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.... 

Down by the banks.... -December 1, 2014

Family! Whats up? Everybody still living??? Or did everybody die in a food coma? 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!! I totally forgot that it was thanksgiving until I received a phone call. Haha, hilarious Sister Craig, forgot one of her favorite holidays. 

I spent thanksgiving....thinking about Turkey. Delicious.

This week was BUSY! Sister Blair finished her mission, and we sent her right back to the USA. Take care of her there. I cried, a lot. She was such a great missionary. Crieeeeeddddd. 

This week, Carlinhos, a recent-convert, blessed the sacrament!!!! Ah it was awesome!!!! It has been INCREDIBLE and such a BLESSING to work with him, and see him start his life as a member of the true church. And as he said after blessing the sacrament, "The Lord's hand is in my life, and is just leaving blessings." AHHH. THIS IS THE REWARD OF TRUE MISSIONARY WORK. Seeing someone happy, and living the gospel. There is no better reward I could get.

Saturday we found 3 new investigators. And what are their names? Peter, James....Matthew. Haha, we made a goal to find our John. But they are super good people, who accepted to hear the message, happily. 

Sadly, I won't be there for the start of them. I was transfered for Aguas Claras. This area seems super good. It is a big area, and a bit richer. But, it will be great! President and I had an interview talking about the area, and he is thinking there is a lot of Potential. And clearly, I think that. I am SUPER excited to be here. I don't know why, just have a good feeling. 

This week I read a talk, "Consecrated Missionary"....and it took me one a whirl spin. It was an AMAZING talk given to missionaries, about how we can become a Consecrated Missionary, and I am excited to apply it in my life, and apply it to my work. But I got thinking about, how I can apply this after the mission, or maybe, how can I help the members in my ward, become Consecrated Members? That is my question for you guys this week, read the talk....and then apply it YOU as a MEMBER of the True Church.

This week, I am grateful for, obviously, MISSIONARY WORK. I am so so so so so so grateful the Lord has sent me here to be a missionary in the mission Brasilia. I am SO grateful for the billions of experiences I have daily, for the lessons I learn from others, for my leaders, for THIS GOSPEL!

I am happy, and hope you guys are too. I pray that you guys are happy! And i know the Lord answers prayers.... :)

As for Christmas, I arrived now, don't know what area I will be in...but....as the date gets closer, I will be sure to let you know :)

Stay strong and READ YOUR SCRIPTURES!!

LOVE YOU!

Just call her a duck, cause she ain't no goose! -November 24, 2014

Well Family,

It was good to hear from all of you. Glad to here you are all having a BLAST without me! Just kidding! But it is good to hear from everyone, and finally know that you are doing good. 

Julie-- FINALLY you have been converted to Gilmore Girls, thank heavens. 

This week was great! We were able to get a lot of work done. This week, we had one investigator finally go to church!!!! So he is the spouse of a recent convert from 2 transfers ago, and they haven't been able to get him, and when I arrived, we really started working with him. And finally this sunday he went to church! And he LOVED it!!!!! His name is Antonio Filho (Its like Antonio Jr.) and he is great. His wife and his brother-in-law are recent converts. Carlinhos (brother in law) has been going out and teaching with us, and it has been really cool. This week he had his 1 month as a member anniversary. But it looks like he has years. He is 24, and thinking about serving a mission. Which would be awesome, because his testimony is INCREDIBLE. He is always bearing his testimonies with his friends/co-workers. We are teaching his friend, Wellington. It has been awesome working and seeing Carlinhos and everybody grow!

This week, was also a big week for Nilson. He is going to be baptized December 7th. He is a shy kid, with hardly nobody in his life. And he has been working really hard on stopping smoking and drinking coffee. It was been a wonderful experience seeing him adapt his life with the gospel principles. It is amazing, how the spirit can testify so quickly for somebody, and they are willing to drop life-time habits so quickly. 

Today we had a Zone Activity------where we played....MAFIA!!! I was dying, lets be honesty, I was super good because I have had a LOT of practice! But I couldn't just help to walk down memory lane a little bit thinking of my big family back there in the states. 

Anyways, I am good. Listening to Christmas music all the time....and sweating....all the time! 

Sorry this week was so short. It is because we only have 1 hour now to write and do everything...so its like we have no time at all. Literally.

LOVE YOU ALL! Next week--- Transfers.

Renata! She got us this cake!!! 

Saying goodbye to Tati and Bea.....hardest thing ever!

Renata!!! 

Sister Blair and I being weird.

I got a chance to say goodbye to some Gama people....Dani!!!! A recent convert of mine :) 

Antonio (investigator) and Josy's (Recent Convert) daughter, Isadora!!!

​My new zone, yes Zona Brasilia. 

A cool mural of things in Brasilia. 

