Mission Week 18: April 3, 2017

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED CONFERENCE! IT WENT BY WAY TOO FAST! I HAVE SOOO MANY NOTES ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID-- I WISH I HAD TIME TO WRITE ABOUT EACH TALK WITH YOU GUYS- BUT EVERY TALK SPOKE TO ME SO LOUDLY!

I was a little sad that I wouldnt be at home for conference with all of you because of the yummy food and all the family traditions, but conference was still such an amazing experience here- the talks were just what I needed going into this new transfer and sending my best friend-- Sister Penni- off to her new area.

This week was another crazy week-- Penni and I worked a normal day in Cambé on Wednesday and it was awesome to be back out in the streets together- trying to build a teaching group for me and my new companion. We taught some awesome lessons and found a good group of people that I will start teaching with my new companion this week.

On Wednesday night- Presidente called and told us that Penni would be transferred the next day to Cascavel-- an area 7 hours away from Londrina to finish her mission! We were both devastated to not have the last full week of the transfer together and to not be able to watch conference together in our zone..... we both cried and started packing her bags. Penni was hoping to stay close to Londrina to finish her mission because she loves Londrina and the people here- she has only served in 4 zones in the mission and they are the 4 closest zones to the main city of Londrina- she was feeling discouraged already about separating with me... but she has so much faith and knows that Heavenly Father has people prepared for her in Cascavel--- it is crazy to think that she only has 5 weeks left in the mission!! Taking her to the terminal the next day was sooooo painful- I felt like i was almost leaving all of you guys again.... we had a good last day together as companions though--- we went with the office elders to get Açaí- which is a fruit here in Brazil that they make into sorbet at frozen yogurt places (Penni's favorite)- and had lots of good laughs together! I WILL MISS HER MORE THAN I CAN SAY-- BUT SHE HAS HELPED ME LEARN SO MUCH AND I KNOW THAT I CAN DO THIS (or at least I hope I can hahaha)

I will stay in Cambé with a sister named Sister Ferreira- she has almost 8 months on the mission and I haven't met her yet-- she will be arriving today and then her and I will head for Cambé. She is Brazilian and I am excited to meet her and learn from her.

I LOVED THE CONFERENCE TALKS-- ESPECIALLY THE ONE BY PRESIDENT UCHTDORF ABOUT FEAR-- AND COURAGE- I loved that he said that fear can motivate us to do the right thing but that there is a better way--- on the mission, it is easy to be obedient only because you know your comp will tell the pres or others if you are not- or it is easy to be fearful that if you are unkind to your companion that you will lose blessing and have a bad reputation in the mission--- there are lots of missionaries who are obedient out of fear of disappointing others or are afraid of how they will be perceived---- I will admit that sometimes i do worry about how I am perceived by others in the mission and that sometimes motivates me to try to be my best self, which is a good thing- but I am realizing more and more that it is important to remember that there is a BETTER WAY. It is BETTER to be motivated by the Love of Christ- we are obedient not only because we are afraid of consequences, but because WE LOVE GOD more than the things of the world- more than ourselves, more than our own desires- and WE TRUST that HE WILL MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT BECAUSE OF OUR OBEDIENCE AND DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE FOR HIM.

BEING A MISSIONARY IS THE HARDEST THING---BUT I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE HARD DAYS! My mission has already been absolutely not what I expected- I know that Heavenly Father knows of my potential to be more than i am now- I feel like He is humbling me so much- it is hard to be knocked down and feel every insecurity that I never knew I had, but I AM LEARNING SOOOO MUCH ABOUT HIS PLAN, HIS LOVE, AND ABOUT MYSELF! IF I MAY...hehe... I AM BLOOMING! lol

Mission Week 17: March 27, 2017

HI FOLKS!

SORRY I AM GETTING ONLINE LATER-- WE HAD P-DAY WITH OUR ZONE TODAY-- WE PLAYED VOLLEYBALL AND LOTS OF GAMES-- IT WAS PRETTY FUN! You know me... i usually just like to sit and watch everyone play and just sit and talk with people-- but this time I really got into the volleyball game and was actually not to bad.. hehe it was way fun!

 So---- the real transfers are next week but because Presidente wanted us to leave our area and move Elders into it, we moved to my new area which will be CAMBÉ! I AM SO EXCITED TO BE STAYING CLOSE IN LONDRINA AND IN THE SAME ZONE!! PENNI will stay with me for this last week and we will watch conference and everything together but then she will be transferred and train a new Sister Training Leader--- I am sad that she and I will be separated but I am sooooo excited to already be getting settled in my new area!

