are so many investigators that we are teaching that literally we running from appointment to appointment. And if something falls, there is always a house to visit, or a less active. 

This week we had a cool experience. We were walking to...I don't remember. But we were walking. All 4 of us. And we were joking around, and laughing, and a guy walked by and asked us if we really believe in God. Of course we struck up a conversation...and he just kept saying how he didn't believe. And he just keep pushing and questioning if we really believe in God, and we just kept saying yes, bearing our testimony....and in the moment I just kind of looked at him....and said...wow, this would be one moment that if my testimony weren't strong....I would start to question. But everytime one of us said, " I know that God lives" I felt the spirit testify that what we were saying was true. And then we gave him a book of mormon, and he said he wanted to read it. But first he was going to open up in front of us, and there it would say if God existed...and where did he open up??? Alma 7. Invitation for everyone to just read that chapter....and soak up the answer and proof that GOD LIVES. He sent his son to die for us, he bled from every poor, to feel what we would feel. He blesses us every day. And when we want to know, we answers. I am so grateful to be here, in Palmas.....where we sweat everything we eat off in the first hour. Where in every house we go, they give us food. I am GRATEFUL for this experience. I am GRATEFUL to be a representative of Jesus Christ. 

Love you all. I know I am forgetting a lot of details...or stories...but I gotta go fix my house...haha.. how sad.

LOVE YOU! Praying for you!!!

Sister Craig

 There is a fake statue of Liberty in front of my new house!

Our last district from last transfer.... Best district ever....Assitants, Zone Leaders, Secrataries, and us Sisters.... 

Sleep over in Irmas house... My companion and i are in the middle!!!

My last night in Aguas Claras....with my favorite family.... 

And that's when she went from white to black. -January 12, 2015

Okay, family.........I have NEWS!!!!

I was transferred today. But.....I was transferred to another STATE!!!!! So our mission picks 3 states, but I have stayed here in the DF. And now I am going to the farthest part of our mission. That we call it another mission. TOCANTINS! My area is Palmas 1. IT IS HOTTER THAN HATIES! Its like going to Florida in the middle of Summer. Horrible. I am will melt this week. I hope I survive it. 

Today we are staying in Asa Sul until 5ish waiting for the bus. It is a 13 hour travel.....over night....without shower....without sleeping.....I am going to be tired haha. 

I am excited. It is the BEST area in the mission. Seriously, the zone has a lot of success. So I am super duper excited. 

As for this week, sad news....Constancio.......dropped us. Monday night we went to his house, he was all excited for his baptism. Tuesday we went there.....and, he had completely changed, moved....I don't even know what happened, all I know is it was one of the hardest moments on the mission. I think it was hard, because in the moments we worked with him, he grew A LOT. And in the moments, where I had little faith....I saw/felt God's faith/hope that finally His son would accept the gospel. But, we cried just a little bit....and as always...kept moving forward. Finding new people, working hard in the blazing hot son. Getting to know more members....

And before you know it, 6 weeks are up. I was transferred, didn't even have an opportunity to get to know everybody. It was hard to accept that I had to leave, never left an area like that. But, the Lord knows what he is doing.

I am so nervous I am shaking in my space boots. I can't think right. 

What else...this week we started teaching a members nephew who started living there, he is going to be baptized the 25th of January. He is really cool. His name is Erique. But, I won't be there. 

It was a really bitter sweet leaving.....I feel like.... I should still be there. But, moving on. PALMAS 2015!!!!!

Everybody go look up 5 fun facts about Palmas, Tocantins....I don't even think there are 5. Haha, its like living in Iowa. They got really big strawberries?? hahahahahaa.....

I hope I keep laughing...

Love you all, praying for you!

Sister Craig!

Send pics next week!

One year older and wiser too! -January 5, 2015

FAMILY!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't even believe its 2015!!!!! I am just about dying!!!!!!!! Seriously.....This is the weirdest thing. I remember exactly what I was doing a year ago! What? No...... 

