Transfers

sigh*
Well!!! Here I am sitting at Montes Claros on a Thursday morning. Why you ask? Because I just drove 11 hours down to Belo Horizonte and then turned around and drove 8 hours back then MISSED the bus back to Janaúba, so now we have to wait for the next one.  which SUCKS because that means our day is DESTROYED and I have a BILLIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN things to do before 5pm tonight, there in Janaúba.. bah.. Anyway.
So. That’s why I’m writing on Thursday instead of Wednesday (being that I was on a bus until 7:30 in the morning, then in a meeting until noonish- then waited at the bus station until we got on the bus again from 2:30 until 12 at night, there just wasn’t time to jump in a internet cafe..)

The transfer meeting was a blast though. Its always a bit chaotic because everyone is there seeing old friends (past companions and members of past districts or zones) so everyone is REALLY hyper. Its fantastically fun. We don’t even do anything extra ordinary, we just get there, wait for the meeting to start, then after the meeting say goodbye. But its always really fun. I was grateful they let me go all the way down to BH, usually the sister that isn’t getting transferred has to stay up in the north with a sister in the ward or something. So I’m glad.

BUUUUUT!!! I’m sad to see Sis. Sorenson go! I can´t believe how fast 4 ½ months go! It feels like we´ve been best friends for years, not just a few months. But I´m excited for her. She´s such an incredible person, it´d be a shame to not share her with multiple countries. It was SO cute to see the branch members say goodbye though. They LOVE her! They gave her presents, and some of them bawled their eyes out. It was really sweet.

My new Companion is Sister Lima. She is from a state that I don´t know how to spell, so I´m not even going to try, but she´s from the north of brasil. She´s ADORABLE. I´ve only had a few hours with her but I can tell already she´s going to be a BLAST to work with. She´s JUST what Janaúba is needing! And me too! christina, I think you would like her, her spunk reminds me of yours.

oh crap, I just realized I have 5 more minutes. ENTÃO
This past week has been amazing! You´d think that Sis. Sorenson would be trunkyville- but she was still just as focused as ever on the work. In fact, I think she gave more in that last week than usual. She´s incredible. Anyway, so I´d LOVE to tell you about Maria (Feliz as we like to call her) and her family and their progression- but I´ll have to next week.
AND MORE!!! But quick shout outs:
-GWEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you xAbillion for the christmas package!! I´m especially fond of the christmas tree!!!!! You are the BEST!!! I miss you like my right arm! (were I ever to lose it..) Give all the boys my love, and a big hug for you and richard as well!!
- THHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AANK you thank you thank you Christina for sending me the blandon´s blog!!! I Love you!
- Danny! Thanks for thinking of me! I miss you pal! Melhores!
-Wendee! Thanks for sending me the pic, it didn’t work to see it,but I´ll look at it next week.
K! Love you all!!! Até semana que vem!
-Sb

Suzie's Christmas Message

How can I even begin to express the awe that I feel when I soak in the reality of the birth of Jesus Christ. Growing up in the Church I had the advantage of understanding the true purpose for christmas- but with all things, there is always a higher uderstanding to be learned.Here on the mission I have the great opportunity to see first hand the light that Christ brings to each and every person that lets Him into their lives. My testimony is strengthened daily as I invite people to come unto Christ. There are various ways to express one´s faith in Christ- but the fact of the matter is, faith in Christ isn´t just a belief, it´s a way of life. I´m learning that the power of the atonement truly is the cure to all that is unjust in this world. I know that Jesus is the savior of the world. He is our brother, He is our King. He worked diligently to be prepared for His great calling- before His birth, and throughout His life- and I have no doubt He is working diligently today to bring to pass the works of the Father. Let us follow His example. Let us be as diligent and obedient as He! (John 13:15)I´m grateful for the opportunity to remember and commemorate the greatest gift God has ever given us- His son Jesus Christ.The way, the truth and the light. Jesus Christ truly is the only way to return to the Father. He has given us all the we need to return- let us take advantage of it! At this wonderful time of year, let us remember, and really soak in WHO Jesus Christ is our own lives. My challange to each and every one of you is to take time to study and search the scriptures to reach a higher level of understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.I bear this my testimony that He lives, and He will return to reign upon this earth. These are the last days! I know He loves me, and I know that as a representative of Him, He is with me.In the sacred name of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, amen.

the Pros and Cons of Rain

OI!Well, here I am again. GEez time is flying! I can´t believe this week went by so fast! The rain season ended yesterday, I do believe. It was beautiful seattle weather before, but yesterday was hot and sunny again. Which is fine, I like hot and sunny (I just like cloudy and rainy a little more..) And interesting thing here, is you can tell the weather by how it FEELS outside. For instance, last week when there was a couple hours of heat, we could just FEEL the humidity, and then we knew it was going to rain that afternoon. Depending on how humid and hot it was we could estimate how bad it was going to rain. It was pretty cool! That’s also why we know its NOT going to rain today- because its hot again, but not humid. Yup.So how can I capture this week? It’s been a roller coaster. (*How often do I use THAT to explain my week??*) It was a fantastic week, with wonderful moments- mixed with a few trials. The activity last week was fun, its kind of hard to explain though. I’ll explain it when I can send pictures with it, it’ll make more sense. The weather has had it’s pro-s and cons Pro: we don’t get sopping wet with sweatCon: We get sopping wet with rain. (I prefer the rain though..)Pro: Its not so unbearably hot that I have trouble thinking.Con: Its SO muddy, I have to pay a LOT of attention to where and how I’m walking.Pro: The clouds are BEAUTIFUL! And the sunsets are unsurpassing.con: sometimes I miss the stars at night, or the incredible blue sky here.
Anyhow, so fabiana is pretty much INCREDIBLE!!! Let me explain a little why..Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday all the mom’s here in janaúba go and get free milk from various places *depending on where they live* and so all the moms know each other, and wait in the line together. WELL, apparently ALL the girls waiting in line MAKE FUN of Fabiana and laugh in her face, because she got baptized. But she just responds “No one made me do this, I got baptized because I wanted to- because God told me it was right.” And then just ignores them! I’m SO proud of her! We’re working really hard to help her whole family! Her husband and dad said they’d go to church with us this Sunday, and we’ve been teaching them the lessons, so I’m excited for her. It breaks my heart though to think of these people- and some of them are girls we’ve taught ourselves! I can’t even explain how sad this makes me. Why do people have to criticize others for their beliefs? Isn´t conviction to a good cause- whether you agree that it´s the “right” road to take or not- isn´t that better being void of conviction at all? In any case, I´m happy for Fabiana, that she not only is firm in her decision, but that she´s having the opportunity to fight for it. Last Friday we taught a lady who said something very profound- but simple. Something that we all know, but if we sit and think about how true it is, it could change our lives! She said As coisas que vem facil, vai facil. Translated it doesn´t flow quite as well, but still, it’s the concept that´s important: “The things that come easily will leave easily.”So the things that we have to really fight for, the things that we had to WORK so hard for- those are the things that will stay with you- and the things that came without any effort or any work, those are the things in your life that will slip away unnoticed. Forgotten. That´s why it´s so important to fight for what we believe in- because if we don´t, we´ll never even know WHAT we believe. Like Paul teaches to the romans (Romans 5: 1-5) tribulations are what develop our capacity to endure all things with hope. [Hope: an unshakable trust in the Lord and optimistic outlook on life regardless of what the world is telling you – because of your faith in Christ.] Its THROUGH our experiences that we gain that capability- because if we didn’t have those opportunities we COULDN´T develop that aptitude, and we´d be left HELPLESS at every bump in the road. Anyway, so yeah. It´s a battle. But it´s one worth fighting. Though, like every battle, we are fighting for the victory- thankfully, the Lord is on our side, and will show us how to win. Not without doing our part of course! Monday I was reading in D&C and found a really cool scripture: D&C 103:36 “All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through YOUR diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith.” So, I may not know what battles YOU are fighting, but I´m 100% sure that those three things will help you be victorious in your own personal “battlefield” Diligence is such a profound concept though- one that is worth studying thoroughly.
Fun fact: Sis. Sorenson and I decided to be each other today. SO I´m wearing her clothes/hair style (which is suspiciously like mine.. a tight bun on the back of my head.)/ make-up (just mascara.) and she is wearing my clothes/hair style/make-up.We took a picture and tried to stand/smile like each other. Haha, it´s fun. … and funny.Anyway, I´ll send those pictures someday.Well that´s it for now. Next week I´m not sure when I´ll write because it´s transfers, but I´ll write SOMEtime, in any case.love love love- sbps- sis. Sorenson started playing “oh bla dee oh bla da” by the beatles on the piano the other day. Yeah, she just went up like 10 notches on my cool list. Also, yesterday the padaria (bakery) outside our apartment was playing “fidelity” By regina nice and loud :D it was delicious.Mk. That’s all.

