aaaaaaaaaaaah transfers!

SO I have like 10 seconds to write this email, but yeah, so TRANSFERS were today! I´m still here in Sete Lagoas, Nova Cidade, but my amazing, incredible, lovable daughter was transferred. :( I miss her so bad already! But she´s like a 10 minute jog away, so im going to see her as much as possible.. muahahaThis transfer is going to be nuts though, because my current president is leaving at the end of this one, and the new one is going to come and visit and get to know everyone DURING this transfer. So we have a bunch of meetings and stuff. Its going to be crazy. Im excited though. Sad to see my mission president go though. He´s been such a help to me in my personal progression here on the mission.But yeah, so now everything is different because all my leaders in my zone changed. So that will be interesting to see. Not to mention my new companion, Sis. Alves! I´m stoked about that though, she seems like a really rad girl (from the 3 hours we´ve had together thus far..)So yeah. I have to run, but know that I love you all!! I´m really happy. REALLY really happy to be here. And SO grateful for the gospel in my life. Christ lives.-sb

Hey There

Okay, so this transfer is ending. Its such a trip how time can pass SOOOOOO fast and SOOOO slow all at the same time.This transfer has been amazing. I love my companion (and daughter) Sis. Aguiar. She´s ALWAYS happy. Always laughing.So the work is VERY enjoyable. We´ve had some struggles with the work these past couple weeks though, and have been trying to help the people that we love progress the way they want and need to.Today in my studies I found a BILLION things I wanted to share, but now I can´t remember them all. One thing was D&C 88:33. I dont remember why, but please do read it.Oh, but I was learning about virtue. I learned that the latin root of the word virtue is "Virtus" which means strength.There is an unexplicable strength in being virtuous. Its a real power and force against hard times and dificulties.
So yeah, I thought that was cool.My week has been a little crazy, I´m apparently still allergic to dust..But its been a good week too.OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH HEEEEEEEEEEEEYHappy birthday to Randy yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOO!!! I hope you got my card and love.loveyouAnyway, so things are going well. My district and I have gotten into the kick of throwing leaves at each other when at all possible, but consiquently we are finding a TON of leaves in EVERYTHING we own. But it got me thinking about how much i love nature. Not that its great being covered in itchy leaves,but every once in a while its nice to appreciate nature. So there. Go. Appreciate nature. Summer is jumping out of spring, and there is much to be appreciated. Meg, if you didnt take pictures of the green on april 30th- go now. I want to see some green.Well, I´m not sure what else there is to tell. I love and miss you all. This church is true. I know it with all of my soul.- sb

We want Details

But things are going well. Since I talked to you like yesterday, there aren't a whole lot of new things to tell you.My testimony has been strengthened in a lot of ways this week though. I feel I am on a constant struggle to really understand faith and my own capacity to really trust in the Lord- but OH my goodness it is SUCH a rad process. One of the most gratifying things about the mission is how my eyes are opened to the reality of God answering His childrens prayers.Anyway, so upon my complaint about your lack of details concerning the family and life, and the little things and bigger things, I realized that Luke 6:31 is so true.So today Im giving details. Forgive me if theyre boring, (which is why I usually DONT put them) but I figure you dont put details in because you think Ill think theyre boring. But I want more. So Im giving more.
Today:I woke up and made pancakes. I put delicious yogurt (that an investigator gave us yesterday) on the top, and was pretty sure I was in heaven for a good 10 minutes there...Anyway, I studied from 7 to 8 (personal study) Which was really good. I re-read the article Danny Wilkins sent me (cast therefore not, thou confidence by Jeffrey R. Holland- so good)And lots of other things. It was very edifying.Then I had companion study. It was delicious. Sis. Aguiar is such a fun person. But shes also very inspired.So then the elders came by our house and we all walked over to the chapel and hung out with the rest of the zone. They all play soccer, and my comp likes soccer, but since I got beaned in the face last week, I decided that I would stay OUT of the soccer court today. It turned out well for me. I wasnt injured in anyway. I call that a success.Then some friends called me, and that was fun. OH and sister aguiar and I played on some swings and a giant wall thing (that was descriptive, I know). It was fun. Ill get those pics to you at some point. But not now. Sorry.Anyway, so now Im here.Isnt that facinating? Its ok to be jealous. But REALLY actually- you could be, because today was amazingly fun. Im very happy.I love you.Thats all.-sb

fisheyed photos in your black and white dreams have me dancing on the moon's silver gleam