Okay, so today I am writing a little bit later because we had a zone activity. You know how Texas is known for their bbq? Well here its Rio Grande do Sul. And he did this HUGE churrasco (bbq) with 17 kilos of Meat! Thats like...37 pounds of meat. For 30 missionaries, President and his Wife, and some members in our ward. It was awesome! We played brasilian cricket (Its called taco...and no its not a food contest), we had a water balloon fight. Its a tradition that we need. Because it is BLISTERING HOTT here. And yes, Aunt Gay....I am....burned to the crisp! The FIRST time in a year, I finally got burned. haha. I am red as a tomato. But it was fun. I love zone activities. They are great.

This week..... CONSTANCIO. As I said last week, we planned a lesson about the Plan of Salvation SUPER AWESOME. We sat and we planned, and planned. Scriptures, topics....words....everything. And we get there, and we gave our lesson. And the Lord blessed us. But I thought the part most spiritual would be when we talked about Resurrecting with a perfect body...I was wrong. It was when we talked about the 3 Kingdoms, and he sat there thinking which one he wanted, and what HE needed to do. I just go so happy, and did as they say. When we were at the high point, had him thinking and had him going, we picked up...said a prayer and left him with that spirit. Or maybe we took it with us for him to notice ;) 

IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! He even said he was feeling the peace from the Holy Spirit. The thing with constancio, is not a matter of knowledge. Yes, there are somethings he still needs to know and all of this. But he is that type of investigator that already lives the standards, is already a member, just doesn't know it. The thing with Constancio is his TRUST, if its trust in himself, or a little more with God, he lacks a little bit. He has had a lot of life threatening accidents in his life. But he still believes that God exists. Today in our zone activity, he was rollin' on by, and I saw him and brought him in. It was awesome, he talked to a bunch of missionaries, who were able to lift his spirits a lot. Elders are crazy, no? haha. But it was really good for him. But after we talked a little with him, and he said. "Sister, Today I was looking and trying to feel that spirit, that happiness that I felt the other night, and I wasn't able. I read a book, I tried to receive that feeling....and God didn't give it to me. Where is my answer?" And I just looked at him, and explained how that feeling comes from God when we are maybe, reading his scriptures, praying, going to church. Or we can have that feeling all the time, as a gift. After the baptism. And I explained the GIFT of the Holy Ghost....and he just loooked at me like.....Well then. IT WAS AWESOME. Still have some other logistics, but with a lot of faith and prayer, he will be baptized Sunday....or maybe Next. But I got faith...... 

This week we also found a family! Pedro and Gamiles, and there two little kiddos. They are a family soooo cute! And they were looking for a religion that is true, that they could believe in, that follows the bible correctly. And....It was awesome. 

New year, was.....one of the worst new years of my life. Because I was STUCK in my apartment, when I wanted to be celebrating with Fireworks and loud noises. But thats okay....we took a lot of pictures and peaced out sleeping at12:05. Special, right? Haha #missionarylife

This year, the only goal I made, was to be more like Christ (which includes being skinny! haha just kidding). There are so many things that I can do to be more like him, that it'll keep me busy for the next couple of years. But lets start now. I want to be more loving like him. I want to serve like him. Have more faith IN him. It looks like a simple goal, but....It is what this world needs. I am so grateful for my example and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love him, and am so grateful for things he has taught me, and done for me. This new year, I am going to start off on a mission, and then the second half.... will be an opportunity to find out how to be like him, without a nametag. haha. I don't wanna leave Brasil.

Can't believe its already been a year. 

Love you all, and praying for you daily! 

Sister Craig :)

PS....i forgot my chord for pictures. I am sorry. It has been a while since I have sent pictures..... I have lots to send. 

Happy 2015!!! -December 29, 2014

Happy almost 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't even believe it. It is almost a new year, and the same year in which I will be returning to you freaks back home :)

The rest of my week was awesome! We had an incredible lesson with Constancio, where we were able to talk about the Restoration, and he just kept saying, "OH, I am going to talk to the big guy, and see what he says, and if he says for me to go, I will go." And I just sat there like....WELL OBVIOUSLY HE WANTS YOU! haha. But, wait, have I told you about him? He is in a wheel chair, and we are planning a super awesome Plan of Salvation lesson for him focusing on the Resurrection? Anyways, so we were sitting in church, a little bit down because nobody went....minus a less active we have been working with. And all of a sudden, one of the counselors in the bishopric opened the door and in wheeled, CONSTANCIO!!!!!!!!!! AHHHH. I about cried, lets be honest, I gasped so loud I almost passed out. He said he had been talking to the big guy, and still has some questions, but needed to come to church.

