Moving right along

Something time is just so good at. It was good to be home for Thanksgiving again, I ran in the Turkey Trot again, the 2 mile, I know (WIMP!) it actually wasn't bad at all, and I didn't even train for it, it just left me incredibly sore for 3 days -_- It was fun to run with Carrie again though. We then went to her house had breakfast, hurried home and then went to Marcus's house where there was some good eatin ^_^ I got sick though on Sat. the 21st and my stomach has been broken ever since, I don't know I haven't had much of an appetite, and when I did eat I'd end up with stomach pain afterwards, so I didn't stuff myself like usual which is actually a good thing. So all in all it was a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family and food-I LOVE Thanksgiving!

We had our Evans' party on Friday like usual, it was good to see everyone, especially Spenc and Steph and their children because it had been a while. The Brimley's were missing one family, so were we and the Salmons only had one family, so they were all missed, but I'm excited for the Christmas Party.

So us that live here in the Vally know that we lack the season called fall, and it's sad because it's beautiful and then we hear others talk about how much they love it and all the beautiful colors, but in all fairness we have this

all year round and there's no leaves to be raked up.

Catch up time

Sheesh am I really terrible at this, well a lot has gone down since I last updated, naturally. Well I bought my very first car (I do still owe the bank of Wayne and Paula) not quite the dream car, but definitely an up grade from the last car I drove (which I really did love, now it's Trevor's to love).

The good ol Camry, it served me well

I wanted a newer Nissan Altima or Sentra but....

I ended up with this a 2001 Nissan Altima, older then I wanted, but still it's great, and with my job I'm sure putting a lot of miles on it and need a good reliable car.

On Halloween I got invited to go to the Phoenix Zoo with Tia (The little girl I work with) and her family, good times were had by all. The last time I'd been to a Zoo was 2005 when I lived in China.

That night was good fun too.


Trevor and Abby-I love the 'babbit all in blue'

We celebrated Matthew's 1st birthday-he was 'the boy who lived' for Halloween I thought it was a cute idea.

Here's adorable little Liam as Liam McQueen


I was a bum and didn't come up with a costume this year so I jacked his ^_^

This past week was a lot of fun-on Tuesday I was finally able to go to an Arizona Fall Ball game, I missed doing that while I was on my mission. I enjoy them so, $6, anywhere you want to sit, hott young baseball players, too bad I have to wait till next year, I didn't take full advantage of this season.

On Wednesday I went to the Cartel concert with Trevor and his friends, my second concert ever it'd been a while The Ataris and Vandals was the last concert I went to, I think that was 1999. So yeah I'm not a big concert goer, but I LOVE Cartel they are my favorite band, so I just had to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UhOjBJwbWA


Then on Thurdsay was full of driving, That's the day Tia has OT(therapy) So I drive out to Chandler, then back to Mesa, and of course repeat so that's about 46 miles every Thursday, but this particular one was Payton's b-day which was a great party-thank you Reddin and Karen. Then I went to a Twilight Party, personally I would never throw something like that, but it was fun to attend, they have a home theater, Jamie is ubber creative, and played a trivia game, so it was a fun party, thank you Jamie for inviting me^^

I'm not even joking this cake is what dreams are made of, it's so wonderfully delicious, so if I ever get married, Jamie you are so doing my wedding cake! I got the best part Edward's hair-so beautiful. I went to New Moon the next morning with all the older people which was great, it was funny with all older people because when Jacob took off his shirt there was this collective little gasp/sigh it was quiet and contained, it was pretty funny-all the men in attendance laughed at that, but no ridiculous screaming thank goodness for that, and the fact that it was only $5. So yes I admit to loving the Twilight Saga, but it's ridiculous how crazy/mad some people are about it.

Let's try this all again

Sheesh, am I ever horrible at keeping a blog, I'm turning over a new leaf and I'll try to be better. That means I need to get a life and bring a camera along.

So forget go green, it's all about go red! I want to see the Phillies and the Angels in the fall classic-I don't care who wins, preferably the NL team but that's what I'm hoping for so go red!


So we just celebrated Sawyer's 7th birthday, it still boggles my mind that she's that old.

I love Payton's face in this picture, thinking Neil is so hilarious

Here we have Abby appreciating the boots that I got Sawyer more than Sawyer did, clothes just don't compete with toys at that age.

There's my babies not so little any more missing teeth and all.

So I have to watch Gilmore Girls when I exercise on the eliptacle (I don't know don't ask me just something I have to do) anywho Trevor wasn't down with watching that, but I told him you're just going to fall asleep anyway so what does it matter. He tried really hard but eventually him being Trevor won out.

I've realized throughout the past 24 years that I am just plain quirky. I notice these character flaws and I really do try to hide them from people, pretend that I'm something much smarter and sophisticated than I really am, if you really know me then no you're really not fooled, but for the rest of you, this is me coming clean. For instance I can't just go to an auto store and get the light for my license plate replaced, no I go to Walgreens buy a little reading light and tape it to the back of my car-what is my problem. So fickle and flaky sheesh. I see these failing and I attribute it to my lack of having a boyfriend and finding a decent job-sigh-I'm just so stinking lazy, I need to go on another mission. So just if you're wondering I am a white.

So here's some random mission stuff-lets face it, that's why we look at blogs for pictures and videos I'm not clever or funny enough for people to come to read what I have to say. This is Coimbra a very small part of it anyway and to be quite honest it made me a little dizzy watching this and the wind was horrible that day, so I did warn you.

Big dreams and empty pockets

So last week at Carrie's b-day party I was talking with her friend Emily and she told me about this really great Art School in Florida. My first thought was WOW Florida that's far and nasty humid, but I went home and took a look and fell in love. I was never sure about what schools were good for art or how to go about it that's why I wasn't sure about being an illustrator but this looks very promising and the school is very acclaimed. I started to dream, because I really want to be an illustrator, I know I have talent but I also need the proper training to develope and suceed. The only problem is art schools are forever expensive more so than they should be plus the fact that this is out of state, sheesh why didn't I know about this place when I was in High School or the fact that I for surely wanted to be an illustrator in High School. I want to go for my dream, but there are many factors in the way, 4 years in Florida never pictured myself there, of course I never saw myself in Portugal. I love my Arizona and lets face it I have better chances at settling down here more so than in Florida, but I know it's good for strong members to branch out and help other areas grow and be strong. I guess the biggest issues are the money thing and being away from family and friends when I just got back. Oh sigh all I know is a lot of heart felt prayer will go into this issue. I want to do what the Lord has in store for me. Oh and yes that is the same as the circus Ringling funny huh.

I'm an RM.....now what?

Well the good thing is I'm not alone in this, my brother just got back and my best friend and her brother too. They all seem to have jobs and school lined up which I do not, do to my lack of planning and figuring out what exactly I want to do with my life (sigh) but I have faith and trust that I will, something I learned from the mish, it's just a matter of time. My soul focus though was concentrating on others and doing everything in my power to make them happy and progressing, now coming back and having to switch roles it's a little more difficult and the fact that I can't invision what I see me doing, I know what I want to do but hopes and ambitions are more than my talent and skill I know with a lot of practice it comes a long, but that means in the mean time I've got to find a day job. So enough rambling on, I'm not sure about this blog stuff I mean I had to have my mom teach me how to do it for crying out loud-how embarrassing to say the least. Without much further a do I we will look at pictures of Trevor, returning home.

Just look how happy that mama is, maybe even more so than when I returned home ^_~

Here I Come!!!! :)

Oh mama, to think I'll be hugging you at the end of the week makes me very very happy. You saw my flight schedual, that means you all need to take a nap so everyone can be there at the airport to greet me, how horrible is that schedual-I want to cry thinking about it, I'll make it through though. This is so unreal. Can't wait to see you and everyone.Will everyone be at the airport? I know it's late but it's summer, and how does that effect me getting realased?

How Did I Get Here?

Wow is all I can say, I don’t know how I got to this point, but its here, and well it’s come with a lot of mixed emotions. Truly it’s not fun to say goodbye to people and think I’ll never see you again, but I have my life to come back to and I’m going to do my best to make it better than it was. So the Lord loves me because last week was definitely one of my best weeks in the mission, we were busy, and yesterday Joseane was baptized by her husband, so special, I didn’t think I was going to witness her baptism but through small and simple things great things were brought to pass. She bore her testimony and told about when she burnt her hand and she got a priesthood blessing and it healed immediately was the start of her conversion, when she started having dreams and changing and becoming more receptive to the Gospel and accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet and everything, she has a lot of faith, that will be good now all that family needs is one more of their sons. So that was amazing and tiring, you don’t have to worry about me I’m still focused training not to remind myself that I’m going home.