We went to the new house and it was absolutely filthy so Penni, I and our Zone Leaders have been cleaning it out this week to get it ready for my new companion and I--- it looks sooo much better now! 

The ward in Cambé is amazing!! everyone is super nice and its one of the strongest wards in londrina!!! the last 6 baptisms that have happened in that ward have come completely from ward references! I am sooo excited! Penni is bummed to be leaving me especially in such a gorgeous area with amazing members, but she needs to train. Presidente said that this ward is going to be perfect for me and my new companion! He is so good to me! 

Leonor was a super poor neighborhood and Cambé is exactly opposite... its crazy that I am already seeing so many differences in all 3 of my areas! CHANGES ARE HARD- BUT I AM EXCITED!

This week Penni and I will hopefully work more normally and not have as many special assignments in the office-- we are excited! we are enjoying every minute together until the transfer!

Mission Week 16: March 20, 2017

HEY MY FOLKS!

I am extremely happy to know that Allie girl is staying busy but that she has so many fun and exciting things going on! I wish I could be there to help drive her around, stay up late thinking about ideas for her election and interview, and just being there to cheer her on! She is seriously amazing and I love that she has always been someone who takes so much on and still maintains her friendly, funny, happy self! I admire her so much and just know that she is doing amazing things!

So glad you all have been spending time together and dancing in the house to all my favorites! Sister Penni and I always joke that when she gets to Utah this fall to go to BYU, that she is already going to be hanging out with you guys before I even get home! You guys would seriously love PENNI! She is LITERALLY MY BEST FRIEND-- BESIDES mom, dad, Zach, Kade, and ALLIE! HAHAHA I'm sure she would love an email from you guys if you get a chance--- megan.penni@myldsmail.net--- she has literally changed the course of my mission and I am sooo grateful for her!

C. WAS SO EXCITED TO TELL ME ABOUT HOW SHE SENT PICTURES TO YOU---- did you guys use google translate??? hahaha I love them soooo much! We havent been able to visit them for awhile because we havent been in our own area very much, but yesterday their little son saw me at church and would not let go of my leg the whole day! he calls me "familia" and is pretty attached! Sooooo cute!

THIS WEEK WAS ANOTHER BUSY ONE FOR SISTER PENNI AND I!

We did divisions in Arapongas from Monday to Wednesday--- it was awesome! We divided with two sets of sisters and did some training with them--- Penni trained and I went with the other companions and just tried to boost their spirits! hahaha needless to say.. I had some good talks with them and had them laughing all day---- hahahahaha I might not be as funny as I think I am, but they sure boosted my confidence! LOL! 

We taught one of her investigators the plan of salvation- His name was J. and he has been through many tragedies lately- he lost his father 4 months ago and has had problems with his own health and his wife's as well- and so he has been really curious about the plan that God has for us. When we first arrived at his house- he brought chairs out to the front yard for us and welcomed us to share the message with him. Sister G and I had not discussed before hand who would teach which part of the lesson but we both knew that we would teach the plan of salvation to him. I could tell in his eyes that he was in a lot of pain emotionally---even though I didn't know this man- and I wasn't even in my own area- I automatically felt so much love for him and pain for the pain that he was obviously experiencing. In that moment, I prayed in my heart to know what Heavenly Father would have me say to comfort this man. My answer came as soon as we started the lesson-- I said- J., Eu não conheco de voce ainda- mas Eu ja sei que Deus ama voce e sua familia e que Ele tem un plano para voce. Ele sabe o que voce esta sentido agora e Ele não vai deixar voce solzinho. (I don't know you yet, but I know that God loves you and your family and that he has a plan for you. He knows what you are feeling right now and He will not leave you alone.) 

I know that those words only came from our Heavenly Father- the words were simple, but I could feel the spirit so strong. I don't know if we helped J. this week- but I know Heavenly Father helped me! He is constantly teaching me to rely on him and not my own abilities-- I know that if I try to rely on just myself, I will get nowhere- but with Heavenly Father I can go ANYWHERE!!!

I know that Heavenly Father protects his missionaries and loves us soooo much! I know that where much is given, much is required-- and I feel so blessed in my life and blessed with the opportunity to share what I know to be true!

Mission Week 15: Sister's Conference!

