Well. That's that.

Its strange to think that its really all over. I hardly can comprehend it most days. Today was my homecoming talk in church. As most talks usually go, I didnt say anything how I had planned it. I think I was searching for some way to sum up the last year and a half.
An impossible feat. How can I explain why the past year and a half were the best time Ive ever had, or how its opened my eyes to so many things! How can I explain the feeling of watching a person pray for the first time? Or feeling the Lords protection 24/7 in the way that I did. How can I explain the beauty of Brasil? Or Brasilian culture? Or why it was so amazing to work with brasilian people? How can I capture the thrill of meeting new people everyday, and giving them that which has most value to me. The source of all my happiness? Or the satisfaction of putting your heart into the message and having someone accept it. Or seeing lives CHANGE. Seeing the glow in a person's face as they tell you about praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true.
Or the fun of getting to know each new area, ward and companion. The smells of the bakery on the corner. The sight of the incredible sunsets of Janauba!!! Ha, or even kissing everyone (well all the girls that is) on the cheek to say hello and goodbye. Bringing investigators to church, and conferences!!! And just learning something priceless from every single person and every single experience!
There arent words to capture all that!
It seems like a dream most days. Ive wanted to serve a mission practically my whole life. I remember when I was about 5 years old, and thinking about all the reasons I wanted and needed to serve a mission. It wasnt anything I thought it'd be. It was WAY better- in that I learned SO much more than I ever imagined I'd learn.
Plus I learned portuguese- proooooooooobably the most beautiful language ever..
I was SO sad at the thought of leaving the mission, brasil, everyone I had grown to love, the culture I had acustomed to, and the incredible feeling of knowing youre doing something right. Getting on the bus to go to the airport I just couldnt comprehend it. I was seriously in denile! I kept saying, " I think its just a transfer guys.. yeah, Im pretty sure Im just getting transferred.. "
Ha, or when I wasnt trying to convince myself I was getting transferred, I kept saying "They can't just kick me out of brasil! They can't just send ME home! Thats ridiculous!" haha, oh my..
Anyway, getting off the plane and walking into the airport in SLC was probably the biggest adrenaline rush Ive ever had. I wanted to bottle that feeling and/or moment.

So here I am. Im excited for life, but still missing the one I just left. They say thats normal.
Im so happy though. On the list of the millions of things I learned on the mission, is how to be happier than I have ever been.

sou grata para sempre.

Hugging my mom for the first time in a year and a half!!
*awww.. sniffle*
matando as saudades do irmaozinho
sooo much happy all in one place..

My welcome home cupcakes! Yes, that IS batman, thank you very much!!! XD

Hiya!

Well!!! This week was an adventure!! I got a phone call on monday saying that I had to be in Belo Horizonte on tuesday at 8am... hmmSo, we made all the (SuDDEN) arrangements, and headed to BH.The cool part was, that I got permission from the Pres. to sleep at the sisters house in Alvorada- which was my first area on the mission!!! I only saw a couple streets because we got off the bus, went to their house, slept, then got back on the bus- but still, it was REALLy cool to see my first area. A LOT of memories came rushing to my mind, and I realized I´ve come a long way. If anything, just in the language (haha)!
Then I went to renew my visa, and I got to see a couple of the elders that were in my district in the MTC! Seriously, this week has been a never ending memory lane! But in a good way.Monday as well I had an interview with the President, and I learned a LOT of important things from him. Though hard to really sit down and explain them all, suffice it to say, Im grateful for inspired leaders.
So I was sitting waiting at the federal office for the rest of the elders who were renewing their visas, and an elder turned to me and was like "so, youre going home huh." I was like "I guess" and he was like, "how many days do you have left?" and I was like "I dont know." But he didnt believe me that I didnt know- and I honestly didnt!!!! But he- being seriously trunky, decided to count FOR me. T.TBut I didnt let it get to me. Im working hard to make the very most of every single day- the end will come when it comes, but for now, I just want to work.Anyway, things are going really well though, here in Divinopolis! It rained yesterday XD delicious...And today being pday is nice- but I have a million things to do, SO I´m going to run. :)
I love you all!!! Thanks for all the love and support!Danny I got your letter, but if I sent a letter back, it would get home after me so.. I´ll respond via telephone? or if youre in utah I´ll just see you.Okey dokey! Até mais! -sb

bloggy blog golb

Hey! Well, what a week! First off the weather has been a rollar coaster of extreme cold and heat. It rains, and is freezing, then its super humid and hot. Fun huh? I know..
This week we´ve been trying to figure out how to work in just ONE neighborhood, because otherwise we waste a lot of time walking or taking the bus to places way too far. Its been fun. Since Luciene was baptized we don´t have to go over there EVERY day (we visit her, just not DAILY like it was.) so we´ve decided to work in a neighborhood called Mangabeiras. We have some cool people over there.
We also found a cool girl in Catalão. The crappy thing is that catalão and mangabeiras arent ANYWHERE near each other.. T.T oh well.