The New Mission President

Well we had a rough afternoon but we found a Canadian and she was pretty interested she asked if she could see our church and had a lot of good questions. Then that night we were in at a lesson and I get a call from the new President and he’s like we’re in Coimbra can we come and sis on your lesson-talk about instant stress, but it went well and we got a ride home but then they were like can we check your appt. so I. Call and I were like give us one minute (give us a break it was the end of the week and she made cinnamon rolls for the baptism) and it was basically like you see in the movies us running around shoving things and covering stuff it was classic. We met the Waltons on Thursday they had a mini zone conference with us. We had to go to Porto way early in the morning to renew I. Call’s visa and turned out it didn’t happen and then we drove to Coimbra with them-the Walton. It’s weird I like then a lot they’re different of course a little more open and personable but it’s weird I still can’t see him as my President, I know it’s will only be two weeks with him but seriously my President to me is President Henry-yeah don’t know why I decided to write that. Wow how I will miss my Portugal, I love it, the mission truly has meant everything to me, I know you can’t all believe it but I will miss being a missionary, I love this Gospel and I know that it is true!
Amo-vosIrmã EvansYay I won’t be a foreigner anymore!

Best Of All!!!!

Oh mama you know what's best of all--Fast Sunday, I get to have Fast Sunday dinner once again, oh I mean seeing you is best of all and the rest of the family, and then fast sunday dinner, we had cereal to break our fast yesterday, you can see how I'm hurting. Oh well I've been having crazy come home dreams. Irmã call is so stinking hilarious, I'll miss her, she got the FC this week, that's favorite child from her dad, she says it's their competition. Oh mama you are the best thanks for always standing beside me and supporting me, you know I'm a goon but I've always felt your love, thanks mama. I love you. Josie

Irma Call and Irma Evans

Long Hard Ride

Well we all know how many more times left to write that I have so I'm not going to even mention it. All I'm going to say is that I watched Other Side of Heaven last night, we had a ´noite de cinema' and lets say that film just really hit home-it made me realize a lot of things too-do I love this people with all my heart, am I serving the Lord with all my heart, might, and mind. All I know is it's been a long and hard ride for me. I was thinking though about faith in ourselves and how much power through faith in Christ we really have and especially those who hold the priesthood, if I only knew how much power I had, sadly I haven't taken much advantage of that my mission, all to often we let fear get in the way and over ride us.

Not That Easy!

This past week was not the easiest, we had a lot of cancelations, and not just from investigators. The ones that hurt the most is we were't able to talk to Joseane at all this week and we have a lot to prepare her for, she's been working like crazy, it's satan-piece of-and also Hugo stood us up. We again did a lot of service this week which is a good thing. Also each city has their own day here and the 4th of July is Coimbra's day, so they celebrate the 4th too, just not like us, obviously-but they have this big festival for St. Isabel every two years-apostasy- this year was not one, but we did see the Fardo festivals everyone dressed up like oldden days, that was neat to see. We also had a BBQ on Saturday at the church that was really fun, I love the members here, oh I love my Coimbra. Truly I love my Savior, I love His Gospel and I've learned so much from the mission. Truly it's not how the world sees it young men losing two years of their life, really we find ourselves on the mission and understand truly what it's about-life that is.

Success

We were finally able to teach a lady that we contacted and taught the first lesson to again. Every time we tried they wouldn't open the door, but we got in this week. They are from Timor, and it was nerveracking because they were giggling and speaking in the native language to Timor-but after a while it got better, they're really Catholic, she was trying to understand what church we were from and we're like the Church of Jesus Christ, and she's like Protastant, no, JW's, NO-with a finger wave too-and so on. She's like Jesus was Catholic and we're like no-He was a Jew but nice try-but yeah there's just so much false doctrine. I love this church I know that it is true.

Good Lesson

We also had a really good lesson with Elisabete, we talked about prayers and scriptures, and we still had time before our bus came so I pulled out our D&C lessons film and there was Special Witnesses so I was like lets watch this, we wanted to show her our prophet because she's having problems believeing in a prophet-and what do you know he talked about the Book of Mormon helped our lesson right out. Thank you all for all your support through out my mission. Have a good one, talk to you all later. Amo-vosIrmã Evans

What A Difference a Year Makes!

So, I had this dream and clearly I am very preoccupied about this-am I getting a 4th of July package? I had a dream that you didn't send me one and I was really upset--heh heh Oh yeah I'm still the same for surely I've changed and am a better person, but still I have a long ways to go-I'm still just a goof. Oh mama it's so crazy to think that I can see all of you soon, but on the same time I'm morning, it's not fun, I'm happy though, and I'm trying my hardest to keep focuse, I've got a baptism to plan so of course I'll stay focused.

Another Week in Paradise

Wahoo just another week in paradise. I am really going to miss Portugal, the weather has been nice this past week, so it's on my good side. What's this trunkiness I'm not trunky, I've been trunky my whole mission and now it's the opposite-fogo. No it's weird is what it is, we had Zone Conference and it was basically a huge good-bye to Pres. and Sister Henry, that will be weird when they actually go. So it was a week for the records on Monday, visiting Hugo didn't work out and so we came back and visited Joseane and fam. We were talking to Ruan who is baptized and he doesn't like to say prayers and wants to not be baptized-oh what frustration-when Joseane was like I have no more doubts I want to be baptized and soon! YEAH! Do you realize how long I've been working with her and other missionaries have-seriously a grand miracle. She said she was talking to some one from an Evangelical church and they were trashing on our church saying we were a cult that worshipped the devil, we worship Jospeh Smith, our bible yadda yadda yadda the usual deseptions-well she said something turned in her head and she remembered all that the church has done and all she's been taught and and the people and she was like no-I know them, they're good people and was like they don't worship Joseph, he's a prophet and they use the Book of Mormon and bible--basically bore her testimony-it's so awesome, because she was so set on getting baptized in January-Oh the Lord loves us.

Busy, Busy Day

Ha so I. Call and I saw this man singing to this woman and she was not happy, so we didn't know if they knew each other or what-then he came up to us and started singing. Well I saw his shirt said Algarve, it's turist season here, there's a lot of drunk men that wonder the city and so I asked are you from the Algarve, he stopped singing, stared at us, and continued singing again and walked off singing, you've gotta love the crazies. So I. Call and I ran the church, mainly her-not really but on Saturday we had a wedding to go to and a baptism, I. Call made Cinnamon rolls, she played the piano, prayed we sang a special musical number at the wedding, then at the baptism we gave talks and she lead the music and she was a photographer at the wedding. It was funny it was funny that we were asked to give talks because it was a little boy from the other ward that we only play soccer with him that's how we know him-oh well.

Am I Really Coming Home?

I'm suprised none of you mentioned Micheal Jackson dying-we were told and then showed by an investigator-crazy. Well I'm trying to work my hardest it's such a struggle up in the mind, I think I'm starting to deny the fact I'm going home oh well. I know this church is true with all of my heart. I love you all, thanks for your examples, love and support-truly. Have a great week, and wow only two more of these from the field. Love you all,Irmã Evans

The End is Near! :) & :(

I can tell it’s the end of my mission, my brain refuses to hold and retain information, I really can’t remember what happened last week. It was a busy week full of things to do; just the way I like it. Oh yeah craziest thing in the world President Henry gave me my exiting interview on Tuesday because he’s leaving in a little less than two weeks-so weird to think I’m leaving and to talk about marriage and things of home I really can’t believe that my time is up and you were all right (I didn’t doubt you for one second) I don’t want to leave, really I don’t I love Coimbra and I know I’m going to miss it and be like all RM’s (dread) there’s just no getting past it I guess just a hard thing I’m going to have to work through. That was such a fun interview though, I love President Henry and I’m grateful that he was my Pres for basically all my mission-do any of you know Henry’s in the Vally he says he has a brother in Mesa. It was a fun little trip 2 Elders from my district are in the office and they have Subway in Porto now, I know I know-betrayal. We got our giant bolos it’s all about Bolos de Berlin in Porto, anywhere else it’s just weak sauce. I

Crazy Friday

Friday was crazy we tried Elisabeth eary in the morning but she couldn’t meet with us-then we helped a less active paint her house, she wasn’t there but her daughter was, an oh my goodness mom you would cringe, first off we painted the moms room black-not all of it but a wall and we put little cut outs on the wall actually we just cut them out and let Nádia put them up, my artist instincts were cringing. Well it didn’t look as bad as I thought in the end, but still—yeah something I wouldn’t do. The Lord loves us and we called Vera last minute and she happened to be in the baixa, so she went with us to a lesson-seriously it’s a miracle because no one has a car here, it worked out perfectly.

