Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller - June 8, 2015

Well, and just like that, I have to start the goodbyes. This week was alright! Its getting a little bit sadder every day that passes. This week a Rodeo show was passing in town, and a lot of people are traveling all of a sudden. So it was some sweet goodbyes. 

I can't believe the time is coming to an end. 11 days doesn't even seem real! But sure enough, everyone won't let me forget!

This week, sadly to say. Ivanilde, was not baptized. Sad, we know. But it was just a re-mark her baptism fall through. She will be baptized the Saturday I land in the States. She had to start working, and will be spending these days in another place. So she had to re-mark the interview and everything. But still, she is excited as ever for her baptism. And her daughter, Taina (that was baptized last week) is even more excited! 

Funny story, this week...our energy got turned off. Because Elders will be Elders who forget. And we had to stay home fixing that situation. But it was funny, because my companion kept running into suitcases, chairs, tables. And she would scream at the top of her lungs every time. Hahaha, it was hilarious. But it was terrible at night when we had to sleep in this 110 degree weather, without AIR CONDITIONING!!!!! Our Zone Leaders had a good laugh at us. 

This week was hard to work because Paraiso is having a huge Rodeo Show that is taking a lot of road space and...well....frankly taking all of the people where we can't go. Haha. So we had some days where we had to stay home for safety. But, it was good....clean the house daily, and all of that stuff. 

This week we marked a baptismal date with Antonio. He is Marina's (our recent convert from 2 weeks ago) husband. He accepted to be baptized June 28. It will be good, he is really good. Heard the missionaries first of the family, but never wanted to be baptized. But it looks like seeing his 2 sons, and his wife in the gospel, has moved him. We are excited for him! 

Rafaela, she is an investigator who works on Sunday, and we were going to cut her, when she opened the door, and started saying how she asked to have every Sunday off so that she could go to church, and her boss let her! We are super excited for her. We taught her, and her son Juan and thye will be baptized June 29th! Wahoo! Sure hope the missionaries when they get here finish these people off.

This week I studied a lot of Alma 8. Learned a lot about how the Lord prepares ways for his missionaries, and not only his missionaries, but the members too. Think of the success that Alma and Amulek had. The Lord had a plan for Alma to return, and that plan included Amulek. 

I also started joking with my companions about how the Lord always blesses His servents with food in members houses, and how those who give food really truly are prepared members. Haha. Hilarious, but...touching.

I know this Church is true. I don't have a doubt about that. I am grateful for this year and a half I have had to serve the Lord. I don't know how next monday is gonna roll, but I will try to write a last email full of stories!!!

LOVE YOU GUYS.

11 days. But whose counting?

Happy Birthday, Love Zone Tocantins....cake made by Irma Jacque (from Palmas my last area)

Love these girls :)

Zone Tocantins. Last and the best!

Sister Miranda....cried saying goodbye...

Sending Cesar off on his mission! Wahoo!!

You know the time is close... - June 1, 2015

Man, today I entered in the email....and found NOTHING. I wrote a letter, and then the internet stopped. Which was probably a sign, because it was just your average letter. But seeing as how nobody wrote me, not even mom.... I would just send the gist. But, lucky for you, the internet stopped working, we left, and now we have returned. And mom and dad wrote a quick note, so I decided to send a better email. 

This week, Taina was baptized! Taina is a super special 10 year old, that has shown me that life is HARD, but it doesn't mean we can't be happy. That our circumstances don't determine our attitude. Taina is and always was a happy girl right from the beggining. And watching her enter into the waters of Baptism, I saw how much our Heavenly Father had been waiting for this moment to happen. Of all the events that came in before her baptism, and even after. Surely, she will be one strong soldier in His army. I know that she will be a light for her family, for her little brothers, and for all those that cross her path. It was incredible for me to see a 10 year old girl, invite all of her friends to her baptism, and more importantly how many of them came and supported her, and saw her make this covenant. The Lord truly does work in ways I don't understand. But because of her, we have many more people to teach, many more who desire to follow her footsteps and most importantly, follow the Saviors footsteps. We are super excited here in Paraiso, and so are the members!

This week, we had a bunch of success. The Lord worked with Valda. Valda we found I think 2 sundays ago, and this entire week it was awesome to visit her. She is preparing for her baptism.

