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.

Sorrow, but the Church is TRUE!

There’s an Elder Pimento in our mission who was diagnosed with spinal cancer so we had a special fast, it’s so sad. We saw him in the office on Tuesday and were like weren’t you on Madira? He told us he was having back pain-now we know. I guess the other big news is I. Svedin broke out in hives on Thursday night, that was fun I was like I don’t know what to do for you, I tried blowing on her, I don’t think that it helped to much, we were able to buy her pills in the morning-that was an exciting adventure-they made her happy-it was hilarious you should have seen her. She’s doing better, but I’m still being eaten alive by bugs—4 more months about 4 more months. I know this Gospel is TRUE, I know in whom I put my trust. I love my Savior and little by little I understand more about the Atonement of Jesus and how personal it is. I am so grateful to be a member of this church. I love you all thank you for your support it means everything to me. Have a great week!

This Week Was Hard!

This week was hard, I missed you all and I missed home, but I have the Savior to help me through those times of longing, I'm back to my dreams where yeah it's just purely family.

Come What May...

So a couple of nights ago I realized I'm an almost 24 year old sleeping with a camel, alarm clock, itch ointment, and tissues on the top bunk--not where I pictured myself at the age of 24--I wanted a man! It's funny where the Lord puts you. Well Coimbra is as beautiful as ever, I decided I'm going to compare the weather to the weather in Arizona, it started getting quite warm in the afternoons and I'm like stink it's only February. It rained this weekend though and cooled it off again, I don't know it's not until next month that I can compare Portugal with what happened last year-my time is running short, yeesh it goes by so fast, truly we have to enjoy the passing moment, seriously I can't believe I've already been a way from home for a whole year.

Carnival :(

This week was very uneventful, they had Carnival which I explained is basically like Halloween, well what it really is, is Marti Graw-I don't know how to spell that- what Americans celebrate, but it's a bigger thing here, and a bit different. So all the missionaries were basically canceled on and so we had dinner at the church, and I like the Elders here, it will be sad when transfers come, I've gotten quite attached to the people here. Oh well that's life, even though I don't like it come what may and love it, right?

What Day IS It?

Friday we went to visit Guilharmina an investigator and we arrived early because of the bus so we were planning out our week, anywho she saw us and came out and was like what are you doing here, we planned for Sexta and we looked at each other, looked at our watches and were like it is sexta (Friday) she thought it was quinta (thursday). So she was going shopping to buy stuff for a suprise party she was throwing for her little brother-so here in Portugal people are prideful and whatever else and they don't like help >_> So in typical fashion I asked if she needed help thinking she'd say no, because we had other things we needed to do, but she said yes and we're like okay, so we helped her with her bags and helped her make fruit pizza, so this is actually a long story but for the fact that I don't have time, basically it ate up a lot of time and I was hoping she'd come to church from it, but no, she didn't, but I'm not losing hope I'm hoping it will be a factor later on down the line, I don't know I can't see these things it would be so nice to be able to see them, but I guess where would be our faith if we did see where these things lead to before hand.

Futebol Tournament :)

Anywho Saturday we had the Futebol tornament in the rain, it was funny to see everyone sliding around on the pavement, an added challenge--they play on cement here not grass-did I mention this before? There were a lot of people there, that were not members so that was a good thing. Lets hope that something comes from that.
Then that night we have a less active that's not the most stable she told us the night before that she didn't believe in prophets and Jospeh Smith, I was like who allowed you to be baptized anywho we're trying to get her to allow her children to come back to church, so we went to this evangelistic church, assemblies of God-first off I have a testimony that our church is the only true church on the earth-I tried to not be judgemental and critical because this was my first time in another church, and so I tried to go off of feeling and yeah our church is true, my testimony was strenghthened by this experience anywho to basically sum it all up, it was being yelled at and freezing for 2 hours, seriously the preachers are like sports announcers I wanted to shout out GOAAALLL!! It was an experience a definite lack of reverance and yeah I think were going to go to mass next week. We tried to get Jessica to church, but that didn't work and only involved a lot of walking >_> We had a lesson with her and her mom that night, we watched finding faith in Christ and all told of our favorite parts on the movie, it was good, I love the spirit. So I am blessed with a good ward here in Coimbra they are very willing to help us out and do missionary work-now if only we had people to take them to. The Elders are having a lot of success though, so that's good-It's neat to see things grow, this Gospel is true I know that Joseph Smith was chosen by God to be the prophet of the Restoration, I love this Gospel, I love all of you so very much, thank you and I wish you a great, grand and wonderful week.