Red!!! @#%**#@??

Saturday we had Mãos que ajudam, Hands that help-that was fun, I finally got to do one, we cleaned up this little village near Coimbra, we cleaned up the the Cemetery and this forest area-we hacked it down, sheesh it was a lot of work and I was not the smartest cookie and allowed myself to burn so I’m a strawberry, lobster, tomatoe, any other red thing object you want to throw in there, that’s me.

A Long Time Coming!

We’ve been working hard giving service and teaching people the Gospel it’s great, I love the mission, it took a long time to get there that’s for sure but truly what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. I love this Gospel so much, it’s the only thing that saves-I loved Pres. Eyerings talk in Conference about Adversity, I just read it today for personal study. Woah boy I’m anxious to see all of you, the dreams of going home have started. I love this people, I am so blessed I love my Savior dear Redeemer. Have a great week. Don’t forget to pray and read your scriptures! Love you all. Irmã Evans

One For the Records! :)

Well this week was one for the records, but I. Call and I worked hard this past week and I'm feeling the effects of it. So glad that it is P-day. We had a good week, it's so nice to be busy and the Lord truly is blessing us. So the week started out with us giving service helping a member, she teaches English so she wanted us to come to her class and speak with her kids so they could hear our accents, ect ect. It was fun we had questions like, when is your birthday, what is your best day of the week-it was pretty funny. Tuesday we had Ananda a member with us, and we're able to visit a lot of people with her, the funny thing is we really didn't need her because every house we ended up going to had a member present, but actually I lie we did need her, she's amazing and has such a sweet spirit, it's so great to get to know different members from different parts of the world-she's from Brazil.

What's Up With the Buses?

They had back to back holidays her, so the buses were horrible and on Wednesday I. Call and I had no such luck with them. We missed the one that takes us out to the hospital, so we decided to walk, and that's where I think I destroyed my feet-it was a long while we tried to wait for buses that never came, but it was an enjoyable nature walk. Then later that day we had Joseane and she wanted to show us a movie about Adam and Eve, it's called The Bible, it was creepy, the music and all, the only good thing is we properly taught Joseane about the fall something she didn't know, oh how I love the Book of Mormon and modern revelation. It was fun though we had popcorn and juice and the whole family was there, even Ramon who isn't baptized too, and has stopped coming to church, I. Call prayed that he'd come to the lessons and he did and he also came to church this week too.

Gypsy Irma Evans

Thursday we had dinner with the Stake President and his family, it was fun his 2 year old son is hilarious, he kept shouting Pai Natal! and calling me a gypsy-crazy little one. So the old ladys here have no shame and there's a reason why we have sister missionaries. One member decided to answer her door with hardly anything on, she's in the Elders area, but I told I. Call I was like see this is why we visit her. I don't know just random crazy stuff this week, it was a good week. I can't believe I'm down to a month, I really don't know what to think.

I Felt Sooo Bad!

Well I had a bad experience this week we were walking trying to hurry to catch a bus to get to Vera's she had a friend over, and we were across town so we were trying to get there fast well I saw this old lady on her crutches and with her groceries, it was hot, and I had the thought to stop and help her but I. Call is one that just presses onward and well people usually reject us when we ask to help so I let that over ride my thinking, well we're half way down the street and I hear this BAM-and then awful cries of pain, we turn around and the lady got hit by a VAN! It was still on top of her and she's just crying in pain-it was awful. How do I not guilt trip myself I felt horrible afterwards that whole night-I felt like I caused her the pain, but I don't know what would have happened but the image in my head of her and I beat myself up and really listen to the spirit-sigh-I'm so imperfect. I don't know, I just know things happen for a reason, I feel better now, I'm so grateful for prayer.

The Doorman and the Golden Questions

I love the Gospel and my Father and Savior. We have a new door man and he was talking to us last night, and he totally came up with golden questions it was beautiful, I. Call and I did the whole looking at each other thing, and then turned and we're like well we have answers. It was awesome, oh how I love this work and I'll say it again I love this Gospel it makes so much sense and or church is the only true and living church on the earth. I love you all really thank you for all the letters, prayers and love. Have a great week. Heart the Irmã Evans

Long But Good!

Okay looking back on this week I want to say it was a good one, na incredibly long one with transfers and all, but good. There was a baptism on Tuesday so that’s always fun. Irmã Call and I went out to Espírito Santo to go find specific people, we ended up door knocking because we had no such luck, and ended up finding the lady at her real home not just the home she works at, she bough us juice, it’s a slow process but we’re working on it, we’ll get her to invite us over for sure!

Happy As a Clam

The bug problem isn’t so bad so I’m happy and the weather took a turn for the better it’s started raining I. Call doesn’t like that but it’s cooled off considerably so I’m as happy as a clam. So anywho Wednesday was full of cancelations so we had another fun day of door knocking-and actually it wasn’t so bad we taught to lessons in the door and got inside one house, I actually slightly knew her, her husband is a less active, I knew they went to Brazil to get married I didn’t know when she was coming back but I’d only met her in the street each time. So we have a return appt with her. Hah we pushed a doorbell and then there came this toilet flushing sound we were like ‘what the freak!’ turns out it wasn’t the door bell like we thought but an actual toilet flushing at the exact time I touched the bell.

Listen

I had a nice little I listened to the Holy Ghost experience-truly it is a small voice, and not like some great epiphany-well some times but this time no, which means you really have to listen for and to Him. So I. Call just got done ironing her shirt and this was at lunch time, I completely spaced that she ironed her shirt-and in my spaced out little mind I was like oh this has been sitting here for a while I’ll put it up. So I usually hit the iron to make sure it’s cooled off enough to wrap the cord around it and put it up. So I pick up the iron and small voice in my head said don’t touch that and I didn’t think much about it but I decided to listen to it-I looked down and the iron was on the maximum and plugged in I was like oh snap-that was close so listening to the Holy Ghost saves us from a lot of pain and hurt, I was so grateful I listened to that still small voice.

I Love the Mission

I’m drawing so many blanks right now, I can’t remember my week, I just know it’s been good-oh yeah we had another lesson with the Cape Viridians’, they’re hard because they don’t talk and they always work, but I felt the spirit and we had a member present with us. I finally talked to this investigator that the sisters before I got there had been working with. She had doubts about prophets and a lot of things, so we talked about how much Heavenly Father loves us and about prophets and asking God, it was good. I love Coimbra, I love the mission, I’m trying not to think about it ending, I really don’t know what to think or feel, it’s surreal that’s for sure.

Imeida from Cabo Verde

Oh my goodness I almost forgot about Imeida another Cabo verdian anywho I. Svedin and I contacted her over 12 weeks ago and had a really good first lesson, she’s the one I invited to baptism on the first visit, well we never saw her again, I felt like giving her the BOM a couple of weeks back even though I knew she wasn’t home. Well she finally marked with us again for Saturday, when we got there she said she was grateful for the book and that she had been reading it. Well we were going to go over the first lesson again because it had been so long, but just again something small and little told me to go on with the second lesson, the plan of salvation, and I was just prompted to say certain things that I usually don’t say in when I teach that, turns out her brother died a month ago-she believed everything and was like I accept this-and turned out to be a big comfort for her, truly the Lord knows all His children and how to succor them. She’s so stinking Golden and she just moved back to Cabo Verde for the summer BLARGH not to return till September, I know the church is there and we talked about it, but I wanted to teach her, oh well I got her started. It was a great experience I love this Gospel and I know it’s true. I love my Savior and have felt His love in return. I love you all can’t wait to see you all. Amo-vos Irmã Evans

The Work is Good

The work is going good, the members are helping us out more, I think somethings going to happen with that, just have to have faith. Well I love you so forever much and truly I miss you, my blanket is safe and sound, yes? Um can you see what foods we should eat so we don't get eaten I mean I guess I can take it for another 6 weeks. I love you, you are wonderful. See you in a month and a half!

