Dear friends and family,
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| Our chapela |
First, I am so happy to
hear that dad is feeling better.
The fact that he is able to go on little outings and get to church are
huge steps! Hopefully things
continue to improve and we all learn how to manage this disease process. I have been so impressed by my famly’s
strength and the outpouring of love that we have seen in every direction. I pray a lot for each member of my
family. I fine great strength in
the power of personal prayer. I
appreciate this unique time when it is just the Lord and I. sometimes I feel deep comfort and other
times remorse as I recognize my many faults and self-righteous tendencies. But,
I always receive guidance and direction.
My last week with my
companion was spent solidifying things that she was already pretty good at such
as planning and using study time wisely.
I learned to let her make her own mistakes and then help her by giving
guidance when needed. At first she
kept looking to me, expecting me to start a lesson or respond to someone, but I
just looked right back at her! She was very panicky and lacked confidence in the
beginning of the week, cut she gained more and more confidence in her own
abilities. She grew a lot.
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| The beautiful garden in Comaraí |
Interesting Teaching
Experiences:
- We had the power go out in the middle of a lesson on tithing which meant we taught in pitch black. It was not the most effective lesson…
- We had a Family home evening with Al. and Jos. in which we taught them how to hold a FHE by themselves. We made a poster to hang on their fridge to help them when they do it on their own. Jos. is just radiating since her baptism!
- We went on divisions within the same house which is weird. That meant that I had to sleep in Sister B’s bed, (ie. NOT sleep at all). Other than that the division was a good break.
- We visited a lot of people during the week who do not have “real intent” or a desire to progress. Perhaps one of the gifts that I have been given in this life is the gift of discernment – actually, it is something I’ve developed over time. Certain experiences have prepared me to be more alert to red flags and false intent. We have several investigators that I just do not feel are willing to change, and others who are not being honest with us. Other are in it for the wrong reasons, ie. the church’s welfare program. I see these things clearly, and for me I know I just simply will not be able to help these people. So, I do not exert all of my efforts to help then when they are doing nothing to help themselves. Sister R. and I butt heads on this point. She simply cannot accept that our investigators and lying or manipulating us. Carlos and I are trying to help her to recognize these things so that she doesn’t get taken advantage of. These are just more examples of things we don’t learn in the MTC. For me, I try to follow the Spirit and make my priorities so that I am not emotionally and spiritually frustrated.
- We got to teach English class! It was actually really fun – especially laughing at Sister B. and myself because our own English is falling apart. Seriously, we really struggled to remember how to say some things.
- On Sunday we gave talks in church. I spoke for 15 minutes in Portuguese. Yeah for progress! We ate at a member’s home who is a chef and it was amazing! Also I kept getting chocolate as gifts from many of the members who all wish me luck with my new transfer..that’s right, I am going to be transferred this next week. (more about that later.)
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| Our Zone! |
Not so Interesting
Experiences:
Now that our Presidente
is a Seventy in the church, everything that he says is being interpreted by the
elders as “inspiration”. This week
the Elder’s told us that President Lima received the inspiration that every
zone in the mission was to have 3 baptisma and 2 families reactivated in a
weeks time. The only solution was
to pull out the area books and pick someone who had been to church a time or
two, visit them, and commit them, do a baptism interview the next day, and
baptize them the day after that. Hmmmmmm. Does that sound like real conversion
to you? I am amazed and frustrated
by the “dunk em and drop em” attitude by so many down here. I believe in the process of conversion
that takes some time to develop a true testimony. I think that people need to be familiar with the ward family
and have been taught the lessons with time to ponder and ask questions. If not,
how are they going to remain firm members of the church? We are asking people to change their
lives, and some changes need time.
Certainly some people are more prepared than others, but I have a lot of
doubts that the SEVEN baptisms that our zone managed will remain active
members. (Side not – only the
Elders in our zone contributes to our “success” – I think that the sisters were
quite disgusted by all of it, especially when our zone was praised as a “weekly
miracle”
Hard Experiences:
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| Carlos brought us lunch and that saved us! |
Towards the end of the
week I developed a fever and went to bed early. What the heck…why am I always getting sick down here?? I
have never in my life been as sick as I have been since coming on my mission. I can tell you that my parents NEVER
took us to the doctor. The next
day I woke up with severe joint pain and a rash in addition to a fever. I also
had eye pain. I had to go to the
hospital AGAIN..they know me by name now.
I may have Dengue fever, apparently it is the season down her. But i made 8 contacts and taught 1 lesson while I was waiting, so I felt pretty good about it all. Unfortunately, I got stuck for two days at home
resting. Then poor sister Brown
got sick, but it was much worse for her. She had a fever for 5 days and her
rash covered her whole body.
We had a beautiful
baptism of Geisa and Joice (see pictures in previous post.) They were radiant
and I have full confidence that they will remain strong and faithful.  |
| Carlos, our awesome ward mission leader! |
In our meeting with our
ward mission leader, he said, “If you want to stay here in Santa Margaride, I’ve
already talked to the bishop and he is willing to call President and ask for
you to stay.” It was a very sweet
gesture of love and consideration for me, but I told him that I would accept
whatever came my way. He was pretty quiet after that. We’ve grown attached to
each other these 6 months. Carlos
and Rosangela have done so much to take care of us and help with the work. I am never going to forget them.
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| Bunequa (literally "doll" in Portuguese because she loves to sew clothes for dolls) -- she is a total sweetheart! |
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| With Rita, Juarez, Cassia, e Carla -- one of the amazing families in SM that took care of me! |
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| All of my recent converts, with my companion and Carlos. |
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B-day for Efegenia, who turned 92 years old! We go there every now and then to sing hymns and do service for her and Bunequa. |
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| With Alessandra |
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| With Maykon, Paulo Henrique, and Leonardo (Maykon´s friend that was re-activated) |
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| Sisteres de Campinho e Santa Margarida |
Turns out that my new
challenge will be to work as a Sister Training leader in Jacarepagua--the same
district as Sister Tingey! I plan to spend some money and take a taxi there
tomorrow instead of fighting with my luggage on public transportation.
I know that this new
challenge will be fun for me and I look forward to it. I know that if we can lose ourselves
while serving others, then we will be able to forget about our pains,
heartaches, and challenges. We
will be able to find peace and happiness that comes from living a
Christ-centered life. I know that
He succors us. I know that he lives..and because he lives, we shall live also.
Com amor,
Sister Colvin
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| I wore out my shoes in Santa Margarida |