Pictures

Christmas

Today is our equivalent of Christmas. Fun huh? I’m personally excited. Pday ends at 8:30 today instead of 6! I don’t even know what to think of it! This week has been really good! The rain is still keeping us up to our knees in mud (ok, not literally, but there really IS a lot of mud.. I person find it fun… Until we have to go INSIDE someone’s house.. :s ) Last Saturday we had a really fun activity in the church. It was “O Melhor Prato”. So everyone in the branch was invited to make a dish and then they were judged and given prizes. It was a LOT of fun. Us missionaries were the judges :D So it went like this: us four sat at a big table at which, the 5 entries were placed. *it was raining, so pretty much no one came.. it still turned out well though.* Then which each entry, the person who made it would come up and explain what and how they made it. 2 of the entries I have to tell you what they said (not that the others weren´t great, but these ones are note worthy I suppose.) 1. Nicalou. He came up and explained the dish like this: “I made a dish of beans (then explained how he made the beans) and rice (then the rice) and then there is a layer of sausage (which he explained how he cooked it) and then I made a side that has just eggs, because there are some people that don´t eat meat.. so I made some eggs, and then a layer of lettuce and tomato.” It was SO CUTE! You have to understand, this is the sweetest little guy! He lives by himself and has a gas stove (note, NOT oven, because he doesn’t have an oven) with ONE burner. Do you even know how long it would take to make all of that on ONE burner? And the fact that he made me eggs! Oh! It was so sweet. 2. Ivan came up and pulled his bread out of the bakery bag.. haha. He obviously just went to a local bakery and bought some bread. He said “I was going to make something sweet, but the place where I went to go.. make.. it… didn´t have any.” Haha
Anyway, I took pictures, and as soon as the memory card gods don´t hate me any more and I can figure out how to take my pictures OFF the card- I´ll send you some.
Oh, on Wednesday we had thanksgiving! The memory card gods only hate sis. Sorenson half the time, so here are some pictures from her camera:
some fun facts (because Im out of time and wanted to share these things, they aren´t in great detail like I wanted them to be)- The constitution was established by God (so to go against it.. bad idea..) D&C 101:80-please look up and read, if possible make a FHE of: The talk by Jeffery R. Holland from the may 2004 ensign titled “abide in me”-I don´t remember why, but apparently I wrote down and wanted to share 2 Nephi 31:13-21.. so go read that (please)-please read the talk by Bishop Keith B. McMullin, titled “lay up in store” in the may 2007 ensign *mom especially you k? please do a fhe of this. And pay close attention to the section “lay up in store” on page 52 :D*-the time difference here is 5 hours, btw
K THAT’S ALL! I´m sorry I don’t have more time to write everyone this week! Today is a crazy day! I love you all!Special shout out to:Wendee! Thanks for the pic! It was delicious!Becky! I love you!Christina! Where is this week´s blog?!? And I´m so so so sorry I haven’t had time to write you back! Next week I promise I´ll write!
KLOVEYOUBYE!
pix3. Christmas glee!6. thanksgiving goodness16. the beautiful streets of janaúba

Pictures

Feliz dia de gracas

Well, well, well! I can´t believe thanksgiving is here already! today we´re going to have our own thanksgiving :) Although, we don´t have anyway to make pumpkin pie, I think it´ll turn out alright.So this past week has been a good one! It´s been raining like CRAZY here! I love it SOooOOo much! It´s crazy rain though, it comes down like there was no tomorrow! It´s weird, just before it rains it gets really HOT. I dunno why.This week I´m exceptionally grateful for my umbrella.. Last week we had zone conference, which as always, was fantastic. I learned a toN of things. One thing that I thought was interesting was this thought:Every person has what we missionaries call an “iceberg”. So their problems, their whole life story that we have NO way of knowing- without the help of either them (which is actually not all that hard to get them to TELL us their whole life story.. the problem is getting them to stop so we can teach them.. haha) AND the Holy Ghost.Anyway, in one of the trainings the Elder was saying that some missionaries are afraid to find their problem. Afraid to find the investigators “iceberg” -but that we NEED to find them. We need to seek them out SO that we can fix them. This really struck me, and I realized that it´s applicable to everyone. We need to FIND our problems to fix them. We need to FIND our kid´s problems to help them fix them- we need to find what our visiting teachee is struggling with so we can help her, or our home teaching family so we can help them. NEVER in a judging way, but with LOVE! Search not to condemn, but out of sincere concern and desire to help. But we can´t help with what we don´t know. The trick, however, is not to FINDING it-- it´s to praying earnestly and WORKING to receive the Lord´s guidance of HOW they need to be helped. This is the ESSENTIAL part.But I think it´s pretty much applicable to any stewardship. And as we know through the scriptures, we WILL inevitably give an accounting of all our stewardships in that last and great day. (D&C 72:3-4) Lets be prepared, shall we?
Oh, also- CHRISTMAS!! Wow! I got the Christmas package you guys sent (you as in mom and Randy & Chelsey)! *because you didn´t write “for Christmas” on the box, otherwise they would’ve given it to me at the Christmas party this upcoming Thursday.. but that´s ok, because now I wont have to cart the boxes back to my apartment *I can´t even begin to express my gratitude for the love and support that I felt just from LOOKING at those wrapped presents (don´t worry, I´m waiting until Christmas to open them XD) Thaaaaaank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!! I love you so much!!!!!!I feel so unworthy of the love you so mercifully give me. I am honestly in awe. I´m excited for the Christmas party though. It´s strangely early in the month, but hey, we live at the end of the world, its to be expected. Christmas day should be strange though, the hours will be like a regular pday, so we´ll study in the morning like normal, and then go back to work 6pm. We might have lunch at a member´s house, but I dunno. Still, it´ll be fun. It´s strange to think of doing anything without Sis. Sorenson, but it´s fun that she´ll be home with her family for Christmas.
There is a quote by Pres. Monson that I heard the other day that is pretty interesting. It´s simple but profoundly true (as quotes from prophets often go) “What we focus on, that´s where we will get results.”Along the same lines, Sis. Sorenson and I Were talking about how when we learn something- really learn it- it´s because we were paying close attention. A simple example: You ask what someone´s name is, but don´t really care a whole lot- you´ll forget it lickity split! But someone that you´re very interested in, or for whatever reason you pay close attention to what that name is—you´ll remember it.This concept really struck me because I realized, that´s true with EVERYTHING. ANYTHING we are really, truly, honestly paying attention to- we´ll remember.So we need to pay attention to the IMPORTANT things. That is the importance of prioritizing the things in our life. If we have already decided that food storage is a priority, we will find a way to increase our food storage.
Oooooh prioritizing. That´s something that my mind has been really stuck on this week. The NECESSITY of prioritizing our lives. The activities we engage in, and the people we do and don´t spend time with . As a missionary I meet a lot of people- and with every one, I get a glimpse of their priorities. I´ve learned a TON from these experiences. One thing that I have learned is this:the phrase “I don´t have time for ______” be it person, place or thing- it ALWAYS- without exceptions means: “It´s not on my priority list.” (or at least not that high up on my priority list.) Because the truth of the matter is, each individual is in charge of their own life. No one else forces them to live it- they decide who they will and wont listen to, who they will and wont spend time with, who the will or wont change their schedule for- WHAT they will or wont sacrifice time for.There is a quote by one of the prophets, I forget now which one, but Ive already mentioned it, but I´ll say it again because its applicable: “Any excuse, however valid, weakens our character.”And it´s true! There is this girl we are teaching. Her name is Fabiana- and actually she is going to get baptized tonight! And she is incredible. She does NOT have an easy life- but she is SO impressive in that she ALWAYS does what she says she is going to. Always. It´s not usually easy, and it´s not usually the most convenient, but she is a woman of her word. I know I have been soooooooooooooooo far from being a woman of my word- but I´m working hard to become one. Because that is honest. That is a beautiful expression of honesty- that is PRICELESS.
Anyway, I´m super excited for her. Her brother got baptized last Saturday, and that was cool. She was out of town though, otherwise she would’ve been baptized Saturday too.
I can´t remember now whether it was church or just a conversation I was having, but in anycase it got me thinking about this:
Following the prophets. There are big things and there are little things that we are asked to do- to follow in faith. In this conversation they were talking about the 2 pairs of earrings thing. But I got to thinking- what about food storage? I realized that food storage isn’t a question of convenience, nor wisdom- it is a matter of following the prophets or no. Just like tithing at times seems impossible, food storage seems like something that needs to be put off- but if the prophets asked us to do it, then it is NOT something to put off. Not only that, but the Lord PROMISES to provide a way for us to complete that which he has asked of us. So let us have faith like Nephi (1 N 3:7) And get our food storage TODAY!**steps off soap box, straightens suit jacket and politely tips hat at the attentive audience before walking into the empty alley way, kicking a pebble into the lonely puddles that paint the quaint cobblestone street.. **
uh.. anyway.. moving on..So the ward (*well branch*) Christmas party is coming up, and the 2nd councilor has decided we need a choir. Soooo, guess who is the choir director.. yep.. me.Only, Sis. Sorenson is leaving before the Christmas party, so for the actual PERFORMANCE- I´m going to play the piano,and Elder Maia will direct.I´m really excited! It´ll be really fun! I´m not exactly sure at this point what I´m going to do, but we´ve already had one practice, and everyone is really excited. Still embarrassed to raise their eyebrows, and still forgetting to stay sitting up straight, but it´s going to be fun. If anyone has any suggestions, we´re singing “the first noel” “joy to the world” and “O come all ye faithful”Elder Carvalho has yet to let me forget that I have broken my own rule (of not singing Christmas songs before thanksgiving..) But thankfully thanksgiving is this week, so I´ll be able to sing Christmas songs guilt-free :p
I guess that´s all for now. I love you. I love this gospel, and I am eternally grateful to be here.I hope something in this letter helps someone grow closer to our Heavenly Father.kloveyoubye- sb