Guara 1-Gama-Guara 2 -November 17, 2014

Family Family,

Glad to hear all are in the Christmas mood, becuase I keep forgetting here in Brasil that its almost Christmas. Where is the snow? haha.

Okay, this week.....was just alright. I got emergency transfered, and was not expecting it. It was a hard move. I love love love love Gama. Truly felt like I was in Heaven, and really truly became part of the small town family in the ward there. I am going to be in Guara 2 with the Sister Training Leaders until transfer. I love these sisters. Sister Blair and Sister Marques. They are awesome, and work really hard. Guara 2 is practically the same area as my first area. My first area was Guara 1, we share the same chapel the same pretty much everything. So returning here was a little shock. Felt like I restarted my mission again. But it has been good getting to know more members here in Guara 2, and seeing the old ones.

I had one of the coolest (and funniest) moments happen in my last week of Gama. This week we moved houses. I asked Bishops brother (less-active) to help us because he has a truck. I like joking around with him alot. Actually, he finally started opening up to sisters because we were FRIENDS first, and after missionaries. So he arrived a little bit late, and was super frustrated when he arrived. His car wasn't working right, and wasn't starting....and I jokingly said....its because you don't have enough faith. He kind of looked at me like..."This is not the time" but smiled and said bugg off sister. Then I said (jokingly) "Its because you didn't PRAY!" Then I said a prayer out loud, as if I was him "Heavenly Father, please help my car work right so i can help the sisters. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen." And then I yelled, NOW TRY IT!....and in the same moment...he tried it, and his car worked perfectly the rest of the night. When it worked right after the prayer, I kind of started laughing...cause I was kind of just joking around with him, and he started laughing because.... it actually worked!!! GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS, joking our not. It was honestly a moment for me that I needed. God is listening. In every moment,he is there. 

As for investigators, I am getting to know all of them in Guara 2. I didn't have MANY opportunities to teach because 2 days we moved houses, and then after that I was transfered, and am getting to know the area and everything.

But I know that the Lord has plans for me. I am excited for these 2 weeks, to work with these Sisters who are great! And I loved Guara 1, so why wouldn't I love Guara 2?? Sorry this letter was short, but....thats life.

Love you all! Praying for you! Keep up the christmas cheer for me! It just doesn't feel like christmas in the sun!

Sister Craig

Helping hands-- OPEN HOUSE! -November 10, 2014

I am speechless. 

CONGRATS TO JEFF AND JESSICA!!!!!!! I can't believe I have a new baby girl to take care of when I get back!!!!!!! Tell her not to grow too much. Because I like seeing them when they are little and cute. Ahhhh, how exciting. 

This week was.......busy....but not the good kind of busy. This week we were put to do the Helping Hands...... it was Saturday, I think nationally? Well here in Gama, we did an Open House in the chapel. We had dentist, doctors, blood donating place, fireman, psychologist, and a lot of other services that were free for the public. Tuesday they gave our Zone 5,000 invites to give to everyone in the road, and asked that this be our focus this week. So this week were dedicated talking about Helping Hands Open House. The community got excited, announced it on the radio..... and it was really cool. A lot of people were able to come and receive these free services, that are usually pretty expensive here. One thing that was cool, is when they entered they filled out a piece of paper with there address, and everything and we received their addresses as references, and our pretty excited to hear what they thought and begin to teach them. 

This week we also had a lot of Service Projects with members and investigators... One investigator who is going to have a baby any moment here, asked that we help her with all the baby clothes, washing, ironing, organizing. So we were able to help her and she was super grateful for this. We had one Irma who she makes cakes, sweets...for parties, weddings....and she makes super cool cakes. Anyways, she had a wedding that she had to make 600 sweets, the wedding cake, and last minute they added more stuff. So she called us and we spent the day there helping her wrap everything all cutsie. But its always fun helping her and learning how to make the cakes, all the secrets and tricks. I feel like I am on the TV show Cupcake wars, or Cake boss! 

This week they asked us 4 sisters, and 4 Elders to clean the entire chapel. Let me say--- the chapel here is 2 chapels there in the US put together. Its 2 levels, and HUGE. GIGANTIC. So we spent friday night, mopping and squeegeeing (spelling?)  the tile floors in these 2 levels. It was a blast.

And between all of this, we are moving houses TODAY. So this week, in the small spare time we had, we were packing, cleaning our apartment. And as tired as we are, we still have to do a lot, and move all of our stuff and laundry machine....fridge....tonight at 6. Where are my 3 hefty brothers when I need them? Haha. 

This week was exhausting but still, we are happy.

Dani!! She helped us all the nights handing out the invites, telling people about this activity. And she said....I am not even fully talking about the gospel, just about the church, and I am happy. I can't wait to be a sister! My heart just gleams when she says these things. And I know it will help her family accept the gospel too. 

