When it rains, it pours. -October 27, 2014

Well family...... Its that lovely day of the week again. Where I am sitting here at the computer in this dinky little Internet house, and trying to think what happened this week. 

First and foremost, I MISS YOU ALL!!!! Glad to hear all the funny stories and spiritual also. Keep up the good work y'all.

This week was............ AWESOME! Last night we had an incredible lesson with Dani and our Ward Mission Leader and a Ward Missionary. We taught the 10 commandments with the 3 biggies...word of wisdom, law of chastity, and tithing. Dani was more than happy to accept the small changes that would occur in her life now. Because as she said "I know the Lord has something to give me in return....a new life after my baptism" Needless to say, it was a super spiritual lesson. And I have felt so blessed to see the changes that this 18 year old girl is making. As she changes from being of the world...to just being in it. I was seriously reminded of the conference talk (I forgot who by) Where they said something like "Often times we are so caught up in being of the world, that we forget who created this world". And I am so grateful to have seen her remember who created this world, who blessed her with these material things. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to stay outside of these material things for a year and a half.

This week a member from another ward visited our ward with his one week new girlfriend. They have just started dating....and she went to church for the first time this week. AND SHE LOVED IT! She literally talked to us about how much she LOVED church for about 30 minutes after, and how she wanted to be a member of this church. She had visited other churches a lot before, and the way she described her feelings she had during church, it was super clear that the spirit had touched her heart. 

I am excited for this week as we prepare for the baptism of Dani. 

This week, I wanted to share my testimony that I know that the Lord is ALWAYS on our side. The Lord wants us to be successful in everything that we do. He wants us to be obedient, he wants us to be willing and free to make sacrifices, and I know that when we do these things, we receive the blessings of heaven. I am so grateful to witness this EVERY DAY here in Brasil. Also, I know that he answers our prayers because this week he answered mine. IT RAINED! It finally rained. This country actually receives rain, I don't believe it! It has rained 3 consecutive days here, and I am finally not sweating all the time. 

Happy Halloween to all you halloweeners. Haha.... here....everyone is saying that all the rich apartments celebrate Halloween, but thats it. So i am sure we will do something in our apartment at night. Lets see........ LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pray for me, and I'll pray for you!

Sister Craig

marshmallow cream to the face!!! But I won, She just put some on my face! Haha

I got the question right, so I got to put a plate of cream in her face!

Whats the capital of Japan?????

TOKYO!!!!!!!

Some of the youth from Guara were in our chapel!!! I cried. 

Elder Arias and I goofying around in the district meeting!

And President said....let there be 6 months, and there were 6! -October 20, 2014

So this week I am a little bit later, because today was TRANSFERS!!! My companion and I stayed, and this will be my 4th transfer here in Gama. Its a good thing I love Gama... haha. No but seriously, I am 100% completely happy with staying and with my daughter! But the mission took on a lot of changes, transfer wise. Everyone is in new areas....its weird. Haha.

This week was awesome!!

Update on Gabi and Dani.... I am pretty sure I explained them last week. This week, we decided to give them a tour of the chapel, and then after we taught them. We decided to invite Bruno, one of the young men in our ward. We gave the tour, which was really cool, cause Bruno talked about the importance of Sacrament, which for them I am sure they liked, but for me...I just saw the future in this kid, and his love for the Gospel. Let me tell you something, the spirit totally changes when we have members present in our lesson. It gives it a little change, the spirit gets a little bit stronger...its great. We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ afterwards, where we talked to them, and explained (and showed) how Baptism is to be done. And we taught them INSIDE the baptismal font. Haha, it was cool. The spirit was there, and they both got super excited for their baptism, which is just around the corner. 

This week was also good...because..... I got to walk in the Chacaras. It is like a farm town that is part of our area. That almost NOBODY visits. But we decided to go there, and get to know that part. To explain Chacaras...its like farms....no, better...for those who know what towns close to Bear Lake look like....it looks like that. It was the cutest little place EVER!!!!!!!