uh huh

insert inspiring and informative letter here*
I´ve just spent the past 3 hours trying to get this STUPID computer to function properly. Suffice it to say:I am well.I am happy.I am grateful for all the blessings the Lord is giving me.The weather is delightful.Thanks for all the love I received this week, it was desperately needed.
I´ll write more next week when my head is spinning less.I love this gospel. I love Jesus Christ- and I know without a doubt that He is my savior. I´m grateful for the opportunity to share His love.
Read: Articles of faith by james e. talmege.
Go on splits with the missionaries.
kloveyoubye

Have Faith

HheeeeeEEeeey there.Oh, there is so much I want to write. Ok. First off, I wanted to say: RAIN is now my favorite thing in the world. Yes, it´s been raining in JAnaúba. After 42º heat, we got some rain. Clouds, thunder- the works! It has been the BEST week ever.Ok, not in relation to EVERYTHING, but WEATHER wise- its been fantastic.A few fun things are going on… let me explainnnnnnnnnnnn ---we´re teaching English every Friday. That´s been fun. Last week we taught them a few words and then “I am a child of God” It was fun. ---we went to Montes Claros for a combined district meeting. It was so good! Everything I needed to hear! And then after it all, the directing elder said “so our closing hymn will be..” and another elder cut him off and said “a special number by sister blandon!” then eeeeeeeveryone looked at me and the zone leader was like “uh.. well.. could you?” so I sang “The Lord is my Light”. It was pretty funny. ----TOMORROW we´re going to the banana farm again! Yay! I´m just hoping it will still be raining. ---Pres. Frei has authorized us to listen to Jack Johnson!! So we listened to him on the ride back from Montes Claros. It was DELICIOUS. It made me miss michael. Oh, but it was so good.. Anyway, so that was nice.
Oh, we got an assignment of a few things to read before zone conference this month. So we got a part a book that James E. Talmage wrote (no, not Jesus the Christ) about Faith, and it is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good! Everyone! Everywhere! Read this book! Faith is one of those things that we hear SO much about, and assume that EVERYONE has- to the point that we don’t even know what it is anymore (at least that’s how it´s seemed, and been with me.) But it really is ESSENTIAL to our lives and salvation. So, that´s my invite to all- find out what faith means to YOU! here are a few cool things I´ve found in my studies:---Faith is a desire! A decision! Faith is the works we give to the Lord to show our trust in Him. Faith is the secret of ambition, the soul of heroism, the motive power of effort.Faith is vivified, vitalized, living belief. Or as Albert Einstein said about the opposite of faith: Fear is a word man put on the absence of faith. Also, see alma 32, moroni 7:33, ether 3
Anyway, so faith is pretty amazing, and I really hope that everyone honestly takes some time to reflect on what faith means to YOU. Personally. Regardless of your which or any religion you are affiliated with- please, just take a minute. Or 5. or 55.
Anyway, moving on.. there is a cool example Sis. Sorenson uses for tithing, but it applies for worship on Sundays too, and maybe I´ve already told you, but I´m saying it again, because its just that good..
God gives you 10 oranges, and then asks for 1 in return. Is that selfish? Is He asking too much? But then, after you´ve given Him that one- He gives you orange juice in return.
Doesn’t that explain it so well??! Its so true too!!! Ah! I love it. I love how logical it is to obey the commandments of God.
oooooooh my, I have to tell you a story. It is so incredible.
So the members of the ward feed us everyday. And Sis. Sorenson makes the lunch calander every month. So, she schedules and then confirms with people to make sure they can give us lunch that day. So, one Sunday she was doing her rounds, checking with all of the sisters for their day to give lunch, and she started talking to Maurina. Maurina is a recent convert, and a single mom of 2 teenage boys, gillerme and Kaique. She hasn´t had a job for a while, so she said she didn´t know if it would work out to give lunch that day- but she really wanted to, so check back!So Sis.Sorenson, not wanting to nag her ( “so can you give us lunch now.. how about now.. now?”) eventually just scheduled someone else. Later we found out that the 2 boys (the oldest being 15) had sold popsicles in the street ALL week to earn enough money to feed us lunch that week.popsicles. ALL WEEK.So we RE-marked to eat there a couple days later, and Maurina was SO happy (the boys were too). She acted like we were doing HER a favor by being there! And it was DELICIOUS! It was a feast! She made it with SO much love and care. It was SO humbling. Seriously, these people are amazing. Then later that week there was a guy from a ward in Montes Claros who ate lunch with us on Sunday, and he was talking about how rich people don´t feed as well (or at least that’s how it was on his mission. I´m not saying that´s necessarily accurate EVERY where, but it’s the concept that is more important..) as poor ones and heres why:Because Rich people think that because they´re not hungry, no one else is. They don´t understand hunger- so they don´t have the capacity to help the hungry. Where as the hungry feed well because they understand hunger. They know how to succor the hungry.So in the long run, who would YOU rather be? Incapable of succoring those in need? I think not. I realized that the Lord sometimes allows us to go through trials because HE knows that we would rather help those in need than to have an “easy” life. I´m grateful for the experiences the Lord blesses us with.
Another thing I learned in my studies was about the need to “gather provisions”. In 3 Nephi 4 (vs 18 specifically) there is an example of a people who gathered up all of their provisions and then surrounded themselves with their armies and then STAYED there.The scriptures said they had enough provisions to last them SEVEN years.In the end they defeated their enemy because their enemies COULDN´T beat them. They tried to cut off their provisions and supplies, but they already had plenty- and so their enemies, almost starving to death, tried to fight them. But again, being so well prepared and organized, they were too strong. So the application here can go 2 ways:Temporally AND spiritually.We need to gather up our provisions both spiritually and temporally. In this example, these people were completely SURROUNDED by their enemies- but STILL it had NO effect on them because they were so well prepared. How many of us feel like we´re surrounded by our enemies? But our strength needs to come from the INSIDE out. Inside our minds. Inside our homes. Inside our wards. Inside our LIVES.So, like 2 nephi 32:3 says, feast on the words of Christ! But not just feast on them! Store them up! Learn them in a constant and diligent way so that you will have that knowledge to fall back on in times of need. That strength and provision- from INSIDE.Also: FOOOOOOOOOOOOOD STORAGE!!!!!!!!!! Is STILL extremely important. Really. Seriously.
Anyway, so yeah. I guess that’s all for now. A HUGE thank you to: Halei ludlow, Anita spainhower and Andrew Schafer for sending me snailmail letters! They were delicious. I´ll be writing you back shortly.
KLOVEYOUBYE-sb

