Busy Week

It was a crazy day (Christmas) though, I took a bus to get home, we got permission to stay at a member’s house because for the Portuguese Pai Natal comes at midnight and that’s when they open their presents and is the big time of Christmas, I like our way much better. Anywho so we took a bus to get back home then, we had to catch a train to get to a members house and there we watched Mr. Kruger’s Christmas and some musician with bad hair but was very good on the violin and his orchestra was pretty spiffy too. It really wasn’t that fun being at some one’s house where it’s like I don’t know you, but the food was good and they were kind. Like I said though, it was really good to ponder on what Christmas is about this year, and focus on trying to serve people and the Lord really comforted me. Not being able to sufficiently talk to every member of my family was the only depressing thing, oh well its part of the rules and I do want to be obedient. It was sooo good to hear from everyone though. So sheesh I really didn’t get to tell you about my week, it was one for the records. First off it started out by us locking ourselves out of our house, it cost me thirty euros for not listening to the spirit, so let that be a lesson to you. So that ate up our P-day I think I told you that. Then travelling to zone conference it was in Maia and I’ve only been there by car, anywho we watched our train leave, so we had a get a later one which made us late anyway and then when we got there we had no idea where to go and no one was answering there phone. Well I finally got a hold of my zone leader and he said that we needed to catch the 205 bus after we got off at the last stop of the metro(and then we’d see the chapel)-well we caught it, just caught it going the wrong way) so it took us an hour, we ended up being 2 hours late to zone conference >_> I was so tired and befuzzeled and of course everyone has to mention that you got lost SIGH oh well that’s life. So I. Svedin wasn’t the warmest to me that was sad because I was excited to see her, same with the other people in my old district, which was kind of a let down, oh well. It was good though, I had fun and like always it’s nice to be with the other missionaries. We ended up getting home when we should have gone to sleep >_> Then district meeting the next day was really good the spirit was strong and all and later that night we found a couple through carolling door to door, they were the only ones who would listen to us, they live next door to a member so this could be good. Then we celebrated Christmas with Brazilians which was great because even though I don’t know them they’re Brazilians and very open and friendly and loving and they sure do love to party. So that was good we watched the work and the G –you know how much I adore that. So all and all it was a really good, crazy, tiring, stressful week, but I’m happy and I still love my comp even though it’s not the easiest to communicate, it’s good, I’m glad for this situation now, oh what a difference 8 months makes. Oh man though mom there were so many things I wanted to talk to you about like Sister Merrill, some one needs to give Molly a hug for me. Also to tell Trevor Feliz Natal for me. I totally wouldn’t have cried but I didn’t have time enough to talk to you. It was just so good to hear everyone and talk to them—I was so sleep deprived though. I do love you mamma and I was glad I was able to say that even though the call didn’t go the way that I wanted. Oh yeah we also had a baptism and it ran smoothly I am so grateful to the Lord for that, we were blessed and that sweet sweet spirit was present when he got baptized I love it, that’s why need to baptize more people-yes-oh it’s crazy to do a baptism for someone you just met, it will be great though, and good for that family, they were less active so he didn’t get baptized at age 8 and then they became reactivated and my comp brought up baptism with him and he got really excited but that family will now be able to have the priesthood in there home, when he receives it. It’s a poor little Cabo Verdian family a mom 2 girls and him Tiago. They wonderful though. So yeah that’s about it for my week.

This and That

I hope you had a wonderful Chirstmas and a better time talking with Trevor. I love you and can’t wait to talk to you again. Have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY and Irmã Polito wishes you a happy birthday too. Oh tell Liam happy birthday for me too on Wednesday wow another 2 year old in the family. Why would I not like my presents I love all of them I'm so grateful that I even got them, and both my comps too, I gave Irmã Becketts stocking stuff to Irmã Polito because she only got a card from her family. Oh and my toothpaste I have my crest again I'm so happy! You rock mom you did a great job^!~

Christmas Gift

Carmal Corn, drool....anywho the Lord is kind and gave me a Christmas gift, I love Coimbra, I love my comp she's was cool and I can feel the spirit and the love and the warmth from the ward here. I know things aren't going to be perfect but it's nice to be in a new area, although it is tough being away from the people I created bonds with to replace the people I love back at home---oh well so I've been given a time and I do believe that I will call you I've been given 5:10pm which is like 10:05am your time December the 25th-get that day right too, hopefully that doesn't mess up anything. We have our zone conference Christmas party tomorrow so that's exciting. Um other news it took me 8 months in the mission but we got locked out of our house, YAY that ate up our P-day >_> Wow Christmas already, that was 7 months ago--that's less than my time on the mission---

I've Been Transfered! :)

Well it only took 30 weeks but I’m finally leaving my beloved G-Town, so a new companion, new district, ward, investigators and área for Christmas yay…don’t miss my marked enthusiasm in what’s about to transpire, actually I’m the saddest about not going to the Marinhos for Christmas Eve, they invited us and well that’s that. It will be good, I’m very excited for a change; it’s so unreal to think that I’ll be leaving Guimarães, there aren’t even words to describe what I learned and have gone through here. So you’re all probably dying to find out where I’m going, you ready you ready, Coimbra-yay-the city with the first university in Portugal, a lot of students live there and get this they have 2 WARDS I know unheard of. So I’m back with a brazilara who I think she understands but doesn’t speak so well which is perfect for me because I’m still prideful and I don’t speak it a lot and you know me I’m not going to ask someone to slow down or say it again, I don’t like to allow people to have patience with me, I know it’s horrible. I’m glad to be able to switch companions it’s been a rough 2 transfers, I love her and all, and sometimes I liked her but let’s just say finally. It’s so funny here, it’s nice not to have to worry about the Christmas play anymore, these Ramo members are so funny, because they like to complicate things, and then argue with one another and it’s like hello remember the purpose of this and our message. It was good though, and it’s over, and I played the piano, I do want to learn how to play it better when I get back.Investigator news, Leonilde is still completely difficult she was reading the Book of Mormon; she has been coming to church though, so that’s progress, she loves to learn and read and participate, but still so prideful and not completely willing to let go of her JW ways. She came to our play and was a part of it. She’s cute though a very spunky person but kind of borders on bipolar, she lets you know when she’s up and down. Then finally we marked Christina, YAY also we’ve had I. Alberta going with us to her house and it’s been fun to see the changes the family is making. The mother said she didn’t believe in Christ before she believed that God didn’t help the poor but when I. Alberta called them to repentance and was like I WILL buy the bus ticket (for her brother to go back to Romania) that renewed her faith in God and she’s been listening and learning to although it’s really hard because she doesn’t really speak Portuguese and can’t read. Oh well it will be interesting to see what conspires, I can’t believe I’m leaving. It’s been wonderful to be on a mission and really ponder about life, about the Gospel and about our Savior. Also principals such as faith, hope, prayer, charity and all that other good stuff. I have such a grand testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth, that God again has called a prophet to restore His church and that Joseph Smith was that prophet. I am so grateful to have been blessed with you all in my life, such grand examples of faith and courage. I love you all so much, and miss you I can’t even begin to describe how much, but I know why I’m here and my message is so very important. I love you all thanks for everything have a grand week.

Mothers

I've been thinking about mothers a lot as of late. We went to Claudia's house to talk with her mom, she's not a member it's tragic she broke her leg and she just misses her so much and doesn't completely understand, it made me think of you, but I know who I'm serving right now and that makes it all okay. We almost got Christina to church, we had a ride for her and everything but she slept in and then felt bad and called when sacramemt was starting, so no one could go get her, but Lionilde came and Antonio Lobo a less active came so it was good plus it was a good fast in testimony meeting, my 8th one in Guimarães only seven left till I come home-wow

Aubrey Plays the Piano

Well what’s there to say about this week except that I have empathy pains for all those missionaries who have had sick companions. That’s what I did for part of the week, my companion couldn’t keep anything down, so we got to stay in and I sure don’t recommend it. So I’ve basically forgotten everything I wanted to talk about not much to report. We’re doing a Christmas program, us missionaries are in charge which is sad because we don’t have time and so we’ve done things but it’s not organized out to how it should be, anywho we had that practice yesterday and I just sat back and laughed, that’s all you have to do when things aren’t going well, find the humor and joy in things, that’s what I’m learning. Also you know it’s pretty sad when they have me playing the piano for them, that’s the great thing about the mission you get to use your sad little talents that are not developed and develop them more.

