Wow so much happened this week, it feels like it's been a month since I've emailed. The Christmas Conference was super fun, our President dressed up as Santa Claus so that made me laugh. And when I was there I got 4 boxes so that was kinda interesting to try to carry back to Sao Sebastiao with me through the bus and the metro...but all worked out. And I didn't really have any patience, so I opened 2/4 :)) I was soooo pumped to have a speaker I think my comp and I have been listening to christmas music nonstop for the past week now because of it
So yesterday my companion and I were both freaking out about the transfer because per usual there were like a million rumors floating around. This transfer 24 new missionaries are arriving. Finally, for the first time since I arrived, a new American sister will arrive, so I am now the second newest American. Low and behold, I am actually going to train her, while opening an area, which means no one where I am living has been in that area yet so we don't know anything. I am being transferred to Taguatinga 2 which is where Sister Barrios was before Sao Sebastiao! I was so nervous after the call and I think I slept about 3 hours last night because I was so worried because I feel so unready to train, let alone an American, in a new area. But I know that who the Lord calls the Lord qualifies, so this should be a really good learning experience for me. Sister Barrios is leaving to go to Nucleo Bandeirante as well, and the area I am currently in is closing for sisters, which means two elders are going to come. I was kinda worried about that, but turns out it's Elder Hendrickson from my CTM district! So I know it's in good hands, and I'm excited to hear about all the baptism they'll have.
So this week we worked so hard on Maria Clara, who bore her testimony about knowing the church was true a couple weeks back. She kept telling us she wanted to be baptized but the parents wouldnt let her. So we talked to the mom and dad and they agreed to let her be baptized on saturday, but we still didnt know if they would sign the baptismal document. So saturday came, and we were getting all ready for the baptism, made cookies, signs, everything. Then Telma, her friend, called and told us Maria Clara wanted to talk to us. SHe told us her mom told her she shouldn’t feel ready to do this, so we were super sad. I haven't seen sister Barrios cry that much in 6 weeks. It was kinda hard on us, and sister barrios kept asking me why this would happen when we gave it our all, and there are other missionaries baptizing who can’t even follow the rules. We came to the conclusion that we did our part, and sometimes that's the most we can do, because we can't take away the agency of others, nor the will of the Lord. But I know she will be baptized one day, just not this transfer.
We also had a fun fight with a moth that we thought was a bat because it was LITERALLY that big, kid you not.
Oh and this week our water stopped. so that was fun, but now it works
Have a great week!
Sister Cecil
PS. no i did not dye my hair, and yes my eyes are actually that blue, and one day my comp and i made empanadas so that was litty