Every time we go there it is awesome to hear of her experience and the spirit she feels as she prays and sincerely reads the Book of Mormon. 

We had many more moments super awesome, and I am sure, one day, I will relate them. But as for now, I just want to bear my testimony. It was sad to hear of the passing on of L. Tom Perry. He will surely be missed. It is always a moment to reflect and see how organized, and inspired every single moment that happens in the Church of Jesus Christ. I don't have doubts that this IS The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know it, and I will defend it. Joseph Smith was the Prophet called of God to restore all that we have today. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living Prophet, and that through him, we may know what to do. I am so grateful for all that the mission has taught me. 18 days is surreal for me. Can't believe it that it is coming to a close. But I know that the Lord has a lot more in store. I am grateful for the time I have had, and still have, to be a representative of this true church. 

Love you guys. Can't believe we all are starting the travels this week. Just remember, the fun arrives on the 20th!!!! Hahaha, just kidding.

Oh and Margaret. I am praying for you and your recovery! I love you dearly!! And know that you and Janell are always in my prayers. Thanks for the love and support, and I know that Heavenly Father will bless you in return for everything you have ever done to help and love your neighbor as He has commanded.

Love you goons.

18 days. wow.

2 more P-days. #gettowork

Sister Craig. 

Sister Craig!

On an exchange with Sister De Paula. Here are some of the kids that LOVE to hear the gospel. 

Taina getting baptized! Thanks Irmao Eduardo who helped!

Some of the others that also love to hear our messages, and Tainas mom, there in the blue! She might be baptized this week!!! Pray for us!

Sophia. Cutest little thing in the world. And prays, a lot

12 sisters, and an awesome Irma who gave us the worlds best bbq!!!!!

Play Ball!!! Homerun!! - May 25, 2015

Guys, I don't know what Paradise looks like in the Spirit World, but I always pictured a bunch of members and returned missionaries talking to everyone, and having success, "baptizing" lots, and showing EVERYONE the gospel. But this week, I am pretty sure I LIVED it. Holy cow, I have never ever seen SO many people accept the Gospel in one week. There wasn't even time for my companion and I to drink a milkshake this week. Haha. 

Okay, so to start off. Marina got baptized. And her and her two sons are all very happy. They all were sitting anxious for the baptism. And the moment came and we all cried. It was awesome! 

This week, we continued visiting our family, Evanilde and Thayna and all the little squirts that are always there when we visit. And all of them went to church this week. Thayna is going to get baptized this Sunday, and we are excited. She is doing awesome, progressing a lot. Reading the book of Mormon, and the Gospel Principles book daily, praying, helping her siblings pray. It is awesome! This week, Evanilde's husband, returned. So Evanilde will have to get married before getting baptized. But she is excited as ever. 

Claudio. CLAUDIO. When I was in Palmas, my last area, he went to a funeral that happened in the chapel, and fell in LOVE with the church. None of the missionaries were there, because he visited during the night when we had to be in our house. But bishop, and 2 young men preparing to serve a mission, taught him some of the lessons. Turns out...he moved to Paraiso this week!!!!! We went and visited him, and he is waiting for his Wife and daughter to follow him to Paraiso. They are currently waiting for the school year to finish before moving to paraiso, which is another state. But they all will be baptized the moment they arrive, they want to get baptized together. But Claudio is super excited, loves the gospel, has his answer, and already wants us to visit all of his friends and family.

This week, we also found Valda. She goes to a lot of churches, but when we talked about the Book of Mormon, she said something touched her heart, and she is curious to know what that was, but believes it was the Holy Ghost testifying. She will be baptized on my last Saturday in the mission! Wow. 

Thats not even half of it! But thats enough for now. I really truly see the Lord's hand in my life EVERY MOMENT. The spirit is guiding my companion and I, and we are happier than ever. Walking on cloud 9. 

This ward is a bit difficult, but we are trying to help them.

I know this Gospel is true. The book of Mormon can touch the heart of everybody. There is a message in that Book for every single one of us. A personalized message. Thanks for your testimonies this week. I need that, and will use it to help me in these last couple of weeks here in Brazil. 

Love you guys!!!

Sister Craig

We visited Leysanne, a member, at her work. She works at the radio! Rad. 

She is the coolest there is!

And she took us to eat!