Sad Little Letter

This is a sad little letter this week I’m sorry but with my companion being out I didn’t get around to much. One of our investigators came to church, she’s the JW, she had so much pride, I’m thinking she knows it’s true but doesn’t want to admit it, because that would make her wrong for all that long time and well I understand I’m prideful like her, but we’ll keep working with her. It’s so very pretty here, I’ll try to show some of my pictures if I have time. I love you all have a grand week! Oh we finally got the Conference talks and oh how wonderful they are, I love being a member of the only true church on the earth. Also reading Jesus the Christ that book is amazing and wonderful and all those other great coiases.

A Funny Story

Oh I do have a funny story we went to visit I. Julieta and who knew an 81 year old Portuguese woman loved the President of California so much, she kept trying to make us watch it (Terminator 3), and we’re like Irmã can we sing a hymn and she’s like yeah yeah wait, Irmã! She’s hilarious, she’s upset with her kids, she one of those blunt little old ladies, anywho she said she’s going to stay in bed and fast on Christmas…we’ll see. Wow I have no idea where I’ll be for Christmas. I love you all this Gospel is true, I know Christ is my Lord and my Savior I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve Him. You all know the reason for the season, have a great one. Love and miss you all!

My Testimony

So this church is so true and I love my Savior and everything that he has done for me. I know He loves us and He has suffered everything for us truly the principals of the Gospel will make us happy and guide us through, Faith in Him and in His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Ha we just watched Legacy for P-day because my comps never seen it and wanted to watch it in English. The pioneers are so my hero, their faith and dedication will forever astound me. So this week, was well interesting.

Thanksgiving in Braga

Monday went to Braga, I already went on about that. Thanksgiving was pretty fun, we went to Braga Wednesday night and then went to the church right away and started cooking the turkey. We had two turkeys the Elders deep fried one, the size of a small child. There was a lot of food too-so it was a perfect Thanksgiving Day feast. They were able to play football, which I had to stay in and be with the Irmãs >_> we watched The Best Two Years, which means so much more now, and also played Taboo in Portuguese, I wasn’t digging on that. So yay Thanksgiving down, and I will see all of you next year. It was fun with the Braga sisters. Oh I was able to celebrate with Elder Johnson, Sister Matthews’s grandson.

Testimony of Prayer

So I received a testimony of prayer this week, truly the Lord answers our prayers, when we pray in faith and with real intent. I’m really learning about that and re-learning. Things are kind of on the down right now. We really need to find some new investigators. Oh well I have faith that they’ll want to start progressing. We went to Vizela and it wasn’t sad. We caught Gracielle at home but she told us to come back later, so we did, and then she’s like oh sorry I’m not going to be home SIGH. It’s good though, we’re helping the ward with the Christmas play and a lot of other things. It’s so stinking cold here too cold for penguins; seriously I don’t like the cold! Oh well 5 more months right. It doesn’t help with contacting.

What an Experience!

The best experience of the whole week had to be last night. We got a ride from one of the members Irmã Alberta, she’s the one that is the girlfriend of Domingos, anywho she was going to drop us off at an investigators house, Christina, the Romanian. Well she gets out of the car when we get there (she’s a little fire cracker of a woman, not afraid to speak her mind) Anywho my comp was freaking out but I was like just have faith, honestly I’m learning so much to just put it in the Lords hands, and not worry. Well we’ve had it tough with her because her family has no money and sick people back in Romania and they can’t get a job and the list goes on and on. So when we would call and he found out that we can’t give him money and our friend could (our mission pres) he would hang up and tell us she wasn’t there. So I. Alberta goes in there and bam all of a sudden is like “Vocês têm fé!” Do you have faith, Do you believe, then she’s all you need to pray and obey the commandments (there’s no way I can give this justice) Then she went on to teach and promise and was like I have no money but I will buy you a bus ticket. Then she got on the mom and was like you need to obey the word of wisdom and on she’s like do you love your children, and then you will stop smoking and on. No not always the best way to go about it, but in this situation it was needed. The part that made me the happiest was Domingos, he was teaching them about prayer and the word of wisdom ^^ yay for my recent convert, he’s getting it.I hope everyone is doing well, and keeping the faith, what a word, it’s amazing the depth of the Gospel, and it’s so true. I honestly urge you all too yes read The Book of Mormon, and read Jesus the Christ, such a rad book. I’m excited for this time of year to focus more on Christ. What better thing to be doing then constantly testifying of him. I love you all so much, have a great week.

Blessings

Oh my precious mother and dear sister, it stinks to be away from you two right now, it truly sinks, but the Lord is kind and has comforted me a lot, it's been really difficult to be away at this time, but I know there's a purpose and a reason for everything and this week was actually pretty busy so I didn't focus on it to much. I love you two both so much and I hope you are doing well. I guess D&C 58 is really good for right now. I am so glad to hear all is well and that he is doing so much better and breathing on his own what a great relief to my poor little soul. The Lord is blessing me though and I feel His love and just I'm grateful for how blessed he is, also D&C 31 helped, the part where it says and your family shall live ^^ I just love the scriptures. Well have a great turkey day and I'll try not to be thinking about being away from home. You know you're in my prayers I love you both sooo much. Have a wonderful week.

Braga-ed Out! :D

I basically spent all of last week on a bus-good times and great oldies, not really I’ve been to Braga like 4 times in the past 6 days, I’m all Bragaed out, but wait there’s more, we’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving together as a zone with food, football, and a program of some sort I don’t know. Anywho we had Zone Conference on Tuesday and that was a lot of fun and really good too. We had Elder Wander or something like that, he’s from Austria, anywho he talked about goal setting and expectations and as always zone conferences are a good pump up and a good time to re-evaluate what my purpose and role is here on a mission.

Irma Evans, The Planter

This week was actually really good and I was able to go back to Braga on a division and see the progress of investigators that my comp and I found and started teaching back in May. Also I like the Irmã I was with Irmã Souza she’s from Brazil and learned English on the mission but I was able to speak more of my tragic Portuguese with her so it was great practice. She’s awesome though and we had a great night, it’s so weird continually going back to Braga, its good it’s nice being able to watch the seeds that I planted grow. I’m so a planter, I have less than 8 months to work on being something else. Wow how it humbles you speaking in a different tongue, that’s all I have to say on that subject.

A Change.

This week was also kind of hard because there has been a change in the weather and sickness has struck, but not so horrible that it has deterred the work. We went to Vizela on Thursday and taught a man the Plan of Salvation in the park out in the cold, so that was fun, we really need to get members involved with his teaching so we can do it inside in the warmth. Really this past week was good, last Monday was hard, with the news of Matty, but I felt the Lord comforting me telling me it will all be okay, especially when I read mom and Carrie’s letter I felt a great peace, and that little one is in my prayers and I’m praying with all my heart that he’ll be okay and get out of the hospital and be healthy. Oh speaking of prayer we had a neat experience.

I Believe in Miracles!

On Saturday we went to Braga for a street meeting, I was able to draw the Plan of Salvation with side walk chalk again, that made me feel good I feel I can better contribute that way and using my talents is always great. Anyway we had a sack of things that the other Irmã left at our casa, and I had a sweater and a book in there too. Well the Irmãs de Braga were sick and so they didn’t come and my companion spaced bringing the sack back, I thought the Elders de Braga knew about it but they didn’t and we called them and they had no idea where it was and they even checked back. Well of course my comp felt awful, for forgetting it, and losing other peoples things. So we both prayed about it and I did have faith that it would turn up. Well the next day we get a call, the Elders did another street meeting there on Sunday and the man that cleans up the park are whatever it is gave it to the Elders and was like they left this here can you give it to them. So yay a little miracle I do believe in miracles yes I do.

Great Work.

Oh I love this church, I love the scriptures and just lately I’ve been pondering on how true it is and just how important it is to let others know that. I’m grateful to be a part of this great work and to help Portugal grow; being here only makes me incredibly grateful for what I have back at home. I hope Matthew is doing better I hope you all are okay. I love you all so much. So have a Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. I know Joseph Smith was and is a prophet I know Jesus Christ is our Savior, King, Redeemer, friend and older brother. He loves us and has given us everything. Again I love you all, enjoy your Thanksgiving such a fixe holiday.

Sweet is the Work!

