FELIZ NATAL

First things first: I am very sad to pass through Christmas without my family and it doesn't really feel like Christmas (AKA 110 degrees) but it´s okay! 

Second thing, this week was the first week of Transfer #4 and honestly it went really well! We reset that date with Bruno and he is feeling way stronger and more excited than before and we were able to have 19 lessons with a member present, which is always good for the pesquisador because they see that there are normal people in the church and not just 2 strange chicks from other countries that can't drink Coke:) Awesome!

Third, Sister Portillo worked with us this week:) She travels and works with different people rather than stay in one area. Can't believe she goes home in January!

Last thing, we had out Christmas conference with the entire mission and it was way cool! Way fun to see my CTM buddies all together. And nothing changed. It was the same fun crazy relationship and it was the best to catch up on everything that's happened the past 5 months. Also Elder Smith and I sang “Silent Night” in Portuguese and English but I sadly don't have the video. It was cool.

Quick Story: We were knocking doors when we found Suelen. She accepted our invitation to go to church and to leave a message with her. We went back and taught the Restauração. She let us finish, acting like an elite from God, just to say, "Na verdade.. Eu sou membro da sua igreja. fui batizada faz 22 anos" Translated that means "The truth is I am a member. I was baptized 22 years ago" But she has since then left the church and wants to return. It was INSANE PEOPLE. INSANE!

I am been forgetting my “blue popsicle” moments and I want to start again. So my blue popsicle this week was a very special quote from a very awesome person named Mike: "When you need to get from one peak to a higher one, you must first pass through a valley"

Now to end this all, I want to leave a thought I had during this time of year. It's been very hard to be away from home during Christmas, as I am sure you can all imagine. But the spirit of Christmas is something that can't change.  Christmas in Brazil is not “Christmas”, but it is something we have to remember personally… to remember that because of our Savior and Redeemer we literally are never ever alone. Because of Him we have a second chance a million times over. Because of Him we can have complete joy. I know this Christmas will be very different for many of us, but never forget to thank our Father in Heaven for sending our Savior to take our hand and carry us through. It is all because of Him. I love my Savior. I love my family. I love you all!

Merry Christmas. Feliz Natal... graças ao salvador, podemos vencer tudo. Sem esse conhecimento, eu não poderia estar aqui. Eu amo Jesus Cristo. (Translation:  Thanks to the Savior, we can overcome everything.  Without this knowledge, I would not be here.  I love Jesus Christ.)

Me and my brothers from other mothers and Sister Manning:)

A cool church and me in front of it

Me with a turtle and sunburns

I am the meat master everyone

Our cute little Natal here in Piracicaba:)

Another Transfer over:) Graças aos céus.

This week went differently than expected but it was still good! Hottest week of my mission for sure so far... and everyone says it'll just get hotter. I am so.... hot..... it's fine. But it's cool for real. Sometimes we forget about the heat and just go go go!

We worked on cutting and keeping investigators this week for a good fresh start next transfer and it was good. We have some suuuper awesome people over here. I would take time to explain them all but time doesn't give me that luxury. But this transfer is over and I will be staying here with my comp for another one! If you know, you know;)

Also sad news- Bruno didn't get baptized.  He convinced himself that he's not ready. It was sad. He decided the day of the baptism after the font was filled and we said a prayer with him.  The Spirit was soooo strong and he legit said “no,” with tears in his eyes. He is afraid that he isn't good enough. Keep him in your prayers:)

LAST THING! Shout out to Connor who will make it to 1 year in 3 days:)

My comp makes me look white, and she got stung by 2 bees in this moment

Me with my cup of healthy juice

Me with another cup of juice at the Youth Activity

How "The sister from Beverly Hills" gets her napkins

40 Hour Miracle and 5 months

So I have literally no time to write anything but I will explain my subject line and send y'all photos this week:)

This week I had the opportunity to do a fast because lunch fell through and I didn't have to offend anyone by saying no to their food, so I took advantage and fasted, which ended up lasting 40 hours. I have always been the one to not like fast Sundays because I can't eat until dinner.  But man, when you have a reason to fast and a truly important purpose behind it, the power is so real. I felt more energy and the company of the spirit more than I have in my whole mission. And I only got tired the moment we arrived and unlocked our front door. I have never felt so carried through my day or my trials like I was that day. 

We marked a baptismal date with Bruno and he will be baptized on Saturday! We are also hoping to mark 2-3 more dates this week! Pray for this area and for Liege, Jose Paulo, and Paulo:) 

"This is the most dangerous part of Piracicaba"...oops!

Decorated for Christmas:)

Hit 5 months!

Met my best friend during divisions

 Ate lunch with the cutest senior couple here in the mission.. (The Pierces) and I loved their view:)

Just another week NA VIDA MISSIONARIA

Hello my people in the world of "normal"!! How are you guys? I hope your GREAT.

So... this week was a little different.  Some of you will know exactly why,  and others will continue to ask yourselves why :)  But yeah,  it was just different. But good:)

Unfortunately we had 2 baptismal dates fall through this week. People here are very receptive and love Jesus, but love THEIR church.  There are more churches than houses, guys.  We also met a man this week who gave a beautiful speech about how I am the church and a prophet... and it was just a good time.

But anyway, this week was very hot and we also had a lot of rain.  We invited almost 100 people to church on Sunday and not one. person. came.  We were sitting in sacrament meeting just waiting and waiting.  But finally BRUNO CAME! Because of that, we will be able to mark a date with him this week and continue helping him progress. Keep him in your prayers:) He is awesome!!

Sorry for all the randomness in this email.  I didn't have time to get my thoughts in order. I will send pictures so y'all can see my cute "açaí cheeks" :)

A fun place I can´t go to:)

Me standing

Açaí with district leader and Elder Florencio

A "clean" river that leads to the big city

Recieved A PACKAGE! HECK YEAH... thanks mom (and fam)