Francisca who got baptized the Sunday I arrived, was now getting baptized to Irmão Sebastiao!!! Yay!

Waiting for an investigator to anwser the door, and my leg started bleeding. Turns out, that investigator did NOT want our visits. Good laugh. 

Our lovely wedding couple this weekend!

Magidam, Me, Marina, Sister Sáez, Cezar, Romulo! Yay!

Everybody is happy!

A parrot, I think. He liked talking and flew to see me. It was precious, and scary. 

Sister Sáez, Thayna, Thaynara, and I! These girls are super cute, and super special!

She's died and gone to... - May 18, 2015

Paraiso is INCREDIBLE!!!!! I mean, I don't know if it is because I LOVE my companion and we had an incredible first week....but I am loving life here.

This week, so lets start off with Marina. She is a mom of 2 less-actives. She was supposed to be baptized last sunday, but she hadn't been to church enough. But this week she will be baptized. There was one day, we had marked with her, and decided to bring a member with us. When we arrived, she wasn't there. And in the moment we went to call her, she was in the neighbors house. Turns out....Evanilde, her neighbor, is the mother of 5 kids. Her father-in-law had died that morning from Dengue (a sickness we all can get from mosquitos here in brazil). And she was bawling, because her husband had left her and the kids that week a couple days earlier. And the more we asked, the worse it got. Just in the moment alone, we started talking about the plan of salvation, and how God has something in store for her..blah blah blah. When I looked over, saw a baby, sleeping. I asked, "how many months does your baby have?" She said, "7 days". It was one of those moments where if I had been drinking coke or something I think would have spit it out in SHOCK. How was it possible? I couldn't find words, my companions jaw was on the floor. The member sat there like....what do we do? And out of nowhere, I found Marina, our almost recent convert, invited her to church, and started marking a day for us to return and start leaving messages wth her. So fast forward, we left. Sunday comes around, and where is Marina? We decided to go and get her. When we got to her house, her 2 sons had said she left a little bit before we arrived to go to church. When my companion looked at me, and was like, lets see if her neighbor wants to go. We went there...and sure enough. The children started begging to go to church with us. And we all went. Evanilde, Thayna, Simon, Sophia and our 9 day old Nicholas. It was awesome. The kids loved it. And in this Sacrament it was a sacrament given to us by the young men in the church. And they all talked about priesthood and priesthood duties, talking about how it was their duties to Protect the woman of the church. And then they called all of the men, 12 years old until 110 (or however old that little old fart was), and they all sang a hymn. And Evanilde started crying saying she wanted to see her son there in front when he was older, with the Authority of God. It was awesome. We invited them to be baptized the moment church ended, and they will be baptized not this sunday...but the next. Then we decided to visit them yesterday afternoon. And when we arrived there, there were like 5 billion more kids, and a tired mom. So we decided to gather all of them, and have a fun lesson. We taught them about Nephi, and talked about obedience. And it was fun and interactive and in the end, we taught them all how to say a prayer. And EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, took a turn saying a prayer. Even Sophia, who is 3 years old. It was a super emotional moment for all of us. We weren't able to keep it in. Excited to see what the Lord has in store for them.

Saturday was our hard day. Haha, hard in the sense where we were really tested with our knowledge of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We had a total of 2 lessons that day. The first one, was a couple, who we met tuesday and returned Saturday....They asked every single question possible. And even came the moment, where the husband said. "I want to be baptized in this church. And what you are saying is that I can pick any man in the church and ask to trace where he got his authority, and its going to trace back to Joseph Smith, who got it from Jesus and his disciples?" And we simply replied, yes.  And he said, "Now that I believe." It was cool, but they need to get married, like everyone else and their flippin dog here in Paraiso. Haha.

Then that same day, we had made a contact with Aline at the start of the week, and marked with her to be baptized in the contact. We returned for her, and she started....well challenging everything we said, and wanted bible verses to back everything up. So we did, haha. It was exhausting....but in the moment she started asking, so you are telling me that if someone, who is good, and serves and loves everyone, and never does any harm, but is never baptized, can't be saved? And we said yes, and she said "I don't believe that." So i opened up John 3:5. 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

And she just kind of sat there like, uhhh....haha. It was a little bit funny. Her mom started to giggle. And what came out of that lesson...uh. Well, she said she would pray. But the point of the stories is that after that day, we returned home with the worlds BIGGEST testimony that Joseph Smith was the Prophet that restored the Gospel. THIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH. I know it, and believe it, and love it. I am willing to say to whoever wants to question it! The Lord knows what he is doing. He is working with every single one of us.

