Week 14

Milagres esta Semana!!! (Miracles)‏

It´s was pretty crazy when I first got here, in Rio Verde, Sister Amaral and I were on fire teaching and baptizing, but it´s definatly slowed down.  I have learned so much and it’s getting harder, but the miracles are so obvious to me now it’s insane.  Every single day I see more and more how essential this gospel is for families.  I have seen families in the church fall back into old habits with the law of chastity and the word of wisdom.  It just breaks my heart to see families suffer because of poor decisions.  I know that without the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives, we do not have true happiness and joy.  You can try all you want to be happy and satisfied without it, you may feel happy for a moment or for a short time, but not for eternity.  Holy COW my eyes have been so opened this week.  This gospel just keeps me growing (; I LOVE IT!!!

So this week we had a date for Lenilson to be baptized.  He was so excited when we first taught him and he couldn’t wait to be baptized.  As we started to teach him, his friends would sit in on the lessons and the spirit just wasn’t there.  He soon became unsure about baptism and started lying to us and we found him drinking with a bunch of woman.  It was super disappointing and sad.  Satan is real and definitely has his heart, it’s so sad. 

It’s easy to get discouraged but I have to look at the bright side like what happened yesterday!  We had 18 people visit our sacrament meeting!! WAHHOOO!!!  The goal everyone sets is 20. Three weeks ago we had 21 then the attendance fell to 10 then 13 and yesterday 18!!!  Miracles happen when you diligently fast, pray, and be obedient!

-Sister Smith

Week 13

Three months already?

I feel like I´ve been on the mission for 3 years because soooooo much has happened it’s crazy! I can´t believe I´ve been here for 3 months...only 15 more to go!!  NOOO that’s weird, I don’t want this to ever end!! (: haha seriously this is the best, hardest, most rewarding, difficult, most spiritual experience of my life.

I love this scripture in D&C 78:19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.  Opa!!!  If that doesn´t pump you up, I don’t know what would!!  I love this scripture for many reasons!  First it describes the people in Brazil.  They are so humble and always so happy with what they do have.  They don’t need fancy things to make them happy.  I’ve learned so much from them.  They are always willing to give us their food, water, and let us use their bathroom and most the time they don’t even know us!  They just know that we are servants of the Lord.  I have learned so much from the people here, and have so much love for them.

I have been studying this talk by Elder Russell M. Nelson that he gave to the new mission presidents around the world in 2014.  It is an incredible talk and I want to share a part that I love with you all.

God wants his children to return to him, but the amazing thing is, he allows them to choose that course; he doesn’t force them.  He sends his children to earth, causing a veil of forgetfulness to come upon them. They are here to gain a body, to be tested and to make choices.  The greatest of all the choices they make is to choose to return to their Father.  First they learn of Him.  Second, they learn of his beloved Son.  Then they learn of His church and His plan of happiness that allows them to return to Him , via the holy temple, which qualifies them to dwell with Him, his Son, and their families forever.

I love this part because it says everything that we believe so perfectly and simple for everyone to understand.  I have a testimony that Gods plan is pure joy and happiness.  I know that without it, no matter how hard you try to be happy you will never have full happiness and joy.

-Sister Smith

This is at a members house!  With my old district.

Sister Amaral with all the sisters she has trained...all Brazilian, except me hehehe(:  I got to meet them when we went to Goiania for the meeting with all the sister training leaders and zone leaders.  I got to tag along and talk to the mission president and his wife..pros of having your companion as a sister training leader 

woot woot!

I looove this park! We always pass by it! I love the palm trees. They don't have things for kids to play on only funny excercise equiptment…hahah

Campinus Temple (: when I was in the MTC

This was from last week when we baptized 

Alexandre and Rymundo.

GOIANIA is gorgeous!!!

and not as hot as Rio Verde..I like this part (: 

The Trees here are so cool!

 The streets of Brazil

 Beautiful Brazil!

Week Twelve!

 The Adventures in Brazil Never End!