Oh hey fun fact....I was standing on the bus, dead tired, half asleep, melting in the blazing hot sun...when some dude enters, and he is wearing DENVER NUGGETS!!! I asked him if he knew the team, or just bought it here, and he said "I love the Denver Nuggets, I visit Colorado all the time, and bought this at a game once"....and I just started to freak out. Guys! Brasil loves Denver!!! Haha, we had a joyous time talking about Denver, and he got super excited when I said I was raised there. Okay, sorry-- just a side note. 

This week, was just a lot of catch up. Last week we had made a bazillion contacts, to find a bazillion new people to teach, and this week, we did a lot of follow up....I really love the mission because...you can stay in the same area, be in the middle of a transfer, and just completely re-start your life. Haha.... because INVESTIGATORS ARE MY LIFE. As a missionary, you learn to be happy, when your investigators are keeping commitments, and commandments, and loving everything they learn. And thats why I LOVE being a missionary, because I see that so often! 

I am so grateful to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, I am so grateful to have the spirit guide me on a daily basis. Never in my right mind, would I be sitting in a place, minding my business, when out of nowhere, I feel to start talking to someone that passed by me 2 minutes ago... And never, would I run after somebody and then explain why I was running.... NEVER. But I am so grateful for this daily opportunity. The spirit guides us, never too late, never too early. There is always a reason. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL.

Love you guys! Glad to hear things are great. Except that I am hearing there is a virus there in the United States....get that out of there quick guys! And thats about it. I forget what happens during the week because its all too much. But.... just know I am happy :)

Sister Craig! :)

Joao Paulo! He loves Americans!

Gabi!!! She will be baptized November 2nd!

Estephanie! Love her!!!

Alba....she is a nut case!

Love Neide!

Elder Figureido...I don't even think I spelled his name right...but he is legit!

Elder Saravia!!!! He went home to utah this week!!!! Chill dog. 

Elder G. Santos, Elder Arias, Sister Cortez and I. My district leader is sitting down (G. Santos)

Finally, our zone is complete!

Elder Arias! Who is from Chile!

Transfers, hanging with some friends. 

Elder Schinigoski, my brother here on the mission!

A pretty part of the Chacaras!

One lunch fell through, and Irma made lunch for 9 missionaries and her family! It was...a party. 

Dani! November 2nd!!!!

She's either pregnant or she just had a baby. -October 13, 2014

FAMILY!!!!! Hiiiiiii. I miss you all just so much! I absolutely loved the emails this week!

Time of course if flying by for me too. This past wednesday, I reached HUMP DAY! Thats right 9 months. Okay, so that doesn't mean I have 9 months to go....because I have a little less than 8. What? I can't even believe it a little bit! Its all down hill from here!!!!!

So, what happened this week. WE FOUND FAMILIES! I have been wanting to teach entire families for a while, but always just found parts-- Mom, son... or dad, daughter....but this week we found Mom, son, daughter, cousins, aunts.... EVERYTHING! 

This week our District leader gave us a challenge of giving out one book of Mormon during a contact every day. We happily accepted, and had been doing as follows. On wednesday, I told Sister Cortez that it was her turn to start the contact, explain the book of Mormon and get the address. Basically that it was her turn to do EVERYTHING. I was half-kidding, when she said, "Okay, I am gonna talk to her" And she pointed at a lady that was walking. Her name is Alba. She accepted, and we went to her house Saturday afternoon. Where, when we entered, she was super excited saying she had told her family about how she had met an American. (This is where my heart stopped beating of, "did she really read and get an answer and then convert her entire family??" And I kind of just an inside hand to the forehead shake.) As I entered, we began talking....they wanted to try in English....but they were asking questions about the mission and finally..."Why are you guys here, what do you do during the day?"  We started talking about our purpose....and as the spirit took it, a little about the plan of salvation. And the spirit was right. They start asking questions, and as the spirit touched their hearts, they accepted to be baptized. November 2nd! I am way excited!!!! They are incredible!! And hilarious. And love to give food............