Last Transfer-WOW!

Okay the news of the week is I will stay in Coimbra, the Lord answered my prayers I wanted to die off here in Coimbra with Irmã Call and that’s just what I’ll do. So just call me the 5 transfer queen, it’s normal to basically have two areas right-fogo-some shoot me, good thing I like Coimbra. So I’m excited about that to stay, that means I can be apart of the baptism and still continue to work with our investigators. This week seemed unusually long, I’m just glad I don’t have to freak out about transfers anymore. Wow that’s insane I really don’t know how I feel about this being my last transfer probably like most missionaries but still I’m way excited to come home, even though there’s really not much to come back too and that might kill me, what am I talking about I’ve been waiting 16 months to just sit down a draw!!! Fogo I miss that.

COLD SHOWERS ? :{

So it’s all about 2 words COLD SHOWER, that’s what makes me happy right now, because we live on the 10th floor in a room without AC and it’s so stinking humid-blah-I hate humidity give me my dry heat back, I’m trying to remember how I survived last summer and am realizing I’m really good at suppressing bad memories. We had a goal to have 20 good lessons in home, which is difficult hear, 20 good means a prayer and not just street contacts ect, because we could do a lot more of those.

Service and Trials

Nothing to exciting happened the Hinckleys have moved so that’s way tragic for us, no more getting spoiled, oh well, we helped her move a clean her house it was nice that she finally let us serve her for once. Also the Elders were our exterminators and found like 7 sacks of spiders and said they killed a good dozen of them, they said they sprayed a lot of poison and that nothing should still be alive there, we washed and vacuumed everything and yet are still being eaten, boy do I love trials I’d eat them for breakfast if I could.

A Grand Day! :)

Monday was probably the best day this week, oh and Friday was good to so I won’t bore oh wait Thursday was good too. Okay I won’t bore you with the rest we’ll start with Monday okay we had our appt with Andrea she was there and we watched the Restoration and I felt the spirit strong while watching it stronger than I have for a while and we had Ananda there to help us because Andrea has one stinking strong Brazilian accent. Then she came with us to Hugo’s and we played Balderdash third lesson style, that was fun and they really are smart little boys I think his brother is warming up to us.

Preaching The Gospel

Thursday we went and had a lesson with I. Ernestina her son died in March and well I’d been feeling like I should talk to them about talking to there daughter in law because she’s Catholic and the best time to share the Gospel is when there’s been a death in the family-yeah I ended up making them cry, that wasn’t an easy visit, but he told us to walk a certain way to get to our next visit, and on the way I. Call was like lets knock these Predios and so I was like okay—and we found a girl from the Acçores and had the first lesson with her and it was good, and then we went back to some that told us we could come back and had a really good lesson, I quoted the first vision to her and that was the most powerful feeling I’ve had on the mission when I’ve said it, she said she doesn’t believe in the Pope or baptizing children, and loves Jesus, but she’s a stubborn one, she’s like I’m Catholic and almost didn’t accept the Book of Mormon but we got her I. Call wrote her name in it and I testified, she’ll get curious and she’ll find what she’s been looking for in a religion.

Awesome Baptism

Friday was the baptism of a deaf women so it was neat to see Elder Spiel give a talk in Portuguese and sign language, talk about the gift of tongues, but a ward member did her talk in sign and it was difficult but the spirit was strong, plus I got to see E. Johnson one last time, he played soccer with us that morning it was like old times.

Can You Believe It?

So yeah one more transfer, its unreal I’ve learned so much and still have so much more yet to learn. It’s really hard being away but we talked about sacrafices this week in church and I’m grateful to be able to do this for the Lord I will give my all. I love the story of Joseph in Egypt I love the scriptures all of them, and I love all of you, thank you for your love and support.

The Ups and Downs in Coimbra

So our game of life we made for Hugo was a hit-they want a copy and everything-Luis the little brother was into it too, he also was able to understand I. Call this time so that was a plus, he had a lot of questions too. Tuesday was a good day we found Adelide at home, that’s a rarity I know that satan is out to destroy this work, because out of all the door bells that could have been busted by a beer bottle on that street it was that one. We’re trying we finally got her phone number but our only obstacle with that is she is an old lady that doesn’t answer her phone all the time. We had a lesson with a less actives girlfriend-he’s an odd duck one of those people that are really smart but at the same time really weird he might be a bit schizophrenic, I don’t know, but she asked a lot of good questions and we had a good first lesson with her. Then that night we were going to a ward members b-day party and we see a crowd out in front of her house, we were just figuring it was for her party but no the front wall of her house was smashed in-completely taken out, it turns out a drunk man hit it and ran-I’m amazed his car still worked, so that was the talk of the night.

Those Elders!

Wednesday the greatest thing that happened was we found Luticia at home and had a short little lesson on the Book of Mormon, I felt the spirit so strongly, we gave her the book and marked with her, so that was a high light.Thursday was tragic we had a lunch and dinner appt. well our dinner appt cancels but no big deal we still have lunch, but then one of the assistents calls one who has never served here and it turns out him and two other Elders from different areas jacked our lunch appt. with the Hinckley’s—é vida—blargh.

It Was the Best!

Friday was the best day of them all it was so great to be able to shake Elder L. Tom Perry’s hand and listen to him teach and counsel us. He is a great warm and kind man I wish it would have lasted forever. It was also great because I got to see my favorite Elders, E.Yetter, Johnson, Sand, Roberts, and others it was fun, I love stuff like that. We talked to a Canadian on the way back; she’s on her way to Greece to be a dive instructor. Then we got canceled on that night.

More Cancellations!

Saturday There was more cancelation but we did have a really good lesson with Elizabeth she was confused about our church and the Catholic, she was wondering how the Catholic church couldn’t not be true because it’s so old and has so many members. Well we went over the apostasy again, asked how she feels inside of them, and to pray to God about it we had her pray right there on the spot. Her prayers are getting better too-I love seeing the progress she is making. So Pedro is out and about he came to church yesterday and had an enjoyable time, met the ward members and really liked it so I’m happy, there was a funny incident that happened but we’ll save that until after the mission.

Testify

Yesterday was a pretty difficult day not as great as the last one so I won’t go there. All I know is Ruan is a little guitar genius-he impressed the snot out of I. Call with his skills and also I know that the Lord lives that Jesus Christ is His son and our Savior. I know Joseph was and is a prophet and that President Thomas S. Monson leads the church today, truly this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ I know it’s true, I testify to you that it’s true, the Book of Mormon is from God and reading it and other church magazines will bring a light and happiness into our lives. I love you all thank you for your support. Have a great week.

Cancelled On

Well a lot went on this week so I hope it makes sence and doesn't come out as a big jumbled mess. I'll start out at last Monday, we cut our P-day short to only get canceled on, that's always fun, but that night we were blessed, we went over to our MA house and had family home evening with them we watched the Restoration and marked their 10 year old Hugo for baptism, so July is the magical date, so we're working on games and exciting things to teach him with.

Rough Day!

Tuesday was a rough day but we went back to a house where a lady works to clean it and we talked to her a little more, she knew a member, but she said she likes to read and she accepted a Book of Mormon. We also taught a ancient investigator, it was quite the adventure trying to find her house, I'll be happy when I don't have to figure out Portuguese addresses anymore, they're ridiculous. She's 72 but honestly she looks 52, but she likes to talk and she went on about her sad life and her two rebellious sons, one of her sons joined the church and that's how she got contact with the church, but she said he did well for about 2-3 years but fell back into his old habits. So we'll work with her again and see where that goes.

President Henry's Advice

On Saturday we went to Porto for interviews, President talked to me about me knowing what I wanted to do, and kind of freaked me out because he talked about the difficulites of being an artist and made me freak out and then later I talked to I. Call and she was like well you marry someone...and then it hit me oh yeah I don't want to be the bread winner-so I'm still going strong with wanting to illustrate for books. We got back and went to dinner with Americans-they're missionaries, they came here to study Portuguese but then they're going on to Mozambique to like for 4 years, it was really interesting to hear how they do it, and after it, and looking how we do missionary work I know this is the Lord's true church. They are really nice, and I really want to help them find the truth even if they are missionaries, they have 3 boys, 3,2, and 1 basically, they're really good people and it was a treat to speak in English and eat Mexican food. Their house is kind of out there and we had a baptism to go to but missed it, I felt kind of bad, oh well the Braga sisters were there-kind of ridiculous but yeah.