Well I’m definitely being blessed because this past week has been different than most of my time here in Guimarães, dinner appointments and investigators and investigators that come to church. Hmm where to start where to start, how about from the beginning.Monday-everything fell through and I was like oh snap-but it was good we went to visit the less actives in our ward. We went to Gloria, I don’t know if I’ve told you about her but she has much pride and was offended and basically her way of thinking is wacked, anywho she has much pride and we didn’t leave her off very well last time when I. Svedin was still here, anyway she let us in and you could just feel the animosity and hate it was gross and awkward, but we sang her a hymn and left a little message and that brought the spirit back, I like those experiences because you can really tell the difference and taste the sweetness the spirit brings.

Trust in the Lord

Tuesday- We went for our first appointment with our JW and wow, she has much pride too, and is very much a JW, but I know the Lord put her in our path for a reason. Can an ex-communicated JW go back? I don’t know how it works for them. Anyway she’s really nice and has fun open personality, she loves to talk and she loves to learn and she came to church and brought her husband it was wonderful. Anywho it was frustrating because my language is lacking and my comps gospel knowledge is lacking, but it was fun to go home and find scriptures and all that good stuff to show her next time. I know it’s all about showing love, listening and making sure the spirit is present, and trusting in the Lord that is the only way we’ll be able to do this. Because she is so very JW sigh, but she is an investigator none the less. Then we had dinner with our old bishop, they’re Bulgarian and stinking SMART, but they’re fun and they’re a taste of what home is like of course we started talking about America and the humbling process going on with what a second depression coming on, I don’t know is it really all that bad over there, that’s one thing I like about the mission, no focusing on that stuff and worrying. I do love the Gospel though because we know that whatever happens if we put our trust and confidence in the Lord He will see us through and give us comfort and strength.

The Spirit and Change

Wedensday-We went to Antonio Lobo´s he’s African and I love going there because there´s always a good feeling in their home, and he came to church too yay! Thursday we watched Finding Faith in Christ with our Neighbor and the spirit was so strong, but she’s like a 70 year old lady and I know she’s feeling something but she doesn’t want to change—SIGH! That’s what most the sentiment is here in Guimarães, because the old people will talk to you but they’re not going to change. We got fed again by members so that was nice.

It Was a Great Day :-)

Friday-We went to Porto for interviews and that was basically my day, exciting I know. Saturday was awesome we had some one that we contacted in Vizela call us back-that like never happens and he was there where he said he was going to be and we taught him and yay we have another meeting with him. Plus we saw Gracielle, she said she prayed but she didn’t receive and answer yet >.> and Alexandria didn’t ditch out on our appt. her brother was in an accident and so she was at the hospital. We got back and had a magusta with our ward, that’s like a chestnut roasting, chestnuts are really big here. Anywho it was fun kids that came to play soccer came and joined in and they loved don’t eat pete-we were in charge of games. Then we went to Lionilde again and boy can that lady talk wow.

Our Life is Rich

Sunday I gave a talk on prayer and church was good, and we went to Christina it’s so sad they’re family has no money and they’re Romanian, and she just has a really difficult life but she’s a very good person and spunky, she’s 16 it’s going to be hard to teach her because she doesn’t understand gospel vocabulary in Portuguese. She basically learned Portuguese by listening to people talk. All I know is I’m so forever grateful for the home I had how rich I am so rich, I miss that wonderful home like none the other but I wouldn’t trade what I’m experiencing for anything. You are all so wonderful and I thank you all for your support. I know this church is true that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet and that Jesus is the Christ the only way back to our Father.

I Love the Autumn Here!

Missionaries in Guiamares

Hump Day

For those of you who know and love Aubs, you will get a kick out of what she said about her Hump Day package.

The first package was great but that second one completely threw me off I was like what the...did she forget something..but no my hump day YAY I LOVE that camel love it, it's my blanket replacement, I miss my blanket terribly I'll let you know ora bem.

Blessings

So this week seemed to drag on unbelievably long, but we were blessed and my testimony just grows stronger and stronger of this gospel. Monday-we were waiting for a bus to go to a recent converts and a man came up to us and started talking to us, it was a complete shock, that just doesn’t happen, sadness though, our bus came at that moment, but we left him our number and a pamphlet boy do I love those things. We had a good time we watched Finding Faith in Christ with her, and that movie always brings the spirit and makes me think of different things about our Saviors life. Then she showed us a CD she had with the hymns in Portuguese, that’s a hot commodity here, because you can’t get them in Portuguese. One of the missionaries gave it to her; it was Brazilian Portuguese oh well.

Rejection

Tuesday-we won’t talk about Tuesday >.> Nor Wednesday, nor even really Thursday, let’s just say none of our investigators wanted to talk to us this week or keep their appointments. Well actually Wednesday night was awesome, we went to a less active member’s house and watched the Restoration, they’re from Africa, anywho I think it touched him and his mom watched it with us, she’s a sweet lady and said she liked it a lot. The spirit was present and just a warm and happy feeling was there. I love Joseph Smith and I love the Restoration, everything about it, it so true and it makes so much sense.

New Investigator

Friday, we went with the Elders to Domingos, we had to take a bus, when we got there he said he didn’t know if a bus came at the time we were planning on going back so we were like oh great. So we walked there anyway and were waiting when this lady came up to us and started talking with us. She told us she was a JW for 20 years and got excommunicated and that when she was in Maia she went to our church but she moved and didn’t know there was one close by. So yay new investigator, I do believe she has a lot of hang ups, so we’ll see what her story is. I was just thinking earlier that day, because we had a really hard time contacting people were just not nice, and I was thinking about the ram in the thicket, that when we show our faith the Lord will provide He will I have a testimony of that. So another blessing from the Lord she asked us if we wanted a ride back, so we all shoved in the back seat of her car, I got to sit on my companions lap.

Golden Opportunity

Saturday-Gracielle hates us T_T we were on the bus and we get a texts saying that the appt. didn’t work, but we were on the bus and I’m like we can do other things in Vizela. When we were ready to leave, we were walking through the park and I found a wallet, and I’m like we need to do something with this, let’s take it to the police, there wasn’t any information in it though, and it was basically chump change, so we were pondering what to do, so we went and asked the bolo shop man, where the police station was, and on the way we looked in another compartment and found a recite with a man´s name and a road, so that’s where it began we asked an old man who tried but had to call a friend over, that friend led us to the police station, the police man told us to go back and ask someone cause the road was back where we were, so we asked a lady and she wasn’t from Vizela so we asked a man who told us, it was a long road so we asked men in a café and they were no help so we knocked on a door to see if they knew him, she didn’t and asked her neighbor and then she led us up to where she thought he lived, no one was home so she knocked on a neighbors door and the lady came out and showed us the real house she knocked but no answer so we went to another neighbor and she went and knocked and finally the owner of the wallet was found. Yay about 12 more people had contact with the church. Seriously though, it’s all about doing little acts of service to open people’s hearts because they are so Catholic here and very very closed off, not open to anything. So that was fun.

This and That From Portugal

Sunday-We had Stake Conference; it was wonderful to be with a bunch of Mormons again, it was fun to see the other missionaries and the members from Braga. We also inherited a new investigator from the Elders so you’ll hear about her more next week. So the scripture that hit me this week was in D&C 58 about Zion’s camp, after much tribulations cometh the blessings. I love you all so very much I know my Savior lives and that the Atonement is real that as we apply it and think about it, it will heal us. I love all of you so much thank you for the support and love you give. You all rock have a wonderful week.

Another 6 Weeks in Guimaraes!

Eu vou ficar em Guimarães por mais 6 semanas. Sigh that’s a lot of time in one city, but the Lord knows best-pois-sigh. I’m both happy and sad, it’s means no packing, I still know who and where everything is, I’m accustomed to my comp, and yeah. Tragedy is it’s the same old stuff, and I’m going to leave a week before Christmas, that’s when the next transfer is ….Anywho obviously I haven’t found who I’m suppose to here, or the Lord is being very kind to me allowing me to stay with my comp who is fluent in both languages, that’s a great blessing. The language, ha ha yeah it’s still taking a while. I keep having disturbing dreams where I’m at home but I really don’t know the language all that well, I keep having them it’s not helping with my psyche or whatever that word is.