We also found Iracema, and her two neighbors. They live in a block of one sector I had never been to. And we decided to dedicate our day there...and I lov that place. The people are so friendly, its cute and has cute little street markets...and I told my companion.. "I want to find a lot of investigators here, the place is great." And lo and behold Iracema, Zezinho and Dalva welcomed us right up to their sun set watching and then...Zezinho, started talking about Adam and Eve, and then Dalva asked "If you tell me where my mom and dad are right now, I promise to do whatever it takes to see them again."...PLAN OF SALVATION. Within 7 minutes of the lesson, they stopped...and said...let us invite more people. They started calling more family, neighbors. And then I started getting nervous, but still the Lord blessed us, and it was an incredible experience. The spirit was super strong. Turns out Zezinho, in his days of being a taxi driver here in Brasilia, decided to go to church in Asa Norte....and he loved it there, but then stopped being a taxi driver, and lost contact. It was an awesome lesson. 

This week, I am especially grateful for the plan of salvation this week. I know that we all have a plan, and a purpose. This week, in each and every lesson... the spirit testified that God has prepared a place for me, and that I need to do everything I can to obtain His Kingdom. 

Many people ask the secret to missionary work, or how to be happy... Here is my answer. STUDY, and learn the gospel. Before the mission, do everything you can do KNOW what you are going to teach. Pray daily to have the spirit testify of the truths. The other secret is to Preach what you KNOW. When we know, and testify to the people, the spirit is there, always. Thats a promise. This week during our zone conference with President and the assistants, we had  a training on how to baptize weekly, and they talked a lot about our testimony, and the importance of strengthening our testimony DAILY. Well, I can say that on my hardest days....is where I feel the power of my testimony help me stay, help me continue on the road to teach the people of Brasilia. It is my constant testimony that keeps me going. And then after that, the people. Keep your mind focused. As President Hinkley said... "Forget yourself and go to work"...well... forget yourself, and go. 

THAT IS THE MISSIONARY SECRET. There isn't any way to be here without a testimony. To face the things we face daily, the feel the things we feel daily, without a firm testimony in the gospel. 

Love you guys, and can happily say, I am grateful to be here...doing the work of the Lord. 

Sister Craig!

WATERMELON. After we cleaned the two story church! With one family! He gave us food. 

Okay, this is coincidence. The day I reached 9 months, our Relief Society president gave us diapers for one of our investigators who is pregnant....and it was funny, so I took pictures. 

Happy 9 Months Sister Craig!

Just cause I am hilarious.... 

Diapers and a baby. Lotta work.... 

Happy 9 Months to me. Acai with everything I love. Bananas, Granola and sweet and condensed milk. DELICIOUS. 

Homerun. -October 6, 2014

I would just like to start out with how this conference weekend was an incredible weekend. For missionaries, conference is Christmas. There isn't anything better. To answer all of your questions---

Favorite message: Elder Holland, cried like a baby. The story of Thomas S. Monson, the message...it was absolutely a job well done. As always.

Favorite Talk: Elder Jorge Klebignat-- That was what EVERY SINGLE MISSIONARY needed to hear. I don't care what mission, what missionary, what message they received of that. But I know, that there was something for every single person in that talk. Kicked our buts here in our area. 

Themes- Saturday, I thought Keep the commandments.... Sunday I thought....PROPHETS! There were like 4 talks in a row that just talked about Prophets. Which was awesome, because, part of a testimony is accepting that we have a living prophet. I also LOVED the second talk that talked about Sacrament! It was Sunday morning maybe? I think so.... I forgot my conference journal in our house...so I am remembering this off the top of my head. I will give my thoughts and quotes next week :)

This week... was...... awesome! My companion and I made a goal everyday to just make 15 contacts about conference. And some normal contacts outside of this. So everyday, we had the opportunity to stop and tell 15 people in the street, that they have a living Prophet, and him and his 12 apostles have prayed, fasted, and prepared inspired words for the world to here.  Each time we talked about it, I thought.... ahh no. They aren't going to be interested. But as I, or my companion, testified, I saw the change in their heart (through their change in body language). It was a really cool experience. 

