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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