Then we had an awesome lesson with Luciana, she had the question if Jesus Christ visited here in the Americas, and that day we planned to give her a Book of Mormon. SO when we arrived there, explaining everything, she said, wow, that was exactly my question. And it was just super spiritual watching her receive the answer she wanted. 

Other than that, I think it was a normal week. Sorry this letter is short, but I just talked to y'all. haha. 

Love you guys, but I am doing what steve said. Focused here. Just only praying for ya. 

Sister Craig!!!!!!!!!

3 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -December 22, 2014

Family, I just feel so dumb writing an email right now, when I am going to talk to you in 3 days. But...here it goes!!!

Luciana!!!! She is a new investigator that is super strong! She has been LOOKING for the true church, and has certain things she knows will be part of the true church. She listed a bunch of things that only OUR church believes. We decided to teach her The Restoration, and give her the opportunity to pray and ask which church she should follow. And it was a super awesome lesson, and then out of no where she was like. "Oh no, you guys are the true church, arent you?" I just kind of started laughing, and then bore my testimony. AND IT WAS SUPER SPIRITUAL!  And I am super excited to see the growth she makes these next couple of weeks. 

We were looking for a Julio, and we found his house when a little old Carlos walked out, and started talking about how a lot of missionaries visit him, and it was just a really good lesson. I really felt the spirit testifying, telling him that he needed to go to church. He is one that believes in God, but not in church. And as I testified of the importance of God's commandments, I really felt and knew, as my eyes filled with tears, that God loves us SO MUCH, he has restored his church for this reason. 

This week we had the Mission Christmas Party. THats right, 200 missionaries, one sacrament room. Talent show. Lunch, dinner....FROZEN. We watched FROZEN. We laughed, we cried....it was blast had by all. 

Does everybody remember Dani? She got baptized last transfer, in Gama??? She called me this week. She got a calling as Young Woman Secratary!!!!!! And she passed this year in school, and will be serving a mission 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH, I cried, I laughed. IT was an emotional moment to know that one soul that I have brought to the Gospel, is now going to be doing the same thing. Ah. I just LOVE how the Lord works. 

This week we had christmas party after christmas party......it was totally a fun week! I LOVE CHRISTMAS! 

I am grateful for this time of the year. I may not feel like its christmas when I am sweating in the sun, I may not see all the christmas lights that I am used to....but I am quickly realizing that Christmas is MORE than this. We feel christmas, when we feel of the Love of our Savior. 

I LOVE YOU GUYS. See/Talk to y'all in 3 days!!!

Beijos. Te amo

Sister Craig

Hold to the rod.... -December 15, 2014

Family!!!!!

This week, I am pressed for time. It is that Christmas season and we have so many Secret santas planned.....I gotta work to do, and one day to do it.Haha.

This week was AWESOME!!! A lot of members called saying they had references, wanting to do Family Nights....(we had a dinner almost every night). My favorite was last night. They called all of the missionaries, us 6, and a less active family, and then a family that is being taught.....IN GAMA (my old and favorite area). I was kind of stressing out, cause the message was mine, and there were so many needs of all of them...I didn't know what to do. And I was praying, asking...lookin, studying...doing all that I possibly could to prepare a good message. The message I gave, I talked about Lehi's dream and the Iron rod, and was able to apply it to everyone. But my favorite part, is when my companion and I had everybody shut there eyes and start imaging heaven, and who would be there, what it would be like....and the spirit just was so strong during the moment, that some started crying. And then we asked.... "what is it that you need to do, to grab hold to the iron rod, and never let go?" Obviously it was a rhetorical question, but you could see all of them thinking what they needed to do....and the spirit confirming in EVERYBODY'S mind. Even mine, the members, the other missionaries....it was....incredible. I LOVE how the Lord answers prayers, sometimes I think I don't have the patience, or sometimes I think..... he isn't going to answer...and then BAM. In your face, the answer is there, awaiting. It was pretty much awesome. And then after, we had soup and cake. What a combo.