Funny Story of the week: We had just knocked on one door of a contact we made my first day here, and we were waiting like 5 years for her to leave. Waiting waiting waiting, and her little sister was kind of/sort of talking to us. And it was kind of just an awkward funny. When out of nowhere, I looked at my leg, and it was just bleeding. And my companion started laughing, and I started laughing, cause it was like out of nowhere, I had a streak of blood just dripping down. And this girl was NOT anwsering the door, and her little sister was like 3, and doing nothing. We just sat there, and my companion took pictures. And it was funny.

Up until now, I have no idea why my leg was bleeding, but...my companion sure did have a laugh when our leaders called the moment after and she had to explain everything while I knocked on the neighbors door to ask for a wet napkin or something....

Love you all. I can't believe time is passing so fast. Just sometimes I am like slow down. It is harder at night with Sister Forsyth, because...we basically lived the same life before the mission, and we both are returning to BYU Idaho, and everything. We get a bit excited, and start planning things.

Okay, but focus focus focus! 

Go study your scriptures guys. I am going to the water fall here in this state that is like famous or something. It is gonna be sweet. 

LOVE YOU

TE AMO.

Beijooos!

Sister Craig

Last moment in Palmas, saying goodbye to Irma Mirian.

I am going to miss the heck out of my crazy companion Sister Aparicio. 

But I already LOVE these 3 girls. Sister Forsyth, Sister Cortez, and Sister Saez. Yaaaa. Lets gooooo to Paraiso. 

Saying goodbye to Presidente Silva and Irma Marli, and their cute boys.

Paradise. Zone Tocantins. - May 11, 2015

So I got transferred to Paraiso. Which is translated to Paradise. I am MORE than excited for everything this transfer. Just ready to go out strong, and in an area and a zone full of people I love. Ready for the miracles the Lord has awaiting.

So seeing as nobody wrote me..... literally only Stevie. I think I am just going to give a good ole....

Things are great. This week Maridalva and Euripeds said they would be getting married and baptized. And asked me to come to the wedding, ask permission. Which I totally am going to do.

Fernando went to church. He is Alexandres, Dani's, Fredy's dad....who are members who help us A LOT. And it was like a miracle. And he cried. So his story is that he drinks. A LOT. Its a problem. But when he is sober....he knows that the church is true. He is truly an intelligent man who got caught in bad habits. Sunday he went to church, was making comments, cried....It was awesome.

I mean, I just talked to y'all. But thats about it. Tomorrow starts a new transfer. And its going to be awesome!!!!

I love this gospel. I love serving missions. And I love where I am at.

Praying for ya!!!

Sister Craig

May 4, 2015

Okay, Okay, Okay! I just can't believe it anymore!! Who said the month of may could start? NOT ME. That was way to quick. I JUST sent a letter talking about April.

And even worse...who said it was Mothers day weekend this weekend? About that....I will be calling at 7 o´clock my time, on  SATURDAY!!!! MAY 9TH!!! Yes, did everybody read that? Everybody make sure that my mom understands this. SATURDAY, I will be calling at 7 o clock my time!! Which I think is...like 4 o clock your time....Yes. Yes. It will be more or less.....7. This weekend is the last weekend for the transfer, and so things are HECTIC!!! 

Okay so this week...turns out...Maridalva and Euripeds....are not married. But want to get married, and actually had been talking about that before we showed up. Allelujah!!! So we are going to just get those little love birds married, legally...and bapitzed, heavenly. 

Mauro, we found him doing contacts....and when we went to his house, he wasnt there. But turns out his Step mom is a less-active! And so we started talking to her, and she started talking about who introduced the church to her, that just so happens to be a less- active that we helped reactivate my first transfer. Alexandre, and he is super super active now!!! And so we brought him along yesterday night, to visit Mauro and his step mom, Angelica. And mauro accepted a date to be baptized May 24th!!! And it was kinda funny, I asked him how he felt after and he said "I feel surprised." And we were like why...and he was like "I didn't think you guys would show up, and now I am going to get baptized in this church." And it was funnny.....and reassuring. 

