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...