But, like mother like daughter--My favorite moment of the weekend was during session break Saturday afternoon. As all missionaries traveled outside of their areas to go to the stake center in my area, during the breaks we had the opportunity to stay in the chapel, and just relax and talk. When my companion asked me to go play the piano (Brazilians think playing the piano is like finding gold....) so I went to play it. I was playing the song, Nearer, My God to thee, when 4 or 5 Elders came up and started to sing. I don't know, maybe it was the conference spirit, or the fact that 5 priesthood men were singing, but really I think the lyrics just touched me in the moment...because I started to cry! Followed by a roar of laughter from Elders because I was unable to play and cry at the same time! But I just realized, how in every moment, we should be looking to be closer to our Savior. How in every moment, we are able to feel his spirit if we really truly look for it. As a member of the church, I received the gift of the Holy Ghost. That comes with the promise of ALWAYS having his spirit. I love this hymn, and especially love the 3rd verse. Everybody go read the 3rd verse.... I think its pretty similar in Portuguese and English! haha. 

I am pretty sure nothing else really happened this week....or if something did...I am forgetting it already. Good thing I write in my journal. Haha.... But I just want to bear my testimony for you all. That I know this is HIS Restored Gospel. I know that Joseph Smith was called and prepared to be a Prophet of God, and that today we have a living prophet. I am so grateful to have heard his words, and the words of His apostles this weekend. I hope we all take the time, to do as they all said...and ponder in the words we received, not only this weekend, but other conferences. I hope we continue in on the straight and narrow, by reading our scriptures and praying to our Heavenly Father daily. I am grateful for the opportunity to share this gospel with the people of Brasil. 

LOVE YOU. TE AMO!!!

Sister Craig

Re-organizing our house and packing some things up to move. It got really hot in our house. Gotta do what you gotta do to cool down in this heat!

Some of the Elders in our beautiful Zone Alvorada. 

DO IT!! Shove his face in the cake. Nothing says Goodbye like cake in your face!

Elder Arias taking care of his child. They even look alike. 

Saying goodbye to Elder Nascimento (Nascimento is the word for born..his name is Elder Born) He finished the mission!

She Melted. -September 29, 2014

FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!! Saudades? Do you miss me? I am sure you dooooo! I can't believe this transfer is already in the 4th week!!!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?! Guys, I am going to just stay here, okay?

Okay---What happened this week..... 

This week the twins got baptized! Yes!!! We had been working with their Grandma, and mom....who are less actives. They actually have aunts and uncles in our ward that I love to death! And we have been working, trying to help them come back to church! And through this, we have been helping Nicoly and Rebecca get baptized! And they did! This week! I will send pictures later. But this little girls have been the greatest thing these past couple of weeks. Because every time we teach them, or even just talk with them... they have the biggest smile on their faces, a smile that says "I am ready to choose the right!" From the beginning they have wanted to be baptized, and so it has been fun walking with them as they chose to enter into the path of righteousness. At their baptism, I was asked to talk about the Holy Ghost...which was awesome. Because...when we explained to them the first time about the Holy Ghost, the spirit was super strong, and present. And I cried, it was just a really good moment, and they said that lesson "We want to have a new friend....the Holy Ghost..." It was then, that through their words, I realized that the gift of the holy ghost, is the gift of a new friend. He is the best friend that we can have. One who will never leave us, one who will always guide us down the right path. So when they asked me to talk in the baptism, I just kind of laughed and thanked my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to share my experience with these girls, and what THEY actually taught me!

 

This week, I spent one day in the hospital with another Sister. During lunch, she had some health problems that we had to go to the hospital.... and we sat there from noon-9 pm. While our companions worked....It was a difficult day...because it was the ONLY DAY that it RAINED! I have been praying for rain for about a month now...because this heat just doesn't help..... and finally it did, and I had to stay inside the entire day... 

Friday, the Sister Training Leaders came and we all went on exchanges. It was cool. We were able to leave a blessing in the house of a contact we made. He has cancer, and the treatment is doing things horrible to his skin, and he asked that we pray for him. And in that moment we decided to leave a blessing in his house, talking about our authority as representatives of Jesus Christ. It was super spiritual during the prayer, and then after he asked us to come back and visit him to explain the pamphlet we had read him. Something cool, his brother is a member of the Church, but in a nearby city, Santa Maria (Holy Mary!) and he always had rejected his brother when he even tried to talk about his church. 