Pizza Buzz

Hi.
Well Transfers have come and gone. Its interesting, transfers are like a mini mission call. The suspense, the fact that your future is in the hands of the Lord and you ONLY get to find out at a specific time.. Anyway, point is:I'm still kicking it in Janauba- WITH Sis. Sorenson! I personally am stoked to stick with her- and though it is a million degrees there in Janauba, I'm happy to still be there too. There's no hills.. no I'm just kidding, it's way more than that, I love the people.So that's that. Another 6 weeks in Janauba. IF they keep that area open after this transfer than I'll have been there for six MONTHS. Madness huh? But it's possible that they'll take the sisters out of Janauba after this transfer- BUT WHO KNOWS. All I knooow- all= I know is that I don't know nothing.. oh, wait no, I meant to say is it's all in the Lord's hands. It's funny though, we were SURE that at least ONE of us was going to leave- so we said goodbye to everyone.. that'll be a little awkward when we are there on Sunday and everyone will be like wow.. you're STILL here?... oh.. I mean it's good..:D hahaAnyway, pretty sure no one will believe Sis. Sorenson when she says she's leaving (though she's ending her mission at the end of this transfer- so she's FOR SURE leaving, haha..) As for me- who knows, maybe I'll be there for the rest of my mission! There is a sister here (who is going home tomorrow actually..) who spent a month and a half in an area, then left- then went BACK to that same area and stayed for 6 months= and then left, and then went BACK for her last transfer! That's NINE months of her mission in ONE area. So who knows, anything is possible. Oh my, I'm rambling..Last night we ate pizza. Usually they have a contest to see who can eat the most. I was determined to win. The record was 18- so I ate

6. Close though, yeah? Of course then I was throwing up for the rest of the night.. whoops.. I've learned a valuable lesson: over eating sucks
In any case, I hear that Obama won the elections, how does everyone feel about that?? (btw why didn't anyone tell me? - luckily Sis. Sorenson's family told her- I was SO so so so anxious to know.) Anyway, yay for politics.. (that is my response that I'm putting instead of alllll=lllllllllllllllll of my real thoughts that are bouncing around in my head=. I actually am really interested in politics.. but who has the time or means to keep up on politics on the mish? No one..)
I don't know what to write today. Usually I have a lot more to talk about, but for some reason my mind has gone blank. So I'll leave it at this:
I love this gospel. I love how perfectly logical it is- and how it makes more and more sense to me every day. I love seeing God's love for His children in every part of my life. I'm so grateful to know that He hears and answers our prayers. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints IS the church of Christ. There is no other. This testimony I have is strengthened by the logics and the miracles I'm seeing- but more than all this- this testimony is from the witness that God in His mercy has seen fit to give me, through the Holy Ghost.Jesus is the Christ. He is my Savior. He -and only He- has made repentance and mercy possible. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who allows all -even someone as weak and selfish as I- to pour their hearts out to Him in any and every minute of every day. To HIM. Not to anyone else. There is no line to wait, no receptionist to go through, no process of elimination to find those that He has time for or are important enough. We can communicate directly to Him- and He is always listening.
I know He lives. I know He loves me. I know that Jesus Christ will return- and the calamities of the world today are a witness of that truth.
I love you all, and I hope all is well there. Thanks for the love and support. I miss you all. Be happy, be safe, remember who you are and what you stand in.
-sb

Transfers are coming

Hey there! Well another week gone by huh. This transfer is almost over!!!! I can´t believe it! It feels like just yesterday that it started! So I don´t think I´ll be able to email next week due to the viagem (its like 11 hours down to BH, so there just really isn’t much time. But who knows. Maybe they´ll give us some time. )
This week has been HOT. 42° this week!! I´m almost positive that this is the hottest weather Ive ever experienced in my life. So that´s been an adventure. We pretty much arrive DRENCHED in sweat at EVERY house, and immediately ask for cold water. Haha. But it´s been interesting to experience because I can´t help but notice I have a higher endurance for heat than I thought. Well, in reality I´m DEVELOPING a higher endurance because of these experiences. Yay. And I´m fairly positive that by the end of my mission I will have satisfied that desire –that I´ve had my whole life- to live someplace that doesn´t have winter. Not that I want to live in Alaska or anything, but now I can appreciate seasons a lot more. I´m still looking to live pretty much everywhere though, so who knows where I´ll end up. So anyway, yesterday in district meeting I was asked to give a training. I laughed out loud when he told me the subject i´d be training on. Organization. Yeah. It´s ok that you´re laughing too. But it went well, and I have a new commitment to become an organized person (it really is one of my goals. I think I´d better start with my desk though..)I used the spiderman web Becky sent me as an object lesson. (we have to web everything together to make everything we´re doing function as one unit..) Resourceful? I think so..I also gave a talk on Sunday about fasting. It went alright. Not FANTASTIC, nor did I say even a third of what I planned.. I get so nervous when I have to talk! So I ended my talk (it was even a surprise to me, I had all this stuff planned, and I was in the middle of it, and then without even thinking about it, I started bearing my testimony and ending the talk- and I sat down and thought “well that was unexpected..”) but apparently I didn´t talk for quite long enough because we still had HALF an hour left of sacrement meeting, and I was the last speaker.. SOoooooooooOOo, the 2nd counselor got up and gave a 30 minute talk- on the spot. I, personally, was impressed.
Today Sis. Sorenson told me an awesome quote by Pres. Kimball, that I´m hoping will change your lives and mine:”Any excuse, as valid as it may be, weakens our character.”Isn´t that so true?!?!?! SO- when we plan to do something- lets DO it. This is something that I´ve sucked pretty bad at in the past, but I´m working really hard to overcome this weakness of mine.
Also, I read some really cool quotes in preach my gospel about our responsibility to share the gospel.
‘there is neither man or woman in this church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of the truth, and to prevail upon themselves and every body around them to live those principles, that they may obtain eternal life.” – Brigham Young
“That is your mission, my brethren and sisters of the church, that is your responisibility. Freely you have received and your Heavenly Father will expect you freely to share with His other sons and daughters these glorious truths. We will attain our exaltation in the celestial kingdom only on the condition that we share with our Father´s other children the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and observe the commandments that will enrich our lives here and hereafter. “ – I forgot to write down which President said that, but it´s in chapter one of Preach my gospel…
So I thought those were pretty cool. All in all, we need to be sharing Christ´s love and teachings with everyone.
With that thought as well, I found a cool scripture that makes it REALLY clear the necessity to obey the commandments and to USE the tools the Lord has given us to mold ourselves into celestial beings! D&C 78:7
So that´s that. Over all, things are great! Hot. But good. I´m excited for the transfer, but bummed at the prospect of changing companions. But I´m sure whatever happens will be in my best interest- because that´s how the Lord works.
Oh, something interesting about this week:I made a goal to ONLY speak Portuguese. When I made the goal it seemed ALMOST impossible. I was scared, but I knew I had to do it. But then by the end of the week, it was pretty much natural! I met my goal, and I felt fantastic about it! When I reached the end of the week I thought to myself “wow, I´m not even going to go back to English, because it´s so good for me to speak just Portuguese..” But wouldn´t you know it, I just really enjoy speaking English.. SO I learned 2 very important things:
1. I´m capable of speaking just Portuguese.2. If I´m not TOTALLY dedicated and bent on accomplishing a particular goal- I WILL not accomplish it.There is a saying here that EeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEvery one says; “Se Dê” Which means “eh, if every thing works out, or if it happens to work out, then yeah, I´ll (go to your church or read this book, etc.)”But that attitude won´t get ANYONE – ANYWHERE. People we need conviction in our lives.We need to give ourselves to whatever cause we are engaged in- WHOLE heartedly. Myself included.We need to give our all to EVERY moment of EVERY day. THAT is living. That is what life is all about.So we need to see our decicions- our plans- in BLACK and WHITE. We either WILL or we will NOT do it. But if we´re going to do it- we need to do everything in our power to accomplish it. Be creative! If it doesn´t look like it´s going to work out one way- start looking at it from different angles- and FIND the way to accomplish it.As I used to always say (but rarely applied..) Do what you SAY you´re going to do.
Anyway, I´m hoping off my soapbox now. I hope someone changes their life because of it though. I know I´m going to.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmk loveyoubye. -SB
(Wow, I think I´m pretty safe to say that who ever ACTUALLY reads this whole letter- ACTUALLY loves me.. haha)