Halloween in Guimaraes

So I was able to keep with the tradition of Halloween this year, going door to door ^^ I know that’s why we celebrate that pagan holiday, its good preparation for the mission or at least how the only three trick or treaters I saw here. They don’t really celebrate Halloween here, it’s here but nowhere compared to the USA. Anywho we saw 2 witches and a ghost and we were walking and they came up to us and asked us for candy, we gave them pass a long cards^^ Then an old lady was like “They came here last year asking for candy, I didn’t have any so I gave them cookies and a cake” it was funny but that was it for trick or treaters. They celebrate Dia dos Santos, it’s a flower vender holiday, there were flowers everywhere and everyone goes to the cemetery, it’s to remember your dead day, basically.

I am Irma Beckett for Halloween ! Lame, I know but what can a missionary do?

Silver Linnings!

Okay Saturday was the day of amazement because every other day, was just sad, all our new investigators didn’t want to talk to us, and Linda basically told us not to come back, SIGH I was really sad after that, oh well we will persevere. Anywho finally FINALLY after a month of going to Vizela we caught Gracielle at home and watched the Restoration with her, the spirit was present and we had a good lesson, and it was wonderful, pray for her that she’ll receive an answer-porfavor! We also started talking to this one lady who I thought she was another lady, turned out back in June we knocked her door but we couldn’t go in. So she knew my companions but I didn’t know who she was, she seemed really interested to have us, we were going to show her the Restoration, but her husband started freaking out and yelling, and it was bad, but she said we could come back, she has an adorable little son. Then after getting back from Vizela we helped a lady walk up a mountain with her groceries, we had a good lesson with her while walking and talking, she was very open that’s kind of a rarity here, a happy person she was, that’s a rarity too.So yes another 6 weeks in Guimarães, it will be good.

My Testimony is Growing

I still have much to improve upon that’s for sure. My relationship with the Lord is growing stronger and stronger, I love that about the mission and just learning about life in general and finally growing up in a way ^^ of course I’m still pathetic in a lot of ways oh well. I know more than anything else in this world that this is the only true church on the earth, that’s its Christ church and it’s the only way to everlasting happiness. That it’s good and true and wonderful, I am so grateful that I was born in America, what a blessing. I know that President Monson is the prophet today and what a blessing he is. I know Joseph Smith was and is a prophet that the Book of Mormon is true and the best book on the earth. I know my Father lives that He knows each one of us personally, and that Christ is my Savior Redeemer and King. I’m so grateful that He is my advocate. That is my testimony and it will just keep growing-YAY. I love and miss you all. Read Jesus the Christ, it’s amazing, you just have to get past chpt. 6 and it all flows from there. Again I love you and miss you all.
Random picture that Aubrey sent of Irma Svedin and Irma Evans and friends.

Listening and Being Obedient

Okay so I had a grand experience this past week, I want to bear my testimony to you about being obedient or at least trying your best to be. The Zone Leaders wanted us to contact 10 people a day. I had forgotten about this until Elder Mortensen was asking for the weekly numbers and asked how many we had contacted, it was a sad number, and I’ve been thinking of the Atonement a lot and getting over fears, being humble and more intuned with the spirit, mom your letter really struck a cord with me. Anywho on Wednesday we hadn’t really done anything because we had to make lunch for the district and so we cooked and had district meeting cooked more, ate and cleaned up. So anyway we got out and to start our day after that and we were throwing away our trash and I had the feeling to talk to this man standing nearby and like typical I’m like uh well he’s walking away so no, but then he didn’t walk far away and I felt like you need to talk to this man. So I was trying to tell my comp but she wasn’t getting me, so I was like that’s it, and just went right up to him well he wasn’t interested and even had the attitude of the fear, I don’t want to change my religion I’m not going to talk to you. So we left him with a card and moved on, I. Beckett then stopped another lady and she rejected us, so she was like it’s your turn, so I was like okay and then she’s told me to talk to this guy walking in front of us and I was like No, because he was young and I prejudged and was like he won’t want to listen to us, but ha ha thank goodness I was wrong. Anywho we talked to him, and he had talk to the Elders a long time ago and had the Book of Mormon but gave it to his sister, but we started teaching him, and he said everything made sense and the spirit was really strong and it was an awesome conversation, the ones that remind you why you want to be a missionary. So we had found ourselves a wonderful new investigator, we’re meeting with him tomorrow so we’ll see how it goes. It was a way sweet experience and a tender mercy from the Lord it just made us full of the spirit and happy, even though Fransico and Linda were at home but pretended like they weren’t they wouldn’t answer the door but we saw them moving around in there but I digress, anywho back to the story) It was only through that wanting to be obedient to the council of contacting that we were able to find our new investigator Alberto and listening to the spirit, with that first man because even though we got rejected first it put me into that contacting everyone mood, if not we would have walked right on past Alberto trying to get to Fransicos and Linda´s. Because contacting moving targets is not the easiest way to contact. So that was exciting. We also contacted minias young girls about 13 or 14 and at first they were laughing at us but we started to teach about the plan of salvation and they got really interested and were asking all these questions and one of them really wanted the Book of Mormon, it was an awesome experience. Also we contacted a Brazilian what a breath of fresh air, that’s why Brazil has so many members, they are open and willing to listen to you, it was great and she was nice. So now we’ll see how all these awesome new people progress, of course I might have only about a week and a half left here I don’t know we’ll see.

Day with the Marinhos

So spent the day in Braga with the Marinhos I love them, they took us to Sameiro but it was foggy and bad weather. But we had lunch, and played Mormon Mad Gab, they’re great, it was interesting being around a bunch of Brits all day, it was great I had a grand time. Well I love you all and I’m grateful for your letters of support and your prayers, I love love love this gospel and all of you too.

Pictures from Aubs!

On Friday we got a package from Aubrey. It has a couple of pictures, letters, gifts , and Portugese candy. Everyone loved the Portugese version of Starbursts!

According to Aubrey - "Yay for missionary work! This is in Guimaraes - this is my gratitude for the pictures that have been sent. I want Halloween pics ASAP - okay - okay. Love to you all!"

" This is a hard day of study, actually it's the night after Domingo's baptism-I got to celebrate by writing a talk. We roasted Starbursts over the stove - it was great! "

Learning Love and Patience

Well I'm learning to love and be more patient with my comp each and everyday so things are a lot better. She's good going through the ups and downs of the mission, she got really discouraged on Friday, so I got to be the one to cheer her up and bring her view into perspective, so that was nice, I was in such a good mood on Friday it was so crisp and lovely out, just watching the trees change colors and the leaves slowly fall from the tree, it didn't even matter that we got stood up. Anywho it was nice to be able to help her, I do feel so bad for her, because I talk about missing you, and then I'm like dough! but I told her my family is her family and she'd be so excited to get something in the mail, because nobody has been sending her stuff, even e-mails or letters. Well I love you and miss you so inceredibly much, man my spelling is atroshish but that's what happens when you have no time.

This was a Looooong Week!

I don’t know about anyone else but this week seemed to last for an eternity. Last Monday was just weird being in Porto for P-day, okay being in a foreign country at the dentist is freaky, I don’t know the vocabulary for all of that, and then there was that big giant x-ray machine that circles around you, I’m use to getting the big jacket thrown on you and getting all these different types of things shoved in your mouth, it was a different experience that’s for sure. I don’t know about my tooth though we’ll see how it holds up, the dentist didn’t even have a mask on, what’s that all about? We went to Gaia to get my comp better shoes, that’s a really beautiful area too, we’ll have to go there mams and paps.So I realized I am a planter, I don’t know if I’ve gone off on this subject before, but I am a planter, planting little seeds here and there to everyone, it’s nice because we’re building our investigator pool up once again, but there’s sure a lot of contacting that goes along with that, which is okay, I think I like that part of missionary work, starting out finding people and getting them going, no it’s not as rewarding, but it’s just as important.

Growth in Guimaraes

There is a definite growth going on here in Guimarães, it’s a lot different than when I first arrived, so that’s been pretty exciting to witness. I know it will only continue to grow too. We talked to some one awesome yesterday, he actually listened, he’s studying philosophy, but he questioned and was open minded, that’s something you don’t find a lot here, in this very very, Catholic part of Portugal.

Also lessons are going good with our velhoatas (old ladies) No they’re not progressing with reading and well their prayers are getting better, sigh, but we taught them the Plano de Salvação and they seemed to get it and like it.

