Trunkey Papers

Wow so I recieved my trunky papers last week and I need the address of President Smith-ASAP, this is very important don't forget about it. Lets see what else, I think that's it just thank you so much for the package and for thinking about me, for your letters, your dedication and support, for you and for how you raised us. Seeing how people have raised their children and looking at our family you've done a marvelous job--thanks for teaching me about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm so tired and out of it, so sorry if this isn't the best. I love you. We're going bowling, all the Elders and I are bummed I. Polito is leaving, well that's the mission right. okay have a fabulous week. I'll send pictures to make up. Yesterday was emotional.

Not a Big Change

Well the good news is that I’ll be staying in Coimbra, the bad news is the Lord is sending my blessed Brazilian companion to Braga-I’m so saddend-we get a long well and she’s a great accet because I really don’t know this area and I still don’t really know the people and she’s Brazilan and we have a lot of Brazilian investigators that she is very close knit with, and it’s hard because they’re not to loving of us Americans here—sigh—I didn’t feel like this in my other two areas—oh well this is definitely the will of the Lord we’ll see what he has in mind-oh the funny thing is, is that I’ll be serving with Irmã Svedin again-crazy huh. I’m still happy and loving life though so don’t worry, it will be hard but I have learned who I need to rely on, really it’s amazing the changes in me, they just subtly happened-stretching and growing is funny like that.

Talked in Church

I gave a talk in church on the D&C I think it went well; I felt the spirit so yeah I’m pretty sure it did. Ha one of the 5 year olds in our ward decided to make Irmã Polito his girlfriend he told her, her hands smell nice and that her eyes were so brilliant. So funny-oh I miss my own sobrinhos! So my head cold came back, that’s not fun-because I can’t think correctly. I’ve grown a lot this past transfer though, and I have loved this last transfer the Lord has truly blessed me, and I’m grateful for this good time, I’ve been feeling trials probably will be heading my way, we’re going to receive a lot more new sisters-because five will leave with in the next 3 months. I can’t believe where I’m at in the mission—it’s unreal. Anywho it’s been raining like crazy here, and we’re going to be able to go to Viseu for choir practice for Elder Bednar, and there’s snow there.

A Neat Experience

Wow I’m completely out of it today so this won’t be very long, sorry.A neat experience was yesterday we finally got the Elders to come with us in the jail, to meet our investigator Pedro Miguel-his mom is a recent convert and that’s how he found out about the church-he got mixed up with drugs that’s why he’s in there but he’s a really good person. Anywho it was really neat because we’re in this big room with the inmates and their families and everyone is talking at once so it’s noisy and not the best environment for teaching, but we sang Love One Another and then when Elder Johnson was talking and teaching I could feel the spirit bearing witness to what he was saying was true, even though there was all the noise around us, and even when I couldn’t quite hear him I felt the peace of the spirit so it was very good. Afterwards we found out about I. Polito and had a good cry. Also Jessica our 15 year old Brazilian who hates Portugal and wouldn’t leave the house, she’s been playing soccer with us and the Elders and her mom came and was crying because Jessica has been a lot happier and she’s been reading and praying and she’s changing so that was awesome to hear about. All the Elders are staying which I’m glad about, a complete American district; this will be a first for me.

God's Children

Well I love you all and I know this church is true-oh we had an encounter with some JW´s they weren’t listening to us and to prove my point I started speaking to her in English and she didn’t notice just kept arguing—but I didn’t want to take it because it’s all the same—“Qual é o nome de Deus” I should have answered in English. I love them as children of God but really they are quite annoying. We are so blessed to have the Everlasting Gospel in our lives, we have the fullness, and we have authority and revelation, that’s what makes our church the only true church on the Earth that’s what it all comes down to because yes as you all know they all have nuggets of truth, but that’s not enough. I love you all, I pray for you, thank you for your example in my life and for making me the person I am today. I so can’t wait to see you all and my precious America, but I am enjoying serving the Lord for now. Have a grand week, até proxima!Amo vocês,Irmã Evans

Soccer Again

I was able to play soccer again this past week oh how I enjoy it, but I got thrashed this week smacked in the face by the ball and then the head, and then I took a beautiful tumble, if there’s one thing I know how to do that’s take a fall and then just roll right back up, with grace and elegance and all that other good stuff.

Love the Gospel

What is there to say but, I love this Gospel the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul. I love being a missionary and the Lord has richly blessed me, I don’t know what is in store for me in this life but I’m grateful to know that I’ll never be left alone and that we have the words of God to read and examples and lives of the prophets to help us in our own personal lives. Go read D&C 121 it’s so powerful and great. Well this week has been one for learning how to become a better teacher and teaching with the Elders

Helping out the Elders

I really have great Elders here in Coimbra so I am blessed, they have a lot of single women investigators so this whole last week was basically tagging along with them. Elder Johnson I is a great Elder and leader he’s helped me a lot I heard from him that you’ve already talked with his mom, he’s funny he reminds me of Travis, I always like people that remind me of my siblings. Just being able to teach the Restoration to people is so wonderful and the spirit that bears witness that what Joseph saw is in fact real that it really happened and I LOVE history and just how it fits together so perfectly-why things had to happen, what caused things to happen, why we have what we do now because of a loving Heavenly Father it’s so true, that’s all there is to say. The sad thing was though that we didn’t get to really any of our own investigators this past week, they keep cancelling which is making it so hard for me to get to know them, that’s the thing that stinks. We did teach our investigator marked for baptism about the law of chastity, that’s always a fun lesson to give, we’re not sure about if he’s keeping it or not, but he’s really a good and humble person that has a desire to follow and learn about Christ. So the scripture in 1 Nephi chapter 11 I think it is verse 17, Nephi says I don’t know the meaning of all things but I know that God loves His children or something like that, I have a stronger testimony of that, we taught a young couple with the Elders and they have a cute little daughter but she gave us her freshly baked cake after we left it was so good, and they were so kind and they so need the Gospel in their lives.

A Privilege to be Here

I just feel so privileged to be here, to be able to meet the Saints her in Portugal and I’m am so grateful that I am an American we have it so good to live where the church is strong is truly one of the greatest blessings a person can have. I like being in the choir, they’re all so very excited about Elder Bednar coming in February. That will be so much fun, can’t wait for it. I am so grateful that the Priesthood is on the earth once again, I have faith in the power of it, I am grateful for Joseph Smith and the example he was and for his life and of course my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ, go read Jesus the Christ it’s amazing it’s helping my testimony grow that’s for sure. I love you all and miss you all so terribly you don’t understand, but I wouldn’t give this experience up for anything, I am now understanding all those returned missionaries, I’m probably repeating myself but it’s so true. I’m doing great I hope the best for all of you, you are all in my prayers, and I pray a lot. I love you have a great week!

Life is Good!

This week and last I don't know what it is but it's seems like it's been ages since I last wrote you. The Lord had been kind and I've been fortunate to have work to do so my days have been full, I love that, tiring but full, yeah I'll definitely have to sleep for three days straight when I return home. Life is still good I'm pleased to report, I think I'm finally changing for the better, yay, I mean I still have so much to work on, because I can't even see the borders to half way perfection.