This week was great. I love my weeks here in Gama. Can't believe I am halfway, and still only have 2 areas to compare.... but at the same time...I love my 2 areas, and would be happy to work with them for the next 9 months! Haha. 

Love you guys!! Lots!!

Sister Craig!

The night of their baptismal interview! We were excited!

They passed out of excitement for beef jerky. Thanks mom!

 Happy Birthday Sister Souza!!!!

Nicoly and Rebecca in the dresses, with mom and grandma!!

The twins and the family that came to support!!

Their uncles got to baptize them!!!

Sister Cortez, Nicoly, Rebecca, Sister Craig

Sister Training Leaders!

September 22, 2014

FAMILY!!! Hi!!! I just miss you all so much, and yes...like you guys can`t believe my half way mark is coming around! Or the fact that our beloved Rachel Condie has finished the mission too! Gall, where has the time gone.... 

Okay, just a really quick funny story that is happening right now. We are in a place that has computers, and one of the guys is singing at the tops of his lungs. And it is hilarious, because everybody is dying laughing...and he still hasn`t realized it.  

Okay, so this week.....was legit! Thursday most importantly. Elder Mazagard of the 70 visited and talked to us. Before I say anything....let me remind all of you that little Sister Craig, who LOVES snow...is dying...melting in this heat we call Brasil. So Thursday, we arrived super early...because if we were going to be late....President said we might as well not arrive. So we arrived EARLY! Haha, but as the whole thing started, we sang the first hymn, said a prayer...anddddd Brasilia runs out of energy. Thats right, no lights, no microphones, no AIR CONDITIONING!!!!!! I think it was for at least 4 hours. Every one was dying...including the Elders in their suit jackets. Hahaha. But outside of this. Elder Mazagard did an AWESOME job. He actually talked about a LOT of things, many different subjects. I think one thing I liked a lot that he said was about Eternity. He asked "How long is eternity?"  And everyone starts responding...forever! A really long time! But he wanted something more than that. And after he told his story of a bird. If a bird once every 1000 years picks ONE GRAIN OF SAND...and he does this with EVERY grain of sand on the earth...THAT moment is when eternity STARTS! And that is our work here! We are helping people find their ETERNITY. Which kind of really put it in perspective. I just sat there like.... I only have 9 months to help a ton of people. No but really, it did nothing but motivate me find and do my best. He talked about a lot of really good things... I could be here all day. 

EVALDO: I don`t even remember what I told you last week. Because it feels like YESTERDAY. But...he is good. He stopped drinking coffee, and officially stopped with smoking. He is progressing super well, and I really believe that with just a bit more time without these things...he will get baptized! Pray for him! And me! 

Today was a Zone Activity. It was fun, as always. And as always we just played a bunch of games. Soccer...Volleyball... Uno... Monopoly. 

This week I am specially grateful for Ice cream. It is getting hotter and hotter by the minute. And ice cream is saving my tushie! But more importantly, I am grateful to know that the Lord`s work is hastening. And that I am part of His work. I am blessed to have been called to serve down here in Brasil. Where the sun  is hot, but the people are sweeter. Every time I hear of somebody finishing the mission, or at the end of transfers, I cringe a little bit. Because it is going so fast! I don`t want to leave Brasil!!! 

LOVE YOU GUYS!! Te amo!!

Tchau!

Sister Craig

Going to see Elder Mazagard!

We woke up 3:30...we had to drink a coke to stay awake! Just on the buses!

Sister Souza!!!

Going to see Elder Mazagard!

 Straight  Sister and Elder thuggin'.

The house we ate lunch at had a ton of ducks and chickens...and one Turkey. Merry Christmas y'all. Ohh wait...Americans would be Happy Thanksgiving!

Irmao just making all their food. Stale Bread and water to make it soggy.... 

Mixin' and a stirrin'

We all laugh a lot. 

Zona Alvorada!!!!! Its a great place to be.