The best part of last week was the Elders had a baptism, a mother and daughter (she’s the one that just showed up to church, her cousin is a member in Brazil) it was really good a lot of people showed up. The best part of it all is of course the spirit that was present, it´s wonderful the spirit that is felt when they’re being baptized, so sweet, and beautiful, honestly it’s so delicious. Anywho our velhoatas definitely felt it. Conceção was so impressed and one of the younger members of the ward said the closing prayer, and she was amazed at how pure and beautiful it was and she was just going on and on about it. Conceção I love her she’s more the emotional one, she has a lot of faith and just is more feeling, more receptive to the spirit I think, where Amélia understands the doctrine better, good thing we’re teaching them together so they can help each other out, anywho I think Conceção wants to be baptized she talks about “when they’re baptized” she also said the members are different they’re open and friendly, so she was impressed with them. So yay we finally got them to come to church because of that, Conceção got a priesthood blessing because she’s having eye surgery, so we’ll see how that goes too. Other than that, we’re going to work more with the less actives this week, and I still haven’t been able to teach Gracielle, so great is my tristeza (sadness) Anywho I love this church, I love studying about it. I love my Portugal and my Guimarães and even the language sometimes although it doesn’t love me. I miss all of you terribly, and hope that you all are well. The Lord truly is aware of all of us, just to have that knowledge and to know that He is my friend and confidant is what gets me through when I’m struggling, I am so blessed. I thank you all for your friendship and the lessons you have taught me. I love you all.

I Am Sooo Blessed!

I am so blessed, it's amazing how blessed that I am. I'm realizing this, that I do have a great, grand wonderful support system and I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing well. That everyone is happy, healthy and having great experiences, spiritual ect. I love to hear about this, it's hard not to be apart of it, but I know the Lord is blessing me here, even though I've hit another rough patch for myself. I am doing a lot better though, simmering down a lot more and all that jazz. It's hard because with this comp I don't exactly click, I loved Schantell because she got me and I could say anything and she didn't take it to heart or lets just say she wasn't like a girl about it. My comp however is not like that, she's such a girl and we all know that us Evans' are a bit sarcastic/cynical, not good I'm finding out, but that's how I am so I'm learning and it gets better everyday as I get use to her, and now I'm having a resolve to really actually have a positive attitude, practicing it, because I've come to realize that I've been praying for a whole lot, courage to open my mouth, the gift of tongues, to have charity, to find new investigators, to have patience, ect. I realized that I was just praying for them and not acting, not demonstrating my faith. I was able to have my interview with President and it was wonderful, first off he told me I was doing a good job, which I know you all have been saying that, but you're not with me everyday and neither is he but he does see my numbers ect. Anywho it's good because he helped me pinpoint a problem I need to work on and that is PRIDE, yay the universal sin, there are so many different parts to pride, which I need but now I'm having to clean out of my system, because I thought I was having less pride in one area which I am, but now in these other areas I'm very prideful, not accepting help, and beating myself up, not forgiving myself, so I thank you all for your words of encouragment and love and support, I am soooo blessed!

Voting

I already sent my ballot off so I'm good. So I had a fine experience with voting, I got the ballot and I'm like I don't know who or what to vote for, I didn't really understand all the bills ect. so I prayed and it was neat, the spirit was helping me choose, I've never done that before, it was a sweet experience. I've been hearing things about the US that have made me sad, I hope everything is alright with you all with the banks and all.

Service Project

So I want you to do a service project for me, do you think you can manage that? My companion is an orphan and was kind of sad when I got my package, by the way thank you mamma so forever much for my package, it cheered me up, I loved the pictures, oh my family I love you, the pictures were wonderful and Peanut Butter M&Ms oh you can hold off the knee highs for a while. Anywho could you, the family, maybe put a package together for her, with American stuff, things from deseret book just little stuff letters of encouragement, whatever, nothing too big, I had that idea. Listening to her I know I'm so blessed I don't know what I'd do if anyone in our family passed a way, well I do know but it's to awful to think about especially now since I haven't seen you all, I pray so much for your health and safety.

The Work is Progressing

Lets see so this week we got 4 new investigators, yay, it was neat when I told Elder Mortensen about that he was very happy because he knows we've been struggling and they've been having a lot of success. We'll see where we go with them, our new investigators that is. Our old ladies brought a friend, we gave her the Book of Mormon and she's coming back next week.

Baptism, The Atonement, and etc.

We have a baptism this Saturday. I'm so excitited for it, we have a lot of people we want to invite to it, and maybe that will help them feel more comfortable to want to go to church. So pray that all goes well with the baptism and that our investigators show up. I'm feeling better though, getting use to my new situation in the same old place, it only took 3 weeks hooray. I am so grateful for the Atonement though, I'm still understanding it, and I don't think I'll ever quite get it, what a precious gift our Savior is. I have a lot to learn about forgiveness too and I need to start practicing it. Hmm this is about it for me. Can you believe it was a year ago Saturday that I got my call?? CRAZY, anywho this week was full of going to Porto, I went Tuesday for Zone Conference, Wednesday, Thursday to trade back my comp and today, for the dentist appt. that freaked me out, I ended up having a little cavity just barely starting, I miss the United States, oh well hopefully I won't have to go to another dentist for a while. Oh yeah I got to be companions with a Brazilian again, she was way awesome so kick back and chill and she knows English, pretty well, so it was good to be with her because I spoke more Portuguese. I love you all and thank you all so much, right back at you, you are all in my prayer também I love hearing about your lives, keep it up. The church is true of this I know!

Wonderful General Conference

Okay so President Ukdorfs- like I can spell that -talk at the Relief Society brodacast was amazing and then Saturday Morning session was I can’t even put into words how wonderful it was it hit the spot. This weekend not a lot was accomplished missionary wise which is forever sad. On Saturday we rode up to Braga, went and had a street meeting, I was busy drawing the plan of salvation and then I had to leave to the Relief Society broadcast so I didn’t get to talk to anyone and I missed Sister Becks talk-such sorrow. Then we watched conference and it was like everything that was said was centered exactly on what I needed to hear, isn’t it amazing how that works out. So I was very up lifted and happy, it’s so good to receive that strength from your leaders and feel the spirit so strongly like that, definitely one of the best sessions I’ve heard, of course I never appreciated conference like this before just in the last couple of years. Anywho so we stayed in Braga overnight, I just can’t get away from Braga, I don’t know what it is, and that predio brings back bad memories, I don’t like it there, oh well it wasn’t so horrible but it was good to get back and sleep in my own bed. Anywho Sunday wasn’t as great. It started out good we went to the Marinhos for lunch, and that was so enjoyable. She told me about her conversion story it’s awesome, ah I totally love her, she is so my mission mum.

Irma Evans with new companion, Irma Beckett

Conversion of Lynda Marinho

She joined because of one of the Osmond brothers the one that played the drum, anywho she said she was on holiday with her friend when they were about 15 and they had nothing to do and they loved the Osmonds and knew about Mormons so they wanted to go see what the Osmonds did on Sunday, they went to the church and it was closed (she said this was the spirit telling them to go back) So they went back the next day and ran into a janitor who told them where to find the sister missionaries. Anywho they met up with them and had a lesson but she said her friend and her were really irreverent and made fun of everything and were basically mocking the sisters. One of the sisters didn’t speak English really well but she said that if this wasn’t true then they could continue laughing at them, but if it was they were going to be in trouble (anyway the sisters invited them back to play ping pong). She said that really scared her, so she went in the bathroom and prayed and said she got her answer and was like oh no it is true, (unknow to her, her friend did the same thing and go the same answer) they were on holiday remember and she didn’t live near the church and she told her parents she wanted to be baptized, (they were going through a divorce at the time) anywho her dad was against it, and she was like I’m going to be baptized when I’m 18 then and never talk to you again. Her dad did soften his heart though and it’s all because of missionaries, he took the discussions a long time before and he said if those were the type of people Mormons were then he’d let her join the church. She sent in a referral to be baptized and nothing happened she sent in a second one and nothing so finally she went and sought after the missionaries and they went to the Elders house and one ran out of the house and jumped over the fence and ran off, while the other came through a gate. (Turns out it was there P-day and they never use the gate they always just jump over the wall and go, but this Elder had an impression to go through the gate) anywho isn’t she amazing, I wish more people were like that, I wish the Portuguese were like that.

