Blessings

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

Braga-ed Out! :D

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

Irma Evans, The Planter

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

A Change.

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

I Believe in Miracles!

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

Great Work.

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

Sweet is the Work!

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

Trust in the Lord

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

The Spirit and Change

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

It Was a Great Day :-)

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