Only 75 trees fell...

It was a good last week here with Sister Macz! Let me tell y'all about it:)

Almost died this week of heat (I'll include a pic).  And then woke up Wednesday feeling sicker than the dog that lives across the street, and had to stay inside all day. But I made some cute crafts and stuff so we're good. Then on Thursday we had family night with some pesquisadores and that was a good time:) We watched my favorite movie!!! “The Restoration”;) Friday we got some real work done and taught some people that we are way excited about!!

Saturday deserves it's own paragraph because we went to the zoo and it was so much fun!! And then we went to the Road close to the river that has cute little shops and a tower that looks over the river.  We climbed 20 or 30 flights of stairs… I'm so out of shape. 

Last night we got transfer calls and my comp is headed to Rio Claro. I am staying here this transfer and my new comp is Brazilian and just finished training! I am excited for a fresh start!!

My "Love note" This week came in a moment of discouragement when I was just looking through some pictures and found one with Grandma Walstad. I remembered her story and testimony with the missionaries and found motivation in her smile. I love that woman<3 

Blue Popsicle: Definitely the monkey that offered me a banana at the zoo.

THIS VIEW... I missed snapchat in this moment, I won't lie!

When we almost died of heat

Marcia wanted to take a selfie (She's the lady we baptized my second week here!)

Elder Murray took a selfie, last district meeting of the transfer

There was a HUGE storm this week.. that's why this email has the title it does. CRAZY

Family night:)

 THE ZOOOOOO

Us and our new friend the light post 

Entering last week of transfer #4? what?

This week was the first week I was able to say genuinely that I love the mission. I have tried convincing myself that I love it, and I have had moments that I love, but as a whole, it was the first time I felt that way. The first time I was able to say "I could do this forever." That feeling didn't necessarily last but the fact that I had it is a miracle to me. I'll share a couple experiences from this week:)

We set a baptismal date with Sirleine. I basically had a one-on-one conversation with the Spirit during this lesson at one point. It was such a cool feeling and moment for me. I felt so directed in that lesson because I knew it wasn't me coming up with what to say next. This was the moment I understood what people mean by "The mission is the best thing ever." 

 Also when we found that family in the pouring rain... The enemy tries to ruin the work.  I know he tries to make the work look harder or not satisfying at times...like who wants to walk in the pouring rain just to be rejected over and over...? Nobody. But then we're reminded that it's not that bad because we get to feel like we accomplished something great at the end of every day. That’s how it is out here. I know The Savior is on my side. I am so excited to see the progress of planted seeds over the next months of my mission. 

Mom sent me an email this week with a reminder that God will always send little "love notes," so my love note this week came in the scriptures. I want to invite you all to read 1 Thessalonians 5:) It's just a good reminder for everyone.

Blue Popsicle: I spoke and sung at the New Beginnings of the Young Women in my ward. It was a very cool experience. I'm the "Madilyn Paige" of my mission;)

Today before coming to send email, lunch with Elder Sorenson and Ferreira. Super yummy!

After New Beginnings with Pres. B and the gang

My cute Ana Juila<3

Ignore my poorly painted toe nails. I had to take off my ankle bracelet because of a new rule in the mission. This is what was left

One more week

This week was very hot. SURPRISE! But for real it's dang hot guys...

This email is gonna be short btw. I did divisions this week with Sister Richard, and she is way cool and she taught me a lot. I always learn a lot from people like her. Happy, grateful, and knows her purpose here. Which is why she's happy and grateful. It's like a circle. You’ve got to understand the why to accept and love what you're doing. 

Also this week we lost Marcelo as a pesquisador. His mom said he needs to smoke and told us to give up.  So that was very sad! But we marked a date with José and he is great. He has cancer and a 2 year-old daughter that he has almost never held because he can't pick up things. But he is so hopeful and faithful. Y'all know what to do:) Pray for him!!!

To end, I have had this thought lately, that the enemy is working so hard. The work here is moving forward, but his work is also moving forward. So because of this, because of the damage that he causes, I want to challenge you all to take up the invitation of the Prophet, taking daily spiritual “vitamins” to strengthen ourselves, so that the enemy can't win (Hel. 5:12). We need to show him that he can't win, and never will. We are stronger than he is. 

I know that God has a plan for us all. My work here isn't finished. Your work isn't finished. God needs us to build up His kingdom in these last days, and you can all do your part as well. "Every member a missionary!"

Until next week<3

"let's act like we're somewhere cool and tropical"

We were super hot 

The sky.. cool huh?

Açaí with sister Richard. (ignore the Nutella in my finger nail) 

Carlos Roberto. The funniest man I have ever met.

I took his ice cream cart:) 

6 Months... :)

This week was a good week! LOTS of miracles and first/last experiences.:)

ALSO I hit 6 months!!!

This week started with New Years, so YAY for the first email of 2019! My only New Years in the mission was a good time. Can't complain honestly! I think our house and us sisters had the best time for sure out of everyone in the mish. We got all "girled up" and did face masks and painted nails and stuffed ourselves with açaí and watched fireworks while singing super loud:) PARTY huh?;)

Also this week there was a ton of rain in the whole state of São Paulo and seriously the roads were rivers and just Wow... it really rains here guys. A LOT!

Cool story about this week. We had a pesquisadora call and cancel a little before the appointment, and I decided that had to mean that God had someone else somewhere that needed to hear the message of the restored gospel.  So we took our map and said a prayer, and after each choosing 5 streets, we compared them and chose 1 in common and headed over there. In 30 minutes we had found 5 new pesquisadores that were all excited about our message. It was a God given miracle. God is so good. He always shows that He is here. ALWAYS.

My Blue popsicle: Bruno got baptized! What a special day:) The water level dropped and he almost didn't get all the way under. He had to kneel and it all worked out. It was great!

The Road

Our New Years :)

Finished off our Martinelli's (or how ever you spell it)

A shake that wasn't very yummy.  But it's fine... I got over it :)

Bruno!!

MERRY NEW YEAR

This week was good, and I am alive.  Also this week was slow and I forgot everything... But I will give some details all right? Vamos lá

So this week we worked with Sister Portillo again and she seriously taught me so much these past two weeks. She is PODEROSA and just awesome. Everyone thinks she's Brasileira, but she's from Colorado.  I want to speak that well. 

We found some people this week that are just so unbelievably amazing. Seriously it's like they’re straight from God. We were walking down the street on Wednesday, and this man runs up behind us and says "I used to be taught by the missionaries and I almost got baptized but wasn't able to stop smoking! Can you guys please come visit again and help me quit?"  We already marked a baptismal date with him and he's been keeping up with his goals to stop smoking! He gave me 6 boxes of cigarros and some other drug. SUPER COOL. He's named Marcelo. And don't worry- I threw all the drugs away:)

There is also Sirleine. She is the most humble and positive woman I think I have ever met... She works 16 hours a day and makes more or less 30 reais per day. That's less than 10 bucks if you were wondering. She just wants a better life for her son, and has said she knows that God is calling her now. It's her time. She is amazing!

Blue Popsicle: Obviously talking to my family on Christmas:)

When we waited for a bus that never showed up

My new friend named Cida. yeah she's real and an owl.

Our chapel was attacked and all the energy boxes and stuff were stolen. These are pictures from when we needed to combine with two other ward last Sunday:) It was a party with the other missionaries! Super fun:)

Drank from a coconut again. It was better this time:)