Oi!
Well, we had a baptism this week! Jk, really, the sisters in Lago Sul (shout out to sister Olsen and Sister Shields) had a baptism, but she lives in Sao Sebastiao so technically she's a new member of our ward haha. It's really great that she was able to be baptized there because she will be better integrated into that ward, and her testimony is more important than whose investigator she is. It was super fun to go to the baptism though!
I'm so sad to be done with training, I keep telling my new companion that she still is gonna have to act like I am in training. Sister Ramos and I got the phone call last night that she would train (FOR THE 4th TIME, and FOR HER LAST 2 TRANSFERS) IN PALMAS, so she leaves tomorrow for a 14 hour bus ride to open an area with a newbie. It will be hard, but I know she's the best person for the job. I am staying in Sao Sebastiao and my new companion is Sister Barrios, she is from Buenos Aires, Argentina! She seems super great. Earlier this week I was really wanting to leave this area, but as the week progressed and I became more involved with our investigators I started getting really stressed about leaving because they all have a lot of potential and there is so much here to do. I was super worried I would leave so I'm pretty okay with staying now as I focus on the investigators and members. And I'm happy Sister Olsen is staying too haha, hopefully we will have a district meeting this transfer??
We had a lot of trials this week, but also a lot of blessings. We did a family night with all the members every night, which was good because Sister Ramos got to say goodbye to them. We struggled with some things as a companionship, and with all our investigators (the first two days all of our appointments fell through) so we decided to fast together. It really helped, honestly. I was so stressed about being senior this week, but it wasn't that bad, just disappointing because I felt way worse when our appointments fell through. But after the fast we had way more success, and became even closer. I am so sad Sister Ramos is in the area that's farthest away from me.
I learned a lot of things this transfer, especially how important it is to listen to the Spirit and stand up for what is right. You're never going to be able to follow the rules or the commandments perfectly, but as long as you try there will be a way. This week Sister Ramos taught me a lot about loving our investigators, and everyone we teach. If you are too preoccupied with what you are going to say, and how the lesson will be, you wont be able to get to know them and listen to what they say, and then you wont be able to help them. If you listen with charity, the pure love of Christ, you will already know what to say because you will be guided.
We are hoping to baptize Claudia, Pedro, and Joao Pedro this transfer because they will get married hopefully - So I am excited for that! I hear that Sister Barrios likes to work hard, so vamos!
Muito Amor,
Sister Cecil