Smoking What?

I. Call decided to heat up her eye brow wax on our burners and then take a shower, I didn't know this and then the next thing I know is a smell really potent wood smell I look up and something is smoking, I'm like what the junk because I didn't know she was doing that, I go over and knock it off. So afterwards my eyes and throat killed for the rest of the day, I still have a soar throat.

Contacts

We finally contacted our reference two girls from Cape Verde, they were receptive, but the problem is the work a lot. We had two sets of Americans in church yesterday, that was pretty fun, one a husband and wife, he served here two years back and the other a family where the sun served in Lisbon and they wanted to come see the North.

A Great Day

Yesterday was a great day, oh Pedro gets out again either this week or next, but we went and had the first lesson with Andrea a girl we contacted maybe 2 weeks back, she's from São Paulo so that was good and she wants us to come back so that's a perk. Then we finally had a lesson with Jessica, Lucia and Emanuel it's been a while since we talked to all of them-so that was a blessing. Well that's my week, not to many left--I know I know I've got to make them count. Truly it's all about putting your trust in the Lord-Elder Scott gave a talk at BYU on 10 steps to happiness, I'm going to work on practicing those in my life because I know how important happiness is and I always want that in my life no matter what.

Celebrations

So oh great new Elder Perry is coming on Friday to talk to the Missionaries-so that's Elder Bednar and Perry, so blessed. My birthday was good-I can't believe I'm 24-we went to an Italian place, I wanted pizza but they didn't make them till after one-so I got something else, and ended up wanting what other people had-of course, oh well it was fun, it was fun to celebrate with I. Call as my comp. I love you all so much, I want to let you know that I have such a strong testimony that this church is true, that everything it teaches is good and right and true. I love the Prophet and Apostles. Have a great week. Amo-te.

Happy Mom's Day!

Mama I love you, it was so nice to talk to you this time, and not having any dark clouds hanging over head. Trevor's so lucky, I forgot to tell you to tell him I love him-oh well. I can't believe I'll be 24 this week, thanks for the packages, er when they arrive. It's good to know I'm loved. I'm glad things are going better for you all. Keep me in the loop about Adele's middle name. It was so great to talk to you I wish I could have talked to you all longer. That's all right, I need to keep focused and make it a great 2 more months. I've learned so much I'm so grateful for my goodly parents that have taught me and for the priveledge to serve a mission here in Portugal. I love you so much my mama, I hope your day yesterday was excellent. You're always in my prayers, Amo-te!

Who's Trunky?

Lets see what can I write about this week, I don’t really think I told anyone anything except Brendon and Karen, I do believe I talked longer to them then my own siblings-that’s pretty funny that’s okay it was a great chat. I hope I didn’t come off as too trunky-but what is trunky missing family and home? I’ve been basically trunky my whole mission then. Well on to better topics I’m going to try to heed the advice of dad. Last week was kind of difficult nobody wanted to answer there telephone so I wasn’t able to really make any appointments. We visited members that live far away and we’re getting them all excited for missionary work, and challenging them to have a family night or invite some one to church or pray for an experience, I don’t know if I already told you but we want to have them do a ward fast for missionary work in the month of June.

Surprise for Irma Call!

It was I. Call’s birthday on Friday (She’s from Murray, Utah she said she’s probably related to him) that’s funny I get a new mission president on the 2nd of July. Anywho moving on her birthday, the Elders threw a surprise party for her, it was funny and hard to try to keep it a secret from her, she said she suspected something when I went into the bathroom, but what are you suppose to do in a one room appt? Our DL called up saying he needed the scale-for her to come back to the church—she was peeved I was pretty sure she was going to say no, but we got there and the door was left open, and she kind of caught on, it was fun never the less. I love how Monty Python never gets old to quote amongst men.

Ups and Downs!

So we had a good lesson about Joseph Smith with Elizabeth, I don’t know if I told you this but she couldn’t get permission to go to our church because the doctors there say it’s a sect and will mess with her head, so that upset us. I think I told you the rest I don’t know what I said to you all yesterday my memory is terrible, it was just wonderful to talk to you all, even though it was for such a short time, that’s hard. The baptism yesterday was amazing, Aja bore her testimony and it was really good, she told of how she knew her being here in Portugal was probably the only way she’d accept the Gospel, that’s why we wanted to do it so quick and in Portugal because every member she knows is here, the missionaries, Ambrosia, the members in both wards, so she’s off to Seattle, hopefully to make the team. The spirit was strong, and it was fun to watch the Portuguese people speak in English.

I Was Saddened :(

Um I’m at a loss, I was saddened I wasn’t sung to this year-oh well—also that I didn’t get to Marcus for very long, I can’t wait till I can sit down and talk to you all and catch up. Sorry if I whined to about being old and not married, that’s I think the thing that’s getting to me now, but that’s a good thing though, that I want to get married now. I still need to learn how to cook better, that’s something I’ve skillfully handed off to my companions-oh my personality—well actually I don’t think I’ve eaten a decent dinner in like a week and a half all people feed us here are bolos and bolachas-so I’ll definitely be fat. Well I’m going to stop there too. Thank you everyone for your support and love, have a fun and safe week. I love you all até próxima! Amo-vos!Irmã Evans

Sodom and Gomorrah is alive and well in Portugal!

Well I just read about Sodom and Gamoroah-heh like I can spell-in the bible and I’m pretty sure I just witnessed something like it yesterday—my peaceful little Coimbra on Sundays was not so peaceful. It’s called Camas das Fitas-I’m pretty sure I spelled it wrong, anywho the university here is like the oldest university in Europe or next to it, so of course they have a lo of old crazy traditions-I’ll tell you more about it when I get home, but basically what it’s turned into is one drunken mess, well it actually lasts a whole week, but yesterday is where each faculty makes a float and they wear their colors and ride around in a parade giving out things to people. So basically it’s like an open invitation for everyone to drink and so you have all of these drunk people hanging out of the floats, being ridiculous, definitely not a dignified way to show off their year of work at school. It was so loud and we had to stay in, I’d just hear sirens non stop-poor medical people-but we did try a member and she wasn’t home and we passed police men and one yelled out SISTERS and we were like hey, turns out he’s from Lisbon, they called the Police in from there to help and he talked with us told us his brother served a mission in Utah and that he appreciated our work and we were a great example, it was an awesome experience. It was nasty though the streets stunk of beer and well other unpleasentries. Well that’s enough about that.

Life as a Missionary

So as for this week, Monday night was pretty great our plans fell through, so we went to go talk to Francisca and she wasn’t home but a girl was by the door and I heard her say keys with an accent so I was like are you from Brasil and that got us talking, she said we could come back, so that was great. Afterwards we talked with Paulo again after like 8 weeks, so we’ll continue with him-this week is hard with the Camas our student investigators aren’t so readily available. Tuesday we had Zone Conference and head Elder Robert C. Oaks teach us, it was really good, he likes stories so a lot were told and it was great to hear, I love being pumped up to do the work from those meetings. It was a good Zone Conference; I can’t believe I only have one more left-INSANE!We went to the hospital twice this week to visit Conceição she got a priesthood blessing; I’m hoping that helps her along with the conversion process. Aja is doing well she should be getting baptized this Friday, we went and watched one of their games to give them support it was fun, we took some members to-I think she appreciated that we were there. They came to church and Ambrosia bore her testimony-it’s funny because E. Spiel had to go up there and be her interpreter.

More Life...

Pedro might get out again for like a week-crazy I know-he said he’ll come to church though-that’s all I want to hear. Also a menos activo her son is 10 and we talked about baptism with him so were going to work towards that with him. Life is great, it’s getting warmer, bleh humidity, I’m not excited. I. Call is great just picking up the language and helping me along so I’m really blessed. I love you all have a great week! I love the Lord and my Savior, the opportunity to repent of our sins, the knowledge of the plan, and Joseph, Hyrum and Samuel Smith-I LOVE this church-it’s TRUE! Love you all

Coimbra

Irma Evans, Call, and Svedin-the Comps

Fire at the church while we were playing soccer. This is Elder Roberts and Johnson

Wow! What a wall!

Looooong Week

Well this week was unbelievably long, I feel like it's been 2 weeks since I've last written/heard from you all. So the first part of this week was insane, started out wonderfully with our little car trip on Monday for P-day it was a really great and relaxing day and I enjoyed the company too-also to wear jeans for like the whole day, I didn't feel right. So then Tuesday and Wednesday were crazy days running around trying to visit people and do last minute good-bye stuff for I. Svedin I really dislike transfer people leaving time.