Conference Continued

Back to conference Sunday I’m all excited and we go and the Elders are hovered around the computer, turns out the TV stopped working, and then they couldn’t get the Internet to work properly so I didn’t even really get to see that conference just the last two talks and they were in Portuguese and then we had to watch the last session in Portuguese, much to my dismay, yes the spirit was there and it’s the same but I get ADD faster in Portuguese plus I understand but I don’t get it. Also I miss hearing their voices and the emotion in their voices. I couldn’t watch the last session because it went from 9pm to 11pm so yeah, triste. It just made me realize how much I took conference for granted before and I’m sorry, and maybe that experience is to help me understand how investigators feel when we tell them about the gospel, the understand the words and feel the spirit but they need help getting it.

Yay For Tuesday!

Lets see good things that happened last week Tuesday, yay for Tuesday it was a good day. We had a lesson with Conceção and Amélia, and it was good, I think it was too long we need to shorten those up and be more basic with them. Conceção still doesn’t quite understand prayer-she prayed to Jesus- but she said that she feels God in the chapel and she believes Joseph Smith was a prophet and that what we’re telling her is true. Amélia even brought up the topic of baptism, but we still have a long way to go with those two. They wanted to come back on Thursday and bring a friend so that made our day right there. Also later that night I saw a lady with her groceries and usually these people reject help, but I asked and she was like yes, then she continued to go on about how bad the world is, and we were like yes, but you can find your own happiness, so she’s going to come to the chapel on Wednesday and watch Encontrar Felizidade and hopefully become a new investigator. There’s my great missionary act for the week. Other than that it’s hard being the leader and I just feel like I’m doing everything all wrong, oh well, I need to be patient with myself. So Zone Conference is tomorrow yay, more traveling, and I get a new comp for 2 day, exchanges. My companion is wonderful and I do like her, but there’s just times where it’s like “I can live with you for another 5 weeks yes I can” It’s fun learning about English/English and other things, and I really do like her and she really is an amazing person only a convert of two years. Any who I’m ready to get back to work because I need to.

I'm in Europe!

Vizela or Guimaraes?

Guimaraes Castle

Irma Evans in Guimaraes or Vizela

District in Guimaraes

Needing a Charge in Europe

Well lets see what is there to tell you all from my neck of the woods. I still can’t believe I’m living in Europe, there’s some where I never saw myself living. I can’t tell you how unbelievably excited I am for conference this weekend. I need a charge badly; it’s hard to keep up that positive hopeful outlook on things at times. So let’s see what was notable about this last week. Well my last week with Irmã Svedin I’m so sad, it was a good 18 weeks, okay so if you remember when we were first comps I didn’t like her all that much, but now I love her, why do I have to be like that, and I hate this switching companions thing, I get so attached to people and then they get taken away, oh well only a couple of more times after this. So right now I’m in the getting use to a new companion and being a senior companion stage and let’s just say that I don’t like it at all. I’m going to end there and start on a better note or else this e-mail will get sad quickly.

A Funny Thing Happened . . . . .

So the first part of this week was full of dinner with members, I hated food after that, they’re out of control here ‘Coma mais coma mais’ I can’t coma any mais I’m going to pop!!! Those were my sentiments. (The verb to eat is comer and then it’s a command and so you come out with coma for eat!) Anywho the food is really good here or at least our members and investigators can cook. So Monday night we went to a member’s house, with Claudia and played my little prophet memory match with them that was fun, trying to get them prepped for conference. Then Tuesday we went with the Elders to their investigators home with Claudia and they marked Berta and Marlane (mother and daughter) for baptism, so if all goes well we’ll have another baptism on Oct. 18th yay! Anywho earlier that day we ate with Irmã Helena she’s a little African (Mozambic) lady who is always giving us things, bolos, cough drops, candies, ect. Then she makes sure you eat all of it. So we went to her house and it’s a sad little cluttered house, she’s a massive pack rat. Anywho, first she comes in and takes off her shirt in front of us, saying how hot it is, then she starts putting this giant pan in her bag, I’m like what is she doing, who puts a cooking pan into their purse, but then she takes it out and puts it into her sack and I. Svedin and I were like what the snap is going on, so then she tells us to vamos (lets go) so I’m like maybe she’s going to cook something at the church, no she takes us to this little café. The sad thing is we already had lunch that day, but we sit down and get this plate of pork loins (they’re massive) with egg on top and greasy soggy French fries then a salad that consists of scary looking tomatoes and onions and a little bit of lettuce, oh and rice, they eat rice with everything I’m telling you. So it’s good we serve ourselves and I’m working to get the meat eaten, I’m like I can finish this telling myself I can do it, when all of a sudden she starts piling more food on our plates, and it’s just way greasy and oily and I’m like no way am I eating that so I did the missionary move the food around your plate and pile it on top of each other trick...So the next day we made the mistake of going over there, to see if the Elders needed help cleaning her house, she invited us in and made us eat cake and kept giving us 7up, everytime we’d drink some she’d pour more. I. Svedin doesn’t like pop and the carbonation was hurting her, so she asked Elder Tysick to take hers, she’s pouring it in and spilled it all over his arm and the floor and so she’s wiping up the floor but teeny little I. Helena like 4’9’’ freaks out and grabs her broom and was like NO don’t clean stop and that makes Elder Tysick laugh and spill more, I’m just sitting back and laughing I wish you all could have seen this. Anywho we finally get out and she’s like wait, and brings back a little glittery golden change purse for I. Svedin and then she’s like wait again. And comes back with an envelope, now I. Svedin was wise to this because with Claudia (she went to Cape Verde) I. Helena stuffed an envelope with money in her back. Claudia’s like No Irmã! Anyway so I. Svedin like tries to give her bag to the Elders because she thought she was going to do the same thing to her, but this little old lady is keen to Irmã Svedin and chases after her and shoves the money down her shirt and then just picks up the bag and hands it to me and walks back to her home, I. Svedin was standing there shocked, and the Elders had their jaws hanging down it was hilarious.

The Work is Slow

So as you can tell the work is slow, there is nothing to report, and that’s kind of killing me slowly on the inside as now it’s all of my responsibility. It’s hard to get use to a new comp that’s a greenie in the mission and doesn’t know the area, now I understand all those trainers. She’s a really sweet and good person; she’s a little neurotic and the complete opposite of I. Svedin so it’s weird. She a great person it was neat to hear her conversion story, it was through her boyfriend that she found out about the church, anywho do you know Jessie Haws or the Haws it was him that first taught her. Her parents both died from cancer and she was an only child so the church is basically her family. She’s good though and will be good for Guimarães. Her name is Irmã Beckett. She’s from the Algarve down at the southern most part of Portugal and she’s lived in both England and Portugal but she speaks the language yay. If I can survive this first week maybe I can survive the rest. I still really don’t understand the language and it’s killing me, how am I supposed to help people when I still really can’t understand them.

So as of now we can’t get a hold of Gracielle, The família Santos said they were too busy for us, so now it’s down to my little old ladies, I hope they don’t cancel this week that would be triste. There’s so much to do and I don’t know how to do it. As you can guess I’m a little down so any helpful words would greatly be appreciated.

Paradise

Another week in Paradise, as vezes (sometimes) well autumn came in with a bang, we got caught in the rain yesterday, it didn’t help our contacting at all as you can imagine, I found out that I don’t like rain anymore, especially when my feet have turned into soggy prunes and I still have to walk around for another 3 hours, oh well I should be grateful it wasn’t cold, at least not yet. So that’s the weather report from Portugal.

Transfers=Senior Comp

I got word last Friday about transfers, I'll be training sort of, he didn't say I was but I'll be the senior comp, I don't know how to lead, seriously I'm a good little follower, plus I still can't speak the language-or really give good lessons, I haven't been able to practice much, we get cancelled on a lot. I shouldn't fear, I know this and I need to trust in the Lord, because I know this is good and right, when I was talking with President and he told me that I'd be in the leadership position, I felt the spirit strongly and it comforted me telling me that I could do this. SIGHHH the Lord is merciful though because she is half Portuguese half English, so the language isn't an issue for her, she's been here three weeks already, she's a recent convert to the church and an orphan, and so this should be interesting. It's weird because I've gotten so use to my last comp we were together for 3 transfers. Oh well change is good right? So I don't know we'll see if I've fallen apart next time you hear for me or that I've actually learned and retained the things I've learned here.So my favorite member in Guimarães leaves on her mission this Thursday, I’m really going to miss her and the great member missionary she was, but this will be good she’ll really bless the people in Cape Verde. We had a going away party for her, it was fun we played ‘Don’t Eat Pete’ (Não Come Claudia) with them they’d never played it before and they loved it, good times good times.