Summer's coming

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY there!Well this week went well! We FINALLY got to watch general conference!! oh it was delicious! and we were even able to watch the saturday sessions for the most part! It was weird that it was in portuguese, but the spirit speaks every language, so it was still fantastic.The work is going on- but we´re having a hard time finding people that are willing to CHANGE their lives, or willing to really do anything we ask of them.. so we´re working really hard to meet new people. This week was REALLY hot. Really really hot. reeeeeeeeeeeeeaaly really hot.But I´m still alive- SO! proof I can survive more than I thought I could. LAst week on pday we drove around for 3 hours trying to find the "right" side of the barragem so we could have a picnic. But it turned out really well. Í´ll send pictures one of these days. Except my card has a virus or something and wont let me take any of the pictures OFF- so I´m going to either have to buy a new card or ... uh.. buy a new card.Anyway, point is, I haven´t been taking pictures with my camera, because I have no way of getting them off. so I don´t have a lot of pictures of the barragem. It was a very pretty place though, it reminded me of the hot pots. In a few TOO many ways actually (Any one who´s been to the hot pots should catch my drift..)This pday we´re here in Montes Claros and we watched a MOVIE as a zone. AND IM WEARING PANTS. All in all its a weird feeling. The movie was good, we had to take notes and apply it to missionary work. It was the movie "miracles". It was good. Makes me want to be good at something.Anyway, I received Becky´s package a couple days ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you love!!! Oh I was needing some love SooooooooooOOOOOoooOOOooo bad- I can´t even tell you! It was just in time! And everything in it brought me joy beyond description (I´m wearing the violet run shirt and have been smelling it all day because it still smells like you.. oooooooooh saudades..) so yeah. Thanks love! and I love the halloween stuff!! oh I love halloween.. the american missionaries were all really excited about the candy corns. The brasilians didn´t know what they were when they saw the bracelet, lol. lovely. just lovely.
Anyway, now that summer is starting, we lost an hour and gained a few degrees, so the next few months should be interesting. I´m excited though.Oh chelsey, thanks SOOOOoooooOO much for the email- that´s going to help a TON. thank you thank you.OH Alex! You get cooler every day! Send me some love kid!I´m excited for your talk, if you need more stories, let me know, I´ve got a few more under my belt now.Okey dokey, I guess thats all for now. Thanks for all the love and support, all of you that are loving and supporting me :)Happy wednesday.-sb

Short but Sweet

HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!IM SO HAPPY!!! I´m so so os so happy right now! BUT I don´t have the time to write about the fantastically wonderful week that I´ve just had! I have to go buy bananas and avacados so we can go fishing.BUT suffice it to say!!!!:- LEILA WAS BAPTIZED!!!! I can´t even begin to express my joy! This girl has brought me all of the ups and downs that makes the mission worth it- and completely beyond description. I LOVE her. Love love love her. And seeing her progress is one of the sweetest pieces of heaven I´ve ever experienced.
Beyond that just normal missionary goodness!! My portuguese sucks, but its coming along. The Elders worked with us yesterday, and I learned a TON!! And I´m just happy. Im feeling very very full of gratitude for my family and friends right now- I just feel love. I can´t explain it. I don´t think it´s possible to really explain how good it feels to receive a good letter. Full of emotional food. But yesterday I got a letter from halei ludlow (Thanks pal!!! it was like christmas morning seeing that letter there! You rock!) and todays emails were delicious.So thanks!

Ode to Fiona Faith

Hi. Well. I´m left speechless at this moment. I´m not blaming anyone. There is no blame to place. Yet, still I´m feeling that piece of my heart sting. That (rather large) piece of my heart that I gave to my beloved Fiona Faith. Yes. My Alfa Romeo. *sigh* I recognize that material things aren´t really something to mourn. .... but... well.. I guess we´re all tried in our own ways. So that´s that I suppose. Oh well. Car shopping after the mission is all part of the process isn´t it? ... *nãovouchorar nãovouchorar nãovouchorar nãovouchorar nãovouchorar nãovouchorar nãovouchorar nãovouchorar*
OK so. What was I saying? Oh yes. So this week was good. It was a rollar coaster! But As of right now things are good. We´re teaching some really rad people, and it´s been fun to really get to know them. We´ve been teaching Leila since I GOT here, and it´s been a roller coaster with her, but THANKFULLY she´s finally ready to be baptized! SO this weekend will be her baptism. She´s such a rad girl. She´s 23 and has 2 kids. It´s hard to really describe the character of a person, but she´s a very spunky fun girl. Suffice to saw we love her guts. I´m really excited for her.One thing that I really need help on is:Smoking. We have a few investigators right now that are trying to quit smoking, so I need tips! I need to know what works, and why, and I´d love to have some sweet success stories to share. SO. Gimme whatchoov got. But seriously, I´d really love some help, because all I really know about quitting smoking is it´s incomprehensibly hard to understand how hard it is… so. Yes.
This weekend was a bit hard though, knowing the whole world was listening to the sweet word of the Lord- and I wasn´t able :( But I WILL. But still. I struggled with it a bit. It was a good saturday/sunday though.
I don´t know if I`ll have time to write next week because next week is our PDAY de DISTRITO! We´re going to go fishing. I´m really excited! Although I´m not a huge fan of fishing. I really only have been once though, and it was YEARS ago (Hey, remember that day Michael and Robbie? We were at Matt Thomas´ cabin in new mexico! Woot!) and well. Who knows. Maybe it´ll be different now? In any case I`m sure it´ll be fun just to chill and hang out with everyone.
One thing I have to say is: My mother is the freaking coolest!! We were talking to Leila and she was talking about being a single mom and having to work. She said something to the extent of “When I just had one it was do-able, but it´s so much harder with two! I don´t know how I´m going to do it!” and I thought to myself- watching this woman struggle financially and emotionally- “Woah. My mom did it with SEVEN kids.” I am still in awe. She´s a warrior. I have such a greater respect for her now seeing the strength it takes- from an adult´s point of view. Yay mom! I love you! Thank you for being such an amazing example to me! Thank you for being so wonderful and continuing to be so! Keep up the good work! Te agradeço e amo para sempre!Também tem um rapaz cujo pais estão um pouco.. não sei como explicar, mas esse rapaz está vivendo na rua esses dias, e sou grata pelos meus pais. Estou reconhecendo tantas bênçãos eu tinha que eu nem reconhecia até agora. Muito obrigada!!! Muito muito obrigada.Anyway, I´m happy and grateful for the countless blessings the Lord is continually giving me. And I´d like to thank you all for being a part of those blessings.okey dokey. Até mais.vos amo- para sempre- sblandon

Conference is this week

Oi. Boa tarde. Tudo bem? Que bom. QUE ÒTIMO!Things are going well here too. This week we had ZONE CONFERENCE! Which- as always, was fantastic. Only this one was REALLY really awesome. It was about the atonement of Jesus Christ. The whole zone fasted during the conference so that we would be as spiritually in tune as possible. It was really really cool. The trip was a bit odd though because usually when we go to Montes Claros (it´s a city about 2 ½ .to 3 hours away from here, where the zone leaders work, and where we go for conferences and things of that nature) we would go the night before, sleep over at the sister´s house, then leave the next night. But the sister´s zone there was closed this last transfer, so now there aren´t any sisters in montes claros. Just elders. SO, the zone leader´s slept at the other elders in the area´s house, and we slept at the zone leaders house. But the COOL part was, Elder Almeida has AWESOME music! And so I got to listen to it all, and he´s going to make me a copy. He has this reggae band that is Christian, so they sing all good things, but its straight up reggae! Haha! Oh, I´m definitely getting that one. Elder Almeida is super rad, he likes the cure! Woot! Anyway, it got me thinking, does gwen still have that cd of the girl that sounds like Tori? Remember all that music she showed us a few years back (as in like 5 years back.. weird..)? I wish I had copied all those cd´s. Anyway, I like music. But don´t get me wrong, I have plenty of music to listen to! I just always love music. … anyway.. moving on… ***so here is something that only a select few will appreciate: There is a kid in our branch named Wesley, and the other day it dawned on me: HE is the brasilian version of the LEPRECHAUN from Finian´s rainbow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (no wendee, I don´t have a crush on him.) SO, one of these day´s I´m going to make a video of him so that someday I can show you guys. It´s priceless. He´s a rad kid too. Oh hey, in case anyone DIDN´T know, RICE would be a really good thing to have in food storages. Lots of it. But in water proof containers. Vai lá. OH hey, I just realized I forgot to mention that a while back, like 2 weeks ago or so, I GAVE A TALK IN CHURCH! It was pretty much terrifying, and I´m not sure than anyone understood me.. But it was a good experience. It was about the connection between charity and missionary work. But I really wanted to emphasize that that includes VISITING TEACHING and HOME TEACHING as well! But I ended up talking about that so long that I didn´t ever reach missionary work.. whoops..It was pretty funny, the Branch president kicked my foot to let me know I needed to stop talking.. lol.I´m really REALLY trying to speak Portuguese these days because I realized:If I don´t speak Portuguese here, in brasil- with people who know this language- HOW will I ever have the self control to learn to speak all the other languages that I want to speak???? Among all the other millions of reasons I need to be improving my Portuguese. Don´t get me wrong, I never STOPPED trying to learn, but I just got lazy and speak English with everyone (Sis. Sorenson, Elder Saucedo – we NEVER speak Portuguese!) But this past week I´ve been trying really hard to speak Portuguese with them. They´ve been good to help me with it too. SO. Hopefully I´m progressing. Theoretically I am. This morning I Was reading the bible (I don´t remember where now, somewhere in Isaiah) and I was filled with jooooooooooy as I read the words “den of thieves” **A moment of silence in honor of my love for regina spektor**
Ok, but seriously, this morning as I was reading the scriptures it hit me, as it does almost every day, the MASTER PIECE that is the scriptures. Really, they are a priceless guide in our lives. I´m recognizing on a daily basis how LOST I would be without them, and how lost some people ARE because they don´t know how to find the answer´s they´re looking for. I don´t know how to justly express this thought. The Lord truly does teach line upon line- but if we don´t continually read the scriptures and search them diligently, there is NO way for us to make it to the next line! Learning is a two way thing. He promises to help us understand, but it´s not possible without doing our part.Another thing I learned this week is from a verse I read in D &C, which now I don´t remember in the slightest where it is ( :s that´s helpful huh?) But the Lord was telling someone that in order to protect them from being tempted beyond what they could bear, they need to sell their farm. Imagine having to sell your home, with NO other prospect home in sight- I´m sure it wasn´t easy to see this as a blessing or an act of love on the Lord´s part- but it was! Our eternal salvation is WAY more important than where we are living. It got me thinking about the trials of poverty. Sometimes we pray and pray for prosperity, but I personally haven´t thanked the Lord from protecting me from the dangers of greed and pride that sometimes come with prosperity. Truly the Lord knows us and knows what experiences we need to have to grow and learn.My teacher in the Provo MTC once said “The Lord knows what experiences we need to have so that we can become like Him, and provides opportunities accordingly.”All in all, the Lord is trust worthy. So trust Him. Trust that He´s taking care of us, and so long as we fulfill all OUR responsibilities- we´ll reach our full potential in this life SO THAT we can be eternally free in the next.
I am in love with peanuts. I eat a small bag of them everyday.
Oh hey, mom will you text danny (or if he reads the blog, which would be cool in general, then he can just read this) and tell him I said happy birthday yesterday.Unless I remembered entirely wrong and his birthday wasn´t yesterday at all.. then you can just skip the happy birthday and tell him hi.. and thanks for the awesome letters/package..
WHICH REMINDS ME:This is VERY important.
VERY.
Is everyone paying attention???
*********ImPoRtaNtE!!!*******************
I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed need need needEveryone´s birthdays. Principally the DUTCHERS. I never remembered their birthdays when I WORKED there, there is NO way for me to remember their birthdays here!!! So I need a list! But also just so I don´t get mixed up or so caught up I forget, I´d really love to have everyone elses bday´s too. So here´s a list of who I need:

MomRussPapiJennRandyChelseyMichaelMarinBlakeChristinaIvanWendeeAlexRobbieMatthewKailaJaxonThe entire Dutcher familyThe entire Rush family(including Wendy & Dave and their kids.)The entire Liebing family(Including Rachel & Chris, and obviously Marie & Brian)Mark JohnsonAshley WaltonDanny WilkinsCheo Chavarria (cause goodness know´s I´ve never been good at remember your birthday.. sorry pal.. not because I don´t care though! o.O)Jake MaciasMargaret HuntingtonHalei LudlowBecca I-can´t-spell-your-last-name-sorry-hoetger(?)
In reality I´d love tons more, but I´ll leave it at this for now.Now this list DOESN´T mean that I´ve forgotten your birthday, just that I don´t WANT to. (besides cheo, I really have no idea why I can´t ever remember your birthday.. it was june right? Like the 6th? …. You´re super. )
Anyway, so yeah. That´s that. This is normally where I´d attach pictures, but this computer hates me in almost every aspect, so it´s refusing to read my card. Woot! Next week.Hey mom! Thanks for the FHE idea´s! It´s always a treat to get mail in general, but it was nice that it was useful, had a picture, AND a letter! WOO! This week´s best letter award definitely goes to you mom!! Anyway, there are about 10-15 ladies that come to RS depending on the week. If it´s a really good week, 20. They DON´T have a copy machine, but they have a printer. But anyway, the RS is run by the presidency, and they´re pretty good, but the missionaries teach the Sunday school class, and we organize a ward activity about once a week. I love this branch though, there are a lot of really cool people here. In general Janaúba is the hip-happenin´place! Haha. No but seriously. It´s cool here.Anyway, just a reminder that you can send letters to either the mission address or my “saudades” address, but the mission address letters I won´t get for about 4 weeks. But Christmas stuff has to be sent by oct. 15, and marked “chistmas” .Its likely though that after this transfer I´ll stay here for ANOTHER transfer, so yeah. Write me saudade style.
OH, so here´s something I want everyone to enjoy Thoroughly:
..:*¨+GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!+¨*:..Being that we´re at the end of the world, we have to wait for Montes Claros to record it, and then at some point bring it up here. SO- we have to wait a while before we get to watch it I personally am totally bummed. Conference is my FAVORITE event of the year. Bah. Also, they don´t sell reeses pieces here, so I´m not sure how to play conference bingo this year… well that and I don´t have the conference bingo papers.. but still, the reeses pieces were always the important part anyway.But seriously, I´m really sad that we have to wait, and STRESSED OUT OF MY MIND because we aren´t ALLOWED (call me crazy, but I have a hard time with this one) to watch the Saturday session without an investigator. AaaaaaAAah! But that´s motive to work really hard to get at least SOMEONE to the Saturday session. But still. STressfull. Especially since I don´t know WHEN we´ll have it up here. Probably 2 weeks from now. Give or take.Anyway, so soak it in everyone. REeaaLLy soak it in. Do NOT take it for granted this year. It´s SO easy to do, but FIGHT it!!! Go on a hike up the canyon and listen to the Saturday session with the whole family together, k?? Or do something that will help you to recognize how precious it is- and to help you remember it! Make it the event it is! Anyway. I love you all. I´m grateful to be here and to be a missionary. I love brasil!!!!Someone please take pictures of fall for me. pleeeeeeeeeeEEeaaaseEee. (that includes you PA people, don´t be selfish with that beauty over there. Ooo. Go visit boston…)KLOVEYOUBYE!

Still in Janauba

OH my! Well, time flies when you´re having fun- so I guess that’s a good sign for me! This week has FLOWN by! This past week I hit my 6 month anniversary :s
Here on the mission we have mission LINGO. For example:
I was “born” in Alvorada, and my “mom” was Sis. Ferreira. Anyway, so yeah, the mission “bday” is all a part of the culture too (we had a cake with a candle even on Sis. Ferreira´s “bday” when we were there in Montes Claros the last transfer.)
But its so WEIRD! I still feel so NEW. So fresh into the field! But at the same time, I can see how I´m NOT. Not so much in the LANGUAGE (there has only been 6 WEEKS of my entire mission that I COULDN’T speak English.. so my Portuguese skills are.. well.. … awesome. . *shifty eyes*)
But I´m REALLY excited about this transfer for a few reasons. Leemmme list them:
-Im still here in janaúba!!!!!!!! I love janaúba!!! Even though it´s supposed to warm up now that summer is on its way (oh my..)
-I´m still with Sis. Sorenson!!!! I LoooooooOOOoove her!!! So I´m excited to continue working with her :D
-I realized Ive reached a point where I´m no longer LEARNING the “motions” the routine and whatnot of missionary work- so now it´s time for me to really give it all I´ve got and NOT let myself fall into just going through the motions. That´s something that I think Ive had problems with my whole life- just going through the motions. But I REFUSE to live that way any longer. I don´t care if the motion seems like it’s the same as yesterday- EVERY day is new- and EVERY experience and moment has SOMETHING new to offer! And there will ALWAYS be more for me to give- I just need to find it in myself to GIVE it.
I´m also SO grateful that I don´t have to leave our investigators right now. Whom I LOVE! OOOOOOh my goodness! There is a couple that we´re teaching that I think I mentioned last week (Juliana and Rodney), anyway they called us one day and said “Today is our wedding anniversary, and I don´t know how you celebrate it in America, but we were wondering if you´d like to come over and have some cake with us. We´re just having a very small get together with our very closest friends.” VERY CLOSEST FRIENDS! And they invited US! IT was so cute!! They´re talking about moving to the US in couple years, and I´m REALLY hoping they´ll be close to where ever I am at the time!! That would be SO awesome! Also, we´ve been working with this adorable girl Leila, who is SO rad. She´s such a gueirra! And after a WHOLE TRANSFER of Sundays gone wrong!!! She finally made it to church last Sunday –even though her daughter had chickenpox and her mom trying to get her to not go! It was fantastic.
The lessons this week have been –bah! I can´t even express the feeling. But really REALLY cool. The happiest feeling Ive ever felt in my life.
Unfortunately our recent converts Joaquina and Welligton aren´t doing so well. But we´re working really hard to help them understand the covenant they made. :/