No Fear! :)

Thursday was spent in much prayer and trying not to fear as I am now the one that knows and understands more Portuguese, and well I can tell you one thing the Lord has been with me throughout and it's been good, I still don't understand a lot but it's not as bad as I though, it was bad though I really miss the people that are gone, I loved it here with them, but oh well new people to learn to love and have fun with. I. Call and I went out later that day and went to a lady that we talked to before and we taught her the first lesson, she is so nice, but she's a funny old lady so she liked to interrupt us with off the wall questions, I'm pretty sure she didn't understand us all the way too, but it was funny she totally nodded off when I. Call was talking to her, oh dear, she fed us amendoas, nuts covered in chocolate and bolachas-cookies.

Miracle

Friday a miracle happened we were out contacting and knocking doors with out much luck, but I was choosing to have faith that we'd find someone and we did, I pushed the little button did my little sphill about we're missionaries and we have a message about happiness can we share it with you-yeah sure come in "click" I couldn't believe it, I was dumbfounded, she was way open though, just let us in and listened, I felt the spirt during the lesson, she understood things, and it was just amazing how it all turned out, she's from Chaves which is in the Northern part of Portugal and she usually goes home for the weekend but she stayed this weekend, we gave her the book of Mormon and everything, hopefully we'll be able to follow up with her soon, it was a definite blessing.

Elizabeth

Saturday we went and visited Elizabeth, she was doing great, says she gets so happy when she sees us coming up and that she feels good when ever she's around us. We spoke to her about baptism and authority, and also baptism for the dead, it was all great and she was understanding asking questions and all and it was a great lesson, but after I talked about baptism for the dead-I felt impressed to do so-she got quiet and I knew there was something on her mind-so I asked if she wanted to be baptized and she was like YES-but the only problem is she's in a psych hospital and I don't know the things that intail for that, if it's not one thing it's another.

Way Awesome!

Oh yeah last week was way awesome we missed our bus and so we were like snap-but there was this lady sitting there and we talked to her and taught her, and she said that she felt better, that we helped come her down and feel good-turns out she has a boyfriend at the hospital and the family doesn't like her, so she was out waiting deciding if she should get on the bus or not, and she stayed and then we appeared she said she didn't think that was a coincidence. What else the Lord has been really blessing us and I've felt His hand and help-I'm still happy although it's difficult it's good, I. Call is really an awesome companion she's great for me, and I know that when we try our best the Lord will make up the rest. I love this church, I love the Gospel, all of it, it's true!

This and That

We have an Elder from Cape Verde here, he is a one man army on the soccer field-he's amazing puts us all to sad shame. It was so insane last night.We were on the bus that passes by the train station, well it was late and all these students were coming back from there homes, so we were on a bus jammed pack full of students and suitcases it was weird. Well we have Zone Conference this week a General Authority is coming I'm excited, still being eaten alive by bugs-but it's been so pretty here in Coimbra. I love you all have a wonderful week. Amo-vos

Tender Mercies

I got chills reading that, we are so blessed and I am so grateful and the Lord has really been helping me through this.It was so great to be able to talk to you, so great, I'm so hungry for it again, the next day was hard to focus but I'm getting there, yeah this week was hard, but I have the Lord. Elder Johnson and others of my in my district are getting transfered so that is hard but, I'll make it through. I love you so much my mama, you are so wonderful. I love the Lord and His Gospel and I'll keep on fighting, because that's what we as Saints do we keep on keepin on. I know that the Lord is aware of me and has blessed me all through this, I've felt His comfort and peace and the will to go on, I've had to pray for that, but I know how blessed we are and I am so grateful for that. I love you so much, I'm grateful that you're healthy and that Matthew is fine even though he gave you a scare.

Gratitude

I'm grateful to be able to be teaching the Gospel to the people here. It's tough, it's still stinking tough, the mission definitely dosen't get easier like I thought it would, but I'm so grateful for all of you that help me stay focused and support me, how blessed am I, I love this Gospel I love the sweet spirit and I love the change in people that's what's happened with our investigator Elisabeth the first time she was cold and had no emotion, the second time she just cried, this next time she was happy, and was smiling and was so grateful for our friendship and said that we had really helped her, then when we missed our bus we were talking with this lady who was upset and afterwards she said that she felt so much better, I don't have time to tell this story this week but next week I will. We went to castles and other places today for P-day and that has left me not much time to e-mail. I love you so much, It's hard not to be there but I know where I'm suppose to be. I love you and miss you.

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

So I accidently spent a lot of money on shoes-_-' my green ones were destroying my feet so I went to sports zone where an elder told me they were having a said I saw some for about $20 there was a sign and everything, I tried them on they were comfortable and I fell in love and then at the check out place it was 49--I felt bad after that, so I guess happy b-day to me right-sorry--thanks for the package too, I love you so very much.

A Year in Portugal

Well I celebrated my one year in the country this week, it really is crazy to look back and like everybody told me it really does go by rather quickly. It is really interesting to look at where I was then and what I thought compared to now. So it was a crazy week first we went to Porto for the new missionary meeting-that was a lot of fun, we went to the light house and all the other fixing, I’m still blown away by the fact that a year ago I was in her place. It was fun to talk to the other Elders that were training and hear their stories and experiences and just to be around different Elders.

Elders Tysick, Yetter, Roberts and Aubs (all from Mesa)

Easter Holiday in Coimbra

So that was Tuesday and on Friday started the holiday-yeah they celebrate for three days here and it was like Christmas all over again, there were not many people on the streets and if they were they weren’t from here. It’s interesting to find out the different customs for the holidays here, it’s not so much about the Easter bunny and eggs here-pois this is Catholic country-they have it, but they have different traditions like a priest walks around with a cross and he visits the people in their houses, not here in Coimbra but in the little cities surrounding it. We got canceled on a lot this past week and I think Easter was one of the reasons.

Progress with an Investigator

So with Joseane we watched the movie about Wilford Woodruff. Whe he was searching for the true church, it was good we talked about authority and all and then she’s like I want to get baptized on my birthday, which is in January so we were like dahh (which is an improvement for her, before she didn’t want to be baptized) but it was funny I. Call was like how about my birthday which is May 8th, we still have a ways to go but that’s okay.

Continuing Saga of Pedro Miguel

Okay so the moment you’ve all been waiting for-our weekend with Pedro Miguel, I don’t know if I explained this but I guess here, after so many years, and it’s a process but if they do good things then they have a weekend away from the prison but they have to have some one to sign for them and stay with them, weird I know, anywho he came with his mom to the church and we watched the Restoration, the Elders were there too-anywho it was really good and really good for him because he said after watching that the puzzle has finally come together, it was just so nice to teach him in an environment of peace and where the spirit could reside. He really really liked it at the church and he said he wants to come back he like the peaceful tranquil feeling there and also he said his heart was pounding. So he came to church and enjoyed that too, he like the testimony meeting and yeah this is really great for Gloria.

Killing Off Irma Svedin

It’s been a crazy week, and I can’t believe this transfer is almost over-I’m killing off I. Svedin. That means that we’ll have to rely on my Portuguese, seriously pray for me. Oh I don’t know if I told you bu the Elders have an investigador that’s going to get baptized, she’s deaf, and she was the only one in our gospel principles class, so we watched Finding faith in Christ in English and Elder Spiel signed for her, it was good.

Easter Love

I love Easter, I tried to have the bash but it didn’t work out the eggs didn’t boil all the way and it was pathetic >_> Anywho back to the real meaning of Easter. I love our Savior I love Him so much and for what he did for us, made it possible for us to live again, there is nothing better than that I love the plan of salvation, my favorite door man (at our shopping center) died this past week, it hit me, he was so funny and I liked talking to him, but I know the plan, and boy is it comforting. I’m grateful that I get to be out here teaching others about the plan. I love you all I hope you had a fantastic Easter. Happy Birthday Dad!! Love you all so much, Aubrey

Random Pictures

Acros de Jardim

You need to enlarge this one since Irma Aubrey is blending in with the ancient stones.