March 13, 2017

Before I write details about this week- I want to say that I am so sorry because I wont have much time to write today because Penni and I will be traveling today to do splits with some of the other sisters in another city-- but I will try to write as much as I can!

Also--- the picture of me and the blonde girl- Sister Knoll-- we are the only two blonde girls in the whole mission haha so we had to document it--- we just met and she is already going home after this transfer, but it was fun to meet her at the conference this week. In the big group picture of the sisters, Presidente insisted that she and I stand in the middle- next to each other cause we are the only two blondes... lol!

 

This week Presidente bought me some silicone shoe inserts to try and relieve some of the friction and rubbing for my feet--- the doctor this week said that I should just be wearing tennis shoes and that that would help a lot--- but Sister Penni and I bought some sandals that still have closed toes and heels and I tried them out this week while we were working the streets and I FELT AMAZING-- ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN AND MY FEET WERE FINALLY NOT HOT! I kept trying to explain that I was getting blisters because my feet were hot and always staying wet--- and finally, Sister Penni and I found shoes that will work! They have enough support on the bottoms and my feet feel great! TENDER MERCIES!!!

Also this week-- The sister's conference was awesome!! We went on Monday and were baking at presidents house until 11:30pm!!! Sister Pereira was a great hostess and made us dinner and snacks while we were baking--- it was so exhausting but fun to be at their house again talking to Sister Pereira! Presidente drove us home and we got right into bed.

The conference on Tuesday went super well! Sister Penni gave an amazing workshop about being daughters of God who represent him- super powerful! She is sooooo good! I was asked to share my testimony again in front of everyone and was nervous again! I was emotional as I shared my gratitude for my opportunity to serve and to serve with and be served by Sister Penni and our good President and his wife--- I cried and shared how much I love my Savior-- I told the sisters that I know that the only way I could do this right now is because I know He is by my side!! It was super special for me and I prayed that the sisters would understand my Portuguese enough to feel the spirit--- many sisters had tears in their eyes as well and were so sweet with their compliments afterwards. SUCH A GOOD DAY!! I helped serve juice and desserts with the sister training leaders and Sister Pereira which made me feel special that I could just jump in and help. Talking to all of the sisters was the best part of the day- they are all so special- I could feel Heavenly Father's love so strongly for each one of us. I know that He sees the good things that we are trying to do here, even if He is the only one who does. SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE- loved helping plan it and see it happen! We were exhausted after many days of planning and late nights, but just because the conferene ended didn't mean that we were done with our day......

The conference went all day long and we were helping the sisters get back to their houses and get on buses to head home and so we stayed at the office working until 9pm-- after, we went to the bus stop (Sister PENNI AND I) and waited for the bus to take us to the terminal to head home--- Sister Penni all of the sudden said that she felt like we needed to go get some money at the bank and so we went and she took out money. Then, we got on the bus and went to the terminal-- when we got to the terminal we got a call from one of the sisters and she told us that her companion was feeling super sick during the conference and that she needed to go to the hospital- she explained that they had already called Presidente and that he told them that it would be best for them to call a taxi and go to the hospital because he had already gotten home for the night and had company in town--- but the sisters didn't have money for a taxi so they called us----- Sister Penni turned to me and said, "Tyson- we are not going home right now-" and I smiled and said, "I already know-- lets do this--" and then we got on a different bus and met up with the sick sister and her companion ----- we planned on calling a taxi and paying for it for them-- but then Presidente showed up after all and drove Me, PENNI, and the two other sisters to the emergency room--- he asked Sister Penni and I to stay with them and then use our money to buy a taxi to get home.... LUCKILY SISTER PENNI HAD FELT THE SPIRIT TELL HER TO GET MONEY OUT RIGHT BEFORE OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE SISTERS!!! HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS US AND LOVES US!!! SO GLAD FOR A COMPANION WHO IS WORTHY AND ALWAYS READY TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM THE SPIRIT!! 

Then Sister Penni and I sat in the emergency room for a few hours until 1:00 am waiting and laughing together about everything and anything as we waited to take the sisters home---- It all turned out okay and those sisters slept in our beds that night-- we had 4 extra sisters at our house and so Sister Penni and I had a slumber party on our tile in the front room! We didn't have mattresses or even pillows to use but we had a fun time taking care of the sweet sisters and just making it fun!!!! HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE ALWAYS--- grateful for a companion who helps me always choose to have fun and serve others even when we are sooooo tired!