So the mission president decided that he doesnt want 4 missionaries living together anywhere. So, my companion and I have to find a new apartment. Yesterday we looked at a couple places, and being that I love looking at houses and apartments and things like that, I enjoyed it (she hated it) and we found an adorable little apartment in JUST the perfect place, and the perfect price! perfect size, perfect lighting.. everything perfect! Except it doesnt have an elevator and it has FIVE flights of stairs. Ok, that may not seem like a big deal to you, but at the end of the day, when you´re DYING and you can barely make it to the door- and then you have FIVE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS?!?!? Ninguem merece! Haha, so we´re searching for something better.. but we´ll probably end up moving there sometime this week. Bah! lame. I dont want to leave sis. Smith and sis. Morais :( Oh well. eu irei e cumprirei as ordens do Senhor..
Anyway, so yeah. Things are going well. Aside from the fact that I lost the key to our house.. bummer..
ok, well I love and miss you all tons. Meg, I already sent a response (snailmail) to the AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS and GIANT manila envelope of goodness you sent me, but I just wanted to let you know I got it. Thank youthankyou.. yesyesyes.
And Becky- mexican it IS my friend!
Michelle- Thank you for Sis. and Pres. Frei´s talks!!!! That was awesome! I love you!

Alrighty then, well, if you (yes you, who is reading this right now!) havent said a prayer today- do that. Right now.
Samething goes with your scriptures! I´m serious people, just like the primary colors are essential to make anything- the primary answers are essential to make salvation.

:) love love love love

blogggggggggggggg

Well helllooooo !!!
Another week gone by, and another bundle of miracles witnessed! After more than of a month of working with her, LUCIENE was baptized!!!!!
I LOVE this girl!!! And her baptism was so spiritual! She´s so fantastic! She´s one of my best friends!
Here are some pics.
This week has been adventurous. At one point this week my comp and I found ourselves in the middle of a field, trying to get across a river to make it to an appointment.. the river itself wasnt huge, but it was down in a little valley like thing. It was like 7-8ft down. I wanted to jump across, but she was like "Nem pense em pular. Eu não vou pular não.." (Don´t even think about jumping, I´m not going to jump that..)
so we found a little jimmy-rigged bridge and I started my way across it, but it was about as strong as a piece of cardboard.. so I jumped over (almost faceplanted it too, I might add...) then tried to help her across.
She made it as well, but she was like "THAT was your help? Your little pull wouldnt have done anything if that bridge had broken! The two of us wouldve fallen down into the river!" We laughed SO hard.
oh the adventures of being a missionary..

Anyway I´m going to go, but things are going really well. Here are some pics to make up for the lack of words here.. xoxo
Id explain, but I cant remember what number is which, so.. suffice it to say there was a zone conference, and it was full of friends. :)

Lucas 6:31--- you sent me pictures, I´m sending some back!!!

flávia´s baptism last week. er week before last? yeah. Anyway. It was a good day. After the stress stopped...

me and the girls in the elevator TODAY on the way to the internet cafe








me, shepherd (my companion a year ago, she came to visit us. She´s been home from the mission like 10 months now I think) reis (my current comp

myspace moment.

Suzie's arrival

Suzie leaves Brazil on September 30 and arrives in Salt Lake on October 1st.

bloggy goodness

Well! Yes, here they are, transfers again. Fun huh?So, last transfer my district consisted of:Sisters; smith, morais, reis and IElders; santos and martins.Now, with the changes of the transfer, my district consists of................sissssters: smith, morais, reis and I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THats right! Not only was I not transfered, but no one in my house was either!!! WOOO!And elder Martins was transfered. Now its elder santos and elder araujo.I dont know him, but I´m sure hes a nice kid.When we sisters found out no one was getting transfered we all started jumping up and down screaming and hugging, and then our neighbors starting screaming with us.. haha it was funny. Not like "hey shut up!" but like "whooo hooo!" Our neighbors are funny. I dont actually know them too well, just from what they yell frm the stairway..anyway..This week was fantastic! Our wonderful, elect, amazing Flávia was baptized!! She seriously is amazing. She had a dream about sister Reis and I, as well as getting baptized. SO, she then asked a member (who is a friend of hers) to send her the missionaries. We went there, she accepted EVERYTHING, and was baptized! Its incredible how the Lord prepares people! I love her SO much! She´s so much fun. She´s a tiny tiny little girl. She was showing us all of her michael jackson stuff yesterday. She´s apparently a pretty big fan.So now sister Reis and I are on the hunt for new people to teach! We´ve met a few cool people, but after Flávia everyone seems uninterested and without progress... mostly because she was IDEAL.Anyway, things are going well.I gave a talk on sunday. It wasnt ANYTHING I had prepared. Funny how that always happens. Its funny, I can remember crystal clear all the talks I gave BEFORE the mission (there were 2..) but I´ve given so many here on the mission, theyre starting to all blend into one.Maybe thats because theyre ALL about the SAME thing.. a obra missionária.. haha. Pois é..Anyway, thats about all for this week.We´re still teaching Luciene- who I LOVE. She reminds me a lot of wendee, but I can´t put my finger on why. Her son is an absolute hellian, but I still love him..ok well, until next week!