I'm Getting Old! :(

I realized this week that I'm old, as I'm about to turn 24 in a month-sigh-oh well I love it here in Coimbra still adjusting, stretching, going through all the emotions-no that is not sarcasim you hear in my voice. Still being eaten a live by bugs, going on 2 months now, I hope I can survive, I really enjoyed conference did I already mention that. Well I love you so much my mama today marks 14 months that I haven't seen you-that's a long time. Have a grand Easter and a great Easter Egg Bash. Love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.

Conference

I was pretty certain some one upstairs hated me because Saturday we didn't have it in English, and you remeber with Braga and all, I had it in my mind then oh well at least I'll be able to watch the April conference in English-ha ha-no it wasn't all that bad like I already said you can feel the spirit ever so strongly still-pois-but it's hard to translate and applicate-that's probably a made up word all I have is applicar in my head-at the same time-and President Eyring I was trying so hard to just hear him speak in English that I really didn't get the full gest of his talk, trying to translate and also separate the two languages causes me to have ADD-sigh-but the Lord blessed me and we had English on Sunday--it was beautiful and oh my goodness Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands talk was amazing!!! I can't sum it up in any other words, truly I was taught, and it was delicious unto me--I love this Gospel with all my heart I love the scriptures and the words of the prophets, how blessed am I too have the Gospel in my life, my easy wonderful beautiful life-after the story President Monson told about the woman burrying her children in the frozen ground with a teaspoon, I can't complain about life. As always conference was amazing and I. Svedin in psychic she was telling me for a whole transfer that the new apostle was going to be Neil L. Anderson er sen I don't know. Anyway I'm sad that Elder Worthlin I've been reading his talks and I really enjoy them.I was pretty certain some one upstairs hated me because Saturday we didn't have it in English, and you remeber with Braga and all, I had it in my mind then oh well at least I'll be able to watch the April conference in English-ha ha-no it wasn't all that bad like I already said you can feel the spirit ever so strongly still-pois-but it's hard to translate and applicate-that's probably a made up word all I have is applicar in my head-at the same time-and President Eyring I was trying so hard to just hear him speak in English that I really didn't get the full gest of his talk, trying to translate and also separate the two languages causes me to have ADD-sigh-but the Lord blessed me and we had English on Sunday--it was beautiful and oh my goodness Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands talk was amazing!!! I can't sum it up in any other words, truly I was taught, and it was delicious unto me--I love this Gospel with all my heart I love the scriptures and the words of the prophets, how blessed am I too have the Gospel in my life, my easy wonderful beautiful life-after the story President Monson told about the woman burrying her children in the frozen ground with a teaspoon, I can't complain about life. As always conference was amazing and I. Svedin in psychic she was telling me for a whole transfer that the new apostle was going to be Neil L. Anderson er sen I don't know. Anyway I'm sad that Elder Worthlin I've been reading his talks and I really enjoy them.

April Fools on the Elders :D

So as for this week we played an April Fools Joke on the Elders, we made no bakes with a lot of salt and pepper in them and I mean A LOT, it worked out great because one of the Elders asked for one during our district meeting and he tasted it and was like gross and passed it off to another Elder and he did the same then at the end we got the other Elders and they're so precious because they were being quiet and trying to be nice about it. It was funny.

Penal System in Portugal

Pedro Miguel you're never going to believe this gets out of jail for the weekend, they do this here in Portugal I really can't explain it but he's going to come to church and play soccer with us, so that's a little weird.

Sadness and Hope

We also went and taught Elizabete she said she didn't want to live forever because life was so horrible, we explained to her that Eternal Life was not the same as mortal life, she says she's never really lived, that her parents beat her as a child and also her mom told her bad things about her dad and then commited suicide, yeah I don't know but a really dreery dimal life she's lived, so we're trying to help her out and help her realize that she's not alone that Christ knows how she feels and that He is there for her and loves her. I felt the spirit strongly again as I testified to her that this is Christ's church and that he did all that he did becasue He loves her.

Death and the Resurrection

We also went and visited a ward member who's son died about two weeks ago he dropped dead playing soccer--it's so sad and I think that saddest part of it all is I'm pretty sure he's sealed to his parents, but his wife isn't LDS and so he's not sealed to his family, now that the true tragedy, I've been reading a lot of stories about death and I think all that can be said about it is how grateful I am for Christ because He made it possible for us to live again-how great is that. I love Him I know He loves me and all of us-I love this time of year to think about the life and Ressurection of Christ. I love today the 6th of April when the church was established how very blessed am I. I love you all so much I hope you are all doing well you are in my prayers and I pray hard for you all. Have a very Happy Easter! Tchau!

A Better Week! :-)

No this week was much better much much better, as we're getting use to the situation and getting to know each other better and crazy things haven't been thrown into the mix it's good. Actually Irmã Call had an moment were her sister had her baby and there was a possiblity that he could have been born with a deadly disease, one of her nieces already has it but type 2 so she won't die, she just can't use her limbs anywho they found out she had it when her sister got pregnant so they didn't know. Anywho she was just afraid for her sister and just wanted to give her support ect. I was like I know basically how you feel, how hard it is to be away from your sister and family and not give support and just be there. So that was a good little bonding moment.

No Robbery, Theft, or Forgotten Keys!

It got cold again, I don't understand this weather, oh well, I like it better than melting, but it's been quite windy and my contacts are just not down with that-sigh-é vida. Well this week was much better than the last, no robbery, no theft, no forgetting keys and there was zone conference and we had 3 investigators at church plus the Elders had a good number of investigators at church too. Elder Spiel first had to sign-they've been learning language because they have deaf investigators so he did that, then he got to translate for their American investigators. We were able to go with them when they taught the third lesson, it was really good and we talked about baptism with her, it was just a really awesome and enjoyable lesson, the spirit was strong and she understands and is trying-I love my investigators and all but none have been like that, so it's been neat to experience. As for ours Joseane came to church again with the family and she read, we told her to read and she read-YEAH!

Pres. Henry and False Doctrines

Whew anywho we had Zone Conference this week and it was great to learn from President he gave us a list of 8 false doctrines the Christan world believes-it was good because, I just assume people know these things which is dumb of me but yeah the world believes that Adam & Eve could have children in the Garden, it's the Book of Mormon that teaches us that they were innocent and many other things like that.

The "Cuckoo's Nest" and the "Pen"

On Saturday we took a bus and had no idea where it was going to take us, as we left Coimbra and were going farther out into the country I was getting a little afraid, but we reached our destination-the Psych Hospital-that's right we have an investigator in prison and one in the Psychiatric Hospital. We don't know why she was initially in there, but she tried to kill herself when it was time to leave after being there for 10 years. She speaks English, she lived in the US so it was awesome to teach in English to her, we teach well together in English -_-´ we're still working on the other language-sigh- anyway it was a good lesson the spirit was strong, she even said the prayer for us. She's had a very hard life though and she's a very numb and cold person—so we'll see how it goes. It was just a funny experience to be there though, because I. Svedin and I. Call were a little freaked out to be there with the psychos-okay I was too-only a little—and we were totally lost walking around-it was an adventure for sure-because it's this place hidden in the woods.

I Am Blessed!

I know that I'm so blessed to be here, I love it here in Coimbra with the people that I'm with-all though I miss you all-there are just no words to describe it. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, how blessed we are to have it, I just love it and how it's a very personal book too-it amazes me. I'm so forever excited for General Conference- it's like Christmas, actually for a missionary I think it's better than Christmas-oh we're such geeks-it's great. I hope we're able to watch it in English-the room they have the English connection in is the one that got burnt >.>

Testify

Well I know that the Savior lives that Joseph Smith was His chosen prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is His prophet today, how great it is to testify that I know these things are true. I love the Lord and I love His work too. I am blessed to be where I'm at helping the church to grow in Portugal. Remember to laugh and to read your scriptures, that's about it from me this week. Love you all have a great one.

Learning and Growing Again!

Well this past week has been a learning and growing one-just for the record I don't like triplas-I always end up being the third wheel. Honestly trust in the Lord that's where I'm down to-we've had a string of unfortunate events happening here in Coimbra.