This week we were given lots of other assignments-- such a divisions this week until Wednesday and then another zone conference on Thursday so we have literally not and will still not be working in our own area very much which is hard because I am finally completely ready to go and we have a lot of people in our area who are ready to be found and taught but we are just taking it one day at a time! R. and D. have both come to church for 3 weeks in a row since we talked to them that first week and so they are both officially REACTIVATED! THEY BOTH RECEIVED CALLINGS THIS WEEK! THE BISHOP CRIED AND THANKED US FOR HELPING TO REACTIVATE THEM AFTER ONLY VISITING THEM ONCE! such a miracle!

President spoke in our ward yesterday and was powerful as always-- this Wednesday after divisions- we will travel home to host or cake night activity for our ward!! We planned it and are excited--- I am going to teach cruise ship and rock paper scissors games to the members!!! I am excited!

Also- during the one day we were able to work in our area this week- I was actually not with Sister Penni cause she is not feeling super well so I told her to stay home with Sister Riveros who lives with us and was sick-- and Sister Anjos- who I love and was with me in the CTM (MTC)- came out with me to work our area--- We are both still in training so usually we are not supposed to go out alone- but it was authorized and we were super excited to try to work the streets by ourselves!

We went over and visited J.-- the man whose wife sang a capella to us a few weeks ago has come to church twice and Saturday when we visited him and invited him to pray- he did and cried the whole time! I explained how to pray and helped him offer it and he said that he had never prayed out loud before! IT WAS INCREDIBLE! MY HEART COULD EXPLODE- THE SPIRIT WAS SOOOOO STRONG!!! We are hoping that his wife starts keeping her commitments to come to church with his as well....

We visited P and Sister Anjos took his box of cigarettes out of his hands and held the box as she and I explained A Palavra de Sabedoria--- word of wisdom- to him and the Plan of Salvation--- He is a 5 foot little man with a lot of sass!!  He makes fun of my Portuguese and tries to speak broken English to me hahahaha he's a challenge, but we are hoping he will start taking our lessons seriously because we know he wants to learn! We can tell he has faith in God and a desire to know more but he just might not be quite ready right now... we will see! He is in our prayers!

 

I AM DOING GREAT! I AM SOOOOO HAPPY AND LOVING LIFE-- THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING-- SORRY MY EMAILS LATELY HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE BUT i AM JUST DOING SO GREAT AND HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY AND SO LITTLE TIME!!!

Mission Week 14: March 6, 2017

March 6, 2017

This week was a bit different than normal! hahaha

So it might be a little confusing for you guys this week but I will try to explain as much as I can...

On Thursday-- Presidente and Sister Pereira called Penni and I and told us that they needed our help to plan a sisters conference for every sister in the mission for this upcoming Tuesday (tomorrow)!!! hahaha We are super excited but a little overwhelmed at how little time we had to plan everything---- so on Thursday afternoon, Penni and I went to the mission office in the centro and met with Presidente and Sister Pereira----

I didn't expect to be invited to sit in on the meeting with them because I am not a sister training leader like Sister Penni is- and usually when she meets with him, I just want out in the office with the office Elders-- but Presidente said that he wanted to get my input on everything as well and so I came in and started helping too! That was fun! I felt special- maybe that's why he invited me to help plan it... either way.. I was happy to be included!

I asked if maybe we could give a handout to all of the sisters- (42 in the mission) and Presidente said that he would love it if we could make something for the sisters------ also Penni is going to be speaking on not just being a young woman on a mission but being a daughter of God called to serve him--- I am super excited!

So this whole weekend- Penni and I have been with Sister Pereira in the office working on PowerPoint, handouts, and coordinating the travel plans for all of the sisters.. its been a lot of work but its been a blast!!! The sisters will all arrive this afternoon!!!!

And Presidente asked me to spend time this week with his wife teaching her English and translating for her as she is finishing planning their daughters wedding-- Sister Pereira will travel later this month to the states for her daughters wedding and wants to be able to communicate with the grooms American family... I am excited for this!!!

Sister Penni has to do divisions with other sisters all week- and I will probably do that as well--- I think she will do splits with Sister Ferguson and her companion and so I might get to spend a day working the streets with Sister Ferguson!!!! haha and then Sister Penni and I will go back to work as normal----

I have loved spending this week preparing and planning this sister's conference! It has been sooooo fun and a good break for my feet! TENDER MERCY!

