Ola Familia e amigos!

Tem sido uma semana muito boa e gratificante! 

How are y'all doing?? 

This week we had zone conference, so all the missionaries from Miratejo, Barreiro, Setúbal, Seixal, and Vasco de Gama were all together with Presidente and Sister Tavares! It was incredible! I got to see sisters from the MTC there and it was basically a big reunion! I also got to see missionaries I have served with in the past! Presidente Tavares said that he had given a conference with the same topic before and that the missionaries that had the most time on the mission would remember. It was given my first transfer here...... since when am I qualified as the oldest? I feel like I just got here! This mission has lots of new missionaries though. I hit my 8 month mark this week! Where did the time go?? 

We then watched President Nelson, President Oaks, and President Eyring give their first statements and testimonies as the new First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! It was so great to hear from them! I definitely felt that they are called of God to lead this church! 

We went on exchanges with Sister Jardine and Sister Brownell and I stayed in Miratejo with Sister Brownell. She is such a hard worker and already speaks Portuguese so well! This is her first transfer and she is doing so well! It was wonderful to be with her, and she is hilarious! She actually reminded me of Phoebe Rogers lots! 

Sister Anderson the other day wanted to say "sisters gone rogue" but ended up saying "sisters gone Vogue" so every time we changed the plans we had originally done in the morning, we say Sisters gone vogue, or whatever other time. I love her so much! 

This transfer has flown by! We receive transfer calls this Sunday! AHH!! I have definitely learned lots in this transfer and have felt my Heavenly Father's love for me much stronger! I have been feasting on the scriptures and have grown to absolutely love them!!! 

I love you all so so much! 

 

Sister Anderson and I with Vanda (a member of the church)

and her mother who is 101 years old!!!!

 

Graffiti is everywhere. Mirasquad!!

 

 

The view in the morning from our apartment! 

 

Random Pics

 

 

They have these little kiosk things where you can put your letters

 

 

 Sister Anderson got some mash potatoes and Christmas lights

 

 

​This is the lunch I made one day this week :)

 

 

Beautiful Sunset

 

 

During exchanges

 

 

Week of Miracles!

This week has been absolutely incredible!!! We are finding many people to teach! I am loving serving here in Miratejo with Sister Anderson! She is such a hard worker and I am learning lots from her! It is starting to be really cold here and it is finally winter. They also told us that the rain is just starting, so that is going to be interesting! 

This week we had the opportunity to have district meeting and I learned so much from it! I learned how to better approach people on the streets and when we are knocking doors! I have seen many fruits come from it recently and I am definitely excited!! 

We have been going by and speaking with people that haven't been coming to church recently and leaving a spiritual message with them and it has been so wonderful edifying their testimonies and seeing how they are doing! Recently (is that how you spell that word??) my love for these people has been growing so so much and I feel so much closer to my Savior. Doing service truly is the best way to become closer to people and to our Savior! I love it!!

On Wednesday, we went to Lisbon to have interviews with President Tavares and it was so nice to be there and talk with him about any questions I had and how we can better ourselves! We then had to go to Barriero for a conference and it takes about an hour to get there. Turns out that I had to do part of that conference and wasn't told, so I did lots of praying to receive revelation as to what I needed to teach. It actually ran pretty well, I think so. At the end of it. we had to return an hour and it was definitely a really long day! It was full of eating fast food, running, and last minute planning. It was great! 

We ended up teaching 4 lessons in one day on Thursday and that was definitely a miracle because that hadn't happened since we came here! It was incredible! We have truly been blessed! 

We also finally taught Mauro! He is 15 years old and has such a strong desire to be baptized and learn more! He is incredible! He was in Lisbon for 4 days, so we couldn't meet with him, but finally saw him on Friday and again on Sunday! It was so great to see him and how he is! We also got to celebrate Sister Anderson's 6 month mark on the mission!!!! Whoop Whoop!!! 

 

We had 3 of our investigators at church and lots of members that hadn't come in a while! It was incredible!!! I love this gospel and my Heavenly Father and Savior more and more each day! We have truly been blessed this week and I know that Heavenly Father is always mindful of us in every situation! 

I love you all so much! 

There are lots of snails, so I had to take a picture with them! 

 

 

When it rains and you straightened your hair,

and didn't bring an umbrella!

 

 

Yeah my companion is adorable!!

 

Random Pics

 

 

 

Bacalhau, Goat, and more Bacalhau!

Hello everyone!!!!

 

This week has been so so amazing! I had the opportunity to speak with my family through Skype on Monday, and it was so so nice to see them! I hope you all had a very merry Christmas! Also, Happy New Year everyone! Happy 2018!!! WHOO! It definitely doesn't feel that way at all! This year flew by!

 

New Year's was great for us. We had church, a man asked me to marry him twice and so we let the Elders be in charge of him, we had lunch witth a really really nice family and had dinner with an amazing human being! Then we came home and slept! People love firecrackers here! They said that it would be even worse at night, but Sister Anderson and I were sooooo tired that we didn't hear anything at midnight haha we just slept!

We have had the goal every month to baptize 75 people. This months we finally met that goal and achieved 76 this month! I was looking at all the pictures and everyone looked so so happy and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be here serving with such hard workers and be helping the people prepared to hear about this gospel! I love these people so so much!

During the Christmas season, Bacalhau (Cod Fish) is the main dish here! They prepare it in so many different ways and they are all so so good! We also had the opportunity to eat goat, and I have to admit that I did not like that at all. It has a really strong taste, and it made everything else taste that way. I ate it all, but I did not enjoy it.

We have been really trying hard lately to find new people to teach and it hasn't been working really well, but we found miracles on Saturday! We knocked some doors and ended up finding two people to teach right at that moment! One of the people had already spoken to the missionaries in the past and let us in right away! They were both so nice and we have return appointments with them and I hope we can teach them more!

I am in denial that Christmas is over, so Sister Anderson and I are still listening to Christmas music and humming and singing in the streets as well. I love serving here in Miratejo with Sister Anderson and getting to new her! She is such an incredible missionary with a desire to work hard and be an amazing missionary! She has already taught me so much and I am very grateful to have her in my life!

I love you all so so much! Have an amazing week! This new year, make some goals that will help you become better and bring you closer to your Savior, Jesus Christ. Christmas is not just only in December, but all year round!

During my last transfer

 

Sister Anderson and I Goofing around

 

 

Look what we found here

 

 

These weird fruits are delicious!!!!!

 

The best graffiti ever!

 

 

We got goodie bags after dinner

 

 

Skype call with my parents!

 

 

Family Vanacia that gave us dinner on the 24th!

Other Random Pics

 

 

 

 

We found Guava paste!!!!