Humbling Experience

I love the mission it's so humbling, in so many different ways. I've been thinking a lot lately about the will of the Lord, because we know how to recieve answers and blessings from the Lord, keep the commandments, have faith, fast and pray, and recieve Priesthood blessings-that's basically it, and sometimes the Lord does heal and make us whole through that, but sometimes that doesn't work and it's a great trial of faith, learning and patience. The one thing we can count on whatever our trial maybe is that the Lord will give us comfort and that he won't leave us alone. So this week has been interesting, it's crazy how much the feel of an area changes when one person leaves, but I'm growing and talking to people on the phone in Portuguese...sort of...sigh...my language is a lot better than when I was crying about it 2 months ago, but I still have a ways to go.

The Work!

So now on to what you all have been waiting for—the work—yay so we went to visit Paulo our medical school student, and he had two friends there, so they all got to learn about the Plan of Salvation, it was good, but our member with us, gets a little excited and starts going of f topic, and onto diffent things in the church, so remember if you go out with the missionaries, keep it simple and bear testimony. Anywho, the next day we get a call from a less active asking us to come over, that was shocking because that never happens, turns out she tried killing herself for attention, so we have been paying attention to her this week-it's hard because, I'm new to the area and we only visited her once before, so I felt bad we didn't go back sooner. We got out and about contacting people in the street, that was fun too, also found out doubts of our investigators like Josianne, her husband and two children our members, and we found out the real reason is she doesn't believe in Joseph Smith and that's basically what it all boils down to, people need that simple testimony and belief that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Jessica didn't come to church infelizment, sigh.

Awesome Week Coming

This week should be awesome with Elder Bednar coming I'm so excited, we have Zone Conference tomorrow, and then stake Conference for 2 days.So I'll have more to report next week, sadly none of our investigators are really progressing this week-we're still trying to get to know everyone. It was awesome though last night we went to a members house and our recent convert was there, and it was awesome because she was bluntly telling her you have to pay tithing I have such a testimony of tithing and talking about the blessings, and all, and she was also like you need to come to all of church—I love when the members do our job.

Heart My Mission

I love being on the mission, I'm glad so glad I made the desicion to go on one, it's changed me for the better and I know will keep thank goodness I have 5 months to approvatar minha tempo, and learn the language better. I love the Portuguese people. I love the Gospel, it's just so wonderful, words can not describe my joy. This church is so true, I just can't get over that beautiful fact.

Pics from Guimaraes and Vizela

Hard is Good?

Coimbra is good though, it just got a bit harder, but I still like it here. This week should be better than last. I love you so much and I'm so grateful for all you do and how much the Lord blesses me and our family. Thanks for your last words I need to read that evey once and a while. Keep me posted on Travis and Stephanie.

Baagh Transfers :(

I don't like transfers, they just mess everything up. Life just got a lot harder, but it's good I'm much better at handling it this time. I read this article about trials in an Ensign, Bonnie D. Parken talked about Joseph in Egypt and how he saw the reason for his tribulation, anywho with that story in mind she said with her husband they served a mission in England, he was the mission president anyway, she went deaf in one ear, she said through the experience she was upset, and afraid, and she was more like Josephs brothers when they found the money in there sacks and asked why is this happening to me. She said later on in life she realized how much she was blessed and how much she grew from it, I'm feeling kind of like that now. It's so weird serving with I. Svedin again in a completely different area and me being in charge, the mission is a funny thing.

I Am Growing (not in height)!

I miss I. Polito, this is good though I'm growing in so many different ways, calling people on the phone, making appts. and decisions, yeah I know, it's taken me this long to finally do all that. You all know me I like to rely heavely on people, sigh, it only took me a year. Speaking of that I can't believe I hit my year mark on Friday, it certainly does fly by. So everyone is getting prepared for Elder Bednar, it's exciting, the Portuguese are funny they found out his favorite hymn so we sang it in Relief Society and twice in sacrament meeting. It's amazing how a new companion changes the dynamics of an area, it's good but in some ways I just wasn't ready to loose Irmã Polito yet, my language has gone down a notch--I keep thinking about Ty Hansen but still a year later my language is still very bad, good compared to people who speak it, but for a missionary it is muito mau T_T So the work, Jessica came and played futebol with us on Saturday, the Lord answered my prayer and there was sun. I wasn't on my best game....I miss baseball.

Hard Work

This week was hard on the work, but we had a really good lesson with Jessica and I can see the changes in her, it's fun to see that. We talked about why we love Christ and the spirit was really strong and she said she'd go to church...she didn't go to church...we got on her about that last night and she penciled it in for next Sunday so we shall see. I. Polito got permission to come back to Coimbra for Elder Bednar and so I'll be excited to tell Jessica that she's going to come back. For that weekend. There's this other family, they're all Brazilians they're the Elders investigators but we help out because normally there isn't a man in the house, anywho one is a Less Active and the rest of her family is now investigating, they play soccer with us and we have great lessons with them and they came to church yesterday, I was so happy. It was pretty sad because when it was time for Gospel Principals we had no one, and there were four dejected missionaries, but we were blessed, one of our investigators showed up, then a less active family came and brought a investiagtors, and then the other family came so we were very blessed.

Good-bye to Irma Polito

Oh you can not believe how hard it was to watch I. Polito say good-bye to everyone, everyone here loves her, I can tell you I haven't won my way into there hearts like that yet, it was hard to watch that and them, because she really didn't want to go.It was fun to catch up with I. Svedin and it's crazy being with an American again, I wonder if I'll kill her off, I killed off my last American comp. I don't know all I know is there's a lot of new sisters coming, it's weird that means I'll be training, probably, NOOOO oh well come what may and love it, go forward with faith, I love this Gospel I love all of you and for the examples you have been to me, truly this is happiness and oh I'll just finish it, life eternal to know Thee the one true God and Jesus Christ whom though hast sent, I like that scripture a lot, also the 3 verse in 'How Great thou Art' it's not the same in Portuguese, so tragic. Well that's about it from me this week. I love you all, prayer is wonderful, so do it.