Oct. 12, 2015

I seriously always have a funny story.  I hope you like my stories, because I like to tell them!  So as most people know there are loads of cockroaches in Brazil and yes there are loads in our house and such.  Anyway, they usually are only outside and come in if there is food. So, I was sound asleep in my bed, which by the way Grandpa Schauerhamer, no, there’s no air conditioning!   It doesn´t even matter though because I don’t think I’ve slept better in my entire life.  Everyday I’m so worn out from walking and sweating in the sun.  All I need is a place to lay so I can crash for 8 hours....love it.  I’m serious.  Anyway, I’m sound asleep when all the sudden I feel something fall on my arm and start running up and down my arm.  I jump up and bang my head on the bunk bed..because there is a bed above me haha.  Sister Amaral wakes up so confused!  It’s 2 in the morning and we have the lights on trying to kill this stinking cockroach that is lost in my bed.. oh the joys of a mission. hahaha(: I’m just glad it wasn’t a rat!   After the lights were off and we were going back to bed, Sister Amaral whispers in English, the insects love you because you are sweet.  I busted out laughing, oh man, she is so funny!! 

These things are EVERYWHERE!! Including on my arm at 2 am (: 

I have to say that I absolutely love teaching and bearing my testimony in the mission.  I know without a doubt that this gospel is true.  Christ lives, he loves us and wants us to become like him.  I know that Heavenly Father gave us families because families help us learn and grow and are the center of God's plan.  I love my family with all my heart and I am so grateful that because of this gospel and the sealing ordinances in temples we can be together for eternity.  I testify that the gospel changes lives I have seen it change peoples lives on my mission.  I feel so blessed to be serving and teaching the people in Brazil!  The church is true!  I love you all.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

-Sister Smith

p.s.  Read D&C 78:19

Our first night running in the rain!!!! DRENTCHED!!!

Last week 2 of these Elders left our district and its been soo different! Sister Amaral and I miss Elder Vercosa and Bom Fanchi they were always including us and making us laugh. 

I loved my district (:

I miss the two elders on the outsides :(....

This is the awesome member who I just love!!

I carry this book with all my family tree and pictures of my family and grandparents and great-grandparents when I teach about the family and family genealogy (: Everyone always says what a beautiful family I have...(; I'm like awww thanks..I know they´re pretty great ahahah

This is the quote my momma gave to me before I left!  I have it on my desk to read everyday!  I love you mommy with all my heart <3

Week Eleven!

I Love My Mission!

Week 11—Oct. 5, 2015

Wow, what an incredible week it has been for me.  First off, I AM STAYING HERE IN RIO VERDE WITH MY SISTER AMARAL!!!!  Woot woot!!(:  I am beyond thrilled and happy that I´m staying here, you don´t even know!  Yesterday we were waiting for a call from the assistants to the President to tell us if we would be getting transferred.  I was anxious the whole day.  I was hugging everyone and super emotional. 

We were teaching Noguerria, the old man that I call my Brazilian Grandpa Headman...haha!  Seriously his laugh and the way he loves me and watches over me reminds me of my Grandpa Headman!  He is the cutest thing, I just adore him!  (p.s. I love you Grandpa Headman!  Miss you and think about you lots!  Love you too Grandma Headman!)  But we were sitting in his cute little house and I was looking at him and his friend that we baptized this week, and I just thought of how much I love them.  The spirit was burning within me and I started to get emotional.  The Lords’ work is so incredible.  Bringing people unto Christ is pure love.  It changes you and it changes the people that accept it. You see these people how Christ sees them.  I wished I could hug Noguerra sooo bad in that moment and tell him I’m so proud of him for his decisions to give up coffee and follow Christ!!(:  In the next life I will hug him...hehe!  I started crying and told him I loved him and he said what he always says, “Love you my child.”