Right now with teaching, we haven't had many people because we haven't been in our area very long and this week we worked in the office all week-- but we are helping to activate lots of families and trying to have family nights with part member families! We have a great ward and are hoping to make a difference there! One lady we visited that I talked about last week- D. was inactive but now after we visited her has been at church these last two weeks!! The bishop is soooo grateful! I am learning lots and am so grateful to the lord for all of the tender mercies he has shown me!!! My testimony is growing more and more everyday and I am so lucky to be here doing this right now!

Thank you guys for always being supportive!!! I will write more next week!! LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!

Mission Week 13: February 27, 2017

February 27, 2017

This week was AWESOME, AWESOME, AND AWESOME!!!

Penni arrived on Monday night and we both were screaming!!!! Sooooo much excitement!! We talked and talked and got our bedroom all ready to go---it was soooo fun and we were already laughing from the minute she came into our house in Leonor!

ON Tuesday-- WE GOT RIGHT TO WORK---- We needed to organize the area book and make a game plan so we found a map of the area and went out to work.

It was super hot!! Over 100 degrees- but we were laughing, I was dancing, and we were talking to everyone--- our goal as a companionship is to Fale Com Todo Mundo-- to talk to everyone we see! Also, to really help strengthen this ward in Leonor. These members really want to do missionary work!

Anyways- on Tuesday we found lots of people to talk to--- We were walking down the street and saw an older looking couple outside- J. and M. and they immediately let us in to share a message with them. Those two are wild and M. sang acapella for us! hahaha Super random and funny- we taught them the Restoration and invited them to pray about it to know if it is true- the accepted our invitation and told us that right when they saw us walking up the street with smiles on our faces that they would accept our message- They said they both could see that we were messengers of the Lord and had his light with us--- that was pretty special!!

Later that day- we had lunch with J. and E.- daughter and mother who are in the ward-- J.'s husband is not a member but has recently show interest in the church so we made a plan to stop by and get to know him better! We are super excited!

We also saw a lady walking with groceries in her hands and stopped to talk to her--- we were just asking her questions about her family and it turns out that her daughter who has 3 little kids- recently died of cancer- F.- the lady we talked to- cried in the street as we talked about her daughter. We hugged her and asked her if we could share the plan that god has for us with her--- she agreed to let us come back another day. The Spirit was so strong in the street when we were talking to her--- it made me so grateful that we had been following the Spirit and that Heavenly Father prepared F. to be walking home from the market at the perfect time... I am so grateful and excited to teach her a message that will help her feel peace--- Crazy too that both Sister Penni and I have personal stories of family members who we have lost to cancer that we can hopefully use to better understand how F. feels--- (Aunt Linda and Sister Penni's grandma).... Tender Mercies at a difficult time...

Wednesday-- Sister Penni had a leadership meeting with all of the leaders in the mission and Presidente said that he would be happy to have me accompany her! I was so excited to be her wing-sister! The training was awesome- Sister Penni gave an awesome workshop on working with members-- we ate lunch at the president's house with his family.

Thursday and Friday-- we found some more people and taught a few more lessons! We had a zone meeting and learned a lot about finding people with real intent-- Moroni 7! It was awesome! Sis. Penni and I got pizza and ate cake that night! 

 

We are always laughing in the street and smiling all day!! We are seriously best friends and talk about everything! I am so lucky to be learning from her!

Saturday was harder to find people- we were rejected a lot but we visited a lady in the ward named D. who has been inactive and she explained that she has been offended by a member of the ward and is very depressed---- we talked to her and I felt the spirit soooo strong--- Sister Penni, D., and I were all emotional as we talked to her about how the atonement can help us heal from any suffering not just the suffering of sin--- Sister Penni and I both opened to the same scripture- Alma 7, 11-13 at the same time- without planning it-- and shared it with D.----the Spirit was undeniable and we invited her to come back to church and that we would be her friends there. We told her that the members of the church are not perfect and never will be, but that God's love for her is perfect and in order to be perfected like Him, we need to take the sacrament each week in church. She agreed to think about coming back but didn't commit---- but it was such a special moment! TENDER MERCY!

After we went over to the house of R.- another less active member- friend of D.- who was another name the RS president had given to us--- R.'s husband is not a member- they have 4 of the CUTEST kids and they live in a very humble living situation--- nicest people- R. is super sassy and funny- she has doubts about eternal marriage and agreed to let us return the next day, SUNDAY, to have Family Home Evening with her family and share the Proclamation to the World.