This week Bishops brother, who is inactive, finally opened up with us, and is going to start making the effort. Saturday he went to the church to drop his mom off, and we got him to stay and do some of the things that were there. And then he offered his truck to help us move today. I can see the desire he has to return to church, and I got so happy when I saw that. I have been working little by little with him, and now he is starting to grow....little by little. But it was really cool to see Bishop, and his mom, see him progress and how he was happy INSIDE the church, doing something OF THE CHURCH.

 I learned how to completely trust in the Lord this week. I learned that he has a timing in EVERYTHING we do, or others do.

Okay, what I really want to do, is send out specific emails this week to those that wrote, because I am just so excited with all of the good news that happened there in the States. 

But I LOVE YOU ALL! And I pray for you every night. 

Beijos. Te amo.

Tchau!

Sister Craig

TIDAL WAVE!!!!!!! -November 3, 2014

HI FAMILY!!!! 

I am just going to cut right to the point, mainly because I don't know if you all are good, bad or if ebola ate you all up. But....

This week was awesome!

Our zone has had a challenge of finding 30 new investigators these past weeks, every set of us. It was cool, because we spent most of our days just talking to people in the road. Finding the weirdest ways to talk to some of them. Because, I don't know if you know this, but sometimes, we need to have a little fun in our day. And doing the same things every day can get a little old. So we started to make contacts with people who were wearing t-shirts that had the American flag (yes, a lot of people wear this), and we started talking about how I am American. Or we talked to every person that had a child with them. Or if they were standing by a tree, we had to talk to them.....we thought of the weirdest things. But it was cool, cause we were able to open right up with the people, and show them that we are fun and normal, but then quickly after, how we have something to show them. And it paid off, we were able to find a lot of new investigators this week that are awesome!

DANI GOT BAPTIZED!!!! This week, we worked A LOT with her, answering any last questions, interview, and with the new rule of teaching lesson 5 BEFORE baptism, we were running. One night, we were trying to find her a jumpsuit to be baptized in and she sat us down wanting to show us a video. At first, I thought...its gonna e one that talks bad about our church. But it was a video that a news channel here made about how Mormons are growing fast here in Brazil. They talked about our canning, our family history, about how we are the first to help in any worldly disaster. It was a really cool lesson. Keep in mind, we had planned to talk about Temples and Family History this night. During the video, she pointed and said "This is the coolest part"....and it started talking about our Family History Center. Afterwards when we explained more about Family History and Temples, she said, "Every whole that I had in my heart before I met you two, is being filled with this gospel. I have always wanted to know more about my family, where I came from...and now I have this opportunity to do that!" It was an awesome lesson, and as I testified about how when we do this work, we gain more of God's angels, I felt the presence of a lot angels there. And I knew in that moment the importance of Family History...and Temple work. OH HOW I LOVE THIS GOSPEL.

Sunday was great, Dani got baptized! It was a little funny. I filled the baptismal font, and when it got high enough, I turned it off. But then a couple members did something with it, because they thought it was still on, and as she walked in the font, we all realized how close it was, that when she would go under....water would flow of EVERY open space. It was a....a butt squeezer, but we managed, to avoid the flood of Noah's Ark. Good thing she is tiny. It was an awesome day for her. Her mom came, and the entire ward was there to support her. And she chose Bruno, a young man in our ward, to baptize her. It was his first baptism, and honestly was perfect to help him. Also, seeing as how yesterday was Testimony meeting, but before the baptism, DANI BORE HER TESTIMONY. She turned to me during a testimony and said "Sister, I feel like I should go up there, because I think I have a lot to share. But you need to come with me." As I looked at the members during her testimony, every single one of them was crying, and I know it was through her courageous spirit, and her firm testimony that each and every single one of us felt the spirit. 

Yesterday was a holiday here in Brasil. It is like day of the dead. We planned an activity that we took some members and all of us went to the cemetery. For 3 hours, we just talked to everyone...because it was SUPER busy, and everyone was super open to receive our messages. It was really cool helping them understand the plan our lovingly Heavenly Father has given us, and that there really is no reason to be sad when someone passes on. It was cool seeing our members go out there and share their testimony. And I know the blessings it brings when we share our testimony, without or without a missionary name-tag, when we extend our hands and help others understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I am grateful to be an instrument in his hands. I know that we have great opportunities to help others receive this gospel, both living and dead. I know, and understand the importance of Family History. I am grateful for this opportunity. I am grateful to bring this joy to others. I am in love with Brasil. 

Love  you guys! Miss you!!! Praying for you always. Go out and teach the people near and dear to you!!

It was raining one morning...... :)

S. Cortez, Dani's mom, Dani, Me, Vitoria (another recent convert)

Dani, her mom, and some of the cake the members made for her!

Bruno, Dani and I!!! What a lovely day!

The main event! Baptizer and Baptize-ee. 

Happy days!

Some of the members in the cemetery..... and ya, we are sitting on a tomb.... i was super not okay with it, but my feet were KILLING.