Contacting is Awkward

Well contacting just gets more and more awkward, we go to this park that has one opening, we go because usually we can get a good lesson there, because people don’t leave but it’s very awkward for us—just think I can go up to boys now when I get home because I’ll be so use to being awkward—sigh.

Lack of Progress

Not much to report on the work, we got cancelled on a lot, and nobody is progressing YAY. Of course Francisco really likes what we teach and eats it up and understands it, but his wife basically said that they have no time for us because they started working longer, she doesn’t believe man can talk with God, but she believed Joseph Smith saw what he saw—now where’s the logic in that. Oh we actually got let in to some ones house while buzzing apartment buildings, it was quite the shocker—we have an appointment tonight, I’m hoping it will go well and that they’ll want to know more, it was this little family that let us in but they didn’t have time to talk then. So we’ll see. Yay this next week is full of dinner appointments because Irmã Svedin and Claudia are leaving, so it will be full for the first part. So another 6 weeks in Guimarães, if anyone wants to suprise me with a hand written letter I'll be at the same address, because you people don't have lives, hah ahha thanks for all you do.
Address to send letters directly to Irma Aubrey:

Rua Manuel Saraiva Brandao
No 224, 5 esq
4810 Guimaraes
Portugal

Hanging In There

It's still hard for me not to be worried about things like getting a new comp and getting accustamed all over again to someone new, because you know me I take a while to adapt to things. Oh well, oh minha linga é muito mal, it's bad mama, it's better than what it was but if I were to train, I'd be coming home in a body bag, I'm just not prepared to lead, but I will follow what the Lord wants me to do, what ever that may be, he asks a lot of hard things I'm realizing, but it's good, all for my profet and learning right. I am so blessed this is what I'm finding out, like with grand child number 9, it sad though that it will live in New York for the first little bit, oh well you have enough crazies running around right.

Not the Best Week

Not the best week for a missionary, sigh….BUT not utterly horrible in the life of me. Lets see last week not much was accomplished, sadness I know. I started off with going to Gaia, there was a lot of traveling involved with that, Gaia is the closest a sister will get to Porto. I was able to see the beach, but not close up but still it was grand to see the beach again. I was with a Brazilian that didn’t speak English like I said, so it brought me back to my first transfer, but it wasn’t that bad, it was a quiet two days though. I understand and speak better but I still have a long ways to go. It doesn’t help that I haven’t been able to teach a lot of lessons to get the practice in, oh well it’s having the Spirit that really matters, right. Not much to report about Gaia, I’ll be fine though if I’m not called there, it was good though I guess. As for the rest of the week we only had one person keep their appointment with us.

Crazy Lesson

Manuela, we stopped her on the street a couple of weeks back, I’m sure I’ve told you, but anywho finally got a hold of her at her house and she’s like I’m home at this time time on these days-the shpill, so Irma Svedin and Irma De Mecedo tried on Tuesday and nothing, so we tried again on Thursday and nothing, and I was like that’s it, we're going to wait here, of course I said a little prayer first, and who ends up rounding the corner but Manuela. She invited us in, her kids weren’t home yet, so we went in and met the pets, it was cool to hear a parrot speak in Portuguese. So one of her daughters came home, and well they’re moving so a lot of their things were packed up, including their DVD player which we wanted to watch Encountering Happiness with her. So word to the wise don’t pack up a DVD player with a DVD in it, a DVD was stuck in there when they had it all set up, so then Irma Svedin and I watched as they proceeded to whack, jam knives, and destroy their DVD player trying to get the DVD out we were like eek. Anywho they went and retrieved a different DVD player but this time there was no remote…oh yeah and no sound….so Irma Svedin was like I’ll explain it to you, so we watched the Silent one in Danish, anywho, we sort of taught her and I felt the spirit there, but it was crazy because of her kids, dogs and just everything going on. It was funny though her daughter kept peppering us with questions and thought it was so cool we were from the United States.

Funny Thing at Church

Oh dear, I have a funny story, yesterday at church my companion was playing the opening song, and I was to lead but anywho I was preoccupied with smiling and figuring out how to lead it that I wasn’t paying attention, well anywho I start leading but it’s not right and no one is singing, and I was just confused and then I hear-GASP I’M SO SORRY GASP DESCULPHE! The Elders cracked up needless to say and she didn’t live that one down for the day. It made yesterday interesting.

Pictures from Portugal

Irmas and Elders

Castle in Guimaraes

Aubrey the Brave

The Best Book

I heard that Edwards verson of Twilight is online, so you'll have to print that off for me, SMILE, ha ha oh boy I miss reading. Oh well, I'm reading the best book that I possibly could be reading, in two languages, and it's amazing really honestly I love my morning personal study, and I will continue that throughout my life. I know I'm growing so much, right now I'm happy and life is good, I'm so grateful for my Savior.

How Elders Celebrate Turning 21

Wednesday we had our district meeting in Braga, it was one of the Elders 21st birthday and we just had to laugh because there’s how the world celebrates 21 and then there’s how most LDS males celebrate 21. He got a big care package with a chex mix, Reese’s, tootsie rolls and laffy taffy, so we helped him enjoy it and told the lame laffy taffy jokes to each other—what a great 21st birthday he had.

Gracielle

We were finally able to visit Gracielle. It was good we were able to talk with her, it wasn’t so awkward, she has quite the thick Brazilian accent too, shakes head, but we gave her a lesson on faith, and we questioned her if she believed if Joseph Smith was a prophet, and she was like you always ask this question, yes, and we’re like how do you know and she was all, because you said, you’re not liars are you? And we were like no, and thank you for trusting us, but you need to know for yourself from God you need to ask him, it’s so important that people do ask God and find out for themselves. Anyway it was good we asked her if she would like to be baptized and she said yes, we still have so much work to do with her, but we will get there with her eventually.

Francisco and Linda

Last Tuesday we were able to teach Francisco and Linda. Well, he believes that this is the only true church, and he believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that there are prophets today, now all we need to do is get him to act, he seems excited about going to church but he hasn’t been yet. His wife though she doesn’t like to read or pray she doesn’t feel she has the capacity for it, so we need to work with her and get her to see that she is a daughter of God and build up her confidence level. So the hardest things with those two are getting them to act but Francisco is amazing because he’s eating everything up.

A Day in the Life

It was horrifically rainy on Thursday-we went to a less active's house and she was a sleep and was like it’s not that important that you’re here is it? I want to go back to sleep, so then she sent us back out into the rain. So we went and had planned to do contacting that day, sigh, but we made do, we talked to a woman at a bus stop and then went door knocking and found a lady that knew about the church had a Book of Mormon, and had a great discussion with her and we’re going back YAY!

Going to Gaia

So I have to leave my beautiful Guimarães for a day, I’m going to Gaia tomorrow, and it just so happens that Irma Svedin planned like everything for Tuesday so I’m going to miss out on all our awesome investigators and cool lessons…oh well. The sisters there want to do a division, so I’m back with a Brazilian that doesn’t speak English YAY, at least my Portuguese is better….sort of…not really. SIGH, I will get this language I will, I read in PMG and studied about Faith in Christ today, it was really good, because it was talking about keeping commandments, and when we have faith is Christ we do our hardest to keep his commandments and repent and better ourselves. I was thinking yeah obeying like the Word of Wisdom, Law of Tithing, chastity, ones like that I have no problem with but I started thinking of others, and honestly the only way to better ourselves is to pray and believe that Christ will help us with our weaknesses.

Random Pics

At a museum in Guimaraes

This is in Braga. I thought it was an ancient structure

but no, it is a modern one honoring ancient ones.

Things are Good!

So things are good, I am good, I miss all of you, but thankfully the ache and hurt isn’t like it was before, it’s not easy but things are getting better. I just can’t thank the Lord enough for this wonderful experience I’m having. I’m so imperfect and I’m so grateful for the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am grateful to be able to wear his name. I still have a lot of changing and working to become the type of person/missionary he’d have me be.