String of Unfortunate Events

I guess I'll start off with the most exciting-FOGO na capela—translated fire in the chapel-it wasn't ours so it's all right, nah I'm totally kidding, anywho we were playing soccer as normal we had 2 investigators there and some members so it was successful anywho we're playing and Vera a ward member comes running out and was like the chapel is on fire the chapel is on fire—her and Joyce were playing around with a soccer ball by the window and they saw that it was cracked and they were like did we do that but noticed FIRE-anywho so all the Elders and to of the members ran in there all brave like and put it out and then the firefighters arrived. It was started on some chairs in the kitchen-there kitchen in that chapel is in the relief society room, anywho so it wasn't an accident which would of made it better and us heroes instead someone did it and we were blamed for not locking up the chapel-hind sight always 20/20 Anywho it was quite crazy and we were very blessed because it caught up in the ceiling but stayed pretty contained to one corner. Also another crazy awesome thing is there was a picture of the resurrected Christ appearing to Mary on the wall next to where it was all burnt and it was perfectly fine, where as the wall was all burt and a clock farther away was melted-I. Svedin has pictures I'll have to show you them some time. Anywho so that was the excitement for Saturday. Then today the Elders invited us to play basketball which we probably shouldn't have done-bad things happened I first got hit in the face and my contact popped out, but I had it and when I was going to put it in, the wind blew it away—yeah so there was hard core praying going on by me, and my faith wanted to waver it did look impossible a needle in a hay stack impossible but everyone helped me and blessed Elder Roberts found my contact in the grass . The Lord answered my prayer after we showed our faith and diligence in looking for it. So afterwards we went to go pick up our stuff and my watch was there but I. Svedin's wasn't and our cell phone wasn't some one stold it, it was not smart our part to put our stuff where we did-So we've been dealing with arsenal and theft this week, does not help for the moral I'm telling you this-satanas he's always at work trying to discourage us, it's been a fight, these past weeks-I'm ready for a little relief that's for sure.

For the Good News!

As for the good news in Coimbra-Jessica, Lucia, Joseane, and Ramon they all came to church, and Joseane got her answer that ours is the true church of Jesus Christ, we still have a lot to do but that is definite progress. Also Jessica and Lucia, we had a good lesson with them, we talked about baptism and I feel it coming closer because Jessica talked a lot about feeling the spirit at church-which is great and she really liked it. So the Lord is blessing us her which is good because we need all the help we can get. I love you all so much. I'm grateful for you all have a great week.

Missionaries Weird?

I am writing you all from Porto right now, I love Porto, it's got a charm all on it's own, I love Guimarães because it's little city step back in time cool and then Coimbra is just rad, who knows if I'll add an extra area to my list, oh and Braga that was well that's where I was born so it holds a special place in my heart, sheesh us missionaries we're so weird.

Greenie and the Third Wheel

So I have now become the third wheel, seriously our verdinha she's a contacting machine, she's really outgoing which me and I. Svedin are not. She's a really cute girl (she looks like the girls Trevor dated before his mission) probably a sister that Elders ask “WHY (are you here)” it's good in a way but bad because she's a bit nieve and just a greenie (that explains everything) and we're in the land of young college boys and of the drunks, we'll see how this transfer goes. She's good she's very diligent with the language, something I'm not good with hence the fact that I still speak so crappy. It's good and all but it's hard, in so many different ways, because I'm not comfortable with her, but I'm comfortable with I. Svedin. She's got that little greenie fire burning strong and bright though, she's all about contacts which is different because none of the other sisters here are big on doing contacts. She does have to learn that the piano has 88 keys and it's not going to make music by only pushing one key, so it is with missionary work. It's been good though it's been forcing I. Svedin and I to talk to more people. It's weird because I've always been the one that speaks the worst Portugese or can't understand people. Every transfer brings something new, some kind of challenge to work and deal with. Only two more transfers to worry about-whew. It was kind of funny, basically her first day here was all English, because first of all basically my whole district came to Porto to pick up people and to see others off. It was good I was able to see most of the Elders in my MTC district that made me happy, Elder Yetter finally came back from Madeira. Then that night we went to the Hinckleys for aulas de Portugues. It's so weird having a greenie again.

Great Lesson

So one of the best lessons I've been apart of here on the mission happened on Friday, the Elders needed us to go with them to the American basketball players, one is a member and the other is an investigator, so it was in English, the spirit was strong, she was asking really good questions and it was just so great to completely understand everything. We finally got to talk to Emanuel, he's such a good humble man, but we have a lot of work to do. We read E. Worthlins talk come what may and love it, and he really liked that. Jessica and Lucia broke their promise about coming to church so that made me upset, and then we tried to bring people to church and that didn't work >_> everybody is sick here too. After church we went with the Elders to give a family a blessing, it's so great to get to see the Power of the Priesthood in action-I love the Gospel. We had a CTMM member missionary training center. It was good we had them open a call, watch a video about a girl giving a BOM to her friend and had little training classes, we're getting a reference out of it. Well I love Coimbra still, there's barely any space in our appt. But we're adjusting, just takes some getting use to. We eat on our ironing board ^^ So our goal is to contact 105 people this week, I'll report to you on it.

Collin Kay Came Out to Play

I can't tell you have happy and excited I am to hear about little Collin Kay Evans-I want pictures! I want to know the history behind Collin, why that name—I like it though, I've liked it since I read those one books by that one lady oh sheesh my brain is fried. It's good to hear everyone is doing well except for the little annoyances of everyday life. Snap there's things I should respond to but I read all your letters last Monday. All I know is it's so good to hear from you all and thank you so much for your love and support, I know that God loves me because of you all, I miss you all so incredibly much. Have a great week and St. Patty's day. Catch you all next week.

News of the Week

Okay so the news of the week is we got a call from President Henry, so you know what that means-We’re training—someone shoot me now, I find it ironic that we have the smallest appt. yet we’re going to be the only tripla. I’ve told you about our appt right, it’s a room I’ll have to take a picture it’s horrible oh well I should be grateful I have something with running warm water right, I’ll definitely count my blessings. Anywho I guess we’re co-training but I’m thinking it’s going to be placed more on I. Svedin, I don’t know we’ll see, if she’s smart she’ll glean wisdom from I. Svedin and not me, so yes you are all right that makes 5 transfers with I. Svedin so 30 weeks we’ll have served I guess I just like to do things in 5. I’m happy to stay in Coimbra the Zone Leaders are the same my District leader and Elder Tysick is coming down so I’ll have two Mesa boys. We’re excited about that one. I don’t know anything about her yet, President only told us that we’d be training.

Imeda and the Challenge

The other great news of the week is yesterday-we finally were able to teach Imeda a Cape Verdian who we contacted on the street and were like do you have a church (she just moved here) and she’s like no and we were like do you want to come to ours—yeah well we had an amazing first lesson with her the spirit was present, and she was very very receptive she believed in everything—now all we have to do is watch and see if she’ll act, which we’re praying hard for her to do. She has a lot of faith though. So that cheered me up and helped me remember why I’m on a mission. I invited Imeda to be baptized on our first visit, the thought popped in my head and I almost shrugged it away, but I thought about it and was like okay you better help me do this because I've never done it before. The spirit was strong and I just invited her nothing big she didn't say yes or no but I'm really hoping that she understands and has a desire to progress and be baptized really it was a good lesson, it was the crowing moment of the past six weeks, it erases all the other bad moments and there were a lot of those, isn't that funny.

Porto and the Man's Sandwich!

This past week was crazy we went to Porto on Tuesday so that basically ate up the day, we finally had Francizinhas, I’m sure I didn’t spell it right, but basically it’s a mans sandwich it’s wrapped in cheese, you have like 5 different meats on it, it’s covered with egg and French fries and there’s this special kind of sauce, it was pretty good, all the Elders are in love with them. They say the best ones are in Porto-so we had to eat it there. I just ate another one today for Elder Spiel’s B-day we went out with the Elders and they made fun of me because I’m forever slow.

Sooooo Different!

Thursday and Friday I. De Souza my trainer came because she’s going home and wanted to say good-bye to everybody so we went around with them, it’s kind of a hassle but was good to see her again, oh how different I am from last April.

Worth the Wait

Saturday we caught a bus and went to Viseu, it’s a pretty little city, I like my Coimbra more but there was a baptism and it was really very wonderful, I. Svedin marked her but then got transferred anywho she’s been investigating the church for 20 years, her husband joined 20 years ago and her sons-twins joined 3 years ago and went inactive, but after conference they haven’t missed a week, and so yay finally they’re all baptized and can progress together. Just thinking about what that brings and means brought the spirit so strongly to me and it was just a really sweet experience. So next thing I now I. Svedin got permission for us to stay in Viseu, and so we did, it was Women’s Day, seriously every country but the United States celebrates that, I don’t get it.