So anyway, Im super excited for this transfer. Sis. Sorenson gave me a CD for my “bday” Cute huh? Have I mentioned lately how much I love this girl? Her sense of humor is PRICELESS. But more than that she just radiates such a solid, calming spirit. She´s a very good missionary. She´s very in tune with the spirit. It’s a huge blessing to be here with her. We did face masks the other night XD muahaha
OOOOOH I received a package from Papi/ Christina on Saturday!!!! THank you Thank you thank you!!!! It was SUCH a pleasant surprise! A. Because I wasn’t expecting it (I´m glad you didn’t tell me you were sending it, its funner to be surprised by the packages, the suspense of waiting for them kicks my butt) and B. Because I didn’t know I COULD get packages here! Woot! Apparently I can. So that´s good news. So letters (and packages if you want) can still go to the address I gave you a little while back (the Av. Saudade apt. 201, Bairro Saudade, Janaúba, MG 39440-000 brasil)

I ALSO received a letter from Halei Ludlow!! Thank you!! It was fantastic to hear from you! Unfortunately it JUST so happened to be the ONE day (really, this usually NEVER happens) that someone decided for WHOKNOWS WHY to wash the floors.
Which was great! Until I realized that the letter was ON the floor, consequently was soaked, and completely unreadable .
I took a picture, I´ll send it to you. But yeah, so thank you! But feel free to write me again (the chances of this happening again are slim to nothing because they NEVER wash the floors, it was a freak chance I promise.). Oh and thanks for the picture! XD

******************************

**IMPORTANTE**************************************
I just wanted to point out that everyone should be working on their 72 hr kits and food storage! This world isn´t getting any better folks!!!
No, but really, I know it´s hard some times to budget food storage in, but I promise it´ll be 100% harder AFTER a natural disaster. Então- esforce!!

.. no but seriously.
**********************************************************************************

So, I wanted to shout out to my peeps, cause it feels like a million years since Ive talked to them- even though Im writing people every week (snailmail, gotta love it..)
Meg: Have I mentioned lately that I´m OBSESSED WITH YOU!! Christina is an ANGEL and mailed me a CD with pictures and a word doc of your BLOG!!!!!!!
YOU ARE AMAZING! Your tree is RAD! I love the softer world stuff…
and darling: DANG GINA! You´re stinking hot!! How are you so gorgeous!!! Oh! I miss you! Write me at my saudades address k pal? Sounds like life is going huh? Yeah mine too.. But I miss you tons, and I think/miss/talkabout/pray for you everyday. Tell your family I miss and love them too. Send me pics of Zoe. Don´t get TOO accustomed to life without me k :/


Anyway, I don´t have time to write everyone individually but I wanted a few people to know that even though I suck at writing, I still think about and miss and love you!!!
some- NOT ALL- but here are some
-Ashley Walton!
-Mark Johnson!
-Danny freaking Wilkins!
-Mr. E. Chavarria!
-Margaret!
-oooooooooooh and everyone from VF3!! Becca, Angela, Rachel, Ashley and Brittney, Nate, Chris, John, etc!
-Elizabeth and Lisa Delgado *yeah yeah, not Delgado anymore, but still
-Lisa, Michael and Daniel Carter!!!! I´ve been meaning to write you 3 for oh, 6 months now, but I don´t have any of your addresses anymore. Pode me dá?

And lots more, but yeah. I love you all!! I hope things are going well for everyone.

Oi! Como a gente está?

This week has been pretty darned good! Just for kicks I decided to take my alarm clock with me everywhere, because it has a thermometer in it, and I was curious as to what the temperature is these days. So we were teaching a lesson at 7pm, and Sis. Sorenson turns to me and asks what the temp is.
90 degrees my friends. INSIDE a house at 7PM. It was crazy! That´s just a peek at the heat here. It´s borderline hilarious some days. But strangely, my body is adapting! It doesn´t give me migraines anymore, and sweating buckets has become a way of life for me…
The other day we walked to a neighborhood that we call “no final do mundo” the end of the earth, because it is SO far away from everything! But it´s a rad little neighborhood. The reason I tell you this is because I was going to show you pictures. But this computer s me, so pictures will have to be next week. Which is too bad because I don´t know where I´m going to BE next week since next wed is TRANSFERS!!! Aaaaaaah!! I can´t believe how fast this transfer went by! Its just like Jacob said in Jacob 7:26 “the time passed away with us.. like as it were a dream…”
Has 6 weeks really gone by???
Anyway, last Saturday we had a baptism! Woot! His name is Welligton. He´s SUCH a good kid. He´s so friendly and happy, and just excited about life. The best part of the night was when he got out of the water, then he looked at Sister Sorenson and I and then made this motion with his hands implying that he felt all his sins wash away. I don´t even know how to describe it with words, but it was so AWESOME! He felt it! He felt the purification that comes from the healing waters of baptism. It was priceless. **this is where I WOULD insert pictures of the baptism, but alas, this computer has decided to reading USB ports..**
A few awesome scriptures that I read this week:
-Proverbs 22:6 Parent´s, this one´s for you!
Also, I had a thought;
So as a missionary we ask a lot of questions, to try and get to know the people, and find out what they´re searching for in life (and then show them how its found through the gospel of Jesus Christ! It sounds like a hard task, but in reality, everything leads back to Him, so it´s just awesome to see.) One of the questions we ask is “Que está faltando em sua vida para você ser mais feliz?” What is missing in your life for you to be more happy? And people USUALLY say something about Peace. That this world is “faltando muito paz” And it´s true. This world IS lacking a lot of peace. But looky here: D&C 59:23 If we want peace, we need to MAKE it.
Start with ourselves, our own homes, and then work to help those around us have more peace and love in their lives.
Oh my goodness, this morning I was reading in D&C 93, and it was amazing! I love the scriptures! But anyway, I realized the Lord´s commandments and guidance is given to us because we ASKED for it. We ASKED to become like Him, and He´s given us the recipe. It´s not variable, it´s not a guess or suggestion- it’s the facts. And its for OUR good! Think of this- someone says to you “So, you asked me for a chocolate cake, so now I´m requiring of you to eat this incredible chocolate cake I made for you.” And then being like “no, but I think I would be more satisfied with eating garbage. Yeah, this garbage on the street looks good..” That´s what we´re doing when we are refusing to keep the commandments. Not are we NOT getting what we want and what we asked for, but we´re getting NOTHING in the place of it.
We all have the potential of become gods. He´s given us all of the TOOLS and all of the INSTRUCTIONS and various teachers to guide us through every single step.
Its just our responsibility to DO it! It’s a very daunting task, its true, but the Lord has already promised that it is possible.
How incredible is that?
Or look at it this way. It like building a car engine.
Without the knowledge, tools, pieces and someone to help, it would be impossible. But supposed you DO use the tools, you use the teacher, but you decide to leave out a couple parts. Still good right? Or decide to throw some parts in of your own in place of the parts you don’t THINK are necessary… it´ll turn out better, right?

Anyway, I was just excited to see life so black and white.
So anyway, I´m in love with missionary work! And Pão de quijo…
And I love all of you!!! Bummer I missed the birthdays, but I was sending you both lots of hugs and love!! What an adventure life is huh? And how fun we get to celebrate our journey! Yup yup yup. Blah blah blah.. I just realized how very missionary I am. Just LOOK at that sentence! There is a song we listen to and sing like every day that says “we may not know the end from the beginning we may not comprehend all the Father has in store… there is joy in the journey, joy in the fight.. in struggling we fiiiiiiiiiiind, there is JOY!”
Its so true though. Every step of this life is meant to be enjoyed, because there is a beauty in learning. A beauty in stretching ourselves and finding our limits far behind us! Anyway. KLOVEYOUBYE.


-----

Bananaul!

