Mission Week 68: March 19, 2018

March 19, 2018

This week was a challenging one... I did splits in Tupã again and it was good but challenging--- I am in the hottest part of the mission and it is killing us! I'm not baptizing nearly as well this month as I was baptizing last month, but I am giving it everything I've got and am praying tons. This week I thought a lot about the Nephites who were blessed by the Lord and then started to become prideful and then were warned, suffered, thrown in the refiners fire, repented, and were blessed again. I see this happens a lot in the mission and with me too. sometimes we are so quick to forget the Lord in the good times, and so slow to repent and rely on Him again. I find that even with almost 16 months in the mission, sometimes my prayers are more sincere when I am struggling and then when I'm doing great, I'm slow to remember that HE IS THE ONE THAT IS MAKING ALL OF IT HAPPEN. I am learning so much and this is a growing process. I still struggle and am still being put through the refiners fire- but I'm grateful because like I always say- all diamonds started from dust and rock and had to be melted down, heated up #itssohothere, and molded to become beautiful. So grateful to be here! I love this gospel and my mission and the Lord soooo much more than ever! I am pushing myself to my limits and I get way stressed out--- but I know when I trust in the Lord and let Him strengthen me, I SERIOUSLY HAVE NO LIMITS!!! Soooo grateful for even the difficult moments because they give me the chance to be better and to remember Him!

I will have my Zone Conference tomorrow!! Look for pictures!!

Mission Week 67: March 12, 2018

March 12, 2018

WE HAD A GREAT WEEK IN BAURU WITH TWO COMPANIONSHIPS!!! ITS SO AMAZING TO WORK WITH THESE SISTERS AND TO FEEL THE LOVE THAT THE LORD HAS FOR THEM! I ALWAYS GO IN TO MY SPLITS IN PRAYER AND FAST AND I LOVE THAT THE LORD INSPIRES ME TO HELP THESE SISTERS IN THEIR AREAS AND IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES! SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!

We were able to baptize two men in our area even though we were gone until Friday! The sisters who are in our area serving really listened to us as we talked them through things on the phone during the week and were able to firm up our baptisms!!! We know that God really had His hand in this and we are sooo grateful this week!!! One man who is 23- his name is B. and the other man is in his 50's and is named M! Soooo exciting!

Mission Week 66: March 5, 2018

March 5, 2018

This week I traveled to Londrina with Sister Pinheiro and she went to train a new sister from Mexico- she was excited to train again. She will leave the mission in May with me!

My new companion is Sister Anjos again!!!! Such a blessing! She is great and I was heartbroken when Pres. only left us as companions for three weeks in Cascavel! Now she is my comp again in Planalto and we are both as happy as can be! She is from the Bahia...love her lots!

 

I stayed in Londrina for the training of the new missionaries and it was so fun!!! I helped with the arrival of the new missionaries and spent the day in Londrina with the Pereira's! I loved helping the new missionaries this week again! It was soooo fun! And then that night I went back to my area with Sister Anjos!!

 

MY NEW CONVERT T. BLESSED THE SACRAMENT! THAT MAN THAT WE BAPTIZED WHO MADE CONTACT WITH ME IN A BAR!!!! I CRIED WHEN HE SHOWED UP WITH A WHITE SHIRT AND TIE AND BLESSED THE SACRAMENT! MY HEART EXPLODED!

 

I AM IN LONDRINA AGAIN TODAY WITH ALL OF THE MISSION LEADERS TO HAVE A P-DAY WITH PRESIDENT AND THEN OUR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL TOMORROW!

 

I AM DOING SO WELL, MOM AND DAD.... I CANT BELIEVE I ONLY HAVE 10 WEEKS LEFT AND YET SO MUCH FIRE TO DO EVERYTHING!!! I LOVE THIS LIFE!!! I AM SOOO HAPPY AND LOVE SEEING THE WORK PROGRESS! ITS ALL SO BEAUTIFUL!

 

I know that Christ lives and loves us and that He is guiding this work!! I'm soooo grateful to be here as His instrument!!! Soooo beautiful and I'm sooo blessed!

Mission Week 65: February 26, 2018

February 26, 2018

Editor's Note: We emailed back and forth with Sister Tyson today. She is doing great! Her companion was getting transferred and she had to travel to Londrina to pick up her new companion. She will update us next week with who that is.

Here are some pictures from her recent baptisms. She is so happy and loves her mission!

Mission Week 64: February 19, 2018

February 19, 2018

Hey mom and dad---

About the work this week here in planalto...

This week was good--

My mãezona here in the area (the irma that takes such good care of me) had made me that birthday cake and did a party for me but I had to travel her name is "T." and she felt so bad that I wasn't able to make it to my own party that this week she fed us lunch on Wednesday and did a surprise party for me again!!!  She bought me a beautiful cake and candles (SPARKLERS- LIKE THE FOURTH OF JULY WHICH IS STILL MY FAVORITE!!)!! She was sooooo sweet!! I love her sooo much!! It made my heart happy! She added mom on FB this week-- check her out. 

Oh and this week I spent a day in the ER... I got way sick this week and ended up doing blood and urine tests in the hospital on Thursday-- I was throwing up and was so tired.. I didn't want to eat... I thought it was because I am low on iron...but Sister Pereira sent me in to test everything--- SHE WAS SOOO STRESSED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK POOR GIRL- and I was put on a IV... it wasn't a big deal- its a pretty normal thing here in Brazil but anyways the doctor said that I am dehydrated...even though everyone here teases me that I don't go anywhere without my water bottle! haha He also said that indeed my iron was low.... I received a blessing from the branch pres and am feeling better now... a little stressed but doing well!!!! No worries!!