Well, here I am again. Kicking at the lan house here in Sete Lagoas.
Im pretty positive this is my favorite place ever. A large part of it is the leadership here is fantastic. It makes my life a lot easier. I feel VERY blessed to be here.
The past couple weeks we've had some fun activities! Last week was a zone pday! It was fantastic because I got to see the other sisters who are far away (sisters;smith, batista and stevens) And we played fun games and music. One game was just ridiculous. There were 3 white shirts, 3 pairs of pants , 3 ties, and 3 belts. 3 sisters had a contest of who could dress up as an elder the fastest. It was hilarious. Then we had to IMITATE one. That wasnt my strong point.. but it was still SO funny. NOT as funny as seeing 3 elders dress up as sisters was though..
They even had to put on lipgloss! ooooooooh my. Ill send pictures when I can.
The work is going really well here!! I looooooooooove love love my ward. The ward members are all my best friends. There is a kid named Jorge who is EXACTLY like Matthew (my brother). He has the same mannerisms, and is strangly tall and strong for his young 16 years. he even has the same size hands (Matthew sent me a letter the other day with a tracing of his hand, and jorges hand fit PERFECTLY) he even has a squigly pinky on his left hand! The only difference is hes brown and matthew is white. But seriously. I love this kid. If only for the fact that its like hanging out with matthew. Some times I forget he[s NOT my brother, and I half expect him to pick me up and carry me around the way matthew did. But obviously, that wouldnt ever happen.

Anwyay, right now we[re teaching a REALLY cool guy named Jeferson! I LOVE this guy! He has jumped into the church with both feet! And is super excited for his baptism this saturday. Im so stoked to see this guy receive baptism. He has been SO prepared by the Lord. We're also teaching his daughter (who is married and lives in another neighborhood) and the elders are teaching his son Jackson (and his wife and kids.)
Its sooooooooooooooooooooooooo sweet to see families being taught. Its the best thing in the world.
Its weird to see time fly to fast though. It seems like Ive been here in Sete Lagoas forever- and at the same time, like I just got here yesterday.
We are teaching this guy named Cristiano who is super rad too. (ridiculously stubborn, but super rad). He plays almost EVERY instrument. He used t ohave a a cello, but he sold it just before I started teaching him (have I already told you all this?) But he said he is going to borrow it from someone so we can play together. (him on the violin, me on the cello.) I keep trying to tell him its been a loooooooooong time since Ive played - but I really want to play, so Im not going to discourage him from getting it >D
Anyway, I cant remember what Ive told you all already and not.
I know last week I didnt write anything, but I dont remember what I wrote the week before that (or even what happened... my life is always the same routine, so its hard to separate the different weeks)
But the point is, Im so happy to be alive, and here. The Lord is exceptionally merciful to me, and I am seeing it more and more every single day. ( a cada dia.. oh sorenson, if youre reading this, you have to know people are STILL making fun of me for that!! And I wrote you a letter, but I havent had a chance to send it yet. I LOVE YOU!!)
Anyway, I miss you all. Send me pictures. And thannnnnnnnnnnnk you thank you to those who have sent me letters- Im sorry its taken a while to respond. Like I said, Ive been short for time lately.
I wish you could all see sete lagoas. Its such a lovely place.
Ok well thats all for now. Im happy to be alive.
-com amor,
sb