This week, I lost 2 more pounds! I took pictures on the scale....but....you will have to wait 6 weeks.

Every day, its just like a hit in the head with something. I am not sure if I am going to finish my mission here in Palmas, Tocantins or not....but everyday feels like I have a goodbye to something/someone or a "last"...or whatever...and its just starting to hit like a freaking brick.

I just want to bear my testimony about Prophets. The subject of this week is-- Prophets. This week, out of nowhere, I found myself praying asking if Joseph Smith really, truly restored the church (it doesn't hurt to keep asking, right?)....and I felt the spirit say that it was true, nothing super special. But then, out of nowhere, everyone started bearing their testimony about prophets, and about the restoration. And I really truly felt the spirit through every single one of their testimonies. It was as if, Heavenly Father was saying, "Yes, Sister Craig.... its true....now go out and spread that testimony of yours!!!!" And that is exactly what I want to do, go out and spread my testimony all over this town!!

Love you guys! THanks for the love and support...prayers and letters..... Lets kill this next transfer..

And when am I going to call????

SATURDAY.

MAY 9TH.

7 o´clock my time.

4 o´clock Denver time!

:) - April 27, 2015

This week, was....quite the week. And it didn't even hit me until yesterday.

So we started off with some interviews with President! Man, that man.....sure is funny. My interview was awesome. We talked about my LAST transfer, and where I would be, and what I would be doing. He really is awesome. 

Then, we just started.....going. Working A LOT. This week we focused on teaching our married couples.... YES! It is the worlds most happiest thing. We have 3 married couples that we are teaching.

1) Maridalva and Euripeds. Maridalva works in the Infant hospital with a lot of Irmas in our ward, and other wards. She has already been to a baptism and some activities in another ward close by. We stopped by to teach them Saturday before the new area 70 devotional, and we invited them to be baptized on Mothers day!! We invited them to go to church at 9 am, and they said they would go. But then something happened. We were walking to the devotional it was 6:50, and we saw an Irma that we loved. Irma Carla, and she was at a gas station, and she started running towards us, crying...saying that her mother had passed away that afternoon. And she was trying to call and talk to Bishop, but he wasn't answering, and she needed our help. I knew that Bishop was in a leadership training with the 70. So I told her, and we all went to the chapel to talk to bishop. What ended up happening was cool. Out of nowhere, our entire bishopric walked out to help this Irma and to start setting things up for the viewing. And so I had my first Brazilian viewing/funeral. So what happens is they do a viewing from like 10 o´clock at night until 4 o´clock in the afternoon the next day. So Saturday after the devo, started the viewing. And Sunday, church was CANCELLED. We would only have Sacrament meeting at 7 o´clock at night. And I had already combined with all my investigators at 9 am. So 8 o´clock the next morning, we went calling everybody and telling them it was at night. But everybody had already moved plans to go in the morning and do something else at night......And I wasn't able to call Maridalva because her cell phone was turned off or something. 

Okay, so the Sunday we spent the day....in a funeral. It was...sad....but....reassuring of God's plan of salvation. Then after we went trying to invite MORE investigators to go to church, and NOBODY was home. Out of nowhere, I remembered that we could go and try tell Maridalva that church was at night....but the bus that passes there...doesn't pass on sunday. So we called an Irmão, and asked him to take us. It took him awhile, that when we FINALLY arrived in Maridalva's house it was 6:45. But still, I thought, we never know if we don't invite. So we went an invited. And they accepted! And long story short, THEY WENT TO CHURCH AND LOVED IT. And all the members where so happy and greeting them. 

We also are teaching Rodrigo and Diauny. Diauny's family lives in Salt Lake and are members!!! And it was way cool to teach them and tell them about eternal families. Diauny had already seen photos of the Salt Lake temple, and fell in LOVE with it. They have 2 little boys that are adorable!!!!!!

We have Nilde and Wenderson. They have two cute children.

We have lots. This week a lot happened. But I just want to bare my testimony of following the spirit. He is constantly talking to us, we really just aren't looking. This week I had moments of a little frustration, sadness, happiness, joy--excitement. And I saw the hand of the Lord in my life. I know that God lives. He has a plan, and that plan doesn't end at death. I love the mission. I love Brasil.

And I love you guys!!! Time is flying by. Literally..... 

SISTER CRAIG!