SATURDAY MORNING WE BAPTIZED OUR GOLDEN BOY- T. 31 YEARS OLD!!! SUCH A HAPPY DAY! HE IS GREAT AND SERIOUSLY HAS SOOO MUCH FAITH! THE LORD IS GOOD AND BLESSED US WITH SUCH AN AWESOME CONVERT! HE WILL RECEIVE THE PRIESTHOOD NEXT SUNDAY!!! HE IS SO HAPPY AND IS DOING WONDERFUL!

Also, we confirmed 4 people this week!! We were running around on Saturday and Sunday to find all of the people who weren't confirmed yet and we were so happy that it worked out to confirm more people! Great people and great youth who now have the Holy Ghost! Our goals as Sister Training Leaders are being reached so we are happy campers this week! Our mission baptized a ton this week and are maintaining our place as the #1 baptizing mission in the southern region on Brazil!!! We are in third place in the entire country!!! Sooooo exciting!!!

We did a fast as leaders in the mission- Pres called us to ask us to fast and it was great! This week was a great week in the mission with lots of great successes! And then we felt inspired to do a fast with the companionships who we lead- the sisters were great and the fast really gave us the strength to meet our goals for the week. My testimony was strengthen that fasting really does allow God to work miracles. He loves us and gives us strength when we are willing to sacrifice for Him- it is sooooo hot, so going without water here is extremely difficult, but we were blessed because of our willingness to follow our leaders and put our faith in Christ. I thought a lot about how Christ went 40 days and nights fasting in the hot sun- and how much I want water when we are working in the hot sun, but its amazing how much God strengthens us when we do our part. GREAT EXPERIENCE!

We did a ward activity on Saturday night- lots of hot dogs and lots of little kids! It was chaotic but we had a great turn out and it was a fun night- lots of recent converts and investigators too!!!

Mission Week 63: February 12, 2018

February 12, 2018

Today me and the sisters are at a members house- her name is V.- she lives alone in a mansion and invited us to spend time with her today. Because of Carnaval all of the internet houses are closed-- and she is feeding us and everything! She is  great!!! 

I am doing well and am so happy to hear that you guys are close to me! Mais ou menos! hahaha

 

This week was good-- we stayed in our area to help the sisters here and it was good! We worked super hard and it was a hot week here!!!

We found lots of great new families to teach and we batized 2 men this week- R & N! 

R. is 26 and N. is in his fifties! Lots of interesting stories that I will share with you guys....

And we were blessed with a golden investigator too!!

This week was good- we did a meeting with all the leaders of the branch and set up visits for the investigators who are progressing and for our recent converts--- to help create more integration and friendships--- and more activities in our branch--- we are excited- we are planning our activity for the whole branch on Saturday....YOU WON'T BELIEVE THAT I LET THE SISTERS NAME IT- "HOT DOG NIGHT"....NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M A LOT MORE EASY GOING NOW A DAYS... HAHAHAHA!

The mission is good! Heavenly Father blesses us so much! We were trying to contact a reference that we got and ended up stopping at a bar to ask for directions-- in the bar- a man with tons of tattoos stopped us and asked us what we do-- we explained our purpose as missionaries and he invited us to share a message with him the next day at his house-- his name is T. and we felt so good about him-- after all- he made contact with us!!! Hahaha and then we went to teach him...

He explained his whole life story-- he was married, has two young sons, --- and then they ended up getting divorced. he ended up moving out and went to live  completely alone to be close to his kids still.. he is so great and says that he wants to find a person to share his life with and to live the gospel-- he has so much faith and truly is repentant! HE ACCEPTED THE INVITE TO BE BAPTIZED ON THE SPOT!

 

Then, T. went to church and loved it! We took the Elders Quorum Presidente and YM's Pres. to visit him and we taught him all together! The Spirit was sooo strong and soooo cool to give these men a chance to create friendship with T. who is their same age, to take responsibility, and to share their testimonies! 

Mission Week 62: February 5, 2018

February 5, 2018

THIS WEEK WAS GOOD-  we had an awesome mission conference here in Prudente with Presidente and great divisions in Bauru! M. & H. were soooo kind and picked me up late at the bus station and super early the next day with food for my bus ride! They are Matheus' parents and they are so good to me!

This week we will stay in our area- our baptism of the week feel through and we feel like its best to stay in our area this week. I'll be happy to have a week without getting on another bus hahaha. It will be good to be able to focus on finding and teaching people in our area-- and I am feeling a bit disconnected with this branch and the members and our recent converts because I am always traveling- so it will be a good week.

THIS MISSION IS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE-- SO MANY DOWNS BUT SO MANY MORE UPS... I CAN'T BELIEVE ITS ALREADY FEBRUARY AND I'M DOING THIS.........I know that I am nothing..I've been reminded of this so many times during these 14 months...the LORD IS EVERYTHING AND HAS STRENGTHENED ME BEYOND MEASURE... and I have a wonderful support system here in Brasil and at home with you guys! I am learning lots and love my Savior for everything he has done to lift me up and give me the strength to serve him. This week I will give a talk in Sacrament Meeting- I am the concluding speaker so it has to be 20 mins...lol.. but I love the theme---the Love of Christ--- the branch president said that when they prayed, he and his counselors knew that it was my topic... I am excited to share some of the love that I have felt from the Lord in these 14 months in this branch.. I hope they will be encouraged to share the love of Christ with others even long after I leave this area!

Have fun in Bolivia! WELCOME TO SOUTH AMERICA! hahaha

Sister Tyson