This week, it rained.... A LOT. Like always.  And we are starting to teach Eva and her niece and her daughter.....who seem somewhat promising. I have faith. It is funny, how people accept the message, saying they know it is true....but they don't realize what they are saying. 

Okay, this week, I want to bear my testimony. That I know the Lord loves me, and you. He is there for us, through all our problems, through all our difficulties, he will always be there for us. The scriptures are a gift for us to use to stay holding on to the Iron Rod, following that straight and narrow path. And that when we do what we can, the Lord makes up the rest. This week the Lord showed me the importance of doing my part, and he will do his. ALWAYS DO YOUR PART! Always, and the Lord will do what is missing. He just needs to see our faith to make the miracle happen.

LOVE YOU ALL!! Don't forget to pray and read your scriptures this week!!!

Sister Craig :)

Let's play a game of Where's Waldo?! -December 8, 2014

HIIIII FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!! We only have about 17 days until my favorite day of the year. And although I am not in my favorite season, enjoying the freezing cold snow...I am enjoying a FREEZING DOWN POUR OF RAIN!!!! hahahaha. It is raining ALWAYS here, day or night...morning or afternoon. It doesn't matter. And....to top it all off. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I AM!! My area is HUGEEEE!!! One of the biggest, and we don't have a map. 

This week....we did a lot of walking. And, seeing as how we are opening this area, we are without any investigators....so it was a lot of CONTACTS. A bazillionnnnnn. But the members have helped a lot. We have family nights marked almost every night this month, where they will invite a less-active or an investigator....

Our lunches are delicious! But they are rare! Seeing as how there are 6 missionaries here, almost nobody has got space (or food) for us. But this ward is incredible. It is so close to being divided. It is by far the strongest ward that I have been in as a missionary. And I am lovvving it. 

This week we were able to find Leandro. We were looking for an address (like most of the time) and he stopped us and said....I don't know why, but I have the biggest desire to know more about the church  you guys represent! And, I want you guys to pass by in my house, okay? Gave his address....and walked away. Oh how the Lord loves and answers prayers!!! And even better, I know where he lives!! I have already found his house!!!! What a miracle!! Hahaha. 

This week an 8 year old got baptized, and so we helped a lot with that. Making Pao de Quejo....making brigadeiro...delicious!!!! I think I ate more than I made...

This week we helped a less active clean her house..... she has literally saved EVERY SINGLE BED SHEET/COMFORTER she has ever owned!!! It took 3 hours just fold them all, and re-put them in the closet thing. And my nose was covered in dust :) hahahaha...oh sometimes I just laugh. 

Also, this week...we moved houses. Because the Elders took our old house. And so we put all of stuff there, the assitants helped and everything...only to find out at 9 at night...we didn't have Lights, Energy, or Water.....everybody was calling everybody...and it was really funny seeing these Elders freaking out. Like, " The sisters don't have water or lights!!!!! Ahhhh" hahaha, I laughed a little bit. But they got it all working a couple days later..... and we had to shower in the Elders apartments. Oh mission life....HILARIOUS!!!

Sorry....I don't remember if I had any other really cool stories. Hopefully this week I will and will remember/write them down for next p-day.

Everyone here has huge christmas trees!!!!!!! I am loving it!!!!!!!

We are doing a lot of work with these new Pass-along cards. That say how Jesus is THE present. I don't know if there has it. But there is a new christmas video...and I loved it! I invite you all to watch and remember, who is our best present we have ever received, this Christmas!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!! Happy 11 months to me, today!!! Pray for me that I may find out where I am!

 Sister Blair.....miss her!!! 

Sister Marques. 

Mosiah and Pryscilla took us to this really cool fancy place and they had a lot of christmas trees and stuff. Santa was there....and its by a lake!!! I was like in heaven. Christmas...and lakes!!!

Us 3.... 

One lunch gave us money to go to OUTBACK!!! Oh how I missed that good ole feel of an american restaurant. This pictures are bit old....