MOST. FRUSTRATING. P-DAY. EVER.

 Monday Dec. 2, 2013

It's snowing in Rio somewhere.

Week 9 in Santa Margarida

Dear Family,

         This week has gone by so fast!  I have been having a fair share of phantom PMS-ing, intense dislike of Brazil, homesickness, and a desire to eat a lot of cookies – so shark week is around the corner. Watch out Sister Z!

         VERY IMPORTANT: Please thank Becky Smith, aka – best mother-in-law-of-my-sister EVER. Her pictures and emails make me smile and feel loved.  I keep forgetting to respond to her and didn’t want to go another week without thanking her!

Monday:

         We started teaching A., who is a single man in his 50’s.  He is really nice and welcoming, but he belongs to “Assemblaya de Deus”, which is a predominant and particularly loud/obnoxious church down here. Typically, members of that church don’t listen and just want to bible bash.  Alberto was this way as well, but we’re working with him.

         We taught M’s mom and marked a baptismal date for her! Her faith is increasing rapidly and I have a huge love for her and her family. She has a one year old little boy, named R., who is super cute.  He really like me for some reason and it’s hard to not scoop him up and sit him on my lap.  I think that Heavenly Father is helping me with my lack of motherly instincts.

         We received counsel during our conference with a regional authority that we are NOT to use backpacks at all.  Sooooo, Sister Z and I spent a good chunk of our p-day traveling to Campo Grande to look for decent side bags.  SHOCKER…we couldn’t find anything.  My plan is to buy a cheap mission bag from the office and see if I can survive.  I feel terrible because my backpack is expensive and is perfect for me. But, I want to be obedient….so I guess I will sacrifice my spine.

Tuesday:

         About 10 minutes before district meeting we got a call from President Lima, sending Sister Z and I into a state of panic.  Usually phone calls from the mission president are for something dramatic like emergency transfers….Well, he just decided to “drop by” our district

meeting.  I tried to be on my best behavior as I resisted the urge to scratch my itchy mosquito bite infested legs.  District meeting was good. 

         We had an investigator try and set us up with her 15 year old son….she’s a little cray cray. Then after that lesson we were walking and I noticed that Sister Z didn’t have her name tag on.  We’re pretty sure that our investigator is holding the name tag hostage until Sister Z agrees to marry her son. 

Wednesday:

         I am losing motivation to write….so tired today.   
         T(27) and M(17) are not legally married.  T is working really hard and desires to find answers.  We’ve taught him 3-4 times and he asked good questions.  He has also asked pastors of different churches what they know about Christ establishing a church…much like how Joseph Smith searched for the truth.  Hopefully, we can continue to help T find his answers.

         R. – my love for her continues to grow. She is learning to read!  It is still slow, but the progress is tangible.  We’re helping her prepare for baptism. 

         M’s Mom – we taught her the Word of Wisdom and keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  She accepted without blinking an eye, and even talked about how she used to be a heavy smoker, but quit when she was pregnant.  She is very prepared to hear the gospel. I can actually feel how my testimony is helping her to develop her own testimony.

         We had a wedding reception for a couple.  The husband is a member and the wife is going to start taking the missionary discussions!

Thursday

Elder S and comp

         Giant multi-zone training with Elder Gavarret. It took all day and involved a lot of public transportation and sitting on uncomfortable church pews, but I got to play prelude music and see Elder S, so it wasn’t too bad.  The conference itself….hard to explain in English.  President Lima and his wife had great talks, but we got burned by Elder Gavarret.  I have never felt so tense in my life.  He had a different way of inspiring change. Sister Z and I took some good things from it, but we also have residual knots in our necks from the tension.

…..UGHHH. Today is the  MOST. FRUSTRATING.  P-DAY. EVER.

We just got news that we have to email some progress record, meaning another 45 minutes spent/wasted with no time to finish writing this letter. 

Wow, this is a negative letter.  Sorry for the lack of details.  I promise that I am doing fine….just shark week approaching. I love you all and my heart aches to be with you at this time of year.

Be good! Con Amor

Sister Colvin

PS. I just couldn’t leave this on such a negative note.  Bishop Curty (the father of one of the Elder’s who helped Garrison/Elder Colvin so much) is amazing.  He is incredibly intuitive and sensitive.  He always expresses sincere love and appreciation for us. I usually tear up a bit when we talk to him.  He is a huge blessing.