Oi! A gente está bem?? Essa semana foi legal! Mas está fazendo 100 degrees esses dias, então, estou tendo algumas problemas. MAS! Não GRANDE problemas, sabe, só pequenas.
Basically I use an umbrella everyday, and carry a block of ice (aka my water bottle frozen) in my hand during the hottest hours of the day. They weren´t kidding though when they said Janaúba faz calor.
BUT regardless, I´m SO happy right now. So so happy. The other day I was feeling a little frustrated with some really small obstacles (to be honest it was trying to decide if I wanted to walk with in my heels from using my sandals, or walk with blisters on my ankles from using my shoes. Solution: Sis. Sorenson´s moleskin.. )
I wasn´t SAD, I was just trying to figure out how to make it work so it didn´t get in the way of the work. Anyway, the next day I was reading a story about some missionaries who´s trials were A MILLION times more than my little itty bitty ones!!! AKA:
ALMA and AMULEK! (alma chap. 14!!) And oh my goodness!!! It seriously humbled me so much! I´m SO thankful to be in the mission I´m in, in the area that I´m in, with the people I work with! Having taught people, and seen people accept the message- I can´t even imagine how hard it would be to watch those people be thrown into a fire FOR accepting it!!!!!!!!!! The people here are so amazing, so humble, so giving, so HAPPY! I love it! Even when they don´t want to hear our message they invite us in and feed us. The other night we were doing contacts, and Sis. Sorenson said “Oi! Boa noite, nos somos repre-“ and the guy said “Hi! Come in!” just smiling, a sweet little old guy, just sitting in his driveway. He had no idea what she was going to say, or who she was, but he just welcomed us in! We went back the next day with the Elders (they did a division with us) and he was such a sweet little old guy.
Anyway, point is, I´m extremely grateful for the blessings in my life- and the trials! Because the trials are when we learn the most.
Right now our investigators (that are the most firm) are Leila, Maíra and Welligton. Yesterday Leila and Maíra had their baptismal interviews (woo!) so that´s exciting. I love those s! Leila is 23, and she´s ELECT for sure. She´s so SO sweet. She has 2 adorable little s. We had a birthday party with them. (I´ll throw on some pictures) And Maíra is 16, and she´s in the brasilian equivalent of CAP. But she´s a very deep, very smart . Welligton is 15, and he´s a very happy guy, he´s already been taught by the elders, like 2 years ago, but he went on a vacation the week he was supposed to be baptized, so he never was. THEN he was living with his Dad, and his dad wouldn´t sign the paper to let him get baptized NOW. But then he moved in with his mom, who is all about it- SO! Woop! Its amazing how the Lord works!! I know without a doubt that the Lord very carefully prepared these people to hear His message- and what an amazing privilege to be a part of it!
The other night sis. Sorenson and I Were talking about how the world is in a lot of chaos (it all started with this random guy we contacted who when he was talking to us said something that I´d never thought of before- he said “the whole world is waiting to see who will be elected the next president of the United States.” And I realized its true. Crazy. Be wise when voting ok? Oh, but DO vote!!!! But pray for our leaders too. They need it.) and it was such a relief to know that I´m doing all I can to help DEMINISH the chaos in this world. What a priceless feeling.
Anyway, I just wanted to remind EEEEEEEEEEVERYONE to be working on food storage. I know it´s not always easy to save up food storage, but if there were any sort of a natural disaster, I guarantee it would be harder. SO! Trust in the Lord! *1 nephi 3:7!* He asked us by means of His prophets to have food storage, and that means there is a way for EVERY single person to have it! Vamos lá!
Oh, hey so you know that phrase “ignorance is bliss” I just wanted to make sure EVERYONE is aware, that THAT is false advertising! Observe: D&C 131:6
And then there is that other scripture in D&C that I cant remember now where it is, that says those who gain more knowledge in this life will have a greater advantage in the next life. SO! Use this time, this LIFE to learn as much as you can! The Holy Ghost is the BEST teacher and illuminator there is, so work to be worthy of that enlightenment WHILE doing all YOU can to learn!
Next thought: I just want everyone to think about this: Luke 12:32
****What does this mean to you? How does understanding this effect YOUR life?****

Ok, well one last thought that is completely unrelated to anything religious:
The other day I walked past a store and saw the CUTEST shirt that I wanted to get for Alex for his birthday- but I´m a missionary –aka broke, and without time to buy and send it. SO here´s the link so he can at least see my good intentions (it was on the tag)
http://www.zigzigzaa.com.br/ it’s a shirt that has a map of brasil and Portugal on it and says something about exploring or discovering. Its rad.
K well! I love you all, and miss you all looooooooooooooots and lots!!
**At lunch yesterday Elder Almeira and I were talking about how cool the Cure is.. oh, que saudades!***
Please email more pictures of just any and everything! I´d love to see M&M´s new place.
And MOM!!! Remember when I asked for the pictures of our house –the ones that are on my facebook? It´d be great to get those. 
KLOVE YOUALL! Byeee. Tchão

-tegan and sara are still in my head. it is AWESOME.

Pictures:
-"imagine" in portuguese.. sweet..

-Leila at her daughters birthday party that we threw! L to R:
Cyntia (leila´s cousin), Sandra (in back, she´s a member that came with us), Leila, Aisha (who´s birthday it was! woop! one year!) and Lara (who is five)

-Our service project this week (which I COMPLETELY forgot to mention! oops..) was at the BANANAUL!! We went to a banana jungle- if you will- and with big huge Scifes (sp?) cute off all the branches. and Ate lots of bananas. Then took a bunch home.. ooooh it was amazing. The bananas here are 10x better tasting than the ones there. Sorry pals.

- Elder Saucedo and Elder Barbosa chilling in the banana farmland.

-walking back after. Yay! It was a million degrees I´m pretty sure..

- This is the river that EVERYONE washes their clothes in. If you zoom up you can see a group of ladies washing their clothes. Its pretty surreal. I love this place.

Slumber Party!

HEllooooooooooo!

This week was kinda CRAZY! Sis. Sorenson and I went to Montes Claros from Thursday until Sunday!!! Because we had various conferences there with our zone as well as the district. So we slept over at the Sisters house there in Montes Claros! And when we didn´t have meetings we worked with them. It was way fun! It was cool cause the companionship there is Sis. Ferreira and Sis . de Souza. Sis. Ferreira and I were together my transfer, and Sis. De souza was in the CTM with me (Also she was with Sis. Sorenson last transfer) so it was kinda like a big slumber party (only no one goes to bed at 10:30 at slumber parties) It was way fun. While doing contacts one night Sis. Ferreira was like "my daughter! You´re growing up so fast! you speak!" haha
But I SERIOUSLY missed Janaúba. We were both relieved when we arrived home. The conferences were all really good too. ***right now the store across the street is playing “sweet child of mine” and i´m having SERIOUS guitar hero withdrawals..*** They talked about different ways to show reverence. Like, showing up to church early so you can listen to the prelude music (NOT to talk to the person on the bench behind you until the bishop stands up) and being wise about how you entertain your kids during sacrament meeting. Lots of good stuff. And how preparation for Sunday starts on Saturday night. Little things that make a big difference. It was fun to see Sis. Frei speak, even just since Ive gotten here her Portuguese has gotten better! She´s a gueirra.
We gave a special lesson to one of our investigators yesterday about the need for tribulations to be able to progress in this life. It´s really gotten me thinking about how important it is to HAVE trials, but not just HAVE them, to learn FROM them! (d&c 122:7-9 and 58:2-3 & mosiah 4:9 <- reeeeeead them!) More than all this, the perfection of how many trials we´re given. Because the Lord has promised that He´ll never allow us to have more trials than we can bear- but we have to TRUST in that promise! He is INCAPABLE of lying. That is a very very important thing to remember. Oh. I love being a missionary. That´s another thing that Ive been thinking about a lot lately: I LOVE being a missionary!!! I´m enjoying it now SO much more than I have the past transfers. I´m not EXACTLY sure what the difference is, but I know the Lord has blessed me with a better perspective of why it´s so awesome to be a missionary. Every moment is SO precious! I´m just happy.

OH! Hey, so I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the packages I received! Everything is fantastic, and I´ve already put everything to good use!! Thank you thank you! Oh mom, as far as packages go though, I think they have to be sent to the office rather than to the apartment.
Hey congrats to Diane! I´m excited for your new adventure!
Elliott! That is a GIANT catapiller! You´ll have to photoshop Georgie into latest family picture. I´m so proud of you for letting him go though! You´re such a good kid! I miss you tons!
OH******** thank you thank you mom for sending pictures! I don´t know what it is about pictures, but Ive been obsessed with pictures for as long as I can remember, so it was particularly satisfying to receive. I also enjoyed alex´s tooth (I cant believe I´m missing that adorable front-toothless phase! Take lots of pictures…)
Well that´s about it. Now that I have this rad USP picture thing, I´ll slap some pictures on here  Woot! I love and miss you all tons!

pictures:
-"punks not dead" and this is why I love brasil.

-Janaúba sunsets!!! The best in the world!

-one of my doodles that I was asked to make for an elder

-Janaúba center street! woot! I love this town

-Joaquina´s baptism! I don´t know what my hair is doing, so don´t mind that..
But from right to left: E. Saucedo, Eu, Joaquina, S. Sorenson, E. Barbosa.


[Hey mom, you didn´t mention anything about the colored pencil refills. Is that a possibility, for you to send that over here, do you think? Lemme know.]

peek-a-boo!

Pictures