Contacting in Guimaraes

I had a wonderful contacting experience last Friday, we walked up to a group of old ladies, one lady saw us started waving her hands and yelling something that of course I didn’t understand, she walked away from us and wouldn’t even look at us, then her friends just laughed, we didn’t say a thing, and so we tried to talk to the friends and they just said ‘não vale pena’ which means it’s worthless, I was like I’ll show you worthless, ha ha just kidding but the lady that walked away like I said wouldn’t even look at us, so I told her boa tarde and walked on.It’s hard here with people being dipped in the Catholic religion, because they’re like oh I have faith in God but I don’t think they really know what that means, it’s sad because satan really has done a number on the nature of God and prayer.

Investigator Update

Well, our family that we were so excited about still hasn’t set up an appointment, and Gracielle we finally got a hold of her, didn’t teach her anything, and then she cancelled our appointment with her, so she is not progressing infelizment. But we got two new investigators, old ladies, yay, one she came up to us and asked for a Book of Mormon about 3 months ago and we kept trying her and trying and she’d always cancel or flake out on us, but she finally brought her friend to come see the church and they liked it and we taught them a lesson and gave the friend a Book of Mormon, we were suppose to meet with them today but they flaked out and didn’t come to church yesterday either which they said they would, this is basically the story of Portugal so I’m learning a lot of patience with these people, that seem to never have time, or interest, it’s very sad I’m like your eternal souls are at stake you better care. Speaking of that I was studying more about the Resurrection and Judgment, it’s such a great thing, I love the Book of Mormon, well all of the scriptures for that matter. That’s about it in ways of investigators.

This Week in the Mission

Oh, what is there to say about this week except there was a lot of contacting, door knocking and not a lot of success (sigh) oh well. I did have Zone Conference last week and that was wonderful, I love my mission president he’s such a good good man, and his wife is wonderful too, she gives talks that hit the spot, this last one was on prayer, and what a great privilege and blessing it is in our lives, as I’m learning how important and grand it is, you really do pray all the time as a missionary and that’s where my best Portuguese comes out is when I pray to my Father. Other than that, my Portuguese is very very sad, I just don’t get it, but I’m doing a lot better now at not worrying about it then I was, because you know me I like to compare and so I was comparing to when others said they understood and spoke the language and as those date passed and I still feel so inadequate with the language I started worrying greatly. Oh well little by little every day I learn something new.

Irma Evans with John the Baptist

More Pics From Portugal

Irmas Secrest, Nelson, Evans, & Svedin

Fransico and Family

So our wonderful family has things that make them not so wonderful, of course. Anywho we watched the restoration with them and that was good and but then he started quoting us stupid scriptures in the JW bible that he loves, we really need to trade him for a Biblia Segrada, will do that next time. Anywho we have a lot to work with them still, but he gets things and they enjoy our lessons and like us there and he believes the Book of Mormon. Tthey just said they don’t like making appointments because life happens so it will be tough but we’ll get them to understand the Gospel helps us with life and actually makes it easier to live even though life is unpredictable.

Crazy People in Portugal

So are genie pants the style there in the states? Because they are here and they look ridiculous.

Ha ha so there’s this crazy man that walks around and is mean, he has a whistle (who gave him a whistle) anyway one day he came chasing I. Svedin and spit at her, anywho we were leaving the chapel and walking down the street when she spots him, so she’s like tries to hurry and cross the street but there were too many cars so she books it back to unlock the chapel gate and we hid there till he left, it was pretty funny.

We’ve been stopping a lot of guys in cars lately, I don’t know why I didn’t have this affect back in the states, I’d be there and not here, if I did, anyway I don’t know how pure there intentions are but they get church pamphlets YAY.

Malfunctioning Banana Bread

So I have a story, I. Svedin made some wonderful banana bread with chocolate chunks, they don’t have chocolate chips here, so we have to chop up cooking chocolate bars but that’s beside the point. So it was so wonderful when she made it, delicious and all, it was hard not to eat more. Well next morning I’m like I’ll have some for breakfast so I’m studying and pull apart the banana bread to enjoy and I’m like ‘HEY the chocolate is moving GASP’ there was a huge beetle on my banana bread, it was horrible….I ate it anyway, I’m not going to let that go to waste. Anyway I asked I. Svedin about it later and she’s like I thought you just found a piece of hair in your banana bread I was like no I wouldn’t have freaked out. Anyway she cut a piece and I wanted a piece, I’m eating this piece and of course I find a piece of hair that I’m gagging on in my bread, I was like one more bad thing and I’ll be ruined of banana bread, no not as bad as maggots but still, I don’t want to be ruined from banana bread.

The Branch in Guimaraes

Oh, our branch! Some of the families in it just make me want to cry, but honestly truly living simple gospel principals, like family prayer and scripture study really strengthens the family. Because as you all know satan hates the family and he wants it destroyed and he will worm his way in. We were giving a lesson to one of the members and on how the gospel blesses families. Anywho they made it horrible, first no one would answer our question they were fighting over who had to answer it, then the daughter gave a typical teenage reply but added my annoying mom and my mias ou menous chato pai, then the dad went off on how horrible his daughters were (right in front of them) and how they are so disobedient. I. Svedin and I were stunned, but then we’re like if you want respect you have to treat your daughters with love and respect, yes they need to honor you but they need that example, and pois they weren’t doing anything together as a family. Which when I get back I totally am going to plan fun things to do with our family and for all the little nieces and nephew, I’m serious-it will be great fun.

Pics From Portugal

Happy Birthday to Me!

These are what the streets are like. They are killer to the feet and legs.

Here are some Pictures taken in Braga, my first area in the Porto Mission.

Work in Guimaraes

So the Elders brought up in district meeting that we need to keep finding, teaching ect because you don’t want to be left with no investigators, it was kind of like that before Domingos and it fell apart again the week before his baptism where our investigators just stopped progressing, but the Lord is so mindful and he blessed us with Fransico and Linda, I love them and they have a daughter who listened in on the first lesson too.We found them at night time when we both wanted to go back and we were going to go shopping for supplies first because it was a Saturday night and we needed stuff for fast Sunday, but Irmã Svedin felt like we should go out and try contacting first, so we went out and she’s like where do you want to go and I was leading and I didn’t feel like going to a certain spot that usually worked for us, so I was like here, and so we saw them sitting on a bench, and she’s like they’ll probably reject us and and I was like probably but oh well, because we talk to a lot of couples like that but they’re perfectly content with being Catholic. Anywho we were shocked when he was very interested in what we were saying, his wife wasn’t so much, she believed there is one God and one church but she doesn’t like going to meetings, anyway she left but we talked with Fransico more and found out that he likes studying religion, and he was investigating the JW’s before and came to the conclusion of it’s either our church or the JW’s, he briefly talked with the Elders from a while back so he knew about Joseph Smith and he just wondered why Joseph’s name wasn’t in the bible, and we’re like he is in it, but we have to walk by faith, and how dumb would that to put the name in the bible and one could name their child Joseph Smith and claim, that he was chosen, come on people think. Anywho, he was very friendly and very interested and we got his address and he said that he’d come to church. So he didn’t come to church, and he had holidays so we waited to call, but when we did call they were like yes come over and I was just dumbfounded that we were actually going to their house and we had an appt. and that contacting does work, it just takes a lot of work, and talking to a lot of people. So we found their house and they kept their appt, that’s a rarety here. Their daughter about 15 I’d say stayed and listened and we taught the 1st lesson and answered their questions and it was good the spirit was present and they are so very nice. They go t excited about the baptism, but ended up forgetting about it. So we were wondering when we should contact them next and on Sunday we were doing contacts in a different park and this lady wouldn’t even listen to me and usually we leave after we’ve been rejected but I was like I’m going to talk to everyone here, and I saw a couple and got ready to contact them and Lo and behold it was them, and found out that after 4 days of reading the Book of Mormon he was in chapter 37, and he even told us about Nephi and he understood the concept about prophets and the modern day one we have today and was teaching his wife, who still doesn’t really understand it and she doesn’t like to read so I was like we have a film about the restoration and Joseph Smith, would you like to watch, it! Yeah! I love them so kind pray for them pray for us to teach and have the spirit, and they’re like just call us if you need to cancel and we’re like no way is that happening. I really hope they progress to baptism; it’s nice that we’re all baptism happy right now. The Lord has truly blessed us here in Guimarães but there’s still a lot to be done especially with our members, they’re really nice people, but they don’t understand having love and compassion for one another it’s like they’re trying to live the Gospel all alone here and it’s just not right.