Sunday--- we had church and got to know the members even more---- the Relief Society sisters apparently had heard me and Sister Penni singing and asked if we would perform a duet in front of the whole ward!!!! hahaha We thought they were kidding--- but now we are gonna prepare a musical number and perform it!! Oh my.... soooo not my thing... and my voice is not good, but I like to sing... so hopefully it goes okay.... we might be singing in Portuguese which is also gonna be interesting... Sister Penni has a great voice and is a concert pianist--- she is soooo talented, so maybe she can teach me how to sing... lol... I will keep you guys posted on that--- you know me.... i am freaking out.... but I told myself I would never say no to the members....so.....HERE WE GO...

Sunday night, we went back to R.'s house and shared the Proclamation with her family- including her husband--- D. was there also and so was another good family from the ward--- the Spirit was strong and it was so special. The kids were so cute and we had lots of treats after.. They shared testimonies of the importance of families-- and R.'s husband said that we could come back anytime!

Anyways--- SUCH A GREAT WEEK! I CAN SEE THE LORDS HAND EVERY DAY AND i AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY! THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT! i LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

Mission Week 12: Goodbye Sister Santana...hello again Sister Penni1

February 20, 2017

This week I studied a lot about Christlike attributes in PMG-- specifically about Faith, Hope, and Patience which are just 3 of the attributes I am trying to develop right now--- I love how all of the attributes are linked together somehow, its amazing to study about them and try to better ourselves everyday. I am so grateful for this time that the Lord has given me to get to know him more and spend time focusing on developing these attributes!! It is such a blessing!! I want you guys to check out in Preach My Gospel under the attribute Patience- the part that says activity: personal study- and read those scriptures and talk about it together! I think you guys will really like it! It sure has helped me as a missionary!!! I am excited to work and hopefully experience some of the cool miracles that the Sons of Mosiah experienced!

Also--THIS WEEK AND ALWAYS----HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE!!!! 

This is such an amazing lesson that i have been learning so much more on my mission!!! Everyday, we all have the opportunity, despite our challenges, trials, grief, and circumstances, to choose to be happy!!! 

I studied about happiness and joy in the scriptures this week under the section called Joy in the guide to the scriptures- I love that joy is linked with obedience- that when we are obedient to the Lord's commandments, we will be happy! We are still going to have challenges and trials, but Heavenly Father will bless us so much!! 

Happiness is a choice we have to make everyday--- we cant control everything- the choices of others, our circumstances, the will of GOD, but we can control ourselves-- Dad always told me when I would get frustrated or question why bad things happen that we can only control how we choose to react to situations- we cannot control others, and the more we try to control everything the more unhappy we become. It's soooo true!! Everyday so far on the mission, I have noticed the difference in my day when I wake up and say- "Sister Tyson, you will be happy today and you will look for all of the good things today"- it seriously makes a difference and my day is always happy when i start the day by CHOOSING to make it awesome!!! 

Like Nephi asked his brothers when they murmured in the wilderness, "HAVE WE NOT REASON TO REJOICE???" I LOVE THAT! I TRY TO ASK MYSELF THIS EVERYDAY! I know that we always have a reason to rejoice despite our challenges--- I am definitely not perfect, but I am definitely trying to become more like my Savior in searching for all the tender mercies in my life. 

I know and have a stronger testimony now, than ever before, that WE ALWAYS HAVE A REASON TO BE HAPPY!! If we cant find a reason- we need to pray and ask- not just so Heavenly Father will give us a reason, but to RECOGNIZE everything he has done for us! I AM SO GRATEFUL!!! 1 Nephi 1:20 

 

Sister Santana has left.  President called us on Friday night and told us to meet him in the mission office because Sister Santana would leave the next morning! She was planning on leaving Tuesday (tomorrow), but the Church health department called and wanted to send her early!! It was crazy!! We stayed at the mission office for awhile on Friday night while Sister Santana talked with President and prepared to leave--- I sat in the office with the AP's- awesome guys-- and got the Valentine's letters from Allie and mom and G-ma!!! I read all the jokes to the Elders and one of the American elders helped me translate the v-day jokes from mom to the Brazilian elders! 

SISTER PENNI WILL BE MY NEW COMPANION--- AGAIN AND SHE WILL COME TO LEONOR TO WORK WITH ME THIS TRANSFER! WE ARE BOTH SOOOO EXCITED! SERIOUSLY WE ARE BESTIES ALREADY AND I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH AND LEARN FROM HER AGAIN!!