After we left his house I just started bailing.  Sister Amaral looked at me and was like, why are you crying???  We don’t know if we are leaving yet?  I told her I don’t want to leave.  Just the thought of leaving these people, the members, the ward, and this area, it’s my home and they are my family.  She hugged me and said I know, I don’t want to leave either.  That night we never got a call...I AM SOOOOO HAPPY!!!! AHHHH(((:  I´ll miss 2 of the elders in our district that are leaving. They have become my brothers and I feel so blessed to have had them here to help me and make me laugh everyday.  They are amazing young men.   Awww and the members here are just my family.   Ahhh I’m crying writing this now and I know I’m staying here for another transfer!!  I just love my mission, the gospel, this church, & the Book of Mormon.  I love the people and working with them everyday!   I finally received all your letters! (: Letters from clear back to Aug. 30!)  Lets just say it takes awhile for letters to get here!

Okay, I just have to brag about my companion for a little bit because I am so grateful I have her for another transfer. (: She is the most beautiful Brazilian I have ever seen.)  She looks American and is 21 years old and perfect in everyway.  She is so loving and patient with me.  She always thinks of me before herself when we are eating, shopping, at a member’s house etc.  She always teaches me and helps me when I don’t understand something.  She doesn’t hold grudges...THANK YOU!!  Lets just say I’ve made many mistakes with the language, and in a house with different things that I am not use to and she will be annoyed and get over it in 1 minute.  She doesn’t talk my ear off but then doesn’t not talk at all.  She knows how to work hard and she knows when it’s time to laugh and talk about fun stuff and when it’s not that time.  She is very very organized, clean, and tidy...more then me!!! Now that’s saying something!  Oh, and she won’t drink her water if it’s hot....she  only likes cold water.....we´re twins, what can I say.  She says the funniest things in English randomly.  She makes me yummy Brazilian food. She is so stylish and loves to be clean.  Ahhh I could go on forever, I feel so blessed to be her companion.

Okay I´ve got some insane stories I’ve forgotten to tell.  One night it was dark and we were walking home and talking.  I was looking at sister while we were crossing the road and I thought she was taking a step into the road when really she was stepping out of the road (difficult to explain)  All the sudden I’m in the middle of the road and I hear this screeeching of a car stopping behind me and sister Amaral grabbing my arm pulling me out of the road....yeah I almost died.  Another time, it was dark and I was a little to focused on my cracker and not looking at the sidewalk...the dips in the sidewalk are like so random and if you don’t look you trip...or biff it like I did.  Luckily, it was dark and only the people behind me saw me eat it...and my cracker!  I was laughing so hard after, Sister Amaral wasn’t she was so concerned if I was okay, she´s so sweet.  Still Another time, I was with my favorite member Carol and sister and I biffed it super hard again and this time really skinned my knee. I’m pretty sure the dude passing us on the motorcycle almost crashed watching me and laughing so hard.  Everyone saw that one and I laughed for about an hour afterwards.  We´ll have to do a replay of these in heaven so we can all laugh together....so funny!!  Never knew I was a klutz, the mission brings out every color in you. 

Okay, I just have to say conference was unbelievable.  Saturday session I watched it in Portuguese and didn’t understand everything, I had sister tell me about it after.  But 2nd session me and another American Elder and 2 other Brazilian Elders that know English watched it in another room.  Let me just say conference in the mission field is something else. It’s a real treat and gives you an energy boost, I loooved it! I will talk more about it next week!

We had 2 baptisms this week and they were so special!!

I love you all and miss you!!  I finally got your letters...8 of them!!  Can I just say I have the greatest siblings in the world.  Ryan and Aleece you made me cry so hard. I love you all and am so proud of you.

Make sure you pray and read the Book of Mormon everyday this week.  Oh, and ponderize by memorizing a scripture this week too!!  I’ll ask you about it next week (; love you all!!

-Love your Brazilian Sister Smitchie (as the Brazilians would say)

        

In Noguerra´s house! I  love this guy sooo much! He's my Grandpa Headman in Brazil (: 

Baptisms for Alexandre and Remundo (brother to Luis the family we already baptized)

I finally got your letters! YAY!

My favorite boy.

The classic brasilian dish...oh my word its like eating heaven for every meal. They need to teach Americans how to cook. (: