Mission Tour

Oi Everyone!

So first things first: My companion is getting her VISA in like 2 weeks!! We are excited but also sad, England is lucky to have her. She asked President Cooper if she could bring me to England with her but he said no, even though I look like I am from there. 

We went back to Ana Clara's house today and she is so cute I can't handle it. She told us that she had prayed about baptism and during her prayer had felt "o amor de deus", or the love of God and then a new feeling that she had never felt before, kinda lightweight, and that she knew that it was an answer from God. She also brought her Book of Mormon to school to share with her friends.  I think we all can learn from her, being innocent and open enough to the spirit to receive and recognize an answer from God. And also, sharing something that we love with everyone. 

We had Mission Tour this week which was amazing, Elder Parrela knew exactly what our mission needed. He focused a lot on baptizing converts, and not just baptizing so we can get numbers, which was good. He had every convert in the 4 zones that were there stand up. He ask them each their name, and how long they had been a member, It ranged from 1 year, to about 9 years. Probably about 1/2 of the missionaries were standing. He then had us look around and ask how our mission would be without these people, would it really be the same? What would have happened if the missionary had seen them as a number, and not as a face?  It made us all kinda emotional because these people are so important to us, and it's amazing how this gospel has changed their lives, and how they are now changing others lives. 

So a couple funny things that happened: We were trying to get a bus to get back to our area which means we usually have to wait an hour. As we were walking to the bus stop we saw the bus coming but we were far from the bus stop and usually the buses don't stop unless it's a bus stop. So we tried to wave him down and he actually stopped!! We got on and he started talking to us and said he was interested in the church and asked for the missionaries to visit him. THEN THE BEST PART: I was trying to find money but I didn't have any to pay. SOOO he said he wouldn't charge us AND that any day we were in Riacho Fundo we could call him and he'd come pick us up in the BUS and NOT CHARGE us so that is awesome!

My companion keeps asking me why everyone stares at us. I realized I have become so accustomed to everyone looking and me that I don't even notice anymore lol. But literally EVERYONE stares at us because I am so white and blonde haha

So one of our investigators was baptized and never confirmed right? Well we made the mutual decision to stop visiting her: why? because she told us some crazy story about how she tried to kill her boyfriend and that's why they don't live together because he is always cheating! (they're still together btw) but that was wild and now we are slightly scared of her. 

Also Saturday night we got this random phone call to come to our door. We went and there was a random pizza! Turned out Sister Pinheiros older brother and mom sent it to us somehow! The funny thing is, Sister Pinheiro was fasting and I am trying to stop eating gluten and dairy so the other Sisters in our apartment really enjoyed that. 

Last week of the transfer! I expect to stay here, but who knows.

Have a good week!

Sister Cecil

One of these photos is of a cute old dog. Another is of my family on the mission; aka my awesome daughters and granddaughter, saying goodbye to Sister Pinheiro cause she is leaving and poor Sister Olsen had lice this week so a little distance there... 

Chilly In Brasili(a)

It's been a while since we've been able to email cause our internet cafe is kinda sketchy but we are in Taguatinga emailing so it's better now wohoo!

Anyways, these past 2 weeks have been wild, and real fun. I love my companion! She is the cutest! We got an email that she had an interview scheduled this past week for her England visa so we went to the mission home and slept there for a night and then went to her interview. We are going to send in her documents this week and she should get her visa here in a month! We are both excited. She's super energetic and loving being here. She is a very good example for me. I don't want her to go!

Last week we woke up to slug sized maggots in our apartment. That was fun. 

Winter has hit here in Brasil, and by winter, I mean it has been 60 degrees but that has become cold for me!

This week we were finally able to get investigators to come all the way from Riacho Fundo to Recanto! A whole family! They've been wanting to come for a while, but always something came up. The mom felt the spirit so strong she asked if she could share her testimony. 

Then we saw one of our investigators today and he said he tried to go to church but it didn't work out. He showed us a message his 9 year old daughter had sent to him crying because they weren't able to make it to church, it was so cute. 

I am really loving this ward and their help. We have made a lot of friends, and the bishop has been telling us that he is super grateful for us and was even crying about it. He said they will do whatever to help us. They give references out like candy and it's amazing. Obviously this area is a little rough given the distance but we are super grateful for the ward member's help. 

We had a training this week which was good, so most of these photos are from that. We hung out in the office and took photos in prez's office and everything. So that was fun.

Only 2 more weeks left in this transfer! I have survived 3 weeks so far being gluten and dairy free which has not been the greatest thing in the world, but I am alive and still on the mission and it's slowly but surely getting better! Thank you everyone for the nice thoughts and prayers

Have a Boa Semana!

Tchaozaooo

Sister Cecil

Riacho Fundo II

Well this was a week! First of all, it was awesome to see Sister Jarrett ,Shields and Olsen at my District Meetings. Second, the Sisters who we are living with are awesome, Sister Helu is from California and is going home next transfer, and Sister Silva is from the northeast part of Brasil and has about 5 months. My companion is super cute and full of energy, she actually lived in Kansas for 6 months so she's basically fluent in English. She also is basically trained because she always worked with the missionaries where she lived.  

Our area has its difficulties since we arent living there, but for the most part the people are very open. I've started asking people on the street for references which has actually led to a lot of good families to teach who are in need of God in their lives. 

One funny thing that happened this week is that we were talking to this random pastor on the street and she was telling us she was famous in a bunch of churches etc. So we asked her why she thought there were so many churches but only one God. She didn't know what to say.  Then she just looked at my companion randomly and said :"you will be kidnapped. I am getting a feeling" and then started to explain that, while we were like dying of laughter. 

Someone thought I was 14 years old, so that was new. 

We also met a man on the street who gave us the wrong address and number, told us he was separated from his wife and that she lived in another state, that he had 1 kid who didn't live with him, that he worked until 7 etc. We didn't find out this was all a lie until we showed up to his 'house' and started knocking on it for our appointment. The house to the side opened and this woman asked if we were looking for Daniel, which is his name. We were super confused, and she explained that he is her husband, and that they have 3 kids together, live together, and that he works until 10 every night. So he lied to us but jokes on him because his 'wife' (they're separated, but living together) wants to go to church with him and is willing to go to whatever church as long as he will go with her! so boom, we are going to start teaching their family. 

Fun fact: I hit 10 months this next week! I'm over halfway there wohooo

Amo voces, tchaooo

Sister Cecil